A Father’s Affirmation

Did you know that as a Dad you have a powerful influence over your children’s lives? One area where you have the most influence is in the area of affirmation. Your affirmation builds confidence in your son or daughter to face the world like nothing else can.  Have you ever told your child “Son I’m proud of you!” or “Daughter, you make me proud!”? If you have, you might recall how it was an instant boost to their confidence and sense of accomplishment. That confidence serves as a reservoir of strength to tackle the next challenge that comes their way. A lack of affirmation from one or both parents may lead to emotional crippling and instability that will manifest as self-doubt, low self-esteem, inability to pursue goals or achieve potentials, and a myriad of relationship and social problems.  

According to the Webster’s Dictionary, to affirm means to assert positively; to tell with confidence; to declare

the existence of something; to maintain as true; to make firm; to establish, or to confirm.  

   Dedicated Love

    Approve, affirm

Discipline

God Himself demonstrated this principle to all Fathers 

As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water. Suddenly the heavens were opened, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and resting on Him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased!” (Matthew 3:16-17).  

It was a critical moment in the life and ministry of Jesus. He was about to begin the very thing for which He was born. The father did not leave Him by Himself. God demonstrated with a magnificent display of Heaven’s splendor that this Son had the Father’s approval. Later we will see Jesus drawing on the strength of his father’s affirmation when the Jews questioned him on his identity. 

 “If I bear witness of Myself, My testimony is not true.  There is another who bears witness of Me, and I know that the testimony which He bears of Me is true (Jon 5:31-32). 

“The Father Himself, who has sent Me, has borne witness of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form” (John 5:37).

God affirmed Jesus at other times. The gospels record the account of his transfiguration before the disciples. While Peter was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him!” (Mathew 17:5) 

If Jesus needed his father’s affirmation, so does your son or daughter!  Your children may be toddlers, teenagers, or adults, the good part is; affirmation benefits everyone. 

Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones (Proverbs 16:24)  Happy Fathers' Day to all fathers and father figures!

My Mother

This mother’s day brings to mind lines from a childhood rhyme by Ann Taylor

Who sat and watched my infant head,

When sleeping in my cradle bed,

And tears of sweet affection shed?

My Mother.

When pain and sickness made me cry,

Who gazed upon my heavy eye,

And wept for fear that I should die?

My Mother.

 I have no recollection of my cradle bed (if I had any)

But I certainly remember many nights I lay on the bed sick with malaria fever

My mother kept the night watch with me, mopping my burning skin with a wet towel 
Praying that God should take away my sickness and my pain.

The greater part of my growing up years were done in a single mother household.  My father was an "absentee father" not by choice, but because the cold hands of death snatched him away before he could really get to know or shape the lives of the two jewels he birthed. My mother made up for the absence of a father's love by showering us with more than a double portion of parental love and attention. It is a miracle that we did not grow up as "spoiled" adults

Who dress’d my doll in clothes so gay,

And taught me pretty how to play.

And minded all I had to say?

My Mother.

Many happy memories from my growing years center around family time and bonding in the congested rented apartment where we lived. I remember vividly how my mother and my younger brother along with cousins, who were just like sisters to me, would play “house" when we had nothing better to do.

They would tease me to dress up pregnant.  My creativity came in to play as I rolled up a piece of African fabric, a pillow, or whatever I could find to represent the mound. Then we will all giggle and laugh silly as I received compliments on how well pregnancy suited me! I must have caught a wistful look on Mummy's face as she contemplated thoughts of her grandchildren. In all of those scenarios, never once did being pregnant out of wedlock cross my mind. Indeed, I saw in my future a happily married woman expecting to bring forth the seed of marital consummation.  Today I am married, I’m a mother, and I am happy, all praise to God! Mommy, you shaped my dreams, God made them come true!

Who taught my infant lips to pray,

And love God’s holy book and day.

And walk in Wisdom’s pleasant way?

My Mother.

Our troubles drove us to God, our fears brought God so near

It was in your house I saw my first miracle, and then another, and yet another

When many a mother would have pawned their daughters for gain

You turned our hearts Godward, we sang and prayed until God sent us rain!

You told me I was beautiful before any boy ever had the chance to sweep my feet away

With pride and gratefulness, you celebrated me in ways I never knew a mother could

Your Godly wisdom and good counsel have played their part in the woman I am today.

Mommy, when I think of love, I think of you.

Your love is patient, your love is kind.

Self-sacrifice is nothing to you.

And can I ever cease to be

Affectionate and kind to thee,

Who was so very kind to me?

My Mother.

When thou art feeble, old, and gray,

My healthy arm shall be thy stay,

And I will soothe thy pains away,

My Mother.

Happy Mothers Day to Mothers all around the world! If you have a mother or one that has been a mother to you, this is what the scripture has to say;

"Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate." (Proverbs 31:31)

He is Risen!

On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women came to the tomb, bringing the spices they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.… While they were puzzling over this, suddenly two men in radiant apparel stood beside them. As the women bowed their faces to the ground in terror, the two men asked them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; He has risen! Remember how He told you while He was still in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again (Luke 24: 1-7)  

The message of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus is a message that brings us hope. Jesus, through his death paid the ultimate price for the sin of man. He bridged the gap between mankind and God. Embedded in the story of the cross is the message of reconciliation.

All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men’s trespasses against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5: 18 & 19)

In the events that led up to the death of Jesus, we see the fallen nature of man displayed. Lies, treachery, betrayal, greed, lust for wealth and power, hatred, anger, fear, blasphemy, murder. The devil seized the hearts of men, and the depth of man’s depravity was laid bare. Wicked men by their own hands nailed the Lord to the cross. As the sinless blood of Jesus touched the earth, the earth convulsed and quaked, and darkness covered the earth. Men trembled and proclaimed, “Truly this was the son of God!”

