WHAT PLANS FOR CHRISTMAS?

After Christmas and new year celebration many souls will be rescued from the power of darkness to the kingdom of light, eternal freedom and forgiveness of sins {Col.1:13-14} through their honest, sincere and active participation in the Christmas revival crusades, consistent mental prayer (“Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place and to stand before the Son of Man” Lk.21:36 ), constant meditation on the word of God {‘this book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth; you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to act in accordance with all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous and then you shall be successful’ Joshua 1:8}, worthy reception of the Holy Communion (“I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh” Jn.6:51), going for activities and engagements with the fear of offending God as well as the consciousness of God’s power around you {‘you have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions’ (Heb.1:9); “for I will be a wall of fire all around it says the Lord and I will be the glory within it” Zech.2:5} and retreats [‘but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary they shall walk and not faint’ Isaiah 40:31].

This is the lot of those who fear God (Isaiah 54:17), determined to fear God {2 Chr.29:10; Dan.1:8} during this period of Christmas and New Year.

After Christmas and new year celebration some married men/women who denied their marital status by removing their wedding ring for some seconds of sexual intercourse/fingering/kissing/romancing/oral sex will spend some months in the hospital or homes treating the new born disease(s) {‘but if you will not obey the Lord your God by diligently observing all his commandments and decrees which I am commanding you today, then all these curses shall come upon you and overtake you…” Deut. 28:15-68}, while some disease that are incurable will stick to their bodies till death not without the regrets that will hunt them throughout their lifestyle and the legacy of bad name that will eternally live with their generations, some will be unable to reproduce for life {“the Lord of hosts has revealed himself in my ears: surely this iniquity will not be forgiven you until you die says the Lord God of hosts” Isaiah 22:14} because they feel comfortable exposing/projecting their private parts/under wear lining with tight tops/transparent clothes/hanging gowns/short skirts/tight skirts/pencil skirts/trousers/bomb-shots/sleeveless tops/strapless tops/unbuttoned tops e.t.c while provoking lust as well as inducing demons of immorality on men [‘you have heard that it was said, you shall not commit adultery but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with the lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart’ (Mtt.5:27-28)] just have it at your subconscious that a curse is already tagged on the person through whom men or women will be laid to lust and any other form of sin in a situation/circumstance worse still during this period Our Lord is sharing Graces with regards to the remembrance of His Birth and the awakening call to His second coming  (“if any of you put a stumbling-block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were fastened around your neck and you were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe to the world because of stumbling-blocks! Occasions for stumbling are bound to come but woe to the one by whom the stumbling-block comes!” Mtt.18:6-7)

Another movement after this yuletide might be the cases of people who used to dress well being intimidated by friends who will come back from different cities and campuses thus ‘when will you stop being timid and join the moving trend’ just be on your alert as you dispose yourself to meet old friends and meet new friends this season {“do not be deceived: bad company ruin good morals” 1 Cor.15:33} remember you are about breaking a covenant; the regrets, mistakes and effects of which you will live with till death even after your request of God’s forgiveness have been granted (“O Lord our God, you answered them; you were a forgiving God to them but an avenger of their wrongdoing” [Ps.99:8]; ‘do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person. For God’s temple is holy and you are that temple’ 1 Cor.3:16-17) also some from wearing nude and half nude clothes that project the contour of their waist size/shape/under-wear/tight-tops/strapless tops/sleeveless tops/transparent clothes/hanging gowns/skirts/bomb-shots e.t.c like mini-skirts, pencil skirts, trousers e.t.c even uploading such pictures on the internet did meet their waterloo at the hands of rapist/sex-maniacs/HIV & HBV-carriers/nymphomaniacs/homosexuals/porn-addicts/lesbians/masturbators/sex demons e.t.c who initiated them as agents in these fields; while some became pregnant, abortion destroyed some while the remaining grace left on the souls of those who survived were meshed with the torture of murder, others are slaves to these habits till date and are seeking for solution with fear of dyeing in this horrible state of the soul  always wrecking havoc in their conscience {“…and be sure your sin will find you out” Numb.32:23}, you also need to be careful of fake preachers, prophets and miracle workers as you seek to married/get married/fruit of the wombs/healing/breakthrough in carrier and business without telling you first to flee from your sins and submit to righteousness (‘and the Lord said to me: the prophets are prophesying to you a lying vision, worthless divination and the deceit of their own minds’ Jer.14:14). The only thing that will make a prey to these groups is your wickedness and sins (“your iniquities have turned these away and your sins have deprived you of good” Jer.5:25), inconsistent mental prayer {‘stay awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak’ Mtt.26:41}, lack of the knowledge of the word of God and the power of God [“Jesus said to them, Is not this the reason you are wrong that you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God?” Mk.12:24]

THINK ABOUT THESE

{“the blessing of the Lord makes rich and he adds no sorrow with it” Prov.10:22}

[‘whoever belittles another lacks sense but an intelligent person remains silent’ Prov.11:12]

(“a gracious woman gets honor but she who hates virtue is covered with shame. The timid become destitute but the aggressive gain riches” Prov.11:16)

‘those who guard their mouths preserve their lives; those who open wide their lips come to ruin’ {Prov.13:3}

“wealth hastily gained will dwindle but those who gather little by little will increase it” (Prov.13:11)

‘those who despise the word bring destruction on themselves, but those who respect the commandment will be rewarded’ {Prov.13:13}

“poverty and disgrace are for the one who ignores instruction but one who heeds reproof is honored” Prov.13:18

‘whoever walks with the wise becomes wise but the companion of fools suffers harm’ Prov.13:20

“misfortune pursues sinners but prosperity rewards the righteous” Prov.13:21

‘those who spare the rod hate their children but those who love them are diligent to discipline them’ Prov.13:24

“the wise woman builds her house but the foolish tears it down with her own hands”

POSSIBLE STATE OF SOME SOULS AFTER CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR CELEBRATION:

