There are times or situations in life when you hit a brick wall and don’t know what else to do. These are the times you get on your knees to pray, have a heart-to-heart with God and trust him to give you the strength to get through it. Then you get up and keep on going. The Bible says in the book of Ecclesiastes 3:1 that,

‘There is a time for everything and everything on earth has its special season.’
Ecclesiastes 3:1 — New Century Version (NCV)

Which means nothing lasts forever and you can have hope (which is an expectation) that God will see you through it. Find a Bible verse you can meditate on, that will help encourage you through whatever you are going through such as Romans 12:12 which says,

‘Be joyful because you have hope (in Christ). Be patient when trouble comes (your way) and pray (to God) at all times.’
Romans 12:12 — New Century Version (NCV)
(Scripture Paraphrased)

Or there is Psalm 34:19 that says,

People who do what is right may have many problems, but the Lord will solve them all.’
Psalm 34:19 — New Century Version (NCV)

So, if you are thinking why me? I’m a good person, what have I done to deserve this? It is worth reminding yourself that in life there are different seasons and these seasons will take place whether we like it or not. Some seasons are pleasant like the summer or spring times. Whilst other seasons, like the autumn times, prepare you for the harsh oncoming winter times.

Bottom line is this: sometimes we can manage the seasons we face in life. Other times, it is simply out of our control. And that is when we have to throw up our hands so to speak and turn it over to God. Think about it.

At one point or another most of us would have heard someone call on the name of God, be it respectfully or disrespectfully. On this occassion, I am not talking about those who respectfully serve God. I am looking at the people, who for one reason or another, don’t seem to have a fear of God or understand his sovereign power. Therefore, they have turned God’s name into their football and throw his name around however they choose.

Ever heard the phrase ‘Oh my God!’ or ‘Jesus Christ! ‘ or ‘For God’s sake!’ Some may say Christians sometimes use these phrase, which is true, but it is the reason why we call that name that is of concern to me. When someone uses the abrreviation ‘OMG’ i.e. Oh My God, very rarely do they say it out of respect for God. Rather, it is a figure of speech. Before you go on the offensive or misunderstand the point I’m trying to make, ask yourself this question. If God was next to you, would you use that expression or call on his name as it pleases you? Likewise, would you speak to your boss at work anyhow? And don’t say, this is different because God is our creator which means he is the boss of us.

Just think about it for a minute and let your mind mull over the implications of our actions when we trample over God’s name. The name of JEHOVAH God whom the Bible says in the book of Psalms 83:18,

‘That all men may know that his name alone is JEJOVAH, the most high over all the earth.’
(Psalm 83:18, scripture paraphrased)

If that is the case, what basis do we have to disrespect our creator? Looking at who God is to us and what he represents to us, there is simply no excuse to take liberties with his name, end of.

Shockingly, our disregard for the God of the Universe and his only begotten son Jesus, is so common place in today’s world, that we have turned his name into a profane word. Want to hear what God thinks of our nonchalant attitude towards him? Let’s look at the book of Leviticus 19:12, where God gave a clear command about how we should not profane his name. He said,

“You shall not swear falsely by my name, so as to profane the name of the Lord God, I am the Lord.”
(Leviticus 19:12)

In case that wasn’t clear enough, God warned us again in the book of Exodus 20:7, when he said,

“Do not misuse my name. I am the Lord your God, and I will punish anyone who misuses my name.”
 (Exodus 20:7, Contemporary English Version)

Do you find it a little harsh when God says he would punish those who misuse his name? Imagine how you would feel if someone mispronounces your name deliberately just to belittle or mock your name? Wouldn’t you attempt to correct them?

As we celebrate Easter, it is the perfect time to remind ourselves of who God is and what he means to us. To those who may be asking, ‘what is Easter?’ It is the period when we reflect on the death of Jesus Christ, known as Good Friday and celebrate his resurrection from the dead, called Resurrection Sunday or Easter Sunday. The Bible explains in John 3:16 the huge sacrifice God made when he gave up his only begotten son to be crucified, so that he can restore man’s broken relationship to himself. It says,

For this is how (much) God loved the world, (that) he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
(John 3:16, scripture paraphrased)

Want to know what Jesus experienced on that cross on our behalf? Here is a tiny description from Isaiah 53:5, which highlights what Jesus suffered because of us. It says,

He was wounded for the wrong we did;
He was crushed for the evil we did.
The punishment, which made us well, was given to him,
and we are healed because of his wounds.
(Isaiah 53:5, New Century Version)

Knowing the sacrifice that God made for us and the  excruciating pain Jesus experienced on that cross for our sakes, let us remind ourselves of who God is. So that whenever we call on his name, we will be sure to give him the undeniable respect that only him deserves.

The story's told of a caring mother who passed away. After her funeral, her daughter was going through her mother's belongings when she came across a letter. The letter had her mother’s handwriting and was addressed to her. Puzzled, she opened the letter and realised it was written a decade before her passing. Seeing her mother’s handwritten note with her loving words and advice brought a smile to her face. This thoughtful gesture from her mother, made her decide to do the same with her loved ones too. The moral of this story is that, when it comes to encouraging others, no gesture is too small because it's the thought that really counts. Why not try encouraging others today? You might just motivate someone!

There is a hidden side to Christmas that is rarely talked about. Yet, it is something that needs to be addressed. Christmas preparations can be quite stressful for some people. Because, instead of celebrating the birth of Jesus, they think of the pressure they would encounter at their family home. Or they remember the not-so-great memories they had experienced at past Christmas events. Some struggle with loneliness, depression or worse still,  feelings of rejection or feeling unloved.

