Monday Mail from Solomon Aror

Little Things We Take for Granted

2009-08-03T13:32:00.003+02:00

Ears to hear and eyes to see—both are gifts from the Lord –Proverbs 20:12, NLT

Sometime ago, I read the story of a lady who was born with a rare disability. While we are familiar with people with physical challenges such as lack of sight, hearing, and speech, this lady did not have the sense of smell. She couldn’t save her own life if it depended on perceiving the smell of some obnoxious gas. As a matter of fact, when she was a child, her mother practically saved her life when she almost drank a poisonous chemical that looked like milk. She had not perceived its putrid odour.

Come to think of it, the smell of her own baby’s pooh wouldn’t even bother her! You must have had a feeling of repulsion at the smell of babies pooh, but I am sure this lady would have been willing to pay the whole world just to perceive it for a moment.

Have you ever thought about thanking God for your ability hear and see, that is that having –ears to hear and eyes to see—are gifts to be grateful for? I believe you may have heard about the man who was always complaining about his lack of shoes until he met a man without legs, who was still happy nonetheless. Remember the chap who said he does not have anything to thank God for?

What hinders your sense of gratitude to God for ‘little or simple’ gifts, why do we often take them for granted? I believe one of the reasons is that we have gotten ‘used to them’. They no longer capture our awe- that positive sense of exciting wonder. Perhaps it’s also the same reason people treat their friend’s children with better dignity and respect than their own children. They would scream at and abuse their own children for something they would nicely say, --John (a neighbour’s kid) that is not nice, why don’t you do it like this instead? As for their spouse, --Abeg I don see am finish, wetin come dey again? -- I know that is not the way you think!

When you ‘get used’ to someone or something you can unconsciously begin to devalue it in your mind (Don’t let this happen to your marriage). It is no longer as important as it once was. But must ‘familiarity breed contempt?’ You must have heard the cliché, --You never know the value of a thing until you loose it--. But must you loose it to value it? When was the last time you appreciated a loved one or a friend just for being a friend?

Another reason we take what we have for granted is a lack of contentment, which can be fuelled by advertising from TV or, –Have you seen the neighbour’s new…? One of the effects of advertising is that it motivates you to desire to have what you do not need by making you feel you just cannot do without it. Interpretation –what you have (or don’t have) is not good enough, this is better. Period! When you begin to believe that what you have is not as good as what is ‘out there’, you can become discontent with what you already have, and it loses value in your eyes.

The Ahmed’s washing machine had been at faithful and efficient service for a year until, –The New Digital NanoWasher: fully computerised, germ-deleting, multi-tasking, eco-friendly, energy saving and sexy interface! You hear the advert so many times, but when it seems you are finally getting numb to it, --Darling it seems our washing machine is making some funny noises don’t you think we need a new one? Someone else has been watching the advert too!

Don’t get me wrong. I love life and I enjoy the good things of life (see 1 Pet 3:10-12). And to be honest some of those new models are just ‘crazy’. –Pastor you too? -. Pastors are human too, you know! But as I’m almost carried away with its awesome ‘full options’, I am reminded that --godliness with contentment is great gain and that a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of things that he possesses- (1 Tim 6:6-8; Luke 12:14). Anyway, I also believe that if I truthfully need it I can go for it… Why not?

Beyond physical hearing and sight, I believe the psalmist’s words could also refer to the gift of being able to perceive (see and hear) beyond the physical –the gift of faith. Even now I recollect some lyrics in one of Michael Card’s songs:
To hear with my heart
To see with my soul
To be guided by a hand I cannot hold
To trust in a way that I cannot see
That’s what faith must be

Your faith is one of the gifts God has given you (see Rom 12:3; Eph 2:8). Have you begun to take your faith for granted? Are you now so ‘used’ to God that He is no longer awe inspiring to you? Are reading your Bible, praise and prayer now ‘common’ things… --I can do that later, I have (more important) things to do now. Have you become insensitive to God’s word that you do not realize you no longer walk by faith or are drifting away from it?

Remember the admonition, --Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses -1 Tim 6:11, NKJV. Little things might seem simple, but they matter. Always be grateful for them.
Be blessed!

Solomon Aror (Pst.)
Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Would you like to begin a relationship with Jesus Christ? If so I would be delighted to hear from you.

How Do You Love Jesus?

2009-07-20T13:41:00.001+02:00

DO YOU remember the song, --Oh how I love Jesus, because He first loved me? If you are a Christian and you were asked if you loved Jesus, your answer would likely be in the affirmative. Even non-Christians claim to like Him, --I am a Moslem but I like Isa (Jesus) because He was a good man and a great prophet who has impacted the world in many ways.’

FOR believers in Christ, the commitment is quite different, --We love Him because He first loved us” -1 John 4:19, NKJV. We have first-hand experience of His love, we are passionate about it, and we sing about it. For most of us our love for Him is the basis of our everyday life. But what does it really mean to love Jesus or anyone else for that matter.

SO WHEN they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.” He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep -John 21:15-17, NKJV.

THE scene in this passage Jesus appears to His disciple after His resurrection. The events of the last three years and particularly the last 48 hours were etched in their minds. But now it was all over and they had returned to life as it once was. Peter returned to fishing, but he would have recollected the day Jesus had chosen him… And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men” -Luke 5:10, NKJV.

ON THIS day a similar event was unfolding. As then, after Peter and his companions had toiled fruitlessly for a whole night, Jesus gave an instruction that miraculously resulted in a harvest of a large quantity of fish. Life can be a struggle when it is lived outside of God’s will. But walking in obedience, it is quite different, not without challenges, but always with victory and fulfillment.

HOWEVER, the main issue here is that Jesus was equating Peter’s love for Him to caring for His ‘sheep.’ Jesus was saying, ‘Hey Simon (his name before Jesus called him) there is a conflict of interest here. Do you love fish and fishing more than you love Me? You seem to have greater priority for your legitimate business than what concerns Me. Loving me means loving and caring for My sheep.

LOVE inspires quite a lot: care, kindness, compassion, empathy, edifying, correcting, sacrifice and much more. Love motivated Christ’s to die on the cross. You do not need to look too far to see that it was people mattered to Jesus the most. They were His priority. Whether you are a fishermen or finance consultant, you should care about what Jesus cares about, and that is people. Jesus Himself said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me –Matt 25:40 NKJV. This is what loving Jesus means. The way you treat people is the way you treat Jesus.

WE love because God loved us first. But if we say we love God and don’t love each other, we are liars. We cannot see God. So how can we love God, if we don’t love the people we can see? The commandment that God has given us is: --Love God and love each other! -1 John 4:19-21, CEV.

LOVING someone means that you care about what he/she cares about, and what matters to him/her matters to you. You cannot have a careless attitude towards what is important to your spouse and loved ones or brethren and then claim to love them. As a matter of fact such attitude can precipitate into a crisis. I remember a situation in my marriage in which I was insensitive. Something happened to my wife that involved her health and… ‘He said nothing about it, he did not even care.’ Stupido- yours truly, was ‘walking by faith (actually foolishness),’ and that translated to a lack of love, which it really was.

IN MANY churches today the commitment is more towards programs and property than for people. If you love Jesus you will be in church… ‘But this is the umpteenth time this week alone, and my little kids have literally been sleeping in church. There are even cases were homes are falling apart because there is zero family time. And no one cares. The children are developing a lack interest and sometimes hatred for the Church. Let’s be wise. Loving Christ means loving people not programs or an organization.

LOVING Jesus means caring about what he cares about: People. How do you love Jesus? I pray that you will walk in the grace to love on Jesus’ own terms and not on yours. God bless.

Solomon Aror (Pst.)
Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Would you like to begin a relationship with Jesus Christ

How to Respond to Life’s Challenges

2009-07-14T14:58:00.003+02:00

SOME years ago the Winan’s sang a song of which part of the lyrics was ‘Troubles will come; Troubles will go; When it’s all said and done; It’s gonna be alright; That’s the way He planned it; Hold on.’ We all face challenges in our lives. However, you can choose to respond, to react, or to do nothing, that is, to play the ostrich and pretend either there is no problem or it will somehow just go away. Playing the ostrich is not the way life works.

RESPONDING to life’s challenges is positive. It involves engaging effective solutions that work. Reacting is different. Reacting involves doing things that compounds problems. A good way to explain this is, if for example you have a medical problem that is being managed by a doctor who places you on medication. On your next appointment he could either say, “You are responding’ or “You are reacting” to the drugs. The former is good news, it means that you are getting better, but the latter means, these drugs are making matters worse.

I NEVER tire of studying and learning from the life of David the man God, Israel’s prophet, psalmist and poet king, whom God declared as, ‘a man after My heart.’ His passion for God was tremendous. He not only sought to know Him, but also to passionately do His will. You love God, but do you passionately seek to know Him and to do His will?

WE WANT to look at a particular situation in David’s life in 1 Samuel chapters 29 and 30. It had been one victory after another for David in campaigns against the enemy. God was giving David success even in exile. Also, by divine intervention he was even under the cover of the Philistine King Achish. Imagine being under the favour and protection of an enemy! But a situation arose where David would have found himself fighting against his own people but was saved through the disagreement of the other kings supporting Achish.

