The Nation Newspaper

Category: Family Forum

  • Madeline Berah, the African DETECTIVE in ’Tis Every Bit Like Murder (4)

    Just then, we heard a sound from the direction of the room. We all looked at each. Could the dead woman have risen again?

    The inspector continued. ‘She had come to see the Inspector-General about a contract she was pursuing. When I first saw her, I was moved with pity because she had been waiting for about five hours. I took her to my office and showed her a little kindness. Later, I was able to help her see the IG. That was it for me.’

    ‘You mean you did not start out being ‘friends’? put in Aunt Deline.

    ‘No,’ shrieked the AIG. ‘She was a very beautiful woman, but she was too fat for me; you know, what we call a really thicke madam.

    ‘Even when she started calling me after I had left headquarters, I was not really interested in her. I thought she was a married woman and I did not even think about that kind of thing.’

    ‘Then what changed?’

    ‘One year, I had to serve in Koroko State and I had to go to their Ministry of Information for something that I cannot now remember. It was then I met her again because she was now their commissioner in that ministry. After we greeted and I had concluded my business, she insisted that I had to taste of her hospitality. She took me home … and things sort of spiralled out of control from that time, especially as I found that she had no husband and my wife was not with me.’

    ‘Two lonely souls and that sort of thing, eh?’ half-asked my aunt.

    ‘You could say that, until I got transferred out of the state and got sent here to Keriba. I thought that would be the end of it but somehow, she opened a branch for her business here in Keriba and came here frequently to do business.’

    ‘Because of you sir?’ asked Inspector Gogo.

    ‘I am suspecting not entirely. I think her son may also have had something to do with that move. I understand he attends the university here. Anyway, we became very close when she moved here…’

    ‘You did not meet the son?’

    ‘No; I only came here to the house whenever he was out of town.’

    ‘Are you aware sir if she had any other ‘friend’?’ asked the inspector.

    ‘I don’t know. I think the son would be in a better position to tell us that.’

    ‘Well, if he did not see you, he probably did not see any other too if there were. When last did you see her sir?’

    ‘Yesterday; I was with her until about 8 in the evening.’

    ‘Don’t you mean this morning?’ put in Aunt Deline.

    The AIG bristled up. ‘I don’t like your tone, woman. If I say yesterday evening, then yesterday evening it is. Ah, ah, who is in a better position to know my movements?’

    ‘Not if you have something to hide.’

    ‘What am I still hiding? Have I not laid myself bare for you?’ Then he put his face in his hands and bent down, moaning. ‘Oh, Tamire, see your life! See where life has brought you now. See how one useless woman is playing you around like a ball…’

    Aunt Deline shot up. ‘Who are you calling useless woman? Did I ask you to have dealings with a dead woman? Look at the person I was even pitying before…’

    Inspector Gogo stepped in. ‘I think we can examine the body now, sir.’ We all got up to leave the room at once. Inspector Gogo stretched out a restraining arm to the AIG.

    ‘Not you sir; I think you know the rules sir. Just point the direction out for us’. The AIG sat back.

    Just then, we heard a sound from the direction of the room. We all looked at each. Could the dead woman have risen again? All three of us gingerly moved towards the sound, with me holding closely to my aunt’s arm and she, well, she moving quite close to the inspector.

    The main bedroom was situated directly at the end of the fairly long and narrow corridor. The rooms must have been fairly sized for the corridor to be so long, I thought. The inspector gently turned the knob of the door we had been directed to. All was still. He flicked on the light forgetting that electricity had still not been restored. He switched on the lamp he was holding and directed it to the bed. On it lay a very big woman, as still as a corpse. Silly me, I forgot she was a corpse.

    She was dressed in a big embroidered Kaftan of a shocking pink. Obviously, she had been in the pink of fashion because everything on the Kaftan was in good taste  the embroidery, designs, materials, and so on. Her jewelleries were profuse but well worn  about five different slim gold bangles on each wrist and gold rings adorned at least three fingers in each hand that tapered off into long fingernails painted, the kind of nails I always wanted but never seemed to be able to get to.

    Her permed hair was well combed, showing some silvery greys. Altogether, she presented a picture of a woman who maintained herself well. Talk of a well-manicured beauty in death. The only sign of death around her was the gun she was holding in her right hand. Otherwise, she looked like a large version of sleeping beauty.

    There was no other person in the room, yet I could swear we all had heard something. The inspector moved forward softly towards the window. Clearly, no one could have gone through the louvre blades unless he or she was made of air. So, whoever had made that noise must still be in the room. I stayed put at the door for two reasons.

    The first was that I had never in my life been near a dead body. This was my first experience. The second was that I did not think I had enough guts to face an intruder, whether armed or not. From the door, I felt sure I could run in any which direction at a moment’s notice.

    After inspecting the darkness outside through the window slats protected by the fluttering white net curtains supported by thick brocade hangings on both sides, the inspector slowly turned back into the room. Very slowly, he began to pull apart the wardrobe doors. But as he touched the doors, they slid apart on their own on their rollers. My aunt and I nearly jumped into each other’s arms. I think we expected someone looking like an ex-convict to barge out of it or something. Instead, we saw clothes after clothes of various colours hanging on pegs, while some were folded in piles that reached the ceiling. There was no space for any grown man or woman to hide in them.

    The inspector motioned us to remain silent and still where we were. Moving very slowly again like a cat, he bent to look under the bed. I had to admit a certain admiration for the way the man worked; very methodical and unhurried.

    As he bent to look down, there was a sudden movement from right under the bed. A figure suddenly slithered out and made for the door but the inspector appeared to be ready for him. The whole thing happened in a flash, within one single second. The figure must have thought if he surprised us, he could get out of the building. But, as he slithered out like one good-sized snake, the inspector was on him like a falling brick and brought him to the floor pronto. We gasped; the figure fought, but finally was overcome by the inspector’s brute strength as he was soon brought to a still, sitting position. I guess it is true what they say: short, stocky people do have the advantage of packed strength.

  • Madeline berah, the African DETECTIVE in ’Tis Every Bit Like Murder (2)

    Remember to take your badge. It may very well keep us out of jail this night.’ I could hear him mumbling as I left them to carry out her instruction. ‘I know something better that can keep us out of jail this night: sleeping in our beds.’

    They were not supposed to laugh. I didn’t understand why people always seemed to find my words funny, but no matter, at least hostilities appeared to have been dropped.

    When they sobered, wiping their eyes, the inspector wagged one stew-stained finger at his opponent. ‘Next time you try that, you might sleep in jail; lady or no lady.’

