Job placement Week5, 2017

Friends join me to praise and thank God for His awesome mercies in my life. My son could not attend the housemanship interview in Enugu where we live because he had not gotten his Medical and Dental Council (MDCN) registration by then. He trained overseas at Crimea Federal University Russia and had to sit an additional examination for foreign medical graduates at Ahmadu Bello University Zaria in October last year. By that time most Teaching Hospitals had finished interview except National Hospital Abuja, Army Hospital in Lagos, and Delta State University Teaching Hospital (DELSUTH). 

Getting a placement for Housemanship in Nigeria had become difficult in the last few years with young doctors staying  3 , 4 or 5 years  before getting a placement. At their induction at the Nigeria Air force centre in Abuja on November 8 the MDCN registrar had promised that starting mid 2017, a scheme similar to NYSC would be created to solve this problem, but my God was not going to allow my son wait this long. He was only able to do the interview for national hospital Abuja because it held the same day as DELSUTH. In any case, for some reason he did not get the DELSUTH invitation for interview, and the Army Hospital told him they weren’t sure they would take anybody. From over 900 candidates that applied for national hospital about 700 did the written examination. This reduced the number to 150 who took the clinical and oral interview. Friends even though he came out very confident in his performance I didn’t give him much chance because I know what politicians do, especially in Abuja. My fear grew worse especially when I called the wife of the Chief Medical Director (CMD) and she told me she couldn’t even speak to her husband on that issue because he was already under too much pressure from the Presidency, Senate, and Governors etc. But my son kept telling me God had promised him a space. His faith was so strong that last Sunday when I was looking for someone to take me to the CMD he chided me and told me not to worry or bother. He told me he was sure of God’s promise to him but not sure his roommate at Zaria would make it. So I would rather join him to pray for the roommate. I asked where the confidence was coming from and he said, “God”. He did not sow any seed specifically for this but says he had an agreement prayer first with God then with 4 of his colleagues (so a total of 5 people) that if He grants them success they will not only dedicate their work to Him through giving their best, but establish a strong men’s fellowship in that hospital to spread His name.

Friends yesterday evening (18/1/2017) the results came out and my son’s name was number 1. Number 1. And his friend’s name was somewhere in the list. And in less than 30 minutes he got a text message to come and pick his appointment letter to start immediately. Is this God not awesome? When you know Him you don’t need to know anyone else because The earth is the LORD's and the fullness thereof Ps 24:1(ESV). Please join me to thank this awesome wonderful God who through the faith of this little boy has taught me a huge lesson and reminded me that one with Him is majority and a winner. Praise the LORD! Hallelujah!!!

Augustina Nwosu is a community physician

Roll the stone away Week 4, 2017

Now there was a task to be done when Jesus came to the tomb before Lazarus received the command to arise from the dead and come out from the tomb. There is a task too Jesus has for you here after which He then brings His transforming power to your situation.  Then he told the people to roll the stone away. But Martha said, "Lord, you know that Lazarus has been dead four days, and there will be a bad smell." Jn 11:39(ISV).   We need to roll the stone away. It has to be done by man, by you and me. We need to open the mess of our lives first to Him in confession and genuine repentance.

Are you reluctant like Martha? Is there a bad smell going to come out when you open up? Would you rather leave the matter buried and with a decent looking tombstone? Would you rather keep your reputation and leave your Lazarus in the grave? King Saul craved for honour before men when he sinned, and the kingdom was torn away from him permanently. "I've sinned," Saul said. "But please honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel, and return with me so I may worship the LORD your God." 1Sam 15:30(ISV) 

“Preacher why disgrace me like this? And that in public?” no. This is not an attempt to disgrace you. ROLL THE STONE AWAY. Open the rottenness to Jesus, give Him your shame; pour it out to him in repentance. If men have betrayed and offended you look deep enough and you will see you did worse towards God. Then his master summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me.  And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?” Mat 18:32(ESV) 

Let your cry come up to Jesus now in sincerity. Pray this way, “Have mercy upon me o God, according to your loving kindness, according to the multitude of your tender mercies blot out my sin. I am not worthy to be called your son. Because Jesus Christ on the cross died in my place make me as one of your servants. Forgive me o God.”

When you make the confession and repentance to God, when the stone is rolled away we hear no cries of a smell but thanksgiving to God. After the stone had been rolled aside, Jesus looked up toward heaven and prayed, "Father, I thank you for answering my prayer...” Jn 11:41  .

Have you opened to Jesus? Now In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I speak to those dead businesses come out of your graves. You dead marriages live in Jesus’ name.

