Quote for the Day 31Jul2014

When you do not set your heart to seek the Lord, calamity is the inevitable result. The surest way to prosper in your endeavors is to diligently pursue the will of God. - Henry Blackaby

Quote for the Day 30Jul2014

If you wish to be miserable, think about yourself, think about what you want, what you like, what respect people ought to give you – and then to you, nothing will be pure, you will spoil everything you touch. You will make misery for yourself out of everything good. – Charles Kingsley

Quote for the Day 29Jul2014

The key to happiness is not to have what you want but to want what you have. - Anonymous

Quote for the Day 28Jul2014

Do not waste your precious energy on gossip, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead, invest your energy in the positive present moment. - Anonymous

Quote for the Day 27Jul2014

Hark, the voice of Jesus calling, Who will go and work today? Fields are ripe and harvests waiting, Who will bear the sheaves away? …Who will answer, gladly saying, Here am I, send me, send me? - Daniel March

HARK, THE VOICE OF JESUS CALLING

Dearly Beloved, HARK, THE VOICE OF JESUS CALLING “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’” (Isaiah 6:8 NIV). “Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field’” (Matthew 9:37-38 NIV). Daniel March was a pastor in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA in the late nineteenth century when he had the inspiration to compose the hymn, “HARK, THE VOICE OF JESUS CALLING.” He composed the hymn during a service to replace a hymn that he perceived was not suitable for his message, and he sang the hymn immediately. Undoubtedly, Isaiah 6:8 and Matthew 9:37-38 (quoted above) would come to mind as some of the Bible passages that Daniel March might likely used as Scripture texts for his sermon that day. More than in the days of Daniel March, the voice of Jesus is still calling today, “Who will go and work today? Fields are ripe and harvests waiting, who will bear the sheaves away?” Will you answer the call like Isaiah and say, “Here am I. Send me!”? Daniel March gave some explanations in his hymn. You do not need to go to a distant place to do this assignment. You can find the lost around you; you can help them at your door. You do not need to have millions of dollars before you can give for missions. You can give the widow’s mite, because, what you truly give for Jesus will be precious in His sight. You do not need to be a great speaker before you speak of the love of Jesus and His death. You can even lead the little children to the Savior’s waiting arms. While you may not be noticeable to many people as some great evangelists and preachers of the Gospel, with your prayers and with your bounties, you can secretly do what heaven demands. You can even be like faithful Aaron and Hur who held up the hands of Moses while Joshua was in the war front fighting God’s battle (see Exodus 17:10-13). Having warned that we should not let people hear us idly saying, “There is nothing I can do. While the lost of earth are dying, and the Master calls for you”, Daniel March, therefore, concluded in the hymn with this admonition: “Take the task He gives you gladly; Let His work your pleasure be; Answer quickly when He calls you, Here am I, send me, send me.” Are you ready to yield to this admonition? In His service, Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

Quote for the Day 26Jul2014

Jesus is not one of many ways to approach God, nor is He the best of several ways; He is the only way. - A.W. Tozer

Quote for the Day 25Jul2014

Our love for God must not be based solely on His blessings but because of who He is. - Jennifer Benson Schuldt

Quote for the Day 24Jul2014

We don’t have enough words to tell God how much we love Him! So, let’s show Him our love by surrendering our hearts and lives to follow Him. - Joe Stowell

Quote for the Day 23Jul2014

If I were to say, "God, why me?" about the bad things, then I should have said, "God, why me?" about the good things that happened in my life. - Arthur Ashe

Quote for the Day 22Jul2014

Every child of God needs to learn how to have a constant relationship with God more than doing a service for Him. - SAK Olaleye

Quote for the Day 21Jul2014

Joy is not an emotion. It is a decision to look beyond painful circumstances and see that God is present in every situation. - Yemi Ladokun

Quote for the Day 20Jul2014

The bones of uprightness can live again wherever you find yourself by contributing your own positive quota towards it. Shun corruption in any form! - Bayo Afolaranmi

CAN THESE BONES LIVE?