    Aunt Deline continued her devouring. ‘That was a warning strike. Next time you call me puny, you will go to jail, policeman or not.’

    He turned to me. ‘Why can’t she fight normally? She could have called me short-man-devil, I wouldn’t care. People call me that all the time.’

    ‘That’s you; I take exception to the word ‘puny’. It rankles.’

    ‘You’re just sensitive, that’s all. Perhaps, we should engage you to punch out our criminals for us.’

    ‘Bring them on. That’s what brought me here in the first place before you distracted me with your silly plate of stockfish.’

    The plate was obviously empty by now. The inspector took it into the kitchen himself, mumbling something about not wanting to see it punched in annoyance.

    I was glad to see the end of that hostility, as we moved to the sitting room. I threw myself into an arm chair. Aunt Deline was getting to be a full-time job.

    Her stomach filled with the purloined stockfish, Aunt Deline now had time for what brought her in the first place.

    ‘Yes Gogo, I was asking you about these kidnappings and what you people are doing about them.’

    ‘What kidnappings?’

    ‘This.’ She began to read. ‘Yesterday, it was reported that another businessman had been kidnapped from his home. According to witnesses, Chief Mofela Tuloju was just coming in from the day’s business when…’

    ‘I had not heard about that one.’

    ‘A fine country this is when a policeman does not know what is going on in his jurisdiction.’

    ‘Listen now, ah, ah! My mind is on a bigger problem. Yesterday, it was missing government papers. Today, a dead body was found on a well-made bed in a private residence and it is looking every bit like murder but it could also have been suicide.’

    ‘Who first discovered the body? What clues did you get from the scene?’

    ‘I have not visited it. I only got the report half an hour before I left the office; so I haven’t even got all the details.’

    ‘O kori koko o!’ I heard Aunt Deline scream. ‘Not visited the scene of crime?!!! Is that how you people work?’

    ‘Wait, wait, don’t castigate me. Can you see electricity anywhere in this town right now?’

    ‘What has that got to do with it?’

    Inspector Gogo took his time to aim his reply like it was his last bullet. ‘Listen, it is very important not to miss any clues when you first visit a crime scene. Without electricity, I cannot do my work efficiently at night. I have ordered the place securely locked. No one can get there before tomorrow morning.’

    Aunt Deline was having none of that. She shook her head.

    ‘My, my! Oh ye of simple faith! Your faith is so flimsy a pin can go through it. Listen, it is very important that the detective be the first to arrive at a crime scene. Let’s go.’ She got up.

    ‘Go where?’

    ‘To the scene of crime.”We don’t know if a crime has been committed. Besides, what is going to supply the light for us to see our way: the stars?’

    ‘We will use the stars and the moon if we have to. Eni, go get our rechargeable lamps and meet us down stairs. Man, get the keys to your car and let us move. Time waits for no one o’.

    ‘But… but… look at the time. It’s almost ten p.m. I need my rest.’

    ‘Stop crying; you’re nearly fifty years old, not five. What has time got to do with anything in this life? Tell me, who was the first to see the dead body? Remember to take your badge. It may very well keep us out of jail this night.’

    I could hear him mumbling as I left them to carry out her instruction.

    ‘I know something better that can keep us out of jail this night: sleeping in our beds.’

    Within the five minutes that Aunt Deline shot out the instructions, we were driving through the town.

    By this time, it was about ten p.m. As he drove, the inspector kept mumbling. ‘I’m going to lose my job this night for letting a civilian meddle in police business. I just know it. What is happening to you, Gogo? Are you now under the spiritual influence of a woman … He’s going to lose his job.’ Obviously, when agitated, Inspector Gogo speaks of himself in the third person.

    ‘In between your monologues, can you give us a summary of what happened?’

    He sighed, moaned a few more times, beat himself in the chest and hit the steering wheel, then shouted out.

    ‘How on earth did I let you talk me into this? Was I sleeping? The AIG is going to kill me.’

    ‘No one is going to kill you.’ I think that Aunt Deline’s curiosity was greater now than any consideration for the man’s job. ‘Just keep your head. Who first discovered the body?’

    The man sighed again before saying anything.

    ‘The body was discovered by the son. He is a student at the local university studying chemistry I think they say. I understand he stays on campus but that he normally goes home for the weekend. Anyway, according to the report, he claimed to have gone home as usual only to find her on the bed, dead.’

    ‘And what did he do then?’

    ‘He said he came to the police station to report.’

    ‘Did you interview him?’

    ‘No, I was not in the office then.’

    ‘Yes, of course, God forbid that the state’s chief detective Grade 1 should be found in his office at a most important time,’ said Aunt Deline. Her sarcasm was dripping.

    The inspector could be heard literally holding his temper with his teeth. ‘Woman, if they sent you to me this night, go and tell them you did not find me at home. Do you think I went to play my time away when I was supposed to be at work? Does it not occur to you that I might have gone out on official business?’

    ‘The result of which is that you missed the first hand report of the whole business. Who knows, if you had been there, your brain might have seen its way clear of its muddle to ask one or two leading questions. But no, we were away on official business when it mattered most.’

    Aunt Deline talked on, without looking at him. He was forced to listen to her, without looking at her. I looked at them both. It appeared to me that as he drove on, eyes looking straight, the inspector was becoming more and more swollen at each word uttered by Aunt Deline. I knew it was a matter of time before the dam burst.

    Suddenly, as her voice droned on, the inspector drew up by the side of the road and turned off the engine. Then he turned to Aunt Deline and aimed at her throat, his hands cuffed. Then he seemed to have thought the better of it and turned the engine on again before joining the road again. Aunt Deline was not one to let the matter rest. She had to have the last word.

    ‘I would just like to see you try,’ she said. He said nothing but drove on.

  • Obtaining rest in the family (4)

    So far, we have been able to examine the Place Of Rest, Rest In Time Of Unrest and Relaxing At Home. Today, we shall be exploring: ‘Maximising Happiness in Your Home’

    I want us to see how to get the best of times in our family life. The Bible says: The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear? (Proverbs 18:14). It is joy on the inside that brings out the best in a man. Happiness in your home will bring out the best in your wife, husband and children alike. A sorrowful heart is dangerous because nothing good comes the way of the dejected. God’s Word says: A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones (Proverbs 17:22).