AFTER being dismissed from the battle front by Achish David and his men returned to their base at Ziklag to …shock, horror and amazement! His family and those of his men had been captured and all they had was plundered. Their families were more or less sitting ducks for the Amalekites who had met women and children without the protection of their male warriors. Life presented David with a tragedy that was neither planned nor prepared for.

AS THOUGH that were not enough, after David’s distraught ‘men of valour’ wept to the point that their tear glands gave up production, they then thought to use whatever strength it was they had left to stone him to death. David’s world literally stopped on its tracks.

YOU may have never faced a tragedy of the magnitude David did. May you never see such a day! But challenges of life come your way nevertheless. Some of them even come when you are ‘doing your best for God’, when all is so wonderful and no one and nothing better dare to take away the shine off the season. Then things quickly change from, ‘Praise God, wonderful!’ to ‘Pray God, why me?’

WHAT did David and his men do? They all wept for their families. Unless you are not human, we all have emotions that well-up in our hearts when things happen -good or bad. The death of a loved one, a dog bite, a promotion that has been long awaited, the birth of a child, they stir up emotions. But after the emotions what next?

AFTER David’s men wept they blamed him for the problem, got angry and wanted to stone him. When faced with challenges do you get angry, blame others as the cause of your problems, and then stone them with words or blows, or perhaps ‘bombard them with ‘Holy Ghost fire’ and brimstone?’ After David wept ‘he encouraged himself in the Lord.’ Encouragement is required to rekindle strength, --David found strength in the Lord his God -1 Sam 30:6b, NLT.

IF ENCOURAGEMENT is not coming from others, you can encourage yourself. I can imagine David taking up his harp even with tears in his eyes and playing to memories of things God had done for him in the past. I can imagine him calling God to remembrance of his promises (word) to protect and preserve him and his loved ones. Space will not permit me to give testimonies of times I’ve literally worshiped and praised God into victory out of challenges in my life.

SECONDLY, David asked the priest to ‘Please bring the ephod here to me -1 Sam 30:7.’ In those days the ephod was used to find out God’s will. You must seek to know God’s will in the face of the challenge. This is very important.

THIRDLY, David sought to get specific instructions on how to take on the challenge: ‘So David inquired of the Lord, saying ‘shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them? And He answered him, ‘Pursue, for you shall surely overtake… -vs 8, NKJV. When you pray and seek God’s opinion on a matter, be patient to wait for His answer. Don’t just run off. God is eager to give you wisdom and solutions to life’s challenges. See James 1:5.
FOURTHLY, David pursued, he acted on Gods word. When God tells you what to do, do it, for therein is the solution to the problem.

FIFTHLY, be sensitive to further leading and opportunities God brings along the way. On the way of acting on the word, they met a dying Egyptian slave that would show them the way and speed up the journey to victory. God brings people and situations to help you along the way. Be sensitive to them. David did not abandon the Egyptian. ‘What can he do? Not only is he an Egyptian he is also a slave of what benefit is he to me.’ No, be sensitive; don’t despise anyone that God might use to bring you solutions.

FINALLY grab your victory and share it with others. David over came the enemy and returned to camp to share the booty with those who could not come along.

PREPARE to overcome in all of lives challenges. Do not react by ‘throwing stones’ at others, rather respond by seeking God’s face and getting solutions from Him. After all, --The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow with it –Pro 10:22, NKJV. I pray that He will give you the wisdom you require even in any situation you may be currently facing.

Solomon Aror (Pst.)
Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Would you like to begin a relationship with Jesus Christ? If so I would be delighted to hear from you.

Life as an Integral Whole

2009-07-06T18:14:00.005+02:00

THE essence of life is growth, and the essence of growth is maturity; the essence of maturity is fruitfulness (a productive life). If you are not fruitful or productive in life and you have come to the stage were it is expected that your life ought to be productive and fruitful, there is a fundamental problem. You must find out what that problem is and begin to walk towards solutions for any contradictions in your life.

WHEN a chid gets to the age of four and cannot walk, the parents would seek medical help. Why? Because it is a contradiction of life for a child to be at that age and he/she cannot walk.

WHERE have you been, and where are you going? Ask yourself what do I really want out of life; who do I want to become and what do I want to achieve spiritually, emotionally, relationally, intellectually, financially and materially? How do I intend to achieve this? With whom do I intend to go with me in this journey for a purposeful, meaningful and successful life? These are questions you must ask yourself regularly and review from time to time to see if you are still on course, because the legitimate cares and affairs of this life have a way of getting you into a routine that ultimately gets you nowhere.

IN OTHER words you must know where you are going if you are going to get there. If you do not know where you are going, you will get there… Nowhere! If you do not know or determine what you want out of life, life will present you with anything it deems fit. Your life must not be a merry-go-round that starts and ends at the same spot. The merry-go-round is great fun, but it has a very fundamental flaw- it does not get anyone anywhere. It is all motion without progress.

ALSO you must realise that even though there are different areas or compartments of your life, your life is one indivisible and integral whole. Morally speaking, the life you live at home should not be different from that which you present among friends, in church or elsewhere. If it is, it will tear you into shreds. The essence of maintaining an integral life can be captured in the words of Christ:

THE light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon –Matt 6:22-24, KJV.

SINGLENESS (wholeness) of life and purpose cannot be disregarded without consequences. Have you not heard people say, “I am doing a great job at the office or in business therefore, it is nobody’s business if my marriage or family is crumbling.” For such people, time lets them know, using Ghandi’s words, that “You cannot be attempting to do right in one department of life, while doing wrong in another, for life is one indivisible whole.” In other words, trying to ‘succeed’ in one area of life while disregarding ‘failure’ in another translates to failure in all!

IN ADDITION to the questions you should ask yourself regularly is who or what do I intended to or do I actually worship, God or money? Jesus is saying you cannot serve both. God is a gracious Master. Money is a taskmaster that mimics the divine attribute of omnipotence- that is, it pretends a potential to achieve anything, anytime and anywhere. It is God’s chief competitor for the hearts and souls of men. But money is good and is best as a servant. It is attracted to those who use it well to serve them, while it ultimately destroys those who worship it.

YOU were wired to do well in all departments of life, why settle for just some part of it. For blessed people, according to Psalm 1, ‘in ALL they do, they prosper’ –vs. 3b, NLT. Improvement and success in life do not just happen, they must be planned for to be achieved. Believe in God Almighty. He did not create you to be mediocre, but for excellence.
God bless you!

Solomon Aror (Pst.)
Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Would you like to begin a relationship with Jesus Christ? If so I would be delighted to hear from you.

Essentials for Relationship Building

2009-07-06T17:57:00.005+02:00

THERE are essentials for relationship building: Time-together, Commitment, Communication, Kindness, Patience, Giving, Love and Respect.

WITHOUT mutual love and respect your relationships are headed nowhere. It is mutual love and respect that make kindness, patience and a giving-heart possible. Even communication is always at its best when there is a foundation of love and respect. With such a foundation even disagreements become building blocks for a stronger relationship. You cannot remove or avoid disagreement from relationships. Why? It is because everyone is different and has a unique perspective to life. Different does not mean inferior or superior. It simply means different!

YOU see things differently from others and vice-versa. This is so evident especially in marital relationships. If you are married, you do not need to wonder why your spouse always sees things differently from you. The fact is you cannot see all sides to all things. Consequently you need others to help you see those areas that you do not perceive.

MATURITY of love and respect is the ability to see that this person who loves me is not opposing me or is against my person, but is simply seeing the issue from a different perspective. Talking about love in marriage, I’ve come to the conclusion that women spell love T-L-C (tender loving care) and men spell love R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Talk about seeing things differently!

KINDNESS involves being gracious in your relationship with others. It involves empathy, thoughtfulness, or consideration, another way to put it is, ‘putting yourself in their shoes.’ If you were in the other person’s position, would you want to be spoken to in the manner you are about to speak to them? Would you want to be treated in the way you are about to treat them?

KINDNESS is love in action that brings grace to all we do and say to and about others. That is why gossiping, backbiting and every form of unkind speech is very selfish. You are simply thinking of yourself and not the other person. Besides the opposite of love is selfishness.

LOVE in its purest sense is an unwavering commitment to the development and wellbeing of another, spiritually, intellectually, emotionally, physically and materially, even if the person does not deserve or reciprocate the gesture. It is what makes you patient: that is to have an enduring hope of the best even in the face of contradiction. It is what makes you give, give and give again.

RESPECT means to esteem another. It is to have a good regard and high opinion of someone; it is to have deference and admiration. As a matter of fact it means to stand in awe!

GIVING can be done without love, but love cannot be without giving:
I MAY give away everything I have… but I gain nothing if I do not have love- 1 Cor. 13:3, NKJV.

TRUE giving is the conferment of ownership of something to another without cost of any kind to the person that receives the gift. It takes its root from a giving-heart, even a heart of love. It is in this sense that God gave us the greatest gift:
GOD loved the world so much that He gave His one and only Son, so that whoever believes in Him may not be lost but have eternal life- John 3:16, NCV.

I PRAY that God will grant you the grace to build yourself in His kind of love, a love that never fails, thus improving your life and bringing you into a successful life. Amen.

Solomon Aror (Pst.)
Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Would you like to begin a relationship with Jesus Christ? If so I would be delighted to hear from you.

