The Nation Newspaper

Category: Family Forum

  • How to transform your marriage (2)

    Dear Reader, I count it a great privilege to bring God’s Word your way again, today.  The joy of the Lord will fill your home and every promise you have been holding unto in God’s Word, will become a reality in your life, in Jesus’ Name.

    Thank God for His Word of wisdom that He has been revealing to us. His Word has been exposing to us the secrets for transformation in your marriage. Last week, the secrets of the words, “I’m sorry” were revealed to us. This week, God has another secret for you, and that secret is learning to say, “Thank you.”

    These two short words go a long way towards creating credibility: “Thank you.” There may be dozens of times each day when we should say, “thank you” and we don’t. We’re either too busy, preoccupied with our own thoughts or feelings, or maybe we’re unknowingly insensitive to the good deeds done by our spouse. When your spouse does anything for you, then it is time to say, “Thank you.”

    “Thank you” is a phrase that any of us can say which can help to improve and transform our home and marriage. Say it once and reap the blessings. Say it often and you will enrich your marriage greatly and make your home sweet!

    Men and women who are not complimented do not feel appreciated. They feel taken for granted and ordinary. So, when someone outside showers them with the much sought for compliments, they are easily carried away.  Appreciating little things creates greater things. Nothing should escape our appreciation or thanks; it motivates the beneficiary to go a step further.

    A two-word, such as “Thank you,” can do a lot to brighten and strengthen the relationship between you and your spouse. Some men never see the need to say, “Thank you” to their wives. To them, their wives demand no commendation for performing their domestic duties. This is unfair and unscriptural. Thanksgiving should be reciprocal. It shouldn’t be one-sided. So, learn to appreciate others for their good deeds around the home, and for their kind gestures shown towards you.

    Besides this, you must also be thankful to the Lord for your spouse and family members, no matter the situation.  God’s Word says: Out of them shall proceed thanksgiving and the voice of them that make merry: and I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will also glorify them, and they shall not be small (Jeremiah 30:19).

    Thanksgiving always has multiplier effect on whatever you are giving God thanks for. If you thank Him for the love that reigns and the level of sweetness you enjoy in your family today, He will multiply it. If you can inculcate the act of gratitude into your family’s lifestyle, then get set to experience the love and peace that know no bounds in your marital life.

    Thanking your spouse for doing something well or for something you like about him or her, goes a long way to improve the love in your marriage and invariably the sweetness in your home. Everyone loves to be praised; everyone loves nice things to be said about him or her.

    Husband, handle your wife with care, by speaking kind words of appreciation to her often.  She needs to hear you express it daily, how much you love and appreciate her.

    If you are not yet born again, this is a great opportunity for you to experience the reality of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ in your life, as you receive Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Saviour. Please say this simple prayer of faith: “Dear Lord Jesus, I come to You today. I believe You died and rose again for my sake. Forgive me of my sins, take over my life, make me Your child and let Your peace reign over my life. Now I know I am born again!”

    Congratulations, you are now born again! I believe that you will begin to experience the reality of the price that Jesus paid for your sins at Calvary. All-round rest and peace are guaranteed you in Jesus’ Name!

    Call or write, and share your testimonies with me through contact@faithoyedepo.org, and conselling@faithoyedepo.org; OR 07026385437 and 08141320204.

    For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores: Marriage Covenant, Making Marriage Work, Building A Successful Home and Success in Marriage (Co-Authored).

  • How to transform your marriage

    DEAR Reader, happy Easter to you in Jesus’ Name! When Jesus rose from the dead, it was a time of joy for His disciples. They had seen the fulfilment of prophecy. Their long-awaited dreams had come to pass at last. That shall be your portion this Easter season, in Jesus’ Name.

    All through this month, I will be taking you through a topic which I titled: How to Transform Your Marriage.

    Your home can be sweet, steady and strong. It can be an example for others to follow, if you know the essential elements of making it work.  Like Billy Graham, Kenneth Hagin and a host of others, you can have cause to look back and smile during your sixtieth wedding anniversary.

    You must accept that you are the builder of your home, by being diligent and working at it.  God’s Word says: By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through (Ecclesiastes 10:18). There is no prize for the slothful!

    This month, I want to talk about vital things the husband and wife usually ignore in their marriage. They are very minor, yet a lot of couples ignore them, I call them the 3-As: Apology  “I’m sorry”, Appreciation  “Thank you” and Affection  “I love you”.

    The words, “I’m sorry”, “Thank you” and “I love you” are very short and simple words, but they are powerful words in our everyday life, which must not be forgotten. Instead, they must be said every time they are needed.  Forgetting these simple and very important words, can cause a lot of disorder in our relationship.

    Say, “Sorry”, every time you make a mistake and say, “Thank you”, for simple things done to you by your spouse.  The best words that must be said everyday is, “I love you”. These words when often used at home, could make the relationship grow stronger and deeper.  This week, I will be looking at the word, “I’m sorry.”

    “I am sorry” are three short words that can make big improvements in any marriage.  By these short powerful words, our marriages and homes will be more pleasant and peaceful. Offences are bound to occur between a man and his wife, but it is not wise for any partner to just overlook things, whenever one is hurt by the other person.

