The Nation Newspaper

Tag: 4

  • NNPC to build IPP in Abuja, Kaduna, Kano

    • Firm recovers N771m assets from marketers

    The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) plans to build more Independent Power Plants (IPP) in Abuja, Kaduna and Kano so as to add 4,0000 megawatts (Mw) of power to stabilise the national grid.

    In addition, it said a fertilizer plant is billed for Brass, Bayelsa State.

    Also, NNPC said it has recovered assets valued at over N771million from marketers who under-paid for petroleum products lifted from the Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC), Kaduna Depot.

    Chairman, NNPC Anti-Corruption Committee, Mike Balami, said the committee, in collaboration with the Federal Government’s Intelligence and Anti-Corruption agencies, the Department of State Security Services (DSS), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), recovered the assets from  defaulting marketers.

    Its Chief Financial Officer and Chairman,  Board of NNPC Power subsidiary, Gas and Power Investment Company (GPIC), Isiaka Abdulrazaq, made this known at the inaugural board meeting of GPIC at the NNPC Towers, in Abuja.

    The GPIC was established as a subsidiary under the Gas and Power Directorate to enable the corporation monetise the abundant gas resources in the country for the benefit of the nation’s economy.

    Abdulrazaq said the GPIC is a very strategic company through which the NNPC will create more value for the country, stressing that by the time the IPPs come on stream in Abuja, Kaduna and Kano, the Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the areas would be better for it.

    “The Gas and Power Investment Company Limited (GPIC) is a company which the NNPC has set up basically to focus on how it can create value and monetise the nation’s abundant gas resources. The company will also be focused on developing power stations, fertilizer plants as well as petrochemical plants across the states,” Abdulrazaq stated.

    He said NNPC has set up the board to enable the company achieve its set targets within a very short period of time, saying the board  has mapped out strategies to properly guide the company to enable it achieve its Key Performance Indicators (KPI).

    He said the company will add value in terms of payment of taxes and generating more revenue for the country, stressing that the company and all the IPPs will generate more job opportunities for Nigerians.

    Abdulrazaq said the Fertilizer Project in Brass, will produce fertilizer to boost agriculture in the Southsouth and other regions of the country.

    Also, the Chief Operating Officer, Gas and Power,  Saidu Mohammed, said that the coming on stream of GPIC will help the NNPC transform into an integrated energy company with the production of 4,000Mw of power at strategic locations.

    He said all relevant stakeholders in the power sector are in alignment with the NNPC with the establishment of the GPIC.

     

  • Fed Govt: Housing programme created over 4,000 jobs in Oyo

    The Federal Government’s National Housing Programme (NHP) in Oyo State has created 4,090 jobs within a year, the Director of Architectural Services in the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Mosunmade Odusanya, has said.

    The ministry’s official spoke yesterday during an inspection of a project site at Onidundun village in Kilometre 17 on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Akinyele Local Government Area.

    Those engaged include 13 contractors, 110 professionals, 3,832 skilled and unskilled labourers and 40 food vendor.

    Others are: 55 suppliers, 35 block moulders and five security guards.

    Odusanya, who is also the Project’s Team Leader, said the project was mainly to meet the state’s housing demand and address affordable home deficit in the land.

    He noted that the project had attained 70 per cent completion with the expectation that the remaining 30m per cent would be achieved before end of the year.

    The 72 units of flats consists 28 units of two-bedrooms, 20 units of three-bedrooms and 24 units of flats in the condominium on a 10-hectare land.

    Odusanya said: “The total number of condominium in the vertical structure is the same number of total units spread around the bungalow. The essence of that is to arrest incessant building collapse. So, that is why we are demonstrating these structures in the states to determine the factors that are responsible for unoccupied houses.

    “The condominium will accommodate the physically challenged on the ground floor. There are ramps to support them.”

    He assured the residents of the affordability of the project, saying the Federal Government would determine the modalities for its allocation after completion.

    The Federal Controller, Mrs. Sarah Alawode, restated government’s commitment to addressing housing shortage in the country.

    Alawode, who was represented by an Assistant Director in the ministry, Bola Adesanya, said the state government had approved additional 10 hectares of land for second phase of the project.

