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IN OUR RISE to greatness, we all have empty spaces we would love to fill. Questions that beg for answers, things we want God to do and nightmares we love to hide. Moses had a similar challenge, and he was greatly disturbed. The In-Between THE SITUATION of the children of Israel was tough. Moses knew how the story would end but not the in-between (plan). (Gen. 15:13-17) What do you know? THEY KNEW they were in Egypt according to prophecy, but prophecies are in part. (1 Cor. 13:9-12) God wants to be the rest of your story when you do not know his plan. SIMEON had a revelation that he would not die before seeing the Messiah. He also had a heightened expectation of what God would do. He believed God's promise daily as he waited for the manifestation. (Luke 2:25-35) What you know will determine what you still need to know. How do you fight your battles? WHEN MOSES struck the Egyptian, he fought the battle himself. (Exod. 2:11-12) He did not understand there are battles only God can fight. (2 Chron. 20:17) What about the process? TO GOD, the process is as important as the result. God loved the world, and he gave his son. (John 3:16) When Moses killed the Egyptian, his process was wrong. DAVID's PLAN to return the Ark of God to Israel was right. But God had given instructions on how the ark was to be moved. So, when the ark was carried on a cart, the process was wrong. (1 Chron. 13) When the cart stumbled, Uzzah put his hand to stabilize the ark. God struck him, and he died. (2 Sam. 6:5-15) The motive and the process must align with God's directive. Are you concerned? GOD is concerned, too. (Heb. 4:15-16) He acknowledges your suffering and delights in your well-being. (Ps. 35:27) Who is pained by your suffering? THE SUFFERING pained Moses, but God was touched more by it. You must never get to the point where you think you feel for people more than God feels about them. After all, the love that you express was given to you by God. (Romans 5:5) What do you have? GOD was gracious to him. But Moses did not know God for himself. He had proximity but no relationship. What do you need? THE BIBLE says: Ask, and you'll receive. Seek, and you'll find. Knock, and it shall be opened to you. (Matt. 7:7) Many times, we seek a solution, but what we need is a revelation. Moses was seeking a solution. However, God revealed himself in the burning bush. (Exod. 3:1-17) God's revelation changes perspective—and gives insight. WHEN HAGAR was sent away with Ishmael, she walked in the desert, and there was no water to drink. She couldn't watch her son die. So she left him under some bushes and sobbed. (Gen. 21:8-21) God saw her plight and sent an angel. Then, God opened her eyes, and she saw a well. The solution was in her revelation. We seek a solution, but what we need is a revelation. Where is God in this? SINCE GOING to Egypt was God's idea, their leaving will be by God. If God is the author of your story, then he must be the driver of it. Let God finish what he started. Is God silent? THE FACT that you are not hearing him does not mean he is silent. He wants you to be attentive. The Widow of Zarephath wasn't the only widow in Israel in her time, but God reached out to her. (1 Kings 17:7-16) And when God's word was scarce in Israel, he reached out to Samuel. (1 Sam. 3:1-5) He is always speaking to people who are listening. Can I go this route alone? FROM THE MOMENT, you become a believer; you cease to walk alone. Let his word be a lamp unto your feet, a light unto your path. (Ps. 119:105) Moses walked alone when he killed the Egyptian. That move set him back for forty years. Whenever you seek not his counsel, you delay your rise to greatness. You set yourself up for failure. Is God there? MOSES was far from home but not from God. When you make mistakes, God will not correct them. He will walk around your errors to get you back on track. What has God promised? GOD HAD told Abraham that his descendants would be strangers in a foreign land and be there for four hundred years. After that, he would deliver them. The promise was his to keep. (Numb. 23:19) What do you do? WITHOUT the mind of God, you are left with that of men. Without God revealing himself, Moses wouldn't have known him. So, God chose him. Likewise, he has chosen you in Christ. Can you trust God? A LIFE without the mind of God is a recipe for disaster. Moses missed God's Will the first time but not the second. He trusted him at the burning bush. I DO NOT know your situation, but I know that if you trust Him, he will surprise you. As Moses trusted God, his purpose became obvious, and his life was enlarged. Do you know God? GOD LOVED him so much as not to let him stay lost. He offered him redemption. God is offering you the same today. He sent his Son to the cross to get you back on track. All he wants is for you to acknowledge you are a sinner and ask him to forgive you. Invite Him to be your Lord and Saviour! If you have taken this bold step, please write me. Have a great week!