    God’s Word says: For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again (Proverbs 24:16).  Admit when you make mistakes. The Bible says because we are still in the human flesh, that from time to time, we may make mistakes.  However, the moment the husband or wife, or both, sincerely say the words, “I’m sorry,” healing has the chance to enter and begin to soothe the emotional wounds. “I’m sorry” is a powerful healing balm that can be placed over hurt and wounded feelings. It works like fire!

    So, don’t be hesitant or too proud to ask for forgiveness from your spouse or family members any time you go wrong. The Bible says, if you humble yourself under the mighty hand of God, He will lift you. Some people find it difficult to apologize to their wives or children or family members, whom they had offended.  God’s Word says: He that covereth his sins shall not prosper; but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy (Proverbs 28:13).

    Whenever you go wrong, admit it to the person and refuse to do it again, then God’s mercy and favour are made available to you. It is pride that brought the devil from such a high place with God, to the lowest pit of hell. Pride goes before a fall, so don’t let pride make you refuse to apologize, any time you are wrong. Failure to admit your mistakes before your spouse, is an obstacle to intimacy in marriage.

    If you have offended your partner, “I am sorry” is not too much to say, meaning it from the depth of your heart. You must cultivate the habit of apologizing, when you are wrong.  Say, “I’m sorry”, and try to mean it.  We do not help anyone by defending ourselves. Avoid the word “but”! This can kill our apology.  To our lover’s ears, “I’m sorry but…” translates to “I’m not really sorry, and I am just saying I’m sorry to allow myself to give an excuse.”  Stop shifting blames; accept your fault each time you are wrong!God has given you the secret of a transformed marriage, go forth and enjoy it, in Jesus’ Name! If you are not born again, you are not entitled to the peaceful married life that God has reserved for His children. However, God’s grace of salvation is extending to you right now. If you desire to be born again, say this simple prayer in faith: “Dear Lord, I come to You today.  I am a sinner.  Forgive me of my sins.  Cleanse me with Your precious Blood.  I accept You as my Lord and Saviour.  Now I know I am born again!”

    Congratulations, you are now born again! I believe that you will begin to experience the reality of the price that Jesus paid for your sins at Calvary. All-round rest and peace are guaranteed you in Jesus’ Name!

    Call or write, and share your testimonies with me through contact@faithoyedepo.org, and conselling@faithoyedepo.org; OR 07026385437 and 08141320204.

    For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores: Marriage Covenant, Making Marriage Work, Building A Successful Home and Success in Marriage (Co-Authored).

  • Foundation for a stable family (4)

    Dear reader, you are welcome to the last teaching of this month.  The first week, I started this teaching by explaining a solid foundation, the second week I taught on commitment and the third week, I showed you the place of understanding for a stable family.

    Today, we shall be looking at The Benefits of a Stable Family.

    God’s Word is meant to profit us.  It is very important for us to understand that when you live a stable family life, you are the one primarily to benefit from it.  Below are some of the benefits of a stable family.

    Personal and Career Success

    When you live in harmony with your spouse, you will be able to plan with him, you will move forward in your family. Besides, you enjoy personal and career success.  A stable family life is a good place for you to enjoy personal success and career success. God created the family to enjoy fruitfulness in all area. So, living in harmony with your spouse and your family members, is a sure foundation for you to enjoy career success in life.

    Marriage is designed to help you maximize your life, because God does not take His people backwards; He takes them forward.  So, God has designed marriage, among other things, to enable you grow to your maximum.  So, when you live in harmony in your family, you are the primary beneficiary.

    How does this work?  In Genesis, we see how wonderful it is to live in harmony. And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do (Genesis 11:6).

    When a man and a woman agree to build a home, both of them are dedicated to each other, they love each other, they support each other, they encourage each other, and because of that, they enhance each other’s performance. They want to please God and they will always want to do what is right.

    There are even some jobs that when someone applies for they ask if he/she is married. Why? It is because of some level of responsibility attached to marriage.  So, because both of them are now dedicated to each other, they agree to build a home and that affects their performance in life. It affects their performance at work, it affect their performance in their career.  That way, they become the primary beneficiary of a harmonious family life.You must have noticed, for instance, that if a man leaves home with trouble and concerns in his heart and goes to work, he carries those problems with him to his work place.  He may not even have to discuss those problems with his colleagues, but you will find out that those problems automatically will affect his performance. That is why if there is harmony in the home, it becomes a foundation, a base, and the good ground on which to enjoy personal and career success.

    Church Building

    We are all aware that the church of Jesus Christ is made up of families.  Every member of the church represents a specific family here on earth.  Individual families make up the church.  When I talk about the church, I am talking about the body of Christ at large. So, when families enjoy harmony and stability in the home, automatically, there will be unity, stability and harmony in the church. When there is harmony and stability in the home, automatically there will be harmony and stability in the church.

    Nation Building

    When the families enjoy unity, it will affect the nation automatically.  There is so much of negativism going on across the nations of the earth today.  Every nation experiences a great deal of this negativism and the root cause of it all is disharmony and instability in the ,home. So, when the families or homes begin to enjoy harmony, it will affect the nations.

    I read sometimes ago the story about this man called John Owen; this man is a British Anthropologist. He conducted some studies over eight different civilizations that have come and gone and in his studies, he found out something outstanding that runs through all these eight civilizations.  He found out that the fall of the family in all the eight civilizations, resulted in the fall of the nation.  If our nation therefore must be built, the responsibility is on us as a church, the body of Christ, and the responsibility is on you as an individual member representing a specific family on the earth. I curse every spirit of disharmony, instability and disagreement in your home today in Jesus’ name!

