Wednesday 30 September 2015
Better Pt 1
Rachel looked at the procession again as Janet passed by, beaming with smiles and looking radiant. Her arm was interlocked in her husband's, and she looked the epitome of overjoyed in her beautiful white gown. She waved at Rachel, who smiled a little sadly, as she entered the car after her husband, laughing and trying to put her dress into the vehicle after her.
Rachel kept looking as the car with the 'just married' sticker on the bumper reversed and drove away. They were going straight from the wedding reception to their honeymoon in South Africa.
She took a deep breath as she spun round, headed towards the church building, thoughts roaming her head. She was just 22, but that was the third time she had been called to be a bridesmaid for her friends wedding that year, and seeing her friends getting married off had always tugged at a corner of her heart.
Rachel entered the church, trying to find the rest of the people she came with. She told one of them, who happened to be her roommate in school, to help watch her bag as she went outside for the final procession.
"Rachel!"
She spun at the sound of her name, and smiled to see who it was. Makeela bounced down the aisle as she came to meet Rachel with her handbag.
"Thanks, Keela! " Rachel said, taking the bag from her, but Makeela wasn't even listening, her head in the clouds.
"Sweetheart, did you see that? "
Rachel laughed. Makeela had been going on and on about the wedding since it began. She could never contain her excitement for anything once she took interest in it. The current list included chocolates, telenovelas, anything beige, clothes, shoes and now weddings.
Rachel and Makeela, though roommates, were not close friends. However, having her around almost always seemed to cheer Rachel up, or at least make her smile. As of recent though, Makeela had been becoming more distant. Rachel prayed her roomie wasn't getting herself in trouble.
Makeela was still talking.
"Oh, did you see Janet's dress? It was exactly like the one from the movie 'Wedding Bash'. It was so gorgeous! I'll be sure to have one better than that in my own wedding though. I would order one for yours, but I doubt you are getting married. Ever."
"Be sure to invite me for yours. " Rachel said, still smiling.
She turned and started walking towards the church entrance, Makeela behind her.
"Yeah right. You're not dodging this. You are too strict, you know. I've told you to loosen up more than once. Have a life! Date somebody! Anybody! " Makeela said. She flipped her long black hair and stared at Rachel as they walked. Makeela was a beautiful halfcaste, with her mother being American, but she sometimes felt that Rachel was prettier than she, with her profiled face, high cheekbones and cream chocolate skin.
"You'll always be the bridesmaid and never the bride,"she continued.
"Hey, we're still in the university, I'm still 22, and I still have a long way to go in many things I have to do. Besides, speaking of university, what are you going to do when projects begin? "
Makeela mock glared at her.
"Don't change the subject. "
Then she smiled and continued.
"But I have no idea. I'm not worried though."
Both Makeela and Rachel were studying petroleum engineering in the same university. They were on holiday and just about to resume their final year.
They started walking down the church compound towards the parking lot when Makeela started talking again.
"But seriously, are you ever going to get married? Sure, maybe some guy is going to find you attractive, but you'll probably drive him back with your lack of emotion. Or preach him to death."
Rachel laughed.
"I told you, I still have a long way to go. I got studies and other stuff, though who knows what God has planned. "
Makeela bit her lower lip, still smiling.
"Are you sure you are even a girl? I've never even seen you look at a guy."
Rachel shook her head in exasperation. Makeela was out to get her today.
"I don't want to enter a relationship. "
"Cuz you hate guys? "
"No, but think about it. If I'm not intending to marry someone, why enter a relationship with the person? Sure, a girl wants to be loved, but what's the point of starting a relationship that'll go nowhere? " Rachel asked.
"Sure. That's just an excuse given by a scared girl."
"No. Not scared. Not just ready, and it's not time. When it's time, you'll be the... um, one of the first to know. "
Makeela smiled as her phone began ringing.
Rachel kept looking as the car with the 'just married' sticker on the bumper reversed and drove away. They were going straight from the wedding reception to their honeymoon in South Africa.
She took a deep breath as she spun round, headed towards the church building, thoughts roaming her head. She was just 22, but that was the third time she had been called to be a bridesmaid for her friends wedding that year, and seeing her friends getting married off had always tugged at a corner of her heart.
Rachel entered the church, trying to find the rest of the people she came with. She told one of them, who happened to be her roommate in school, to help watch her bag as she went outside for the final procession.
"Rachel!"
She spun at the sound of her name, and smiled to see who it was. Makeela bounced down the aisle as she came to meet Rachel with her handbag.
"Thanks, Keela! " Rachel said, taking the bag from her, but Makeela wasn't even listening, her head in the clouds.
"Sweetheart, did you see that? "
Rachel laughed. Makeela had been going on and on about the wedding since it began. She could never contain her excitement for anything once she took interest in it. The current list included chocolates, telenovelas, anything beige, clothes, shoes and now weddings.
