Stretch Out 2

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

An eagle which fraternizes with chickens all the time loses its ability to soar and will at best fly, an extremely difficult task for the eagle whose wings are designed to soar and not fly. Beloved, you have been standing very tall but unfortunately you did not know it and made the mistake of attempting to stoop. Quickly undo the mistake and keep standing very tall as you are not holding your ground, defending your territory but you are also actually sending out word that there is no room for competition because you have actually grown beyond competition.

You are already an institution, an intimidating force to be reckoned with, respected, valued, significant and relevant to humanity. It is therefore time to move on in life so that you can be more beneficial to humanity and be truly celebrated.

You have had the luxury of interacting with quality people and institutions and when you have the luxury of interacting with quality players in any endeavor of life, you develop as a player in that area of life. Not only do you work from an intelligence perspective, you also develop an uncanny instinct, the ability to smell opportunities and utilize the opportunities to great advantage. Doing this as often as possible can make you an expression of family, institutional, community, national and global pride. Significantly, this can be achieved through deliberate and measured diligent growth in about every area of life which is why you must make the effort to interact with quality players. Therefore, hone your gifts so that you can excel and stand before kings. While it is true that low gifts and great anointing produce results, the truth is that the results are not permanent. This is because there is usually no organization, no systems, and no institutionalization that will give permanent results. This is also true of great gifts and low anointing as they also produce results that are not permanent. But great gifts and great anointing equals great results and permanence. Significantly, both have to be developed.

Stretch Out

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

The parable of talents is illustrative of what people who recognize the worth of their talents or divine gifts can do to multiply and compound their talents or divine gifts to bless humanity and themselves. The man who was given five talents multiplied the talents. So also did the man who got two talents. But the wicked servant who received one talent chose not to work his talent.  Rather, he buried the talent. He was therefore unproductive and not a blessing to himself, family, humanity or even His master. Beloved, a one talent person is already disadvantaged and therefore has no business burying the gift. Rather, s/he should hone the gift and move on to other gifts. Yet the most dangerous thing most one talent people do is to bury their gifts when in reality they should develop five talent efforts so that they can match up with the people who have five talents.

Five talent people and five talents efforts is God’s preference. This because five talent people always make five talent efforts to serve divine purpose and bless humanity. They are selfless people who live for the common good. David was a five talent person. Mary the mother of Jesus Christ was a five talent person. The prophetess Deborah was a five talent person. She accompanied Barak to war and God gave Israel victory. She did what she did for the common good. It was not about her. It was for Israel, the people of God. Nehemiah was a five talent person. That explains why he rose from the position of butler to governor of Jerusalem who blessed the people with his personal resources. The little boy who brought lunch to the crusade, five loaves of bread and two fishes was a five talent child. He blessed humanity with his lunch pack. Jesus is a five talent person and I dare to say that you are a five talent person.

The Biblical Joseph for instance was born a five talent person but unfortunately was living with a one talent family and probably attending a one talent school and taught by a one talent teacher; that is if there were schools then. But somehow, God intervened in the affairs of Joseph and organized him out of the one talent family and environment. Though Joseph also ended up in a one talent family in Egypt, Potiphar’s wife’s sinful advances to Joseph moved him out of a one talent house to prison, a two talent world until Joseph’s eventual move to a five talent world, the palace.

God is Good

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

Goodness is a cardinal nature of God and His character. Please see Psalm 34 verse 8 and Romans Chapter 8 verse 28. God is good and causes all things through providence to work together for good to His children just so that His children accomplish divine purposes. This implies that some seeming negative experiences are actually stepping stones that enable you to stretch your potentials and become a blessing to humanity. Some difficult tests in different aspects of life are also designed to prepare and transform you until you become who and what God planned for you from the foundation of the world. Therefore, capitalize on and take advantage of both the challenges that assail you and the opportunities that show up through the challenges as they engender transformation. Please see Jeremiah Chapter 29 verse 11.

Do not give up or give in as capitulating will truncate the transformation process and you will never arrive at the desired destination. The Master of the universe is in perfect control of everything in the universe. He knows how to reverse everything for your sake. Israel went to Egypt for bread but when they left, they had an abundance of silver and gold. Please see Exodus Chapter 12 verse 31, Proverbs Chapter 3 verses 5 to 8.

In point of fact, if you can see the mind of God concerning you, you will be too amazed to ever think that God does not care about you. In fact, you will be trumpeting God’s goodness globally. Open your mouth and declare God’s faithfulness in your life. God is still faithful. He does not change. God can still furnish a table in the wilderness. He can change your situation suddenly. He can do much more than you could ever ask. It is not about what people can do but what God can do.