Fatherhood: The Many Sides of a Father

2009-06-22T15:45:00.003+02:00

IT WAS Fathers’ Day yesterday. I received some texts from some fellow fathers and friends. One of them read in part: “What would life have being without the Father: Mentor, Provider, Motivator, Defender, Disciplinarian, Instructor, Friend, Hero and Leader. This is our Heavenly Father?”. Need I say more? The words speak for themselves being pregnant with meaning. It is our Heavenly Father’s example of fatherhood that we seek to follow. Brothers you will agree with me that this multi-tasking responsibility is both a challenge and a joy.

MY FATHER, Dr. Blakie Igho Aror, was a lecturer at the University of Lagos where he headed one of the engineering departments. I have faint and few memories of my father, having lost him as a child. But let me share this one with you. It was a scene in which I stood on the bonnet of his car. I was singing using one of the windshield wipers as a standing microphone. It was in the hay-days of Tom Jones and James Brown. You can guess the punishment I took that microphone (wiper) through! Well dad simply smiled and either asked me to come down or brought me down. I cannot really recollect that part of it.

FELLOW fathers, what would our children remember us for? Better still, for what do we want them to remember us? Memories can be deliberately created or we can just allow life to pass on. I recently read Proverbs 17:21 in the New Living Translation:
It is painful to be the parent of a fool. There is no joy for the father of a rebel.

I REVERSED the thought. Would it be painful for my son if his father was a fool, or would he be robbed of joy if I were a rebel? To be certain I called him on the phone (I’ve been in Port Harcourt working on our family relocation from Jos). After our usual chat I said, “Son I love you and I’m proud of you.” He replied, “Me too.” Whew… relief!

INDEED there are many sides to being a father. It is a multi-task and responsibility that demands the best of us and our resources. However I remember Abraham, whom the Bible describes as ‘the father of our faith.’ God said this of him (Abraham):
I HAVE singled him out so that he will direct his sons and their families to keep the way of the Lord and do what is right” Genesis 18:19, NLT.

WHAT an awesome responsibility. But is God’s aim of making us fathers (parents) not because “…He seeks a godly offspring?” Malachi 2:15, NKJV.

FINALLY, I think it was Ingrid Trobich, in one of his books who said, that one of the greatest gift we can give to our children is to love their mother.

FELLOW fathers this is our assignment. Raising a godly offspring and heritage transcends us and our own lifetimes. It is eternal because it brings glory to God. Let us not lament the mistakes we may have made in the past, but look ahead to the great future we can create for our families with the help of God our Heavenly Father. As we do that let us celebrate ourselves as ‘Fathers of the Day.’

I PRAY God to give us the courage and grace to do the right things to and for those whom we stand as Mentor, Provider, Motivator, Defender, Disciplinarian, Instructor, Friend, Hero and Leader.
Albeit in arrears, HAPPY FATHERS’ DAY!

Solomon Aror (Pst.)
Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Would you like to begin a relationship with Jesus Christ? If so I would be delighted to hear from you.

Taking Strides for Personal Improvement and a Successful Life -IV

2009-06-22T15:36:00.002+02:00

TWO people are better than one… But it is bad for the person who is alone… a rope that is woven of three strings is hard to break -Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, NCV.

THIS is the fourth article on the topic, Taking Strides for Personal Improvement and a Successful Life. I appreciate your staying on to read these articles of exceptional length. I pray God continues to bless you through them.

ESSENTIALLY we are looking at ‘…a Successful Life’ and not necessarily ‘Success in Life’. We are looking at what you are becoming and not just what you are achieving. While both are important in their own ways, it is however what you are becoming (being) and not what you are achieving (doing) that gives meaning to your life.

OUR goal is that at the end of the day you would be able to say I am fulfilled. I have accomplished the reason for which God brought me to this world. I have left a great legacy. Zig Ziglar puts it this way in one of his books, -You know you are on top when you stand in front of the Creator of the universe, and He says to you, ‘Well done thou good and faithful servant-.

IN THE last article I mentioned a report I heard of George W. Bush, the immediate past US president. I’m also told he said that he was thankful that he did not “sell his soul” during his presidency. That testimony, I believe, speaks of a commitment to a good conscience and to his God. It reminds me of the words of John Bunyan, -He who would valiant be against all disaster; Let him in constancy follow the Master; No foe shall stay his might though he with giants fight; He will make good his right to be a pilgrim-.

SPEAKING of commitment in continuation of essential elements for improvement in your life through improving your relationships, commitment speaks of loyalty, devotion, obligation, and dedication. It speaks of trustworthiness and faithfulness. Many of these words are becoming meaningless in the world today, but they must not be so to you.

IN MARRIAGE, commitment also relates to your vows -the promise or covenant you made to/with each other before several witnesses, of which God was the major one-. Commitment speaks of making good your right to be a spouse.

THERE is an old saying, ‘when a man gets married he becomes responsible’. Today Hollywood is surreptitiously sensitising the world to think that unmarried couples are happier. Their message, -Do you want to be happy, then just live together, no commitment is necessary because when a person gets married he/she gets unhappy-. In any case that’s what we see of the personal lives of most of the film makers and actors. They marry and remarry several times till they think, ‘Oh it’s just useless.’ Then they want to tell the world that’s ‘reality’. This is false! You cannot violate God’s principles without consequences!
‘SOON after marriage, a lady’s husband stopped wearing his wedding ring. She asked, ‘Why don’t you ever wear your wedding band?’ He replied, ‘It cuts off my circulation’. She answered back, ‘It’s supposed to!’ Though this is supposed to be a joke I read somewhere, it’s so appropriate in explaining commitment. Has your wedding band cut of your circulation? I hope so! Be wise my friend, for the days are evil!

THE vows you made on your wedding day were not mere words to fill the event with something nice. God takes marriage vows seriously. I beseech you to do the same. Go back often to read and think about those vows. Reinforce your commitment. From your heart and in practical ways, allow God to be the third string in your marriage, and then it will be hard to break.
THE Lord witnessed the vows you and your wife made to each other on your wedding day when you were young. But you have been disloyal to her… Didn’t the Lord make you one with your wife? -Malachi 2:14-15, NLT.

WE BECOME disloyal to our spouse when through our thoughts, words or actions, someone else or something else becomes of greater importance or of higher priority than he/she; when we become selfish instead of selfless. I rest my case.

DEAR Lord, please give me grace so that I do not allow myself through my thoughts, words or actions, to become a harbinger to the termination of fulfilment in my marriage and the purpose for which you made my spouse and I one. Lord, help me so that I do break her/his heart nor Yours. Amen.

Solomon Aror (Pst.)
Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Would you like to begin a relationship with Jesus Christ? If so I would be delighted to hear from you.

Taking Strides for Personal Improvement and a Successful Life -III

2009-06-08T13:39:00.003+02:00

LET me share this joke with you. A young man once asked a sage, -Sir, when should I tell my wife that I love her? He replied, “Before someone else does!

RELATIONSHIPS –Two people are better than one… But it is bad for the person who is alone… a rope that is woven of three strings is hard to break- Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, NCV.

EARLY this year I bought myself a Bible that is set into 365 daily readings. Though I study often, I had not read the Bible cover-to-cover in over ten years. Why? Very busy! No time! Translated into English language, these words actually mean ‘poor time management’. Here, I’ve been running on average score myself. I need serious TM improvement.

BUYING that Bible was motivated by something I heard about George W. Bush, the immediate past president of the United States; a glimpse into his reading habit in his last three years in office, on a news program on cable TV. It was reported that in the period he had read the entire Bible three times over, and about 130-150 other books many of which were biographies. Did someone not say, ‘leaders are readers?

I REPROVED myself, -Solomon, so you are busy, busy doing what? You couldn’t be busier than the US president-. Anyway, it has being spiritually, intellectually, and emotionally refreshing just about half way through the readings. Let me encourage you to start a personal improvement program reading the Bible through. I use The One Year Bible® -New Living Translation. The language is simple and inspiring. However, always keep in mind that the primary reason for reading the Bible is not to increase your knowledge, but to transform your life.

IN Part-II of this topic, I said that being spiritually healthy is pivotal, all other things hinge on it. The quality of our relationships, our work ethic, even the way we spend money mirrors our spiritual state and health. We all can do with some improvement in some area of our lives. Today however, we begin to talk about improving our lives by improving our relationships.

GOOD relationships are essential to a successful life. No one ‘succeeds alone’ and feels fulfilled in the end. In my article about communication in relationships, ‘Before You Speak’, I made mention of -our dearest relationships with our spouses and children; our cherished ones with our friends and relations; and our essential ones with our bosses and colleagues. All are important.

IF YOUR relationships are not in good condition, it can constitute a crippling effect on almost everything else, especially if your marriage is troubled. You may know of people who were okay before they got married, but their whole world crumbled afterwards. There are also those whose lives were literally in shambles, but were set on a blissful road after they said, ‘I do’. What is the difference? I believe all marriages face similar basic challenges: companionship, money, sex, respect, love, in-laws or out-laws (depending on how you see them), etcetera. But the difference between a good or bad marriage is how the couple choose to handle the challenges they face. The same goes for any other relationship.
YOU need to be responsible in your relationships for them to work. Pointing the finger compounds problems and creates no solutions. Don’t even blame the devil. That is a poor copout. Pointing fingers is what ‘children’ do. You are grown-up and have put away childish things. (1 Corinthians 13:11).