    Alhaji Sulaiman Adegoke, a carpenter and Alfa Sikiru Orelope, a welder, were excited about the project.

    They were among those who supplied planks and got iron fabrication jobs for the project.

    The artisans called for urgent kick-off of the second phase.

    One of the contractors, Mr. Olanrewaju Balogun, hailed the Federal Government for the project but appealed for timely release of funds to ensure prompt delivery of the project.

    Balogun noted that 15 per cent threshold released for the project execution was insufficient, thus the need for the government to reconsider it.

     

     

  • Understanding Christian courtship (4)

    This is the concluding part of the teachings on Understanding Christian Courtship and this week we shall be examining the “ENGAGEMENT” period as the peak of every successful courtship.

    What is Engagement?

    Engagement is what succeeds a satisfactory courtship period. It is when you and your partner have made up your mind to spend the rest of your lives together in marriage. At this time, you are both formally introduced to your parents, pastors, friends and relations. It is also the stage at which the dowry or bride price is paid in most cases as a demonstration of love for your would-be spouse.

    Genesis 24:53 says: And the servant brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment, and gave them to Rebecca: he gave also to her brother and her mother precious things. Notice the words “precious things”. Whatever things that are presented for dowry must be precious, not sinful and not contrary to the Word of God. These things ought to be given willingly. Contrary to what many believers think, it is scriptural to pay dowry but the things you offer should be precious and not things that will dishonour God or tarnish your Christian testimony.

    When my husband and I were about to marry, certain things were included on the list of items that he was to bring as the bride price. We knew that we couldn’t take those things and my husband would rather never be married than present those things, because of our stand for God and our future. Yes, we love each other and we were looking forward to getting married, but we loved God more.

    When my husband got the list, he did not respond. Then one day, my parents said to him, “We sent so and so paper to you and you didn’t respond”. God gave him wisdom to reply them, and he said, “You see, there are certain things on the list, that if we get involved in them now, we would become problems to you tomorrow.”  My father agreed with him and said, “Cancel whatever is against your future on the list” and that was it! Don’t sell your birthright today else you will regret your actions tomorrow!

    The engagement period, being the peak period of courtship, is also a time when your partner and you will need to spend more time praying, fasting and gathering knowledge from the Word of God concerning His promises and commandments needed for a successful family life. Many couples tend to get carried away with various activities during this period that they never seem to find time to seek God. If there is any time to seek God more, it is at this time because both of you will face several challenges, distractions and contrary reactions that may cause you to easily lose grip, if your relationship with God is not firm.

    At this period too, other conclusions such as the materials needed for a home together, must be in place. This is not the time to start hunting for a job (if you are unemployed) but that you already have a job. You should be prepared enough to embrace the responsibilities that marriage and your future family will demand from you (2 Chronicles 27:6).

    Sincerity that is void of every form of pretences is a MUST at this time. You have to be open, hiding nothing from each other and keeping no skeletons in your cupboard. Let your partner know even the smallest details about you. I have seen a lot of ladies fallen victim to this, simply because they would not let go of secrets and pretences. If for example, as a lady you like to wear red lipstick, then don’t pretend that you don’t wear lipstick at all; only for your husband to stumble on you, wearing one after you are both married. Let your partner accept you for whom you truly are without assumptions.

    So much is demanded of you and God’s help is available when you accept Him through His Son, Jesus Christ.  When you confess Jesus Christ as your Lord and personal Saviour, God recognises you as His child and He begins to direct your steps in order to ensure that you do not fall victim to mistakes, hurts and sorrows. If you are ready to accept Jesus Christ now and become born again, please say this prayer of faith with me: “Dear Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me my sins and cleanse me with Your Blood. I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Make me a child of God today. Thank You for delivering me from sin and satan to serve the living God and thank You for accepting me into Your Kingdom.”

    Congratulations, you are now born again! If you prayed this simple prayer of faith with me, 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).