HAVE YOU noticed what the devil fights most is your purpose? He tries to stop you from starting or continues to try to slow you down. THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL never had an issue with Pharaoh until Moses told Pharaoh to let them go. He made their work harder by removing the straws they used to make bricks. (Exod. 5:6-11) He met them where they believed to stop them from starting. SOMETIMES, the devil murmurs through people. He scared King Saul and the people of Israel through Goliath for forty days. (1 Sam. 17:16-40) He projected himself through the ten spies who returned with an evil report. (Numb. 13:25) However, there are strategies God has given you to win every battle. ANYONE who tries to stop you from pleasing God is an enemy of the cross. The apostles saw this early in ministry when the leaders of the synagogues told them not to preach in the name of Jesus. So, they returned to their company and prayed for boldness. (Acts 4:23-31) When Satan planned to sift Peter, Jesus prayed for him. (Luke 22:31-34) Prayer is like fuel to the fire. It sets you apart and gives you an edge. It changes the dynamics of things. ANOTHER STRATEGY for greatness is standing for God. Jesus said: For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels. (Mark 8:38) God stands with anyone who stands for Him. When the three Hebrew men were thrown into the fiery furnace, Jesus became the fourth man in the fire. (Dan. 3:24-26) If you have the smile of God, what does it matter if you had the frown of men - Leonard Ravenhill? WHEN YOU stand for God, you reveal the nature of God—and he never abandons his own. The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. (2 Chron. 16:9) THE KING feared the Moabites, Ammonites, and Meunites, who came to him in battle. Jehoshaphat stood amid the people of Judah and prayed: O Lord, God of our fathers, are you not God in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. In your hand are power and might so that none can withstand you. O our God, will you not execute judgment on them? For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you. (2 Chron. 20:6 & 12) The king appointed singers to go before the soldiers. As they praised, God set an ambush against their enemies. When you praise God, he fights your battles. Praise is before the battle, not after—and this is how to fight your battles. TRY DRIVING a car with a dirty windshield, and you can tell how difficult it can be. Without a relationship with God, things are tough. Everything you seek becomes a transaction. Moses understood this well. AT THE burning bush, he made the greatest discovery. He saw God as the author of his destiny. Then, at Sinai, he sought the glory of God and moved from invocation to habitation. He became a man of his presence. VIRTUALLY, EVERYTHING Moses did was a first. He led a nation out of captivity. Through his hands, God wrought wonders. He knew the wilderness up to Horeb but not beyond. His father-in-law Jethro was visiting when he noticed Moses counselling the people all day. This isn’t the right way to do this. It is too much work for you to do alone. You cannot do this job by yourself. It will wear you out. (Exod. 18:14-24) So, he advised him to train people and delegate things. THE APOSTLES had to do the same. They gathered all the disciples and told them: It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the Word of God to wait on tables. Choose seven men among you. (Acts 6:2-3) They put a system and strategy in place to walk in greatness. PEOPLE have touched the heart of God by doing certain things. The apostles stuck to their calling—and this was their winning strategy. David's strategy was worship. When he sinned by conducting a census, he built an altar. (2 Sam. 24:18-25) At Ziklag, he wrapped the ephod around himself and worshipped. (1 Sam. 30:1-8) You can employ what you’ve done in the past that touched God’s heart. God is most glorified when we are most satisfied in Him - C. S. Lewis. Final Thoughts OUR PERFECT EXAMPLE lived a life of gratitude. Before he fed the five thousand, he gave thanks. (Matt. 14:13-21) At the tomb of Lazarus, he gave thanks. When he broke bread, he gave thanks. (John 11:41) He was also thankful that the truth of his coming was not revealed to the world but would be understood by those searching for the truth. (Matt. 11:25-30) Your gratitude to God will only mean something when you understand the truth and give your life to Him.