    When there is no happiness in a home, the family members are prone to all sorts of sicknesses and diseases. Man, which of these do you choose: to stay happy and make every member of your family happy; thereby, staying away from hospital bills? Or to continue spending your money and resources on drugs, and medical bills? Wisdom is profitable to direct. A wise man would say, “I’ll rather choose to stay happy and be drug-free with my family members.

    What is Happiness? It is a state of enjoyment, showing satisfaction or joy; it is also marked by pleasure. When you are happy, in most cases, your disposition is characterised by laughter. Joy surges out from within you and you laugh. Laughing is a feeling of triumphant or exultant sense of well-being. When you are genuinely happy, no one needs to ask you; you just flow in it and it shows.

    Now, God has declared this year as our own year of From Glory to Glory. Therefore, God expects a lot of happiness in and around us, and in our homes this year. We shall not disappoint Him.

    What does it take to be Happy?

    The Psalmist says: …Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord; that walketh in his ways. For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee (Psalm 128:1-2). Also, Proverbs 28:14 says: Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief:

    We can see from the two Scriptures above that happiness comes by fearing God, reverencing His voice via His Word, obeying His instructions and doing what He commands us to do. To maximise happiness in our homes, therefore, God is telling us to consider these:

    Appreciate the good in your spouse and family members, and then the bad will depreciate: Whatever good thing and strong point you can see in the life of your spouse, let it be a source of happiness and inspiration to you. Praise God for this aspect of his/her life and then, every other area where he/she does not measure up will begin to disappear before your eyes.

    Celebrate your spouse: Remember that other people are secretly wishing this same man or woman is their husband or wife. Keep that which you have jealously. Magnify your spouse in the face of the devil.

    Sow joy: Remember that it is what you sow, you reap. If you sow excitement into the atmosphere in your home, you will reap joyful family members. You will be happy yourself and your home shall be full of joy.

    Adapt to your spouse: Like what your spouse likes. Know his/her tastes and flow along with it. You will feel free and flow easily together.

    Maintain body contact always: This does not necessarily mean sex. Hug each other, give little kisses and give your spouse pats of encouragement. Don’t be ashamed to hold your spouse especially in public. Be free; not of necessity but as a lifestyle.

    Create God (not good) climate around your home: A God climate will eventually produce a good climate. Fill your home with Christian music, books, inspirational materials, postals, etc. Let everything around your home spell God.

    Organise Feasts: Learn to celebrate important days and events. Form the habit of remembering birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas, etc. Make big events out of ordinary days. Use these occasions to get excited and rejoice with your family members. You don’t have to call people; gather your wife and children, and just celebrate with whatever you have.

    Be one: Do things with your spouse. Pray together and do things in common. Let your children see oneness in you. Remember, a house divide against itself cannot stand. Communicate and know your spouse to be able to vouch for you when not there. It makes you happy.

    Give no place to the spirit of unforgiveness: If you don’t forgive, you will not be forgiven. If you don’t make others happy, you will not be happy yourself. If your wife or husband offends or goes wrong somehow, correct immediately in love and forgive. Also forget and you’ll be happy.

    Be Contented: Contentment brings satisfaction. If you are not contented, you cannot be happy. Be satisfied with your husband, wife, children, finances, life and environment. Praise God always and you’ll be happy.

    Finally friends, the Word says: If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them (John 13:17). God needed a garden in Genesis and He planted one. If you want happiness, you must create it. Nothing works until you work it. You cannot be happy without having hope. Nothing destroys laughter like hopelessness; therefore, never lose hope for a moment. Set yourself to doing these things and your laughter shall know no end.

    Throughout the remaining part of this year, slap the face of the devil with your laughter. Be happy on the inside and it shall continually show on the outside. Your health shall spring forth and every member of your family shall enjoy the divine presence of God. Heaven is full of joy and God dwells in the midst of praise. Make your home and life a habitation for the Almighty.

    Moreover, it is important to know that if you want to maximise happiness in your home, the first step is to be born again. If you are not yet born again, now is the best time; so, please do not postpone or procrastinate because tomorrow might be too late. Please say this prayer and you shall be born again: “Dear Lord Jesus, I come to you today. I believe you died and rose again for my sake. Forgive me my sins, take my life and make me a child of God today as You plant Your rest in my life.”

    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; 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).

  • Madeline Berah, the African DETECTIVE in ’Tis every bit like murder (1)

    At once, he scraped back his chair and made for her, fist ready. In an instant, she was also up, chair thrown back, both fists balled in readiness. I quickly stepped in.

    ‘This is preposterous, absolutely preposterous’, burst out Aunt Deline, the well known African detective, one Tuesday evening from behind the previous day’s newspaper. She had this habit of never letting go a newspaper until she had digested every bit of its content. It was as if she needed to bore holes in the papers.

    We had just dined on the dish of vegetable and eba that I had concocted together with very few ingredients  pepper, salt, maggi cubes and vegetable mixed in red oil. Even I felt it could be better but my aunt declared it was perfect.

    ‘It needed a generous dash of fresh or dried shrimps, to be sure, but who can hold that against you?’

    That was her, always attentive to people’s feelings.

    Suddenly, Aunt Deline sprang up from her chair as if she had been stung her. She had a habit of doing that when something irked her or stung her sense of justice.

    ‘Where are you going at this time, Aunt?’ I asked her, a little warily. It was a little past seven o’clock in the evening. The last time she got up like that, she had ended up fighting with a passing pedestrian, physically, even throwing punches. It’s a long story, one I’ll tell you sometime. For now, I poked around for my shoes.

    ‘To see this… this… so-called inspector and ask him what the police are doing about these kidnappings.’ I quickly got up and searched for the keys to the little flat that we shared. I exaggerate when I say we shared; it was her flat and I was her guest. The trouble was that I enjoyed staying with her so much I always seemed to be there, particularly when she was on a ‘case’.

    ‘What if he’s already asleep?’

    ‘He’ll wake up’, she said peremptorily. I found the keys.

    Sometimes I wondered what she would do without me because she just never remembered things like keys. I suppose I secretly believed I was indispensable to her. The truth is…

    Gbam! Gbam! Gbam! She was banging on the door of our neighbour. I was alarmed.

    ‘Auntie, this is not the inspector’s flat,’ I whispered in consternation.

    ‘Nonsense. Does he not live on this side of the building?’ she asked, looking at me like I was an idiot. Spatially, I was beginning to think my aunt was an idiot.

    ‘Yes, but one floor above us. And he has since changed flats, remember, to the one directly above us?’

