Helen Roseveare, a missionary who faced intense suffering and persecution during her 20 years of service in the Congo, shares one of the times that she saw God answer prayer in a most unexpected way:
"I went to have prayers with our orphanage children as I did every day, and any of the children wanted gathered around me for prayer time, and I'd give them different things to pray about. And this particular day, I told the children of this tiny baby and asked them to pray for the nurses that they would stay awake all night to keep that baby warm. If the baby got cold, it would die. I mentioned that the baby had a 2-year-old sister who was crying because her mommy had died. I mentioned the burst hot water bottle.
During prayer time, different children prayed for different things, and then one little 10-year-old girl, Ruth, she prayed in the usual blunt way of our African children, 'Please, God, send us a hot water bottle. Now, God, it'll be no good tomorrow. Send it this afternoon. Now, if it comes tomorrow, the baby will be dead.'
I'm sort of swallowing hard, and she said, 'While you're about it, God, would you send a dolly for the little 2-year-old sister, so she'll know that Jesus really loves her?'
And that afternoon, the parcel came. It was the first parcel I ever, I've been out there four years, I'd never had a parcel from home. And despite the fact I live on the equator, somebody packing that parcel had been prompted by God to put in a hot water bottle, and a child from my Bible class at home had put in a dolly for a little girl.
And it came that afternoon in answer to a 10 year-old child's prayer, and the amazing thing was, you know, that parcel had been on the way five months to get to us. It had left England in July, and it came that afternoon, cause a child prayed."
Rev Olumide was visibly angry at Pastor Korede Komaiya in that panel discussion. I will assume the fact that fellow Believers in the person of Prof. Osinbajo and Rev. Olumide Emmanuel publicly contracting him in that manner will be a point of reflection and repentance.
Sunday School time! Sometimes, repentance doesn’t cancel consequences.
Please, read this full story in the Bible: 2 Samuel 12
Skin powered by @danglifestyle_#DANGSundayschool#Dang
We began to deviate in ministry when people started saying, to succeed, just go find out what whoever is "succeeding" is doing and then replicate it.
It no longer was, go to God and hear from him yourself what he wants you to do, follow his direction, and that will lead to impact.
It became copying instead of obeying, and with that, several "Ishmaels" were born instead of "Isaacs"
Find out from God what your unique calling is. What he will have you do and then learn from others how best to implement what you have heard.
2 Corinthians 8:5
"And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God"
The order is first to the Lord.
Focus! "Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever." (Heb.12:1-3 MSG)
One of the hardest things about knowing stuff is when no one listens to you. When you are literally a voice crying in the wilderness.
However, three things have brought me comfort:
1. I am not entitled to anything, including people's attention.
2. It's not my job to obsess about outcomes. I just need to speak and go about my business. It's someone else's job to water after I plant.
3. The same words that bless others can bless me too. There's nothing stopping me from using and implementing all the things I tell people. If no one listens, I will listen to myself and prosper.
This year, I've decided to just do what God tells me. I can't shout or strive. I am also somebody's child and want to be taken care of, mbok.
Activity is the bane of your relationship with God. You are so busy that you've left him behind. (That includes being busy doing things for him.)
Solitude is the oil of your relationship with God. Switch off and be still with him.
Sit with him with a pen and paper. Just be there.
I like my time with God. No formulas or routines. No scripted praise & worship or Bible reading. I can change things up or stick to the regular. But, I'm constantly checking if we're in sync or whether I've left him behind in a flurry of performative activity.
God can stop me in the middle of Bible reading to work on a business idea. I may insist on routine & religion by trying to finish the passage I'm reading first.
But then l realize nothing is entering my head again. So I've learnt to just pivot and be dynamic.
God is who he is, not what I want him to be. He is I AM and the one WHO WILL BE.
I'm learning to play the role of an observer and to take notes, instead of presuming who he is based on my upbringing or knowledge.
@tolusefrancis They forget that it's God that qualifies the called. With God its not about how qualified you are...but how available.
Thanks for the piece!