Grass to Grace

Grace to Grace

Virtuous to vicious

Virgin to prostitute

Healthy to Sickly

A Flirt to a sex-maniac/nymphomaniac

Innocent to notorious

A gent to a drunk

Faithful-spouse to unfaithful-spouse

Radical evangelist to compromise evangelist

Prayerful to prayer less

Single to married

Successful businessman to an impoverished fellow

Promiscuous to murderer {abortion/kidnapping}

Heterosexual to homosexual

Honest to dishonest

Fearless to timid

Peaceful to quagmire

Disciplined-lifestyle to unassuming approach to life

Lover of God to lover of men

Joyful-home to sorrowful house

Calm-soul to nervous heart

High Intelligence quotient to strenuous assimilation level

Serene-mind to regretful conscience

Your decisions, the most frequently visited habits/hubbies/friends/environments/clothes/activities/books/videos/thoughts, encounters with others, discussions with others, attitude towards others will determine which of the above will keep you company come 2013.

With Consistent mental prayer, constant meditation on the word of God, desire for righteousness and hatred for sin you can walk with heads held high after all these signs and wonders (Lk.21:36)

THE CHOICE IS YOURS!!!

YOUR DRESSING:

What will your thoughts of tomorrow be like with all these half-naked pictures of yours in the internet? the memories of what we do currently will live forever with us either as regrets, anxiety, sorrow, frustration and shameful legacy just like David in the Holy Scriptures whose misdemeanor with Uriah's wife is still an enigma to His loving Union with God (2 Sam.12:11-13) for the vices when death comes crawling and joy for the virtues thereof.
My dear you are too precious in the eyes of God and Graceful to be cheapening your nakedness for demons of lust to use as a bait to block your blessings and accuse you before God {Rev.12:10}
You can't tell how many people who have downloaded these pictures of yours and are masturbating with them as well as accusing you before God.
These days of youthful exuberance will pass but you will look back on this attitude of exhibitionism and heave a sigh of remorse and regret but will not be able to change the harm you have done to Souls of men. The regrets lives with you forever and can never be wiped out {"...Surely your sins will find you out..." Numbers 32:23}. This is also applicable to good behaviors, thoughts, words, dressing/eating habits and decisions of the moment.

Help to make the world a better place by inducing Holiness and Good conscience in the hearts of men with decent pictures of yours and others.

God is a Reality
The wrath of His Justice is coming gradually
Hell and Heaven are the current state of your soul when alone or in a crowded in environment i.e the after effects of words spoken yesterday, thoughts nurtured last second and actions/decisions taken last minute on the present.

There is a thin line between now and eternity, everything you did in the past, doing now and in the future will be used to condemn you or justify you {Gal.6:7}. Now is not too late since it is an opportunity for you and a patience on the side of God for you to gain salvation (2 Pet.3:15). THE CHOICE IS YOURS !!!

WORD FOR THOUGHT:

"All intense interest in luxury is a mark of inner poverty"

'the less Grace there is in the Soul, the more ornament must be on the body'

"One of the greatest deceptions of today is the belief that leisure and money are the two essentials of happiness"

'the sad fact of life is that there are more frustrated people in the face of the earth than those who have nothing to do and those who have too much money for their own good'

WHERE DO YOU BELONG?

"if any man say that flesh is the cause of the viciousness of the soul, he is ignorant of mans nature. This corruption, which is burdensome to the soul, is the punishment for the first sin and not its cause. The corruptible flesh made not the soul to sin, but the sinning soul made the flesh corruptible; from which the corruption, although there arise some vicious desires, yet are not all sins of an evil life to be laid to the flesh, otherwise, we shall make the devil, who has no flesh, sinless.
__St. Augustine__

MASK:

What aspect of you do you hide from other people and seemingly from God?

When are you going to liberate yourself from that prison?

How long will you hide it?

Are you going to carry it over to 2013?

Who are you afraid of seeing next second?

Of all the places you have been to in life, where do you dread most and why?

What habits do you derive pleasure from yet lives you with regrets, anxiety, emptiness and frustrations?

How do you feel when your conscience reminds you of death especially when alone?

Who is your enemy?

The thoughts, actions, decisions and events of past days, months and years of your life, currently hunting you when alone;

Who engaged in them {me or you}?

Who/What lead you to it/them?

Who is reaping the fruits?

Which ones are you doing currently or intend engaging subsequently?

Hell or Heaven starts with the current state of your Soul when you remember death in a lonely or crowded environment whether poor or rich, healthy or sick, born-again or sloth, clergy or lay-faithful, married or single, at a point or in motion. There is a thin-line between you and eternity.

Your ability to proffer sincere answers to these questions will help you unveil that dark side {Mask} of your life which will open you up to a complete and fulfilled living with every passing second.

SEXUALITY:

Sexuality can be termed the compelling force in man to understand the mystery of being brought to existence, the force behind his creation and why he/she is compelled to follow a particular pattern of lifestyle different from the opposite sex, also trying to understand the force of attraction/repulsion/admiration towards other human being {same/opposite sex} and every other created thing around him/her. It is also by this feeling that man tries to ascertain the uniqueness of every human being created on earth and the way he/she responds to events/happenings as well as the approach to lower animals and non-living things that are used to improve the standard of living by means of symbiosis. When this knowledge is sort, man is often fed with what is obtainable within his/her domicile of birth as well as parental guidance and care. Many wish the origin of man is evolutionistic (just came into existence from the earth after many years of molecular compactmentation thus ‘Nature’ is the source of man’s existence) while others believe man is a descent of an Invisible Being whose complete nature is visible in a man and woman, these two came together in the act of mating and produced human beings like themselves {‘the man had intercourse with his wife Eve and she conceived and gave birth to Cain. I have acquired a man with the help of God, she said’ Gen.4:1} who is called God by Christians and some other religion but a different name referring to the same Being for some other religious group. The evolutionist from the day they propounded their theory are yet to give evidence to the world of a man/woman coming into existence from the earth even they themselves were brought to the earth through intercourse between their Father and Mother. In the evolutionary/scientific world there is this slogan “Nothing goes into motion unless being acted upon by another force” hence the force behind man’s evolution cannot be earth since man is categorically different from mere dust of the earth rather the progeny of man came from the Invisible but closest Being (God), every atom of any molecule contains the complete characteristics of that molecule hence man as an atom of God contains the complete characteristics of God that makes him/her adjust to situations and environment where necessary as well as change events/happenings/situations where it is deemed fit which is not feasible with mere dust of the earth {sand}.

