Today, I would like to talk to you about, “Don’t Identify with Your Toys,” based on the following Scripture: “And he [Jesus] said unto them, ‘Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of things which he possesseth” (Luke 12:15). Life is the most important thing we have.Continue reading “Don’t Identify with Your Toys”
Dealing with an Ex-Lover’s Unwanted Influence
In today’s episode of, “Will You Marry Me?”, I’d like to talk to you about, “Dealing with an Ex-Lover’s Unwanted Influence.” When a relationship ends – regardless of who or what caused it – there’s always residual energies still linking the two ex-lovers. All of life is energy, and energy doesn’t die. When lovers interact,Continue reading “Dealing with an Ex-Lover’s Unwanted Influence”
You Can Benefit from Your Dreams
Today, I would like to talk to you about, “You Can Benefit from Your Dreams.” Some people downplay the importance of dreams. It is their right to do so, and we will not judge them. However, it does not change the fact that dreams can be a powerful way to access information that can changeContinue reading “You Can Benefit from Your Dreams”
Mutual Understanding for a Healthy Marriage
In today’s episode of, “Will You Marry Me?”, I’d like to talk to you about, ‘Mutual Understanding for a Healthy Marriage.” What makes any relationship work is mutual understanding. When a man and a woman understand each other, they can make almost anything work. But arriving at mutual understanding isn’t easy. It takes patience, andContinue reading “Mutual Understanding for a Healthy Marriage”
When a Mother Fights for Her Child
Today, as we celebrate Mother’s Day, I’d like to talk to you about, When a Mother Fights for Her Child, based on the following Bible passage: “Have mercy on me, O Lord…my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon…Then Jesus answered her, ‘O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as youContinue reading “When a Mother Fights for Her Child”
10 Steps to Take When You Realize You’re in Love with the ‘Wrong’ Person
In today’s episode of, “Will You Marry Me?,” I’d like to talk to you about, “10 Steps to Take When You Realize You’re in Love with the ‘Wrong’ Person.” Mistakes happen in life. You think you bought a men’s shirt – only to discover later that what you have is actually a women’s shirt. WhatContinue reading “10 Steps to Take When You Realize You’re in Love with the ‘Wrong’ Person”
‘Teach Us to Pray’ vs ‘Pray for Us’
Today, I would like to talk to you about, “Teach Us to Pray vs Pray for Us,” based on the following Scripture: “And it came to pass, that as he [Jesus] was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord teach us to pray, as John [theContinue reading “‘Teach Us to Pray’ vs ‘Pray for Us’”
11 Types of People You should Be Careful Dating (or Marrying)
Selecting a future spouse is about finding love. True, but that’s not all. There’s also the question of having a set of criteria (based on one’s values, standards, and expectations) by which to discern who would be ‘right’ for us.
The Two Groups of People in John 11:25-26
As the title suggests, in John 11:25-26, Jesus is addressing two distinct groups of people. The first group is mentioned in v. 25, and the second group in v. 26. We shall call the first group, The Resurrection Group, and the second group, The Life Group. Each one of us is in one of those groups. Understanding what Jesus meant in this passage will open a new chapter in how we interact with life or death. To make the analysis easier, we shall break down the passage into three (3) sections: a premise, and two separate conclusions arising from the premise.
God Is Not a Matchmaker
Hello everyone! In today’s episode of “Will You Marry Me?”, I’d like to talk to you about, “God Is Not a Matchmaker.” My aim is to dispel a misconception that’s prevalent in certain religious circles, especially among Christians. When people start looking for love (marriage), it’s not uncommon for them to seek spiritual guidance. ThisContinue reading “God Is Not a Matchmaker”
The Question Martha Dodged
The truth is, Martha is not alone. Even today, for most of us resurrection is confined to “the last day” – whatever that means. In the meantime, we have accepted sickness and death normal. But Jesus’ instruction to us was unambiguous: “Heal the sick, raise the dead” (Matthew 10:8).
Building Trust in a Relationship
But because marriage is by nature a covenant between two people, everything depends on mutual trust. Trust must therefore be carefully cultivated, nurtured, and protected.
Trust is difficult and unnatural, so it takes more work on our part. Love, on the other hand, is natural. When love fades, there are ways to revive it. But the same can’t be said of trust. Once trust is gone, trying to recover it is an uphill task. If a couple can’t trust each other, their relationship is a sinking ship.
