Let’s Stop Judging One Another

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. – Matthew 7:1-5

We are often quick to judge one another according to our own standards. We view other people’s problems with the “this could never happen to me” attitude. The truth is everyone has their own messes they must deal and live with – the messes are just different. At best, we get to choose the mess we want to live with! There is no one without issues – married people have issues; single people have issues, parents have issues and those without kids have issues. The young have complaints and the old have problems. With a variety of life’s positions comes a variety of issues; it is simply the grace of God that allows anyone to stand.

We must be careful not to fall into the trap of thinking we are smarter or better informed than those that have to live through more conspicuous problems. If all life’s challenges we experience and dysfunctions that we possess is displayed for all to see, it is more than likely that we will realize that we are not as great as we think we are.

Rather than point fingers at others, discussing their afflictions to make us feel better about our not-so-great lives, It is important that we live our lives with the “there but for the grace of God go I” mentality. Let us be in a position to encourage one another, bear one another burdens and hold one another up, applying the same kind of grace and mercy afforded to us by God.

The Aptitude to Prepare for Marriage

I was invited to talk to young singles at a conference about how they can avoid divorce in their future. I was extremely skeptical about sharing my story for a couple of reasons – one was because I am extremely private and was unsure whether I wanted to put all my business out there and two - divorce is not a thing of pride. However, I believed in my heart that by telling people what happened to me, I could help them avoid the same fate. I understand that when you come out of any tough trial, you ought to reach out and help others. It was my first real speaking engagement. I had spoken to small groups before but nothing like 30 or so people staring back at me. As I talked about the self-inflicted wounds that they might want to look out for before they get married to reduce the risk of divorce in their marriage relationships, I became strangely aware that their expectations were not exactly met.

Young people want to hear about dating and romance. They want to be told that relationships lead to engagement then to happily ever after unions but we all know that life does not quite work out that way. To be successful at marriage, preparation is crucial. Singles looking to get married must clean house and lose any emotional baggage they are carrying. Many women walk in to marriage with six to seven layers of men on them, on the other hand, young men are looking for a mother rather than a wife. Disobedience, arrogance, denial and rebellion must be brought under total subjection. Fellowship with God must be of utmost priority in the life of every believer – even when you are young, single and looking for a life partner.

I don’t think I connected with them. What I was saying seemed too “adult” for them to comprehend. I pray that they understand it before they step into marriage. I wish I had done the same.

The Infirmed Woman

On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God. – Luke 13: 10-13

Most of us have been hurt by what someone did to us or what we have done to ourselves. Some objects of pain and stress never go away – they keep showing up like a bad resurrection. We are tired and worn out. We go about life “bent” over. We may be standing up straight on the outside but we are bent over and crippled on the inside. By all outward indications we are fine but deep down, we are broken. Some of us are angry because we feel we have been victimized. We look around for something or someone to blame and sometimes unconsciously we use others around as a narcotic to numb our painful feelings.

The infirmed woman had probably used all types of DIY remedies in an effort to stand up straight but nothing had worked. She probably took her ailment out on people around her unintentionally. But healing will never come if we do not stop looking outwards for a healer. Here's this woman, with a big problem given an opportunity to meet the Great Physician. Only Almighty God can heal the broken and infirmed – no-one else can.

I count myself lucky to be connected to the Healer. I am an example of an infirmed woman but God keeps showing up and healing me. The fiery darts of the enemy has not stopped; as soon as I raise my end and stand up straight, they show up again trying to break me. But I have a God that I can call on and I always rush to the Throne of Grace as soon as the firing begins to gain shelter and obtain deliverance.

The same Jesus who shows up for me all the time can also show up for you but first, you must surrender you life to Him. Are you tired of being bent over?

Keep on Fighting the Good Fight of Faith

So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For in just a very little while,


“He who is coming will come and will not delay. But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him.”


But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved. – Hebrews 10:35-39

I have been silent for a long time now. My life has been filled with many challenges, changes and choices. Things have been difficult but through it all, I chose to hold onto the one thing that is constant and never changes – Almighty God. No-one is happy all the time; unless they are crazy! We all have our ups and downs. Anyone can have faith when things are going well but let’s face it – how do you hold on to faith when everything around you is falling apart.

I moved across the Atlantic to escape all the things that troubled and plagued my mind only to realize that you can never truly run away from yourself. I have since learnt that God is everywhere I am because He lives in me and works through me. No matter where I go and what happens, God will always be with me. In the last eighteen months, I have changed jobs, lost my home and lost one of the most important people in the world to me – my mother.

