SUFFICIENT GRACE

“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
2 Corinthians 12:9

’Tis a sound that charms the ear,
Gentle, steadfast, clear;
Heaven’s halls resound the strain,
And all the earth draws near.

All-sufficient in our need,
When strength has gone away;
Christ’s own power meets the soul,
And turns the night to day.

Weakness lays the heart bare,
Yet mercy fills the space;
The Lamb sustains the trembling step,
And clothes the soul with grace.

’Twas grace that bore the weary load,
When burdens pressed too hard;
’Twas grace that held the fainting heart,
And raised the fallen guard.

Our hands may falter, feet may fail,
Our vision dimmed with tears;
Yet in our weakness, He is strong,
Dispelling doubts and fears.

Each trial shall find its crown,
Each sorrow meet its end;
The power that lifts the fainting soul
Shall never cease to mend.

O Holy Spirit, teach the heart to rest
In strength beyond our own;
May every day proclaim Thy power,
Thy sufficiency made known.

Tolu The Alchemist
© 2025

The Lover’s Recipe

While everyone around the world was basking in the euphoria of the acclaimed love day (Valentine’s Day), Penspeak Community UNIZIK got busy with their pens and spent the day reliving the nostalgia of God’s love.

The floor was thrown up and Delight blew us away with this piece;

 WHOSE ORDERS?

That a tiny acorn will make a mighty forest 
Wasn’t the loamy soil’s words to utter.
Dear child…I speak in voices as ancient as before.
I gave you gifts not like anyone else’s 
But you chose to be photographed through distorted lenses.
You followed rules written by hands you will never shake
Then ending at crossroads, you asked me “Lord what’s your take?
Those rules were written by hand…
Funny how you are ignorant to the power embedded in yours
You obeyed the “rites” discarding the “rights”
What a perfect mismatch you are!!
You were told to silence your own voice for the sake of the loud…
The loud voice said “conform” but in your heart you felt torn.
Torn between the needs of your soul and the rule you have been sold.
Is it freedom you seek or a cage in gold?
Bound by lines drawn by a mentally distorted ruler’s ruler
They said “follow” and you never asked why
You were wheedled to be fine with “just fine”.
They raised you to be small but your heart beats loud…louder than their expectations.
Dear child…if you would… listen.
The elders might call this rebellion 
But I call it my divine intention 
Your dreams and desires are my design
Your handwritten lifeline, mine to sign
Your steps are earthquakes in their shallow puddles
You are to build bridges where they said walls stood
You are not a footnote in their stories.
You are the headline yet they don’t want to see your headlines.
Prior to forming you, I knew thee.
I know your deepest sleep even your purest glee 
So, whose orders if not mine?

Mc Wisdom came in right after and dropped this;

GOOD FOOD

Just can’t wait until it gets to the plate
Aromas that dance, through a culinary state
Tenderly cooked, with love and with care
Each bite a story, beyond compare

The cutting, slicing, sizzling, crackling, mixing,
 a continuous process that lives you wanting and yawning 

Oh, the joy of good food, that brings us together
A universal love language,
The norming around the dinner table 
The joy and laughter that’s uncontrollable, that transcends this weather, and leaves you warm.

A taste of nostalgia, a hint of home.
Good food that nourishes the body and soul,
Makes you forget your problem for a moment, leaving you whole.

So, here’s to the chefs, the cooks, and the bakers
The farmers, the fishermen, and the food makers
My mom, dad, siblings, friends, family 
Thank you for the feast, for the flavours and the fun
Good food that brings us to the table, as one.

With the floor and curtains intact, Delight waltz in with so much inspiration and gave us;

HOSEA 2🥰

I was once yours, you were once mine.
But in the shadows, you slipped away,  
Chasing after lovers who didn’t care,  
Trading true love for a false comfort,  
An affair with idols, a broken vow in the temple of desire.  
You left me but every step you took, I felt it,  
Every kiss you gave, I tasted it.  
Your heart wandered, but mine stayed rooted,  
Waiting, holding on,  
Gripping the promise of what was.