The force that designs one human anatomy different and unique from others whether the same/opposite sex is God; the Creator of man/woman and he also inserts into every person the quest for completeness since either of man’s sex represents the complete image of God rather the both sex (“God created man in the image of himself, in the image of God he created him, male and female he created them” Gen.1:27) hence man continues to search for the Infinite, complete satisfaction, complete peace, complete joy from what he sees around his/her environment {other human being, lower animals and non-living things}. The power/force of compulsion to dress/sit/talk/act in a different way from the opposite/same sex is also inserted into man right from creation though at birth is usually influenced by parents and environment but with maturation, the child gets to ask questions, make observations and adjust where and when necessary according to the exposure and disposition towards the inner voice [the Spirit of God and the conscience]. As a child grows to understand what he/she can do for his/her self and the environment within his/her God given strength and talent and what others can help him/her achieve, there is an upsurge in the force of attraction and admiration for other human beings [same/opposite sex] and when exposed to the vicious cycle of human beings and the acquisitions of life, the force of repulsion in him/her comes to strike a balance to the initial force however, man continues to attract and get attracted to other human beings (mother/father/sister/brother/relations/friends/strangers e.t.c) as well as acquisitions of life {houses/cars/fashion/money e.t.c} since in him/her is planted the desire for infinite (God) and a desire to understand the force behind his creation, actions, behaviors, thoughts, line of reasoning, acquisitions as well as his final destiny.

The sex of each human being is determined by the person’s physique/appearance; from the hair on the head to the toes even a sight from afar can provide such information hence the dressing/picture-image of any  human being makes him/her attractive/admirable/repulsive even before actual encounters via chats/speech/behaviors/cleanliness/spirituality e.t.c. These entire quest by man with regards to attraction and repulsion towards other human beings and acquisitions of life are mainly geared towards a complete and perfect understanding of man (man and woman) which will bring about the comprehensive understanding about God whose complete nature is visible in a man and woman. This is therefore the driving force that attracts a man to a man, man to a woman, woman to woman, man to lower animals, man to non-living things because they need each other to come to terms with the Single, Unique and Whole entity [GOD] whose image they represent but this force does not complete its cycle in penetration of sexual organs, fingering, visualization of the other’s nakedness, projection of one’s nakedness to another or to the public (fitted/tight, transparent, sex-provocative clothes) rather penetration of sexual organs is the last phase in delving into the mystery of Love {“…God is love” 1 Jn.4:8} between a man and a woman joined together by God through the ministry of a priest and the testimony of God’s people in a bid to understand themselves more hence there is no need for guilt, anxiety, tension, frustration, rejection, fear at the beginning or end of this process lest the aim in view will be destroyed and the journey towards old age will be filled with emptiness, bitterness, loneliness e.t.c drawn from the fear of what the effects of the misdemeanors (‘you showed them that you are a God who forgives, even though you punished them for their sins’ Ps.99:8) of early age will bring to him/her after death {“Don’t delude yourself: God is not to be fooled; whatever someone sows, that is what he will reap” Gal.6:7} and the upcoming generations [‘no one born out of wedlock or any descendant of such a person, even in the tenth generation, may be included among the Lord’s people’ Deut.23:2]. This force is generally referred to as force of attraction/repulsion inserted into man by God (Gen.1:28) and the understanding of how it affects a particular, same and opposite sex in their relationships (emotional, physical, psychological, spiritual e.t.c) to every other human being in the world is called sexuality.

HAPPY NEW MONTH:

Thanks to the Oldest and Overly New Being {Odibalu Gbogbogbooo!!!; Ps.102:27}, the King of Kings [Eze ndi Eze] and Lord of Lords (Dinwenu ndi bu Nnaukwu; Rev.17:14) for the gift of a new day and month, we pray for mercies on the mistakes of the previous months and years which we used to betray your love for us (Dan.9:9) as we pray you to honor your word in Exodus 13:21 ("The Lord preceded them, by day in a pillar of cloud to show them the way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could march by day and by night") on our lives and that of all humanity since we are your people, the photo-negative of your Being (Gen.1:27) and you are our God {Jer.31:1}, our Breath, Our Strength, Our Joy {"The joy of the Lord is our Strength" Nehemiah 8:10} and the achiever of our plans ['Commend your ways into the Hand of God and your plans will be achieved' Prov.16:3].
HAPPY NEW MONTH AND ALL SAINTS DAY

WHY THIS SUFFERING?

“I am the Lord and there is no other, there is no God except me…I form the light and I create the darkness, I make well-being and I create disaster, I, the Lord, do all these things…woe to anyone who argues with his Maker, one earthenware pot among many! Does the clay say to its potter, what are you doing? Your work has no hands! Woe to anyone who asks a father, why are you begetting? And a woman, why are you giving birth? Thus says the Lord, the Holy One of Israel and his Maker: I am asked for signs regarding my sons, I am given orders about the work I do. It was I who made the earth and I created human beings on it, mine were the hands that spread out the heavens and I have the orders to all their array” {Isaiah 45:7-12} 

SUFFERING AS PART OF LIFE VOCATION:

SUFFERING AS PART OF LIFE VOCATION:

“It was God’s good pleasure to crush him with pain; if he gives his life as a sin offering he will see his offspring and prolong his life and through him God’s good pleasure will be done” {Isaiah 53:10}

‘…if anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross every day and follow me’ [Lk.9:23]

Since these are derived from the word of God which is eternal (1 Pet.1:25) and will never go unfulfilled in the life of every living soul {Mk.13:31} then why do most preachers/peer groups/societies increase the suicide rate in the world through their preaching of a cross less life to Christians which makes most men/women unable to build a strong shock-absorber for any possible encounter both from the good or bad aspect of life thus would often submit suicide as a way of fleeing a problem or predicaments that resulted from their actions.

