HI Readers,
Sorry this is coming late but Shalom Truths has changed from being http://www.shalomtruths.wordpress.com to http://www.shalomtruths.com. Please check out our new site and leave a comment.
Thanks
HI Readers,
Sorry this is coming late but Shalom Truths has changed from being http://www.shalomtruths.wordpress.com to http://www.shalomtruths.com. Please check out our new site and leave a comment.
Thanks
I have being very hesitant in posting my NYSC experience as by now you have probably gotten tired of the whole NYSC story. If you just read a little further I promise that you wouldn’t have wasted your time or your mental faculty trying to process what I have to say.
For readers who don’t know the meaning of NYSC-National Youth Service Corps. NYSC is a one year scheme, designed by the Nigerian Government, entailing a 3 weeks paramilitary training at various camps across the federation, after which you serve the community where you have been posted to. Now I am starting to sound like one of the NYSC officials 😉 .
NYSC was a whole new experience for me; of course I had to cover a whole lot of distance by various means just to get to one funny destination called Wanune, Tarka. I leave your mind to wonder about the state, but of course there is google. If by now you haven’t gotten tired of my beating around the bush, then I say congratulations my friend. I am getting to the very heart of the matter.
Have you ever been in a strange place and you have wanted to identify with another? On my first day in camp, there was a lady directly opposite me. I had seen something of hers that identified her as a member of my church, so I carefully waited for her to finish her prayers and then I greeted her and waited to chip this in “Are you a member of….church”, you should have seen the smile on my face when she said yes. This was the part I was waiting for; I immediately chipped in “That’s my church too”. She made a good friend, as I latter got to discover that she was in the same platoon with me and we attended the same fellowship in camp…I did meet another person and she was also from my church too and we made such good friends too. The binding factor here was our DENOMINATION, after that we got to know each other beyond Denomination.
Then came a Sunday morning and I think the title of the message was about “Breaking Denominational Barriers”. I have not been so much into the names of churches as I could sometimes go to another church different from mine and blend in, but for some good reasons I have to identify with a church and stay there.
The Truth is; some of us and even I have forgotten the reason for DENOMINATION and we have replaced the word with SEGREGATION, sometimes with CONDEMNATION. If she is not in my church then he/she is on her way to Hell-fire. May I remind you that we would not stand that day as a DENOMINATION but as individuals and as the Church of Christ! Let me give a brief description of what we are doing, we are all on the same football team “Jesus Team”, but we seem to be playing for the other side or scoring own goals, due to division.
Mat 12:25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:
One of the tools the devil seems to be using at a time like this is division in the house of God. He divides then he carries out its plan. It’s very hard to attack a group of people together, but get one person out of the group then it becomes very easy to attack such a person. Let me also remind you of the time when the disciples came to meet Jesus;
Mar 9:38-40 And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbade him, because he followeth not us. But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me. For he that is not against us is on our part.
We shouldn’t be found attacking ourselves all because our doctrines are different, let’s consult the bible and if you feel your brother is not getting something right, win him over with love. We must always have the mindset that we are the body of Christ, irrespective of our different denominations. That my friend is the greatest lesson I learnt in camp.
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Listening to the first lines of Jason Nelson’s song dominion and he goes like “depression, you have to flee, you no longer have dominion over me” and I couldn’t help but think of a lot of people that have had to battle with depression. You probably have gone through the feeling before without even knowing that it’s called “Depression”.
I can’t just help but think that depression has to do with “Deep-pressing-on a person”. It’s good that English language gave it a name and that it exists in the dictionary, but in my own dictionary of words, I’d like to kick out depression. It doesn’t even exist! I can’t help but think that I have something personal against depression.
I really do have something against depression. Truly first impression matters and depression has never left even a good second impression on me. Depression is a thief of hope and joy and it knows that am not accusing it wrongly. Ask anyone that has ever being depressed and they would tell you. Depression robs you of God’s blessing, because it knows that Joy is the access to God’s blessings.
Isa 12:3 Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation
Fact about depression is that it is a thing of the mind and it doesn’t rob you without your permission. Asides the fact that depression robs you of your blessings; it also has its effect on your health. Depression has an ageing effect and hinders your spiritual growth.
Pro 17:22 A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
Two simple ways in which you can fight depression from the word of God;
ONE
Rule your spirit! As simple as this may sound if you don’t have a rule over your own spirit, then you can be easily tossed about by circumstances or situations.
Pro 25:28 He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.
TWO
Encourage yourself! Depression would always give you reasons to be downcast, but the only way to fight back is to also give it reasons why you shouldn’t be.
1Sa 30:6 And David was greatly distressed for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people were grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encourage himself in the LORD his God.
If you would just take your eyes off the things that seem to weigh you down and fix your eyes on Jesus, then you would realize that it wasn’t so big after all, just like David and Goliath. Even if you are not capable you serve a capable God.
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