The cashew tree Week 1 2017

Hmm... about 9 years ago I cried over a lost cashew tree in the middle of my compound. I cried inconsolably; my dad asked me to choose between the cashew tree and a new more comfortable house. We children were united in not wanting the tree cut down and we all chose to spare the tree instead of  having a new house. “The cashew tree of course” I cried, my siblings cried.  It was standing right where he planned a new building. Well I didn’t see the need for a new house... what were we doing with a new building, it didn’t mean anything to me (after all we were well accommodated in our own bungalow) but my cashew tree... it was everything. I gave my dad my reasons why it should remain where it was: it had a swing attached to it where we loved to play, it was fruiting very well (it was among the most fruitful in the compound and there was no other fruitful cashew tree there), it was a very good shade... lots more. Well the matter was closed by my father; he gasped at my answer, at our confident response and emotions and said “Well in a few years time I’ll ask you the question again.” I responded “It will still be the cashew tree!” He said nothing more to me. The tree was uprooted and the ground dug up with trenches. No more swing, no more cashews from it. I mourned my lost tree.

Five years later the new house was completed and we excitedly packed in. My dad now called us over and asked, “Which do you prefer now, the house or the cashew tree?” I dodged the question; of course there was no comparison. Sometimes you have to lose something precious to receive something bigger and a lot more useful. The Kingdom of heaven is like this. A man happens to find a treasure hidden in a field. He covers it up again, and is so happy that he goes and sells everything he has, and then goes back and buys that field Mat 13:44(GNB) .

When God takes away something precious from us and still promises that He has greater plans, learn not to complain. Like the child I was, not to see a beautiful house beyond the tree, so are we all blinded by the beauty we cannot see... trust God in everything even though you have to lose something really dear... (I still miss my cashew tree sha)

Beloved in this New Year watch for the good things to set aside for their time is expired for the destinies He is ushering us into. As when Jesus was to leave the earth for the Holy Spirit to come in fullness upon all flesh. But now I am going to him who sent me, yet none of you asks me where I am going.  And now that I have told you, your hearts are full of sadness. But I am telling you the truth: it is better for you that I go away, because if I do not go, the Helper will not come to you. But if I do go away, then I will send him to you Jn 16:5-7(GNB).

Olaedo is an undergraduate with Unizik

A Christmas wish Week 52, 2016

I ask again: what was the blessing given to Abram? That blessing passed down through Isaac to Jacob and bypassing Esau. Was it material blessing? Was it money; plenty of it? Was it wives and children and land? If so Esau never missed out. Then Esau took his wives, his sons, his daughters, and all the members of his household, his livestock, all his beasts, and all his property that he had acquired in the land of Canaan. He went into a land away from his brother Jacob Gen 36:6(ESV). He had them all, and that before Jacob. God told Israel on their way to Canaan: Do not contend with them, for I will not give you any of their land, no, not so much as for the sole of the foot to tread on, because I have given Mount Seir to Esau as a possession Dt 2:5(ESV). Yet he failed to get it for scripture clearly says: For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears Heb 12:17(ESV). Even Ishmael had children, wealth and lands from the Lord unto this day (Gen17:20). Since those God rejects also have wealth what blessing did he miss?

What was the blessing Jacob craved for even when an angel wounded him and he cried out "I will not let you go unless you bless me." Gen 32:26(ESV)? At this time of his life he had 4 women: 2 wives and 2 concubines. He had 11 sons and (at least) a daughter. His flocks and herds had multiplied so greatly he was the envy of his in-laws. Now Jacob heard that the sons of Laban were saying, "Jacob has taken all that was our father's, and from what was our father's he has gained all this wealth." Gen 31:1(ESV).  Why did he cry bless me (not bless me more, or bless me again)? What was he seeking he didn’t already have? I tell you there is much more to the blessing of God than material things. See what God says of Israel: Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen Rom 9:4-5(NIV). The Divine Seed Jesus came through Jacob, not Esau.

Consider Mary the mother of our Lord. Was she blessed? “Of course” you gasp. “If anybody was, she is.” But Jesus her baby was born in a manger, she gave birds as an offering in Lk2:22-24, all evidence of poverty (Lev12:8). Why is she blessed? In her womb she carried the Messiah. And the angel answered her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God” Lk 1:35(ESV). She brought forth the Son of God Most High into the world. O that God will through you bring Jesus into your family, workplace, into your entire world. It’s a blessing those who run after money cannot touch. You cannot serve God and money. That’s my Christmas wish.

Merry Christmas!