Most parents also acquire wealth either by hook or crook for their children hence excusing them from domestic chores and the realities of decision making which will face them somewhere in future with statements like “I suffered too much, my child will not suffer”. This has also increased the rate of suicide and transferred aggression in the world today between families/friends/organizations e.t.c

Anyway, mark the words “Pleasing” and ‘Crush’ in the Isaiah passage {Isaiah 53:10} hence there are sufferings that come from God to test our faith in him just like our fathers were tested (Judith 8:25), our disposition towards this type of suffering as a blessing in disguise {by his suffering shall my servant justify many; Is.53:11} even when there are no physical evidence to trust in God [“though there seemed no hope, he hoped and believed that he was to become father of many nations in fulfillment of the promise: just so will your descendants be” Rom.4:18].

The other type of suffering is the after-effects of our sins; willingly or unwillingly (‘for me everything is permissible; maybe but not everything does good. True, for me everything is permissible but I am determined not to be dominated by anything’ 1 Cor.6:12, “Give in to God, then resist the devil and he will run away from you. The nearer you go to God, the nearer God will come to you…” James 4:7-8) and the effects of the sins already forgiven {“…you were a God of forgiveness to them but punished them for their sins” Ps.99:8, ‘be sure of it, the wicked will not go unpunished…’ Prov.11:21} as well as the effects of silence over other people’s sins [“uprightness makes a nation great, by sin whole races are disgraced” Prov.14:34]. For this type of suffering, God has given us the grace and tools to reduce as well as stop them by developing a hatred for sin in us and others and an ardent desire for righteousness {“you love uprightness and detest evil. This is why God, your God has anointed you with oil of gladness, as none of your rivals” Ps.45:7, Heb.1:9}, ‘proclaim the message and welcome or unwelcome, insist on it. Refute falsehood, correct error, give encouragement – but do all with patience and with care to instruct’ [2 Tim.4:2], (“One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision, be fearless; speak out and do not keep silence” Acts. 18:9), “By his divine power, he has lavished on us all the things we need for life and for true devotion, through the knowledge of him who has called us by his own glory and goodness” {2 Pet.1:3}

It is in the service of God and neighbor that we actually enjoy the vocation of existing as well as living (‘for the son of man himself came not to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many’ Mk.10:45) , hence questions like these begins to flow:

What words should I utter to draw a man’s soul closer to God?

What clothes should I wear to promote righteousness in other’s hearts?

What attitude should I put up to win a soul for Jesus?

What Bible passage should I meditate upon for the day while holding unto that day’s prayer intention?

What ritual prayers should I offer to lock the doors of hell and unlock the doors {Isaiah 22:22} of Heaven with the righteousness, grace and mercy therein on earthly souls and purgatorians?

What type of fasting and prayers [Dan.10:12] should I observe for each day other in order draw God’s attention on hardened sinners (Assassins, prostitutes, criminals, heretics, apostates, lesbians, homosexuals, porn-addicts, drug-addicts, rapists, abortion specialist, fashion-maniacs e.t.c)?

In all, do not fear to approach the throne of grace requesting for mercy and to find grace when we are need of help (Heb.4:16) even when we assume our state to be the most pitiable remember “…my grace is enough for you: for power is at full stretch in weakness…” {2 Cor.12:9}.

MEMENTO:

"...You were a God of forgiveness to them but punished them for their sins" (Ps.99:8) hence do not presume the mercy of God while committing one sin on top of another because for each sin you commit and ask for forgiveness from God; He forgives but for that singular act of disobedience, there is still a punishment for it{"be sure of it, the wicked will not go unpunished..." Prov.11:21} which can be now or later [Habakkuk 2:3]
As a youth, you may think that you have outsmarted God without remembering He may give it to you as a life partner...
woe to you as you continue to wallow in promiscuity (bestiality, masturbation, pornography, fornication, abortion, rape, adultery, lesbianism, homosexuality, indecent dressing), you have decided to destroy the temple of God and He will Destroy you {1 Cor.3:16-17} because God does not make empty statements ('sky and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away' Mk.13:31).
this punishment can be via the gift of a bad loose wife/husband/children/friend e.t.c or barrenness that will make your marriage a nightmare/regret/grief since by your actions you have made God regret creating you because of your wickedness ["God saw that human wickedness was great on earth and that human hearts contrived nothing but wicked schemes all day long. the Lord regretted having made human beings on earth and was grieved at heart" Gen.6:5-6] and ("...and be sure your sin will find you out" Numb.32:23).
Repent now, because the more sin you commit, the more punishment/retribution you are piling up for yourself on the day of judgment whether on earth or hereafter {"your stubborn refusal to repent is only storing up retribution for yourself on that day of retribution when God's just verdict will be made known" Rom.2:5}
there no favoritism with God {Rom.2:11}, Jesus will only testify for those who bear witness for him with all their spiritual gifts and spiritual talents here on earth before His Father in Heaven ('so if anyone declares himself for me in the presence of human beings, I will declare myself for him in the presence of my Father in heaven. but the one who disowns me in the presence of human beings, I will disown in the presence of my Father in heaven' Mtt.10:32-33). this testimony/witness needs to be consistent and continuous till date lest those moments of seriousness will be tagged futile on the day of judgment {"but anyone who stands firm to the end will be saved" Mtt.24:13}

THE TRUTH:

"who among you delights in life, longs for time to enjoy prosperity? Guard your tongue from evil, your lips from any breath of deceit" (Ps.34:12-13)
let us be mindful of the words we utter, the comments we make, the write-ups we post and the silence we keep over injustice and evil around us because we shall be judged by them now or later {Habb.2:3} as Christ affirmed thus "since it is by your words you will be justified and by your words condemned" [Mtt.12:37]. Paul affirmed Peter, James and John as pillars of faith (Gal.2:9) yet He condemned the funny attitude of Peter with regards to denying eating with the gentiles {Gal.2:11} hence the truth though should be delivered with prudence but without fear to anybody regardless of class/sex/color/creed/religion/belief e.t.c lest we incur wrath for being silent over others sin {Ex.3:18}.