    The occupant of the flat she was banging on was a tall, aristocratic looking, elderly, cavalier bachelor called Mr. Ponle, who had slightly loose ways and hated being disturbed by his neighbours. I suspect he didn’t want anyone prying into his randy affairs with young girls. He had made one or two passes at me before but I guess my put downs had sufficiently put him down where I was concerned. Aunt Deline was anathema to him  no-go area. Today, I really hoped he was too deeply asleep, or too deeply dead, to hear the commotion.

    Too late. The door opened and he framed the doorway.

    ‘Yes?’, looking down at my diminutive aunt like she was a centipede that fetched up at his doorstep.

    ‘Yes what?’, asked the unrepentant knocker.

    ‘What do you want?’

    ‘Nothing. I wanted…’ She got no farther.

    ‘You knocked on my door to ask for nothing?’, he exploded, about to burst. I quickly stepped in.

    ‘I’m so sorry, but we knocked on your door in error. We really were going to another flat…’

    He narrowed his eyes and gave the shot from the hip.

    ‘And you had no eyes on your head to read the name on my door before pounding it with your puny fist?’

    Now, the fat was in the fire. There was no word my aunt hated more than that word puny. Perhaps, she hated it because it adequately described her, I don’t know. What I know is that if she gave me an allowance or food or bed or anything and I made the mistake of describing it as puny, I never heard the last of it. She would let me know in a thousand ways that the word altogether irritated her entire head by making sure it also irritated my entire head. In short she found ways of knocking my head with the word.

    So, no one, absolutely no one, called her puny unless they were ready with their fisticuffs. Obviously, Mr. Ponle knew nothing of this. He was propelled only by his own irritation.

    ‘You… You… You dare call me puny?’I swear I could see her physically extending her height as she stood on the tip of her toes, arms balanced on her waist. In that posture, she was ready to take on the world.

    Seeing her explode, the man retreated, nonplussed. I was disappointed. He was obviously better at starting fights than at sustaining them.

    ‘No, Miss Deline,’ he spat out, ‘you’re a giant’ before shutting the door most rudely in our faces.

    My aunt looked long and hard at the door, honoured it with a most hearty hiss before turning to go up the only staircase that serviced the building. Still infuriated, she marched irreverently on everything that got in her way  ants, cockroaches, flies, people… I trotted after her, apologising to them all.

    At the door of Inspector Gogo’s flat, Aunt Deline knocked more softly this time. The door was opened at once by the inspector’s nephew who was staying with the family over the holidays. His wife was nowhere to be seen.

    Aunt Deline charged in. ‘What in the name of all that is decent is going on in this country that everyone is being kidnapped left, right and centre and you and your ilk are just looking on?’ She delivered that last bit with a sweep of her newspaper-holding arm that took him in, along with his colleagues shown in a photograph displayed on the side-board behind where he sat at table. He was at his meal.

    ‘Oh,’ exclaimed Aunt Deline, ‘stock fish! I am partial to stockfish’. With that she drew out a chair, planted herself directly opposite him and drew the plate loaded with succulent, steaming cuts of stockfish in red pepper sauce towards her. The inspector sighed in great exasperation.

    ‘Eni,’ he intoned to me in his deep voice, ‘you’re a nice girl. But I can never understand why you allow yourself to be seen with puny, fake academics like this who…’ He got no further with his supposed joke.

    I had seen Aunt Deline’s hand suspended in the air as she tried to take another bite of stockfish and look at him straight in the eyes. No, she wouldn’t. Yes, she did. Quietly, she laid down the stockfish cut in her right hand … and I don’t know what happened next. I only saw that her hand flashed out and the inspector was holding his lip and moaning.

    ‘That’s it; no more stockfish for you,’ and she changed her seat far from the moaner, taking the plate with her. I was too shocked.

    ‘Auntie!!! Sir, are you hurt?’ One tends to ask irrelevant questions when in shock.

    ‘She punched me!’ he managed to get out. Aunt Deline munched on in silent relish.

    At once, he scraped back his chair and made for her, fist ready. In an instant, she was also up, chair thrown back, both fists balled in readiness. I quickly stepped in.

    ‘Inspector no, remember you are a policeman! Auntie no, remember you’re a lady!’

    Both of them stopped in their tracks, looked at me and burst out laughing real hard, holding their sides. I didn’t understand.

  • Obtaining rest in the family (3)

    I welcome you to another exciting time in God’s presence. In the first week of this teaching, I taught on the place of rest.  I said when you come to Jesus, you have rest. Last week, I also taught on rest in time of unrest.  Today, we shall be looking at Relaxing At Home.

    Peace of God is what brings about relaxation. When you are peaceful, you can be said to be relaxed. God is the Author of peace. He is not a partial God; He will give you when you ask Him and if you allow Him to be the Lord of your life, He will. His Word says: Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid (John 14:27).

    Too many people are going through one form of tension and stress or the other at home, work, with their spouses or children. Life doesn’t seem to be treating them well. For such people, relaxation is like an impossible task. In this “age of anxiety,” where humanity is threatened with nuclear bombs, natural disaster, incurable diseases and uncertainty, everyone is looking for one form of escape or the other. Those experiencing family pressures may turn to drugs. While others opt for money making ventures, others may find solace in another wife, thinking that would offer a solution. Children are not left out: some may join bad gangs with their peers, while relations seek diabolical solutions. In a bid to rid themselves of their burdens, they end up compounding them. But despite all these, the Word of God says: These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world (John 16:33).

    With all these seeming escape routes, many are still left empty, unfulfilled and finally worse-off than before. Everywhere, people are looking for something to relax their nerves from a world of stress, tension and pressures. Countless people and even Christians, after their salvation experience, carry burdens and go through life with yokes around them. This just goes to show that there is no permanent solution for man in those seeming escape routes. It is possible, however, to live above the regions of pressure and stress.

    Anyone who is experiencing turbulence in the home can enjoy peace and rest by discovering the solution the Word of God offers to troubled homes and obeying them. It may not look like the solution, but God is a marriage expert. He ordained and instituted the family unit and knows how best to make it work. Just by following instructions, my home and family is a place to relax. Pressure can’t find its way in, stress is non-existent and tension can’t survive there. God has made it a place of peace for all the family members and me. Yours can experience the same too, if you can practise what it takes.

    I don’t know the kind of burden you have been carrying about, but today, as you continue to read God’s Word, it will show you what to do in order to live stress-free. You can relax at home! If you are willing to do what it takes, God’s presence will be with you even where you are now. If you agree with His Word right where you are, He will take every burden off your life and every yoke off your shoulder. The Bible says: COME unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light (Matthew 11:28-30).