Stop that lawyer. Don’t sign the divorce papers - Jesus has spoken. Watch Lazarus come to life again then “loose him and let him go” to Jesus

Concluding part of a message given at the Anglican Revival Hour

He still reigns Week3, 2017

Was your business was sick a while back and you sent an urgent plea to God to help out? Before your eyes the naira to the scarce US dollar exchange rate in the parallel market hit 400 naira to the dollar and is still climbing. To compound issues petrol climbed steadily to reach 250 naira per litre pump price last year, and when the government stepped in it officially was raised to 145 naira per litre. The business is virtually in the tombs. What happened to your prayers?

Your marriage relationship has gone way past your worst nightmare. Saying you two have irreconcilable differences is being polite. There was a time you felt you cared, that it mattered enough to save the marriage. Now the matter is dead and gone. “Can I move on with life Pastor?” is your question. Right now you are facing a raw, bitter experience. As far as you are concerned hope is gone. It has been buried with a tombstone over it for many a day now like Lazarus. As far as your experience is concerned it’s not only Lazarus that became sick and died despite Jesus’ words this sickness is not unto death. You are like him. Your business has collapsed. The relationship is virtually over. He still reigns.

Listen in: Jesus told her, "I am the resurrection and the life. The person who believes in me, even though he dies, will live. Indeed, everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe that?" Jn 11:25-26(ISV) 

Perhaps you are saying with Martha to Jesus as in Jn 11:21(ISV) "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. ".  O that you will also with her say “But even now I know that whatever you ask of God, he will give it to you.” As Jesus told her, "Your brother will rise again." Jesus is here to give you a new lease of life. Jesus says, "I am the resurrection and the life!” Jn11:25(ISV)    

Economic policies have failed you. Look they will yet fail. You may have looked to a particular political or religious leader and been heavily disappointed. Safety and security don’t come from any political association. No. Jesus says, "I am the resurrection and the life.” Jn11:25(ISV). Neither APC nor PDP or Biafra can give real safety and guarantee a godly equitable society. Life comes from no religious or political leader. It comes from Jesus. Jesus says, "I am the resurrection and the life.”Jn11:25(ISV).    Jesus is the way the truth the life.

Even now that marriage can be saved, burst forth with life, that family experience unity, that economy come to life again. You know why? Jesus is showing up and walking to the place you have buried it. He’s not coming to mourn over your Lazarus. No. He is here to bring life again! Hallelujah.

Martha said in  Jn 11:24(ISV) "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day." The last day an indistinct time, sometime maybe but Jesus says I am the resurrection and the life. I am here now. Please take Jesus to where your Lazaru, your marriage is buried. Take Him to the tomb now.

A New Year forecast Week2, 2017

Welcome to 2017! Pray tell, what can we expect in the New Year? The watchman says: "Morning comes, and also the night. If you will inquire, inquire; come back again." Is 21:12(ESV).  I asked where the economy is headed this year of a banker who said, “It could go either way. We may move forward or backward. Anything could happen.” Not much information right? However there is something that is certain: God will not change. His word will never fail. You see human beings are unstable, uncertain. The wisest can act foolishly; the most trusted can become scheming and treacherous. The enemy can even turn and lend a helping hand. But the changing and uncertain nature of men is incapable of subverting the will of God. I can tell you in this year men will prove unstable, surprises will spring from among men, but God’s word will unerringly come to pass. Tell the righteous that it shall be well with them, for they shall eat the fruit of their deeds Is 3:10(ESV).

The rebellion of Satan and his hordes will also be seen this year. As that scripture predicts: night will come this year as well as morning. Morning comes, and also the night... Is 21:12(ESV). Night of battles and mornings of victories, night of the rage of darkness in their scheming, but as the light shines in the darkness the revelation of Satan’s wickedness in this year won’t surprise, subvert or defeat God. Mornings of victory are also destined. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it Jn 1:5(ESV). The life of Jesus manifest in you will always triumph. Just make sure in all circumstances you walk in love. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose Rom 8:28(ESV). 

So what are we saying? It’s not what the New Year will bring that will matter but what we bring into this New Year that will determine its outcome! For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith1Jn 5:4(ESV). This will never change. Therefore we determine to be more interested in how to take God at His word and obey it without turning to the left or the right because the LORD said to me, "You have seen well, for I am watching over my word to perform it." Jer 1:12.  I am not afraid of hunger when I know food is waiting at home for me. I just need to get home and ask for it. Don’t be disturbed if there is lack of clearness about the year; be immersed in the clearness of God’s word. Are we saying no preparation is necessary for this year? No; on the contrary we hold THE preparation for this year and all years is to prepare to do what the Bible teaches in all circumstances, and to walk in faith and love. This is because: In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will Eph 1:11(ESV). Happy New Year!