Category: Choice Words for Living
Matthew 14:13-27 (NIV)
So, Jesus heard that John the Baptist has been beheaded, he took his disciples, and left town to a remote place maybe to get away from the noise. But then, the crowd of people followed him.
Since it was a remote place, there’s no place nearby for the crowd to go get food to eat. Jesus then, fed 5,000 men-besides women and children with 2 loaves of bread and 2 fish leaving enough picked up leftover pieces that filled 12 baskets. – You know the story
After dinner, he immediately sent his disciples to go ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. He then went away to be alone by himself to pray before joining them.
Now refreshed, he proceeded to go join his disciples by walking across the Lake because they were on the other side. The disciples seeing him coming, became afraid thinking it was his ghost. Jesus said “Take courage it is I, do not be afraid”. Peter requested to join him and Jesus said “Come.”
Peter then stepped out of the boat and started walking on the Lake as well towards Jesus.
It is written; But when he saw the wind, and beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith” he said “why did you doubt”
Peter; 1) took his eyes off Jesus and 2) saw the wind which created 3) fear then he started 4) sinking. 5) Realizing he was sinking, cried out for help -Lord, save me! We were told Jesus immediately, reached out his hand, and caught him. But the question Jesus asked Peter was, “why did you doubt?” In other words -why did you take your eyes away from me?
Taking our eyes off Jesus and the finished work of the cross will cause us to see the wind -realities of our 1) circumstances, 2) situations, 3) world and so on, thereby creating fear which makes us -to start sinking, causing us to lose heart and just like Peter, we begin to see an impossible situation.
I thank God that the story did not end there. There’s a way out. There’s help!
Just as Jesus heard Peter’s cry, reached out his hand and caught him. He got you! Do you believe this? Jesus always answers any cry for help. He’s with you always.
His name is Emmanuel – God with us. While ascending he said, “……I am with you always even unto the end of the world”- Matt 28:20
Cry out to Him today and anytime you need to. He hears you and he will help you.
Live Life Victoriously
Hello blessed ones,
As the year is coming to an end, you are probably working very hard to accomplish the goals you set out with when it started. I want you to know you can still finish strong and I am here to encourage you.
I am not big on making New Year resolutions. However;
- I do set goals that I can measure and evaluate the progress of over the year.
- Noting what worked and what didn’t and
- make appropriate improvement or changes.
For me, during this time of year, is work-clean up time in – accounting, taxes, year ends, filings, bookkeeping, follow up calls and the list goes on. So, one of my prayers is “O God, Help!” Lol!
The truth is I need strength to accomplish the goals regarding my work. I am reminded of a scripture in Nehemiah 8 please read from verses 1-10 to understand how the Israelites were overwhelmed by the public reading of Moses’ law and teachings. However, they were encouraged in verse 10 especially in the last part “…. for the joy of the Lord is your strength”. This is great! But sometimes we want something more.
And that brings me to part of the scriptures in Judges 6:14 …. “Go in the strength you have….” Again, please read verses 11-16 to fully understand how Gideon was overwhelmed by the attacks on his community.
I find strength in knowing that as I rejoice in the Lord, I am strengthened and with that strength in Him, my rock, and nothing else, I can not be overwhelmed by anyone, anything or circumstances.
May you be encouraged today, knowing whenever you are overwhelmed to,
- rejoice in the Lord your rock and
- go in the strength you have
If you have any question(s), or prayer need, send me an email, for our God is able.
Jesus said “Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.” Matthew 18:19 NIV
choice@choiceidonije.ca
Live Life Victoriously
Blessed day to you!
While practicing my silent devotion this morning I was prompted to share the following situation.
Regardless of how uncomfortable and difficult these times have been and are, you can’t go back to the way things were because that place that you knew is no longer there.
The situation
Having to pay bank service charges and transfer fees for each e-transfers on our bank account is not something that sits right with me. I don’t mind paying service charges but the transfer fees make me uncomfortable.
So, I requested a meeting with our account manager and with great patience and attentiveness, he listened to me vent.
At the end of our phone call, he suggested a different package that I may be comfortable with. This new package had some key advantages, like the service charge being lower and wait for it… no extra transfer fees for e-transfers. Yay!
However, it has one huge disadvantage – transactions are limited. Meaning, I have to keep track of all my transactions to ensure I do not exceed the numbers allowed, because exceeding it will increase the cost of the service charge very quickly.
After trying this new package for a month as the account manager suggested, I requested another meeting. The meeting was to reinstate my former package because tracking my transaction had become a chore and it was stealing my peace.
Again, he listened and proceeded to remind me of two things; 1) in the near future, changes that I am not a fan of are coming and, 2) the former package I had will no longer exist as I knew it. He then came up with a package for me, that was PERFECT.