    If you are tired of being burdened at home and you need to relax, Jesus Christ says, “Come”. Imagine a man running a race with a bag of cement on his head. He wants to win but the weight on his head is a hindrance. This illustrates what many families are experiencing. Burdens, weights, cares and worries have robbed them of reaching that goal of a peaceful home. I want you to know that absence of peace in the family does not make for relaxation. Relax yourself in the arms of the Lord Jesus and lay your burdens at His feet. Until you do that, you can’t lay hold on the rest that God has for you.

    No one else can carry your burden except the Lord Jesus. It doesn’t matter what the burden is, whether it is bad examination results, financial hardship or childlessness, Jesus says, “Come unto me…and I will give you rest”. In other words, Jesus is determined, set and ready to give you rest if only you will let Him. You have a duty to perform by coming to Jesus. The Bible describes Jesus Christ as “The Word of God” (Revelation 19:13).  Therefore, coming to Jesus simply means coming to the Word of God as the final solution to every problem. Look at this sister’s testimony:

    “My marriage technically broke down on the wedding day, at the reception table!  But I stayed on in it for almost a decade.  It was a thorn in the flesh.  Eventually, I had to leave. Right inside my matrimonial home, I got a SAN to prosecute the divorce.

    I got born again after then, but the Word never came to me till I heard a teaching on forgiveness in the church, which made me realise that I had been living in self-righteousness all along.  I forgive but don’t forget. I got this corrected in my mind and through the anointed book, Marriage Covenant, preaching of men of God and anointed counselling, my marriage got miraculously healed. Right now, I’m having a honeymoon.” (Olaleye)

    There is hope for your home! Someone said talking with God is the prescription for anxiety. As you communicate with the Lord and He communicates to you through His Word, tension and worry will be a thing of the past. With the exit of tension and stress, your home will be a place to return to and relax after the days work or activities. To have a home of relaxation, you must get connected to God by accepting Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. That is what being born again is all about.  Now is the best time to be born again; so, please do not postpone or procrastinate because tomorrow might be too late. If you are ready for this new birth experience, please say this prayer and you shall be born again: “Dear Lord Jesus, I come to you today. I believe you died and rose again for my sake. Forgive me my sins, take my life and make me a child of God today as You plant Your rest in my life.”

    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; 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).

  • Madeline Berah, the African Detective in the missing government papers (9)

    Unfortunately, my sister blamed me. She said I used juju to take her son’s star and distribute it among my children; that’s why they are now doing fine and her son is languishing.

    ‘After trying everything I could, I finally got him a job in another ministry hoping he would build a career and rise on the job. But he got involved with a bad group and started misbehaving, stealing and all that, and he got sacked. I decided to bring him here right under my nose so I could keep an eye on him. So, I came to you sir and you gave him a job, and now a fine job I seem to have done. What am I going to do? If he goes to prison, what am I going to tell the mother?’ She started to cry again.

    Aunt Deline was grieved. She hated to see a woman cry.

    ‘Don’t worry, the permanent secretary will be magnanimous. He will not press charges.’

    The permanent secretary sighed and agreed that he would not; he wanted to keep the matter quiet anyway. But the young man must recount how he got hold of the papers because he, the permanent secretary, thought he guarded it jealously enough.

    After a lot of coaxing, the cleaner opened his mouth and explained.

    ‘I had been present when the paper was brought to the office by the boy sent to deliver it. The secretary, my aunt, had not seen the contents of the envelope before she went to the restroom. While she was away, I quickly looked in the envelope and decided that the papers were very important so I just bid my time.

    ‘Whenever I cleaned the office, I noticed that Oga would make sure his briefcase was near his feet just behind his desk. So, I just watched for the times he went to the toilet and how long he spent there. One day, I saw him go to the toilet because the door was slightly open and my aunt was not around, and since I knew the shape, size and colour of the envelope, it was not difficult for me to get it within half a minute. Before he came out, I had done what I wanted to do and was already back on my seat pretending to sleep when he came to see if anyone was waiting for him here.’

    ‘But why did you take it?’ his aunt asked in exasperation.

    ‘I saw the gambling receipts. They were more important than the other papers. I was going to sell them back to the owner.’

    The inspector spoke. ‘Do you know that blackmail is a criminal offence?’

    ‘And supposing the man killed you instead of paying you? What then?’ his aunt asked again.

    Aunt Deline stood up. It was our cue. ‘I think our job here is done. We should allow the good permanent secretary to get on with his job.’

    The permanent secretary stood up too. ‘I know that if I asked you how you knew that the envelope was on the young man, you would not tell me. But at least let me pay you.’

    ‘Oh, I don’t mind telling you’, replied Aunt Deline. ‘I was not expecting anyone to be ‘wearing’ the papers; I was expecting to have to lift up every carpet in the place or go through the toilets, but I was prepared to be surprised anyhow so I paid attention to everything.

    ‘When the cleaner came in, I noticed that the left side of the front of his jacket was infinitesimally more swollen than the other side.

    ‘And I was prepared to find it with someone else, not him. It was when you mentioned the cleaner that it hit me, fool that I was. I don’t mind confessing that I very nearly missed that. Thanks. It just shows that we all live and learn.

    ‘As for payment, I must tell you that while I do not accept money as a rule, I am not above accepting favours, which I will mention when my niece and the good inspector and your secretary leave us alone. By the way, (turning to the secretary) what your nephew requires is the service of a good psychoanalyst. I will give you a recommendation to a good friend of mine.’

    With that, the inspector and I left the office. I cannot report what favour Aunt Deline asked the permanent secretary but I certainly hoped it would concern her job. The next week, however, a large crate containing an inverter with a two and a half KvH capacity was delivered to our flat. This meant not only did we have a power source for me to do my reading, the fridge and the fans in the flat could be powered without the accompanying stress or noise that generators give.

    More importantly, Aunt Deline received a personal call that day from the manager of the electricity company apologising for the ‘crazy bill his boys’ had forwarded to her flat, and that she should discountenance them. I think she did not need a second invitation.

    When I asked Aunt Deline just how she had arm-twisted the poor permanent secretary, she only said that the man was very lucky, he could have lost his job. In that case, someone needed to be providentially placed to receive his gratitude. Who better than us?, she asked.

    When I also asked her why she had not asked him to connect her for a job at the proposed university, however, she brushed me off. ‘Let us live one day at a time, right?’ I marvelled at her. Once again, she had put my need to study ahead of her even more important need for a job!

