Sometimes, God takes us East to get us West.

Weekly Nuggets August 19, 2019

Exodus 13:17-19 NKJV

Then it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, “Lest perhaps the people change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt.” So God led the people around by way of the wilderness of the Red Sea. And the children of Israel went up in orderly ranks out of the land of Egypt.

Key Phrase: Sometimes, God takes us East to get us West.

When we commit to a journey with God, the only thing we are guaranteed is the destination. The route, the timing is God’s prerogative and He chooses either a short and fast , slow and uneventful, slow and painful, slow but picturesque route based on His infinite wisdom on what personal changes we need in order to be prepared for our destination.

When the children of Israel exited Egypt, we are told “God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near“. God saw a people that needed moulding; boldness, faith, trust needed to be imprinted in their DNA lest the fear and return to Egypt. In Deutoronomy 8:2-5 we see some of these moulding which God needs to complete in our lives;
• to create a humble spirit
• to test what’s in our hearts
• to allow us hunger, and then miracoulously feed us- a lesson of divine provision.
•to remove our focus from what we will wear- remember He clothes the lilies
• to rely on Him for good health
•to understand that He chastens us because He loves us.

This may sound familiar, we have been on a journey for a while wondering why it’s taking so long, or why God chose this dusty or bumpy route… it’s time to reflect instead on what lesson God is trying to teach us. I pray that when we arrive (not if) at our destination, we will look back at the long journey and testify that the detour was required to prepare us for the succeses ahead.

Father, teach us patience, patience that trusts your perfect timing. Lord, teach us endurance that no matter what route you take me through, we do not ‘meltdown’ or ‘go back’. Mostly Lord, I ask, mould us for signs, mould us for wonders, mould us for success. In Jesus mighty name.

Elozino

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4 P’s of Gods word.

Weekly Nuggets August 12, 2019

Isaiah 55:10-11 NKJV

“For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater, So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

Key Phrase: 4 P’s of Gods word.

When God speaks, the wise must harken diligently because His words are life. This week I share with us snippets of the word that came from the pastor in my local assembly last Sunday and it beautifully sums up what God’s word is.

•It is a Promise. To accomplish something good in our lives. He says what He will do and does what He says.
•It has purpose. It is not casual, it is not for everyone but every word has a definite purpose in somebody’s life
•It is potent. Powerful, sharp and effective
•It has power. It is powered by who He is, the all powerful and mighty God. When He speaks all of creation will arise to obey.

This week, this season, let us seek God’s word for today. Let’s intentionally search for that promise that has our name on it and trust that the word from the all powerful God will achieve its purpose with power in our lives. Seek the word and we will find.

Father, almighty and everlasting God, master of the universe, I thank you for the privilege to call you father. I thank you that you are mindful of me and know my every pain and fear. Today Lord, as we seek your specific word, reveal yourself to us in every difficult and dark situation. Mostly Lord, I ask, every spiritual wax that has plugged our ears- remove today, let us hear when you speak. Let us receive your life changing word in this season of life. In Jesus mighty name.

Elozino

God has a word with your name on it

Weekly Nuggets August 5, 2019

Numbers 23:16-19 NKJV

Then the Lord met Balaam, and put a word in his mouth, and said, “Go back to Balak, and thus you shall speak.” So he came to him, and there he was, standing by his burnt offering, and the princes of Moab were with him. And Balak said to him, “What has the Lord spoken?” Then he took up his oracle and said: “Rise up, Balak, and hear! Listen to me, son of Zippor! “God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good.

Key Phrase: God has a word with your name on it

There are times when life seems fuzzy, everything is overwhelming, all over the place, no clarity, shape or form and all we want is a confirmation that God knows where we are and what we need at that point in time. At such times, we have choices, two of which are; fret, flutter, get worked up and miss His voice or actively seek to hear (again) what God is saying to us in that situation.

Recently, I was in a situation and needed encouragement. I intentionally took time out to pray and asked God to remind me of every word He has spoken concerning the situation. That same night at 23.44pm, I received this text message (random? I think not) from a church member “And though you started with little, you will end with much’.Job8:7.” Spot on! That was all I needed to be at peace. God had me covered.

