30: The Year of Greater Things

As my 29th birthday approached last year, I started to think of my 30th. And as I did for each prior year, I prayed and hoped that same time next year I would have progressed career wise; prayed and hoped that same time next year I won't still be single- in fact that I’ll be married or at least planning my wedding. I had said that God forbid that I’m still single at 30 (with no kids) that I will not celebrate my birthday. After all, what am I celebrating, abi?

I know I am destined for greater things. I can feel it in my spirit and soul. The constant personal challenges I face proves to me that I have a bright future. I mean, why would one encounter so many obstacles despites God’s promises? Why would the devil be so determined to hinder me from reaching God’s destiny for me?

But I think, I’m 30 soon. When will these challenges end? When will I have to stop praying and fasting extra hard for something others have fall in their laps? What is so exciting about turning 30- without achieving what I feel I ought to have achieved? Because no matter how you look at it, be it single at 30, married at 30, having 6 kids by 30, earning 6d at 30- 30 ain’t young!

But as my birthday is fast approaching now, I keep reflecting on what God has done in my life so far, and I have to just give Him thanks. I no longer worry when these challenges rear their ugly heads. ‘Cause if God can deliver me out of the hands of my “Egyptians” and make a way out each time I’m pushed into a corner- I am rest assured that He will not put me to shame nor let my enemies triumph over me- for my trust is in Him and not in man.
-I thank Him for the gift of life. The gift of sleeping and waking up.
-I thank Him for the wisdom he has given me as I mature daily.
-I thank Him for giving me the spirit of discernment.
-I thank Him for me being able to acknowledge my weaknesses and for making me a better person. A better friend. A loyal friend.
-I thank Him for planting the seed of wanting to know His word more.
-I thank Him for giving me the desire to grow spiritually.
-I thank Him for taming my temper and replacing it with patience.
-I thank Him because I KNOW that through my infirmities His name shall only be praised.
-I thank Him for making me beautiful.
-I thank Him for giving me the understanding of paying my tithes.
-I thank Him that I didn't lose my job and rather got a 20% pay cut.
-I thank Him that my work contract keeps getting renewed. A 3months contract and 2.5yrs down the line- i'm still here.
-I thank Him for reconnecting me with my father- before 30.
-I thank Him for giving me the ability to let go of the bitterness I had towards my mother.
-I thank Him for the brother He gave me. I have the best brother ever.
-I thank Him for the Love my extended family have for me. They make me feel special.
-I thank Him for giving me the ability to forgive and forget what my abuser did to me as a child.
-I thank Him that I completed my MBA before 30.
-I thank Him for I was able to purchase two homes as a single lady before 30.
-I thank Him because I can say I have lived in 3 different continents and worked in 2 different Western countries before 30.
-I thank Him for not allowing me to marry younger. I thank Him because I know when I do marry, I’ll be a better wife and mother compared to what I would have been 4 years ago.

I know age 30 is a special number to God. 30 is my year of greater things; greater beginnings; my year of laughter; my year of promotion; my year of divine favour.
Because at age 30, Jesus got baptized and started his ministry. At age 30 David became King over Israel. At 30, John the Baptist baptized Jesus. At 30 Joseph married Asenath, the daughter of the priest of Heliopolis, and thus became a member of the priestly class. At 30 Jospeh, was remembered by the butler who connected him with Pharoah. At 30 he attained a high position in Egypt; the wise man of Egpyt.

So yes, I will be celebrating my 30th. May God keep me till then!!!! August 21st.
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TODAY'S WORD from Joel and Victoria
Did you know that in the Bible, David was 17 years old when he was anointed to be king, but yet he did not take the throne until he was 30? I’m sure during those 13 years there were plenty of times that David was tempted to think it wasn’t going to happen. I’m sure he was tempted to get frustrated or even feel like a failure, thinking “God, did I hear You? I thought You said You were going to do something great with my life, but nothing is going my way.” Here he was being faithful, but all those years he saw no sign of the promise coming to pass.
I’m sure David had to fight the same negative thoughts that we do; thoughts that were telling him “It’s not going to happen. David, you didn’t hear from God. Just accept it.” The battle was taking place in his mind just like our battles take place in our minds. During those times when it seems like you aren’t getting any closer to seeing your dream come to pass, remember, the scripture tells us that through faith and patience we inherit the promises of God.
A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Father God, I humbly come to You, believing that You are working behind the scenes on my behalf. I trust that Your Word is true and believe that through faith and patience, I will see Your promises come to pass in my life. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Thorn in the Flesh

As a growing Christian, I have a lot of questions i need answers to. I hope that answers to these questions will not only add to my knowledge but will also add your own.