The awareness of sin can make us want to run away and hide from a holy God. We say, “Surely the Lord will not want me now.” But wait a minute. Jesus prayed for us “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” Through the finished work of the cross, we now have access to God the Father. Literally, the veil in the temple was torn in two!  In tearing the veil, He opened the door. Now you have access to the Father. If only you will believe in Jesus Christ and put your faith in the finished work of Calvary.

When Jesus rose up from the grave, there was a power shift; He disarmed the enemy and made a public show of principalities and powers. He freed those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death (Hebrews 2:15).  Alleluia! For believers in Christ, the sting of death is taken away. The grave could not hold Jesus down, neither can it hold us. Death is only a passage to glory, if we believe!

Not only does God call us to be reconciled to Him, we must also spread the message of reconciliation.“That in Christ God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting men’s trespasses against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation”

Jesus begged the Father not to charge the sins of the people against them. After His resurrection, He came back to restore His disciples. Would you do the same? Are you ready to set any prisoners free this Easter Sunday? Who is it that has offended you, paid you evil for good? Borrow a leaf from Jesus. Pray for your enemies, bless those who despitefully use you.The message of His Love is too good to keep to yourself! Spread some love. Share the good news!

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3).

Happy Resurrection Sunday!

Flip the Script

I attended a conference some months back called “Flip the Script." I thought it was quite an interesting thought and decided to peruse the subject a little more. This is what I found; there were many definitions of the term "flip the script" According to the U.S dictionary, to flip the script is to “reverse the usual or existing positions in a situation; do something unexpected or revolutionary.” I liked it! I immediately started to think how God has flipped the script on the devil in my life time and time again. When the enemy thinks he has me down, bound, boxed in, subdued, Jesus steps in and sets me free, breathes on me, and turns me loose! God is always turning situations around for my good, even those situations the enemy meant for evil.

There are some things in your life you have been dissatisfied with for a long time. Perhaps up until now, all you have done is complain about it, or make some half-hearted attempts at change. You may even have given up and decided to live with it. Perhaps you have not succeeded in your attempts because you try to do it by yourself. Jesus said categorically “Apart from me you can do nothing!” (John 15:5).

The start of a new year is a good time to flip the script in your life and change the narrative of your story. A lot of people make new year resolutions to effect changes in their lives. Few weeks into the new year, and they are back where they started. God spoke through the mouth of the prophet Jeremiah, “Can an Ethiopian change the color of his skin? Can a leopard take away its spots? Neither can you start doing good, for you have always done evil” (Jeremiah 13:23). New year resolutions are good when we realize that the power to change comes from God.

There was a man in the Bible whose name was Jabez. His mother named him out of the experiences that surrounded his birth, as many did in her day. Childbirth is naturally painful, but his birth was a particularly unpleasant and sorrowful experience for the mother. Most women would look at their baby and forget every pain that preceded the joy of holding the baby in their arms. This mother refused to let go of her pain; she clutched on to sorrow instead of joy. Jabez's mother had a place of authority over her son, so she decided to name him Jabez (which means pain, sorrow) as a constant reminder of her bitter experience. 

Everywhere Jabez went he brought pain, his life was filled with sorrow through no fault of his. There came a day when Jabez decided he had had enough! He determined to flip the script. Jabez realized that he needed supernatural help from God to change his circumstances. He sought audience with the God who rules over the affairs of men and requested for a turn around in his situation.

 Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, “I gave birth to him in pain.” Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request. (1 Chronicles 4:9 -10).

Like Jabez, you may have found yourself in a bad situation because some authority figure in your life misused their authority and projected their pain or confusion to you. Or perhaps you brought pain and sorrow upon yourself with your own hands. You have the power through Jesus to flip that script and change your story today. Jabez started with pain but ended up as an honorable man, more honorable than his brethren! Why not cry out to God today like Jabez did?

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11)."

Promise Keeper

One song that has made its way into many Christian circles around the world is “Way Maker” by the Nigerian gospel artist Sinach. The lyrics exalt the Lord as "Way maker, Miracle Worker, Promise Keeper" I am particularly captivated by the knowledge of God as the Faithful and True one who will not only make a way for you, but will also fulfill His promises every time. We live in a world where people can be very fickle minded. Promises are made by some with no intention of keeping them. They may not even remember the promise because they never planned to keep it. When you find a man or woman of integrity who honors their commitments, or at least makes every effort to do so, celebrate and appreciate them!

God made a vow by the mouth of Prophet Isaiah about seven hundred years before Jesus was born as Savior of the world! “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14). It took many years, but God was watching over His word to perform it, and at the appointed time, the promise was fulfilled.  When God makes you a promise, you can be rest assured, it will come to pass even though you cannot figure out how or when.

 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.  But after he had considered this, an Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins. All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel,” (which means “God with us”). When Joseph woke up, he did what the Angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus. [Matthew 1:18-25]

It is interesting that God stopped Joseph from breaking his pledge to his betrothed. Christmas is about fulfilling promises! Do you have some broken agreements in your life? Are you able to fix them? Very often we cannot do these things by ourselves. Joseph was a noble man. Yet he was on the verge of making a very costly mistake, had God not intervened! Ask God for wisdom in all your decisions. As much as God enables you, make promises and keep them.

This Christmas spend time with those you love, promote family bonding and unity. God preserved wholeness in the home of Joseph and Mary. He knew Jesus needed a suitable family environment for nurturing and growth. Many families quarrel during the Christmas over food, gifts, and things like that. Let there be peace in your home. The Angels announced His birth with praise to God and a message of peace to men. “Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the Angel, praising God and saying: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests!” (Luke 2:13).

                       

          Merry Christmas to you and your family and a prosperous 2020 ahead!