There is a word for each of us. We may have heard it before, the faith seed planted, it probably has sprung a few green shoots but the storms of life have caused us to waver, to stumble, to doubt. In some instances that fragile seed has been uprooted and tossed about leaving us confused and insecure. In other cases, we may not yet have received a word, but hungry for one to help us move on. However, whatever, God has a word with your name on it.

Today, God is reminding us, that His word never misses the target. That word someone has been struggling to hold unto, faith failing, now doubting…. was it really for me?, how can this come to pass? Beloved, God did not lie, does not lie and will never lie. It is time to intentionally seek quiet moments of fellowship with Him and ask for reassurance and He will reaffirm His word.

Father, you are the same God yesterday, today and forever. Our God whose words framed all of creation, whose words can make a way in our very situations. Lord, today, calm every wind and still every storm that threatens to uproot the word you have sent us. Mostly Lord, because you say we should ask, unwavering, please send us a deliberate word this week, personalised for our individual situations. In Jesus mighty name.

Elozino

Who are you?

Weekly Nuggets July 29, 2019

Exodus 2:15-19 NKJV
When Pharaoh heard of this matter, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh and dwelt in the land of Midian; and he sat down by a well. Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters. And they came and drew water, and they filled the troughs to water their father’s flock. Then the shepherds came and drove them away; but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock. When they came to Reuel their father, he said, “How is it that you have come so soon today?” And they said, “An Egyptian delivered us from the hand of the shepherds, and he also drew enough water for us and watered the flock.

Key Phrase: Who are you?

An identity crises is a huge roadblock in fulfilling our destiny. One definition of identity crises which resonates with today’s nugget is this – “a period of uncertainty and confusion in which a person’s sense of identity becomes insecure, typically due to a change in their expected aims or role in society“.
Important to note that the person remains the same, however aims, goals and ambitions may change. Perhaps roles in society, at work, in the family may change. In some instances, circumstances and the environments may change. But our identity remains unchanged; Power charged children of the most high God, only confused by the changes, insecure and uncertain about whom we are.

Moses (on the run from Egypt) was described by the ladies he had helped as “An Egyptian delivered us from the hand of the shepherds”. Because he looked like one, probably spoke like one but he was not one.

Fact…. life will take us through some training that may change our ‘garments’, how we look and our perspective of life. Like a journey through elementary, secondary and tertiary school, we wear different garments, learn new and difficult lessons, acquire labels, nicknames, certificates, add titles behind our names but all this not to change who we are but to polish us for the greatness we were born to achieve.

Moses lived life in the palace as an Egyptian prince- he wore the garments but that was not who he was, that was a training module. He lived a life of a midianite shepherd- he wore the garments but that was not who he was, that was another training module. Moses struggled between Hebrew, Egyptian, Midianite, Prince, Fugitive, Shepherd until the Lord called him and reminded him of who he was – a power filled vessel to be used for Gods glory.

Father, thank you for your Glory in us that makes the difference. Help us daily to remove our reliance on our garments and titles but to focus on the purpose of your training. Mostly Lord, just as you called Moses and reconnected him back to his real identity, who he was, his purpose, please call me today, that my identity and purpose in you may be established. In Jesus mighty name.

Elozino

Unshackle The Soul & Spirit

Weekly Nuggets July 22, 2019

Psalm 42:11 NKJV

Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God.

Key Phrase: Unshackle the soul & spirit

Man is made up of the body, soul and spirit, each one playing it’s part to make man whole. The body is physical and can be constrained, restricted, chained down, imprisoned. The soul experiences the joy, pain and emotions that our environment causes while the spirit is our connection with the spirit of God. The soul has no limits except those we place on it, but the spirit can never be shackled.

This week, no matter the physical constraints we find ourselves, the Lord is encouraging us to intentionally free our souls and tap into the holy spirit to enjoy true freedom.