Rachel and Makeela, though roommates, were not close friends. However, having her around almost always seemed to cheer Rachel up, or at least make her smile. As of recent though, Makeela had been becoming more distant. Rachel prayed her roomie wasn't getting herself in trouble.
Makeela was still talking.
"Oh, did you see Janet's dress? It was exactly like the one from the movie 'Wedding Bash'. It was so gorgeous! I'll be sure to have one better than that in my own wedding though. I would order one for yours, but I doubt you are getting married. Ever."
"Be sure to invite me for yours. " Rachel said, still smiling.
She turned and started walking towards the church entrance, Makeela behind her.
"Yeah right. You're not dodging this. You are too strict, you know. I've told you to loosen up more than once. Have a life! Date somebody! Anybody! " Makeela said. She flipped her long black hair and stared at Rachel as they walked. Makeela was a beautiful halfcaste, with her mother being American, but she sometimes felt that Rachel was prettier than she, with her profiled face, high cheekbones and cream chocolate skin.
"You'll always be the bridesmaid and never the bride,"she continued.
"Hey, we're still in the university, I'm still 22, and I still have a long way to go in many things I have to do. Besides, speaking of university, what are you going to do when projects begin? "
Makeela mock glared at her.
"Don't change the subject. "
Then she smiled and continued.
"But I have no idea. I'm not worried though."
Both Makeela and Rachel were studying petroleum engineering in the same university. They were on holiday and just about to resume their final year.
They started walking down the church compound towards the parking lot when Makeela started talking again.
"But seriously, are you ever going to get married? Sure, maybe some guy is going to find you attractive, but you'll probably drive him back with your lack of emotion. Or preach him to death."
Rachel laughed.
"I told you, I still have a long way to go. I got studies and other stuff, though who knows what God has planned. "
Makeela bit her lower lip, still smiling.
"Are you sure you are even a girl? I've never even seen you look at a guy."
Rachel shook her head in exasperation. Makeela was out to get her today.
"I don't want to enter a relationship. "
"Cuz you hate guys? "
"No, but think about it. If I'm not intending to marry someone, why enter a relationship with the person? Sure, a girl wants to be loved, but what's the point of starting a relationship that'll go nowhere? " Rachel asked.
"Sure. That's just an excuse given by a scared girl."
"No. Not scared. Not just ready, and it's not time. When it's time, you'll be the... um, one of the first to know. "
Makeela smiled as her phone began ringing.
posted from Bloggeroid
Monday 21 September 2015
Truth- an excerpt from Frank Peretti's " Veritas Project "
"And therin lies our hope. We are a free people because we live according to what we know is right or wrong. If Truth is taken from us, then Right and Wrong are taken from us as well. If we don't know Right and Wrong, then we can't, we won't control ourselves, but will look to someone else to bring order through brute force and raw power. We will be controlled by a tyrant, and we will no longer be free- and don't count on that tyrant to be kind or merciful. He has no sense of right or wrong either and will do to us whatever he wants.
The Knight-Moore project was an experiment to discover what would happen to people when there is no truth, to observe and record what people can do when pushed to the extreme with no ultimate moral foundation. It was an attempt by people hungry for power to find the most effective way to rob people of their freedom. The conclusion: take away Truth, and a tyrant will rule.
Small wonder then that Jesus said,'You shall know the Truth and the Truth shall make you free'.
And where else can truth, real Truth, come from, than from God, who is Truth by his very nature..."
The Knight-Moore project was an experiment to discover what would happen to people when there is no truth, to observe and record what people can do when pushed to the extreme with no ultimate moral foundation. It was an attempt by people hungry for power to find the most effective way to rob people of their freedom. The conclusion: take away Truth, and a tyrant will rule.
Small wonder then that Jesus said,'You shall know the Truth and the Truth shall make you free'.
And where else can truth, real Truth, come from, than from God, who is Truth by his very nature..."
posted from Bloggeroid
Thursday 17 September 2015
From the diaries of...
From the diaries of Jeremiah.
I sit in a caravan, on my way to the city of Chaldea, the land of the Babylonians. I have not seen Baruch since I left, but I believe the Lord that he is well.
It has been three days since the fall of Jerusalem. Blood and fire painted her streets as the word of the Lord was fulfilled.
I weep for my people. For more than twenty three years, I spoke to them, warned them of the coming destruction. Their sin had gone up as a stench before the Lord's throne. I spoke to them, but they thought that maybe because they were of the chosen seeds of Abraham, the children of Israel, of the promised branch of Isaac, that the Lord would overlook their sins.
My eyes flow with tears.
Oh Jerusalem. Jerusalem!