    If you are not born again, it will be impossible for you to benefit from what has just been discussed.  However, if you want to be born again and become a child of God now, you can say this simple prayer in faith: “Dear Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You today.  I am a sinner.  Forgive me of my sins and cleanse me with Your Blood.  Deliver me from sin and Satan to serve the living God.  I accept You as my Lord and Saviour.  Make me a child of God today.  Thank You for accepting me into Your Kingdom.”

    If you prayed this simple prayer, you are now a child of God. He loves you and will never leave you. Read your Bible daily, obey God’s Word and seek Christian fellowship (John 14:21).

    Congratulations! You are now born again! All-round rest and peace are guaranteed you, in Jesus’ Name. Call or write, and share your testimonies with me through contact@faithoyedepo.org, and conselling@faithoyedepo.org; OR 07026385437 and 08141320204.

    For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores: Marriage Covenant, Making Marriage Work, Building A Successful Home and Success in Marriage (Co-Authored).

  • Pregnancy scam Chichi

    Pregnancy scam Chichi

    Could it be termed an African fraud this prevalent misconception that only a woman can determine the father of her baby? As far as I am concerned, that assertion fosters a conducive environment that gives undue advantage to promiscuous young girls to perpetrate paternity scams against any promising young man who unwittingly fall into their hands.

    No woman can tell whose wild oat is blooming in her womb especially if she had had sex with more than one man around the time of conception.  After all, a lot of women don’t even get to know they are pregnant for weeks, so how could they tell whose seed is growing in their wombs ( of course I am referring to situations of infidelity which is almost the norm today). A very good percentage of women don’t even know much about their reproductive system; when they are ovulating or about to menstruate, neither do they know their dry or free period.

    The advantage that phony belief gives to women is that a promiscuous woman can wantonly sleep around, get pregnant and simply point to the one man she knows has all the resources she can feast on.

    I can’t but wonder how many children have been born to homes and husbands who must take responsibility for seeds they genuinely cannot account for, thanks to this fraudulent African science.

    Such situation would make one suspicious  of most  of the first borns in many African homes were pregnancy was the catalyst for the wedding(welding), in a culture where women have the infallible  sole privilege to determine the paternity of the infant.

    For the record, new statistics indicates that about 30 to 40 percent of children in most Nigerian homes have paternal issues, especially the first born in cases where there were any kinds of delay in conception. Considering the intense pressure they always suffer when after nine month of marriage there is no yelling infant, women, though not meaning to cheat, but also being mindful of the brewing trouble, try to get pregnant by all means.

    They actually go all out visiting everywhere imaginable to get help. And the help giver most of the time are far from sympathetic. Sometimes they include sex with their clients as a necessary part of the solutions. And who is going to argue? Am I advocating a massive shift of wealth to doctors by going for aggressive DNA test?  Not really, all I am saying is, as far as paternal accuracy is concerned the woman do not have the power ascribed to her.

    This same issue was raised in a little gathering of friends, two weekends ago. Hmm, a friend who has been caught in such a messy situation opened up to tell his story. At that point, I was so ashamed of how cheap and deceitful some girls could be.

    According to Stephen, he was in his third year in the university when one of the girls he was ‘playing’ games with told him he was pregnant for him. Because he claimed to come from a strict home where shedding of the innocent blood of unborn babies is regarded as a taboo, he accepted the responsibility, took her to his parents and started making plans on how to be a student-father in the next nine months.

    It was later discovered that the girl who was the only child of her parents was on her second journey of being pregnant in school. She had earlier terminated the first pregnancy and almost lost her life in the process, so when Stephen ‘impregnated’ her again, and her parents got to know, she was warned not to tamper with the growing fetus. All care and support were promised to her as long as she remained a good expectant mother.

    With mixed feelings, Stephen’s parents accepted their son’s mistake in good faith and often visited and sent regards to their prospective daughter-in-law. Few days to the EDD (Expected Date of Delivery), the whole family was apprehensive as they awaited the arrival of the latest member of the family.

    Fortunately for Stephen and unfortunately for the young girl, she delivered a bouncing baby boy who was more or less an albino.  It was then remembered that a particular guy often came to the university campus to visit the new mother. And then they had a situation whereby the new born was 90 percent a spit image of the mulatto-like young man. The jigsaw fell into place.

    Overjoyed, Stephen threw a party for his friends for such timely ‘deliverance’ from the shackles of pregnancy scam. He would have been the father of another man’s baby and probably live in regrets.

    There are other instances of this kind of situation. If you are woman and you are reading this article, you better be careful. There is always a punishment for any woman who deceived an innocent man into accepting another man’s blood. It might take 10 or 20 years before nemesis catch up with you, but be assured that the disgrace would be thunderous. Ladies, dont try the pregnancy scam on any man. If you played around and got yourself impregnated, if you were such a multi-player Domitilla ‘whose ground was tilled’ by more than one man days before you took in, simply do a DNA test and get the child’s paternity right.

  • Foundation for a stable family (3)

    Dear reader, last week, I explained the place of commitment in laying a solid foundation for a stable family.  Today, I shall be looking at the place of understanding in building a stable family.

    If you must enjoy stability in your family, therefore, there is one very important factor, which is understanding.