It all boils down to the choices we make…. 2 examples to buttress this need to be unshackled from our environment;
1. Joseph was constrained. As a slave, no rights, no freedom, but when he was presented with the ‘opportunity’ to be the favoured slave of Potiphars wife, he said no. He refused to think from an imprisoned spirit, rather he said to himself in Gen 39:9 “How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?”
2. Paul and Silas were physically constrained. Acts 16:24-27 describes that their Legs were in shackles, they were unable to move, tied down, stationary…. BUT… their souls and spirit were free. They prayed, the sang and the Holy ghost came down.

Our bodies may be constrained by our situation but our souls and spirits should never be. Today let’s lift up our hearts, lift up our voices and challenge every chains that hold us down, let us embrace the freedom we have been given through Christ Jesus.

Father, teach us to find encouragement in you when situations cause our souls to be discouraged. Lord, like Joseph, teach me not to take decisions based on my present circumstances but to free my soul to focus on your plans and purpose for us. Mostly Lord, for every one in a position of chains, pinned down with worry, fear or confusion, please free our souls and spirit to trust in your sovereign power to Help. In Jesus mighty name.

Elozino

The unwritten resume

Weekly Nuggets July 15, 2019

1 Samuel 16: 17-19 NKJV

So Saul said to his servants, “Provide me now a man who can play well, and bring him to me.” Then one of the servants answered and said, “Look, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a mighty man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a handsome person; and the Lord is with him.”

Key Phrase: The unwritten resume

There are times that our resume speaks in our absence. Who we are, what our achievements are, how we turn up. These all count when the day of favour comes.

Working the contents of our resume is not done for eye-service but for self development and positioning on the day of promotion. Contents of our resume is not in the text but in the spirit, the spirit of who we truly are not what we say we are. Let’s take a look at this executive unwritten resume presented to the King in David’s absence, it lists observed qualities that could be vouched for ( NLT version also used here);

•A talented harp player.
•Not only that—he is a brave warrior, a man of war
•has good judgment.
•prudent in speech
•He is also a fine-looking young man
•and the Lord is with him

I see here competence in the primary requirement of a musician. I see a man courageous to step up where others are afraid to speak up, I see a man with wisdom, knowing when to speak, I see a man aware of his appearance and most of all I see a man known to carry the power of God with him.

All the above skills were acquired while in the wilderness tending sheep, a job looked down by most, away from the crowd, in the back side. But David embraced it as a school of learning and every instance of his promotion came because of years in the ‘bush’; slaying Golaith, playing for the king, even being anointed as King…. from the small beginnings, the time for building ones self.

What’s in our unwritten resume? What do people see?

Father, help us to be diligent with the opportunities given to us, no matter how small. Teach us not to grumble while ‘tending sheep’ but to focus on
learning marketable skills that will eventually promote us. Mostly Lord, I ask that as we intentionally fellowship with you in the wilderness, the shine of our glory on us will be apparent and doors of favour will open. In Jesus mighty name.

Elozino

Its ok to stand alone

Weekly Nuggets July 8, 2019

Genesis 6:8-12 NKJV

But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. This is the genealogy of Noah. Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God. And Noah begot three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. So God looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth.

Key Phrase: Its ok to stand alone

There are times we feel “God understands” and so we take a short cut, even when we know God will not approve. We feel the peer pressure and try to rationalise that since everyone is on that lane, God will somehow close His eyes and not count it against us.

In a time described as corrupt with all mankind totally corrupted, God found a glimmer of hope in a man called Noah, “Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God“. Noah stood alone, shining – and he found grace.

Sometimes, it’s what we do that sets us apart, but most times it’s what we do not do that causes us to find grace. When everyone chooses the lane of compromise but we stand alone – Grace. When everyone except us calls black white – Grace, when we refuse to cut deals with the devil- Grace. When judgement comes for the others and we stand justified, redeemed – Grace.

May we always find Gods Grace in our time of need.

Father, we are thankful for your grace that is sufficient for us. Lord, help us to always stand firm in your word, separate from the corruption that rules this world. Mostly Lord, I ask for the spirit of discernment to identify the tricks of the devil that cause men to compromise, teach us to be like Noah, just and perfect before you, finding Grace all the days of our lives, .in Jesus mighty name.

Elozino