TIME is a creation of God. When he made light and darkness, God called the first day and the second night. Then, there was the first evening and the first morning. (Gen. 1:3-4) God introduced time. So time became the when of everything. ABRAHAM's journey to Canaan put him in a tent as he moved from place to place. As he got older, he asked God: What could You possibly give me that would make that much of a difference in my life? After all, I am still childless ... (Gen. 15:2) Lack of time and stability put him in a bind. As God desired that Abraham would trust him, he wants you to trust him, too. THE LOSS of Lazarus was heavy on Martha's heart. So when Jesus came to Bethany, she told him that her brother wouldn't have died if he had been there. (John 11:17-44) But Jesus told her, "I am the resurrection and the life." He seemed to say time may be binding on you but not on me. LIKE many families, stability in life was a concern to Ephraimites. So when famine hit Bethlehem, which ironically means the place of bread, Elimelech, his two sons, and his wife, Naomi, left Judah for Moab. They settled there and made lives for themselves. But soon after, Elimelech died. After ten years of marriage, both sons died too. WHATEVER you do in famine will determine what comes next. Elijah listened to God, and God told him to go to the brook. When it dried up, he sent him to the Widow of Sarepta. (1 Kings. 17:1-3; 8) You must make it a habit of getting God involved. If you do not ask before you proceed, you risk the chance of losing all. NAOMI lost the men in her life but not the God of her life. So she was confident to do the right thing. When she heard things had improved, she set out to return home with her daughters-in-law. AS GOOD leaders do, she had a difficult conversation with them. "Go back to your mother's home. May the Lord show you kindness as you have shown kindness to your dead husbands and me. May the Lord grant each of you rest in the home of another husband." (Ruth 1:8-9) She told them she was too old to have sons and her life was too bitter to share with them. Naomi said the obvious. Orphah wept and said goodbye. But Ruth stayed. She understood the reality. Ruth saw beyond the cloud of grief. SOMETIMES, there are things people see in you that you do not see in yourself. There was something she could see that Naomi struggled with. When Naomi urged her to leave, she replied: "Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go, I will go, and where you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people, and your God my God. Where you die, I will die and be buried there. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me." (Ruth 1:16) What did you see that instructed your decision? What made you gravitate toward that person? What did you see that made you invest in that business? What convinced you to go to that church? What you see will determine what you do, and this will determine your direction. RUTH saw grace in Naomi, and they returned to Bethlehem. The place of bread is your fruitful place. (Ps. 66:12) Where you go when things do not go as planned will determine what will happen next. THE CITY was agog with the news of the two women. "Could it be the same Naomi who left us so long ago?" they asked. (Ruth 1:19) Please do not call me Naomi anymore because I am not pleasant. Call me Mara. She allowed her identity to be bound to her situation. Do not allow your circumstances to determine who you are. BOAZ, the wealthy relative of Elimelech, recognized his responsibility to save relatives from hardship. So, he favoured Ruth when he saw her. Ruth followed Naomi's instructions, and Boaz married her. (Ruth 4:11) She saw Matthew 5:7 play out in her life. Final Thoughts WHEN GOD is saying something, only those listening will catch it. You must be led by God to be fed by Him.

AT THANKSGIVING, a teacher told her first-grade students to draw what they were thankful for. One drew a farmer because farmers raise turkeys. Another student drew someone who looked like a policeman. They protect us, she said. Douglas drew a hand. Whose hand is this? The teacher asked. He mumbled: It's yours. Mrs. Klein remembered that she had taken Douglas by hand from time to time. But she did not know that it meant so much to him. THERE are things you do to people that mean so much to them, and you may never know. When three of David's soldiers broke through the garrison of the Philistines to get water from the well at Bethlehem for David, they never knew it would mean much to him. He was so touched and did not drink it. Instead, David poured it out as a drink offering to God. (2 Sam. 23:15-16) A WOMAN at Bethany broke an alabaster jar of expensive perfume and poured it over Jesus' head. The disciples saw it as a waste, but Jesus called her action beautiful. She anointed me for burial. Wherever the gospel is preached, her story will be told. (Matt. 26:6) YOU WALK in error when you label what God calls good evil. However, when you are a blessing, God is pleased. You start a chain of good events that begins with you and returns to you. This means your harvest follows you wherever you go.(Gal. 6:7) MORDECAI wanted to be a blessing to his cousin, Esther. So, when her parents died, he had compassion for her. He adopted and treated her as one of his daughters. (Esther 2:5-7) MORDECAI understood the times like the sons of Issachar. (1 Chron. 12:32) He knew what to do. So, he positioned Esther for the future—which is what mentors do. WHEN the search for beautiful young virgins came to them, Mordecai took her to the king's palace. He handed her to Hegai, who had charge of the king's harem. SOMEONE said that God uses mentors to spark life change and legacy impact. Mordecai forbade her from revealing her nationality and family background—and Esther watched what she shared. (Esther 2:10 & 20) EVERY DAY, he walked back and forth near the harem to find out how she was and what was happening to her. (Esther 2:10) Esther found favour with the king, and she was made the queen. You are unstoppable when God authors your life. MORDECAI was a man of integrity. He knew his place. Sitting at the king's gate, he heard two officers plot to assassinate the king. He shared the findings with Esther, who, in turn, told the king. The matter was investigated, and the men were impaled on poles. AFTER all these, Haman was promoted. King Xerxes elevated him higher than the other nobles. He wanted all the nobles to bow to him. But Mordecai would not kneel or pay him honour. Haman found out the nationality of Mordecai. He looked for ways to destroy him and the Jews. So, he told the king that some people did not obey his laws. Haman advised the king to issue a decree to destroy them. King Xerxes went along. The couriers were sent all over the kingdom. Be the best by learning to handle the worst WHEN Mordecai heard what happened, he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth. He walked as far as the king's gate. There was great mourning among the Jews with fasting, weeping and wailing. When Esther's eunuchs and female attendants told her, she was greatly distressed. She sent Hathak, one of the eunuchs attached to her, to find out what was wrong. Mordecai told him everything. He also gave him a copy of the proclamation for their destruction. And Esther said no one appears before the king without an appointment. MORDECAI made her see a possible future. He said: If you remain silent now, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows, perhaps you have come to your royal position for a time as this?" (Esther 4:12-14) He taught her to be the best by learning to handle the worst. CHRISTIAN mentors do not build a reliance on themselves but point their proteges to God - John Maxwell. Esther replied, "Go, gather together all the Jews in Susa and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. I will go to the king when this is done, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish." (Esther 4:16) She wasn't only calling for prayers. She prayed, too. God gave her favour before the king. Haman was hanged. Final Thought Thanksgiving begins with obedience—and obedience is success. You can truly thank God when you have obeyed Him. Happy Thanksgiving, Canada!