The blood and bodies of your princes and prophets, of your priests, children, young men and maidens fill the streets, unstaring eyes gazing on the face of unseen assailants.
The Lord warned you, Jerusalem. He spoke, but you did not listen. Your royalty and priesthood could not save you from his wrath unleashed against sin and disobedience.
Oh Jerusalem.
Jerusalem...
I sit in a caravan, on my way to the city of Chaldea, the land of the Babylonians. I have not seen Baruch since I left, but I believe the Lord that he is well.
It has been three days since the fall of Jerusalem. Blood and fire painted her streets as the word of the Lord was fulfilled.
I weep for my people. For more than twenty three years, I spoke to them, warned them of the coming destruction. Their sin had gone up as a stench before the Lord's throne. I spoke to them, but they thought that maybe because they were of the chosen seeds of Abraham, the children of Israel, of the promised branch of Isaac, that the Lord would overlook their sins.
My eyes flow with tears.
Oh Jerusalem. Jerusalem!
The blood and bodies of your princes and prophets, of your priests, children, young men and maidens fill the streets, unstaring eyes gazing on the face of unseen assailants.
The Lord warned you, Jerusalem. He spoke, but you did not listen. Your royalty and priesthood could not save you from his wrath unleashed against sin and disobedience.
Oh Jerusalem.
Jerusalem...
posted from Bloggeroid
Wednesday 9 September 2015
Light.
She was was a light to me. When she was near me, she drove the darkness and the creatures that lived In it away.
I did not desire the light, but I thought, as long as she is with me, I have nothing to fear.
I had forgotten that wherever light is not, darkness is.
I indulged in my darkness, thinking that her light would drive away the monsters of the dark.
Until the monsters began to grow inside me.
I began to hate her, for in my heart I loved the creatures.
I feared the creatures.
Her light was insistent, shining where I desired not.
Revealing what I wanted not.
The creatures loved the dark. I loved the dark.
The creatures hated her. I hated her.
I wanted that light snuffed out.
Out of my life, out of my home. Out of my heart.
And so, I killed it.
And so, I went dark.
And I began to fear, for I realised one more thing the creatures wanted.
My death.
But I would not admit it, for I loved the creatures.
I feared the creatures.
I screamed for salvation. I revelled in darkness.
I SCREAMED FOR SALVATION!
And then, at my heart's door, the light was knocking.
It knocks still.
He knocks still.
I did not desire the light, but I thought, as long as she is with me, I have nothing to fear.
I had forgotten that wherever light is not, darkness is.
I indulged in my darkness, thinking that her light would drive away the monsters of the dark.
Until the monsters began to grow inside me.
I began to hate her, for in my heart I loved the creatures.
I feared the creatures.
Her light was insistent, shining where I desired not.
Revealing what I wanted not.
The creatures loved the dark. I loved the dark.
The creatures hated her. I hated her.
I wanted that light snuffed out.
Out of my life, out of my home. Out of my heart.
And so, I killed it.
And so, I went dark.
And I began to fear, for I realised one more thing the creatures wanted.
My death.
But I would not admit it, for I loved the creatures.
I feared the creatures.
I screamed for salvation. I revelled in darkness.
I SCREAMED FOR SALVATION!
And then, at my heart's door, the light was knocking.
It knocks still.
He knocks still.
posted from Bloggeroid
Tuesday 1 September 2015
Would you stand?
First off, this isn't mine. I worked on a post written by my junior brother, and it came out like this. I hope it blesses you and makes you think. Here goes.
2014, May 3.
11:47 am. Nigeria, Kano.
" The pastor stood before his congregation of 47 children, speaking of the goodness of the Lord, as that day was his only daughter's 9th birthday. A few biscuits and drinks were arranged on the small side table, which was also serving as the pulpit for his short message.
'We will like to thank God for keeping us alive to see today...'
His words were interrupted by a small knock on the door. As he walked closer to open it, an explosion took the door off its hinges, throwing him back to the opposite wall like a ragdoll. Wood splinters showered the room, and as the smoke subsided,three men clad in black entered into the room shouting in an unknown language.
The leader stepped forward and pointed his gun right at the pastor, speaking in a thick northern accent.
'Denounce your god and accept Allah, or you die! '
The pastor edged back. He was extremely worried, not for himself, but for all the children in the room. He would never denounce Christ, but he was afraid for the children and was trying to find a way to save them.
Suddenly, Hafiz, his daughter's 8 year old best friend, stepped out, his voice clear in that room.
'For whoever is ashamed of Jesus in this world that has sin, Jesus will be ashamed of him when he comes back with his holy angels.'
The man was taken aback by the sudden outburst, bt he recovered quickly, swinging his gun towards Hafiz's head.
'Are you willing to die for this so called belief that you have?'
He looked around the room, swinging his gun and talking to no one in particular.