From Believing to Knowing
In his ministry, Jesus said many things about his relationship with God, but not once did he suggest that he was a believer. On the contrary, in all his statements, he made it clear that he was a knower of God and had come to testify to this experience. He minced no words when he explained this to Nicodemus: “Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony” (John 3:11, NIV).
5 Ways You Can Improve Your Attractiveness
The universe operates through the Law of Attraction. Learning to attract love is a better alternative to chasing love. In life, those who chase tend to struggle, whereas those who rely on the power of attraction tend to get what they want – with minimal effort.
Admittedly, attractiveness is a relative term. What’s attractive to Alice might be loathsome to Linda. That’s life. “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure,” as they say.
The Government of Life
God has no concept of death, nor of sin. It was mortals – through ignorance and misuse of free will– who conspired to manufacture the illusion of death and sin. This later became a (false) law that suppressed our God-given dominion. Part of Jesus’ mission was to break this illusion and shed light on our original righteousness and immortality (2 Timothy 1:9-10).
Love without Vows
In a relationship (marriage), a vow exists for primarily two reasons. Firstly, it’s added to satisfy our human need for reassurance – which is often a symptom of deep-seated insecurities. Secondly, it exists to ‘compel’ lovers to live up to expectations (religious institutions, relatives, and so forth). In this sense, it puts unnecessary pressure on a relationship. Beyond that, however, a vow has no value as far as love is concerned. Those who are loyal at heart will be loyal – with or without a vow. And that’s what counts. The more we love, the less we need vows.
Once a Son, Always a Son
Like the prodigal son, sometimes our shortcomings can make us doubt where we stand with God. To make matters worse, certain religious practices reinforce this sense of unworthiness. We then proceed to think that God cannot accept us unconditionally. But we are mistaken.
Do shortcomings make you wonder if your relationship with God is intact? Have religious middlemen convinced you that you are not good enough?
Whatever your experience, know this: you are God’s beloved child, holy and righteous by grace.
What to Do if Your Lover Cheats on You
Dealing with infidelity before marriage means we’re somewhat fortunate, because infidelity within marriage is a whole different beast, and attempting to walk away from a cheating spouse is an extremely complicated matter, especially if kids are involved. Let’s cut our losses while we can, close the chapter, and give ourselves a break – and time to think about where to go from here.
The Power of Joyful Giving
Giving joyfully accomplishes two things. First, it amplifies our giving. Joy is an uplifting energy. As a result, anything done from a place of joy causes us to flourish. For example, joyful giving has the power to boost our financial well-being.
Second, joy is a way opener. Where doors seem closed, the presence of joy will remove heaviness and open the way for blessings to flow. When we give joyfully, it removes blockages and renders our heart more receptive to divine abundance. This means we are more likely to experience increase – not just in finances – but in other areas of life.
You Can’t Buy Love
You can do what you want with your money, but it would be a mistake to count on a partner to commit to you in gratitude for your generosity. You could be in for a rude awakening. No one owes you love. It’s important to keep this in mind.
Be careful about overspending before your relationship gets serious. Any act of kindness on your part should be done with the understanding that you’re not expecting anything in return.
Being Like God is Enough
If God is a Superior Being, so are we because we share His nature and identity. We are partakers of God’s supremacy. It is in our interest, therefore, to avoid singing songs, saying prayers, or preaching sermons which suggest otherwise. We cannot fellowship with God until we come to the realization that we and God form one inseparable reality. Jesus understood this. So did David.
Speak Life into Your Relationship
Words carry enormous energy – no matter where we use them. What we say about people will impact them one way or another. When our words are directed at people with whom we have an emotional (or romantic) bond, the impact is even greater. You can speak life into a relationship – literally – by speaking well of your partner. This needs to be done intentionally, and it’s best done without the knowledge of the other person.
The Power of Righteous Identification
Today, I’d like to talk to you about, “The Power of Righteous Identification.” The reflection is based on the following Scripture: “Open to me the gates of righteousness. I will go into them, and I will praise the LORD. This gate of the LORD, into which the righteous shall enter” (Psalm 118:19-20).
God has given us unlimited access to all His benefits. This access is signified by what the Bible calls, “the gates of righteousness.” Beyond these gates lie untold divine treasures – representing your birthright as God’s child.