I am beginning to find my way now. My faith continues to give me the power and the strength to keep pressing forward. We all love and we all lose at some point; who am I to believe that my case will be different? What have I learnt in the past year and half? Hold on to the people you love. Take the few extra minutes a day to tell them how much they mean to you, don’t hold back. Take every disappointment in your stride and never give up. The Bible reminds us that ‘this too shall pass’. Challenges will come and they will go. Whatever doesn’t kill you will definitely make you stronger.

Never lose confidence in who you are and what you have accomplished. Troubles have a way of making us feel smaller than the giants we have been created to be. Know who you are and whose you are. No matter what comes your way, keep on fighting and never lose your conviction or give in. You will surely outlive the obstacles in your way.

A Chosen People

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will – to the praise of his glorious grace, which he freely given us in the One he loves. – Ephesians 1:4-6

We very often forget that we are a chosen generation. God hand-picked each of us specially for the role He intended for us to play. He has a plan for each life that he created. However, whether that plan will be realized or not depends on us. In order for us to fulfill God’s purpose for our lives, we must be committed to Him and His will. In order to fully grasp God’s purpose, we must understand that we were never created to make money – money is just paper. It has no place in eternity. God has more than a million ways to give us money and bursting our guts and wearing ourselves out is not one of those ways! Rather we were created to be a true picture of what God would look like if He were walking the earth. Money does have its place in the world’s economy but I am yet to meet anyone on their death bed wishing they had acquired more of it.

We are chosen to be representatives or disciples of the Lord; to walk in His ways and make His love for mankind known to a decaying and dying world. We are to demonstrate His grace, mercy and love to others just as He has freely gave to us. Being chosen is the greatest privilege of all – the benefits must neither be ignored nor squandered.

What are doing in your life to show that you are part of a chosen people?

A Prayer for You

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. – Romans 15:13

Joy and peace are very elusive commodities. People always go looking for them. They search and search using various “feel good” methods. Some shop; others seek soothsayers and psychics. But these precious gifts cannot be achieved in isolation; they are by-products of a relationship with Jesus Christ. When we come to accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell inside of us to guide us in all truth. When we can wrap our arms around the truth of God’s love, peace and joy that surpasses all understanding becomes ours. When the whole world seems to be upside down and everyone is going crazy, we have a unique sense of peace within that is difficult to explain. This peace and joy does not make us immune from the pain and aggravation that life can bring, but it gives us assurance through the hope of Christ of a better tomorrow.

I know things are difficult out there right now. People are losing their jobs and their homes. Our spirituality is being corroded daily by the pressures of life. Prayers are being lifted up to heaven but God does not come before they take the house and the car. I understand this situation perfectly because I have lived it. Even though those things are gone now, trust that God has something bigger and better for you around the corner. God never closes a door without opening a window. Yes – it may take time for the new door to be opened. The delay may seem unbearable but hang in there. Almighty God is never late – He always shows up just in time. His ways are not our ways and his timing is very different from us but one thing is for sure: God will always make a way where there seems to be no way.

My prayer for you today is simple. I pray that God will sustain you and keep you. I pray that He places His arms of love around you. I pray that you feel His presence in any situation you might be going through. I testify into your life that supernatural doors will be opened for you. The windows of heaven will open up and pour you out a blessing that you do not have room enough to contain. I proclaim that your help is on its way – simply hold on.

The Certainty of God’s Love

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 8:38-39

At this age and stage in life, there are some things that I am pretty sure about. I have some absolutes; things I don’t have to doubt and guess about. One of those things is the love of God. God’s love for me is more certain than my next breath. He sent His Only Son to the Cross of Calvary for my sin and the sins of the entire world. I sometimes sit in awe of this Great Love. King David, the Psalmist said in Psalm 8:4 said “what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?”

We are indeed a blessed generation. God’s love for us is greater than any issues, problems, distress, circumstances or obstacles we can ever face. God promises us that nothing will ever be successful at separating us from His love. This gives me hope, confidence and assurance of a secure future. As long as God's love is for me, I fear nothing or anyone that may be against me. God's love brings us the security we all long for in our individual lives. It helps us to hold on regardless what might be going on around us. The Bible tells us in Luke 21:33 that even though heaven and earth may pass away, the word and promises of God will stay the same forever and ever. There's nothing more certain than that.