    You need an understanding of yourself.  You must know who you are and understand why you are here on earth.  You must understand that God sent you here on earth on a purpose.  You must understand that you are not an accidental creature.  You must understand that the family to which you are born is no mistake.  You must understand that God who made you can never mismanage your life. The Word of God says: And with all thy getting get understanding (Proverbs 4:7).

    Until you are in harmony with yourself, you can never enjoy stability in your family. How much of yourself do you understand?  If you don’t have a good understanding of yourself, there is no way you can enjoy stability in your family.

    You Must Understand What Marriage is and What Marriage is NotThere are several people who are married, but lack the understanding of what marriage is all about.  There are others who are not married; they want to get married but lack the understanding of what marriage is all about.

    What then is Marriage?

    It is a union of a man and a woman in an exclusive, God-ordained, lifetime relationship. If you have this understanding, no matter the challenge you face in your marriage, you know that you and God are up to it.  Marriage is a perfect union with imperfect practitioners.  If you have an understanding of this, it will help you to enjoy a stable family.

    A wise man once said, “Because God is the Author of marriage, there is nothing you can add to it, all you need is to believe it and practise it”. As you practise it, it will begin to work for you.  It is a perfect union, God makes no mistakes, but the practitioners are imperfect.  This will help you to walk with your spouse in marriage, to enjoy harmony.

    Marriage is not just a means of getting what you desire, it is a means of meeting the needs of your spouse in marriage.  It is God’s mystery for earthly dominion.  And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth (Genesis 1:28). One will chase a thousand, and two will not just put thousand to flight, but ten thousand.  That is God’s mystery for earthly dominion.  So, when you get into marriage, you have a potential of minimum being ten times over better in all areas of your life.  That shall become your testimony.

    Marriage is not the source of joy and contentment, God is, and so you walk together with God in your family, He will begin to unfold to you via His Word and begins to manifest Himself in your home.  I see God beginning to manifest Himself in your home much more than ever before.

    Your understanding of your spouse

    For you to have a stable home, you need to understand your wife or your husband.  You must get to know that everything about God is unique.  There are no two people on planet earth that are exactly the same.

    You are unique, you are peculiar, your spouse is, your children are peculiar and everyone God has made.  You are not a carbon-copy of anyone; you are original and so is your spouse.  You must understand your spouse, if you must enjoy a stable family.  Understand his or her background.  Understand his or her likes and dislikes.  Understand what makes him or her happy.  Understand what affects his or her mood.

    For those who are yet to be married, before you say, ‘yes I do’ to any man or lady on the altar, ask yourself, ‘How much of him or her do I really know?’  Someone met me some years back; they were married three months before then. As at that time, both of them were fed up, ready for divorce.  I asked a simple question, “How much of your spouse did you know before you got married?

    To be able to understand your spouse effectively, two things must be in place;

    1.You must be sensitive. Never you walk

    around with your eyes closed.

    Your mind is a sound mind, be sensitive.

    2.Communicate effectively. Communication is the life-blood of any relationship.  Learn to communicate effectively with your spouse. When you know how to do this, it will help you to understand who your spouse is.   You need to ask questions.  The disciples of Jesus were around Him, they didn’t only listen to His teachings, whatever they didn’t understand they always asked and Jesus never told them, ‘shut up’. He always answered their questions.  So, rather than assuming that you understand, ask question. How about this area? How about that area of your life?  Communicate so you can have a better understanding.  When communication is effective, you are laying a solid foundation for a stable family.  Understanding is what is required to have an outstanding marriage.

    Do you want to be born again? Today, Jesus Christ is knocking at the door of your heart. Say this prayer of faith: “Dear Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You today.  I am a sinner.  Forgive me of my sins and cleanse me with Your Blood.  Deliver me from sin and Satan to serve the living God.  I accept You as my Lord and Saviour.  Make me a child of God today.  Thank You for accepting me into Your Kingdom.”

    If you prayed this simple prayer, you are now a child of God. He loves you and will never leave you. Read your Bible daily, obey God’s Word and seek Christian fellowship (John 14:21).

    Congratulations! You are now born again! All-round rest and peace are guaranteed you, in Jesus’ Name. Call or write, and share your testimonies with me through contact@faithoyedepo.org, and conselling@faithoyedepo.org; OR 07026385437 and 08141320204. For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores: Marriage Covenant, Making Marriage Work, Building A Successful Home and Success in Marriage (co-authored).

  • Foundation for a stable family (2)

    DEAR reader, you are welcome to another wonderful time in God’s presence. I thank God for the privilege to bring God’s Word your way again on this column with Family Forum. My prayer for you today, is that, God’s purpose and plans for your wonderful family shall be established.

    Last week, I taught on laying a solid foundation. I said, the foundation for securing a stable family is in your personal relationship with God.  You need a personal encounter with God.  God is the Author of marriage.  He is the One who founded the family.

    Today, I shall be exploring on a very vital tool that makes for a successful family.

    God instituted the family. The institution of the family is bigger than the persons in marriage. Therefore, the key to building a successful family is commitment to the institution of marriage, rather than just to the persons in it.  Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh (Genesis 2:24).

    In essence, God is saying that a man shall leave his father and mother, and be committed to his wife as well as the institution of marriage. Then by virtue of that commitment, they become one flesh. The same goes for the wife. Husband, wife, how committed are you to your marriage and family?  If you must enjoy family success, then commitment is a must!