    In the evening, when the inspector came to visit, he informed us that the permanent secretary never did find out the person that sent the papers to him; maybe a disgruntled fellow gambler, who knows? Most importantly, the permanent secretary had been able to tell the governor that the press reports were not true, and nothing was missing from his office. Also, the senior director concerned in the story had been dismissed from service on the basis of the incriminating evidence.

    ‘Now,’ said Aunt Deline, ‘he can become a full-time gambler. People who do not know the worth of their job do not deserve to keep it.’

    ‘Yes,’ agreed the inspector, ‘work is sacred. The work you do is a huge responsibility that you owe the country, your fellowmen and your maker. Through your effective work, you send a message to nature that the human society should continue. This is why nature hates the disruptions that come through ineffective work. Talking of effectiveness, how were you able to deduce so that the envelope was in the vicinity?

    ‘I paid attention. I told you that you must think cyclically. Let me tell you, in cases of this sort, it’s often the little things that count the most. While everyone was looking up at the most important things about the case  where the permanent secretary had been that day, what he did or did not do, the strength of the briefcase, etc., — I was more interested in the little things and one visit to this place assured me of all I wanted to know.’

    ‘And what was that?’

    ‘The psychological state of the secretary. If I had found her inscrutable, it would have deepened my suspicion of her further. But I found her rude, but sad and in pain. So, I knew that one, she probably did not take the papers, and two, she had her suspicion of who did. When I found her at her filing cabinet, I believed she thought the thief had hidden it there and she was hoping to surprise him. Poor lady; how was she to know the extent to which her nephew had degenerated?

    ‘So, if she did not take it, then who did?, I asked myself. I did notice an extra desk in her office on which there was no computer or anything. The table was small, dark brown, glossy from being so dirty and used, and wobbly. There were other chairs around it but the accompanying chair was even more wobbly and its leather well worn in the seat. Also, the carpentry seemed to have weakened so that the chair sagged down and the packing under it gaped. I believe that gaping hole made a perfect initial hiding place for the thief. This meant that whoever took it shared the office with the secretary.

    ‘I did not have time to find out who that person was, that first time. I thought however that if the envelope had not been moved, I would likely find it under that chair when we would come back based on one principle.’

    ‘What principle is that?’

    ‘The principle that says the best place to hide anything is in plain sight. How was I to know that providence had an even better illustration of that dogma for us? Child, is that bottle of wine in the fridge cold yet? Please bring it and let us all ‘wash’ this new source of electricity that the country is forcing me to live with.’

    On the veranda, under the watchful eyes of the stars, we three sat and drank the California wine. When I say drank, I exaggerate. Aunt Deline poured me a generous amount that could not even satiate an ant while the two adults proceeded to get to the bottom of why the electricity situation of the country was so bad. This discourse also led them to the bottom of the bottle; but I was content to listen, as always.

  • Obtaining rest in the family (2)

    I started this teaching last week by showing you the place of rest.  Today, I shall be teaching on ‘Rest in Time of Unrest’

    Despite the fact that unrest is prevalent in the world, there are still some people that enjoy rest in their homes, marriages, careers, jobs and lives. I want to let you know that true rest is possible, but it is only God that can give you such. There are people enjoying rest unlimited today. You too can find rest from the Word of God. The Word of God says: For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief (Romans 4:8-11). There is what you must do to enter your rest.

    Quite a large number of people today are experiencing one form of unrest or another. Some are so anxious about the future and are wondering over what it holds for them, while others are running helter-skelter, seeking money-making enterprises and getting none. Some others are still searching out an escape route from tension in their failing family lives.

    For many in the world, these are pressure-filled times and statistics have indicated that the decline of marriage and the family unit has been greater and more alarming in the past 25 years than any other quarter-century in history! There is no doubt about it that there is unrest around us today and even the world over, which has affected families economically, socially and politically. It is a global issue; so, its solution cannot come from running to another nation or location.

    Constant crisis, terrible difficulties, turbulence and pandemonium have become the order of the day. Nevertheless, this was not God’s plan when He created the world, marriage and family life. His plan was that your marriage and family life bring you tremendous joy. The question on the minds of many now seems to be: Is it possible to find rest in this time of unrest?

    Today, the Word of God is going to proffer a suitable answer to that question.

    Who are those that have rest even in times of unrest? There remaineth therefore a rest to THE PEOPLE OF GOD (Hebrews 4:9).

    Also, 2 Thessalonians 1:7 says: And to you who are troubled REST with us. The key word is, THE PEOPLE OF GOD. The Holy Scriptures reveals that being part of God’s people is the only way to obtain genuine rest from God. Are you part of God’s people? His Word tells us that, As many as received him to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name (Jesus Christ)  (John 1:12).

    For the people of God, since rest is your birthright and the will of God for you; therefore, whatever does not make you enjoy the peace and rest of God is a yoke. Whatever keeps your life in anxiety is a yoke that must be removed.

    You must, therefore, find out what the Word of God says about that particular area of your life where you desire rest and hold fast to it; I guarantee, it will become a reality in your life. God’s Word says: For we which have believed do enter into rest (Hebrews 4:3). Take for example, my marital life. Before I got married, I saw from God’s Word that rest was my portion as His child in every facet of my life including my home. So, I prepared for rest not trouble. I saw it in the Word of God and I appropriated it. Today, God has fulfilled my expectation. My home is a resting-place for all.

    Rest is available to you through the Word of God, which is its source. Absolute rest is found only in Christ Jesus; any alternative that the world may offer will only be temporary. It may work for a short while but ultimately, it will fail woefully. Why not take a permanent solution then? The permanent solution lies solely on the Word of God which will guarantee you and your family all-round rest. God is on your side!

    If you are not a part of God’s people and you want to be, now is the best time. Do not postpone or procrastinate; rather, say this prayer with me: “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; 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).

  • Madeline Berah, the African Detective in the missing government papers (8)

    To everyone’s surprise, when she reached him, she put her arms around him, as if giving him a tight hug. The man was more surprised that we were but that was for a few seconds. Suddenly, however, she began to pull at something in his clothing. When he seemed to realise what she was about, he began to try to pull himself out of her embrace.

    Have I told you that once Aunt Deline gets hold of something, she is worse than a hungry tiger holding on to its prey to make sure its lunch does not escape? No? Well, you must know now that Aunt Deline would as soon wrestle with a lion over his prey if she felt he had no right to it as she would punch a man in the nose for insulting her.

