Adrine

• 

Sunday routine for us while growing up was coupled with going to church, I have fresh memories of going to church every Sunday. It’s a day we were always looking out to. In our home tradition children were always left home, we wouldn’t join mom and dad as they went out to parties or any other social gathering. The only gathering we qualified to attend was a Sunday church service.

The girls would always pull out their white dresses and the boys would be smart on neck ties. Being joined with dad for church on Sunday was something we always would look out for. Later we joined Born again Church; the interesting bit about this was the children went to their own place of worship called Sunday school, this was too much fun and great lessons were taught but this stood out for me; John 3:16 ‘For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.’

• 

God as our father
Our teacher always painted a picture of God as our father, who loves faithfully, cares for his own, protects, sustains, provides for his children, a giver, and one who watched over us on earth and gave us his only son. His son is Jesus Christ, who died for our sins so that we have eternal life. Today we are enjoying salvation because of a selfless act of a father giving up his son.

My father gave us everything we ever needed as children but he was an absent father; growing up and spending most of the time with mom who was a Christian enabled me to know the ways of God. She daily would remind us to talk to our heavenly father who listened to our prayers. She always reminded us to pray for dad. This didn’t stop me from having disturbing questions in my mind about dad, fast forward, mom passed on and now l am left with dad as the only parent on earth who is absent.

He started coming so close to us after mom rested. And l realized he is a good father, we shared many great moments, we caught up on several occasions to bridge the gap, certain things we were not in position to do because age had caught up with him. Fathers play a crucial role in raising children unfortunately while I was still enjoying the lost time he too joined the host of angels.

Flash backs of John 3:16 came back, of our heavenly father. I talked to him about everything and he filled the void. Many girls have not had the opportunity to be affirmed by their fathers. They have ended up trying to fix things on their own; finding love and being affirmed is something every girl looks out from his father. God is indeed a good father; He has proved himself in my life.

• 

Fathers Love
God loved us without sparing anything good from us, the fact that all he had, he desired us to share with him. His son died for us, he was ashamed for our sins, we are healed through the blood that he shed at Calvary, we have confidence that we belong to a clan of the lion of Judah. His love gave us a place of belonging thus accepting us in his Kingdom. l was accepted in his dynasty and l carry his identity.

• 

Roles of fathers
Due to the pressures exerted on men some have abandoned their children, yet a man can have many children but a child can only have one father; wives have been abandoned, fathers have not taken full responsibility of their homes and others are absent fathers. On a light side the negative statistics of fatherlessness can be reversed by the power of fathers restored to their place in the family and in their true calling as men. Thus strengthening communities and nations.

• 

God portrayed a good example of a good father. You too can emulate his example.

• 

Fatherhood is not a choice for a male but is inherent in his very nature. The essence of the male is fatherhood.

Every adult male is meant to be a father, and his personal fulfillment is linked to living out that purpose. Dr. Myles Munroe.

• 

Sunday routine for us while going up was coupled with going to church, I have refresh memories of going to church every Sunday. It’s a day we were always looking out to. In the home tradition children were always left home, we wouldn’t join mom and dad as they went out to parties or any other social gathering. The only gathering we qualified to attend was a Sunday church service.

The girls would always pull out their white dresses and the boys would be smart on neck ties. Being joined with dad for church on Sunday was always something we would look out for. Later we joined Born again fellowships; the interesting bit about this was the young ones sent to their own place of worship called Sunday school, this was too much fun and great lessons were taught but this stood out for me; John 3:16 ‘For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.’

• 

God as our father
Our teacher always painted a picture for God as our father, who loves faithfully, cares for his own, protects, sustains, provides for his children, a giver, and one who he looked down on us on earth and gave us his only son. His son is Jesus Christ, who died for our sins so that we have eternal life. Today we are enjoying salvation because of a selfless act of father giving up his son.

My father gave us everything we ever needed as children but he was an absent father, growing up and spending most of the time with mom who was a Christian enabled me to know the ways of God. She daily would remind us to talk to our heavenly father who listened to our prayers. She always reminded us to pray for dad. This didn’t stop me from having disturbing questions in my mind about dad, fast forward, mom past on and now l am left with dad as the only parent on earth who is absent.

He started coming so close to us after mom rested. And l realized he is a good father, we shared many great moments, we caught up on several instants to bridge the gap, somethings we were not in position to do because age had caught up with him. Fathers play a crucial role in raising children unfortunately while I was still enjoying the lost time he too joined the host of angels.

