Teardrops in the Night

As thousands of women across America celebrate Mother's Day, I cannot help but think about the married women who are waiting to have children of their own.

As one who waited a considerable length of time for children, I guess there will always be a part of me that aches for future moms. This is why I write this Mother's Day tribute to honor these precious women of faith:

Teardrops in the night, a puddle of questions unanswered

The road is long; the waiting is hard
Sometimes you wonder if God remembers you
When you see a mother holding her child
And her baby smiling back at her
Your heart aches with an intensity that only you can fathom
No loving husband or friend can understand what you're going through

But there is One who knows

The ever-loving Father who formed you in your mother's womb
The all-knowing God who created you with purpose
He has numbered all your days, each one is written in His book (Psalm 139)
He loves you immensely and holds out loving arms to comfort you
Let Him wipe away your tears and give you joy that overcomes sorrow
He will give you strength and cause you to rise with eagle's wings

Teardrops in the night, a rainbow of hope

Look up and see that there is a rainbow in the sky for you
Your life is significant; there is purpose in this suffering
The mother in you shines as you love the unloved and forgotten
And speak a word of encouragement to a hurting child (because you understand) 
As you give a hug to one who so desperately needs it
God sees your every kind deed
He is faithful to reward you with comfort and blessings
Keep living, keep loving, keep serving

Teardrops in the night, a harvest of joy in the morning!

A day will come when you will look back on this journey
As a reminder of God's love and His undying faithfulness
The hidden treasures that lie beneath the surface of pain
Will be evident in you as you tell of the goodness of God
A grand prize is waiting for you
So run this race persistently!

My beloved sister and friend, this promise is for you:

 “He settles the childless woman in her home

as a happy mother of children. Praise the Lord!” – Psalm 113:9

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.

A very Happy Mother's Day to you! For we walk by faith and not by sight.

The Story of Jonah as Told by Samuel and Jeremiah Ekandem

Disclaimer: Please read at your own risk. Do not hold a hot cup of tea or coffee while reading.

Samuel is 5 and Jeremiah is 3½ years young.

Samuel:           Jonah was God’s prophet. He told the people about God.

Jeremiah:       Yes.

Samuel:          One day, God told Jonah: “Jonah, go to the city of Nineveh. You must tell the people to stop doing bad things.” Jonah did not want to go to Nineveh. He did not want to do what God said.

Both:               Oooooooooooooooh! (Shaking their heads)

Samuel:          So he got on a boat that was going to the city of…

Both:              Tarshish!

Samuel:          The storm blew and the boat was shaking. The sailors were afraid. Jonah was sleeping. They said: “Jonah! Jonah! Wake up! Pray to your God to save us!”

Jeremiah:       Jonah was tired.

Samuel:          Jonah said: “It’s my fault. I’m running away from God. Throw me overboard and the storm will stop!”

Jeremiah:       A big fish was passing by.

Samuel:          They threw Jonah into the water. God sent a big fish to swallow Jonah, GULP! Jonah was in the belly of the fish for three days and three nights.

Jeremiah:       The big fish was on a diet so he threw up Jonah.

Samuel:           No! Jonah prayed to God and God told the fish to spit out Jonah.

Jeremiah:        Oh!

Samuel:          The fish spit out Jonah, PITUEE! And Jonah bumped his head. After he took a shower, he went to Nineveh. The people listened to Jonah and God forgave the people.

Mommy:        Ok, boys. What did you learn from the story of Jonah?

Samuel:          That we should always obey God.

Jeremiah:       And stay away from the big fish!