    With this, you are guaranteed all-round rest and peace in Jesus’ Name. Call or write to share your testimonies with me through contact@faithoyedepo.org, 07026385437 OR 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 he happy in your home (4)

    Dear Reader,

    You are welcome to another exciting moment in God’s presence! I shared with you last week on Spices for a Happy Home. In that teaching, I showed you some examples of spices like Joy, Excitement, Praise and Appreciation. This week, I want to share with you the Main Reason You Must Train Your Children.

    For you to enjoy a happy home, you must train your children according to God’s guidelines. The following are the reasons you must train them in the way of the Lord.

    God commanded it

    Child-training is not a piece of advice, a suggestion or a thing you do at your convenience. It is a commandment from God and His commandments are neither grievous nor burdensome (1John 5:3). My husband says, “God’s commandments are not to grieve you, but to groom you.”  Bring your children up in the way of the Lord because if you refuse to do so, you are disobeying God’s commandment. As far as God is concerned, disobedience is as terrible as witchcraft. 1 Samuel 15:23a says: For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Disobedience is like drinking the blood of another human being as witches do. May God not catch you as a witch! His Word also says: Do not suffer a witch to live (Exodus 22:18). In other words, if you are not bringing up your children in the way they should go, you are cutting short the number of your days. Receive grace from God now, to be obedient to this commandment on child-training in Jesus’ name.

    It is the responsibilities of both parents

    Take a look at Proverbs 22:6 again. God did not mention here who, particularly, should do the training, but definitely it is the parents. I mean both parents because neither the father nor the mother alone can give birth to a child. It is a combination of forces; therefore, the training must be done by both parents. Child-training is not the responsibility of the mother alone; it is that of both the father and the mother. For example, in Nigerian culture, every good and well behaved child belongs to the father, but the one that is bad and corrupt is for the mother.

    Remember it is a combination of forces that brought the child to be. So, it must be a combination of forces that will fulfill that commandment. Both parents must create time for their children, so that the children will not become thorns in their flesh tomorrow. Training your children in the fear of the Lord is your primary responsibility. Don’t be slack about it! Both parents ought to fulfill their parts and make it a joint effort. The Bible says in Ecclesiastics 4:9 that: Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.

    As parents, pay close attention to your children and create time to listen to them. Also, fellowship with them and give them opportunities to ask questions that are bothering them. Learn to create time for fun and excitement and all tension will be defused. Do not allow your children to become victims of neglect by being too busy to attend to them. I pray for a release of grace upon you now for the fulfillment of your role as parents in Jesus’ mighty name.

    It is a seed

    Whatever you do in life is a seed and you will eventually reap the fruit. Likewise, child-training is a seed. You will reap the harvest of whatever training you give to your children tomorrow. The Word of God says: While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease (Genesis 8:22).

    When you sow the seed of good Christian upbringing into the lives of your children, they will give you joy, happiness and fulfillment tomorrow. For your children not to give you heartache tomorrow, you must to sow seeds of proper upbringing into their lives.

    Certain things were sown as seeds into my life as a little girl and for that, I will never forget my parents. I advise you to do the same for your children. In Jeremiah Chapter 35, Jonadab sowed the seed of good child-training. Even after he departed, generations after him still continued to follow his footsteps. No wonder in verses 18 & 19, God had to make a promise. The seed that Jonadab sowed into his children began to bring forth fruits which eventually brought them to the throne. Even our Lord Jesus Christ came from his lineage. What a harvest of fruits!

    You need grace to be able to train your children. This can only be received when you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and personal Saviour. Are you set to receive Him into your life today? Say this prayer of faith 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. I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Make me a child of God today. Thank You for accepting me into Your Kingdom.”

    Congratulations! If you prayed this simple prayer of faith with me, you are born again and 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).

    With this, you are guaranteed all-round rest and peace in Jesus’ Name!  Call or write to share your testimonies with me through contact@faithoyedepo.org, 07026385437 OR 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).

  • Renewing your marital relationship (4)

    Dear Reader,

    We have come to the concluding part of this month’s teaching.  In previous teachings, we learnt how to have good expectations and intimacy. Last week, we also looked at types of intimacy.

