The Ark of the Lord

“So David was not willing to take the ark of the Lord to him into the City of David; but he took it aside into the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. And the ark of the Lord remained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite for three months, and the Lord blessed Obed-edom and all his household. And it was told King David, The Lord has blessed the house of Obed-edom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God. So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom into the City of David with rejoicing”

–I Samuel 6:10 -12

It was obvious that God blessed the house of Obed-edom because of the presence of the ark of God in his house. Why do you think David desired to bring the Ark back to Israel in the first place? See I Chronicles 13:1-4, I Samuel 6:1 – 7:2

What was the significance of the Ark and why does its presence attract the blessing(s) of the Lord?

The Ark contains the Ten Commandments/The Testimony (Exodus 40:20), Aaron’s rod that budded (Numbers 17:10) and an omer of manna (Exodus 16:33-34)... which all signify the awesome deeds of God at various times in the lives of the Israelites. God instructed that the items be kept in the Ark as a form of reminder/sign for generations to come.

In today’s world, we may not have access to Manna, Tablets of stone or a budding rod but we have access to the wondrous deeds of God in our lives which we are to continually place before us in our thought lives if we intend to continue to enjoy the immense blessing(s) of God like the house of Obed-edom did.

We must ensure that there are no murmurings before the Lord no matter what happens, this will stem out of an understanding that God is on the throne and He works out all things for our Good!

We must ensure that we recall those tough times in our lives and how God came to our rescue... this should always serve as a reminder that if God has been faithful in times past, He remains faithful today hence develop an attitude of praise irrespective of the circumstances.

Are you keeping the Ark of the Lord before you today?

Before you ask for anything from the Lord, do these three things:

a)     Worship God based on your scriptural understanding of who he is

b)     Reminisce on testimonies that God has delivered into your hands in the past...

c)      Worship God again based on your personal experience and testimonies

Remind yourself about his All-mightiness, Greatness and All-Possibility-thinking before you begin to ask for whatsoever requests you have.

A case of substance over form... JAMB/UTME and NECO

On my way to work this morning, I read one of the newspaper headlines which stated the Federal Government's intention to alter the activities of the Joint Admissions Matriculation Board (JAMB), National Examinations Council (NECO) and some other Federal Government Agencies in a bid to further reduce the cost of governance (Scrap JAMB/UTME and NECO).

In Nigeria, JAMB administers the University Entrance Examination which is the basis of most university admissions in Nigeria. Although most universities conduct their internal admission examinations, students must attain a minimum JAMB-administered examination score to qualify for the school's admission examination. Hence, we can state that JAMB wields some monopoly power over university admission in Nigeria.

In May and November annually, secondary school (high school) students write their graduation examination which is a basic requirement to further your education into the polytechnics or universities or colleges of education in Nigeria. This examination has always been conducted by the West African Examination Council (WAEC) over the years but in 2000, the Federal Government of Nigeria commissioned NECO to begin to conduct its own certification examinations. These exams were also conducted around the time WAEC conducted its own examinations hence giving students the option of writing four examinations in their graduating year and using any of or a combination of the results to further their educational career.

I consider the opinion to scrap these NECO examinations thereafter transferring the responsibility to WAEC and also to permit the various institutions to conduct their admission examinations internally while JAMB only regulates the conduct of the schools, an interesting one as the substance of this drive is to cease to spend on redundant activities whose purpose can be achieved more efficiently via other means.


The Federal Government's allocation to JAMB and NECO in the 2013 budget is a paltry 7.91billion naira ($49.4million naira) [Education allocation] of the entire budget and since their responsibilities are only being re-assigned, some part of these funds will still be utilised by the agencies hence in my opinion, even though it saves the country some spend; the focus of the argument should be on the purpose of the intention not the planned savings which is an off shoot of every efficient drive.


I do not regard the efficient drive lightly though as I am aware that efficient methods can save one from lots of spend in the long run even though it may seem irrelevant in the short term. I came across some comments on General Electric's 2012 Annual report which buttresses this point, 1% Fuel savings in its client's activities within the power sector leads to a 15-year savings of $66billion.