     

    What is Commitment?

    The Oxford Dictionary defines commitment as “an engagement or obligation that restricts freedom of action.” In other words, there are some things you cannot do by reason of your commitment. The Word of God says: All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient (1 Corinthians 6:12).

    Commitment makes you choose the expedient above the lawful. It makes you forgo some things that you like or take pleasure in. Sometimes, rights and privileges that are lawfully yours may have to be forfeited in the interest of the family.

    Commitment is the backbone of any successful relationship, marriage and the family inclusive. It is the adhesive that holds a marriage together. When commitment is lacking in the relationship between a husband and wife, the chances of that family surviving are very slim. What the spinal cord is to the body is what commitment is to marriage and the family. Without it, the body will be limping and paralyzed.

    Families with great success potentials suffer severe setbacks and failure, as a result of lack of commitment. I once read the story of a 25-year-old marriage that ended in separation, due to a lack of commitment of both the husband and wife.

    To enjoy a stable family, you must be committed both to the institution of marriage and to your spouse. The Word of God says: What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” (Mark 10:9).

    Even though God has joined you together, you must be committed to one another, so that nothing is allowed to put you asunder. The Word of God says: Marriage is honourable; that is, respectable. The individuals in it sometimes may not be. Marriage, as an institution established by God, is perfect, but the individuals in it are not. People change as they grow, but marriage is constant. It is an unchanging institution. To build a stable family, therefore, those in it must learn to honour marriage itself. This is the secret!

    Young lady/man, before you agree to marry anyone, find out how committed he/she is to God and to marriage.  It is the level of his/her commitment to God that will determine how committed he/she will be to your marriage. Perhaps you married a man who was not committed to God, and now you are wondering why he is not committed to your family. He cannot, because the foundation is faulty. He needs to get “sold out” to God first! So, if you are not born again, there is no way you can be committed to God and you can never be committed to your marriage. You need to give your life to Christ.

    Would you want to be born again? Why not say this prayer of faith and mean it and let it be from your heart. “Dear Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You today.  I am a sinner.  Forgive me of my sins and cleanse me with Your Blood.  Deliver me from sin and Satan to serve the living God.  I accept You as my Lord and Saviour.  Make me a child of God today.  Thank You for accepting me into Your Kingdom.”

    If you prayed this simple prayer, you are now a child of God. He loves you and will never leave you. Read your Bible daily, obey God’s Word and seek Christian fellowship (John 14:21).

    Congratulations! You are now born again! All-round rest and peace are guaranteed you, in Jesus’ Name. Call or write, and share your testimonies with me through contact@faithoyedepo.org, and conselling@faithoyedepo.org; OR 07026385437 and 08141320204.

    For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores: Marriage Covenant, Making Marriage Work, Building A Successful Home and Success in Marriage (Co-Authored).

  • Foundation for a stable family

    HELLO Reader, with joy and gladness I welcome you to this edition of Family Forum.  In this third month of the year of Heaven On Earth, I shall be teaching on The Foundation for a Stable Family. In our Christian journey, a call to a constant examination of our foundation is a major prerequisite and cannot be over emphasized.

    Instability is one of the circumstances facing the average family around the world today.  It has ravaged many homes causing separation, infidelity, sorrow and non-fulfillment.  The good news is that there is a solution to this instability in families.  You don’t have to go through any of those heart-shaking experiences; in fact your family can become so stable that you will not be aware that others are collapsing. For you to have a stable family, you need a solid foundation.  That is why today I shall be examining: Laying A Solid Foundation.

    The foundation of a house is what determines how stable and strong the building will be.  The Word of God says: If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do? (Psalm 11:3).  There is nothing anyone can do if the foundation of a building be destroyed. So, also, if the foundation of your family life be destroyed, every other part will be faulty.

    The foundation for securing a stable family is in your personal relationship with God.  You need a personal encounter with God.  God is the Author of marriage.  He is the One who founded the family.  So, the starting point is, your relationship with the Almighty Father will affect and determine your relationship in your marriage.  How vital and strong the quality of your relationship with your heavenly Father is, will determine the quality of the relationship in your family.

    God is the only source of true and lasting relationship.  When you allow God to enter into your ship, your ship will never sink.  As singles, I want you to know that it is the will and intention of God for you to enjoy a sweet home but it is very important to know that, your true and lasting satisfaction, joy and fulfillment in life is rooted in your  relationship with the Almighty God.

    A good understanding of this will help you to walk in life with confidence. I want you to know that your spouse is not your source of joy.  God is the only source of joy.  If you understand this, you will be ready to walk by the Word of God, to secure stability in your home.  If you know this, that God is the only source of joy, happiness and contentment in the family, you will know that changing spouse like changing clothes is not the solution to your contentment in the family.  Looking for the latest models in town will never bring you contentment.  God is the source!

    Your problem today may be, ‘Oh! My husband is not good, I will look for another one. My wife is not good, I will get a better one.’ May be you are even contemplating of divorce, as you are reading this material right now, the light of God will come on you and God will restore dignity back to your marriage.  Stop that divorce plan; divorce is not the solution.  It is your relationship with God that makes all the difference and you will make progress in your family life.  Whatever has caused you heartache and tears before, your relationship with God will cause a change and you shall have stability in your family.