Flash backs of John 3:16 came back, of our heavenly father. I talked to him about everything and he filled the void. Many girls have not had the opportunity to be affirmed by their fathers. They have ended up trying to fix things on their own; finding love and being affirmed is something every girl looks out from his father. God is indeed a good father; He has proved himself in my life.

• 

Fathers Love
God loved us without sparing anything good from us, the fact that all he had, he desired us to share with him. His son died for us, he was ashamed for our sins, we are healed through the blood that he shed at Calvary, we have confidence that we belong to a clan of the lion of Judah. His love gave us a place of belonging thus accepting us in his Kingdom. l was accepted in his dynasty and l carry his identity.

• 

Roles of fathers
Due to the pressures exacted on men some have abandoned their children, yet a man can have many children but a child can only have one father; wives have been abandoned, fathers have not taken full responsibility of their homes and others are absent fathers. On a light side the negative statistics of fatherlessness can be reversed by the power of fathers restored to their place in the family and their true calling as men. We can reverse these downward trends and strengthen lives, families, communities, and nations by discovering and living out the priority, position, and role of the male in the family.

• 

God portrayed a good example of a good father. You too can emulate his example.

• 

Fatherhood is not a choice for a male but is inherent in his very nature. The essence of the male is fatherhood.

Every adult male is meant to be a father, and his personal fulfillment is linked to living out that purpose. Dr. Myles Munroe.

• 

Your thoughts are just like food for your mind, and negative thoughts are like junk food.

If you keep feeding your mind junk, your mind becomes increasingly weaker. When your mind becomes weaker, you develop self- defeating and self-sabotaging beliefs.

The result?
You doubt yourself and have low self-confidence. You quickly get stressed, anxious and get distracted easily thus giving up at the first sign of adversity. Life in general just becomes a whole lot harder and far less enjoyable.

Not to mention all the physical health problems that come with increased stress levels. To make things worse most people aren’t even aware of the thoughts they feed their mind on and even those who are aware don’t realize you can choose what thoughts to feed your mind. This creates an extremely vicious cycle. Thus just simply living with your thoughts can be painful.

Are you constantly stressed or easily overwhelmed? Do u often feel completely useless? You see that’s what happens when you feed your mind negative thoughts for years. Now imagine if you only fed your body junk food for over 10 to 20 even 30years! You don’t need to be a doctor to know the consequences would be catastrophic. So why would we do the same to our minds?

Does positive thinking work real work?

Now you might think that since thoughts are just like food all you would have to do is keep repeating positive thoughts in your mind, you would then be feeding your mind positive thoughts, right? But the problem is that your mind wont believe it, if you have been eating junk food all your life and you suddenly switched to only eating healthy foods, you would start experiencing mood swings, fatigue, and many other negative effects. Simply because your body has been conditioned to crave and want junk food. This is why most people give up on extreme diets with in just 7days and just like your body, if your mind has been conditioned to think negatively. Simply repeating positive thoughts in your head won’t work.

The solution instead is to train your mind to create strong and positive thoughts. If you need your body to become stronger you need to perform physical exercises. However what most people don’t understand is that the same is true for your mind.

The secret to performing at your best is to strengthen your mind with mental exercises. These exercises improve; focus, help you to relax, reduce stress and anxiety, sharpen your discipline and increase motivation.

That’s why Paul teaches us in Philippians 4:8 ‘Finally brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things’.

In my early childhood day, having an engagement about sex was like a taboo. However apparently times have changed that children learn about sex as early as 4years old.

This directly implies that sex education is a vital topic to our children. All parents live in a world very different from their children. As a parent of a girl or boy you must seek to understand what’s happening across the street. As a parent; do you know about sex toys, social media, ‘phone’ sex, group sex and other crazy experiments on sex in kids parties. Have you seen these objects?

You’re child is your primary role and you must break the sex talk to him or her. I was glad that my mother used to have sex talks with me. When l joined high school l started going into my periods, she would call me more often to explain the effects of body changes. The fact that l attended a mixed school, she kept re echoing that once I start sleeping with boys, high chances were would become pregnant.

I was still naive, but her words stuck in my mind. And many girls and boys with whom we went to school with dropped out because they got pregnant at an early age and unfortunately they couldn’t continue with school because mama’s words l finished school, campus up till today am still standing.