The Top 3 Relationship Killers
In today’s episode of “Will You Marry Me?”, I’d like to talk to you about, “The Top 3 Relationship Killers.” Relationships don’t always work out the way we wanted. Sometimes, this is due to the simple fact that certain people aren’t meant to be together – at least not for long. At times, though, there are relationships that have enormous potential to thrive, but they die because of the presence of relationship killers.
Create Prayer Receipts
There are laws governing prayer. One such law is The Law of Receipt. Regardless of your past, current or future circumstances, when you make a prayer request (if you want the prayer to work), you must assume your request is granted. And, because it is granted, you must have a corresponding feeling of gratitude and a mental image to match. You must feel it spiritually before you can see it materially.
3 Unreasonable Expectations People Have in Relationships (Part II)
It’s not your job to change anyone, not even your sweetheart. Focus on changing yourself. If someone is old enough to be in a relationship with you, it means they’re old enough to know what’s good for them. Respect their preferences. Don’t confuse being caring with parenting.
Not Everyone Should Pray for You
For prayer to be effective, a few key factors are important – one of which is agreement. During personal prayer or corporate prayer, it’s important for those praying to be on the same frequency. That is, their desires, thoughts, and feelings must agree with the stated purpose of the prayer in question.
Money Follows Pleasure
Without money, most things in life would come to a halt. But due to how we were raised (at home, in churches, and other institutions), a lot of us have hangups about money. This has brought friction to our relationship with money, thereby inhibiting the natural flow of abundance.
Understanding the spiritual nature of money and making peace with her will help us enjoy immense benefits. And that’s the purpose of what I’ll be sharing with you today.
Ignore the Noise
The problems we face in life are like a flood or the waves of the sea. They can rise and terrify us, making us think the end has come. But this is where we must demonstrate spiritual maturity and recognize that no problem is God. We must not be fooled by the noise.
What If You Succeed?
Today, I would like to talk to you about, “What If You Succeed?” – based on a passage in the Bible regarding the Parable of the Bags of Gold, or what some refer to as the Parable of the Talents. The passage reads, “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’Continue reading “What If You Succeed?”
Prayer Is a State of Mind
Today, I would like to talk to you about, “Prayer is a State of Mind.” The reflection is inspired by a passage in Isaiah that says, “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you . . .” (26:3, ESV). There are as many styles of prayer as there are people whoContinue reading “Prayer Is a State of Mind”
EMBRACE THE POWER IN John 3:8
In John 3:8, Jesus touched on a powerful secret regarding who we are. When this revelation is understood and applied, there is no telling the transformation we will experience
FACE YOUR FEARS
Your progress in life requires you to evolve from one stage of development to the next. This evolution takes place at a mental and spiritual level. The process will not happen automatically. You must allow yourself to evolve. At every stage of your development, there are challenges you must overcome. Conquering these challenges will prepareContinue reading “FACE YOUR FEARS”
RESPONSIBILITY MINUS GUILT
How you feel about yourself is the single most important factor in your overall wellbeing. It’s important, therefore, to feel right about yourself on a consistent basis, regardless of your shortcomings (past, present, or future). This can be challenging, I would agree. We learn to control a lot of things in life, but not manyContinue reading “RESPONSIBILITY MINUS GUILT”
2022: Discover Your Life Purpose
There’s nothing more fulfilling than knowing the reason you came into this world and dedicating yourself to your mission. This is what it means to live by destiny. Everyone who is born into this world comes with a specific assignment and life purpose. Jesus knew his. Standing before Pilate, he declared, “In fact, the reasonContinue reading “2022: Discover Your Life Purpose”
TRUST YOUR STAR
Often, trusting others feels easier than trusting yourself. There’s a reason for this. As we grow up, much of our education, formal as well as informal, prepares us to trust people and systems outside of ourselves. We’re raised to trust the news, the government, the church, the school system, the health system, friends, and family.Continue reading “TRUST YOUR STAR”
UNDERSTANDING THE LAW OF USE
Success at all levels is governed by spiritual laws. The right understanding and application of spiritual laws will guarantee success. Today, I want to talk to you about one such law: The Law of Use. The Law of Use can be stated as follows: The more a thing is used and enjoyed, the more abundantlyContinue reading “UNDERSTANDING THE LAW OF USE”
Stop Accusing Yourself
Your advancement in life largely depends on how you treat yourself. Often, we care more about how others treat us. We want their love, their respect, and their kindness. Yet, how you treat yourself is far more important than how others treat you. If you treat yourself right, you’ll have enough self-esteem to stand upContinue reading “Stop Accusing Yourself”
What’s Your Excuse?