Be Strategic

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

Do not expend energies running in wide circles that lead nowhere. Focus on a destination and decide on the best, fastest but godly and safest route to get there; right on time; God’s time. This calls for divine guidance from God. This also presupposes that you have ascertained the specified destination from God; therefore you know where you are headed but require a strategic roadmap.

Be strategically positioned in or at a location where people can easily access you. For instance, a hill is a conspicuous place, a vantage point because people can see what is on the hill. This is to say that you have to be rightly positioned where people can see you and reach you. Accessibility is therefore important – people should be able to see you.

Give empowering gifts. Empowering gifts empower people to become who God created them to be, enable them to achieve divine destinies. Therefore, you should love and enjoy teaching people to do things right.

The responsibility of a Christian is to solve problems for humanity and not only cater for his or her family’s needs. Joseph did. Daniel did. Esther did. Nehemiah did. So also are many historical and contemporary people that you have either heard about, read about, watched videos of and have even seen. The problems they solved moved them up in the ladder of life and wealth. The choice is yours. God has a place for you in the kingdom. Know exactly what to do and how to do it.

Develop your craft. Challenge the area of your limitation. Creative people always find ways to transcend the limits put on them. Learn if you have to learn and ensure you learn the right things.

God Heals the Broken Hearted

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

Broken heartedness is an ailment that can cause a lot of degeneration in the body and the mind if left untreated. Fortunately, God heals broken heartedness. The case of Hannah the mother of Prophet Samuel best illustrates the instance of perverse tongue and unmet desires culminating in a broken spirit. Please see 1^st Samuel Chapter 1 verses 1 to 8, and 15.  Peninah’s perverse use of her tongue on Hannah was designed to make Hannah miserable and to an extent, Peninah succeeded. Hannah was broken hearted as Peninah’s frequent recourse to taunting and mocking Hannah with the fact that Hannah was childless hit a sore point in Hannah. Hannah was so broken hearted that she wept, refused food because her heart was grieved. But one day, Hannah decided to rise above the heartache, the pain and sorrow of childlessness that was usually heightened by Peninah’s taunts and mockery especially in the house of the Lord. Hannah took the bull by the horns and made a deal with God who could help her. Though Peninah made Hannah’s life bitter, Hannah realized that Peninah was not her problem. Hannah’s problem was childlessness which God; the El Shaddai Who said that none would be barren in His house could easily solve. So Hannah ignored and left perverse tongued Peninah to meet with God and make a deal with God. Can you beat that! ‘God, give me a male child to take away the reproach of childlessness and that child is all yours.’ Great bargaining power for a deeply broken hearted woman to whom weeping and hunger strike had become a way of life. Fortunately, God not only heard her words but took note of the terms of the contract. Significantly, Hannah was still broken hearted even while making the deal. Her response to the priest Eli testifies to this. Please see verses 15 to 16 of 1^st Samuel Chapter 1.

Beloved, truthfulness accelerates and perfects every healing process. Please see Luke Chapter 8 verses 43 to 48 for details of the woman with the issue of blood who publicly admitted to touching the hem of Jesus’ garment because of the affliction of unceasing blood flow for twelve years. The word of peace came from the Prince of Peace and she was completely whole. The widow of the indebted prophet acknowledged the financial situation of the family and was set free. Hannah’s admission of the grief and sorrow in her heart prompted the Priest Eli to pronounce the blessings of peace and answered prayers on her. Hannah was comforted because the Bible records in verse 18 that she was no longer sad. Joy unspeakable was birthed in her spirit and not quite long, Hannah conceived and bore Samuel, the beginning of unnumbered comforts. How? Hannah kept her own side of the bargain and returned Samuel to God and God who always rewards in multiples gave Hannah additional children – three sons and two daughters. Please see 2^nd Samuel Chapter 2 verses 20 to 21. Indeed, a good report always brings healing to the brokenhearted.

Experience God’s Divine Visitation

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles=Iyoha

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

God’s divine visitation is for the purpose of enriching, blessing and expanding as well as restoring the fortunes of His people.

It is significant to note that God visits at His appointed time. Please see Ecclesiastes Chapter 3 verses 11, 17, 1 to 8, Psalm 102 verse 13, 105 verses 9 to 22, Genesis Chapter 15 verses 13 to 16, Exodus Chapter 12 verses 40 to 41, 51, Jeremiah Chapter 29 verses 10 to 14, Daniel Chapter 9 verse 2, 10 verse 1, 2^nd Chronicles Chapter 36 verses 20 to 23, Ezra Chapter 1 verses 1 to 11, Isaiah Chapter 45 verses 1 to 4, 13.