THE MOST IMPORTANT:

“…You worry and fret about so many things and yet few are needed, indeed only one. It is Mary who has chosen the better part and it is not to be taken from her” (Lk.10:41-42)

Closeness to God via ritual and mental prayer is paramount for a sustainable Christian lifestyle.

In the family, it is important that every member of the family becomes part of the morning prayers before any engagement for the day as well as join together to thank God in the evening as a family for the day before going to bed. This practice has a way of hooking people to God and chasing away the cloud of evil from families even when outside the fore-walls of the family {‘…those who honor me I honor in my turn and those who despise me will be an object of contempt’ 1Sam.2:30}

Close continuous contact with the house of God (“better one day in your courts than a thousand at my own devices” Ps.84:10) is also another avenue for one to sustain as well as fan into flames {2Tim.1:6} the spirit of Grace we received at the waters of baptism either for fellowship with the various sodalities (‘do not absent yourself from your own assemblies, as some do, but encourage each other; the more so as you see the Day drawing near’ Heb.10:25), visit to the Eucharistic Jesus in the chapel of Adorations [“come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened and I will give your rest…” Mtt.11:28], daily attendance of Holy Mass ‘…if anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross every day and follow me’ Lk.9:23[Evening/Morning], Sacrament of reconciliation (“…go and show yourselves to the priests. Now as they were going away they were cleansed” Lk.17:14), Cathecatical instructions and benedictions ‘this is the doctrine that you can rely on. I want you to be quite uncompromising in teaching all this, so that those who now believe in God may keep their minds constantly occupied in doing good works. All this is good and useful for everybody’ {Titus 3:8}.

If you have been practicing these and many other profound union with God; hold unto it (“my brothers, never slacken in doing what is right” 2 Thess.3:13), fan it into flame {‘that is why I am reminding you now to fan into a flame the gift of God that you possess…’ 2Tim.1:6}, be on the alert that this virtue is not dampened [‘Everyone, no matter how firmly he thinks he is standing, must be careful he does not fall’ 1Cor.10:12] and also teach others (“…teach each other and advise each other, in all wisdom…” Col.3:16) to benefit from this Gracious benefits from Heaven while on earth as a way of fulfilling Christ purpose of redemption on mankind (‘…he has let us know the mystery of his purpose, according to his good pleasure which he determined beforehand in Christ...’ Eph.1:3-14)

EAGERNESS IN RIGHTEOUSNESS:

“Since John the Baptist came, up to this present time, the kingdom of Heaven has been subjected to violence and the violent are taking it by storm” (Mtt.11:12)

‘So Christ too, having offered himself only once to bear the sin of many will manifest himself a second time, sin being no more, to those who are waiting for him, to bring them salvation’ {Heb.9:28}

Where did the fire for righteousness go-off?

Where did the hunger for chastity/purity go-off?

When did the desire for evangelism dry-up?

When last did you offer that fasting and prayer that makes you feel the inner yearning as well as contact with the Most High?

When last did you wake-up in the middle of the night to pray for the righteous judgment of God?

When last did you sing that song that was makes you feel the warmth of His Able hands around you?

When last did you make honest and sincere prayers involving your emotions in the morning before the day’s activities and evening after your engagements?

When last did you make a good confession from a contrite heart?

When last did you receive the Body and Blood of Christ worthily?

When last did you attend Holy Mass early {before entrance hymn}, with devotion, attention and dignity?

When last did you visit the Eucharistic Jesus with a belief that you are standing before the Consuming Fire and Terrific God of the days of Moses and Elijah who does not alter with change in time?

Do you have a Bible?

When last did you open your Bible to read a verse from it and illumine the eyes of your mind?

When last did you share a thought with another person about a passage you read from the Sacred Scripture as a sort of encouragement or a way of refuting error?

When last did you say the Holy Rosary meditatively while inserting yourself within the walls of Our Lady’s womb where Christ dwelt for nine months?

When last did you dress with the intention of promoting the glory of God within you and within the hearts of admirers and on-lookers?

When last did you pay attention to the pictures in your children’s/neighbors room/phones/laptops?

When last did you pay attention to the dressing pattern of your friends/ward?

When last did you pay attention to the movies/T.V channels watched by your friends/ward?

Do you know that to whom much is given much is expected (Lk.12:48) and he who has, the little he thinks he has will be taking away from him {Lk.19:26}?

Are you still giving excuse why you should be a slave to a particular sin while the ransom paid for your sin is the Blood of Christ which cannot be soiled/spoilt or compared to human currency?

Are you still waiting to take the decision to return to your God?

Delay can be dangerous!!!