    When she gets like that, I usually look for the nearest exit because her punches have had previous habits of falling irreverently on anyone who gets between her and her target. I have been an unwary recipient before. Before our very eyes today, however, her embrace transmuted to a struggle to hold on; but the more she struggled, the more the cleaner tried to pull out.

    Nearing exhaustion, Aunt Deline cried out, ‘Don’t just sit there all of you, help me hold this man down. He has the papers!’

    Hearing that, the two men rushed upon them just as the secretary came in and within minutes the man was on the carpet. While the men had the man pinned down, Aunt Deline was stripping him of his French suit. She started with the trousers. I tried to look away because I thought she was going to be taking off his briefs next. When I looked again though, she had removed his short-sleeved jacket and was feeling all over it. There, from right inside the front lining, she pulled out a long brown envelope. Everyone gasped as they left off holding the struggling man.

    The permanent secretary held out his hands for the envelope. Trembling all over, he brought out the contents and checked them one after the other. The look he gave us was both exultant and triumphant.

    ‘Everything is intact,’ he said in wonderment. Then he sat down heavily on his chair again and looked at Aunt Deline with reverence. ‘Madam, you have saved me and my career today!’

    By now, the cleaner, who had been full of valiant struggles a minute before, was sitting hunched up on the carpet, face down and refusing to look at anyone. The secretary, who had come in while the struggle was on, took a seat near him and draped his shoulders with his jacket.

    When all was calm again, the permanent secretary had a look of awe on his face but he spoke quietly.

    ‘How did you know?’

    Aunt Deline answered. ‘I didn’t. I was sure that the papers were in the office, but I at first thought that the secretary had them. However, when I spoke with her, I did not see a woman hardened by crime but I saw a face in pain. When I surprised her in the office the first time I was here, I thought she was either deeply unfriendly or deeply troubled. Even now, I am not sure what the source of her pain is as it cannot be just the papers.’

    The secretary sighed. ‘Ma, it is the papers. I was also worried about them.’

    ‘Then you should be happy like the rest of us’, shouted the permanent secretary.

    ‘Yes sir’, the woman replied wearily, ‘but I am not happy about the place where we found them.’ Then she burst into tears.

    We all sat in perplexity.

    Pulling herself together and wiping her eyes, she explained.

    ‘Fifteen years ago, my sister who lives in Zunguru asked me to take her young boy to live with me since I was in the city and could give him a better chance in life. I took the boy and tried my best for him. I sent him to the same school as my children. I fed him the same meals as I did my children. In fact they did everything together, including studying. For some reason, however, my children came out of school with good grades, went on to university, graduated and took good jobs and are now living fine, independent lives.

    ‘Somehow though, my nephew just could not do well in the same academics despite being exposed to the same conditions. I did all I could to help him, including taking private teachers for him, but nothing helped.

    ‘Unfortunately, my sister blamed me. She said I used juju to take her son’s star and distribute it among my children; that’s why they are now doing fine now and her son is languishing.

    ‘After trying everything I could, I finally got him a job in another ministry hoping he would build a career and rise on the job. But he got involved with a bad group and started misbehaving, stealing and all that, and he got sacked. I decided to bring him here right under me so I could keep an eye on him. So, I came to you sir and you gave him a job, and now a fine job I seem to have done. What am I going to do? If he goes to prison, what am I going to tell the mother?’ She started to cry again.

    Aunt Deline was grieved. She hated to see a woman cry.

    ‘Don’t worry, the permanent secretary will be magnanimous. He will not press charges.’

    The permanent secretary sighed and agreed that he would not, but the young man should just tell us how he got hold of the papers because he thought he guarded it jealously enough.

    After a lot of coaxing, the cleaner opened his mouth and explained.

    ‘I had been present when the paper was brought to the office by the boy sent to deliver it. The secretary my aunt had not seen the contents of the envelope before she went to the restroom. While she was away, I quickly looked in the envelope and decided that the papers were very important so I just bid my time.

    ‘Whenever I cleaned the office, I noticed that Oga would make sure his briefcase was near his feet just behind his desk. So, I just watched for the times he went to the toilet and how long he spent there. One day, I saw him go to the toilet because the door was slightly open and my aunt was not around, and since I knew the shape, size and colour of the envelope, it was not difficult for me to get it within half a minute. Before he came out, I had done what I wanted to do and was already back on my seat pretending to sleep when he came to see if anyone was waiting for him here.’

    ‘But why did you take it?’ his aunt asked in exasperation.

    ‘I saw the gambling receipts. They were more important than the other papers. I was going to sell them back to the owner.’

    The inspector spoke. ‘Do you know that blackmail is a criminal offence?’

    ‘And supposing the man killed you instead of paying you? What then?’ his aunt asked again.

    Aunt Deline stood up. It was our cue. ‘I think our job here is done. We should allow the good permanent secretary to get on with his job.’

    The permanent secretary stood up too. ‘I know that if I asked you how you knew that the envelope was on the young man, you would not tell me. But at least let me pay you.’

    ‘Oh, I don’t mind telling you. I was not expecting anyone to be ‘wearing’ the papers; I was expecting to have to lift up every carpet in the place or go through the toilets, but I was prepared to be surprised anyhow so I paid attention to everything.

  • Obtaining rest in the family (1)

    Dear Reader,

    This is a glorious day. It’s a day of rest, laughter, rejoicing and fulfilment. I am so excited today about what God is expounding to His people. He says in His Word that there is a place of rest in Him. He also says, “You have been battered and wounded long enough, come and obtain rest for your soul” (Hebrews 4:9-11). That means, there is rest reserved for you concerning your family-life, career, business, children and finances.

    Therefore, your running around is over. You have carried that burden long enough; an end has come to it. You have been running helter-skelter just to survive; today marks the end of every form of unrest in your life. God says, “For the remaining part of this year, He has prepared a place of rest for you and your family.” I pray that you will see it and enter into it in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

    Today, I shall be examining “The Place of Rest.” Where is this place of rest? How do you get there? What does it take to get there? These are the things God wants to expound to us today. I pray that your eyes of understanding will be enlightened and every unrest in your life and family will be destroyed.

    What is rest? How can you say you are restful? A state of rest means to be at peace or at ease; a state of tranquillity. Jesus said: Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light (Matthew 11:28-30).