But this was not what God intended for people to experience when he gave us his son Jesus. How do I know? I know this because the Bible gives a clear illustration of Jesus’ humble life and why he came to earth in the first place. The Bible says in the book of Matthew that,

‘Jesus…will save his people from sins.’
(Matthew 1:21)

In otherwords, Jesus came to save us all, not to make us feel worse. That is why the Bible made a point of this in the book of Romans which says,

‘There is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.’
(Romans 8:1)

Even the way Jesus came into the world is proof of  his humble disposition and what he came to do for mankind. That is, to universally accept anyone who chooses to follow him. Jesus’ life was one of humility as he was the son of a humble carpenter, whose birth took place in a manger,

‘Because there was no room for them in the inn.’
(Luke 2:7)

You would think someone would give up their room for a woman in Labour, seeing it could be a matter of life or death. Yet, the Bible says ‘there was no room available for them.’ Imagine that! Does this sound familiar? Especially when you feel alone or feel like no one cares or appreciate you and you look around, but can’t seem to find anyone to give you a helping hand.

This was how Jesus came into the world. No one was willing to make a room available, so that Mary could give birth to her son, but look at Jesus now. This same Jesus came to earth to help you, me and anyone that is in need of support. This was why the Bible describes the birth of Jesus in the book of Luke as,

‘The good news that brings joy to all people.’
(Luke 2:10)

Which means that no matter what you are going through, Jesus’ coming to earth, was a good thing worth celebrating. His birth and death, shows how much value God places on us and it was that very value, that made him lay down the life of Jesus for us. Another way to describe God’s love for us can be found in the book of John when the bible says,

‘There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.’
(John 15:3)

So, it appears, God loves us so much that he considers us not just his creation, but his friends. And what do friends do for each other? They weather the storms of life together, so that their friends won’t be alone.

Want to know what kind of friend you have in Jesus? He is,

‘A friend (who) is always loyal and (like) a brother (who) was born to help (you) in time of need.’
(Proverbs 17:17)

The crux of the matter is this, whatever your circumstances, Jesus will always be there for you, if you allow him. How can you invite Jesus into your life? All you need to do is ask. The Bible says in the book of Romans that,

‘If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.’
(Romans 10:9)

And that, my friend, is all you need to do. If you don’t know what to say, you can say this little prayer to get you started.

Father God, I believe Jesus is Lord;
I believe he died for my sins;
And that you raised him from the dead;
To reconcile me back to you.
I ask you Jesus, to come into my life;
To help me and make me whole;
In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

If you said this prayer and would like to continue on this journey of knowing Jesus, you can find a local church near you or visit this website www.lookingforgod.com. It’s run by United Christian Broadcasters and they offer a  wealth of useful information for new Christians. They also offer a daily devotional called ‘Word For Today’ which you can order for free to help you on your daily walk with God. You can also visit this blog (www.tribechrist.com/blog) if you find it useful.

Stay blessed. 

Christmas is a time to celebrate, reflect and be thankful for the love God showed us through the birth of his son Jesus.

Why we celebrate Christmas in a nutshell...
In the beginning, God created man, placed him in the Garden of Eden to live and to tend to it. He gave man everything he needed and told him he could eat freely from any tree in the Garden, except for this one tree. He called it 'the tree of knowledge of good and evil'. And told man, eating from the tree would simply lead to death.

Man failed to listen to God's warning and ate the fruit of the tree. Just like God warned, their eyes were opened and they became aware of what was ‘good and evil'. That act of disobedience was how sin entered into the world and man began to experience hardships and death. It led to the world's demise and caused a separation between God and man.

What God did for us through Jesus...
God so loved the world, that he wanted to make things right with man again. The Bible describes God’s love this way,

‘For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.’ (John 3:16)

So, God sent his son Jesus to the earth in the form of a man, to experience everything man had experienced and to understand man alittle more. Hebrews 4:15 describes it this way,

‘For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.’ (Hebrews 4:15)

Since the consequences of man's sin was death, Jesus took on the consequences of man's sin (i.e. death) and he died on the cross for man. He even endured the harrowing pain and the humiliation that came with it for us. That selfless act of Jesus, was what reconciled us back to God. Isaiah 53:5 explained what Jesus did for us:

‘He was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins.
He was beaten so we could be whole.
He was whipped so we could be healed.'
(Isaiah 53:5)

And from that moment forward, God wiped away our sins. On the condition that, if anyone believes in what Jesus did for us, on that cross, God will not remember their sins. This was why JESUS said in John 14:6,

“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”
(John 14:6)

And because of JESUS, instead of man dying without hope, as the Bible describes (below) in Genesis 3:17-19,

“Since you… ate from the tree
whose fruit I commanded you not to eat,
the ground is cursed because of you.
All your life you will struggle to scratch a living from it.
It will grow thorns and thistles for you,
though you will eat of its grains.
By the sweat of your brow
will you have food to eat
until you return to the ground
from which you were made.
For you were made from dust
and to dust you will return.”
(Genesis 3:17-19)

Now, when man dies and leaves the earth, man would live-on in  eternity with God. And that is why, we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, because he restored our relationship with the God who made us .So this year, whether you have a lavish or an intimate Christmas, do spare some thought for Jesus, thanking him for all he's done.

Have a merry Christmas everyone,
From my humble heart to yours!
Luv Kemi West xx