Arise, come to your God. Sing him your songs of rejoicing…

Let him enter the king of glory…

Make honest and sincere effort to keep the light glowing (‘yes, I will go further: because of the supreme advantage of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, I count everything else as loss…’ Phil.3:8) since “…anyone who stands firm to the end will be saved” {Mtt.24:13}

MARRIAGE AND SELF_CONTROL

‘Marriage must be honoured by all and marriages must be kept undefiled, because the sexually immoral and adulterers will come under God’s judgment’ (Heb.13:4)

“But from the beginning of creation he made them male and female. This is why a man leaves his father and mother and the two become one flesh. They are no longer two, therefore but one flesh. So then, what God has united, human beings must not divide…whoever divorces his wife and marries another is guilty of adultery against her. And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another she is guilty of adultery too” {Mk.10:6-12}. Marriage is between one man and one woman i.e a man and a woman not the same sex, nobody was born a homosexual, lesbian, masturbator, pornography-addict, fornicator, adulterer, exhibitionist, voyeuristic e.t.c rather a habit learnt during human development due to childhood encounters, peer-groups, internet-material-affiliations e.t.c hence they can be unlearnt gradually with firm determination [“there is nothing I cannot do in the One who strengthens me” Phil.4:13], mortification {‘…that first day when…you resolved to mortify yourself before God, your words have been heard and your words are the reason why I come’ Dan.10:12}, prayers and fasting above all the grace and mercy of God (‘My grace is enough for you: for power is at full stretch in weakness…’ 2Cor.12:9)

‘For I hate divorce, says the Lord God of Israel and people concealing their cruelty under a cloak…’ [Mal.2:16]

If you are about to thread the path of sexual promiscuity retrace your steps, if you are already into it; sorry because you will be made to pay for betraying as well as defiling the temple of God (‘Do you not realise that you are a temple of God with the Spirit of God living in you? If anybody should destroy the temple of God, God will destroy that person, because God’s temple is holy and you are that temple’ 1 Cor.3:16-17) immediately or sometime in the future by being humiliated with your current juvenile nude/half-nude pictures on the internet, recorded video of your current sexual perversion with different men or one man, loss of self-control under the disguise “everybody does it” as a youth  hence even as a married man/woman any lustful clothe, picture, position, gesticulation, speech by the opposite sex can easily get you crawling at lust no matter the class/age/health-status/environment e.t.c which brings curse from God into the family and diseases (HIV/AIDS/HBV) as a result series of couple have been buried within the interval of six{6} months [“…and be sure your sin will find you out” Numb.32:23]

Those who are still holding unto Self-control keep it up (‘I am coming soon: hold firmly to what you already have and let no one take your victor’s crown away from you’ Rev.3:11) for that is the Spirit we received at the waters of baptism for which Christ is called our Righteousness, Redeemer and Saviour {“it is by him that you exist in Christ Jesus, who for us was made wisdom from God and saving justice and holiness and redemption” 1 Cor.1:30} do not be cajoled into giving it up by anybody no matter his/her religious position/status [“since you have been forewarned about this, my dear friends, be careful that you do not come to the point of losing the firm ground that you are standing on, carried away by the errors of unprincipled people” 2 Pet.3:17] as well as juvenile relationships (‘so do not let anyone lead you astray, Bad company corrupts good ways’ 1 Cor.15:33) or statements like ‘virginity is not dignity it’s lack of opportunity’ filtering on the internet and peer-group discussions. For now, you may not have any physical evidence to show for taking this stand but later in life you will pity those who have broken their flower-port {Virginity} “for the vision is for its appointed time, it hastens towards its end and it will not lie; although it may take some time, wait for it, for come it certainly will before too long” (Habb.2:3)

MY PRAYER FOR YOU:

“I pray that the God of peace, who brought our Lord Jesus back from the dead to become the great shepherd of the sheep by the blood that sealed an eternal covenant, may make you ready to do his will in any kind of good action; and turn us all into whatever is acceptable to himself through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.” (Heb.13:20-21)

FALLING IN LOVE IS NOT JUST THE CRITERIA FOR HEALHY MARRIAGE:

An engaged couple from Madagascar who are studying at a university in Italy spoke of the anxiety they felt when faced with the "forever" of Marriage. The Pope explained that falling in love, being an emotion, is not eternal. "The emotion of love must be purified", he said, "it must undertake a journey of discernment in which the mind and the will also come into play. ... In the rite of Marriage the Church does not ask whether you are in love but whether you want, whether you are resolved. In other words, falling in love must become true love; it must involve the will and the mind in a journey (which is the period of engagement) of purification, of greater profundity so that it is truly all of man, with all his capacities, with the discernment of reason and the force of will, who says: 'Yes, this is my life'". The Holy Father also mentioned other important factors such as communion of life with others, with friends, the Church, the faith and God Himself.

A Brazilian family raised the issue of divorced couples who have remarried and cannot avail themselves of the Sacraments. Benedict XVI affirmed that "this is one of the the great causes of suffering for the Church today, and we do not have simple solutions. ... Naturally, one very important factor is prevention. This means ensuring that, from the beginning, the act of falling love is transformed in a more profound and mature decision. Another factor is that of accompanying people during marriage, to ensure that families are never alone but find authentic company on their journey. We must tell people in this situation that the Church loves them, but they must see and feel this love". Parishes and other Catholic communities "must do everything possible so that such people feel loved and accepted, that they are not 'outsiders' even if they cannot receive absolution and the Eucharist. They must see that they too live fully within the Church. ... The Eucharist is real and shared if people truly enter into communion with the Body of Christ. Even without the 'corporeal' assumption of the Sacrament, we can be spiritually united to Christ". It is important for divorced couples "to have the chance to live a life of faith, ... to see that their suffering is a gift for the Church, because they also help others to defend the stability of love, of Marriage; ... theirs is a suffering in the community of the Church for the great values of our faith".

SPEECH

“I was the one who misrepresented your intentions with my ignorant words…” [Job.42:3]

When do you speak?

Where do you speak?

How do you speak?

To whom do you speak?

Why do you speak?

What/who do you speak about/of?