BEGIN by finding out God’s plan and purpose for your relationship. Take time to discover what He says about relationships in His Word. Then practically apply what you learn. This is what I’ve been doing in my own marriage that was really challenged. God’s Word works when you work it! Don’t over spiritualize issues such that your relationship suffers even the more. You cannot go to all-night prayer meetings everyday ostensibly to pray for your marriage, that is foolishness. Be wise my friend, the days are evil.

SEE then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time because the days are evil –Ephesians 5:15-16.
ALSO, do a personal self-test in the following essentials for relationship building: Time-together, Commitment, Communication, Kindness, Patience, Giving, Love and Respect. How do you measure- poor, average, good or excellent? No matter how you measure, there is always room for improvement. Do your ideas and actions in these issues reflect God’s principles? (See Psalm 119:5-6, NLT).

SPENDING time with those you have relationships with is vital for improvement in your life and theirs. Prioritize. Giving your time actually requires commitment, but unlike other commitments (financial for example), meaningful presence is required of you. This is a challenge for many. But regular one-to-one fellowship is indispensable. Your friendships get better primarily because you spend time with your friends. You do not take those fellowship times and communication with them for granted. You watch ‘the game’ together. But the marriage: “He is nice to me only when he wants sex.” “Can’t she think of anything else? Money… money… money!” Well let me…

OOPS! Our time is spent, let’s continue in the next issue of Monday Mail. Meanwhile, I pray that God will bless your relationships, especially your marriage with tremendous joy and fulfilment. And may you keep improving for a successful life.

Solomon Aror
Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Would you like to begin a relationship with Jesus Christ? If so I would be delighted to hear from you.

Taking Strides for Personal Improvement and a Successful Life -II

2009-06-01T13:19:00.005+02:00

I HEARD the story of a teenager in the US who shot and killed about four of his schoolmates. Everyone at his home and neighbourhood knew him to be a ‘nice, well behaved boy’. But when he was asked how he could do such a terrible thing he said, ‘That’s easy, I do it everyday.’ He was speaking about one of his video games.

EARLIER in part-I we took on some basics. Briefly: Essential life changes begin from within; taking responsibility and changing your thinking pattern can break the cycle of a life going nowhere; you must develop the mind of the gardener or the mentality of the farmer and begin planting, nurturing and pruning the garden of your life to produce the desired result of what you want your life to become; and, be persuaded that it is God’s will for you to become and to do excellently well in life.

MAN has a deep yearning for meaning in life and has consistently sought after accomplishment and excellence. We are wired that way. I believe it is this search that motivated the writing of the Book of Ecclesiastes. It is a short book that offers very interesting reading. You can glean a lot from it, especially thoughts pertaining to purpose, meaning and success in life.

OH, that my actions would consistently reflect your principles! Then I will not be disgraced when I compare my life with your commands (word) Psalm 119:5-6, NLT.

DAVID’S prayer was that his lifestyle would always mirror God’s principles. Principles are like a compass. I believe the Bible is the ultimate life-compass. When you follow your own judgement in opposition to its direction, you eventually loose bearing and get lost. In a jungle that does not quickly become apparent. You can go around for hours or even days and then discover that you are in the middle of nowhere, or if you are fortunate you get back to the same spot you began. For some people that realization takes several years to come up. You should be comparing your life to God’s word. Never be at that place where God’s word and your life are in contrast. Your life is too precious.

THE first area you should consistently be working at for personal improvement is your heart and mind. Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life –Proverbs 4:23 NKJV. Why am I starting here? Because it is the foundation, the seat of your belief system that runs your life. The tree takes its roots from here. The seeds of morality or immorality are planted here. Wisdom or folly takes residence in your heart based on what you feed it with. Failure or success begins here. A man is first wealthy or poor in his mind before it physically manifests.

GARBAGE in, garbage out- is not a fancy cliché. Your words and actions reflect what you are within. And what you are within is actually what you have been consistently taking into your heart and mind. But how does one get either trash or good things into his heart? Two vital entry points: the ear and eye gates. What you consistently listen to and see you start to visualize and it gets into your sub-conscious and affects your thinking patterns, which in turn motivate your words and actions. It is this principle that drives advertising, and much of TV programming and other information and entertainment media.

THE boy in the above story became comfortable with murder, albeit through innocent entertainment. The sanctity of human life was trampled and became meaningless to him. On a daily basis, he virtually ‘entertained’ himself with killing people. I’m tempted to ask, what you are seeing and hearing for ‘entertainment’, is it wholesome? Just a thought!

THE spirit of man is the candle of the Lord, searching the inner depths of his heart –Proverbs 20:27, NKJV. No matter your measure for “doing well” If you are not doing well spiritually, then you are not doing well anywhere. This is God’s standard. Doing well spiritually begins with having a relationship with God through Jesus Christ, knowing Him personally and intimately (John 1:12-13; 17:3).

PUT succinctly, if you desire is to improve your life, you must consistently work at transforming your heart and mind by streamlining what you read, listen to and watch, and the people that influence you the most. The Bible is the greatest book to read and meditate upon daily. I’m serious! It is the manual of life. Unfortunately several Christians open their Bibles only on Sunday mornings, and that’s even when the preacher says, ‘Please, let’s open our Bibles to…!’ I’m sure you are not one of those.

WHOLESOME life changing material can be gotten in several good books, magazines, radio and TV programs, the influence of God fearing friends and fellowship in a Church that teaches the word of God and models Christ’s life that can transform your life forever.

FEED your heart and mind with great stuff. They say you are what you eat. Dump the junk you’ve been feeding on. You can survive on junk food for a while, but sooner or later the telltale signs that you’ve been harming yourself begin to show. Your life is too precious.

TODAY, I pray for you ‘asking the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, to give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation so that you will know Him better’ (Ephesians 1:17, NCV). A successful life begins here.

Solomon Aror (Pst.)
Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Would you like to begin a relationship with Jesus Christ? If so I would be delighted to hear from you.

Spelling Love T-I-M-E as Our Children Do

2009-05-27T20:14:00.004+02:00

CHILDREN’S Day is an annual celebration of children worldwide. Good as it is, I believe children should be honoured and celebrate always, and the best place that should consistently happen is the home.

BEHOLD, children are a heritage from the Lord... Psalm 127:3, NKJV.

KIDS spell love, T-I-M-E.’1 Do you spend good time with your kids? If you don’t someone else is. If you are not teaching and modeling life out to them, someone else is. If you are not there to discipline, nurture and love them, ultimately they will find ‘love’ at some other place with someone else. Children usually go where there is fun but they always return to and stay were there is love. You should be creating a love nest, not a battlefront for your kids at home. Which of these are you currently doing?

YOU’VE got to catch those young lads before they take off”1 said Zig Ziglar using the analogy of not catching a flight when one is late. The best opportunity to ‘catch’ your kids is when they are kids and this is no kidding. If you don’t do it now, you will miss the flight and once you miss the flight, it is missed! Those kids could take off to only God knows where.

VALUES in today’s world tend to be skewed toward material things as being most important. Many well-meaning parents assume that providing everything their kids want is the most important thing they could ever do for their well being. Sending them to expensive schools, getting them all the things they could ever desire, and so forth. Actually there are cases I see and ask myself if some of these things are done for the child’s well being or to boost the parent’s ego. Most are very sincere. -I want to give them the things I did not get as a kid-. But while giving them the ‘good’ things you missed, don’t miss giving them the good things you got, of which most were very simple and non-material. Times, events, and fellowship with your parents you now recollect with nostalgia.

TIMES are difficult, my wife and I are working at jobs that keep us out till very late, we have to keep up with the bills. Again, listen to Zig Zigler, -Study after study has revealed that, when given the choice, children for whom Dad and Mom are working so hard would prefer their parents spend more time with them. Your fellowship with your kids says more than a thousand gifts ever can. Parents, lets get our priorities in order-1 I believe it is a matter of creating balance. Cutting unnecessary expenses increases income also.

YOU are what your kids really need, not the things you give to them. These things are indeed good, but you are their deepest need and pride. Being with your kids is not being at home reading newspapers watching sports on television, or gossiping with ‘the girls’, while they do their own thing… ‘Qui…et…ly!’ No, be regularly involved with them, talk with them, hear them out, play their games, feel their hurts, pray with them. In short let them see and know that you have a passionate dedication to them. They need to experience you loving their mother and you respecting each other as their parents, to see you really love God in the privacy of your home.

YOUR kids are very intelligent, learning mainly by what you model than by what you instruct. Value them don’t underestimate them. It has been said that a child is born with an infinitely greater intelligence than the great geniuses ever used. Their season is tuned to be the most important learning period they would ever have in their life time. It’s during this period they learn language, develop fundamental life skills and imbibe the values they will live by throughout their lifetime. You have to be the major influence in this period.

IT’S not enough to keep lamenting your lack of time. To be honest nobody has ‘enough time,’ what we all have is 24 hours a day! Great parents do not have enough time, what they have is made-out quality-time produced through quantity-time spent with the most precious assets given to us by God. Yes kids are a plus to your life and not liabilities to your dreams, personal freedom, and your work or career.