Happy Valentine's Day in Perspective

Our sons have been looking forward to Valentine’s Day. Today, they will be going to a valentine’s day party where they will trade cards and sweet treats with friends. We all worked hard this past weekend making cards and putting goody bags together. We must have made over 50 cards, but they didn’t mind all the work. They were just excited to celebrate love! Meanwhile, mommy is exhausted J

During my quiet and recovery time with the Lord this morning, He instructed me to remind the boys of His great love for them. From the moment they wake up to the time they close their eyes to go to bed, they are to hear how much Jesus loves them. So, all day, we have been talking and singing about the love of Jesus. They are even more excited now. I believe God doesn’t want them to get lost in the shuffle of all the valentine activities. He also wants them to hold on to what is truly important – the redeeming love of Jesus Christ!

Valentine’s Day! A day set aside for family and friends to express love for one another. On this day, we feel treasured, celebrated, and loved. This time can also evoke unpleasant feelings in us. Feelings of disappointment, loneliness, rejection, jealousy, envy, and lust can drive us to commit acts of sin, if we don’t guard against them.

The Bible admonishes us to “keep [our] heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.” Proverbs 4:23.

No one is above temptation. We will all get hit with negative thoughts, but we are not to dwell on them. For if we do, we will find ourselves in regrettable situations. Rather, we are to focus on God’s love for us. Meditating on His love will bring us joy, comfort and peace.

You will keep him in perfect peace,

Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You. – Isaiah 26:3
 
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer. – Psalm 19:14

Cards, flowers, candy, and jewelry are all wonderful expressions of love, but they are only material things that will fade away with time. However, God’s love is lasting and eternal. It is to be celebrated not only on Valentine’s Day, but every day of our lives.

Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love;

Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you. – Jeremiah 31:3b

God’s love is powerful enough to eclipse our setbacks.

You may not get that diamond ring you've always wanted; yet, you are still valuable in God’s eyes.

Since you were precious in My sight,

You have been honored,
And I have loved you; - Isaiah 43:4a

You may be left on your own today, but be assured that you are not alone. God is with you always.

Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” - Hebrews 13:5   

 
…and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen. – Matthew 28:20b

Perhaps, you’re missing a loved one who is miles away or has departed this life. Take comfort in knowing that the God of all comfort is right there by your side. He is willing to console you and fill the vacuum in your heart, if you reach out to Him.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.

– 2 Corinthians 1:3-5

If you have received some form of affection today, rejoice and take it as a sign of God’s love for you. Celebrate His goodness! Let us remember that He is the One who has blessed us with a loving family, good friends, and heartwarming gifts. We get to enjoy His blessings, because of what Jesus Christ has done for us. He paid the price for our sin, in full, on the cross.

For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. – John 3:16

This is the highest expression of love that anyone would ever show us! And to know this love intimately is the greatest gift we could ever receive.

Blessings in Disguise

Genesis 37:12-36

Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.” – Genesis 50:19-20

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. – Romans 8:28

Recently, I received something in the mail from our previous alarm company. Seeing the envelope, I said to myself: “Surely, they’re trying to win back our business but we’re not giving in!” As I headed for the trash can, I felt a nudge to open the envelope so I did. Inside was a check from the company. Apparently, we had overpaid for our last month of service with the company way back in 2010. The refund was totally unexpected.

It just so happened that our sons were running out of things and we were trusting God to provide. Needles to say, the refund was enough to buy the much needed items!

What would have happened if I had tossed that envelope into the trash can? I would have missed out on God’s provision!

This incident reminds me of God’s sovereignty. We pray and believe Him for things, but He doesn’t always send the answers in clearly marked envelopes. If we’re not discerning enough, we could lose out on His blessings by resisting His work in our lives.

Many times, we have to go through painful experiences to prosper. Not because God is mean, but because we are His work-in-progress. His end goal is to conform us to the image of Jesus Christ (Romans 8:29). He wants our faith to be perfect, lacking nothing (James 1:4).

God has a plan for every one of us that is absolutely fulfilling and helpful to others. However, we have to be prepared to enjoy His blessings.

Take Joseph for example. He had dreams and expected them to happen. If anyone had told him at age 14 that it would take abandonment, slavery, and wrongful imprisonment for his dreams to come true, he probably would have laughed. But it took all those things and a few more trials for him to prosper.

