What can young people do to have a happy marriage? Speakers at a Ramadan lecture at the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) offered tips on how Muslims can build good homes. AFIS ODEYEMI (300-Level History) reports.
O you who believe, fasting in the month of Ramadan is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that you may become pious.”
This Quranic verse set the tone for a Ramadan lecture at the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), Kwara State, last week, as the Islamic month wound up.
The lecture was held in honour of Sheikh Muktar Isalekoto, the founder of Muktar Isalekoto Islamic Foundation.
Muslim faithful from all walks of life converged on the university’s main auditorium for the lecture, the seventh in the series.
The Coordinator of the foundation, Ustadz Lukman Muktar Isalekoto of the Faculty of Engineering, said the focus of the lecture was on frequently asked questions about dissolution of marriage in Islam and what Muslims could do to maintain their piety.
Chief Imam of Asbunallahu Central Mosque in Ilorin Sheikh Abdulrafiu Oloduowo traced the cause of marital disagreement among young Muslim couples to lack of spirituality and the absence of incentives before their marriage. He said spiritualism should be the foundation on which a marriage is built, stressing that the embrace of secular wedlock is responsible for the collapse of marriages.
Using the Quran and Sunnah (Prophet Muhammed examples) as a reference point, the cleric said marriage in Islam is an injunction established by Allah to mankind for the purpose of legitimate worship.
He said: “Today, many people marry for the wrong reasons. As soon as they are joined together, they begin to experience problems and they will discover that the marriage won’t work. Allah has created marriage for you in order that you may achieve comfort from your spouse and achieve lifetime happiness.
“Those who are married under the shade of Allah, they naturally will have feelings towards their spouse, and they will feel protected. This is a natural feeling that Allah places automatically in their heart which was not there prior to the union.”
Oloduowo advised young couples to be conscious of their Allah’s command and maintain constant communication to have long-lasting marriage. He urged students to explore Quranic guidelines in choosing a spouse, noting that spiritual life of a man or woman should play good role before marriage.
He added: “If anyone bases his opinion only on beauty when choosing his or her spouse, the beauty will fade away. If the opinion is based on wealth, the wealth will vanish one day. If the opinion is based on reputation, such reputation may be tarnished overnight, but if it is based on spiritualism, such will only increase as time passes by.”
Imam Abdulwahab Ajia spoke on Hidaah (waiting period) of a divorcee or a woman who has just lost her husband. He said: “Widows should mourn for a period prescribed by Shariah Law. For a woman whose husband has given oral divorce notice twice, she must be allowed to remain in her husband house for a period of time she is observing her menstruation.
“But in cases where only one or two oral divorce notices have been made by the husband but the third one has not been issued, the husband is allowed to settle with his wife if he has a change of heart.
In the instance of three divorce notices and the couple decides to settle, a fresh marriage must be conducted and a new bridal price be paid as it is the case in the first marriage before they can be allowed to live together again.”
Speaking on direction to face while observing Solat (obligatory prayer), Imam Abdulsalam Saliu said Solat would not take place if Muslims did not position themselves properly. He said Muslims must maintain a position of the Kibla, which points towards holy Kaabah (holy site) in Saudi Arabia. This is believed to be the centre of the earth.
In cases, where the direction of Kibla could not be identified, Saliu said Muslims must employ the services of experts in determining the direction to face in observing Solat. He said: “We can possibly determine the direction of Kibla through the use of compass or weather forecast it was the practice in the early period of Islam.”
Participants described the lecture as educative, saying their knowledge about marriage had been enriched by the discourse.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Abdulganiyu Ambali, represented by his deputy for Management Services, Prof Yisa Fakunle, described the lecture as timely, noting that it would serve as guidance to the youth in choosing their life partner. He said the institution would continue to support programmes that would have impact on the life of the its students, irrespective of religion and culture.
The ancient city of Axum in Northern Ethiopia is an enchanting place to visit. It has many great sites and artefacts that point to an illustrious past. Among the top attractions are the stelae park, St. Mary of Zion Cathedral, Ethiopian Orthodox Church’s holiest site and Axum Rosetta Stone. OKORIE UGURU recently visited the place and reports.
As the door of the Bombadier plane was opened by Ethiopian Airlines’ cabin crew, the whiff of air that came in was relieving. One may not know whether the altitude of the town was higher than the ancient town of Lalibella (another town in Ethiopia) with its thin air that made breathing difficult for visitors.
Here, obviously the air was richer. Most tourists on the plane were coming from there. For many tourists from Lalibella, their lungs reacted positively, gulping in air rich in oxygen. This is the ancient city of Axum, northern Ethiopia, just about 150 kilometres away from Eritrea. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The ancient Kingdom of Axum has existed for thousands of years, but was at the peak of its power between 100AD and 10 century AD. Within this period, the Aksumite kingdom, as it is sometimes called, established an empire that covered the large part of northern Ethiopia, Eritrea and some places in the Arabian peninsula.
During this period, the empire controlled trade between the Greco-Roman empires and India, leading to its prosperity and wealth. With the wealth, kings of the kingdom built monuments that have become a source of study and interest.
Driving through the town, the topography is not different from what obtains in the far north Ethiopia, huge rocky hills jutting out and encompassing the space. In most cases the roads have to be literally hewn from the rocky hills.