Just as my account manager came up with the perfect account package for me, I want you to remember that God your Father, through our Lord Jesus Christ and with the help of the Holy Spirit has prepared the PERFECT package for your situation.
Spend time with Him today and always, sit at His feet, discuss your situation with Him. He will show you the plan and once you see and know it, like me, you will say “it’s perfect!”
If you have any prayer need, send me an email, for our God is Alive, Well and Able.
choice@choiceidonije.ca
Live Life Victoriously
Hello everyone, it’s been some years that I shared anything with you. Does that mean there hasn’t been anything to share? No, not at all.
During these past years, my family has grown with new additions of a new grandbaby and a new daughter in-law to which we are grateful. Also, Rev Henry and I:
- visited our native land (Nigeria)
- spent some time away to Disney World in Orlando, Florida with the grandchildren to celebrate our oldest grandchild 10th birthday, just to name a few.
It has been busy and I give God praise. The God we serve is faithful. During these past years we’ve also seen amazing miracles that our God did restoring health to babies that doctors gave up on. Healing to adult physical bodies, family reconciliations, rededications of souls, miraculous provisions and much more. In all these, what the enemy planned to do, God in the name of Jesus reversed and restored His plan, bringing glory to His name. We’ve also mourned the lives of departed dear friends.
Now, this year of 2020 has been a unique year that has seen our world change and continue to change. I want to encourage you to stay focus on who you are. Yes, there are challenges especially,
- in households where words are allowed to just fly out of our mouths without any thought of the effect it’s creating
- even in households where not much is said, the silence speaks
- busy households where it’s easy to get on each other’s nerves by not hearing or listening to one another
Whatever your situation may be, do not loose sight of who you are. You and I serve a God who makes possible the impossible during difficult times. He makes a way where there seems to be no way.
I am reminded in the scriptures of Moses and the Israelites through the Red Sea (Exodus 14). The Woman with the Issue of blood (Luke 8:40-44), to name a few.
If you have any prayer need, send me an email, for our God is able.
choice@choiceidonije.ca
Live Life Victoriously
Song of the Day
“In Jesus Name, there is a world beyond compare
In Jesus Name his perfect peace is always there
And the strength I need to live, is always His to give
In Jesus Name, in Jesus Name.”
The above words are the words to the chorus of an old song (title and author unknown)
Hello, it has been a while since I posted Words for Living. It has been quite a journey these past year and months. By His Grace, I will share a little at a time. Meanwhile, on November 9, 2017, I sang the above song chorus in my sleep with only the first three words repeatedly. I woke up still singing it. Then of course I used it to start my time with Him.
The Event
That night was rough, as I was coughing through most of it. In between being able to get a little sleep, I was thinking on what the day was going to be like:
- do I stay in bed all day and rest up?
- do I focus on tasks at hand for the day?
I don’t know. So, I took it to the Lord, asking Him on what the day was going to be like.
It was during one of those in and out sleeping moments that I heard the above song chorus with its melody.
As I meditated on the first three words that I was singing and humming, the rest of the words and melody came to mind. Why? Why this chorus? If you recall I had mentioned earlier in one of my previous posts that God does use His words through songs to encourage, and strengthen us to mention a few. As it is written “Nehemiah 8:10………the Joy of the Lord is your strength” – that was God’s words of encouragement through prophet Ezra to the Israelites.
The Answer to my Question
God knew what I should do that day – focus on tasks at hand.
He reminded me by His Spirit through the song chorus that the strength I need, to live through that day was His to give, not my 6-8 hours of sleep routine.
My sleep routine would have me believe that I am tired for lack of sleep. Then my decision will go towards staying in bed all day, which was not beneficial for that day.
I give Him praise for that day and always, that I can live through any day knowing I have the strength from Him. Thereby focusing on tasks at hand and Living life Victoriously.
I don’t know what your situation is but I do hope and pray that you remember, as it is written “Matthew 6:8…Father knows what you need before you ask Him”. Talk to Him! “For in Him we live, and move, and have our being…John 17:28”
Your Partner in Real Life Living – Victoriously
On the first day of the new school year in September 2015, we went to see our oldest granddaughter off to start grade 1, riding in the yellow school bus, that we had sang about in rhymes. Then, we drove to the school to see her come off the school bus. She came down from the bus with a friend smiling.
It was a blessed, favored, and glorious day. Later that morning, I sat on the front steps of my home, taking in the sights and sounds of all the children walking with friends, a family member, or by themselves to the nearby school.