    Rest is obtainable, but only in Christ. You have been battered by the happenings all around you; Jesus invites you to come unto Him, if you desire rest. I don’t know what has been responsible for your unrest; but I know you can be free today. No matter the mountain or how big the burden has been, Jesus, the burden-bearer, invites you to come. The Bible says: Whatsoever the Lord doeth shall be forever (Ecclesiastes 3:14). When Jesus carries your burden, you can be rest assured that the case is settled forever. All He requires of you is to come to Him. Come with the faith that He can do it and with the hope that He can never fail. That thing that causes you heartache, makes you sigh and shed secret tears, I see Jesus walking by your side to lift those burdens off you and give you eternal liberty. He says, “He will do it”, not He may or that He would try. That means it is His absolute desire to give you rest in life.

    He said: The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly (John 10:10). It is the thief (devil) that is giving you unrest. His ministry is to steal, kill and destroy. However, Jesus, the Author of life says that if you come to Him, He will give you what the devil cannot access.

    Maybe, as a student, you have been writing a particular examination several times and the result is always the same. It has become a yoke in your life and a burden to you. Maybe, yours is in the area of finances; you wake up every morning with no breakfast or lunch in view not because you are fasting, but there is nothing to eat. I want you to see Jesus take off this yoke from you to be free. All it takes is to come to Him. See what the Bible says: Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness (Isaiah 55:1-2). Stop running helter-skelter, come to Jesus. Who is Jesus? He is the Word of God made Flesh (John 1:1-14).

    The Word of God is the water of life. So, take refuge in the Word from all odds of life and every form of unrest. Is it a spouse’s ungodly behaviour or action? Is it a child’s unruly behaviour that is bothering you? Or is it in the area of your finances? All you have to do is turn to the Word. There is no rest in any other place; true and absolute rest can only be found in the Word of God. God has declared this year as your own year of turning point. A genuine turning point only comes from a restful soul. God cannot lie; it is your duty to allow His Word to produce in your life. As many families as will care to find rest in God’s Word this year, they shall experience turnarounds on every side.

    Do you look through the window more than ten times every night before going to bed? Do you do more work in your sleep than when you are awake because every bit of noise you hear wakes you up? That is not rest. Your protection is not in your looking out, neither is it in your jumping out; rather, sure protection comes from the Word of God. The Word says when you sleep, it shall be sweet and nothing shall make you afraid. God cannot lie (Psalms 127:2).

    Maybe you are the type that each time you are on the road travelling, all kinds of picture come to your mind and you begin to picture every form of accident. Then your heart begins to pant and skip a beat; this ought not to be so. Jesus says, “Come unto me…” That means it is in coming that you have total rest either on the road, in the air or on the sea. Come to Him today; dedicate your family to Him and hand over all your children to Him. So that, whenever your children travel or go to school, you will not imagine all sorts of evil, accident, kidnap, immoralities, etc. As a result, your mind will be at rest. When you and your family members come to Jesus on the basis of His Word, you all have a sure covering in His Blood! By so doing, you can be rest assured that your children, business and all that belongs to you would not suffer what the people of the world suffers.

    How do you come to Jesus? The Bible Says: If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation (Romans 10:9-10). It doesn’t take more than this to have perfect rest all around you. Make a wise decision today; accept the Lord Jesus as your own personal Lord and Saviour. Make Him the Lord of your entire household and you will be at rest in every aspect of your life.

    The Scripture above says you should confess with your mouth, and then believe what you have said in your heart. The time for you to do that is right now. Wherever you are reading this article, kneel down and with conviction in your heart that you desire the rest that comes only from God for you and your family, say: “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; 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).

  • Enjoying marital harmony

    Dear Reader,

    You are welcome to another wonderful time in God’s presence. Throughout this month, we shall be exploring the topic: ‘Enjoying Marital Harmony’.

    The Bible says: 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). This is God speaking and He is the Author of “the family”.  The excerpt “…They shall be one flesh” from the above scripture is not talking about the physical joining of a man and a woman. No! Rather, it is referring to the harmony, agreement and unity in marriage. Furthermore, it is important to know that in securing marital harmony no matter the culture, the Word of God is universal and it works anywhere.

    There are many married couples today, who shed tears because of their experiences in marriage. I pray that whatever tears you have shed in the past, as you go through this article today, God will wipe them all away!

    The issue of marital harmony is of utmost importance because it is not just about you as an individual, but the entire church of Jesus Christ since it is made up of families. In other words, harmony in the family unit will affect the body of Christ in a large way because every nation on planet earth is made up of families.

    Understanding the Family Unit

    The word “family” in the Longman’s Dictionary of contemporary English means: a group of people who are closely related to each other, especially mother, father and their children, representing the nuclear family.  There is also the extended family setup, which include aunts, uncles, grandparents, distant relatives, etc.

    I want you to know that everyone on earth male or female, married or single, no matter the status, belongs to a specific family. God sent you to this world through that family for a purpose and you will fulfill that purpose in Jesus’ name! Many families and homes today, both in the church and in the world are going through tension and disharmony, and this has resulted in separation, divorce, abuse of all kinds, frustration, infidelity and the likes.

    The Foundation

    The Bible says: If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do? (Psalm 11:3).

    The foundation for securing marital harmony is your personal relationship with God, because He is the Author of marriage and the Founder of the family. Thus, your relationship with the Almighty Father is the starting point to experiencing marital harmony.

    Moreover, God is the only source of true and lasting relationship. When you allow Him into the ship of your marriage, it 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, your true and lasting satisfaction, joy and fulfilment in life are rooted in your relationship with the Almighty God. A good understanding of this will help you to walk through life with confidence.

    In addition, I want you to know that your spouse is not your source of joy: rather, God is the only true source of joy. This truth will enable you to walk by the Word of God to secure marital harmony. For instance, when you understand that God is the only source of joy, happiness and contentment in the family, you will know that changing spouse like clothes is not the solution to the contentment issues in your family. Looking for the latest models in town will never bring you contentment. God is the ONLY true 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. Or maybe you are contemplating divorce right now. I pray that as you are reading this material today, the light of God will come on you and dignity will be restored to your marriage in Jesus’ name! Therefore, stop that divorce plan; that 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 harmony in your family in Jesus’ name!

    Also, know that marital harmony is possible but it is not a gift; rather, it is a responsibility. As such, you must accept the responsibility of securing marital harmony in your home. Bishop David Oyedepo, whom I am privilege to be married to, said, “Faith that makes God absolutely responsible for the events of your life is an irresponsible faith”.  In other words, you have a part to play!

    In conclusion, remember that God is the only true source of joy and harmony in your home, thus, until you allow Him into your life, you cannot enjoy harmony in your home. Why not have a relationship with God today by accepting Him as your Saviour and Lord. That is what being born again is all about. If you want to be born again, please say this 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; 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).