In 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (New King James Version) Paul talks about the thorn in his flesh which God did not take away from him. Ever since i read this passage, my mind has been bugged down with questions.
What does this thorn in the flesh represent? What does it mean? Sickness, challenges we go through etc.?
Are there things we desire that God will not give us? e.g. healing? children? spouse? break-thru? good career? success?

(NKJV) 7 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

(New Living Translation) 7 even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. 8 Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. 9 Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 10 That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Buffet means:
To hit or beat, especially repeatedly.
To strike against forcefully; batter: winds that buffeted the tent.
To drive or force with or as if with repeated blows: was buffeted about from job to job by the vagaries of the economy.
To force (one's way) with difficulty.

Does God leave us with thorns in our flesh to torment us so that we do not become proud and forsake him? Cos we all know that when things are going good, it's human nature to forget God and only return to him in times of struggle. It is human nature for the rich and successful to think there is no God and even if they do believe, they think it's their own doing that got them to where they are.

Inheritance: Blessings or Curses

What is inheritance? Webster dictionary defines it as the reception of genetic qualities by transmission from parent to offspring; the acquisition of a possession, condition, or trait from past generations. Now if inheritance is passed on to future generations, can these inheritances come in the form of curses as well or just blessings?

(http://www.bga.com/~wdoud/topics/blessing.html) In the Bible the idea of "blessing" is closely related to inheritance; and when I say inheritance I do not mean monetary or material value. Though inheritance is generally related to blessings, in some cases curses are inherited instead. Both blessings and curses are said to be passed down through two or more generations. For example, there is the concept of the four generation curse, divine discipline for a family that is out of fellowship.
Exodus 20:5 says........visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations...............
In the Christian life, the inheritance that we pass down to our children is spiritual, doctrinal. What we do, the life we live, what we say, what we engage in now does not only affect us but it affects our generation to come. The question then is - what type of inheritance are u leaving for your descendants? Blessings or Curses? What kind of life do you live?
Proverbs 13:22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children….. But the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous.

There are certain struggles that we all go through which I’m sure makes us wonder why me? Ta ni mo se (who have I sinned against)? Ki le-se mi (what sin have I committed)? While we see some of our friends and peers who are sinners just like us or worse live life literally stress-free. And this got me thinking………and what came to mind was the story of Noah and his son Ham.

Genesis 9: 18 Now the sons of Noah who went out of the ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. And Ham was the father of Canaan. 19 These three were the sons of Noah, and from these the whole earth was populated. 20 And Noah began to be a farmer, and he planted a vineyard. 21 Then he drank of the wine and was drunk, and became uncovered in his tent. 22 And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brothers outside. 23 But Shem and Japheth took a garment, laid it on both their shoulders, and went backward and covered the nakedness of their father. Their faces were turned away, and they did not see their father’s nakedness. 24 So Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done to him. 25 Then he said: “ Cursed be Canaan; A servant of servants He shall be to his brethren.”

The sin of Ham was the result of the sin of his father Noah getting drunk- (Isaiah 5:22 Woe to men mighty at drinking wine, Woe to men valiant for mixing intoxicating drink. Galatians 5:21 envy, murders,[a] drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.). But notice, Noah did not curse Ham directly but he cursed Ham’s last son- Canaan, who as far as I’m concerned was an innocent party. But because he was in Ham’s linage he suffered the consequences of the sin his father bore. Not fair. This makes me think, are there things I’m going through now thanks to my ancestors? I do not understand why I should have to suffer for the sins of my forefathers. Are there things i'm doing now that others will suffer?

http://ldolphin.org/canaan.html)The
http://www.globalchristians.org/ebooks/tt3.htm

One of the greatest reasons why as Christians we perish or why the devil has victory over us is because of lack of knowledge of the consequences of things we do. It bothers me when I see the evil that some people do. E.g. when a relative takes you in and you then see it fit to abuse their child; when a spouse commits their life to you and in return you abuse, mistreat and cheat; when a friend out of love renders help to you and becos of envy you repay their goodness by trying to take over their possession; when you swindle people out of their inheritance or hard earned money; when you decide to enter a relationship with a friends spouse; when you decide to steal from God; gossip; Lack of fear of God; I can go on and on. The unfortunate thing is that what we do now does not only affect us. We are not the only ones who reap the reward of the evil we do but our innocent generations to come who were not party of our wicked ways suffer as well. That is just not fair. Even if you do not care about suffering the consequences of the things you do, please remember your descendants. This has really got me thinking about the kinda life i live. What about you?