I noticed I could not take my eyes off a particular pair walking very slowly right passed me. There was an old man holding a backpack on one hand and with the other holding a little girls hand. She is about the same height as my oldest granddaughter. She has a beautiful colored headband, keeping her hair off her face. They were talking about something because I could see the girl look up to grandpa with her lips moving as they walk along.
I proceeded to do what I always do when I’m not sure of something. Lord, why are my eyes fixed on this family? He said “you are right they are a family notice how he is carrying her backpack and in step with her having a conversation? So, am I with my children. Whenever they are going through a new life experience, I am there carrying any burden they may have”
Now, it’s December 2015. I’m sitting this time in my dining room at the table having breakfast, while watching the children go by to school through the bay window. Guess who comes walking by, grandpa and his granddaughter. This time, with his hands behind him, he is walking a step behind his granddaughter who this time, is carrying her backpack. And I thought, Lord, there they are, and He said “yes just as he is walking a step behind her, so am I with my children. A sign of allowing them to develop trust and confident in their walk with Me knowing if they need Me, I am there.”
I am reminded of Jesus’s last words as he ascended into heaven in, Matthew 28:20…And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age (NIV)
During the holiday seasons, sometimes one can experience the feeling of loneliness into the New Year with a sense of no one cares about you or what you are going through. Whatever the case may be, remember you are not alone. It may not feel like it but if you have faith and believe, it is in these moments and times that you experience His grace, faithfulness and mercy because He is right there.
Live life Victoriously
In the past months, we have celebrated both Thanksgiving and Remembrance day. Both celebrations were focused on showing appreciation to friends, family and those who fought for the freedom we all so enjoy.
One day, as I was thinking of these celebrations and asking myself if I have truly shown appreciation, God asked me “What about Me”? I replied Lord, I don’t understand and He reminded me that He gave His only son for the salvation of mankind. I will go into detail some other time. But keep that question in mind.
Now we are into the Christmas season, a time of wishing people around us well by exchanging gifts, sharing meals and winding down the year as we enter the new with something we all do once a year such as:
- Pray into the new year or
- Attend a new year’s eve party or
- Watch Thursday night football or
- Seat before the television to enjoy how various countries enter the New Year with light festivities
However you celebrate it, let be another reminder of the gift God gave us. He gave us first so we can have abundant life and live victoriously. Matthew 1:18-25
Verse 21 – And she shall bring forth a son and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
We cannot live the abundant victorious life on our own effort no matter how organized, smart or good we are because it is a life based on the Spirit of God. As it is written in Zechariah 4:6; Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts”.
Questions:
- How did you celebrate your thanksgiving and remembrance holidays?
- How are you celebrating Christmas (us acknowledging the receipt of God’s gift to us)?
- What are you giving Him in return?
Having acknowledged the receipt of the gift God gave in His son, are you enjoying the abundant victorious life that He brings? If not, why not. Self-examining yourself in the light of the word you know is a good place to start. Send me an email with any question(s) or prayer requestds you may have.
Have a blessed, favored and glorious day in Him,
Live Life Victoriously
Medical report, Negative reports, Habits, Tempers, etc
As I watched the children’s show called “Super Why” with my grand children, I observed a methodology that is similar to the life of the disciple.
Wyett in Super Why with his team of experts always come to the aid of a troubled character. Listening and understanding the problem, they refer to a book where they find the right word to apply to the root of the problem at hand, the character’s life is changed forever and all is well.
Note however; that the character desired and believed that something has to change but has no way of making it happen on its own, with no other option he/she continued miserably doing the same things over and over and over again.
Just as Wyett refers to a book to find the right word to apply to the root of problems thereby changing the life of its characters, the Bible is the book we consult to find that right word we can apply to the root of any problem we face in our lives everyday.
The word of God has the power to create what is needed and change our lives forever if we believe and are ready for it.
Scripture-The word of God is a standard as the Book of the ages
Psalm.119:89 – Your word O Lord is eternal it stands firm in the heavens
Matthew. 24:35 – Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. The word of God is powerful in its influence as;
A Crushing Hammer; Jeremiah 23:29 – “Is not my word like fire,” declares the Lord “and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces”
A Probing Instrument; Hebrew 4:12 – For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow, it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
What is your situation today? Do you desire a change and do you believe in the word of God to do what it says it will do?
Song of the day; Ascribe Greatness by Don Moen
A God of faithfulness without injustice. Good and upright is He
Ascribe Greatness to our God the rock. His work is perfect and all His
ways are just.
Let me know how you are doing
Live life Victoriously!