To get ahead in life, it’s important to liberate yourself from encumbrances. One such hindrance is in the form of giving excuses. It’s easy to give excuses. It’s cheap and readily available. It’s like self-pardon. It can provide temporary relief. But in the end, excuses weaken your drive to succeed. Excuses stifle motivation and creativity.Continue reading “What’s Your Excuse?”
No Bad Days
You are the prophet of your own life. Say it: I AM the prophet of my own life. As a prophet, your words carry weight. Those who understand this are careful about what they say. There’s no such thing as a ‘useless’ word. Your words will always return to you with a corresponding manifestation. SayContinue reading “No Bad Days”
Why Was Jesus Born of A Virgin?
One of the most important Christian doctrines is the virgin birth, the belief that Jesus, unlike the rest of us, was born of a virgin, Mary, the husband of Joseph. Over the centuries, thousands of books have been written about this doctrine. Central to the Christian tradition, this belief is included in the Nicene Creed.Continue reading “Why Was Jesus Born of A Virgin?”
Tune Out Naysayers
As you pursue your dreams, you’ll encounter naysayers, at some point. They can appear as a family member, a co-worker, a teacher, an acquaintance, a guru, a classmate, a friend, an ‘expert,’ or even someone you barely know. Naysayers have a habit of focusing on impossibilities and negative outcomes. Instead of focusing on what couldContinue reading “Tune Out Naysayers”
Live Now, Not Later
There’s no life waiting for you after death. If you want to live, this is it. This is your chance. Make the most of the life you’re given. If you think there’s a better life waiting for you after death, you’re missing out on life. Life is eternal, and hence cannot be interrupted. So, chooseContinue reading “Live Now, Not Later”
Don’t Depend on Pharaoh
Joseph went to Egypt as a slave. After a few years of struggle, he found favor with Pharaoh and became a powerful leader in Egypt. Later, his whole family joined him. For several years, Egypt became a safe haven for Israel. Pharaoh loved, cuddled, and protected Israel. One day, however, a new Pharaoh ascended theContinue reading “Don’t Depend on Pharaoh”
“Till Death Do Us Part?”
Invoking death during marriage is unwise, ungodly and dangerous. The Holy Spirit didn’t inspire the words, “till death do us part.” The words are very charming, even romantic, but they conceal a dangerous trap. It’s a self-inflicted curse in disguise. Christ wouldn’t teach us to use those words. Nor would the apostles. In the beginning,Continue reading ““Till Death Do Us Part?””
PRAY THE PRAYER OF FAITH
Prayer is more than a routine. God honors your prayer when you pray believing in your heart that he has heard and answered you. Without faith, your prayer is meaningless.
Understanding 1 Peter (1:13-25)
Christians are born of imperishable seed (1 Peter 1:23). This means we are born of an incorruptible parent. Consequently, we too, are imperishable. We possess eternal life in our spirit, the very life of God. God made us saints when we were saved by grace through faith in Christ. Our old “sinner” identity was buried with Christ. Our new identity is “saints.” Our sainthood does not come from a human commission. Nor is it based on our performance on the holiness scale. Our new identity is a gift from our Father, and he does not take it back. If you’re confused about your identity, you’ll miss God’s plan for your life.
But after birth, we must grow. So, 1 Peter 1:13-25 lays out for us the importance of growing in holiness. How? By nourishing ourselves on the Word of God, obeying God’s commands, avoiding sinful choices and pursuing godliness. God is holy; so are we – his children. Therefore, let us live holy.
Understanding 1 Peter (1:6-12)
Understanding 1 Peter (1:1-6)
A Reply to Rev. Gerard-Marie Anthony
In my previous blog post, I wrote about Mary’s exemplary life of faith as a daughter of Abraham. I gave an in-depth account of how the writings of the Apostles, especially Paul, and other passages of the Bible corroborate Mary’s statements in the Magnificat. The Rev. Anthony gave a thoughtful and passionate reply to myContinue reading “A Reply to Rev. Gerard-Marie Anthony”
Higher-Self Realities 