BELEIVE it or not, life is like a puzzle waiting to be solved. It is full of good memories, hopes and fears, a good family, a solid base, and regrets. However, the only way to destiny is God. THE LORD had told Abraham to go from his country, household, and father's house to a land he would show him. (Gen. 12:1) After his dad died at Haran, the Lord reminded him of the same. A life of repetition is a life of focus. ABRAHAM had become very rich in animals, silver and gold. His nephew, Lot, also had animals. (Gen. 13:1-2) The land could not sustain the animals of both men after some time. So, Abraham had to let him go. I pray you'll let go of every distraction that would not allow you to focus. A life of repetition is a life of focus THEN, God said to him: Go, walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you. (Gen. 13:17) After the promise, he built an altar. The promises of God are his to keep—and the place of worship is the place of His Presence. Abraham lived in tents, but he wanted permanence. My question to you is, what do you want in life? MOSES knew that God had a plan for Israel. He thought by killing the Eygptian, his people would recognize that it was time. But they did not. (Exod. 2:11-12) So he became a fugitive—he had no permanence. Moses had regrets and settled for less. In the absence of the Will of God, you'll settle for mediocrity. THE CHILDREN of Israel had expired their years in slavery. They cried out to God in pain. After forty years, God appeared to Moses in the burning bush. When God saw that Moses looked, he called unto him. The Will of God is a disruptor! MOSES had excuses. He said that he was a stammerer. But God had gone ahead to take care of his inadequacy. He had put his brother, Aaron, on the way. (Exod. 4:10-14) When you choose the Will of God, he orders your steps to trigger your destiny helpers. THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL took on their journey. Moses knew that he was made for fellowship first and service second. So, he said to the Lord: "You've been telling me to lead these people, but you haven't let me know whom you're sending with me. You've also said, 'I know you by name and am pleased with you." (Exod. 33:12-13) God works in order. He will not entrust anything to you without first trusting you. WE TEACH people that you can only take others to where you've been. But that isn't true. Joshua said to Israel: "When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the Levitical priests carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it." Then, you will know which way to go since you have never been this way before. (Jos. 3:1-2) The way of destiny is only known to God. Bringing it Together THE MIND of God is where you go when you need clarity. His heart is where to stay when you need stability. Walking with God can be daunting. But he will give you stability, capacity and stamina.

"I HAVE been crucified with Christ. No longer I live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved and gave himself for me." (Gal. 2:20) Paul knew an alignment must exist in the spirit realm for him to operate in the supernatural. He understood that his outward position was an expression of his inward possession. Paul knew he had no point to prove. THE FOUR Hebrew sons knew there were no voids in life. (Dan. 1:1-15) So, they took permission from the chief of the eunuchs not to eat the foods dedicated to idols. They had no point to prove than be holy. THE FACT that evil and good are the end users' products means the user determines the end product. We determine the end product As good users, we give meaning to life when we live as the salt of the earth. When we thrive as the light of the world, we illuminate the world around us. (Matt. 5:13-16) Moses brought light to the children of Israel when he returned as the deliverer. (Exod. 4:29-30) Joseph brought hope to his people when he revealed his identity. (Gen. 45:12-14) Wherever we find ourselves, God wants us to give hope. HOPE lights up the room—and when we give hope, we give life. Jesus gave hope to Martha when he said: "I am the resurrection and the life." (John 11:25) David gave hope when he told the king that he would fight Goliath. (1 Sam. 17:31-33) The light shone in the darkness, and darkness could not comprehend. (John 1:5) EVERYONE loves a redemption story. No wonder when David killed the champion of the Philistines, the women sang his praise. Saul has slain his thousands and David his tens of thousands. (1 Sam. 18:7) However, Saul lost his cool because he considered their song insulting. WE CARE more for our possessions with which we hope to make our way in the world than with thoughts and dreams, which tell us who we are in the world – Eugene Peterson. Saul was more concerned about the throne, so he kept an eye on David. He was more concerned about the gift than the giver. He was afraid of David because God was with him. (1 Sam. 18:12) TO WATCH David, he made a proposition. I'll give you my eldest daughter, but you'll have to prove yourself by fighting my battles. (1 Sam. 18:17) Saul does not know you have nothing to prove when God is with you. The time came, and Saul gave his daughter to someone else. WHEN Michal - Saul's other daughter, fell in love with David, the king sent his officers to convince him to marry her. However, David rejected the offer because marrying the king's daughter was costly. Tell David, 'The king doesn't want any payment for the bride except one hundred Philistine foreskins to get revenge on his enemies.' When David heard this, he felt it was acceptable. So, he and his men struck down two hundred Philistines and got their foreskins. Then, Saul gave Michal to him. But Saul was more afraid of David. (1 Sam. 18:22-30) Final Thought DAVID had the promise and the favour of God but did not realize that he had no point to prove. The presence of God proves everything.