While he found himself in unfair situations, he consistently used his God-given gifts of administration and interpretation of dreams to serve others. For all his achievements, he gave glory to God. He made the best use of his time in Egypt by learning all he could from leaders like Potiphar and the prison warden. This experiential knowledge later helped him when he became second in command to Pharaoh.

At first, Joseph may have found it impossible to see any good coming out of 16 years of pain and suffering. But in the end, he got it. He saw what God was doing all along.

So when trials come our way, do we see them as opportunities to grow our faith and develop Godly character? Or do we say, “Surely, this is not of God,” and toss a potentially rewarding experience into the trash can of despair?

If God has given you a dream, trust Him to bring it to pass on His own terms. He may take you through the valley or cause you to climb mountains. Either way, submit to His will and accept that maybe the trials in your life are His blessings in disguise.

We pray for blessings

We pray for peace

Comfort for family, protection while we sleep

We pray for healing, for prosperity

We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering

All the while, You hear each spoken need

Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops

What if Your healing comes through tears

What if a thousand sleepless nights

Are what it takes to know You’re near

What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

…

When friends betray us

When darkness seems to win

We know that pain reminds this heart

That this is not, this is not our home

It's not our home

What if my greatest disappointments

Or the aching of this life

Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy

And what if trials of this life

The rain, the storms, the hardest nights

Are Your mercies in disguise

– Words by Laura Story from the song “Blessings”

Birthday Song

On the first day of my birthday my true love gave to me:

• An Advil in a pill box!

On the second day of my birthday my true love gave to me:

• Two Tylenols 

On the third day of my birthday my true love gave to me:

• Three Bengays

On the fourth day of my birthday my true love gave to me:

• Four prilosecs

On the fifth day of my birthday my true love gave to me:

• Five gold teeth

On the sixth day of my birthday my true love gave to me:

• Six bones-a-creaking

On the seventh day of my birthday my true love gave to me:

• Seven locks-a-shedding

On the eighth day of my birthday my true love gave to me:

• Eight joints-a-popping

On the ninth day of my birthday my true love gave to me:

• Nine wigs-a-curling

On the tenth day of my birthday my true love gave to me:

• Ten blouses shrinking

On the eleventh day of my birthday my true love gave to me:

• Eleven words of wisdom*

On the twelfth day of my birthday my true love gave to me:

• Twelve special blessings**
• Eleven words of wisdom*
• Ten blouses shrinking
• Nine wigs-a-curling
• Eight joints-a-popping
• Seven locks-a-shedding
• Six bones-a-creaking
• Five gold teeth
• Four prilosecs
• Three Bengays
• Two Tylenols
• And an Advil in a pill box

*"Wisdom is with aged men, and with length of days, understanding."

- Job 12:12 NKJV

** One special blessing for each month of the year

Immanuel, God with Us

Isaiah 9:6

For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

How blessed we are to have a Savior! God sent His beloved Son into the world to pay the steep price for our sins. The King of Heaven came down in the form of a helpless baby, born in a simple manger, and grew up among us.

What a comforting feeling to know that God is here with us. He’s not a remote, far away God who is not in touch with our joys and pain (Hebrews 4:15). He knows we are frail and loves all the same. He wants to help us become all that God the Father created us to be.

When you’re facing a tough decision, go to Him as your Wonderful Counselor. He will guide you.

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye. (Psalm 32:8)

When you’re feeling small and insecure, depend on Him as Mighty God. He will show Himself strong in your circumstance.

For 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 Chronicles 16:9a)

When you crave the acceptance of a father, fall into the loving embrace of our Everlasting Father.

The LORD has appeared of old to me, saying: “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.” (Jeremiah 31:3)

And when the storms of life are beating against you from every angle, run to the Prince of Peace. He will give you peace that surpasses all human understanding.

“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7)

So, as you celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, remember that He is ever present with you. Stay connected to Him and He will give you true love, joy, and peace; the power to thrive in this life.