    This week, I will be sharing with you on: Spices For A Sweet Relationship. It will interest you to know that God instituted marriage and intended every house to be sweet and peaceful. Most Christians dream of a home where joy, peace, prosperity and fruitfulness abound. But they are not ready to pay the price it takes, for their dreams to find fulfilment.

    I would like you to know that a successful home is possible; but it does not happen by chance. You must programme it, if you desire it. You must take responsibility for the renewing of your marital relationship, because whatever you make or fail to make of it, is what it becomes. If you want your marriage to fulfill God’s will, you had better start doing what you are supposed to do as a child of God. God has given you brain, so that you can let Him rest.                 The following are simple truths you can apply practically to your relationship and marriage, so your home can take a new turn.

    Appreciate the good in your spouse and children; 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 your happiness and inspiration. Praise God for this aspect of his/her life, and then every other area where your spouse does not measure up to expectation, will begin to disappear before you very eyes.

    Celebrate your spouse – Remember that other people are secretly wishing this same man or woman is their husband or wife. Guard that which you have jealously. Magnify the virtues of your spouse to the devil.

    Sow joy – Remember that it is what you sow that 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 your spouse’s tastes and flow along with them. That way, you will feel free and get along well.

    Maintain body contact always – This does not necessarily mean sex. Hug each other. Give little kisses. Give your spouse a peck of encouragement, especially in public. Don’t be ashamed to hold your spouse in public. Be free to display your affection for each other, not of necessity, but as a life-style.

    Create godly (not good) climate around your home – A godly climate will eventually produce good climate. Fill your home with Christian music, Christian books, inspirational materials, etc. Let everything around your home smell God.

    Organise Feasts – Learn to celebrate important days and events. Make it a habit to remember 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 in common. Communicate and pray together with your spouse. Let your children see oneness in you. A house divided against itself cannot stand. Know your spouse to the point where you can vouch for him/her when not there. Give no place to the spirit of unforgiveness – Marriage partners will naturally make mistakes and offend each other. Nobody is perfect. God’s Word admonishes us to forgive: …Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye (Colossians 3:13).  If you don’t forgive, you will not be forgiven. If your wife or husband offends or goes wrong somehow, correct him/her immediately in love, and forgive. Also forget. Be Contented – Contentment brings satisfaction. If you are not contented, you cannot be happy. Be satisfied with your husband, your wife, your children, your finances, your life and environment and you will be happy.

    The journey of ensuring order in your home, begins with new birth. You get born again by confessing your sins and accepting Jesus as your Saviour and Lord.  If you are ready for this new birth experience, please say this prayer: “Dear Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me 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, congratulations, you are born again and 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).

    With this, you are guaranteed all-round rest and peace 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).

  • China, Australia police arrest five drug traffickers

    China, Australia police arrest five drug traffickers

    Police from China and Australia have arrested five suspects in cross-border drug trafficking.

    A total of 100 kilograms of methamphetamine was seized during raids in Shenzhen in January, police in south China’s Guangdong Province said on Monday.

    The police were tipped off in November, 2016 that a gang of drug dealers was trafficking drugs from China to Australia.

    Three Chinese, including two from Hong Kong, one Australian and one Fijian were detained in raids in February and March.

    Police from the two countries signed a joint anti-drug operation deal in November, 2015.

    Since the agreement, 150 drug dealers, 4,140 kilograms of various drugs and 3,310 kilograms of raw materials for drugs have been seized.

  • 4,000 cases of Leprosy are reported annually in Nigeria

    4,000 cases of Leprosy are reported annually in Nigeria

    Anambra  State Commissioner for Health Dr Joe Akabuike has said an average of 4,000 cases of leprosy are reported annually in Nigeria.

    Akabuike, in a statement on yesterday in Awka to mark World Leprosy Day,said besides the fact that a large number of the cases were children, several of them were diagonised late leading to deformities and disabilities.

    Represented by Dr Emma Okafor, the Director of Primary Healthcare, Akabuike described leprosy as “a chronic infectious disease’’ which affect the skin, peripheral nerves and mucus membrane of the upper respiratory tract.

    He said the disease could be contacted through droplet infection from coughing, sneezing and nasal discharge.