    Family stability is a possibility, but it is not a gift, you have a responsibility.  Bishop David Oyedepo, whom I am privileged to be married to, said: “Faith that makes God absolutely responsible for the events of your life is an irresponsible faith”.  You have a part to play!

    You need to be born again to have a relationship with God that Father, Who founded the family. God is the only true source of joy.  Allow God to come into your life so you can have a relationship with God.  You can say this prayer of faith: “Dear Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You today.  I am a sinner.  Forgive me of my sins and cleanse me with Your Blood.  Deliver me from sin and Satan to serve the living God.  I accept You as my Lord and Saviour.  Make me a child of God today.  Thank You for accepting me into Your Kingdom.”

    If you prayed this simple prayer, you are now a child of God. He loves you and will never leave you. Read your Bible daily, obey God’s Word and seek Christian fellowship (John 14:21).

    Congratulations! You are now born again! All-round rest and peace are guaranteed you, in Jesus’ Name. Call or write, and share your testimonies with me through contact@faithoyedepo.org, and conselling@faithoyedepo.org; OR 07026385437 and 08141320204.

    For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores: Marriage Covenant, Making Marriage Work, Building A Successful Home and Success in Marriage (Co-Authored).

  • God designed your home for success (3)

    God designed your home for success (3)

    I want to provoke you to pragmatic thinking! I’m not out to expound theories to you. John, the Beloved, said in the opening of his epistles: And our hands have handled, of the Word of life; That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son, Jesus

    Christ (1 John 1:13).

    The things I have handled, seen and heard are what I will be sharing with you in this week’s teaching.

    Last week, I said, marriage is what you think it to be, and that your perspective makes your marriage what it becomes. Let me also say here that your expectation shall not be cut off. In Genesis 2:18-25, we see God initiating the idea of male and female relationship, in which both will serve as succour to each other.

    The purpose of God in marriage is to create a help that is suitable, adaptable and complementary, to establish unity and for procreation. Daily, we see men and women seeking after soothsayers and seers, to know whom to marry. Some highly placed and educated young men and ladies creep stealthily into the dingy abodes of herbalists to know the cause of their marriage delays.

    Also, it is not a common thing to see couples running after palm readers, fortune-tellers and astrologers, just to find out what the future holds for their marriages, and how they can be guided into glorious homes.

    But, for us at the other side of Jordan, we have a reason to thank God. He doesn’t leave us to guess and grope through life. That is why He said: Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not (Jeremiah 33:3).

    Nobody builds a tower without an adequate preparation and a strong foundation. You must first desire a tower, before you can build one. Do not enter into a marriage covenant without an expectation. If you expect the best, it will be yours (Proverbs 23:18).

    God has promised to grant your expectations, whether good or bad. So, let your expectations be based on God’s Word, for it is higher than any evil experience or information you may have had or heard about marriage (Proverbs 10:24).

    If you are already married, there is still opportunity to change all negative expectations. As a couple, discuss your positive expectations and I guarantee that things will work out more smoothly in your home.

    The scripture says in Hebrews 3:4: For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything.  God is the Almighty Programmer of marriage; hence, He had created all that it would take to make it glorious. Man on his own part needs to abide by God’s principle and implement His plan.

    For instance, God has said: Husbands, love your wives … and to the wives, He said: Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husband (Ephesians 5:22, 25). Thus, if you and your spouse want to experience success in marriage, then you must do what God says, without circumventing His laid down rules.

    Unmarried ladies and young men, what do you expect in marriage? Your expectations shall not be cut off! Before we got married, my husband and I made discoveries from God’s Word that made us expect a hitch-free marriage. Our testimony today: Those expectations have not been cut off!

    I believe you have been mightily blessed by this teaching. So, as I pray for your family, believe God for a unique touch in your home. You will have a testimony!

    In the Name of Jesus, I ask for the hand of God to rest heavily on your home. I declare that from today, you begin to enjoy God’s goodness and honour in your home!

    The power to accept the responsibility of marriage can be given to you, by surrendering your life to Christ. If you are ready to surrender your life to Christ, please say this prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You today.  I am a sinner.  Forgive me of my sins and cleanse me with Your Blood.  Deliver me from sin and Satan to serve the living God.  I accept You as my Lord and Saviour.  Make me a child of God today.  Thank You for accepting me into Your Kingdom.

    Congratulations! You are now born-again! Till I come your way next time, please call or write, and share your testimonies with me through: E-mail: counselling@faithoyedepo.org, Contact@faithoyedepo.org; Tel. No: 08141320204; 07026385437.

     

    For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all the Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores: Making Marriage Work, Marriage Covenant, Building A Successful Home and Success in Marriage (Co-Authored).

    I want to provoke you to pragmatic thinking! I’m not out to expound theories to you. John, the Beloved, said in the opening of his epistles: And our hands have handled, of the Word of life; That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son, Jesus

    Christ (1 John 1:13).

    The things I have handled, seen and heard are what I will be sharing with you in this week’s teaching.

    Last week, I said, marriage is what you think it to be, and that your perspective makes your marriage what it becomes. Let me also say here that your expectation shall not be cut off. In Genesis 2:18-25, we see God initiating the idea of male and female relationship, in which both will serve as succour to each other.

    The purpose of God in marriage is to create a help that is suitable, adaptable and complementary, to establish unity and for procreation. Daily, we see men and women seeking after soothsayers and seers, to know whom to marry. Some highly placed and educated young men and ladies creep stealthily into the dingy abodes of herbalists to know the cause of their marriage delays.