Today as l minister with the young people most questions that arise from them are about masturbation especially from ladies oh yes, ladies masturbate a lot, especially virgins. Boys also masturbate, many boys start this pretty early and it is a subject as a parent you will need to talk about before they are 8years.

Sexual urge for virgins is strong. What makes it stronger is the novelty, newness, the mystery and the hear says about sex.

What’s Masturbation? It is fondling your genitals consistently to achieve orgasm. Ladies may stroke their clitoris while guys rub, massage or caress their penis.

Some ladies especially non-virgins use sex objects or toys namely candles, banana, small bottles, sticks, dildos or whatever represents a penis and do solo sex (having sex by yourself).

From teenage upward, there is a strong desire for sex. It’s a sure sign that the child is normal and capable of having and enjoying sex in marriage. Thus as a parent your sole responsibility is to have this healthy talk with your teenage, or young adult.

When you break the silence such questions are bound to come up?

So what then do l do when I get hot and horny? Have sex? If l cant have sex so why not masturbate! Why it is completely wrong and not the way out.

These are some of the consequences of masturbation that as a parent you must be bold and articulate them to your child.

Masturbation is not done in isolation. It is done with the image of someone in mind. It can be a lover, an EX, a celebrity, a married person, a crush, someone you like but incapable of having. You imagine having sex with them while masturbating. That is MENTAL FORNICATION

For ladies, while inserting all manner of objects, you may mistakenly deflower yourself and also introduce infection into your genitals and womb. It will be very difficult to convince your future partner that you never had sex with man except objects during your solo sex.

You kill your ability to enjoy sex in future. Millions of women don’t enjoy sex in marriage which leads to sexual frustration, adultery, lesbianism and feminism. If you are used to getting orgasm by yourself, you won’t be able to get it from your husband.

You start having sex in the dream with a known or unknown person (demonic entities other wise known as spiritual spouse).

You feel drained, dirty, empty, useless and powerless after each act.

You get a warped view of the opposite sex. You see them as sexual objects and start having sex with anything in skirt or trousers -you become promiscuous

What then should you do with your sexual urge? How do you handle the constant hunger for sex?

Avoid all dirty pictures, pornography videos, pictures and hot, romantic movies -they are powerful sexual triggers!

Avoid friends who say dirty,lewd and obscene things. Stop all sexy banters with friends and say only things that are pure, holy, needful and helpful.

Transmute your sexual energy: Channel your sexual energy into something great. Join sports, music clubs, etc

Teach the children not to be in isolation.

Overall

Masturbation is wrong, bad, demonic, destructive and sinful. Tell the child to avoid it and end it with speed if they are deeply involved in it.

I pray that God will grace each parent with the ability, wisdom to be the voice of reason in your childrens life and to appreciate their sexuality as they grow up.

• 

As a country we are still in a lock down due to the out break of Covid 19. This epidemic hit the world late last year and it took all Nations of the World by suprise. Measures have been put in place to cab down the spread of this deadly virus and our President put down measures that we have been following in this period.

Several public places of gathering were closed down. A few areas have been opened under strict guidelines.

Churches too stopped were closed down and reduced to homecells, online platforms and phone engagements etc. With the knowledge that God is everywhere.

As a Christian who used to fellowship regularly with other believers l realised an urgent need of being a master of my mind. I refused to feed on the Covid 19 daily news reports because what you consistently think is bound to happen to you.

Your mind doesn’t mind what you have decided to focus on, whether good or bad news it will produce results depending on your thought process.

As for me and my house we chose to focus on good things. Focusing on negative reports causes alot of fear not only to you but also to those in your sphere which in turn causes panic attacks and making unthought through decisions.

Daily l purposed to renew my thought line, Paul teaches; Rom.12.2 ‘And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.’ Remember everything starts as a thought.

Personally I don’t start my day with bad news, neither do l close it up with bad news, l have replaced this by reading Gods words, listening to soft and cool music, reading books, having positive engagement with different people.

Child of God, your creator minds so much of what is in your mind. Today purpose to be a master of your thoughts.

Speak well about your life, your children,Husband, future; this situation is just for a moment, you are above and not beneath, your a blessing not a MISTAKE. This too shall pass.

Control your Direct thoughts and you will be amazed at the results.

• 

Age is growing old or older, most developed world countries have accepted the chronological age of 65 years as a definition of an elderly or older person, however in Africa, an elder is marked from the age of 50 or 55years. Some societies have enacted the definition of old age as “any age after 50’. Yet most pension schemes start from 60years however this is being revised.