    He enumerated the symptoms and signs of the disease as light or reddish patches, loss of feeling in the skin, numbness or tingling sensation in the hand and feet.

    He listed other symptoms: weakness of the hands, feet and eyelids as well as burns on the hands or feet.

    The commissioner explained that the disease could be prevented by covering the mouth and nose while coughing and sneezing as well as disposal of nasal discharges properly.

    Akabuike said leprosy was curable with drugs and the drugs were free and available in government hospitals.

  • A new wine for a new bottle (4)

    Dear Reader,

    Welcome to another week’s teaching on Family Forum. We have been examining the topic: New Wine For New Bottle. So far, we have discussed one of the things we must do to accommodate the new wine of God. Today, we shall conclude this teaching by examining another requirement for the New Wine which is:

    EMPTY YOURSELF

    The number two thing that you and I must do, to qualify for the new wine, is to empty ourselves. In Luke 5, the Bible tells us that no one having taken the old wine immediately desires the new ones, because he believes that the old is just good enough. He is satisfied: he has no push or zeal; he is just seated there complacently. He doesn’t even desire to move forward. He says, “Where we are now is just the best place to be and we are just okay here.”

    If you want to be a partaker of the new wine of God, you must be ready to empty yourself every time you come into His presence. It may be in a gathering, in your home or wherever you go; don’t ever make the mistake of saying, “Oh! The old wine is enough. I am just satisfied and I am just okay.” Don’t come with a vessel that is already filled up. Any time you have the privilege of being in God’s presence, come with space in the vessel of your heart, so that God can fill it. If your own vessel is already filled, there would be no space for God to put anything in. Therefore, come every time into God’s presence, not as a religionist, but rather as one who wants to learn of Him.

    The Bible says that if any man thinks that he knoweth anything, that man knoweth nothing. It is only those who are ready to learn that God teaches. Anyone who knows it all, God can’t reach such individual, and you know that God looks at the heart. You know, sometimes, it is even possible to come for service and still play religion. You are there and everybody counts you present, but the condition of your heart has no room or space for God. There is nowhere for God to drop anything in your heart. I think it is high time we believers began to open up to God, and give Him a chance to do a new thing in our lives, especially in this New Year.

    The Bible tells us about Apostle Paul, a great man of God. The Scriptures say that he prayed a prayer: That I may know you and the power of your resurrection and the fellowship of your suffering (Philippians 3:10), and I began to wonder that this was a man after God’s own heart, no doubt.  This was a man that did great wonders in the church of Jesus Christ. This was a man whose life was a threat to the government of his days. This was a man the Bible tells us that they took apron from him to wrought miracles in the lives of people. This same man came and said, “That I may know God.” What else does he want to know? The secret is, he said: Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before. I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:13-14).

    Let us, therefore, begin to pray the same prayer that Apostle Paul prayed in his days: “That I may know You, Lord,” every time we have the opportunity to come before the Him. Tell God and yourself: “I have come that I may know You. I have known a bit of You, but I haven’t known all of You yet. I open up to You, Lord Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. I surrender my will and intellect, and I am ready to obey whatever You tell me to do.”  I believe that if you will always come into God’s presence with this spirit and understanding, God will never pass you by. If you will always come with the right condition of the heart, God will always pour the new wine into the new bottle, because by this acts, God sees you as ready and prepared. He sees you as a vessel that is ready for the new wine, and He begins to pour it into your bottle, and you become a partaker of the new wine.  As it is written: New wine must be put into new bottles.

    No one else can help you to become a new bottle; rather, you must make yourself become a new bottle.  No one can purge you to become a new bottle; you must be ready to make yourself a new bottle. When you make up your mind and come into God’s presence all the time, it becomes very easy for you to partake of His move for this end-time.

    In conclusion, therefore, remember that God’s wine is ready for an outpouring. You have a duty to purge yourself and to make yourself a new bottle. How well are you prepared for the new wine of God, this New Year? The grace of God will be poured out on you exceedingly. Remember, the Bible says that many who were last, shall be first; therefore, let no man take your place. That means you are the determining factor, whether another man will take your place or not.