    Also, it is not a common thing to see couples running after palm readers, fortune-tellers and astrologers, just to find out what the future holds for their marriages, and how they can be guided into glorious homes.

    But, for us at the other side of Jordan, we have a reason to thank God. He doesn’t leave us to guess and grope through life. That is why He said: Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not (Jeremiah 33:3).

    Nobody builds a tower without an adequate preparation and a strong foundation. You must first desire a tower, before you can build one. Do not enter into a marriage covenant without an expectation. If you expect the best, it will be yours (Proverbs 23:18).

    God has promised to grant your expectations, whether good or bad. So, let your expectations be based on God’s Word, for it is higher than any evil experience or information you may have had or heard about marriage (Proverbs 10:24).

    If you are already married, there is still opportunity to change all negative expectations. As a couple, discuss your positive expectations and I guarantee that things will work out more smoothly in your home.

    The scripture says in Hebrews 3:4: For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything.  God is the Almighty Programmer of marriage; hence, He had created all that it would take to make it glorious. Man on his own part needs to abide by God’s principle and implement His plan.

    For instance, God has said: Husbands, love your wives … and to the wives, He said: Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husband (Ephesians 5:22, 25). Thus, if you and your spouse want to experience success in marriage, then you must do what God says, without circumventing His laid down rules.

    Unmarried ladies and young men, what do you expect in marriage? Your expectations shall not be cut off! Before we got married, my husband and I made discoveries from God’s Word that made us expect a hitch-free marriage. Our testimony today: Those expectations have not been cut off!

    I believe you have been mightily blessed by this teaching. So, as I pray for your family, believe God for a unique touch in your home. You will have a testimony!

    In the Name of Jesus, I ask for the hand of God to rest heavily on your home. I declare that from today, you begin to enjoy God’s goodness and honour in your home!

    The power to accept the responsibility of marriage can be given to you, by surrendering your life to Christ. If you are ready to surrender your life to Christ, please say this prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You today.  I am a sinner.  Forgive me of my sins and cleanse me with Your Blood.  Deliver me from sin and Satan to serve the living God.  I accept You as my Lord and Saviour.  Make me a child of God today.  Thank You for accepting me into Your Kingdom.

    Congratulations! You are now born-again! Till I come your way next time, please call or write, and share your testimonies with me through: E-mail: counselling@faithoyedepo.org, Contact@faithoyedepo.org; Tel. No: 08141320204; 07026385437.

     

    For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all the Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores: Making Marriage Work, Marriage Covenant, Building A Successful Home and Success in Marriage (Co-Authored).

  • Wisdom: The winning key (3)

    Dear reader, welcome again to another time of refreshing in the Word of God. This week, we will be looking at Communicating in Wisdom. Wisdom tells you when to talk and when to keep quiet, what to say and the right time to say it, where to go and at what time, etc.  It is possible to say the right thing at the wrong time, thereby causing a lot of trouble at home.

    Someone came to ask me a question sometime ago.  She and her husband got married as Christians, but somehow, they were having many problems with the relatives of the husband.  One day, they decided to go and bare their minds to those relatives.  Ah! Ah!!  By the time they finished their discussion, there was more trouble “on ground” than they could handle.  The more they spoke, the more everything seemed to “scatter!”

    “What was the problem?”,  they asked me.  I told them that it was their presentation.  It was simply done in foolishness.  They knew what to say, but said it wrongly, so it ended up adding more salt to the injury!

    Knowing how to apply the knowledge of the Word of God is wisdom.  It will help you to know how to speak positive and edifying words to your spouse.  It will also help you to relate well with your in-laws.

    There is no way you can separate a man’s wisdom from the words of his mouth.  Just listen to somebody speak for five to 10 minutes, and you can easily pick whether he or she is wise or foolish!

    A woman shared this testimony:

    “Some time in 1990, my husband lost his job and from then, our struggles started.  Later, a sister in Christ gave me some money to start a business. Since then, I began to ignore the teachings of the Bishop and his wife on pride, and I no longer respected my husband.

    I insulted him whenever he talked to me, because I was the one fending for the family.  He began to complain of the way I talked to him, saying that there was no sign to show that I was born again, that I was behaving like one of the worldly women.

    However, I came for one of the International Women Convention, and there was a miming presentation on the use of the tongue. I learnt how to speak correctly to my husband, and regretted the indecent ways I had treated him in the past.

    On reaching home, I knelt down to greet him and he was surprised, because I had not done that before. There and then, he believed that something good would come out of the convention.

    Formerly, whenever he wanted us to have our morning prayers, I would shun him and tell him to say his own prayers that I would pray whenever it pleased me.  However, the next morning, I was the one that woke him and the children up for prayers.”

    Omotosho, O.

    Let me say that the reason a lot of people get into trouble in their homes, is that they know the right thing to say, but they say it at the wrong time and in the wrong place.  So, instead of bringing solutions, it causes more troubles. God’s Word says: A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards (Proverbs 29:11).

    Whenever you are faced with a situation that requires wisdom in your home, ever before you take any step, just pray a simple prayer, asking God to give you wisdom to handle the situation, and it shall be given you. God’s Word says: If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him (James 1:5).