In today’s society, from the age of 40years one is accorded respect as one who is 60 years. In any given society they are male and females who are in that age bracket and are referred to as elders.

Today as a nation we are in a shut, due to an epidemic of COVID19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019). In such a moment of crisis, the health sector is at the forefront, thus the top leaders in this sector are women. Allow me refer to them as older wise women, thus women are arising from leading from behind to areas of influence.

This is a season where the beauty and power of women is being displayed. Decades of oppression have come to pass. The old wise women were appointed by the head of state because he saw character traits in them for handling top leadership positions;

The old wise women have set a pace for us the young ones; that we must develop a clear understanding of who God created us to be. We must get a clear vision of God’s ideal and make His standards the standards by which we live.

• 

• 

Christ’s concept of a woman; women were created to express God’s rule and reign in the feminine form. Their duties are different from those of a Male, God mantled us with the gift of leadership to influence and impact the world for good. He called women to be nurturers, helper, support and champion dreams and visions.

Today I salute all the women God is empowering to follow His ordained direction. Women are arising and influencing the world in ways they have never done. We are rising with a new level of determination, courage, and unwavering faith.

With this new-found resolve, we the young ones ought to be prepared and be positioned properly. We must examine how God wants to raise us up to influence the kingdom and the world. I believe the combination of prayer and action will be two major keys to women influencing in their spheres of authority.

Scripture reference Titus 2:3-5

Early in the morning when l raise, l start my day with a daily devotion before I juggle into other days activities. This takes close to 1hour, when l am done l continue with daily activities.

I start with prayer in the morning because the world can seem to be getting on your shoulders sometimes especially at a time as this of a lock down.

Pray is talking to my friend, father, who cares and listens to me. I don’t miss it, like how l cant miss wearing a deodorant or perfume daily, that’s the way l treat my prayer time.

I keep talking to my friend all through the day, either through songs or mediation or thanksgiving.

Mastering this art didnt come overnight, l have practiced it over time and if you are to ask me when do you pray the answer is always.

I ceased talking to God like an activity of going to shop in a supermarket, going in only when you need to pick a few items, l talk to him when l don’t need anything, when all l need is to know him, how sweet it is to spend time with your loved one when they are sure this time you are not fronting a particular budget. The more l have spent quiet time with him, just loving him, the more He sorts out all my other cares.

Sometimes situations feel too hard for one to take and you feel you want to break, you feel so frustrated but the solution is right with you, just get on your knees and talk to him.

My hotline before l engage anyone is first having a discussion with God and trust me he directs me on whom to engage.

Pray unlocks doors, no matter how long you have waited, its going to be okay. Take it to the Lord in prayer and you will be amazed at how easy life can be.

Daily l pray with the entire family in the evening before dinner, and the results from this altar are numerous.

You too can pray always and no matter the fire don’t be frustrated, engage another gear instead.

• 

• 

Pilate took Jesus and scourged him and his soldiers platted a crown of thorns and put it on his head. The crown of throns vividly symbolized the curse of sin being placed on Jesus’ head. It immediately takes us back to Gensis, reminding us of why Jesus went to the cross, he went to the cross to take the penalty for sin on our befalf.

Oh what a joy to know that he laid down all his garments for us to bring many sons to glory.

His dying breath brought us life thus we shouldn’t boost in anything besides boosting in knowing him.

His wounds paid a ransom for us, since we cant pay him back, we can show love to someone in this period, our neighbors, friends, families, to the vulnerable. Some people however dont need food, they need you to greet them with a smile, a phone call will make a difference in their lives. Its okay to give of your substance however give it in love.

Child of God, Your creator loved you. And paid a ransom at the cross, you are free from condemnation and sin.

At the cross he said its finished.

Reference Scripture John 19:1-42

Goliath was a champion in the camp of the philistines, he was feared by everyone because of his experience in battle field, he put up a challenge to the children of Israel for over forty days using words, morning and evening he would go and provoke them, up till David showed up with courage to face him.

David was always in the fields tendering his father’s sheep, he got the boldness and took up the challenge and said l will go and face this giant, every one talked him out, but he trusted in God to put an end to the giant’s insults.

He chose to use the weapon the enemy was using. He devil doesn’t have new tricks, he is always using old tricks to put down the children of God, but a remnant had to arise in such a time and it was David.