Axum, though ancient, is somehow sleepy, most of the vehicles in use are buses. There are also carts being dragged by domestic animals. There are not many of individual luxury cars. Driving in, one could see some isolated houses pitched on top of hills. The tour guide, Mengistu, explained that these were monasteries.
Axum exudes the feeling of calmness. Here, life seems to be simple and devoid of the frenetic. Life has been on here unbroken for more than 2000 years and there is the sense that maybe 2000 years from now.
In Axum, the past and the present are intertwined in a continuous stretch of existence. Although modernity has crept in, yet the past is pervasively present in the day-to-day life of the people.
Axum has a kind of enchantment and myth. This was the city where King Haile Selassie had to come down to be crown king. It is also regarded at the holiest site of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. The St. Mary Cathedral complex is one place a lot of activities in Axum revolve around.
Having read so much about the town with its stelae and obelisk, it is a place any historical or adventure tourist would look forward to visiting.
They obelisks or stelae of Axum with their vague symbols and inscriptions mirror an enchanting past. It is ancient towns like Axum that have sustained Africa as a mythical land. The stelae are concrete facts to the sophistication of African civilization thousands of years ago. What one had so much read about and seen in pictures are standing and could even be touched.
The Axum stelae parks are located in the heart of town. Among the stelae, there is the great stele that is 33 metres tall and 520 tonnes. But it has broken into pieces. The belief is that it fell while being mounted. The others are of different and sizes.
The tour guide, Mengistu, gave the history of the stelae: “There are three kinds of stelae: the rough, smooth and richest decorations. The rough one is the simplest. They are the oldest ones. They were erected in 2nd century BC. When they started erecting stellae, the began from the simple ones. After they improve their skill to smooth ones and finally to the richest decorations.
“We have six richest decorations in this compound and the six stelae are arranged in order of size from North East to South West. They represent a chronological sequence. The fallen one, that is the tallest and the youngest one, is 33 metres high and 520 tonnes. They were made of stones from a quarry.
“There have been questions as to whether the decorations were done right there at quarry or here. They were finished here. We still have some unfinished stelae over there. That unfinished stelae show they were cut form the mother rock and transport roughly, using elephants and wooden rollers. Using the elephants to draw the wooden rollers, the finishing is then done here. We also wondered, granite is the hardest stone, what kind of tools did they use to cut the stones? Investigations and excavations are still on.”
The rock obelisks are tall and huge, making one wonder how they were erected. The guide explained: “They also used the elephants to pull and erect it, using a system known as the rolling and pulling system. Generally, we have more 200 stelae registered by the UNESCO. The Scot traveller, James Bruce, came here in 1769. During that time, the city had more than 300 stelae. From that ancient period, the number of stelae became less and less because the local people were using the stelae as stones for building because they did not then recognize the historical value.”
Mengistu explained that the rock stelae were a king of significance as they showed the splendour and affluence of the royalty then: “Generally, those stelae were erected above the tombs for kings and members of the royal families. Those stelae were erected like pagan statues. On top of the stelae is the shape of the crescent, half moon. The holes on the body represent sun. Both represent gods of sun and moon.
“On the body of the richest of the stelae, we have the symbols. At the bottom, we have the symbol of dog and above we have the storey. This is like a skyscraper. Members of the royal families are buried underneath.
“The door symbols are used to create access for their spirits. They go through that to heaven. Every stelae has holes at the base. Those holes are used to offer animal sacrifices to the moon and sun gods. The oldest stelae is about 2200 years.”
The tallest and the newest of the cluster of stelae in the park was the fallen one. It fell during the erection time because at 33 metres high and 520 tonnes of granite, the base was too short. It was not deep enough.
He said: “ So, they were not successful in the process of erection and it fell. That was about 7th century AD. But the local tradition has a different version. It was successfully erected and standing up till 9th century AD when the Aksumite civilization collapsed because internal and external conflicts.
“The internal conflict was the civil war between the Christians and Jewish settlers. The external conflict was the rise of Islam. Because of this, the Aksumite civilization collapsed and shifted to Lallibela.”
The stelae are not the only attraction at the park. Just below the fallen great stelae is one of the royal tombs that the stelae was built upon. Walking down, close to 10 feet deep to enter the tomb was a bit spooky. The tomb is not like the rock hewn tombs that are common.
It is a purpose constructed tomb. It has different chambers. The chambers are facing one another with a kind of walkway in between.
According the guide, there may be other tombs yet to be excavated, considering the number of stelae at the park. Beside the park is the museum. This museum houses some the day-to-day utensils sued in ancient Axum.
They range from the crude to some highest level of craftsmanship. They are from the stone down to the metal age.
•St. Mary of Zion Cathedral built by Emperor Haile Selassie
St. Mary of Zion Cathedral complex
The stelae complex is separate from the famous St. Mary of Zion Cathedral. The church is the holiest site of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. The church was built in 1665 AD by Emperor Falisides.
This old church was replaced by a new cathedral built by Emperor Haile Salesie in thankfulness to Mary for helping him defeat the Italian imperialists.
In between the old and the new cathedrals is the small house said to house the Ark of the Covenant.
According to Ethiopian history, the ark was brought to Ethiopia by the Menelik, the son born to King Solomon, by the legendary Queen of Sheba believed to be from Aksum.
No one is permitted to enter the house where the ark is, except the guardian priest. On this particular day, coming out from a trip of the old church and heading for the new, we saw the guardian of the Ark just by the fence of the church.