    No matter what height you have attained, right now, in the things of God, always present yourself before Him with a readiness of heart to receive from Him. The Psalmist says: Just like a hart pants after the water the same way my heart pant after you, oh God!  (Psalm 42:1). The same way an animal that is thirsting looks for water everywhere, let your heart’s desire be drawn toward God all the days of your life. In your home, everyday businesses, as you go on trips or as you do dishes at home, let your heart’s desire be drawn towards God. Let God see the condition of your heart as one that is thirsty and hungry to receive the bread of life. When that becomes the constant condition of your heart, as the cloud of glory is moving, you will see it and move with it.

    You can pray this prayer, if you want to be that new bottle: “Lord, if new wine must be put into new bottles, I make my life available as a new bottle, before You today. I open up my heart to You right now; touch me Lord Jesus. I have come with my vessel and I receive the grace from You to always present it in dignity and honour before You.”

    In case you have never given your life to Jesus, you are not born again.  That means there is no way you can be a part of God’s new move for this end-time. If you are ready to be born again, please say this prayer: 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, pstfaithoyedepo@gmail.com; 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 improve on your marriage (4)

    Dear Reader,

    I hope you are fully set for the Christmas celebration by making your home a lively one. It’s a great privilege to share God’s Word with you today, being a day to the celebration of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. Have a Merry Christmas in advance!

    This week, I wish to unveil to you How to Provoke Joy and Enjoy a Lively Home during this Christmas season.

    I want you to know that God has designed this season to bring joy to individual lives, homes and marriages all over the world. This joy cannot be traced to man but to God, the source of true joy.

    There are times when one gets excited over some things, but this usually does not bring joy that lasts. Some people have the opportunity to experience joy only at Christmas. Thank God for the month of December, and for Christmas, and the joyful spirit of the season that comes into the home, but this does not only have to be for one season.

    Joy can be made to become an everyday experience in the family, simply by creating the right atmosphere that guarantees a never-ending joy. The right atmosphere for joy to dwell is a Godly one. When your marriage is one that is of God, and everyone at home is born again, then it is easy for a godly atmosphere to be created.

    God’s Word says: Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore (Psalms 16:11). God makes His presence only available in the homes of His children. The “pleasures” spoken about in the Scripture above, are all those things that will naturally provoke joy in the home. Most of these things are not just simple needs, but things that money may not necessarily buy. Some of them are divine health, protection, provisions, peace, sweet sleep, promotions, success, etc.

    There is a popular song that goes: ‘When Jesus is in a family; happy, happy home…’ This is true! When your home enjoys an atmosphere filled with the presence of God, it will indeed be an ever happy home. That shall be your own portion in Jesus’ name!

    Godly atmosphere is one that is consciously created by the individuals in the home. It involves having the fear of God in the home, and practically obeying His commandments concerning covenant responsibilities by the husband and the wife.

    Therefore, let the husband obey God’s commandment, by carrying out his covenant responsibility of loving his wife. The love responsibility is the instrument a man uses to make his wife a glorious woman, without spot or wrinkle, or any of such things.

    Therefore, the making of any wife is in the hands of her husband. If you want to enjoy a lively home as a husband, then, love your wife as your own body! Love is the price you pay for a lively home, while total submission is what is required of the wife to reciprocate her husband’s love to sustain a lively home, even after Christmas.

    The presence of God in a home means lasting peace in a family. When there is peace, there will be unity in the home and when there is unity, the blessings of God just keep flowing. These blessings include  promotion, success in your various endeavours, health, prosperity, divine direction, etc.

    A home that lacks the presence of God will lack the pleasures and joy that His presence carries. That home will suffer setbacks through lack of peace, stagnation, unfruitfulness, sorrow, hardship, sickness, disunity and lack of joy. The presence of God that emanates from a godly atmosphere is a must, for the family that wants its joy to be sustained after Christmas!

    The right foundation for a godly atmosphere that commands the presence of God and gives lasting peace, and joy everlasting for a lively family, is the one that is connected to His only begotten Son. You can become God’s child by accepting Jesus Christ into your life. That is what it means to be born again. If you are ready to become born again, please say this prayer: 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).