Florence Chadwick was the daughter of a San Diego policeman. She started swimming at the age of six. When Florence was 34, she got into the icy waters of the Pacific Ocean, determined to swim from Catalina Island to the shores of California. The weather that day was unfriendly. The water was ice-cold—and infested with sharks. The fog was so thick that she could hardly see the support boats behind her. She also swam against the current. After swimming for fifteen hours, she began to doubt her ability. So, she told her mum, who was in one of the boats, that she couldn't make it. Her mom and trainer knew she could. So, they continued to encourage her. When she stopped swimming, they pulled her out of the water. Then, she realized the shore was less than half a mile away. She said: All I could see was the fog. If I could have seen the shore, I could have made it." Can you see the other side? MARY couldn't see herself having a child without a man. So, she asked: How can this be since I do not know a man? The Holy Spirit will come to you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you." (Luke 4:34-38) The questions you ask at the outset will help you plan. The ones you ask at the end will help you understand. MOSES understood certain things when he left Egypt. He knew the Hebrews were enslaved—and they needed rescue. But he did not know how—Moses could not see the other side. Your questions at the onset will help you plan THERE can only be future improvement by unsettling the present. He had to return to Egypt to rescue his people. FOR CERTAIN things to change in your life, the heavens must intervene. And for the heavens to intervene, you must pray. God knew his people were suffering. To end their pain, he appeared to Moses in the burning bush. My prayer is that God will send help whenever you need it. TO MAKE them experience Him and not walk around miserable, God gave them proof. He told them to worship when they left Egypt. (Exod. 3:12) Worship aligns your being with God. WITHOUT the Will of God, we are left with the Will of Men. The first leads to life, while the second leads to death. They were the people of God who needed to know the plan of God. So, God sent Moses to share his plan with them. My prayer is that God would show you His plan for your life. Worship aligns your being with God GOD PROMISED to strike Egypt, but the Hebrews would find favour with the Egyptians. He planned to transfer wealth from the Egyptians to the Hebrews. So, God asked the Hebrew women to ask their Egyptian neighbours for silver and gold jewelry and clothes. (Exod. 3:22) God did not want them to leave empty-handed. THROUGH salvation, our past is forgiven, our present has meaning, and our future is secured - Rick Warren. The best way to eliminate your past is to involve God in your future. Moses got rid of his past as he obeyed God in the present. To the people who saw him as a murderer, he became their deliverer. SOME FRIENDS will only follow you once they see miraculous signs. (Exod. 4:1-8) However, there are enemies of your soul who will not stop fighting unless they see miracles. Pharaoh did not let the children of God go until he saw signs and wonders. (Deut. 6:22) I pray that God will do the same for you. To eliminate your past is to involve God in your future SOMEONE'S EPITAPH reads: As you are now, so once was I. Now, you are sure to be, so may I say, as I lie, prepare yourself to follow me. And someone scratched the underneath and wrote: To follow you, content until I know which way you went. We know the way you went - Pastor Taiwo Odukoya (Senior Pastor of the Fountain of Life Church). You did not quit; you saw the other side and are with God. We salute you, General! Till we meet again.