The tour guide confirmed it was him. He was holding a discussion with another individual like a priest. But while the guardian of the Ark was inside, the individual was standing outside. They were separated by the fence. According to the guide, the visitor can never go beyond that point to think of entering inside.
The old cathedral could only be entered by men as women are forbidden from entering.
By nature of worship, the Ethiopian Orthodox Church engages so much in chants and singing. The Bible used in the cathedral is made of goat skin and about 1000 years old.
Just outside the old orthodox church is a stone slap said to be the place where Emperor Haile Selasie was crowned king of Ethiopia.
On a normal day at the church, hundreds of worshippers, men and women, flock there for worship. They come in, clutching wooden sticks that are used to support the body and for chants. There is a kind of totem at the door that worshippers pray in front of before heading for the main auditorium of the church.
The complex also houses a monastery for monks who stay there giving themselves to worship of God and work in the cathedrals.
The Rosetta Stone and Queen of Sheba Palace.
Leaving the cathedral and the stelae park, we are heading for what looks like the eastern part of the town. It is up hill. The bus laboured upwards. The first stop was at a house that contains the what has been dubbed the Ethiopian Rosetta Stone.
The Rosetta Stone of Axum was caused to be written by King Ezana of Axum. It is like the original Rosetta stone, written in three languages: Sabean, Ge’ez and ancient Greek. In the stone, King Ezana ruled from 330 to 356 AD.
He ruled for 26 years. In the stone, Ezana recorded his war and victories over Nubians and against the Kush kingdom.
Leaving there and further up, there is another site. It is an excavation of a an expansive house. This, according to Mengistu, our tour guide, was the palace of the Biblical Queen of Sheba based on findings from the excavation.
Leaving Axum, one was thankful for the memories and so much information about African past. Axum is a town that is opening up to become a modern city, but in doing that, they are mindful and proud of the past. To a large extent, modernity has comfortably blended with the past and are existing comfortably.
DEAR Reader, welcome again to another time of refreshing in the Word of God. I started this teaching by letting you know that you can build that glorious home, your desire. I also explained some vital ingredients for building a sweet home. Today, I want to teach on another enemy of peace in the home Anger
Every couple craves for a sweet home, but not every couple will experience it. This is because there are works of the flesh working against every home. As such, every couple that desires a sweet home should ask for the help of the Holy Spirit, in order to build a home free of strife and malice. Anger is a natural emotion that one exhibits at a particular time. We all get angry at one time, but the difference between this and the work of the flesh, is sin. That is why the scripture says: Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath (Ephesians 4:26).
Here, the Bible warns that if you are angry, do not allow your anger to lead you to sin. Anger is a canker that has destroyed many marriages and rendered many children hopeless. Therefore, don’t sin by nursing your grudge and letting the sun go down with you still angry; get over it quickly. When you are angry, you give a mighty room to the devil.
If you allow your temperament to boil, you open the door to sin. If you get upset about the way your spouse reacts to certain things at times, do not explode and speak cruel words, which can cause irreparable damage (Ecclesiastes 7:9). What makes you a mature individual is your ability to control your emotions until your anger simmers down.
A sister was upset by her husband and angrily packed her things out of the home. The husband with other good neighbours pleaded with her to return home, but due to stubbornness she refused. She thought that her husband, being a Christian could not look for another woman. After a few months, her husband stopped pleading for her return. Later, she decided to return home but to her surprise, she met another woman. Her husband had taken another woman as a wife. Do you see what stubbornness and anger can cause? Though, they were believers, they were still robbed of a successful marriage. You shall not lose your home to anger.
You don’t have to boil like a kettle of water on fire, just because your spouse expresses a different opinion. Sometimes you get angry, lose your temper and allow unseemly words pass your lips just because your spouse advises that the action you are about to take is contrary to the Scripture. Watch it!
Furthermore, some spouses try to suppress anger. They get angry but swallow it by pretending everything is alright, and then plaster a smile on their faces. They are like shaking hot bottles of coca-cola. Once the lids are opened, the hot liquid rushes out in torrents. Bottling up anger is risky; it steals away the harmony in the home. Never give it a trial.
You can let off the steam by discussing the issue of the anger at the appropriate time. Call upon the Holy Spirit to help you keep your temper so that you can live a life of love and peace, and not one filled with anger.
Furthermore, it is important to know that anger is a killer. God’s Word says: Simeon and Levi, who slew the men of Shechem because of their uncontrollable anger got a horrible sentence: Simeon and Levi are brethren; Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel (Genesis 49:5-7). Anger must be dealt with, if you want to avoid the shame that division and scattering brings to a marriage. Anger puts an end to a sweet marriage faster than adultery or fornication. One may not kill physically, yet by anger or even silence, you can kill your spouse’s spirit. Watch it!
You do not solve family problem(s) by strife but by the help of the Holy Spirit. You need a nature when you want victory over anger; one which lives for Jesus Christ and is controlled by the Holy Spirit. When Jesus possesses your home, He also possesses your tempers and keeps you from sinful anger.
You can pray the following prayer for God to deliver you from the spirit of anger: “Lord, by Your grace, help me to be victorious over all thoughtless angers and bitterness that are harmful to my family member and myself, in Jesus’ mighty name!”
Are you born-again? If you are not, you don’t have genuine access to operate the mind of Christ and that is one of the tools needed to control your anger (1 Corinthians 2:16). If you desire to give your life to Christ, 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).