NO doubt we have busy schedules, deadlines to meet, a family to provide for and the demands of post-modern living, but the need to spend good time with your kids cannot be over emphasized, and the task is really daunting for parents today. As parents, we must be balanced in this area, we need to be truly dedicated to our children, because when the chips are down and one’s legacies are counted the greatest of them will not be the wealth or organisations we built, but the lives -beginning with our families-, we positively affected in ways that transcend our own lives and the memories left for our kids.

MARTIN Baxbaum said, -You can use most any measure when you are speaking of success. You can measure it in a fancy home, expensive car or dress. But the measure of your real success is one you cannot spend –it’s the way your child describes you when talking to a friend-. How do you think that is or would be?

ONE of the easiest ways to get by this is to always remember we were once kids ourselves, and as Steve Wonder sang, “Let the children’s laughter remind us of what we used to be”. Let’s give them the best of ourselves and in the long run leave a glorious legacy for our kids- gifts God gave us to enjoy and to nurture for their own well being and His glory.

THIS week the world remembers the child on Children’s Day. PRAY for your children and the millions of kids out there who do not have a fraction of the privileges yours have.

Solomon Aror (Pst.)
Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Would you like to begin a relationship with Jesus Christ? If so I would be delighted to hear from you.

1. Zig Ziglar, You Too Can Reach the Top, p 119; Oak River Publishing Oklahoma © 2001

Taking Strides for Personal Improvement and a Successful Life -I-

2009-05-18T11:51:00.003+02:00

I received Christ when I was about 9-10 years old watching the evangelist Rex Humbard on television. Though I could not explain it, I felt something had happened to me that day as I knelt down before the TV set while the evangelist led in the sinners’ prayer. However, without follow up or knowledge of what to do next, there was no practical change in my life then.

THE wind blows to the south; it blows to the north; it blows from one direction to another. Then it turns around and repeats the same pattern going nowhere –Ecclesiastes 1:6, NCV.

ON admission to secondary school, one of my uncles advised, “Read hard and play hard”. Unfortunately, the phrase after the “and” was what I chose to hear, and by the second year my life had literally gone with the winds. I was supposed to be having fun, but repeating the same pattern year-in-year-out my life was going nowhere, just like the wind. Much later in my third year I recommitted my life to Christ and began to take strides towards improving and bringing positive change to my life, the Lord and great friends helping and encouraging me.
IMPROVEMENTS that make us better persons begin from within. Consistent progress in our lives is essential to mental and emotional health. Someone who does not see progress in his/her life for lengthy periods of time can easily relapse into depression and other physical health problems. But positive change does not just happen it is the result of deliberate effort and discipline.

FIRST, breaking the cycle of going nowhere begins with you changing the way you think. You must see your life today, not as some happenstance or as caused by your parents, enemies, the government, or the economy (Please, your spouse is not the cause of your “not making it”). You must take personal responsibility. Let the buck fall on your table. My actions and inactions have brought me thus far. Period.

START looking within. Ask yourself, how did I get here? How can I change it? What must I do to improve and be a better person for my family, friends, my world and myself? The goal of this personal self-exam is not to berate or judge yourself for your faults (all of us have made mistakes), but like a doctor you want to seek an accurate prognosis so as to prescribe an effective and efficient remedy for a restoration to great health as it were.

ALSO, to bring change to your life, you must begin to develop the mind of the gardener. See your life as a garden, which can only be beautiful through deliberate and careful nurturing and pruning. A great garden does not just happen, what happens when nothing is planned and done is weeds, thorns and thistles. Ok, I agree there is the occasional lone flower that pops up once in a while, but it shrivels as quickly as it blooms. Nevertheless, to have a great garden, the right things must be done at the right time consistently.

HAVING the mind of the gardener is the same as having the mentality of the farmer. Whatever a man sows, that he will also reap -Galatians 6:7b, NKJV. This Biblical principle of the farm must not be seen only in negative terms, but more importantly from a positive point of view. That is, you can determine the kind of results (harvest) you want in your life and start “planting” towards them. Deliberately doing the right things to bring about improvement and positive change produces tremendous results for a great life. (Mark 4:26-32). It’s a miracle!

FINALLY, you must be thoroughly convinced in your heart, irrespective of what may have happened in the past or is happening presently, that it is God’s will for you to do excellently well in every area of your life. (Ps 35:27; John 10:10; 3 John 2). I cannot overemphasize it. God has already made provision for you to have a great life (2 Peter 1:3-4). This is proof of a loving Father’s heart.

THIS is the first part of articles on -…Personal Improvement and a Successful Life. Later I will discuss with you on various aspects of our lives that should always be improving and how that can be achieved. Today I want to pray for you along with St John as he did in 3 John 2:

BELOVED, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.

Solomon Aror (Pst.)
Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Would you like to begin a relationship with Jesus Christ? If so I would be delighted to hear from you.

It is Called Sin, not A Mistake: Getting a Handle of the Wrong in Our Lives and Righting It

2009-05-11T15:09:00.003+02:00

SEVERAL years ago, before I got married, a lady cooked a lovely meal of pounded yam and egusi (melon) soup, laced with crocodile meat for me. Splendid cuisine! The hungry pastor was in the church office. To be fair, the kind lady was giving me a treat, she meant no harm. I can vouch she had no intention to take me in. Nevertheless, these days there are too many harmless things. Like snake bite for example… no I’m just kidding. But seriously, haven’t you heard the cliché –there’s no harm in it-? I’ve used that line myself before, haven’t you?

ANYONE who knocks down a wall might be bitten by a snake -Ecclesiastes 10:8b, NCV.
IN an attempt to make the gospel of Jesus Christ more presentable or acceptable, a lot of effort has gone into redefining many of its fundamental tenets. I believe this is part of the enemy’s grand design to dull our consciences to the contrasts between right and wrong in the eyes of God, and to the realities of the attendant costs of continually going against God’s will and way. It’s called among other things being ‘politically correct’ or ‘socially relevant’. For some, ‘we just want to know what’s going on in the world’. But in the process Satan has seized many by the jugular. He is squeezing the life out and calling it, ‘just for fun’. The walls of moral and doctrinal integrity are being brought down brick by brick. It’s a sign of the times.

ROASTED snake, broiled snake, grilled snake, steamed snake, barbequed snake… snake is snake. Apologies to those for who snake meat is a delicacy. I hear it tastes like fish. I do not believe that there is anything wrong with eating snake meat (Acts 10:7-16), but snakebite is a different ball game. It is potentially life threatening. Just like sin is.
CAN we call a spade a spade? -But you are being insensitive…- Well, I’m always a life-coach, today I’m a lifeguard. Someone has dived into shark infested waters, assuming that the red flag is some fancy piece of cloth designed to prevent people from having fun on the pristine beaches of life, anyhow they like. It would take tough measures, and I love him enough to tell him the truth with a megaphone –YOUR LIFE IS IN DANGER, GET OUT NOW!

PEOPLE usually have excuses for… ‘It’s my weakness’. The man is sleeping with another man’s wife, ‘I don’t love my wife anymore’. The woman would not respect her husband, ‘he behaves like a monkey’s son’. One has a terrible temper, ‘I got it from my father’. Another is stealing from the government, ‘it’s my share of the National Cake’. A wife is fantasizing with the idea of going out with an old-flame who suddenly showed up, ‘just reminiscing over the good old days’. Someone will not forgive, instead keeps malice, ‘you don’t know what she did to me’. There is one given to gluttony, ‘I usually binge when I’m upset’. But it seems you are always upset! In all of this is disobedience to the will of God. I’m not judging, but there is a bottom line -sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it-Gen. 4:7, NKJV. That is sin wants to put your lights out. Don’t let it do that to you.

RECENTLY I asked myself, what is sin? I penned down my answer: Sin is an attitude, a thinking pattern, contemplation, speech, action or behaviour that is inconsistent with the will or word of God. It is transgression against God whether by commission or omission.

BUT praises be to God through whose grace and loving kindness in Christ Jesus we have been delivered from the power of sin. If you are in Christ, you are no longer a slave to sin. It should not rule over you. You rule over it. You are the righteousness of God. You have overcome by the blood of the Lamb. Why be entangled again by the yoke from which you have been set free? Stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ has made you free. Repent and return to the forgiving grace of God’s love. You are free indeed! (Romans 6:6-23; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 John 1:9-2:2)

IF you have not come to the Lord Jesus Christ freedom from sin is yours too. Because God so loved you He gave His only begotten Son who died and rose again, not to condemn you but to give you life eternal. Your sins are already paid for so that you might be saved, if you believe and receive Him. You are not under condemnation rather salvation is yours for the asking and receiving. Be free today. You are loved. (2 Corinthians 5:19; John 3:16-17; 5:24).
WAIT a minute. Did I mention that I enjoyed that croc-diet? Oh, I really did.

Solomon Aror (Pst.)
Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

Do you wish to begin a relationship with Jesus Christ? I would be delighted to hear from you.

Thank God it’s Monday -Developing a Right Attitude to Work

2009-05-06T11:03:00.000+02:00

OH God, its Monday! “Thank God it’s Friday.” These are common phrases we hear at the workplace the first and last working days of the week. They seem to connote that work takes the fun out of life, getting to it on Monday is like going to the gates of Hell, and taking a break on Friday is a great deliverance for which high praise has to be given to God. Those five working days are the most painful in the lives of many. A little wonder they get home everyday and their families bear the brunt of their frustration. And the circle goes on almost all of their working life.