FROM MY HEART TO YOURS
The tongue has the power of life and death and those who love it will eat its fruit – Proverbs 18:21
With the excitement and anticipation of a summer holiday trip, just before the cab arrived to take us to the airport, I tumbled down the stairs going down to the basement and landed to a stop 3/4 quarter ways. I noticed a few broken finger nails and felt no pain anywhere else but noticed my ankle was in a strange position. This was about 8:00am.
Carefully I stood up and examined my left ankle by moving and feeling it around for any sign of injury to which there was none. I continued merrily down the stairs, got what I needed, and ran back up the stairs. Woo hoo! I was good to go! I clipped off the broken nails and filed them down. The cab arrived and we were off.
This trip is a long one of 20 hours of flying time and 10 hours of waiting time. The first 2 hours of flying time to Toronto from Winnipeg International Airport was at 11:55am. At about an hour in, all is going very well when suddenly I noticed I couldn’t wiggle the left toes in my shoe. Upon examination, I could feel nothing in my foot except throbbing.
After I calmed down, I prayed, “God, what is this? What’s going on? It was fine when I fell down and it’s being fine since. What is it?” He replied, “Sprained Ankle.” With this, I thought after a brief moment of silence, and realized this can’t happen not now, not later, not tomorrow, nor ever. I addressed the situation by speaking healing to my ankle commanding the ligaments and muscles to, “be healed, made whole, restore.” My Pastor, Pastor Maria Efezino, taught me this. I asked the airhostess for some ice, and started rubbing it on my ankle. I could not remove my shoes at this time.
When we arrived Pearson International Airport, it was 3:19pm local time and I could not stand on my left leg. Passengers who saw me earlier where wondering what happened? My husband was in shock at the sight. I hopped hanging on to the seats, the left rail up the ramp, and into the airport where I started looking for an assistant to get to our next gate by riding in the cart.
The driver dropped us off in front of an elevator with gentle, kind and specific instructions for us to follow to which I was grateful. To God be the glory the elevator had my husband and I in it. I am not happy with this situation. I angrily addressed my ankle again “look this is not funny, okay. Because I am that I am, be healed, made whole, restore. We are going to have fun on this trip and there is no room for you to be this way. Are you hearing me?………” Then I mumbled something that I can’t remember.
As the elevator opened seconds later I hopped out on my right foot. Then I felt I could use the tip of my shoe on the left foot for support instead of the handrails. Hallelujah! I proceeded to limping the rest of the way to the gate where we will start on the second part of our trip and sit for 8 hours. It was 4:40pm
You know the rest of the story. Throbbing was gone and I can walk again.
We frame our world with the words of our mouth. Proverbs 18:21 reads; “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit”. What situation are you facing right now and what do you want? Choose your words carefully. Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. God has never changed. Christ died and resurrected so I can live life victoriously restoring all that I am to be and it is the same for you as well, physically, mentally, financially and spiritually.
Just so you know, at the end of our holiday, as I got ready for the journey back home, the left shoe had increased in size. I had to wear a light sock for comfort so I could walk properly without it constantly slipping off. So, if you see me wearing a light sock in one shoe and tights in the other you know why.
“When you see into the invisible you will believe for the impossible”
– Papa Morris Cerullo
If you have any comment or question send me an email below
choice@choiceidonije.ca
Your Partner in Real Living
Exodus 14:13-16
The Story
The children of Israel were living the land of Egypt to a place where they can worship their God, when they came across the red sea in front of them. Meanwhile the King of Egypt (Pharaoh) has changed his mind about letting them go and started pursuit to get them back. Imagine if you can the situation of the Israelites, the king and his armies behind them and the red sea in front of them they started doing what we all do murmuring, complaining, crying etc to their leader Moses…you can read the rest of the story. But this is what the Lord said;
Exodus 14: 15: “….to Moses, Why do you cry unto Me? Speak unto the children of Israel that they go forward:”
As I thought about this verse, the Holy Spirit revealed to me how these words can be used during a difficult time.
Are you going through a difficult time? If you are, this is the word of the Lord to you. Stop complaining and stop crying. It is easy to give excuses and blame others and this has to stop before you can move forward through this time. How?
The Instruction
Verse 16 gives you direction on how to move past this difficult time: For Moses God said to him;
“But lift thou up thy rod and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.”
Let’s break it down for us in today:
1) But lift thou up thy rod – what is in your hand that He has given you to use? For Moses it was a rod what’s in yours?
2) ..and stretch out thine hand over the sea and divide it– use it as He has instructed. What you have in your hands has an instruction with it. What is it and use it as instructed.
3) ..and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea – the result is you will overcome your difficult time and problem and walk through it and the victory will be yours.
A wise man once said to me “Every completed instruction births a miracle of season.”
If you have any questions, send me an email below
choice@choiceidonije.ca
“Your Partner in Real Living”