The tongue is the smallest part of the human body yet can set it ablaze any second hence be ready listeners, slow to speak and slow to take offence (James 1:19) because it could mar all you have ever labored for as a human being on earth and before the throne of God {‘since it is by your words you will be justified and by your words condemned’ Mtt.12:37}

Many homes are under the spell of what their parents accepted with their tongue {“you will pray and he will hear…” Job.22:27} even being quick to sell their birthright as well as glory for food and drink just like Esau (‘Esau said, here I am at death’s door; what use is a birthright to me?’ Gen.25:32) because many human beings are unaware that everything we do or say is a prayer to God which either brings down a blessing or curse on us even as a group/nation [“…by sin whole races are disgraced” Prov.14:34] just like book-haram being perpetuated by some top Government officials in the name of politics yet every Nigerian is feeling the heat so also the wicked-silence and sinful lifestyle of many youths and parents are bearing an indirect tide of backwardness, under-development, insecurity and curse on many homes just like the theft of Achan lead to the massacre of Israelites army by the people of Ai whole whose population could not account for 5% of the Israelites army (Joshua 7:2-26).

For complete restoration from the sin of blasphemy and gossip after attending the sacrament of reconciliation, one has to go round and recede such blasphemy and gossip include those who have shared it with a third-party hence when in doubt do not act/speak lest one adds sin to another sin bearing in mind that the scar of each sin is incurable and must be paid for even after forgiveness has been granted to the soul by God (“be sure of it, the wicked will not go unpunished” Prov.11:21).

Therefore, bridle your tongue. Let the words you utter, write-ups on the internet/chartrooms, comments on the internet be one that administer grace to the hearer as the occasion offers {Eph.4:29}

GOD A MYSTERY TO MAN, MAN A MYSTERY TO HIMSELF:

It is in this light that man comes to God in prayer as an encounter of contradiction with a contradictory figure {the lion and the lamb on the Throne; Rev.5:5-6} not just by clapping, shouting, dancing e.t.c which are important parts of prayer but the connection of man’s abstraction with a Being whose abstraction is beyond his comprehension then ladled to the things around him. If you think and believe you have known God enough and the ordering of man’s affairs well then let’s go through this passage as you provide the answers therein:

“If you do know, you must have been born when they were, you must be very old by now!

Have you visited the place where the snow is stored?

Have you seen the stores of hail,

Which I keep for times of distress,

For days of battle and war?

From which direction does the lightning fork,

Where in the world does the east wind blow itself out?

Who bores a channel for the downpour

Or clears the way for the rolling thunder

So that rain may fall on the lands where no one lives,

And the deserts void of human dwelling,

To meet the needs of the lonely wastes

And make grass sprout on the thirsty ground?

Has the rain a father?

Who begets the dewdrops?

What womb brings forth the ice,

Who gives birth to the frost of heaven,

When the waters grow hard as stone

And the surface of the deep congeals” {Job 38:21-30}

If you can rarely give answers to these then what is the pride inside your head about your intelligence, beauty, handsomeness, wealth and status still doing there that you find it very hard to bend your knees in reverence awe for your Creator?

ANGER AND FORGIVENESS:

“Do not let resentment lead you into sin; the sunset must not find you still angry. Do not give the devil his opportunity” {Eph.4:26-27}

When annoyed try to swallow it as food, digest it by asking yourself the reason for such aggravation whether you truly caused it or is it a message from God on humility even though with human reasoning it’s painful. Even though a meal contains much of pepper spice, most people go down with it as a tasty meal hence at the penetration of the nails into his members Jesus wailed in pains yet after pondering over this ignorance of ours, He who hung between the earth and the heavens on the Cross chose forgiveness for us who crucified him with our sins instead of curse {Lk.23:34}.

This entails that word forgive which was divided into two by most preachers as ‘FORE’ from BEFORE and ‘GIVE’ calls us to calm our nerves before we give response to our aggravation lest we condemn ourselves [‘since it is by your words you will be justified and by your words condemned’ Mtt.12:37] in anger since no anger of man can bear righteous fruit before God (James.1:19) and don’t be too quick to give the lip-service expression of “I have forgiven you” when you have not finished nursing as well as expressing the pain you feel about what happened rather learn to speak the truth from your heart {Ps.15:2} and the truth will set you free (Jn.8:32).

Why should you forgive?

The highest conditional clause by which we can receive God’s forgiveness which will enable the doors of Heaven for us (“Yes, if you forgive others their failings, your heavenly Father will forgive you yours; but if you do not forgive others, your Father will not forgive your failings either” Mtt.6:14-15)

What does it entail to forget?

The hurt/pain/harm done to you by another will never go off as far as human memory is alive when we encounter such person but remembering that incidence at the instant of such persons visibility helps you to know how to inculcate such virtue lacking within him/her since God’s grace in you has enabled a higher percentage of such virtue to be active within your heart {‘he supports us in every hardship, so that we are able to come to the support of others, in every hardship of theirs because of the encouragement that we ourselves receive from God’ 2Cor.1:4}

THE CONSCIENCE AND SIN

“…and be sure your sin will find you out” (Numb.32:23)
‘Don’t think that you can sin and get away with it; the Lord does not mind waiting to punish you. Don’t be so certain of the Lord’s forgiveness that you go on committing one sin after another. Don’t think that his mercy is so great that he will forgive your sins no matter how many they are. He does show mercy, but he also shows furious anger with sinners’ {Sirach5:4-6}
“Don’t commit the same sin twice. The punishment you get the first time ought to be enough. Don’t think that God Most High is going to take into account how very generous you are and so accept any offering you decide to make” [Sirach7:8-9]
‘When you lift your hands in prayer, I will not look at you. No matter how much you pray, I will not listen, for your hands are covered with blood’ (Isaiah 1:15)
“Every lawless act leaves an incurable wound, like one left by a double-edged sword” {Sirach21:3}
“Be sure of it, the wicked will not go unpunished…” (Prov.11:21)
‘…you showed them that you are a God who forgives even though you punished them for their sins’ [Ps.99:8]
“for there is no longer any sacrifice that will take away sins if we purposely go on sinning after the truth has been made known to us. Instead, all that is left is to wait in fear for the coming judgment and the fierce fire which will destroy those who oppose God” (Heb.10:26-27)
‘Do not deceive yourselves; no one makes a fool of God. A person will reap exactly what he sows’ {Gal.6:7}
“If it is hard for the upright to be saved what will happen to the wicked and to sinners?” (1Pet.4:18)
‘Look on our Lord’s patience as the opportunity he is giving you to be saved…’ {2Pet.3:15}
“…so then spend, spend the rest of your lives here on earth in reverence for him” [1Pet.1:17]
‘there is no favoritism with God’ (Rom.2:5)