THERE IS A SIDE of God you'll never understand unless you know Him. There's a depth of Him you'll only reach when you walk with Him. David knew that life was a mystery—and to understand it; he needed God. So he said: I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I will not be moved (out of course). (Ps. 16:8) David was conscious of God. He did not miss any day without Him. It makes you a witness THERE'S A VIEW of life you'll only see when you experience it. His experiences were unique. He said: God would not leave my soul in hell, nor would he suffer his holy one to see corruption. (Ps. 16:10) God has taken us through the Fire and Water. He has brought us to our fruitful place. (Ps. 66:11) It gives you a new perspective EVERYONE knows that adversity is real. But no one sees it coming. David never knew that King Saul would try to kill him. (1 Sam. 19:1-2) However, this experience gave him a new view of life. Lazarus had to die for Mary to know that Jesus is the resurrection and the life. (John 11:25) It tests us YOU MUST see adversity as a test of faith to do anything worthwhile. When Job lost everything, he saw his situation as a test. So, he did not sin or say any foolish thing against God. (Job 1:22) It's a tool in the hand of God EVEN WHEN his wife told him to curse God and die, he said: Are we to accept the good that comes from God but not the bad? (Job 2:9-10) He understood that his path would be conflicted. However, he had to experience the good and the bad to author his life. It reveals God's power GOD PROMISED to make our places straight because he knew they would be crooked. (Isa. 45:2) So, adversity makes God's powers evident in our lives and shows us that God's strength is made perfect in weakness. (2 Cor. 12:8) It teaches you how to trust God YOUR FEAR of God is true confidence. Your unswerving commitment to Christ is genuine hope. Eliphaz, one of his friends, made him understand that this was not the time to quit. (Job 4:6) God wants you to hold on too. It increases your faith WE SEE his unwavering faith in God as he says, "Even if the Lord slays me, I will still trust in Him." (Job 13:15) His faith in God increased in his suffering. It teaches you how to handle pain SOMEONE SAID: The way to know a believer is how they handle pain. How did he handle the pain? He confessed that his witness (testimony) is in heaven. His advocate is on high. (Job 16:19) Rather than waste the pain, you must call on your high priest, who is touched by it. (Heb. 4:14-16) Then, you receive strength. It makes you think JOB THOUGHT people went to Sheol when they died. (Job 17:13) But what determines where they go is who they are with. Those with Jesus go to heaven. (Acts 4:12) People without him go to hell. (Rom. 3:23) Do you have a relationship with Jesus Christ? If you don't, today is your day. If you confess your sins to Him and believe in your heart that he is the son of God, you shall be saved. Have a great week!

ONE THING that crosses our minds when we lose a leader is how to continue. We forget that God, who took the leader, has a plan—nothing can change it. God cannot be caught unawares, nor can he be blindsided—everything happens with his knowledge. So, when we lose a loved one, we must understand that he knew before it happened. He is God, and we are not. GOD knew Moses' demise was apparent, so he told him to anoint Joshua to take his place. (Numb. 27:18) And when Moses passed, God told Joshua, "My servant Moses is dead." (Josh. 1:2) God acknowledged that season of life. He knew what they were going through was deeper than they could imagine. God is there. THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL mourned the death of the only leader they knew. And God gave them Joshua, but he was also grieving. He had served Moses all his life and was now in his eighties. God was there when Moses lived. When he died, God was still there. What will you have me do? WHEN WE face a loss, we are short-sighted because we are lonely. We are upset and never want to get out of bed. We lock the door and talk to no one; some visit the graveside trying to speak to the dead. We wonder what is next and forget that he who took our loved one left us for a reason. So, our question should be: What will you have me do? Be attentive . JOSHUA was quiet, but he waited on God to say something. Then, God said: Now, you and all these people must cross the Jordan River into the land I will give the people of Israel. I will give you every place you set foot, as I promised Moses. (Josh. 1:2-4) God did not want them to look at Moses' death in isolation. He wanted them to tie it to the Big Picture—his Kingdom. Occupy your place. GOD wanted him to step up. He was no more the young man that spied on the promised land, nor was he the servant of Moses. (Numb. 13:16) He was the leader of the people of God—Joshua was the servant of God. There's a promise for you. WHEN YOU are in grief, you hear very little. So, God made him a promise. No one can oppose you successfully as long as you live. I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will never neglect you or abandon you. (Josh. 1:5) Nothing is as soothing as knowing that God will never leave you. The peace of God became his governor— and God's righteousness his ruler. (Isa. 60:17) We cannot enjoy the fullness of God's peace unless we see him as always there. You need to see God as your keeper to enjoy His fullness Be courageous! TRULY in all these things, we are more than a conqueror in Christ Jesus. (Rom. 8:37) However, there's a mindset God told him to adopt. Only be strong and courageous, faithfully doing everything in the teachings that my servant Moses commanded you. Please don't turn away from them. Then, you will succeed wherever you go. (Josh. 1:7) Just as God called Joshua to make him understand that there was more, I hope you realize there is more to your life, Christian calling, and ministry. Be obedient. THE STRENGTH and courage of Joshua would be revealed in his obedience to the teachings of Moses. For every believer in Christ, your strength and courage are measured by your obedience to God's Word. God's Words never die. GOD was saying that Moses was gone, but God's Word remains. We must understand that nothing of God dies when a servant of God passes. Final Word IN THE PAST WEEK, I lost someone very close to my heart: the Senior Pastor of the Fountain of Life Church: Pastor Taiwo Odukoya. His enduring appeal attracted many people to him. He respected the difficulty of the duty (Christian walk) and the beauty of the result. Among the many gifts he possessed was godliness, which he gave us by living an exemplary life. By the size of his heart, I can tell you he's a great man—worthy of emulation. I truly miss him. Rest in the Lord, sir, till we meet again!