WORK is a necessary evil. What can I do? I just have to provide for my family.” Many who have this kind of attitude usually do not love their work. And some of them are piqued because of those who seem to be enjoying theirs. Most times this frustration stems from the fact that they may be at a job they do not enjoy. Statistics show that most people work at jobs they would rather not be “if they had a choice”. But you have a choice. That choice is your attitude to and at your work.

YOUR work should be one of the joys of your life. God created work, I believe He created it for us to enjoy. He created it so that we can express the creativity, skills and wisdom unique to each of us. “But I’m at a job I hate”. This is a painful reality for many people. Some of us in the short term may not be able to change our jobs, and please do not if you haven’t gotten another to replace it yet, but even if you cannot change your job you can change your attitude towards it. Let’s start there.

LOVE your work! Love for our work begins at changing attitudes. There must be something positive about your work and the people you work with. “Honestly, there is nothing good about it.” How about the cheque you take home every month? Many people do not get half of that cheque in a month. Also, -show yourself friendly, if you want to have friends- the Bible admonishes in Proverbs 18:24. We usually like to go to places where our friends are. You can build lifetime friendships at your workplace. Some people met their spouses at their place of work. I don’t think that they achieved that by being grouchy. It’s a matter of attitude.

ANOTHER thing you can build at your current workplace is experience. Believe me, a persons experience is a knowledge and skill you can never take from him. Work at your job, develop new ways of achieving your work goals, and be creative. Develop new skills on the job. It makes you a better person. Don’t have what I call the classic Civil Service work ethic -Sidon-look... Chop-I-Chop! Even if you are in the Civil Service, be different. There is a Biblical work ethic. It is to love your work, seeing it as a means to glorify God. It is to be at it joyfully and faithfully, working as though you were working for the Lord no matter who is your boss, yourself or someone else. Well, it’s a matter of attitude.

FINALLY, always believe that God who created work will bless the work of your hands with good success and promotion. When you are faithful in the little He has placed in your hands, He’ll reward you with greater things- it could be your own business, a better position in your present workplace or even another place, and it could well be a job you love doing (ref. Luke 16:10-12; 19:17). See your job as one of the opportunities you have to express one of the joys of life- the opportunity to be productive. Produce to your maximum and let God bless the work of your hands. Again, it’s a matter of attitude.

SEE your job as a gift from God for which you should always be thankful. An attitude of gratitude works like magic. It changes you and ultimately everyone and everything around you. Jesus said, -I must work the works of him who sent me while its day- John 9:4. Let’s have Jesus’ attitude to work. Someone said that our attitude is the last freedom that no one can take from us.

IT was May (Workers) day on Friday. Thank God it was Friday. Today is Monday. Thank God it’s Monday! It’s a matter of attitude.

PSALM 1:3, says that “whatsoever he (the blessed person) doeth shall prosper”. You have been blessed to prosper. Whether you are in business or paid employment, or working at home, you are blessed to prosper in all that you do! As you develop a right attitude to work, may God bless your work even in difficult economic times.

He is Still There- Encouragement from God’s Word

2009-04-29T14:49:00.002+02:00

Monday Mail from Solomon Aror – Monday 27th April 2009

Recently, I don’t know why, but something triggered a memory in my mind. It was a little child crying and he would not be consoled. He had come to the realization that his mother had gone out when he did not know it. Perhaps he might have been asleep when she did.

Ilupeju Lagos. Many years ago, actually sometime in the early 70’s, I lived with my mother and two elder brothers. I was in elementary school. My brothers were gone to boarding school. This particular day I think my mum had gone to work, and I had gone to and returned from school. Normally she would be back by about 5.00 pm, but it was now well past 6.00 pm and going on to 7.00 pm, she was not back at home. I sat down on the doorstep of the house. I became apprehensive and began to cry. I just could not figure out what must have gone wrong and why my mum would leave me “home alone.” Whiskey, our lovely little dog, was there, but he actually offered no consolation.

To cut the story short, my mum drove in with her bright red Toyota Corolla LAA 104 (that was the registration number) in a rush. “Sorry, I went to your school’s PTA meeting from work and it lasted a little longer than we thought it would.” It was not so much of her explanation that was important, what gave me consolation was the fact that she was back home and present with me. I had felt very lonely and abandoned because my mum was not there when she was supposed to. The night was coming in and I was afraid. But she was attending to matters that concerned me and I did not know it.

Many times in our Christian walk it seems God is not there and it’s getting dark. Actually, “the night” often falls on us. We become apprehensive and sometimes confused, time is running out and the worst could happen. We feel abandoned by the same God who said He loved us and would never forsake us.
What might be causing anxieties in your life today? A marriage relationship going sour; insufficient time and resources to finish a vital project; an inability to make ends meet because of a rising cost of basics and a salary shrunken by inflation; or worse the possibility of loosing your job or business;. And it would not have been so bad if it was not for that fear... the gut feeling that God is not on your case. Abandoned file!

I don’t intend to sound insensitive, however the truth is that worry or anxiety do not actually solve your problems, in fact they can put your mind in so much turmoil that you cannot think of or hear the solutions or ideas God may be trying to pass across to your mind. We should not worry rather we should think, and our thinking should be in the direction of productive solutions. And praying about it could actually bring you to hearing God’s mind about the situation and receiving wisdom for the solution.

Worrying not only hinders the mind from productive thinking, it also negates prayer. In my book “Fulfilling Your Destiny: Breaking Away from Your Past into Fulfilling God’s Plan and Purpose for Your Life”. I stated that, “Praying and worrying at the same time, is incompatible with the hearts of men. If you worry always then prayer is useless, but if you pray always then worry is needless”.

Dear friend, God still loves you and He has not forsaken you. That you do not feel His presence does not mean that He is no longer with you. HE IS! Let us put it this way, He is attending to matters that concern you, and He will ultimately make all things walk together for your good (Rom 8:28). Believe His promise. His word is more certain than the present challenging situations in your life. He has already said “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). You can always confess along with King David, “I will not be afraid, because the Lord is with me. People can’t do anything to me. The Lord is with me to help me…” –Psalm 118: 6-7, NCV.

I pray that the Lord strengthen you with His encouragement this week, and bring solutions to any challenges you may be facing. Remember the song "Don't worry; Be happy"

Solomon Aror (Pst.)
Port-Harcourt, Nigeria.

Beyond Monkey Talk -Building a Healthy Self-Image

2009-04-20T12:33:00.000+02:00

Do you know that you carry the stamp of God’s DNA? You have the very essence of the life of God.

So God created people in his own image; God patterned them after himself; male and female he created them- Genesis 1:26, NLT. …Adam was the son of God- Luke 3:38, NCV.

Recently we -my wife, my son and I- took a family photograph. Someone who saw the photograph said, “The three of you are just like one face”. My son looks like my mother (and me), and more than once folks have said my wife looks like me. I tend to look like both of my parents. Now I’m wondering if my wife looks like my mother. They say a man has the tendency to marry a woman that looks like or has his mother’s character traits. Be that as it may, I can assure you, none of us looks like a monkey. No, not in any way, fashion or form!

What has monkey got to do with this? I would not bore you with the ”scientific” jargon concerning the Darwinian Theory of evolution of how man is alleged to have evolved from lower life/animal forms or the various shades of counter claims by opposing groups. I’m not even going to belabour you with the nitty-gritty’s of the Creation Story. However, if you have been reading my articles, it wouldn’t take you much to recognize where my loyalty lies in -the Bible. It’s my favourite book.

Everybody believes in something. Some believe they came from monkeys… Ah! Ok… great Apes. Others believe they are created by God. You guessed right. I believe I’m God’s offspring. I don’t believe I’m a monkey’s son. I believe you are too. “Me! Are you calling me a monkey’s son?” No, I mean you are God’s offspring. “For in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring’” Acts 17:28, NKJV.

Where or from whom you believe you truly came from is like your image-compass, it sets ‘True North’ for the way you see yourself. No matter where you turn to, or what you achieve, you are always pointed in that direction. The way you see yourself is a foundation upon which you build your life; the way you live your life; the way you see others in relation to yourself and the way you relate with them.

Friend, this is beyond monkey talk. Because you cannot have a good self-image sincerely believing that you descended from monkeys no matter how distant the trail goes backwards. It creates an identity crisis. In any case, you may not even believe in the Theory of Evolution, still the principle applies. Your self-perception is very vital to your overall well being.

But what is the right way to see ourselves? David asked God a question: “Why is man so important to you? Why are you so concerned about them?” As though answering the questions himself, he then says- “You made them a little lower than the angles (Hb. Elohim, which means God) and crowned them with glory and honour. You put them in charge of everything you made” Psalm 8:4-6. You must see yourself the way God sees you, then live your life in line with that perception. This is very important.

You mean so much to your creator. You are important to Him, for He is your life source. In my article “A Pearl of Great Price” I spoke of the value God places on us, in that He literally sent His Son pay the ultimate price in our stead. Do not let the challenges of life put you down, nor allow what anyone has said concerning you that is not consistent with God’s view of you get in the way of your life. They have placed labels on you. Well that’s just what they are, labels. Believe in God. He says you are priceless. See yourself as He sees you. Believe in you.

Solomon Aror (Pst.)
Port-Harcourt, Nigeria.

Would you like to begin a relationship with Jesus Christ, please do contact me. I would be delighted to write to you.