Dear reader, It is wonderful to be able to share God’s Word with you once more, in this column. I have shown you what to do in order to build a sweet home. I, also, made you understand that you are the builder of your home and gave you three vital ingredients for building a sweet home.
This week, I want to teach on Peace In the Home. If you look around, you will discover that peace is a scarce commodity in the world today. Many are searching for it with all their might, especially in their homes, to no avail. It is important to know that peaceful homes are not wished into being. This is because they do not drop from heaven, but are carefully and consciously cultivated into being by the parties involved.
There is a popular inscription found in most Christian homes, which says, “Christ is the head of this home, the unseen guest at every meal, the silent listener to every conversation.” Yet, a lot of such families don’t enjoy peace because to them, Christ is only a picture and an inscription; He is not really the head of their home. I have seen couples who are Christians, but have never experience a 24-hour peace in their homes. They desire a sweet home but what they experience daily is sour home, where love never reigns. But I have good news for you. The Word of God says: …He (Jesus) is the Prince of Peace! (Isaiah 9:6).
When Jesus is given His rightful place in the home, absolute peace is guaranteed. Therefore, let Jesus be the head of your home in truth and indeed. Believe His Word, receive His instructions and obey them, and perfect peace and joy will become a permanent thing in your home. Below is a testimony of how God restored peace to the home of a sister:
“I have been married for the past ten years but there was no peace in the home. For me, marriage wasn’t good because things were just upside down. I had a child in 1993 but it died. I also experienced series of miscarriages. I used to drive a car but suddenly, it was no more. It felt as if everything came to a halt.
In January 1997, my husband joined the Winners’ Chapel Church. He didn’t ask me to come with him, because I was already attending another Pentecostal church. Yet, there was no peace in the home; rather, the situation worsened.
In June 1997, the tension was so intense that I said, ‘Lord, what will I do?’ I told my husband, ‘If this is what marriage is all about, let us call it quit.’ He replied, ‘Well, the door is wide open. You can go.’ It was at that point that I sat down and did a rethink.
That same month, I joined to Winners’ Chapel and during one of the services, I heard the Bishop say, ‘I have been married for many years now and there hasn’t been any concern or problem in my home.’ I said to myself, ‘Is it on this earth or on another planet?’
But somehow, God has done it for me too! Now I know that I had been the problem, not my husband. My husband is a perfect gentleman! Also, the Bishop’s wife jokingly said that if there was anything as another life, she would still choose to marry her husband. Today, I can also, joyfully say the same!” Neburabo, R.
Let’s look at one the enemies of peace in the home:Stubbornness: What does it mean to be stubborn? In a nutshell, it means to be adamant, to be fixed on one’s purpose and opinion or to refuse positive development. It is simply the unwillingness to change and God hates such people. The Word of God says: …Stubbornness is as an iniquity and Idolatry… (1 Samuel15:23). In this scripture, stubbornness is equated with idolatry, and idolatry is a serious sin before God. This is because it is as grievous as the adoration of graven images. Therefore, prune it away from your family life before it prunes you away from your home.
Stubbornness kills dreams. For instance, Saul’s kingdom was cut off from him because he refused correction (1 Samuel 15:1-28). If it can destroy a whole kingdom, then you need to prune it off your home before it robs you of a successful home. Imagine a man who makes up his mind to do something but refuses to be swayed by the pleading of his wife, even when her reasons are obviously in accordance with the Word of God. Watch such a man; he will end up in big trouble someday. The Word of God says: He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy (Proverbs 29:1).
Stubbornness is an enemy of honour and dignity; thus, husband and wife, who delight in stubborn acts, will end up being stripped of honour. When someone breaks the hedge, anything evil can happen to him (Ecclesiastes 10:8). Wives, our husbands are the heads of the home. As such, we must be submissive to them. We must avoid conflicting decisions at home. Allow them to take the final decision as regards the progress of the home, so as to maintain peace in the home.
Note this: Any woman who is strong-willed and unyielding is heading for disgrace and destruction. As a Christian mother, you must not allow the spirit of stubbornness to overshadow you. Be calm and articulate; calmness is not stupidity, but the cure for stubbornness.
However, you must understand that if you are not born again, it will be difficult to maintain peace in your home. Jesus Christ is the prince of peace. Are you ready to accept Him? If so, 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).
Dear Reader, You are most welcome to this week’s teaching. For the past weeks now, I have been teaching on the above subject. I have been able to make you understand that you are the builder of your home. I, also, gave you one of the vital ingredients for building a sweet home Praise.
This week, we are going to examine two other ingredients that make for a glorious and sweet marital life. I would like to refer to them as the nuggets for Christians, who desire to reap all the blessings of the marriage covenant. These ingredients are: LOVE and EXCITEMENT
Love is a potent force in the quest for a sweet home. It is the magnetic force that binds couples together. Love is a vital force for sweet relationship. No wonder Mother Theresa (Late), the noble peace prize winner, when asked, “What is the solution for world peace?” She answered, “Let everyone go home and love their families.” Love is the solution to every marital crisis! The Word of God says: Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always, trusts, always hopes, always perseveres (1 Corinthians 13:4-7).
The above scripture enumerates the characteristics of love. You can’t claim to love your spouse or family members when any of the qualities mentioned in the above scripture, is missing in your attitude towards them.