UNTAMED LADY/GIRL/MAN/BOY:

‘A woman’s wantonness shows in her wide-eyed look, her eyelashes leave no doubt. Keep a headstrong daughter under firm control, or feeling free, she will take advantage of it. Keep a strict watch on her shameless eye, do not be surprised if she disgraces you. Like a thirsty traveler she will open her mouth and drink any water she comes across; she will sit down in front of every tent-peg and open her quiver to any arrow’ {Sirach26:9-12}

As a lady/girl/man/boy are you tamed?

Does your appearance portray lust/love?

Are you quick at opening your mouth for a kiss or your embrace for any passer-by?

What picture of yourself does your dressing paint on the streets, offices, markets, church and internet?

Do you find it normal exposing/projecting your private parts and underwear’s to the public under the disguise of fashion/fame/favor/love/romance?

Are you quick at opening up your quiver to any arrow i.e your private parts to any man/woman in fornication, adultery, lesbianism, homosexuality, masturbation, pornographic magazines/discussions/videos/pictures/songs?

Remember some people died in these acts as many are still dying in it currently by being unrepentant in heart after hearing the gospel (‘If, after we have been given knowledge of the truth, we should deliberately commit any sins, then there is no longer any sacrifice for them. There is left only the dreadful prospect of judgment and of the fiery wrath that is to devour your enemies’ Heb.10:26-27) as we recall he does not practice favoritism {“there is no favoritism with God” Rom.2:11}

SECRETS

“A betrayer of secrets forfeits all trust and will never find the kind of friend he wants. Be fond of a friend and keep faith with him, but if you have betrayed his secrets, do not go after him anymore; for, as one destroys a person by killing him, so you have killed your neighbor’s friendship, and as you let a bird slip through your fingers, so you have let your friend go and will not catch him. Do not got after him – he is far away, he has fled like gazelle from the snare. For a wound can be bandaged and abuse forgiven, but for the betrayer of a secret there is no hope” (Sirach27:16-21)

Here the friendship/secrets we are being told about are one that helps us to develop as well as maintain consistent path with the righteousness of GOD, nothing more or less.

VIRTUE:

‘If you pursue virtue, you will attain it and put it on like a festal gown. Birds consort with their kind, truth comes home to those who practice it. The lion lies in wait for its prey, so does sin for those who do wrong. The conversation of the devout is wisdom at all times, but the fool is as changeable as the moon. When visiting stupid people, choose the right moment, but among the thoughtful take your time. The conversation of fools is disgusting, raucous their laughter in their sinful pleasures. The talk of hard-swearing people makes your hair stand on end, their brawling makes you stop your ears. A quarrel between the proud leads to bloodshed and their insults are embarrassing to hear’ (Sirach27:8-15)

ALMSGIVING:

“Nevertheless, be patient with those who are badly off, do not keep them waiting on your generosity. In obedience to the commandment, help the poor; do not turn the poor away empty-handed in their need. Spend your money on your brother or your friend; do not leave it under a stone to rust away. Use your wealth as the Most High has decreed; you will find that more profitable than gold. Stock your store-rooms with almsgiving; this will save you from all misfortune. Better than sturdy shield or weighty spear, this will fight for you against the enemy” [Sirach29:8-13]

BRINGING UP CHILDREN:

If you have anyone under your care either as parents, guardian or senior/head in any group as well as future parents and guardian; your responsibility will be made simpler, unique and worthwhile if you meditate with this passage before and after every day’s encounter/event:

‘Whoever loves his son will beat him frequently so that in after years the son may be his comfort. Whoever is strict with his son will reap the benefit and be able to boast of him to his acquaintances. Whoever educates his son will be the envy of his enemy and will be proud of him among his friends. Even when the father dies, he might well not be dead, since he leaves his likeness behind him. In life he has had the joy of his company, dying, he has no anxieties. He leaves an avenger against his enemies and a rewarder of favors for his friends. Whoever coddles his son will bandage his wounds; his heart will turn over at every cry. A badly broken-in horse turns out stubborn; a son left to himself turns out headstrong. Pamper your child and he will terrorize you, play along with him and he will bring you sorrow. Do not laugh with him or one day you will weep with him and end up gnashing your teeth. While he is young, do not allow his freedom and do not wink at his mistakes. Bend his neck in youth, bruise his ribs while he is a child, or else he will grow stubborn and disobedient and hurt you very deeply. Be strict with your son and persevere with him or you will rue his insolence’ (Sirach30:1-13)

CHASTE CELIBACY:

“…like an eunuch embracing a pretty girl – how he sighs” (Sirach30:20)

What is a man under the vow of chaste celibacy doing in the warmth embrace of a woman/lady?

What is a woman under the vow of chaste celibacy doing in the warmth embrace of a man/boy?

HEALTH:

“Better be poor if healthy and fit than rich if tormented in body. Health and strength are better than any gold, a robust body than untold wealth. No riches can outweigh bodily health, no enjoyment surpass a cheerful heart. Better death than a wretched life and everlasting rest than chronic illness. Good things lavished on a closed mouth are like food offerings put on a grave. What use is an offering to an idol which can neither eat nor smell? How describe someone pursued by the Lord’s displeasure? He looks and sighs like an eunuch embracing a pretty girl – how he sighs!” {Sirach 30:14-20}