2009-04-13T19:28:00.000+02:00

A Pearl of Great Price
- Monday Mail from Solomon Aror, 13th April 2009

“The kingdom of heaven is like a man looking for fine pearls. When he found a very valuable pearl, he went and sold everything he had and bought it”
–Matthew 13:45-46, NCV.

It is said that the value of something is not in its price but in what someone is willing to pay for it. There are some paintings that are so valuable that some collectors would be willing to pay a million dollars for. Meanwhile someone who might lack an appreciation of arts would say. “Great! But I wouldn’t part with more than 50 bucks, for it”. What’s the difference, is it a million dollars or fifty? I don’t think so. It’s the value each person places on the painting.

It may surprise you, not everyone places great value on pearls either and they would not go anywhere near what the person in the above quotation did to get just one pearl: he “sold everything he had”. In fact many would say, “A pearl, when I’ve not filled my stomach today!” Not much of a vision, is it?

Why do people place different values on things? For one, it the way they perceive things. If they see it as something that is important and valuable, they would give it premium consideration. I’ve often wondered at the value God places on humanity that He would offer His one and only Son to pay the price for our redemption.

Bringing it home, going by John 3:16, that God loved us so much, I believe we are precious and priceless to Him. It is written that He (God) is not ignorant of even a single strand of hair that falls off of your head.

Easter is the season we remember the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. We contemplate how much value God placed on us. The question is how much value do you place on yourself, on your own life? That is where the rubber hits the road.

From the world’s perspective, we are often tempted to look more at our net-worth than our “life-worth” -the value God places on us. Your net worth can change, especially in economic times like these. But your value in the eyes of God never changes. You are a pearl in God’ sight, and the entire essence of the Son of God coming to earth to die and to rise again was as a man selling all that he had to get one precious pearl. You!

This week and beyond see yourself as God sees you, “a pearl of great price”. Better still see others as God sees them, as pearls of great price too. Having this perspective you would be able to make a positive impact. In many little ways -through the way you speak and act towards people- let those around you know that they are indeed precious people: pearls of great price.

You may not be able to change the whole world, but you can change your world- one person at a time. Let them know you care, that they are indeed precious people: pearls of great price.

Finally, I pray that the power of resurrection would bring the glory of God into your life this season and beyond. You are precious. Happy Easter!

Solomon Aror (Pst.)
Port-Harcourt, Nigeria.

Would you like to begin a relationship with Jesus Christ, please do contact me and I would be delighted to write to you.

Before You Speak

2009-04-06T11:51:00.000+02:00

Before You Speak
- Monday Mail –from Solomon Aror, 6th April 2009

“Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt…” –Colossians 4:6; NKJV.

We all have moments when we need to “talk to someone.” Our relationships depend on communication. However, in ‘honest talk’, how we say something is as important as what we say, especially when it comes to our dearest relationships with our spouses and children; our cherished ones with our friends and relations; our essential ones with our bosses and colleagues.

However, before you speak, always do your best as a wise person, which I believe you are, to communicate your point by the wisdom of your words instead of the volume of your voice. But if at that moment you find no wisdom in your words (which happens to us all from time to time), you’d do yourself a lot of good to give yourself a very important advice: “SHUT-UP”.

At such a time your silence will truly be golden, and perchance the proverb, “even a fool is counted wise when he keeps silent”, will cover the foolishness of your thoughts being rest assured that no one knows what you are thinking unless you have the misfortune of being one of those who takes pride or has the habit of dispensing pieces of your mind at the slightest provocation. It could be tragic if you finally give away every piece of your mind!

The essence of your speaking should be to communicate your thought(s) or idea(s) in a clear to appreciate manner. Your goal should be to win a heart and not a war of wits. Personally, I believe, barring any moral compromise, it is more profitable to win the heart of a person than to win a battle of wits and words. Do you want to win the battle but loose the person? That person could be a friend of several years, your boss (Your boss? Do your best not to lose this one if you love your job). If it is your spouse… no… no… no don’t even get there!

Fewer things damage our relationships more than the words we speak and how we say them. Some years ago I heard a speaker say, in trying to communicate romantic feelings to your wife you do not say, “You have cat eyes” but “you have kitten eyes”. For crying out loud what is the difference? Well, if you tried the first on your wife you might just spend the next two to three weeks learning the difference. Let me assure you in that one experience not the best teacher.

Always think before you speak. This week don’t run away from ‘important talk’. You can’t really tell, a challenged relationship with your spouse may just be given the boost it needs to set in on the road to “happily ever after”.
It is said that our words can fill our lives with good things. I pray that through your words your life will be filled with good things this week and beyond.

Solomon Aror (Pst)
Port-Harcourt, Nigeria.

NB: Do you disire to begin a relationship with Jesus Christ? Please write me. I would be delighted to speak with you.

Rat Race, Dog Race or Faith Race

2009-03-30T11:33:00.000+02:00

Rat Race, Dog Race or Faith Race

-Monday Mail from Solomon Aror – 30^th March 2009.

“You know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize. So let us run the race that is set before us and never give up” -1 Corinthians 9:24; Hebrews 12:2, NCV.

EVERYONE in the Human race (if you like) is in one kind of race or the other. All are not athletes, but all run. Though some are just taking a walk, others are in “looking mode” on life’s path. I’m sure you are not one of life’s onlookers.

SOMETIME ago I read the book “Man in the Mirror” written by Patrick Morley. Every male who is becoming a man; every male who is a man; every man who wants to be a great man; and every male who is not sure he is a male (sadly, the numbers of these are swelling) but wants to be sure who he is, should read this book. Also, every woman worthy of the designation should read it. And for all married men, please follow the advice of R. C. Sproul who forwarded the book: Make sure you read it before your wife grabs a copy of it, and reads it.

In this book Morley describes the Rat race as “the pursuit of this beautiful wrinkle-free life”. A life style and image that is a media generated artificial standard of living. It is a compromise life of chasing dreams at the expense of the most important values and relationships in one’s life, a pursuit that produces an enormously depressing anxiety and debt pressure for many.

In the Rat race life is a constant competition of striving to outdo the Joneses. Brothers are you there? Let’s tell ourselves the truth, the Joneses careless if you are slapping coal tar (one of my high school slang for trekking), or driving a Hummer. It makes no difference to them. They’ll be ready any day to shed their crocodile tears when you are six feet below the earth’s surface, then go on as though you never existed.

The struggle is to impress? It’s a world standard. The pull is very strong. “Everybody is doing it”. Christians are not immune and often fall into the trap. Yes it is a trap because the end is dead. Ask the millionaires who are committing suicide around the world because of the present global economic meltdown.

IN one of my brothers’ house they have four dogs. One of them is a Doberman; the other is an Alsatian; the third is a cross between a German shepherd and only God knows what. The fourth? O well, let’s just call it a dog. All are males.

The Alsatian in the biggest followed by the Doberman. Between these two, there are sometimes fierce battles for turf control. It is a do-or-die affair, as a former president put it succinctly. They literally go for each other’s jugular. Often followed by the vet’s call, it’s like judgment day.

In one of these fights I was involved (Hey, no funny ideas, I wasn’t fighting with the dogs!) in separating them, my eyes kind of met with the Alsatian’s. Its usually gentle eyes were literally ablaze. I had to take courage. You know they say being courageous is not the absence of fear, but in facing it. You did not hear me say I was afraid, did you?

It’s all about turf control. Dog-eat-dog. That is the system of the dog race. It is the Rat race turned to dogs (no offence meant), a bitter battle for domination on the socio-economic and/or political turfs, its “fight to finish”. Climb the backs of everyone to the top. Gore every ox, no matter who owns them. “You would hurt many hearts”. That is for religious bigots.

HOWEVER, there is the Faith race, in which Paul admonishes us to “run to win”. In this race the competition is you. Your family (and even your health) is not paying the price, but you discipline yourself to be the best you can be: what God wants you to be in all spheres of your life, which is one indivisible integral whole. Be it in the home place, social place, market place, or church place, you are single and complete. What you are here is what you are there. No duplicity. You press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God. The success of others inspires you. You are not green with envy, but radiant with joy unspeakable and full of glory.

When the apostle Paul finished his own Faith race he humbly declared, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race. I have kept the faith. Now is a crown being held for me– a crown for being right with God. The Lord, the judge who judges rightly will give the crown to me on that day. Not only to me but to all those who have waited for him to come again” (2 Tim 4:7-8, NCV).

WHAT race are you in? If you are not on the Faith race, it time to get on board. However if you are, the encouragement is that you will keep running the race set before you. And if you have fallen along the way, let these words be an extension of my hands helping you up. You are not looser because you have fallen down or you are facing serious challenges, but only if you stay down and quit the race. (If you have quit, you can get back in the race. There are still eternal values and virtues of integrity, kindness, love, mercy etc that make life meaningful.

Yes, you would achieve good success but not at the expense of your soul. That’s my prayer for you.

Solomon Aror (Pst)

Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

NB: Would you like to begin a relationship with Jesus Christ? Please write to let me know. I would be delighted to write you.

Peter Walks on Water (Sea)

2009-03-30T11:31:00.001+02:00

Peter Walks on Water (the Sea)

Monday Mail from Solomon Aror -23^rd March 2009

“Jesus said, “Come”. And Peter left the boat and walked on the water to Jesus”

–Matthew 14:29, NCV.