The opposite of love is selfishness. This is a plague that has destroyed many homes and rendered many innocent children homeless in the society today. It is an abnormal affection for self and pursuit of selfish desires at the expense of your spouse or other members of your family.
Selfishness is one of the traps of the devil. Thus, if you desire a sweet home, you must not give room to it. Instead, maintain a standard of self-control and discipline in your home, by running your home in accordance with the Word of God.
Another plague that prevents love from flourishing in most Christian homes is anger. It carries very costly consequences. It has ruined the destiny of most homes. It steals the seeds of love from homes and replaces it with the seeds of discord, hatred and strife. Watch it! Stop it before it rubs you of a sweet home!
God’s remedy for anger is: Let every man be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to be angry (James 1:5).
You should, therefore, encourage your family members to love one another so that you can escape every trap of the enemy and enjoy the blessings of God as a family.
Excitement
Joy and excitement are the spices of life. Unfortunately, they are the major things lacking in most homes today. Some couples even find it difficult to smile at one another. But the Word of God says: Rejoice, and again I say rejoice (Philippians 4:4). The home is not meant for silence and dull atmosphere, resulting from cold wars between husband and wife or lack of love between family members. The home is meant to be a place of excitement.
Look at this testimony:
“I have been married for over 12 years, but what I am enjoying now, I’ve never enjoyed since I got married.
During one of Pst. (Mrs.) Faith Oyedepo messages, she laid emphasis on wives being submissive to their husbands in everything, just like the Church submits to Christ. My understanding opened and I told God, “Lord, from this day, I know that obedience is the key.” Since that day, I have been enjoying what all my fasting and binding couldn’t deliver to me. I thank God because now, I feel as though I am wedded anew. To confirm God’s faithfulness in my home, my husband gave me a cheque of one hundred thousand Naira! I now enjoy peace, love and harmony. Adebayo, L
The Word of God say: If I make you sad, who is going to make me happy? You are the ones to do it, and how can you if I cause you pain?” (2 Corinthians 2:2TLB). God created the family in such a way that the joy and pain of each member affects the other family members. You are the one to create excitement in your home. Instead of being a problem to your family, why not create excitements? Don’t give room to sadness in your home.
In addition, you need to give your life to Jesus in order to maximise all it takes to building a sweet home. If you are ready to do so, 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).
DEAR Reader, Today shall be a good day for you! Your home will not fail; it will only get sweeter by the day in Jesus’ name! Last week, I started this teaching and I told you that you need wisdom to build your home. Today, I want to show you one of the vital ingredients for building a sweet home. That vital ingredient is Praise! It is important for you to know that God instituted marriage and He intended every home to be a sweet and peaceful place. When it is not so, it is evident that something is missing. A lot of people dream of a perfect home: a place where joy, peace, prosperity and fruitfulness abound. But they are not ready to pay the price. Thus, making their dreams seem far-fetched. However, I would like you to know that building a sweet home is possible, but it does not happen by chance. The Word of God says: Every house is builded by some man… (Hebrews 3:4). Just as it is in the natural, you cannot own a house by merely wishing it. Similarly, you cannot have a peaceful and exciting home except you play your part by accepting responsibilities.
One of the ways of building a sweet home is by locating the good qualities in your spouse and children, and to praise them for it, rather than focusing on their areas of weakness and mistakes. Praise is the master key to an enviable Christian living and that is the missing ingredient in most Christian homes today.
I remember the story of a woman who went to a counsellor and said, “My husband is very bad; I want to leave him.” The counsellor drew a circle and said, “Put a dot in the circle for every fault your spouse has committed.” The woman started putting dots in the circle for as many offences as she could remember: He insulted me; he didn’t give me money. She continued until she could remember no more. The counsellor then said, “Madam, the undotted space in the circle is still larger than the dotted part. That means your husband is not as bad as you want me to believe.” The woman was advised to go home and make things right with her husband. You need to appreciate God for your family members and be determined to be happy with them. Cast away bitterness from your household and let every unpleasant situation in the past be forgiven and forgotten for good.Below is a testimony of the proof that praises work.
“In October 1995, my marriage witnessed the hardest and most shocking heat of breaking! My husband was charmed as he returned from the village. When he got home, situation in the house changed. He no longer ate the food I cooked and subsequently ordered me to pack out of the house. But God the Creator of heaven and earth, Who knows every home, restored mine!
During the October 1995 Breakthrough Seminar, a friend invited me to that service. In the course of that service, God spoke through the Bishop concerning married couples, especially those whose parents were controlling their family affairs. He also spoke about men who used their wives as punching bags. Fortunately, my husband was at that service. He didn’t know that what he was doing was wrong, until he attended that service.
After that service, we bought a bottle of the anointing oil and blessed it. When we got home, we sprinkled it and drank some.By the end of that Breakthrough Seminar, my home was calm! The Lord visited us in a unique way by sending His messenger to tell us to restore our home and cast out the hand of the devil in our lives.
Thereafter, a woman visited and preached to us concerning marriage and home-breaking, yet we never told anybody about the problem. That was God sending His Words in our direction.
Even angels visited us! In fact, from then on, we started to hear the direct voice of God concerning our lives and to receive divine direction in all our endeavours! Today, my home is blessed in numerous ways and I no longer have prayer requests because the Lord continually directs my steps. All I do now is praise God because praise brings about my raising, according to my Bishop.”
-Enwere, B. C.
As a family, find time to praise God together because it will fill your home with God’s presence. Remember that wherever God is, there is fullness of joy and pleasures forever more (Psalm 16:11).