'You and your people will all die! You and this belief of yours will all...'
'Do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, or of me his prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God', another child said loudly, as loud as a seven year old could be. That was the last thing he said before a bullet went through his skull, dropping him to the ground.
A scream went round the room as the man shot twice more- one into Hafiz's head and another into the pastor's leg.
As the pastor screamed in pain, the leader looked at him. Seeing the look in the man's eyes, he made his decision. This one would not change. Another bullet dropped him to the ground.
There was dead silence in the room, being broken by only a few children sobbing.
The man's face twisted in a dry throaty laughter as he swung the gun around, then put another bullet in the pastor's head.
'You see? Your god and pastor are not watching any more. Deny your god, and will let you go home safe to your families'
A little 10 year old child got up and stepped forward hesitantly, tears streaming down her face. She looked up as she said
'I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life which I now live is lived by faith in the one who loved me and gave himself for me...'
The man went wild with anger and started firing wildly into the crowd of children, his men following suit. Bullets struck flesh as the children continued speaking, not flinching despite the gunfire."
The man telling the narrative stopped for a while to gather his breath.
"He... I stared at the last child for what seemed like an hour, as she sat on the ground, saying he same message over and over, burning it into my mind forever.
'For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes in him will not perish, but have everlasting life. '
After a while, she turned and looked me straight in the eyes, and smiling weakly, she said one thing I will never forget.
'I forgive you. '
I pulled the trigger. Then I threw up."
I took a deep breath and bowed my head as the tears finally came. I had gotten born again five years after that incidence. I had considered my self, I had known, that I was hopeless, lost, dead and doomed to condemnation; but by the act of those children I had been saved, and I would save, yes, save as many as I could, even until my own death.
2014, May 3.
11:47 am. Nigeria, Kano.
" The pastor stood before his congregation of 47 children, speaking of the goodness of the Lord, as that day was his only daughter's 9th birthday. A few biscuits and drinks were arranged on the small side table, which was also serving as the pulpit for his short message.
'We will like to thank God for keeping us alive to see today...'
His words were interrupted by a small knock on the door. As he walked closer to open it, an explosion took the door off its hinges, throwing him back to the opposite wall like a ragdoll. Wood splinters showered the room, and as the smoke subsided,three men clad in black entered into the room shouting in an unknown language.
The leader stepped forward and pointed his gun right at the pastor, speaking in a thick northern accent.
'Denounce your god and accept Allah, or you die! '
The pastor edged back. He was extremely worried, not for himself, but for all the children in the room. He would never denounce Christ, but he was afraid for the children and was trying to find a way to save them.
Suddenly, Hafiz, his daughter's 8 year old best friend, stepped out, his voice clear in that room.
'For whoever is ashamed of Jesus in this world that has sin, Jesus will be ashamed of him when he comes back with his holy angels.'
The man was taken aback by the sudden outburst, bt he recovered quickly, swinging his gun towards Hafiz's head.
'Are you willing to die for this so called belief that you have?'
He looked around the room, swinging his gun and talking to no one in particular.
'You and your people will all die! You and this belief of yours will all...'
'Do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, or of me his prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God', another child said loudly, as loud as a seven year old could be. That was the last thing he said before a bullet went through his skull, dropping him to the ground.
A scream went round the room as the man shot twice more- one into Hafiz's head and another into the pastor's leg.
As the pastor screamed in pain, the leader looked at him. Seeing the look in the man's eyes, he made his decision. This one would not change. Another bullet dropped him to the ground.
There was dead silence in the room, being broken by only a few children sobbing.
The man's face twisted in a dry throaty laughter as he swung the gun around, then put another bullet in the pastor's head.
'You see? Your god and pastor are not watching any more. Deny your god, and will let you go home safe to your families'
A little 10 year old child got up and stepped forward hesitantly, tears streaming down her face. She looked up as she said
'I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life which I now live is lived by faith in the one who loved me and gave himself for me...'
The man went wild with anger and started firing wildly into the crowd of children, his men following suit. Bullets struck flesh as the children continued speaking, not flinching despite the gunfire."
The man telling the narrative stopped for a while to gather his breath.
"He... I stared at the last child for what seemed like an hour, as she sat on the ground, saying he same message over and over, burning it into my mind forever.
'For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes in him will not perish, but have everlasting life. '
After a while, she turned and looked me straight in the eyes, and smiling weakly, she said one thing I will never forget.
'I forgive you. '
I pulled the trigger. Then I threw up."
I took a deep breath and bowed my head as the tears finally came. I had gotten born again five years after that incidence. I had considered my self, I had known, that I was hopeless, lost, dead and doomed to condemnation; but by the act of those children I had been saved, and I would save, yes, save as many as I could, even until my own death.
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