How Deep and How High Can You Go?

I just came out of a conference in my home church called "Going Deeper, Going Higher", and it literally was a life-changing experience...how so? Well for one, I went deeper and higher! But you think I'm playing on words here, truth is it was a conference with a difference.

Interestingly the first so-named conference in our church and not with any preconceived agenda but to wait in His Presence and 'see what He would say'; and oh, did He say! The prophetic worship of the Rivieras took me straight into His presence and I found myself basking there for hours even after the speakers came up...I still felt the 'glow'. I came away with a deep resolve to go after Him harder, but much more, to do the works of the Lord boldly and proclaim Him at any given opportunity! How awesome He is, selah!

I also came away with a burning fire in the depths of my belly to impart this to my 'marketplace'; you know that's where we are called to, where we interact everyday.
For me this would be my workplace and my immediate neighbors...where would this be for you?
This year promises to be very exciting and intense already, let's engage with Holy Spirit to prepare for the glory! Shandai!

Broken for His Glory

Who would have thought when I look back over the past 5 years that I would be the way I am today...broken for His glory. When I look back and remember my character, religious pride and performance mentality over the the years, I cringe. Yet, the cleansing is still going on, I am being broken and cleansed, broken and cleansed, broken and cleansed; all for Him.

I believe the Father is preparing us to wear the mantle of holiness in this new season of Praise; holiness, virtue and godly values is the foundation behind this new wave of visitation that will be long-lasting. He wants the world to see His glory...how? Through ordinary broken vessels like you and me, just being a light in an increasingly dark world that is crying out for the supernatural - you can see the hunger in the surging increase of 'supernatural' books in bookstores and movies. But the light shines brightest in the dark...

The bible says that the whole creation is "crying out for the manifestation of the sons of God". That's us! We were meant to manifest His glory in our everyday lives, not necessarily as Pastors or Evangelists or Prophets etc., but as Kevins and Chiagozies and Dirks! What a thought! But oh so true! If only we can grasp that we don't have to be a 'famous preacher' to do the works of the Lord...meditate on this, selah!

I pray that the eyes of your understanding may be enlightened that you may know the truth of His Word; and also that you remember in this New Year that you have the mind of Christ. Prophesy spiritually over all that concerns you and declare the glory over your atmosphere!
Let us walk in it. Help us to grasp this reality in 2008 Father, amen.

The Waiter Sets the Tone

I’m onto this waiter theme again…

Our family was recently at a restaurant and the waiter showed us to our table which I immediately didn’t like; it was right in the middle and we would probably have to keep moving for people to go by. So I asked for another table and she immediately replied that none was available.

Another waiter came by and suggested she take us to another section where corner tables were, but she wasn’t eager to do this and eventually my hungry husband went off to help himself to the enticing buffet not understanding what the fuss was about, while I sat down reluctantly with an increasingly sulky attitude….did I enjoy the rest of the lunch? You guessed it, no!

The waiter had set the tone for me and it hindered my appetite or “receiving mode”. That’s how it is when we wait on the Lord with a grumpy and ungrateful attitude, there’s less chance of receiving anything from Him. Also, the blessings go right over your head when they come because you’re too busy making a fuss over what you didn’t get in the past, that you miss the new things He's doing.

Hebrews 6:15 - And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.

Unstop The Wells!

A loud cry
comes forth from the sky,
UNSTOP THE WELLS!
Just believe that
this is the start
of your miracles…
Throw up your hands
and rejoice in bounds
now is the time…
A voice of authority
giving top priority
UNSTOP THE WELLS!!!

Lord, send forth Your deluge...
Come and tabernacle with us in this new season!

Victory is Sure...

I've been away from my blog for about 2 months now, catching up on the mundane and tying up loose ends that couldn't be put off but during these two months I've also been meditating.

Victory is sure, that's what has been hammering over and over in my head as I faced one challenge after the other these past couple of months. I know how to abase and abound, the Apostle Paul said...but do we?

I must confess I love the 'abounding' phases of my life but the 'abasing' phase usually comes first so that I can abound wisely and with humility and compassion; sometimes we even abase and abound together. In my family, here we are rejoicing over having our Dad back after a long absence due to travels but at the same time, my heart is heavy with compassion and intercession as I agree with a close friend for a complete healing of cancer. But isn't that how our christian walk is, full of real-life examples and opportunities to share His joy and compassion all at the same time.

Nothing is impossible...the tide comes in at night not in the day, so victory is assured even in our most broken places. I believe that we're finally coming into a phase and lifestyle of victory that will be a part of us as we keep proclaiming and believing what we have been reading for years in the Word.

I find myself in the second half of this year being more sure of His Word and believing that our time of re-visitation is very near - I am so anxious to see the manifest glory of His presence on the earth that it's like a deep passionate well of hunger within me, spouting forth at the first sign of revival! Come Lord!

What Makes You a Christian?