  • God’s ultimate desire for your marriage (4)

    DEAR READER,

    You are welcome to God’s presence! I have shown you some of God’s desires for your marriage. Today, I shall be looking at how Marriage is for Better Living.

    Marriage was instituted for the better living of mankind. It is not to bring hurts or constitute a hindrance. If you want your home and marriage to exhibit a better living, God must be at the centre of your heart and home. You have to be open to His Words and follow His instructions. His Words, instructions or commandments are not grievous or burdensome (1 John 5:3).

    In other words, it is an easy thing to do because God created man with an innate desire to please Him and follow His will (Scripture). The Lord Jesus came to make it easier for man to follow and obey the Word of God. He said: Come, all that labour… for my burden is light and my yoke is easy (Matthew 11:28). Instead of seeking to do things your way, why not do them God’s way to get the results you desire cheaply.

    Because family life originated from the Lord, He must be the centre of your family life to enjoy a better living. Countless people are having a near death experience in their family lives. Some married many wives and are still dissatisfied. Others are separated, while some live a cat and dog life, wishing that someone would deliver them from it. Despite all these, there are some who are enjoying family life and making a success of it. This is not just by luck. Success is not by luck, you programme yourself for the type of success you desire.

    As a born-again child of God, enjoying a better family life is your birthright. It is God’s will and desire for you to enjoy an exciting marriage, home, life and family. Apart from making God the centre of your family, the next thing you must understand is that family life is meant for better living. It is meant for help, not hurt. The Bible says: I will make him a help meet (Genesis 2:18); Two are better than one (Ecclesiastes 4:9).

    Family life was created to help man and not hinder him; it is not meant to make life worse for him. If that is what you have been seeing in the lives and homes of others, or maybe in yours, I can assure you that it is not what God desires for you. Whether you are a father, mother, husband, wife, child or relation, can you boldly say with sincerity from your heart that you are a help to others in the home? Or have you been a hindrance to the success of others in the home? Is it your policy at home to help family members? Or do you maintain a survival-of-the-fittest attitude?

    In case someone has told you: “That’s how life is”, “Just bear it”, or “Maybe that’s your lot in life.” That’s not what God has designed for you. Don’t accept less than what God has purposed for you. Don’t allow the devil to cheat you into believing that a better living and marriage are not for you to enjoy. Your family can still stand out; your situation can still change. The breath of life can still find its way into your family, if you will co-operate with God.

    As a wife/mother, God put you beside that man and those children, so you can help them. As a husband/father, God put you beside that woman, children, so you can help them, be an example to them and bring them up the right way. It is not your teachers’ responsibility to train your children. Children, God put you in that family to be a blessing (Psalm 127:3). Are you a pleasure to your family or a pain? If you are about getting married, are you ready to be a help to your mate? Or are you just looking for someone to service your needs? If you are not ready to be a help, watch it and retrace your steps.

    To be a help transcends all areas of life. If one party is faltering, the other needs to lift him or her up. The Word of God says: If they fall, the one will lift up his fellow… (Ecclesiastes 4:10).

    No matter how much your success, your connection or family members will also need to succeed. If you ignore their progress, you may eventually be faced with mending their failures. No matter who that member of the family is, the grace of God is sufficient for you. It will enable you to be a helper in Jesus’ name!

    Financially, you are also meant to be a helper in your family. Money seeks worshippers; refuse to be its convert. Some Christians go to church, sing together, lift up hands to God, but when it comes to money, that is their god which must not be touched. Read this testimony: “I am newly married and was touched by what you narrated about homes in the article of “Family Matters”. Since then, through my application of the knowledge gained, things have changed positively for me…” Chidube, N.A. (Aba).

    Money has brought division into many families. Don’t let it bring division into yours. Ensure that you are a helper to your spouse in this area. Hiding your money from one another is not the way to financial success. Render financial help to one another. The humorous thing about money is that if you don’t know how to send it on errands, it will send you and often times, on evil ones. If you have been defaulting, you can repent by saying this prayer: “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).