    The word of prayer may be for just a minute, but you can trust God to send you the wisdom to handle the situation. May be as a man, your wife has said something that has really annoyed you, instead of slapping or abusing her, use wisdom. That is why Proverbs 19:11 says: The discretion of a man differeth his anger and it is his glory to pass over a transgression

    Woman, watch your words! One word spoken in wisdom can dissolve any tension building up in your home. Similarly, one word spoken foolishly can destroy the peace in your home.  It’s time to apply wisdom to your words, and as you do, I know your home will be preserved!

    Are you born again? For you to be born again, you need to confess your sins and accept Jesus as Your Lord and Saviour.  If you are set for this, please say this prayer of faith: “Dear Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You today.  I am a sinner.  Forgive me of my sins and cleanse me with Your Blood.  Deliver me from sin and Satan to serve the living God.  I accept You as my Lord and Saviour.  Make me a child of God today.  Thank You for accepting me into Your Kingdom.”

    If you prayed this simple prayer, you are now a child of God. He loves you and will never leave you. Read your Bible daily, obey God’s Word and seek Christian fellowship (John 14:21).

    Congratulations! You are now born again! All-round rest and peace are guaranteed you, in Jesus’ Name. Call or write, and share your testimonies with me through contact@faithoyedepo.org, and conselling@faithoyedepo.org; OR 07026385437 and 08141320204.

    For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores: Marriage Covenant, Making Marriage Work, Building A Successful Home and Success in Marriage (Co-Authored).

  • Wisdom: The winning key (2)

    DEAR Reader, wisdom is hearing the sayings of our Lord Jesus Christ and doing them. It is the correct application of knowledge. It demands that you take steps in applying correctly all you will learn from God this month, concerning your home. Only then, will you begin to reap the fruits of a sweet and a successful home.

    The Bible says: Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock (Matthew 7:24). The place of wisdom in building a successful home cannot be overemphasized. The Word of God says: Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding (Proverbs 4:7).

    Last week, we saw what wisdom is.  This week, we will be looking at The Application of Divine Wisdom in Sustaining your Home.

    Wisdom is the principal thing on which all other things rest. A home is meant to be built, in order for it to be successful. The Bible says: Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established (Proverbs 24:3). Therefore, to build a successful home, wisdom is required. A wise man said, “Courtship brings out the best, marriage brings out the rest.” That is why you need the God-given wisdom to know your spouse, adapt to him or her, and bring out the best that God has designed for your home.

    If you expect success in your home, then apply the wisdom of God. Be a doer of the Word. Do whatever He tells you to do. This is wisdom. When you do your part, God is committed to making your home a success. He can never fail.

    The Bible instructs all husbands to dwell with their wives according to knowledge (1 Peter 3:7). Understand her nature. When a man understands the nature of his wife and works according to that understanding, challenges are less likely to arise in that home.

    Realise that she is a wife, mother, and homemaker all at once, and these place demands on her. Be considerate towards her, and be available to minister to her needs. Don’t wait for her to play her part first. Live by example. Wives are not to be treated as slaves or inferior human beings, rather, they should be held in respect. This is the wisdom of God! Men who beat their wives exhibit folly and sin against God.

    God has placed the building of the house into your hands. The Bible says: Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands (Proverbs 14:1). Don’t operate in foolishness. Don’t pluck down your home; operate in the wisdom of God. Abide with God’s instructions. They are not grievous. Even if you happen to be married to a man whose level of understanding is lower than yours, remember Abigail. Through her wisdom and understanding, she saved her home even though she had a foolish husband.

    Identify your husband’s weaknesses, and help him to work on them. Learn to appreciate his good points, point out his mistakes in a kind and loving manner.  This is God’s wisdom. Embrace it. If you abide by God’s instruction, it will make your home precious before God and before men.

    As husband and wife, you are the builders of your home.  Marriage can be likened to a physical house.  Houses in the physical don’t just happen; they are consciously built.  You don’t just wake up one day and see a physical house grow up somewhere.  It takes conscious effort and input to make it happen.  In the same manner, and even much more, a good marriage doesn’t just happen, it is consciously made to happen.  The Word of God says, Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established (Proverbs 24:3).

    You have the duty to build it the way you want it to be.  Stop shifting your responsibilities to God.  As my husband would always say, “Any faith that makes God absolutely responsible for the happenings of your life is an irresponsible faith”.  The act of building is your responsibility.  You must fulfill your own part for God to fulfill His own.

    You need wisdom to build your home and God is the source of that wisdom.  In case you are born again and you need the wisdom of God to build your home, God is no respecter of persons; He will give you. If you are not yet born again and you want to do so, you have to surrender your life to God by confessing your sins and accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour.  You can say this prayer of faith and you shall be born again: “Dear Lord Jesus, I come to You today as a sinner.  I believe You died for my sins and rose on the third day.  Forgive me of my sins.  I accept You as my Lord and Saviour.  Make me a child of God today. Thank You for accepting me into Your Kingdom.”

    If you prayed this simple prayer, you are now a child of God. He loves you and will never leave you. Read your Bible daily, obey God’s Word and seek Christian fellowship (John 14:21).

    Congratulations! You are now born again! All-round rest and peace are guaranteed you, in Jesus’ Name. Call or write, and share your testimonies with me through contact@faithoyedepo.org, and conselling@faithoyedepo.org; OR 07026385437 and 08141320204.

    For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores: Marriage Covenant, Making Marriage Work, Building A Successful Home and Success in Marriage (Co-Authored).