I remember the day I first gave my life to Jesus; I was at Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor's church in Warri and had literally come to the end of myself in terms of chasing after the things of the world with one disappointment after the other.

There was this persistent Christian friend of mine who had preached Christ to me in a non-threatening and interesting way and eventually I found myself at the altar in this church, crying my eyes out as I said the famous 'sinner's prayer'. But that was only the first step of a journey I'm still making even now; a journey of uncertainty but knowing Jesus is with me, a journey of mistakes but knowing I'm forgiven, a journey of learning and re-learning with dashes of revelation received directly from above.

It has been a hard road to travel in some seasons and a smooth sailing one in others but I know I would do it all over again because this relationship and these experiences are actually what makes you a Christian; not just the 'sinner's prayer' at the altar or elsewhere.

So next time you want to share Christ with someone, let them see the bigger picture of what salvation or "sodzo" entails; let them know it's the beginning of a brand new journey where this time they have a faithful partner rooting for them through thick and thin, through mountains and valleys and even in the plateaus when things are at a standstill.

Let them know the whole truth, it will make them a better Christian.

Parched

What does it feel like to be really thirsty? I come from a part of the world where it was common to have dry taps for days; we would walk around the neighborhood with kegs and other such containers seeking any running water we could find. It wasn't hard to spot the taps that weren't dry, because the lines extended as long as your eye could see but clustered at the beginning in a swirl of dust. This dust cluster at the beginning of the line was always the kids fighting for a drink to quench their thirst first before filling up their containers.

Isn't that how it is when we're seeking desperately the rain of the Spirit? We don't care if we look mannerless as we cry out for His presence, desperately flinging ourselves at the altar and lying prostrate before Him. I have been watching the Miracle Channel 'Power of Partnership' running throughout this week and I'm made so aware of the level of hunger openly displayed among God's people in the nation of Canada. People were calling in and writing in from all over, and believing for an outpouring on this nation; it was wonderful to see that I was not alone...sometimes we feel like Elijah who thought he was alone until God reminded him that a whole host of believers existed who hadn't bowed their knee to idols.

So visit us Lord! Send the rain of your presence Father! We need the taps flooded and a full release!

Peace

I felt the tug
on my heart
and the gentle
whisper,
of the Holy Spirit
urging me to
let go...
and let God...
so I put the wheel
into His hands
and let Him steer
me to a quiet shore
called peace.


This poem I wrote in March 1995 is what came to mind after the news of the Virginia Tech massacre broke.

JP copyright 1995

Have You Seen the One I Love?

That is directly from the book of Song of Solomon, chapter 3 verse 3; it is an allegory of the Lord and His love, us. Some of my favorite verses in the Bible tell of deep hunger for the Lord's presence and deep love for Him. Coincidentally, they're all in the book of Psalms:

• Psalm 27:4 - One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in His temple.
• Psalm 63:1 - O God, You are my God; early will I seek You; my soul thirsts for You; my flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water.
• Psalm 84:2 - My soul longs, yes even faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.

Yes you guessed it, I'm a worshiper and I love to spend time in His presence. I used to say I didn't have enough time to spend with the Lord as much as I would love to, especially as I'm a wife, mother, work a day job, attend weekly evening classes and still do a host of other things!

But I found out when you really love, you make time to spend with the one you love, or else the relationship will deteriorate and eventually die. Instead of setting aside a certain time every day which may work for some, I decided to be in His presence all the time. This meant I was constantly aware of His presence everywhere I went and in everything I did or said; it was hard at first to get into this mode, but as I practised His presence, it became easier to be aware of Him.

So I ask again, "Have you seen the One I love?" Write me your experiences of your personal journey on seeking Him and staying in His presence....

Have a blessed Easter and don't forget, He's alive!

I Am Not In Control, He is

When I became a Christian, I attended a Church where the Word was taught and prayer was emphasized; nobody talked much about dying to the flesh and getting conformed to His image except in the annual conferences. Rather, the emphasis was on praying and fasting, binding and loosing, and becoming a spiritual warrior.

There's nothing wrong with those themes but if that is all you do, you eventually wind up a one-sided Christian like I did. You feel invincible to the devil and are blind to your shortcomings which leads to pride, a heavy dose of it. So there I was seven years ago, new in Toronto from Nigeria, and feeling like a 'spiritual star' well above everyone I met...until I went on a spiritual retreat and realized I had no control over my life and I was full of gunk that needed to come out. The love emanating from the retreat ministry staff was my undoing and it totally changed my life.

I remember this retreat everytime I'm overwhelmed with prayer needs from friends and family; these past two weeks was one of those times when I realized that no matter how much I prayed, fasted, stood on scriptures, and cried out to Him...that was really all I could do. I was not in control He was, and I had to remember that.

It is not a feeling most of us are comfortable with, because we always want to be in control of everything happening around us; but He unfolds His plan on a daily basis as we come to Him daily.

Isn't He amazing? I love you Precious Lord!