But love is not blind– it sees the truth,  
And the truth cuts deep.
So, hear me now:  

I will no longer cover your shame,  
I will no longer veil your mistakes, for you’ve turned your back, 
And I must speak of the consequences.  
The gates will close, the blessings will fade,  
Your fields will wither, and your heart will ache,  
As the world you built crumbles beneath your feet.  
But in this silence, in this solitude,  
You’ll hear my voice again and I won’t leave you there,  

For even in the wilderness,  
I am here, I will allure you,  
I will call your name and I will take you back,  
Not as a servant, but as my bride.  
I’ll speak comfort to your broken heart,  
Restore the years you’ve lost to wandering,  
Your valley of despair will become a place of hope,  
Your shame will be washed clean,  
And the shame you once wore,  
Will be replaced with a crown of righteousness.  
I will lead you to a new covenant, A promise of peace,  
Where love reigns.
Where mercy is poured like rain on dry ground,  
Where my faithfulness holds you close. I will be your God,  
And you will be my people,  
And together, we’ll make all things new.  
The name you once wore,  
The name of betrayal,
Will be changed.  
You will be called “My Delight,”  
And I will call you “My Beloved.”  

Forever,  
And nothing will ever tear us apart again.

What a love! What a God! See you next month for another freestyle!

Authors
MC WISDOM
DELIGHT SHEKELS

New year new faith

Penspeak Communities across Nigeria have recently taken up Freestyle Fridays hosted by The Godzniel. This is a collection of poems from Penspeak Community UNIZIK freestyles in January 2025.

Our very own MC Wisdom set the Christendom ball rolling,

Ladies and gentlemen,
Listen up, I’ve got a message for the masses
To the ones who think they can hold me back, I’ve got a few words to amass

This is not another new year, new me
And to everything and everyone who dissed me
This year you better receive sense, so free me

I’ll rise above the noise, I’ll shine like the morning sun
On every stage, I will stand my ground, call me the chosen one

So, to whom it may concern, listen up and take heed
I’m the MC WISDOM not to be reckoned with, my voice is a thunder that comes with a lightning decree

I’ll speak my truth, I’ll stand my ground
I’ll be the change, I’ll turn things around

So, watch me rise, watch me soar
I’m untamed and unstoppable, so sit back and watch out for more “MC WISDOM”

Just as we were still in awe of this grace, Delight came and gave us;

SCREENSHOT OF FAITH

In a world that judges by value and birth,
To us…the dreamers and the doers,
What shall we say to these things?
In a world of scrolling, tapping and clicking,
Where moments pass like a flash, never quite stopping.
There is one thing we capture, though abstract even to the believer.

You know,
The Youth today are chasing dreams
Like flashes on a screen…
Flickering fast, chasing fast, but what does this mean?
One wrong step, one wrong foot…
And you are back to square one questioning your truth.
Faith, they say, is the light at the end of the tunnel.
But what if the tunnel’s a mirror, a reflection of your struggles?
Like a dog chasing its tail, we run around in circles,
Dreams dangle like carrots, but we can’t even find the hurdles.
Irony lives here, right here in our struggle to rise,
The higher we reach, the higher the price we pay.

We keep chasing this lady ‘success’ just as she waltzes away,
More like the sun which rises but still sets at the end of the day…
We live in a world where everything is loud,
Where the pressure to rise feels like breaking the crowd!
We post, we hustle, we strive for the spotlight,
Trying to make a name in a world full of wrongful rights.
We keep chasing followers, likes and applause,
But the real faith is not about these shallow laws.

A screenshot of Faith is the courage to start.
It’s trusting yourself when the world says ‘wait’ …
It’s finding your power even when the world system says it’s too late.
It’s not about the speed or how fast you fly
It is just the courage to leap even when you can’t touch the sky!
It will tell you to walk, and then vanish from your sight
Leaving you wondering, “Am I wrong or right?”
So trust me when I say this one can’t be saved to your gallery… it’s not a picture, it’s more than a name.
It is the belief that in time we all shall find our flame.

We wrap up our freestyles here. It’s always an honor to be part of this. See you next month.

Authors
MC WISDOM
DELIGHT SHEKELS

ROOTING DEEP

There’s power in staying rooted,
In leaning into God’s word,
Where roots stretch deep in quiet places,
Unseen, but steady and sure.

The seed is planted in faith,
Watered with patience and trust,
No rush, no shortcuts—
Just the process of becoming.

It’s not flashy, not instant,
Not for those chasing quick results,
But for those willing to wait,
To trust, to grow, to endure.

Like the coconut tree that stands tall,
Bearing fruit all year long,
The waiting is hard, the work is slow,
But the harvest is always worth it.