Dearly Beloved, CAN THESE BONES LIVE? “The hand of the Lord was upon me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. He asked me, ‘Son of man, can these bones live?’ I said, ‘O Sovereign Lord, you alone know’” (Ezekiel 37:1-3 NIV). I am not happy with the level of corruption in my country, Nigeria. Corruption has eating deep into the fibre of every place from the highest level in the corridors of power in the country to the lowest level one can think of. Even, our religious (and especially Christian) settings are not left out of this moral decadence. I have been thinking if there would be any remedy from this situation. Will Nigeria ever be corruption free again? As I ruminated on this, the vision of Ezekiel in Ezekiel 37 came to my mind and specifically, the question of the Sovereign Lord: “Can these bones live?” Ezekiel could not answer the question, but the Lord asked him to command the dry bones to come back to life. After the dry bones had come back to life at Ezekiel’s command, the Lord gave the meaning of the vision: the dry bones were the whole house of Israel who thought that “[their] bones are dried up and [their] hope is gone” (verse 11 NIV). The Lord then asked Ezekiel to prophesy to the people that He (God) would open their graves and bring them up from their scattered places; that He would bring them back to the land of Israel. After these, the people of Israel would know that He is the Lord, when He opens their graves and brings them up from the far places. He also promised to put His Spirit in them and that they would live (see verses 12-14). In spite of the level of corruption in Nigeria, I believe that Nigeria will be free of corruption one day. Only, I cannot say how soon this will be. However, what role am I playing to make this come to reality sooner? What roles are you playing to make Nigeria corruption free? For non-Nigerians, what roles are you playing to make your society corruption free? The bones of uprightness can live again wherever you find yourself by contributing your own positive quota towards it. Shun corruption in any form! In His service, Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor). Prayer Point: Pray that the Sovereign Lord will break every yoke of corruption in your life and society.

Quote for the Day 19Jul2014

You are the determinant of whether your heaven will be closed or opened. If you walk with the Lord and faithfully obey Him, the heaven over your life will be opened. If you neglect God and decide to disobey Him, your heaven will be closed. - Supo Ayokunle

Quote for the Day 18Jul2014

When you face valleys in your life, never forget that God is infinitely mightier than your problems, and He is watching over you. No matter how desperate your circumstances may seem, God is sheltering you and protecting you. He is upholding you and empowering you. - Michael Youssef

Quote for the Day 17Jul2014

We come nearest to the great when we are great in humility. - Rabindranath Tagore

Quote for the Day 16Jul2014

Giving with unending generosity consists of time, encouragement, financial help, compassion, friendship and prayer. - Amos O. Tella

Quote for the Day 15Jul2014

I have found a friend in Jesus, He’s everything to me, He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul; The Lily of the Valley, in Him alone I see All I need to cleanse and make me fully whole. - Charles W. Fry

Quote for the Day 14Jul2014

When unwelcome circumstances threaten you and you feel vulnerable, reflect on one of God’s names. Be assured — He will be faithful to His name. - Joe Stowell

Quote for the Day 13Jul2014

Have you allowed God to have His way in your life? Will you let God be the Potter of the clay in your life? Surrender your total life to Him and do not struggle with Him over your life ambition. He will mold your life in a better way than you never imagined. - Bayo Afolaranmi

HOW CAN GOD HAVE HIS WAY?

Dearly Beloved, HOW CAN GOD HAVE HIS WAY? "Father, if you are willing, please don't make me drink from this cup. But do what you want, not what I want" (Luke 22:42 ERV). “But, Lord, you are our father. We are like clay, and you are the potter. Your hands made us all” (Isaiah 64:8 ERV). Occasionally, I use the lyrics of the hymns I post daily in the “Ministering through Daily Hymns” aspect of my Internet ministry to pray for people in the “Prayer Wishes” aspect of the ministry. I do this because many people just sing and enjoy the melodies of these hymns without pondering on the wordings of the hymns. I was proved right recently when I used the lyrics of the popular hymn “HAVE THINE OWN WAY, LORD” by Adelaide A. Pollard to pray with people that day. I was surprised when some people in my contact lists asked me how God can have His way in their lives. When one asks God to have His way in one’s life, one is implying two things: one, one is depending on God and one is ready to yield to the way of God, and two, God is able to do the right thing in and over one’s life. Therefore, one who allows God to have His way over one’s life will surrender one’s total life to God for guidance and direction. Such one will allow God to do as He wills over one’s life without struggling with God or imposing one’s way on God. Having tried without success to become a missionary to Africa, Adelaide A. Pollard yielded herself to God and composed that hymn, “HAVE THINE OWN WAY, LORD.” She likened herself to clay while God is the Potter that is molding the clay as He wants. She waited and yielded herself so that God could mold her and make her after His will. Even as she did this, she went ahead to pray that God should search her and try her and wash her as she humbly bowed in His presence. Because she had allowed God to have His way in her life, she could pray also that God help her, touch her and heal her from her wounded and weary heart. Above all, she wanted to be filled with the Holy Spirit so as to see only Christ always living in her. Have you allowed God to have His way in your life? Will you let God be the Potter of the clay in your life? Surrender your total life to Him and do not struggle with Him over your life ambition. He will mold your life in a better way than you never imagined. Lord, have Your way in my life! In His service, Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor). Prayer Point: Pray that you will not struggle with God but allow Him to have His way in your life so that your life will be molded as He wants it. NB Are you on BBM and you have not joined my first BBM network? If yes, you can still invite me through this second BB PIN:79D09A93 to be receiving my daily messages. If you are already in the first network and you have been receiving my daily messages you do not need to join this second network. Thanks.