GODLINESS does not come easy—you let go of the old to live in the new. God wants you to walk out so that he can walk in. He wants you to decrease that he might increase. NOT LONG after the children of Israel left Egypt, God instructed Moses to count the people. He wanted to know those twenty years and older who could serve in the army (Numb. 1:1-3) A second census was taken just before they entered the promised land to prepare for future property allocation (Numb. 26:1-4). So taking a census wasn't sinful in itself. However, after the Lord had settled David on every side, he requested a census to determine the strength of his army. David's intention was wrong. IN THE PAST, David would ask the Lord for direction. At Ziklag, he asked if he could pursue the people who raided his camp (1 Sam. 30:8). After the death of Saul, he asked the Lord if he could go into Judah (2 Sam. 2:1-7) But he didn't ask in this case. And when Joab respectfully objected, he rejected his counsel. David set himself up to report to no one. I pray that you'll be accountable to God as he blesses you. WHEN DAVID counted the people, he saw them as his. We must be careful of the pronoun we use. May God have mercy upon us when we say: my church. The church is His; the people are his. Only God can lay claim to them. Israel wasn't David's but God's. WE MUST be careful of our actions because they affect others. David took God out of the picture. So, God punished Israel. Then, God sent Gad to him. "I am offering you a choice of three punishments. Make your selection, and I will do that to you." (1 Chron. 21:11-12) Choose one: three years of famine, three months of pursuit by your enemies or three days of plague and destruction. He chose to fall into the hands of God. A PLAGUE came upon Israel—and seventy thousand men died in one day. God reduced the number of people David thought he had to teach him a lesson. When David saw the angel of the Lord with his sword stretched over Jerusalem, he and the elders wore sackcloth. They mourned. "Was it not I who ordered the fighting men to be counted? I, the shepherd, have sinned and done wrong. These are but sheep. What have they done? Let your hand fall on me and my family, but do not let this plague remain on your people." (1 Chron. 21:17) David took ownership of his sin. He acknowledged that they were the people of God—he changed his pronoun from mine to thine. WHEN GOD appeared to Solomon the night that the temple was dedicated, He asked Solomon what he wanted. Therefore, Give your servant an understanding mind to govern your people, so I may discern between good and evil, for who can manage this, your great people?" (1 Kings 3:1-9) Solomon acknowledged that they were the people of God. He validated God as his sponsor. WE MUST learn to give back to God what he's given to us. Abraham learnt this lesson when God told him to sacrifice his only son. And when he tried to do so, God stopped him (Gen. 22:12). Just as integrity is a test of prosperity, giving to God is a test of ownership. Giving to God is a test of ownership Abraham's willingness to give his son confirmed that Isaac was God's. I pray that you'll be bold enough to return everything to Him. THE ANGEL of the Lord told Gad to tell David to build God an altar on the threshing floor of Ornan. When Ornan saw the king, he left his chores and prostrated before him. David shared why he was there, and Ornan offered him the land for free. But David told him he wouldn't give God something that cost him nothing (1 Chron. 21:22-24) Final Thought WHEN YOU understand that you cannot give God something that costs you nothing, you'll realize that nothing was yours in the first place.

IF YOU advance in the direction of God's dream, you will meet with success unimaginable. The apostles knew that their success in life was based on doing God's Will. So, the more the Pharisees and Sadducees threatened them, the more they shared the gospel of Christ. They understood that with God's promises come great possibilities. So, they saw the dead raised to life; souls come to the saving knowledge of Christ—and multitudes added to the church (Acts 5:14-16). They also saw the Father glorified. THESE BEAUTIFUL moments were not devoid of difficulties. So, when Agabus saw a revelation of Paul bound hands and feet, the believers were greatly disturbed. They knew he might be arrested and begged him not to go, but he said no. You are breaking my heart! I'm ready not only to be jailed but even to die (Acts 21:13). He wasn't arrogant; neither was he prideful, but he was bold. He defined God's narrative for his life. But how do you do this? You do so by choosing to please God. And if your choices are holy, your products are blessed. If your choices are holy, your products will be holy. NO HEALTHY Christian ever chooses to suffer; he chooses God's Will as Jesus did, whether it means suffering or not – Oswald Chambers. Paul was a man of conviction. He knew this journey might take his life and was willing to give it. He understood his route would be conflicted and rough, but God had promised to make it straight and smoothen the edges. (Isaiah 40:4) He knew that the promises of God were enough. They were adequate to face anything. How do you see them? Do you see them as adequate too? Remember that with God, nothing shall be impossible. AFTER his arrest, a few men solemnly swore to kill him. However, as they discussed their plan, a young boy overheard them (Acts 23:12-35). He shared his findings with Paul and later with the guards' commander. So, the commander moved him that night to keep him safe. One of God's specialties is exposing the works of darkness. I pray that the Lord