Although some Nigerians have mentioned that the monopoly vested on schools by permitting them to conduct their entrance examinations may be a negative, I would argue that this is not the case as every school  aims to admit the best students who will do them proud hence will ensure that their admission exams and processes separate the wheat from the chaff effectively. In addition, since JAMB will now be responsible for introducing appropriate checks and balances, I do not see the monopoly disadvantage which gives suppliers the upper hand rearing its ugly head here.

I support this move and wish the Federal Government Godspeed in their endeavours. Nigeria can and will get better.

Nigeria and Africa... My Country and Continent

Years ago, the more developed countries had various opinions about the African continent, some of these opinions were absurd yet widely accepted as true and rarely criticised.

From the homo sapiens and cave men stories to the early civilization realities in Egypt to Slave trade and Western Colonization; then more recently to coup d'etats, civil wars and greed/corruption - the African continent has journeyed through the ages tirelessly yet has an interesting future, filled with great positive predictions that seem too good to be true.

Nigeria, the most populous black Nation in Africa has had its fair share of woes, trials, triumphs and joy yet just like its mother, the African continent, it has a positive future. One that has attracted and is still capable of attracting billions of dollars in investments NOT AID from the western world and capable of causing envy amongst other developed Nations.

I came across an article on Economist.com which triggered this post (http://econ.st/Wq72x6). I would implore you to read and share as it does not only reveal the growth in this continent but also identifies the potentials for the future.

No matter what the surmountable challenges are today, my blood remains Green White Green, I am a Nigerian - a proud African!!! #itcanonlygetbetter

My Strength, My Victory Song and My Salvation

 "The Lord is my Strength and Song; and He has become my Salvation" Psalms 118:14

Its been a long while... kindly accept apologies for the silence. It is a result of lots of demand on my time which I am almost done arranging. Now, I am back to stay... :-).

Welcome to 2013!

Every human is bound to experience challenges during their life and times on this planet.

In my little experience as God's own child, I have come to understand that heaven desires us to follow the order as stated in the above scripture for us to enter into the finished work of the cross (the rest of God); especially when faced with daring challenges!

We need to acknowledge God as our strength and the lifter up of our head at all times even in the midst of those trying times; we need to realise that His spirit that dwells within us literally quickens our bodies enabling it with a capacity that it did not have before. This capacity en-ables us to do certain things which we were unable to do before now. Truth be told, even when we do not 'feel' like it, we only need to believe that we CAN & act like we CAN, then we definitely CAN.

Thereafter, we sing songs of rejoicing and victory. “With a grateful heart, with a song of praise, I will bless your name, Thank you Lord” – those are the lines of one of Don Moen’s songs that portray the appropriate attitude to thanksgiving. It must not be loathsome or coerced out of us but must come willingly from a place of understanding even during these trying times. Since we know fully well that this victory that we seek is not a victory to be won for us in the presence of our Father but one that has been settled long time ago when Jesus paid the price at the calvary.

After doing these, then and only then would we SEE the manifestation of God in respect of that challenge. We will now see that which we believed a long time ago had already happened - Faith... Faith like a mustard seed that moves mountains!

When we experience this physical manifestation, then we experience God as our salvation - the ONE who has saved us time and time again from various trials, the ONE who strengthened us to pull through the wait patiently while we sang with joy unspeakable in our hearts because we entered into the rest of God in our hearts as concerning those matters even before the results became evident. We could only have entered into rest because we believed hence reminding us about the essence of the believer’s faith walk.

Following these three steps in the phase of ANY challenge will result in the manifestation of  God's will coming through for you.

The road will not be smooth through and through...

Have you ever faced a mountain you felt was so great such that it was insurmountable?

Have you ever had a challenge you thought could never be sorted out or a puzzle you concluded could never be solved?

Have you ever travelled a road you thought would never end?

Have you ever been in a sore state which you felt had gone on too long to ever come to an end?

Can you relate with the above? Yes, right?

Now, try to recall what happened at the end of those challenging circumstances? Can you recall that some light evolved at the end of the seemingly unending tunnel(s)? Think about it... Light suddenly approached out of the dark, isn't it?

"Weeping may endure for a night but joy comes in the Morning" (Psalms 30:5)

One beautiful twist I have come to realize about life is that irrespective of the down moments; irrespective of the challenges; irrespective of our life puzzles; irrespective of the mountainous journeys we find ourselves... There is always light at the end of the tunnel!!!