My husband says, “Until you learn how to be grateful, you don’t taste greatness.” This is because the depth of your gratitude determines the depth of God’s commitment to your lifting. Do you want greatness in your family? Then learn to appreciate God and your family members.
If you are not acquainted with the mystery of praise, you may miss all the goodness of life in your family. Though, God’s plan and determination is to bring your family into laughter this year, in 1 Samuel 12:30, He says: …For them that honour me I will honour …. This means that even though God has committed Himself to make you enjoy heaven on earth this year, it will take your praising Him to make it a reality in your life and family.
Remember, as you want others to do to you, do the same to them! Therefore, praise God and He will raise you; Praise your family members and you will get the best out of them.
Are you born-again? If you are not, you need to be. If you are ready to be among the redeemed, 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)
Dear Reader, I welcome you to another time of insight in God’s presence. By the special grace of God, all through this month, I shall be discussing on Accepting Responsibility in Building Your Home. For this week, I shall discuss one of the vital keys you will need for the effective building of your home, which is wisdom.
What is Wisdom?
Wisdom is hearing the sayings of our Lord Jesus Christ and doing them. It is the correct application of knowledge. Therefore, wisdom demands that you take steps in applying correctly all that you will learn from God this month concerning your home. Only then, will you begin to reap the fruits of a sweet and a successful home. The Bible says: Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock (Matthew 7:24).
The place of wisdom in building a successful home cannot be overemphasized. The Word of God says: Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding (Proverbs 4:7).
Wisdom is the principal thing on which all other things rest. A home is meant to be built in order for it to be successful. The Bible says: Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established (Proverbs 24:3). Therefore, to build a successful home, wisdom is required. A wise man once said, “Courtship brings out the best, marriage brings out the rest.” That is why you need the God-given wisdom to know your spouse, adapt to him or her, and bring out the best that God has designed for your home.
You are the builder of your home. Therefore, accept responsibilities and stop wishing. Work on making your home a success, and you will reap the fruits of your labour. Expectation, as often said, is the mother of manifestation. Therefore, what do you expect your home to be? Success or failure; stressful or stress-free; full of troubles or peace?
If you expect success in your home, then get down to work by applying the wisdom of God. Be a doer of the Word. Do whatever God tells you to do; that is wisdom. When you do your part, God is committed to making your home a success. He can never fail.
In addition, the Bible instructs all husbands to dwell with their wives according to knowledge (1 Peter 3:7). This means that you should understand her nature. When a man understands the nature of his wife and works according to that understanding, problems are less likely to arise in that home. You must realise that she is a wife, mother and homemaker all at once, and these place demands on her. Therefore, be considerate towards her and be available to minister to her needs. Don’t wait for her to play her part first; live by example. Wives are not to be treated as slaves or inferior human beings. Rather, they should be held in respect. This is the wisdom of God! Men, who beat their wives, exhibit folly and sin against God.
Woman! God has placed the building of the home into your hands. That is why the Bible says: Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands (Proverbs 14:1).
Therefore, don’t pluck down your home; operate in the wisdom of God. Don’t operate in foolishness; abide with God’s instructions; they are not grievous (1 john 5: 3). Even if you happen to be married to a man whose level of understanding is lower than yours, remember Abigail. Through her wisdom and understanding, she saved her home even though she had a foolish husband (1 Samuel 25:1-27).
Identify your husband’s weaknesses and help him to work on them. Learn to appreciate his good points and always point out his mistakes in a kind and loving manner. This is God’s wisdom; embrace it. If you abide by God’s instruction, it will make your home precious before God and before men. Remember, as husband and wife, you are the builders of your home.
Moreover, marriage can be likened to a physical house and as such, it does not just happen; it is consciously built. For instance, you don’t just wake up one day and see a physical house grow up somewhere. It takes conscious effort and input to make it happen. In the same manner and even much more, a good marriage doesn’t just happen; it is consciously made to happen. The Word of God says: Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established (Proverbs 24:3).
You have the duty to build your home the way you want it to be. Therefore, stop shifting your responsibilities to God. As my husband would always say, “Any faith that makes God absolutely responsible for the happenings of your life is an irresponsible faith.” The act of building is your responsibility. You must fulfill your own part before God would fulfill His.
Here is the testimony of a sister who wisely applied God’s Word as she was taught and obtained a positive result:
“Throughout the last Breakthrough Seminar, My husband did not attend any of the programme. I did not know what was wrong, so I put it in prayers. When the Bishop asked us to write a list of what we don’t want to reoccur in our lives, I wrote that my husband would return and give his life fully to Christ. He used to attend services before but suddenly, he stopped. He also stopped participating in the prayers we held at home.
I knew I am more than conquerors. So, I said, ‘You this devil, you must get out of this home. There is no room for you here’. I also believed God to grant all my desire. Miraculously, the following day being a Sunday, my husband came to church. Since then, he is the one that wakes us up for prayers!”
-Okorie, T.
I see God giving you your own testimony!
You need wisdom to build your home and God is the source of that wisdom. In case you are born again and you need the wisdom of God to build your home, God is no respecter of persons; He will give you.
If you are not yet born again and you want to do so, you have to surrender your life to God by confessing your sins. You also need to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour. Just say this prayer of faith and you shall be born again: “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)
To teachers, many pupils have dual character. But parents do not like to hear that their children who look like saints at home are something else in school. This flaw in character is more obvious when there is a lacuna between the home and the school, reports KOFOWOROLA BELO-OSAGIE.