will expose the enemies of your soul and protect you from falling. He will keep you from the traps of the evil one. PAUL testified before Felix, the governor, but because Felix wanted to favour the Jews, he left him in prison (Acts 24:27). He also testified before King Agrippa—and the king confirmed that Paul hadn't done anything worthy of death. Paul said to King Agrippa: I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains (Acts 26:29). As you walk the path of life, let your prayer for everyone you meet be like Paul's. PAUL HAD desired to testify before Festus in Rome. So, he and some other prisoners were handed over to a centurion named Julius to take them there. As they sailed, the wind became difficult. And Paul warned them not to proceed. But the centurion followed the advice of the pilot and the owner of the ship (Acts 27:10-11). When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and the storms never stopped, they gave up hope of being saved. But the angel of the Lord appeared to Paul at night. He said: None of you will die. You will lose the ship but not one life. Do not be afraid. I am still working on you (Acts 27:23-24). The 276 of them had been under immense pressure for 14 days. They hadn't been eating, but Paul advised them to do so. He also told them that there would be no loss of life. He was certain in the prophetic and hopeful in adversity! Then, he took bread and gave thanks. One of the great times to take communion is when you are facing adversity. With God's promises come great possibilities THE BACKDROP of every believer's life is that God is always in control. He may not be obvious, but things are happening in unseen places. I pray that the challenge you are facing will not swallow you. You will come out better than you went in. AS PAINFUL as adversity might be, it sets the stage for what is coming next. For Paul, adversity wasn't the end. He made it to Rome and preached to Caesar. He only had access to the people in power because he was arrested. Whenever you face a challenge, ask God to help you see with his eye of faith. Final Thought PAUL put God first in everything. I pray that putting God first will not be missing in your endeavours. Your understanding of Him will continually increase, so you can live as he pleases.

SOMETHING is to be said about the tried and true; they paint a picture. They have a story to tell. Indeed, David had a story to tell. He said to Saul: Whenever a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. If it attacked me, I took hold of its mane, hit and killed it. (I Sam. 17:34-35) He understood his call. THE TRUE CALL of the Christian is not to do extraordinary things but to do ordinary things in extraordinary ways - Dean Stanley. Protecting the sheep was an ordinary chore, but David's faith in God was unique. So, he was able to do the common extraordinarily. He understood his inner qualities. YOUR CHALLENGE causes a revelation. Technically, it does not cause stagnation. However, it reveals your make-up. So when you face a challenge next, respond to it properly. You do so walking by faith. (Rom. 1:17) He was bold. THE ARMIES of Israel did not respond properly to the threats of Goliath. Saul feared the enemy, and fear was contagious. So his soldiers feared Goliath because they were Saul's followers. But David was bold as he followed God. He understood there was a problem. THE GREATEST way to solve a problem is to recognize that there is one. Without recognition, there is no problem to solve. David knew there was a problem, and he acted on it. You will only act once you understand a higher call over your life. He was gracious SHAME is not your portion. Wherever you allow shame to thrive, grace is not obvious. David asked himself what it would take to end the shame. So, he shared the grace of God through his testimony. (I Sam. 17:34-35) You must always take this approach when you face a challenge. He put his faith in God. YOU ARE no match for the enemy of the cross except by faith in Christ. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal. But they are mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds. (2 Cor. 10:4) David trusted in God and became a match to the enemy of Israel. He recognized his weapons. WHEN SAUL referred to David as a youth, he testified. He also said: The Lord, who delivered me from the lion's paw and the bear's foot, will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine. (1 Sam. 17:37) He gave God the glory. DAVID's elevator pitch was a testimony of God's doing. And wherever you testify of Him, God shows up. Anytime you worship or engage the Word of God, His ability is released in you. And you are endowed with all you need to face your situation. He understood everything flies off when you take God out of the centre. So, he deflected the glory of his success to God. David made God the beneficiary! He flooded their darkness with light. DAVID's TESTIMONY ignited faith in the king. He exposed the devil's work by shedding light on the deception that had enveloped the camp. He wouldn't allow anyone to stop him. FOR EVERYTHING in life, there's a cause. Adam rose from sleep and said, "For this cause will a man leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife." (Gen. 2:24) I John 3:8 says, ..For this purpose, the Son of God was manifested that He might destroy the works of the devil. David said: “What have I now done? Is there not a cause?” (1 Sam. 17:29) You can only give credence to what you know. You will only act once you understand a higher call over your life. Final Thought A LITTLE FAITH will bring your soul to heaven. Great faith will bring heaven to your soul - Charles Spurgeon.