Quote for the Day 12Jul2014

Money has never made man happy, nor will it, there is nothing in its nature to produce happiness. The more of it one has, the more one wants. - Benjamin Franklin

Quote for the Day 11Jul2014

God calls us to a wonderful process of learning to know Him, with the assurance that it will lead to productive service in His name and for His honor. - David McCasland

Quote for the Day 10Jul2014

Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply. - Stephen R. Covey

Quote for the Day 09Jul2014

Our peace comes from the confidence that the Lord loves us and He is in control. He alone provides the comfort that settles our nerves, fills our minds with hope, and allows us to relax even in the midst of changes and challenges. - Poh Fang Chia

Quote for the Day 08Jul2014

God will certainly not answer all our prayers the way we want Him to do so, but He works everything for the good of all who love Him. - Bayo Afolaranmi

Quote for the Day 07Jul2014

People, who consider themselves victims of their circumstances, will always remain victims unless they develop a greater vision for their lives. - Stedman Graham

Quote for the Day 06Jul2014

Give glory to God for the grace He has given you to enjoy the resources He has graciously endowed you with. Some have these resources, but they cannot enjoy them. Some wish to have what you have, but do not have them. - Bayo Afolaranmi

SOME HAVE FOOD, BUT...

Dearly Beloved, SOME HAVE FOOD, BUT... “These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go with the multitude, leading the procession to the house of God, with shouts of joy and thanksgiving among the festive throng” (Psalm 42:4 NIV). One of the songs we used to sing when I was in elementary school is, “Some have food, but cannot eat; some can eat, but have no food. We have food and we can eat. Glory be to You, O Lord!” Honestly, like many of my contemporaries, I did not know the actual lyrics of this song and many other popular songs sung in school in those days. We just sang them routinely. However, just recently, I overheard it from some school pupils as they were about to have their midday break. I listened attentively to it as it refreshed my memory of my elementary school days, and I reflected on the lyrics of the song. Many people really have plenty of food and other financial and material resources, but they cannot enjoy them because of physical ailments, psychological trauma and other hindrances that are beyond their control. On the other hand, many people are hale and healthy with no stress, but they do not have food and other financial and material resources to enjoy. This scenario can be likened to a Yoruba adage: one who has head does not have cap to wear on it. However, many of us have food and other financial and material resources relatively and we can enjoy these things because we have little or no physical ailments, psychological trauma and other such things that may hinder us from enjoying the God-given resources. Glory, indeed, be to God. The writer of Psalm 42 could explain this scenario better. He wanted to join others to worship God but he was hindered by physical ailments and psychological trauma that were beyond his control. However, he encouraged himself by putting his hope in God. On the other hand, another psalmist in Psalm 103 expressed his praises to God “who satisfies [his] desires with good things” (verse 5, NIV). Do you give glory to God for the grace He has given you to enjoy the resources He has graciously endowed you with? Some have these resources, but they cannot enjoy them. Some wish to have what you have, but do not have them. Appreciate God for what He has done for you, and He will enable you to enjoy them more. I have food, and I can eat. Glory be to You, O Lord! In His service, Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor). Prayer Points: 1. Pray that you will always appreciate God for the grace to enjoy His goodness over your life. 2. Pray for people that desire to enjoy the goodness of God but cannot because of some hindrances.

Quote for the Day 05Jul2014

God’s presence is real. He continually watches over us. He is rock-solid. — Anne Cetas

Quote for the Day 04Jul2014

Live in such a way that when people think of honesty and integrity, they will think of you. - H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Quote for the Day 03Jul2014

Sometimes the majority only means that all the fools are on the same side. – Anonymous

Quote for the Day 02Jul2014

I have learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. - Maya Angelou

Quote for the Day 01Jul2014

God is looking out for you when you do not even know you are in danger! – Bob Gass