So I call you up to strength to hold through the dark seasons because we understand that it is a part of the process. Even Jesus had to be crucified before He was glorified. The Scriptures also remind us that - "In the midst of the most opposition abounds the most grace" (Romans 5:20); Let us draw on the grace of God in those dark times and hold on till we get to the end of the tunnel where we inherit the promises given us by God.

We were not called to an unchallenging walk, NO!
 The road has lots of challenges but these present sufferings are nothing when compared to the glory that is set ahead of us (Romans 8:18).

See you at the other end of the tunnel.

Acknowledgment of Every Good Thing in YOU

That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus (Philemon 1:6)

Are you still facing those dreadful challenges and sins?

We have considered and arrived at the conclusion that- in Christ, our forgiveness is certain the moment we confess our sins. We also understand that our nature as born again children of God is the nature of God for we are the righteousness of God in Christ.

Now we move to the acknowledgment of the good things deposited in us in Christ which is also known as confession(s). One needs to learn to acknowledge these truths, speak them loudly and openly as we pace the floor reminding our inner ears and hearts that irrespective of the evident, the words of God which we speak represent our true selves in Christ.

See some of my confessions below:

And though the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide Himself any more, but your eyes will constantly behold your Teacher. And your ears will hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it, when you turn to the right hand and when you turn to the left' (Isaiah 30:20 – The Amplified Translation)

I am taught how to live right and well. I am shown what to do and where to go (Isaiah 48:17b – The Message Translation)

As we study scriptures daily, the words God speak to our hearts should be documented somewhere and recited daily to our inner ears and hearts. By continuing in this, we are able to birth and give evidence to these words. 

Even David did same with Laban’s flocks, by placing the streaked sticks before the lambs as they came to drink by the well which was also where they had intercourse (communion). Going forward, everything those sheep birthed looked like what had been placed before them – Lambs with streaks. 

You will only produce according to that which has been placed before your inner ears and hearts... what are you placing before them today?

True Confidence 003

"There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the Most High." (Psalms 46: 3 AMP)

The first few verses of Psalms 46 depicts chaos, trouble and wanton destruction... those words are similar to the challenges we face in our world today, right? Some of us might find it hard to admit but we need not seek too far for the answers... from news of suicide bombers to ravaging natural disasters to the Syrian refugees and to the 'delicate' Iran bomb which could blow up even as we speak ... then coming closer... from heightened job losses to rampant shootings to kidnap cases to the ravaging cancerous illness.. just to mention a few.

We would agree that it takes more  than a human heart to confidently say that our security is assured but Psalms 46 reminds us to pause and think calmly of some things:

a) God is an ever present help - we cannot desire a better help nor shall we ever find the like in any creature.
This informs me that no matter what the challenge is: am I being pursued? Do I have enemies to grapple with at home/work/business? Is it the enormous amount of unfinished work I have?
No matter what it is, God is ALWAYS ready to help.

b) The river that makes my heart glad are the covenant of grace, the Spirit of grace and God's word.
With these 3 sources, children of the Most High God have no reason to fear. These 3 sources are not rapid but are gentle, they come in soft and silent whispers but are sufficient to counterbalance the loud, noisy threatenings of an angry and malicious world.

c) The Lord of Hosts is with us (as long as we are saved by the Blood of Jesus Christ).
The God of Jacob, our refuge to whom we flee and in whom we confide in.
The Lord of Hosts, who has all the hosts of heaven and earth at his beck and command using them as he pleases either as instruments of his justice or mercy, is with us, sides with us, acts with us and has promised never to leave or forsake us.

"...Since God assured us, "I'll never let you down, never walk off and leave you"; we can boldly quote, God is there, ready to help; I'm fearless no matter what. Who or what can get to me? " (Hebrews 13:5b-6 MSG)

"Behold, they may gather together and stir up strife, but it is not from Me. Whoever stirs up strife against you shall fall and surrender to you.
Behold, I have created the smith who blows on the fire of coals and who produces a weapon for its purpose; and I have created the devastator to destroy.
But no weapon that is formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue that shall rise against you in judgment you shall show to be in the wrong... says the Lord." (Isaiah 54: 15-17 AMP)

My dear, troubles will come but in the midst of all of it, I am confident that the Lord of Hosts is with me and will help me. Troubles don't mark the end of the journey but another leap into a deeper/larger dimension.