AS YOU PLAN

As the year 2017 gradually comes to an end and plans are in high gear to usher in the New Year 2018, one of the things I know that most people do in preparation for a New Year is make New Year resolutions and set goals for the New Year.

For me, this is usually a time to step back and retreat and seek the face of the Father on what is in His heart at this point in His season of life. God works in seasons and those seasons usually do not necessarily follow our calendar years so an understanding of the heart of the Father will aid a child of God walk right with Him.

The Lord drew my attention to a passage in the book of Romans 8:5;

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.

So as you prepare and plan for the New Year, I have a question for you. If I look at your goals and plans for the New Year and gauge them, will I confirm that you live by the Spirit or according to the flesh?

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh…

Mind you, the flesh is in constant enmity with God. So anything that does not bring you closer to God but draws you away from Him is flesh.

I want you to think on these things and adjust your plans/life accordingly.

God bless you and Compliments of the Season.

OluwaObinna.

AS YOU GIVE

I love Christmas, I can’t say for sure exactly why I love it, but I do. My wife has even made it a more interesting season for me with all the drama around decorations and carols et al and like the good student I am, I am catching the bug quickly and every year has been better than the last. Even when I try to dull her, it is never a dull moment with Meemeesola.

Okay, this post is not about my wife and how much I love her though I am sure you know that already.

One of the things I love about Christmas is that it is a season when you don’t have to prompt people a lot to do good. People are more willing to give both to charity and to friends and even enemies as well. There is that giving grace during the Christmas season.

This year for some reason I decided to pray about what God will have us give this period. I had some plans in mind as giving back to my community is up there in my list of priorities. I am one of those people that believe that the body of Christ should be assisting ease the burden on society in the areas of quality education, health, accommodation and feeding. If we can’t make it free (which I don’t see why we can’t), we should at least make it as subsidized as possible. On a later day, maybe I will share my plans around this and you are free to chat me up privately and I can share my thoughts on this.

But as I prayed along those lines, God pointed me to a scripture and asked me to be guided by that. I know most of us have amazing plans for this period and some of us have even commenced executing those plans. But as you do and go ahead in life, I will like you to read this scripture, meditate on it and keep it at the fore front of your mind in all your  giving and doing good.

I pray that the Lord will expand this scripture in your hearts and open the eyes of your understanding to see what is in the heart of the Father, Amen!

Matthew 6:1-4(NKJV)

1“Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2Therefore, when you do your charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 3But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly".

Selah!!!