Merry Christmas!

“Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” – Matthew 1:23

Thanking God for His Deliverance

Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.- Psalm 107:1

As we approach Thanksgiving Day this week, I've had to evaluate my attitude; to find out if I'm truly thankful to God.

Recently, my family and I have sailed through many stormy seas. Having faced one adversity after another, I began to have anything but a grateful attitude. This was true until I read Psalm 107, a Psalm quite fitting for this season of Thanksgiving. As I read, I began to see that God had delivered me from adversity in the past and that He was willing to do so again and again. I should be thankful for the times when He helped me and my family and for His power to deliver us even now.

God, Our Deliverer

In verses 1 through 20, we are reminded of incidents where God delivered the children of Israel from trouble. They suffered in bondage and many afflictions because of their rebellion against God (v. 11 & 17). Yet, God rescued them when they cried out to Him.

Three times we are told:

“Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He saved them out of their distresses…” (verses 6, 13, and 19)

… and then each following verse spells out what God did specifically to help His people. We are given three accounts of God’s mighty acts to help us appreciate His loving kindness. If we didn’t get it the first and second time, the light bulb would surely come on the third time.

Just in case we’re wondering if God’s deliverance is only applicable to the Israelites in the past, verses 23 to 30 tell us otherwise. God still saves, delivers, and heals His people today! He is able to calm the storms in our lives, if we would cry out to Him:

28 Then they cry out to the LORD in their trouble,
And He brings them out of their distresses.
29 He calms the storm,
So that its waves are still.
30 Then they are glad because they are quiet;
So He guides them to their desired haven.

Giving Thanks to Him

To emphasize the importance of thanksgiving, we are admonished five times in Psalm 107 to give thanks to God. For what? His goodness and the wonderful works He has done for us.

Even though we are surrounded by trouble, tossed about by the stormy winds of pain and sorrow, we can still reflect on God’s goodness in our lives. No matter how bad life may seem at this time, there have been days when God has delivered us from trouble, even the ones we created ourselves.

Verses 22 and 32 show us ways we can give thanks to God:

22 Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving,
And declare His works with rejoicing.

The sacrifices of thanksgiving could be anything we give to God that costs us something. For instance: a prayer or hymn of thanks when we’re hurting the most, money, valuable goods, or acts of service when it’s not convenient for us. And we give joyfully!

32 Let them exalt Him also in the assembly of the people,
And praise Him in the company of the elders.

Public praise to God is also appropriate, so that others will learn about His goodness and loving kindness.

Maintaining an Attitude of Gratitude

Psalm 107 shows us that God can turn any situation around. He brings judgment on the wicked and liberation to the oppressed and afflicted. When He does good things for us or other people, we ought to appreciate Him.

43 Whoever is wise will observe these things,
And they will understand the lovingkindness of the LORD.

One way to maintain a grateful heart is to keep a Thanksgiving Journal. Every time we receive an answer to prayer or an unsolicited blessing, we record it in our journal. We also write down the miracles we see God doing in the lives of others and thank Him on their behalf (“Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep” – Romans 12:15). That way, when we’re feeling down, we can go back and read our journals, remembering those mountain-top experiences. It is important to record these events because we have a tendency to forget, especially when overwhelmed.

Having an attitude of thanksgiving in the midst of suffering is only possible when we focus on God’s power to deliver us and not on our problems. Our problems depress us; God’s goodness enlivens us.

When we’re thankful and obedient to God, we are sure to receive a blessing from Him. He is faithful to deliver us and will do so in the best way (His way).

So for this awareness, I thank God. I thank Him in each storm, knowing that it is an opportunity to experience His power in a new and miraculous way. I thank Him for His everlasting goodness and loving kindness towards me and my family. I thank Him for His wonderful works in my life and the lives of others.

May you have a very Happy Thanksgiving as you recount the goodness of God in your life!