LESSONS FROM THE MAN DAVID

Adebola Afolashade Balogun

David did not become the fearless gaint-slayer he became in one day. He did not just wake up and know how to kill a lion or a bear. Have you ever wondered how he became a great warrior without being formally trained? Let us look at Psalm 144:1. "Blessed be the Lord my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight".

When someone is being taught something, they almost always don't get it right the first time. The Bible never records it but I am sure there must have been times when a bear or lion came to attack one of the sheep David was keeping and all he could(as a young boy)was probably throw a stone or stick to chase them away, the stick or stone would only keep them away for so long and they must surely return to try again. David must have been hurt by a wild animal a couple of times, he might have even run away to call his elder brothers for help when he could not handle them on his own. He might have even lost one or two sheep in the process but he never stopped trying to protect his father's sheep.

I can imagine God watching this daily struggle and saying to him, "Hey, let me teach you how to kill this thing and give you a permanent solution". Hence, the training began.

 God watched him grow over time, saw his commitment to mere sheep and must have thought to himself "I think I have found someone I can trust to lead,guide and protect my people. If he can be this dedicated to sheep and goats, how much more humans?"

 What am I getting at you might be wondering? The reason a lot of people give in to challenges or refuse to take on any is because they do not see it as training grounds or opportunities to learn. They do not want to get all messy, they want the reward but not the responsibility but the truth is that both go hand in hand. God himself sought out David and made him a king because he saw a prepared 'man', one he had personally trained, one who went from timid boy to warrior. Remember, he was in the wilderness tending sheep. He was just a boy and could have been playing around or doing any other thing but he chose to take on the responsibility of tending sheep.

We must learn to see every stage of our lives as training grounds and be willing to gather as much knowledge as we can in the process.

We might never know when that big break will come, when that opportunity will come, when that skill will be what a president, king or Governor is looking for.

My charge to us as this new week begins is for us be open to opportunities, to learn new things as often as possible, to develop skills and stay prepared because we just might never know when that skill will launch us into greatness.

Have an exceptional week ladies!!

GOD HAS NOT CHANGED HIS MIND ABOUT YOU

Adelola Edema

Recently I was lining my eyebrows and I remembered when I could have sworn, "I would never line my eyes and my eyebrows". A few years later, even if I want to go without makeup, I line my brows at least. (Yea, I know I need help) I grew up hating ogbono soup. I also hated iru and ede (locust beans and crayfish) with a passion. I was that child that was not ashamed to pick out iru from the soup I was served, anywhere. Now ehn… I am a huge fan of iru and ogbono soup. I still don’t like ede o, but I don’t only eat it, I cook with it sef.

Quite a number of people know that I HATE daddyrising and mummyrising men of God. In fact, I could literally throw up if someone called his pastor Daddy around me. I used to tell people, without shame sef, that I could leave a church simply because members call the pastors Daddy or Mummy. But surprisingly, in my present church, I join other members to call the pastors Daddy and Mummy. It was just recently I noticed that I had been calling them Daddy and Mummy for months and I did not die. So I have concluded that this "Daddy, Mummy thing" is not as bad as I thought (I'm not sure o).

My point is that I am human, and change is the only constant thing. My dear, don’t assume that the Adelola you knew in Ife is the one typing this o… I have changed gaaaaaaan. You could have been able to predict me then, but maybe not anymore, because I have changed; and I am still changing.

But do you know what? God testifies of himself "I am the Lord, I do not change" (Mal 3:6). Hebrews 13 says that He is the same yesterday, today and forever. So even if you cannot predict man that can change, you can be rest assured in God that if he said something about himself, then he remains that thing. God has not changed his mind about loving you. Scripture says he has loved you with an EVERLASTING LOVE. He tells you that you can now come boldly before his throne through the blood of Jesus, don’t worry he has not decided that the sins of this generation is too much, and then withdraw his mercy that the blood paid for.

So my dear, yes I know you have changed, but don’t judge God being same as you. He says that he remains the same forever. Trust that he is faithful. Be rest assured in him. He will not deny himself.

Much love,

Adelola