When he stood before the giant, he used words as a sign of proof that Goliath had lost the battle, he spoke back to him and his words were seasoned with victory ‘’This very day God is handing you over to me. I’m about to kill you, cut off you head, and serve up your body and the bodies of your Philistine buddies to the crowds and coyotes. The Whole earth will know THAT THERE’S AN EXTRAORDINARY GOD IN ISRAEL‘ Drawn from the Message 1Sam 17:45.

Child of God its high time you speak back to the devil and silence all the voices of the enemy concerning your children, loved ones, future and career. Am reminded of a time, my sister who is Midwife was having her first child, it was a C-section the time they took was way beyond what they had told us, l started hearing doors being slapped and l knew that we were in for some bit of emergency. I realized they had gotten into a panic mode, and l knew things were not right, her husband was with a friend in the room where we were allocated, l made sure they didn’t realize anything, they kept engaged with his friend. The senior midwife who came out of theater was rushing to take the baby to nursey but she was full of fear. I followed her, the baby was in between life and death, she needed to get to life support, I requested the senior midwife to allow me keep with her as she worked on the baby and she allowed. I started calling out to God, l called the baby back to life, and told God this baby is to live, while l was still praying as the senior midwife was working on the baby, the baby responded by making the first cry; the nurse was relieved, after a while, the baby stabilized and was removed from life support what a joy to speak back to the enemy. By the time l called the father of the child to come and see his baby they baby was fine and they didn’t know what had happened.

Someone had to stand in the gap at that very moment and am glad l was there, and since that day, when they are having a complicated case in labour ward, they always task my sister who is a midwife to call me and pray for the mother.

The times we are in are times of speaking back to the devil, don’t take in every shit the enemy throws at your door step. Use your mouth which is your strongest weapon. As we press on towards maturity in Christ we are armed with great strength to engage in battle. Stand up to the devil and shout ‘I am a child of God’ what so ever is born of God overcomes the world.

Don’t be silent in this battle field, speak up, speak till he backs off your possession.

Take a step of faith and make some bold declarations concerning your possessions.

Reference Scriptures; 1Samuel 17:1-54, Prov18: 21, 1John 5:4

Its not easy being amother. If it were easy fathers would do it.

The roles of a mother are endless, they pick up the children, they are the last to sleep and early to raise, they wake up in the night to check on how the children are sleeping the list is endless.

The life of a mother is an interesting journey and most men can’t handle it, they instead celebrate, the value added to the family by a mother bringing further another child. And looking at the emotional bit, a mother is drained by the screams, not knowing why the child is crying at a particular time, sometimes it is irritating, but the journey is fun.

Children come into our lives for just a short period, once they join higher institutions, they want to be independent and given chance they would want to stay alone after campus. Personally l left home in my senior six and after campus l never went back home.

The screams mother would have in the house were traded with silence and empty rooms. No more things littered in the sitting rooms, toys all over the house, the living room is now very neat and mother sits now to wait for her husband to return and give her company.

In this age of technology, we as parents are tempted to trade off our children’s time, with gadgets, smart phones, allowing them watch different channels etc. This is good, but what lasts in a child’s memory are the memories created during dinner time, stories to bed time, praying together, spending time and understanding our children shouldn’t be traded for anything in this world.
Reason is that they are in our homes, just for short while, not long they will be gone to start up a family.

Parents; Dad the destiny of your child, is determined by the time you spend with him, not the gifts you give them, Mom as a nurture; call out the different abilities in your child daily, affirm them, show them affirmation and accept the children God has given you. Every child wants to know their identity and they want to feel that they are part of a family; share your history, values and create strong connections with your children.

Remember they are are on a mission of being fathers and mothers tomorrow. Time invested in your children is never lost. Children will take you to tables of great kings or you will have a court case every now and then.

Mothers sometimes its overwhelming, but don’t give up on your children, no one can replace your position as a mother and Dad always remember that child carries your DNA, how are you taking care of your offspring?

I spent a lot of time with my mother while growing up, but her strongest weapon, was prayer; this time wasn’t traded for anything, each one in the house knew when it’s time for prayer, we had a prayer place in the house. We would close the house and read the word of God, each one had to share their learning from the passage before starting to pray. Up till today we all remember mom’s prayers and they have always followed us.

Both my parents rested in the Lord but l have great memories of them. We didn’t have a perfect family but l have great memories of the time they spent with us.

What is the memory, you have created in your childrens life. Is it positive or negative?

Gen 2:24 ‘Therefore shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave unto his wife and they shall be one flesh.

•