Years have passed since Mrs Bolaji Salau (not real name) was beaten by thugs because a pupil lied against her. The truth has since been known, but the wounds have not healed despite the intervening years. Last year, at a Parents’ Forum organised by the Lagos State Education District I to prepare Senior Secondary School (SS3) pupils for the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), Mrs Salau shared her story, starting like this: “Parents, don’t always believe what your children tell you; they lie a lot.”
The pupil in question had skipped school that day and gone to play football. However, like it happens in such escapades, he was hit in the eye by a shot that left his face swollen. He needed to explain the swollen face at home so he came up with the story that Mrs Salau beat him. His parents were enraged and they followed him to school the next day, with thugs in tow. On sighting the teacher, the thugs did what they had been paid for. It was after the dust settled that they found out the truth: the boy had not been in school the previous day.
Many school administrators and teachers complain that parents believe their children are angels who can do no harm. On the contrary, Vice Chancellor (VC) of Bells University of Technology (BELLSTECH) in Ota, Ogun State, Prof Isaac Adeyemi says many children have dual character.
“The challenges we are facing should not be left in the hands of those of us who manage them. So parents have key roles to play. Most parents don’t know their children. They (students) live dual lives. At home, they are like angels; outside, they do what they like. That is why we need cooperation between parents and the school,” he said.
Otunba Dele Olapeju, Principal of King’s College can identify with that as a parent. He told The Nation that he was shocked to see another side of his son on the social media.
He said: “Take myself as an example. My son is in Babcock; and he wanted me to send money to him. I looked at his Facebook photographs. I saw two of those photographs as showing him as wild and wane – you know some of these cosmic and horror types of pictures. And I said ‘I will not send money to you until you go and delete those photographs from your Facebook’, and he did. That is the extent to which a son of a principal is another person in school. ”
Mr Emmanuel Adedayo Ojo, Proprietor of Jextoban Secondary School in Ketu, Lagos, said parents must make efforts to know their wards. He explained that many children have dual character because of peer pressure.
“Parents must know their children. Many children have double personalities. At home, they may look like angels. In school, maybe because of peer pressure, they are totally different. If parents are not very close to their children, they may not know who they are rearing. So it is important for parents to know their children and be ready to follow them up,” he said.
Lack of parental supervision damages children in the long run, making them to turn to vices, says Dr Dokun Adedeji, who runs a non-governmental organisation that rehabilitates drug addicts. He was the keynote speaker at a seminar organised by the Bells University Parents Forum on drug abuse. Adedeji said 90 per cent of teenagers that do drugs are aged 15-29, when most are still under their parents.
He shared a story of how a rich couple’s only son was lured into drugs at the age of 11 by an older relative who was staying with them. The parents only detected years later after the boy had been expelled from secondary school.
He urged parents to be friends with their children in order to know when things go wrong.
“Parents, I plead with you to be friends with your children. You better be alert to things happening in their lives,” he said.
He said parents must be alert to changes in their children’s behaviour such as withdrawal, locking rooms. He said children doing drugs can deceive their parents by covering up their deeds.
“Marijuana leaves are used to cook jollof rice, garnish noodles, brew drinks or cook soup and they will look like vegetables,” he said.
Adedeji added that children could be driven to do drugs or other vices because of unmet needs at home.
“Many times, children give signs of unmet needs through rascality. When they are unsatisfied, they can do wrong to get their parents’ attention,” he said.
Mrs Veronica Akhaine, senior boarding house mistress at The Apostolic Secondary School in Anthony, Lagos said children have unmet needs when parents do not spend adequate time with them.
“The first and foremost thing that comes to my mind is that parents should give their children time. Many of our parents, these days, do not have time for their children. By the special grace of God I have worked for over 10 years as a hostel officer and interact with parents on a daily basis. I have discovered that so many parents do not have time for their children and because of that those children have developed a way of living dual lives, yet parents can come to school and almost fight you swearing, ‘my child can never do this’, but we in the school and hostel we see them better and we know the children better.”
Mr James Akpan (not real name) found out recently that he did not really know his son. He was angry with the school for suspending his son, a Primary Two pupil, for two weeks for fighting. This was especially so when he learnt that his opponent got a lighter sentence.
Recounting the shock the man received when he got to the school, his friend (name withheld) told The Nation:
“The teacher took him to the class and asked the boy’s classmates to tell Akpan about his son. That was how he learnt that his son was unruly and usually distrupted the class. He left the school ashamed,” he said.
Rather than cover up when their children do wrong, Dr Temitope Akpelishi, Medical Director, Bells Varsity Health Centre said parents should seek help.
“Parents, please do not cover up your children. A parent withdrew his child because he had been caught taking marijuana four times. If that child is taken to a new school but not fully rehabilitated, the problem will reoccur,” she said.
Dr Fatiregun Olamijulo, of the Federal-Neuropsychiatric Hospital in Yaba, Lagos Mainland also said living in denial helps neither parents nor the children.
Narrating a story, he said: “Many of us live in denial. About six months ago, two professors brought their last born who had low blood pressure, which is a symptom of drug use. He denied using drugs. His mother too denied and said the boy was a choir leader in the church.
“Parents, stop living in denial; be there for your children. They need some mentoring. When it fails at home, they come to school and find mentors – the big boys and girls.”