It’s not rocket science. Everyone knows it. When you step on water, you sink, and if there is a storm or you can’t swim, you drown. End of story!

Peter belonged to a fishing family. He was born and raised in it. He knew the sea like the back of his hand. When it came to the sea, you could fish and earn a living from it; you could swim in it, and you could die in it. Walk on it? That was never part of the equation. Who said so? Nature. You don’t argue with nature. Ask Tsunami victims or any seasoned sailor. YOU DO NOT ARGUE WITH NATURE!

Anyone who reads his/her Bible well enough would know that Peter was quite impetuous- often acting before thinking. But how far can you get acting without thinking? Quite frankly not too far.

The usual headline for this Biblical event is “Jesus Walks on the Sea”. That’s no news. Your local TV station would not even mention it in passing, not to speak of CNN. Jesus might as well have been walking on the clouds. But Peter, ah nah! It’s just not possible. But you see it happened. Peter walked on water! Now, that is the story.

Peter knew Jesus Christ. He saw Him walking on water. He (Peter) believed “if Jesus gave the Word” he too could come to Jesus walking on water. For Peter, being with Jesus and a simple word from Him was all it took to make the impossible possible, only then could nature be superseded by the supernatural. He just needed to get Jesus’ word. He would believe it and act on it. And he did. When you get a word from God, you too can act on it.

Are you facing a seemingly impossible situation? You need healing from a debilitating disease. The doctor’s report is “incurable”. You are in a deep financial crisis that is taking you and your family below the bottom. Perhaps your marriage is breaking apart and your heart is broken. Junior has run away from home. The list can be endless.

Maybe you have to confront something or someone (you and I know one or two “impossible people”), and you have been putting it off because you think, “nothing can come out of it”. I would only sink if I get into it. Well I’m not asking you to be impetuous or irrational, rather I’m only asking you to take a hold of God’s word and then run with it. I’m asking you to think like Jesus. All things are possible. Don’t doubt, but believe.

“If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes” (Mk 9:23). That’s the bottom line for working out possibility from the impossible, and engaging the miraculous. Perhaps, though not in the literal sense, you too can walk on water as Peter walked on water- I mean do the impossible. By faith you can get God’s word, believe it, and act on it. No challenge is too big for you (with God on your side, that is). Step out of the boat. Step on the water. Walk on the water. You can!

It has been my privilege writing to you once again. Thanks for your comments and replies. My prayer for you this week is that you will experience the miraculous wherever and whenever you need it. God bless you.

Aror, Solomon (Pst.)

Port-Harcourt, Nigeria.

NB:

v Do you desire to begin a relationship with Jesus Christ? Please do write me about it. I would be delighted to speak with you.

Yes You Can!

2009-03-30T11:18:00.000+02:00

YES, YOU CAN!

Monday Main from Solomon Aror -9^th March 2009

“God is working in you to help you want to do and be able to do what pleases Him” Philippians 2:13, NCV.

Some of you reading this mail would know how I lived my life before re-committing my life to Christ about 30 years ago. Before then obeying God was not a priority for me. Of course once in a while I wanted to do what was right, but that was very difficult, in fact doing wrong was a breeze and in my mind error was much more exciting. I loved the world. But then it all changed when I began a relationship with Christ. Have I made mistakes along the way? O yes, but love for Christ still motivates me. When love motivates us, doing what the one we love desires is easy. If you have ever been in love, or for those of us that are married. Take your mind back to when you were courting. You were in love (I hope you still are). Then you hardly told your fiancé “no” to whatever she wanted you to do. Love made it easy.

God’s love can motivate you. There are lots of people who neither care about God nor are they interested in what He wants them to do. I believe you are not one of such. You desire to do what is right because God helps you to have that desire. He knows doing what is wrong ultimately leads to a dead-end. An end He desperately does not wish anyone to get to (Rom. 6:23). Why is that so? It is because you are important to Him. In fact David once wondered and asked God “Why are people even important to you? Why do you care…? -Psalm 8:4, NCV

God cares about you and for every aspect of your life. “Solomon that does not seem so in my case. Believe me, He does. Truly, He is concerned about the challenges you face and the needs you have (Matt.6: 25-32), be they spiritual, physical, material, financial, or even in your relationships. Some of these challenges even overlap. For example, statistics tend to indicate that the fracture in most troubled marriages has its roots in financial problems. Even then God still cares and offers the right solutions, if we can trust Him to lead us in the right direction. O yes, God does speak. You can hear His voice. You can trust Him to show you the way. Ask me how!

Apart from helping you to desire what pleases Him, God also helps you with the ability to carry it out. In college physics we were taught about the simple machine. Laid out in fulcrum- pivot- load points (Its been quit a long time, I hope I’m getting it right), the simple machine helps one to lift loads which ordinarily would be difficult or even impossible to carry on one’s own. I believe that God knows that without His help you will find it “impossible” to obey Him. As someone rightly responded to last week’s Monday Mail, “The 10 Commands are hard to keep” and another “its not easy to obey the commandment to not commit adultery”.

Naturally, on our own (that is without God) the commandments are “impossible” to keep. We are more prone to be selfish than to love; to want to kill than to save life; to lie than to speak the truth; to live a double life than to be faithful. But like I said earlier, that ultimately leads to a dead-end. However, when Christ comes into your heart, it is different. A New Creation is born. God gives you His Spirit and empowers you to effortlessly live the way He wants you to. Has Christ come into your heart? I ask because it is vital that you let Him in if this has to be true for you. Then you can join Barak Obama to say, “Yes We Can!”

I pray for you that this week will be filled with possibilities and opportunities for trust, obedience and increase. YES, YOU CAN!

Solomon Aror (Pastor)

Port Harcourt, Nigeria -9^th March 2009

NB: If you wish to begin a relationship with Jesus Christ, please send me a mail.

Just Trust Me II

2009-03-26T12:00:00.000+01:00

Just Trust Me -II
-Solomon Aror

Loving God means keeping His commandments, and really that isn’t difficult. For every child of God defeats this evil world by trusting Christ to give the victory. 1 John 5:3-4
We all love God. Don’t we all? Who doesn’t? Do you? It’s not your business! Perhaps, but if I have your best interest at heart– and I do- then it is. Believe me I do have your best interest at heart!

Well let’s get down to brass tacks, as one of my brothers would say. Last week Monday we received encouragement from the words of Christ. “Don’t be afraid. Just trust me. I appreciate everyone who responded. And I am thankful some of you were encouraged and strengthened. Like someone said, “those words hit me at where I was”. But did someone say, “it’s easier said than done” I do agree with the fact that talk can be cheap, but trust isn’t.

Nevertheless, today’s passage tells us that doing what God wants us to do “really… isn’t difficult.” You love God, don’t you? So, let’s take for an example this instruction, “Let each one of you in particular so love his own (not someone else’s) wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband (Ephesians 5:33, NKJV). It isn’t difficult to love your wife or respect your husband unconditionally, or is it? I don’t think… “Ah! Solomon, just don’t go near there”. Hey, its and example. Ok, talk to me. Let me hear you.

“Every child of God defeats this evil world by trusting Christ to give the victory”. Did you hear that? “Every child of God…” That includes you. This world presents everyone no matter his/her status with challenges. We can choose to face them alone, or we can trust Christ to give us the victory, even as we confront them. Yes confront, not gripe, complain or leave them for some other day.

Think of this wonderful benefit for trusting Christ. “Every child of God” overcomes the world through faith. The manifestation of victory may not be immediate (who knows a tree that fruits the next day after planting?), but is certain. Yes, your faith has potential to be productive. Use it. Don’t think, talk or act like a victim. You are not a victim but a victor.

May the Lord fill you with joy and peace as you enjoy the victories He gives to you this week as you TRUST HIM.

Solomon Aror (Pst.)
Port-Harcourt, Nigeria
Monday 2nd March 2009

2009-03-24T13:26:00.000+01:00

“Just Trust Me”
Monday Mail from Solomon Aror

But Jesus ignored their comments and said to Jairus “Don’t be afraid. Just trust me” –Mark 5:36 (NLT)

Mark 5:21-43

Jairus was a leader in a local Jewish synagogue. He had a very serious challenge- his daughter was sick and dying. He knew he could get help from Jesus and he asked Him- “Please come and place your hands on her; heal her so she can live.” Help was on its way when messengers from Jairus home came with a report that wrenched this father’s heart- The child is dead. There’s no need to bother the Teacher. Jairus heart was sunken and thoughts of fear took over when suddenly Jesus words broke the chain of his thoughts, “Don’t be afraid. Just trust me”.

Have you faced or currently face a seemingly insurmountable challenge. You’ve prayed and received an assurance in your heart that all will be well. But it seems in spite of your cry for help, matters have become worse and even gone beyond the possibility of a solution. Today, take in and believe the words of Jesus Christ “Don’t be afraid. Just trust me”. Jesus means what He says, and says only what He means. Just trust Him.

Like Jesus, ignore the comments that people and the circumstance are making and attempting to fill your heart with doubt. He has the solution in His hands and like Jairus he has not left you. Just trust Him!

Let this week be filled with faith and not fear. Your faith has world overcoming potential. Don’t be afraid. Just trust me!

Solomon Aror
Port-Harcourt, Nigeria.