ARE YOU THE STANDARD?

Adelola Edema

 

Many times, when someone asks if doing anything is a sin (wearing trousers or jewelry (of any kind), drinking alcohol, makeup, braiding or fixing hair extensions, going to church on Sundays, listening to secular music, even premarital sex), I've noticed that arguments are usually based on whether we do it or not. So someone asks if wearing trousers is sin, and people respond that they wear trousers, so it's not a sin. Or wine is not a sin because they drink.

 

My question is; are you the standard? When did the Bible call something a sin because it's not the norm?

 

And then some people say it's a sin because they don't do it. Or it's the prostitutes in there neighborhood that do such.

 

Please when did God make you the standard for judging right or wrong?

 

Sincerely, the one that shocks me is when people say that sex outside of marriage (premarital or extramarital) is not sin, because it's common.

 

It's not about judging or being judged, it's about understanding that you are not the standard.

 

I do some of the things mentioned above. I know that they are not sins, not because I do them, but because I've seen from the scriptures that they are not or I've not seen scriptures that say that they are sins. So I won't tell you that they are not sins because I have the Holy Spirit and He didn't convict me.

 

Peter had the Holy Spirit, but Paul told us in Galatians that Peter was hypocritical. I can imagine Peter saying his action was acceptable since he does so.

 

God's word is FINAL AUTHORITY. It's not about you at all.

Instant Messaging

TGD Etiquette Session.

 

Good day ladies, on TGDES today we shall be considering something interesting and educative,also sensitive,and that is.....

..... Instant Messaging

Instant Messaging has become quite popular these days. In many cases, its popularity has taken the common use of the telephone by storm. Using IM is a much more casual and less personal way of communication, making it less demanding. It is also very convenient especially for those who can type fast.

 

As with any communication in cyberspace,one need to keep some guidelines in mind:

 

* Always know who you are "chatting" with. Don't respond to an unknown screen name. ( a lot of people have been misguided, trapped,robbed and cheated carelessly through IM)

 

* Be careful with your words. There is no guarantee that your words are seen only by the person you are writing to.

 

* Remember that your words will be sent as soon as you press ENTER or SEND.

 

* If you don't get a response, don't keep sending messages. Stop until you hear back from that person.

 

* Respect other people's time. If they say they need to go,honour that.

 

* When and if you have to use someone else's phone,get the owner's consent,and let the person you are chatting with know you are the one (introduce yourself),its also good, you don't form the habit of using several lines to chat (this makes you seem an unserious and carefree person,who need not be taken seriously).

 

Inputs are welcome on the above

subject.

Good Listening

TGD Etiquette Session.

Bukola Olupona 

Good day ladies, so glad its our first anniversary, its been God,we celebrate His faithfulness.

 

Our focus for today's Etiquette session is Good Listening.

You wonder any big deal in listening? There is a whole lot and I believe we can all learn together as this is a strong basis for communication. Communication in itself involves give-and-take. Talking is only half the process; there can be no meaningful exchange without listening.

 

Here is some helpful advice for when you find yourself in a conversation:

 

* Look the person in the eye to show them you are attentive. Don't get distracted by other people or things around you.

 

* Smile to express interest ( unless the topic dictates otherwise)

 

* Use interjections (once in a while) to spur the conversation: "wow"; " oh no" "really"

 

* Nod your head to indicate that you understand what the other person is saying.

 

* Don't interrupt or try to finish someone's thoughts.

 

* Don't yawn or fall asleep.

 

* Don't look at your watch or look across the room.

 

* Don't fidget or move around.

 

Kindly help with more information on good listening or topics you would appreciate we discuss in future session.

 

Thanks for reading.

 

Adapted from Manners matter by F. Hartley and A. Hartley Smith.

Being A Thoughtful Host

Bukola Olupona

TGD Etiquette Session
Good day ladies. I am sure the day is going well, especially as we reflect on the love of our Lord Jesus Christ. Today we shall be considering "Being a thoughtful host" as a sequel to our last week topic.

Here are a few tips:
1) Make your guest's room tidy before the arrival of your guest, in the absence of a guest room, you can vacate your room and sleep in the living room.

2) Stock up for toiletries and food.

3) Allow your guest have some free time to herself, during the day.

4) Let your guest know the time you usually have your meals, particularly if you are not an early riser and she is(or the other way round) show her where to get what.

5) Give your guest a general overview of the town, e. g if there is curfew, transportation mode (commuters or taxi service)

6) Try to anticipate your guest's special needs.

Above all, it is your number one job to make your guest feel at home in your home.

Enjoy the rest of the day, and don't forget you can share with us in the comments below.

Shalom!

Whose Truth Is It?

Adelola Edema


When I was much younger, my elder brother said he didn’t like boiled fish. He complained about the smell and the taste. So I decided that I didn’t like boiled fish as well. The truth is I strongly believed that boiled fish was not good, and somehow it began to nauseate me. Sadly all my mother’s five children stopped eating boiled fish, and my mother had to always fry fish for us (We suffered that woman ehn).
Fast forward to my teenage years, my sister and I had now become the kitchen “madams”, and I discovered that frying fish was not easy; with the oil splashing and hurting you, the fact that you had to stay there and endure the smell of the fish frying (I hated that smell) etc. Brethren, the rule had to change o. I could now not come and kill myself. So my sister and I returned to boiling fish and forced the boys to start eating boiled fish (I’m not your mother, I cannot die for your sakes na).
If it was mothers’ day, this may have been a tribute to my mum. But it is not.
We can laugh and yab my siblings and I because we followed one person’s judgement and suffered my mum, but we were kids. Many of us as adult Christians are guilty of this as well. Somebody says that God’s word says something that is not in the Bible or that is from twisting a scripture taken out of context, and we swallow it and live by it. How many “Christian principles” do we live by that is not based on God’s word? In fact some things may be in the Bible, and one pastor told us that it does not concern Africans, and we happily discard it.
The painful thing is that we don’t just swallow these doctrines, we judge others by them. We find scriptural reasons to condemn and judge others, just because “our father/mother in the Lord said so”. May God forgive us! I have a number of examples in my head, but I won’t type them here. But let us examine ourselves. Are we living by God’s word or other people’s interpretations of the Word?
And we can only know what God’s word says by reading the Bible and asking the Holy Spirit to teach us. Even if it is from our pastor’s sermon, or Christian article, it is important to still allow the Holy Spirit teach, so we don’t swallow wrong teachings. The fact that other believers are preaching it doesn’t make it God’s word. Yearn for the revealed word of God and trust that the Holy Spirit will teach you.

Now we have not received the spirit [that belongs to] the world, but the [Holy] Spirit Who is from God, [given to us] that we might realize and comprehend and appreciate the gifts [of divine favor and blessing so freely and lavishly] bestowed on us by God. (1 Cor 2:12, AMP)

But when the Friend comes, the Spirit of the Truth, he will take you by the hand and guide you into all the truth there is. (John 16:13, MSG)"

Happy New Month - April 2015

Happy new month ladies.
May the month usher in a season of POSITIVE and TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGE in every area of our lives and in our nations.
As we prepare for Easter celebrations, ponder on this verse

"But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all." Isaiah 53:5-6

Please leave a prayer for yourself, other sisters and our loved ones in the comments