God make me a blessing Week 51, 2016

Have you wondered at the promise God gave Abram in Gen 12:2(ESV)?  And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.  Did you notice the manifestation of this in the life of Jacob and Joseph? But Laban said to him, "If I have found favor in your sight, I have learned by divination that the LORD has blessed me because of you” Gen 30:27(ESV).  Bear in mind at that time that Jacob had no sheep or herds. He had laboured 14 years, and who was increasing materially at that time: Laban. Did you notice the same account with the slave boy Joseph? From the time that he made him overseer in his house and over all that he had, the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; the blessing of the LORD was on all that he had, in house and field Gen 39:5(ISV) . Later on however we see Jacob and Joseph greatly prosperous after this training phase.

Do we really understand what it means that you are blessed? Beloved it is time we claimed this promise (you will be a blessing) and insist it comes to pass in our own very lives. When you come into a home good things happen to them because of you. In your work place excellence and favour bring promotion for your employer and principal partner because of you, because God’s hand is upon you. That’s why Egypt was blessed because of the Israelites, Babylon blessed because of Daniel and his three friends, and the life of the wise men spared for their sakes. And it happens when your own status, your own material goods seem not to be increasing! Yea, as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything 2Cor 6:10(ESV). The little captive maid in Naaman’s home brought a blessing to Naaman; even while she remained a captive girl. That’s the blessing!

If Abraham’s blessings are yours why is your employer so ready to get rid of you? Since you started working in a place has your employer, your master, been increasing and posting greater profits, or is he sustaining losses but your salary must keep coming? The material blessings are seen first in the life and business of Laban (who practiced divination) before we see it in Jacob. It was for Jacob’s sake and in due time manifested as his.  Can’t you see your employer has to be blessed first because of you? But no, we are in a hurry these days, and don’t care if our employers (be it government or corporate bodies or individuals) get value for their time, effort and investment in us. All we want is our promotion, our pay rise, our money. Can’t you see it doesn’t work that way scripturally? We cry before heaven the Scripture says, "You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain," and, "The labourer deserves his wages." 1Ti 5:18(ESV)  but have not cried ‘God bless my master, my employer, because of me.”

You want to be blessed materially, and to prosper. But who is prospering and being blessed in all things you touch because of you? Would to God your cry will change to “O God make me a blessing to people today!”

Running another man's vision Week 50, 2016

Why did Terah fail in the attempt to reach Canaan - Terah took his son Abram...and they journeyed together from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to the land of Canaan. But when they had gone as far as Haran, they settled there Gen 11:31(ESV). -but when Abram arose to do it he succeeded? And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came Gen 12:5(ASV) . Did Terah lack zeal, did he lack resources? No. There are many lessons to be learned from this botched attempt to get to Canaan. Terah was not headed for Canaan because God asked him (Terah) to move there, but (this is me reasoning it out) because Abram his son was headed that way. “Well Abram if you say God has asked you to get out of Ur and go into Canaan let’s all go there!” It was Abram’s vision Terah was attempting to run, not God’s vision for Terah. No wonder he failed. 

There are many people who study the lives of others in an attempt to imitate what they did. It results in a very avoidable source of frustration. I want to say this: like Terah you cannot succeed running another man’s vision. “Now wait a minute” I hear you say. “God expects us to follow good examples and imitate good people.”  Remember your leaders, those who have spoken God's word to you. Think about the impact of their lives, and imitate their faith Heb 13:7(ISV). Not in that way. Did you notice what we should imitate? Their faith. That universal faith to be applied to every circumstance, every instruction God gives. Have you forgotten  we have many parts in one body, but these parts do not all have the same function Rom 12:4(ISV) in the body of Christ? Can the nose succeed if it runs the vision of being an eye? Peter could never succeed running Paul’s vision. In fact, they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel for the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel for the circumcised Gal 2:7(ISV). You know when he went over to Antioch his outing was faulty.

Don’t begin any ministry because another person is in it; find out what Jesus wants YOU to do. "Then I asked, 'What am I to do, Lord? Act 22:10(ISV). Don’t start running a programme for your church, a school or hospital or such simply because another church is running it successfully; except if that is what Jesus has directed and that the time has come. Have we forgotten even Paul, apostle to the gentiles, seeking to move into a gentile region to preach but being resisted by the Spirit (Acts16:6-7)? I’m not speaking about asking God whether to tell the truth or help the needy. That has been clearly dealt with in scripture: If we are rich and see others in need, yet close our hearts against them, how can we claim that we love God?  My children, our love should not be just words and talk; it must be true love, which shows itself in action1Jn 3:17, 18(GNB) .