  • IfiokAbasi Okop
    (c) 2025

Corporate Repentance

May the Blood of Jesus wash us clean in our hearts
May the grace of God furnish us with contrite hearts
May the rebellious find what God has reserved for them,
but may the repentant find your Mercy oh Lord.

Who is righteous? Who is blameless?
Your Word, Oh Lord, is final.
We, your sheep, cry out for help.
Help us to do right, Help us to walk in your preference
Please keep us among your sacred nation.
We turn away from our greed, for our idolatry;
Please give us the courage to pull down the strongholds,
Using the weapons you have furnished us with
We shall be strong in the power of your might,
Give us life
We ask in the name of Jesus
God of all Flesh, you are our source and our judge
Our King and our Owner
Have mercy on us, and keep us close to you
We are the sheep of your fold, and we have strayed in our foolishness
Chasing pictures of valleys when you have always been trustworthy to us.
Please return us to your pasture
Cleanse us of the rebellious one and renew the right spirit within us

Where can we live without you
We do not want that
We are afraid of a morning without your voice – a dawn without your son
We plead the blood of Jesus on our land
Let the death of the disobedient Passover us.

And in every household, we will teach our children – to fear the Lord.
We tremble at your Word, and we cry Abba Abba, please do not turn away from us.
We submit to your moulding Sir.

We are clay, and which better Potter exists – than you, King of Kings?

Thank you for keeping your eye on us. For what is man, that you are mindful of him?
But you are a kind Father.
We abandon ourselves to your reprimand, for you discipline those you love.

Thank you Jesus
Thank you Lord.

I pray,
We pray,

In the mighty name of Jesus.

– Godzniel
(c) 2024

Gone prodigal again

_I did it again!_
Left my place of rest in search of fading bliss
I called ‘inheritance’ what was mere gifts
Dropped my daily routine to unwind with wild parties
Past achievements that have become ashes
I knew I was out of power but the fan’s still turning in my direction and it felt cool
I knew my embers were getting cold but I couldn’t resist the urge to dance without recharging and see what it felt like
I knew my  light was getting dimmer but I claimed I was shining in the darkness
Away from my Source
Away from who made me son
Away from my true inheritance
Away from my natural habitat

_I did it again!_
How can I face Father this time with shoes on?
How can I expect his forgiveness after the limit for a day?
How can I tell him his robe got torn?
How can I tell him the reason I am back was the memory of the tasty beef in my mouth?
That I want to be welcomed again?
That He was right and I lived wrong again?
How can I tell him I did it again?

Hannah DGinus
©2024

Monopoly Of Power

After my long journey
into the league of darkness.
After my painful crossing
the bridge of conformism.

Here, I swim again.
Swimming in the pool of eternal truth
Rebaptizing my sense
in the pool of light .

Everyone has inherent right
To be as their wish to be.
As long as they affirm this power in others.
As long as they remain in this boundary.

I am holy in my own terms
You can be holy as you choose .
I am a king in my own way
You can own the world in your own terms.

There is no monopoly
There is no monopoly of life,
There is no monopoly of knowledge
There is no monopoly of love

There can be no monopoly of power
There can be no monopoly of creativity
There can be no monopoly success
There is no monopoly of God .

Ugwu David C.
©2023

Hope of Glory

Story says,
God is my shield-
and Shepherd.
  
Story says,
That the Holy Spirit in me,
Will never leave me.

Story says,
Follow the ancient path,
For it’s the road to the peak.

Story says,
Be not afraid,
For angels of Yahweh are with me .
Fighting for me.

Story says,
Christ is in me
The hope of glory.

Story says,
I am more than a conqueror ,
And nothing can separate me from the love of Christ.

Story says,
Tell my servant David,
That I will make him great and his name will spread abroad.

Story says,
I am  salt and light of the world
A city that can never be hidden

Story says,
I will bless you with wisdom,
With loyal counselors and warriors
And I have given you many lands.

Story says,
Always remember that the Spirit in you
dose not make you fear, but fills you with power, love and self-control.

Story warns,
Let not the law and the habit of studying the holy book depart from me.
Meditate on it day and Night.

Story says,
The word of God is my sword of the Spirit.
And my shield is faith in God.

Story says,
In the Name of Jesus Christ
I have been anointed with power and authority and dominion.

Ugwu David C
©2023