He visited Zacharias at the appointed time (my words which will be fulfilled in their own time). Please see Luke Chapter 1 verses 13 to 20, note verse 20b. See also Ecclesiastes Chapter  3 verses 1 to 17, note verses 1, 11 and 17; Jeremiah Chapters 29 verse 10;, 27 verse 22, Psalm 102 verse 13, Genesis Chapters 18 verses 10 to 14, 21 verse 1, Habakkuk Chapter 2 verses 2 to 3, Psalms 65 verses 9 to 11; 17 verse 3, Exodus Chapters 3 verses 16 to 17; 4 verse 31, to release them from slavery in Egypt and lead them to Canaan, bless and expand them.

God also visits for the purpose of expansion and enlargement. Please see 1^st Samuel Chapter 2 verse 21 where He visited Hannah and Samuel was born; and much later his other siblings followed suit.

Bask in His Favor

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

Favor comes from God and significantly, the favor of God comes with numerous blessings that elevate a person from the ash heap of life to limelight, significance and honor. Esther was favored by God and became Queen. The favor of God elevates. Therefore, take advantage of God’s favor in your life to do exploits that will elevate you beyond your present position in life.

The favor of God comes with myriad blessings that are spiritual, physical, mental, financial, intellectual, etc. Beloved, God does not consult human beings before blessing His children with favor. He gives His favor to those who fear Him and honor Him. Keep loving Him and honoring Him so that you will experience immeasurable favor from Him. You will also be favored by God to become who God created you to be.

The favor of God also comes with the divine responsibility of accomplishing divine purposes. A number of young people enjoyed the favor of God in the Bible but they also used the favor to accomplish great things for God. Joseph, Daniel, Esther and Nehemiah were greatly favored by God and served the purposes of God for their lives.

As a child of God, you are divinely favored to do exploit for God and humanity through the gifts of God in you. Therefore, maximize the gifts of God in you and succeed through the favor of God so that you become an inspiration and blessing to other people. Start today what you have to do and experience God’s encompassing favor as you step out in faith. Do not neglect the gift that is in you…. 1^st Timothy Chapter 4 verse 14.

You are a Channel of Blessing

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

There is a difference between being blessed and being a blessing. God blessed you to be a blessing to other people, a conduit of God’s blessings to other people. This makes you a distributor of blessings and not a custodian of blessings. The circles of blessings are - be blessed, give, be blessed again and give again, an endless circle of receiving and giving. This implies that every blessing you receive must flow to other people to enjoy. If you stop being a blessing, you automatically stop the flow of blessings. Please see Galatians Chapter 6 verses 9 to 10. That is why every opportunity to give should be taken advantage of.

Secondly, each time God blesses you is an opportunity to for you o be a channel of blessing. There are people that are divinely connected to you to for you to bless them and as you bless them, you cause joy and thanksgiving to God which further expands your blessings and your capacity to be a blessing.  2^nd Corinthians Chapter 9 verses 8 to 15. However, if your refuse to bless them by giving whatever God expects you to give them, you cause pain and of course interrupt the flow of blessings to you. God put something in your hand to be a blessing and every time you allow yourself to be God’s source of blessing to someone else. God will always reward you. And significantly, you can never out give God no matter what you give. God will always out give whatever you give in His name. King Solomon’s sacrifice appeared great until God reciprocated.

The level to which you are prepared to be a blessing is the level to which you are blessed. That is why the Bible says that God gives seed to the sower and bread to the eater. Seed sowers multiply seeds as they serve as God’s conduit pipes of blessings to humanity. That is why they multiply and increase to become very prosperous and successful. Bread eaters on the other hand consume bread and the bread stops with them, in fact gets digested and is passed out as waste without necessarily blessing anyone.

Created to Succeed 2

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

In the book of Luke Chapter 10 verse 19, the Bible records that God has given authority to His children to trample on snakes and scorpions and all the power of the enemy and that none of the power of the enemy can hurt the children of God. Fantastic! But why would God make such a promise? He created you to succeed. If He created you to fail, He will not give you the authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and all the power of the enemy which represent the various challenges in life that make you want to throw in the towel, give up and opt for failure.

Beloved, you are divinely designed to succeed. Therefore, unpack and throw out the devil’s filthy garments of failure comprising all the lies he has whispered to you as to why you should fail. They are lies because he did not create you. Secondly, those lies are designed to make you turn against God so that you walk in opposition to the Person Who created you to succeed and is the only One can help you succeed.