Adedeji added that If parents provide a firm foundation for their children, they would be able to overcome the challenges youths face.
“The ability of students to withstand peer pressure depends on the foundation you lay. You cannot take away the internet, phones from them but you can give them a firm foundation,” he said.
Mrs Titilayo Odutola, proprietress of Rockleft School in Surulere, Lagos said building such foundation takes careful nurturing.
“If you don’t take time to nurture your future today, then tomorrow there is going to be a lot of problem because these children are the leaders of tomorrow. We don’t have a choice. We keep complaining about Nigeria; we can make Nigeria what we want, through grooming the children. Through nurturing them the way we want them to be tomorrow. Like the saying goes, once a child is broken, then that child is broken; it will take the grace of God to bring back that child to life,” she said.
After doing all they can, Mrs Akhaine said parents should also pray for their children.
“I think parents need to go along with prayers because parenting is a task from heaven, and it’s only God that can help parents.”
Dear Reader, compliments of the season to you, in the mighty name of Jesus Christ! I hope you did enjoy your Christmas? Today, by the special grace of God, I will be sharing with you another aspect of practising godliness that makes for a successful marital life – Companionship. Companionship is the relationship between friends, who share similar tastes, interest and views.
If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, and yet your closest friends are not, it’s very likely that your spiritual growth will be hindered. The Word of God says: Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners (1 Corinthians 15:33).
A man doesn’t have to be foolish in himself to be destroyed. All he needs to do is to walk with the foolish and soon, the folly of his friend rubs off on him and he is destroyed the same way a foolish man would. You shall not be destroyed in Jesus’ name! Walking with a foolish man is as bad as being foolish. The Word of God says: He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed (Proverbs 13:20).
It is clear from the above Scripture that the company a man keeps can either make or mar you; it doesn’t leave him the same. A wise man once said, “You will remain what you are today in five years time, except for the books you read and the company you keep”. It is impossible to amount to anything outside the company you keep. The major cause of crisis and problems in some home today, is wrong association. Family members keep wrong company, receiving counsel from people that stir up trouble always in their homes. The Word of God says: Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night (Psalm 1:1-2).
Who is a friend? A friend is someone with whom you and your family relate intimately. He is someone you identify with, share common experience with and bare your mind to. This simple definition of a friend shows that not everybody is a friend. So, you need to always use the Word of God in selecting who should be your friend. I believe strongly in an adage that says, “Show me your friend, and I will show you who you are.” It has a scriptural antecedent. The Word of God says: Can two walk together, except they be agreed? (Amos 3:3).
Your friend is a reflection of you. A wrong association will affect you negatively. It will make you do things that you may ordinarily never do on your own. You must detach yourself from any child of Belial. Anyone that constantly provokes your spirit and gives you wrong counsel against your wife, husband or family well-being will destroy your home.
Who is your family friend? You cannot be a Christian and your family friend will be an unbeliever or a Muslim. What companionship are you forming with an unbeliever? Anyone who is lacking in Christian character should never be your family friend. You must obey the command in 2 Thessalonians 3:6, which says: ….Withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly…
So many call themselves family friends, but they have not disciplined themselves, to refrain from certain habits. I believe that the choice of your family friend does not only affect what the future of your marital life will be, but it could also determine the success or failure of your marriage. Hence, your family’s vision, goal or target in life should determine your choice of family friends.
As a believer who desires to live a godly life, you must make up your mind to dissociate yourself from every friend that thinks or talks contrary to the Word of God. May God bring you in contact with friends that will help you and your family to your place in destiny. May you never keep company that will keep you away from God.
The type of company you keep will either make or break your marriage. It was a friend that made Ammon, David’s son to commit incest (2 Samuel 13:1-4). He later paid for the wrong company he kept with his life. Most couples, who find themselves in all forms of evil today, got into them via wrong company. One major reason why couples are enticed to join wrong company is because they are not bold enough to identify with the Lord Jesus Christ. Let people know your stand for God. When we sincerely want to have godly companions, the Lord will bring them across our paths in amazing ways.
In case you don’t know whom to pick as your family friend, ask God in prayer and He will give you direction. Disallow your spouse, children from keeping wrong company. This is because the effect of the company you keep will sooner or later affect your marriage and family.
I want to introduce to you a true friend today; Jesus Christ is that friend. The Word of God says: There is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother (Proverbs 18:24).
If you are not born again and you want to do so today, you can say the following prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me of my sins and cleanse me with Your Blood. Deliver me from sin and Satan to serve the living God. I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Make me a child of God today. Thank You for accepting me into Your Kingdom.
On Thursday being January 1, 2015, people all over the world will be celebrating the New Year. I know you are set to usher in the New Year. It is not a time for you to get drunk! Before then, you should be able to take stock and make a resolution to obey and serve God with ALL your heart. I wish you a HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Congratulations! You are now born again! Till I come your way next time, please call or write, and share your testimonies with me through: E-mail: counselling@faithoyedepo.org, Contact@faithoyedepo.org; Tel. No: 08141320204; 07026385437.
For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all the Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores: Making Marriage Work, Marriage Covenant, Building A Successful Home and Success in Marriage (Co-Authored).
Christmas is around the corner and dressing up your homes this time is fun and exciting. Just bring the colours, the bells and festivities together to get into the mood.
Preparing everything in advance is important, so, get into the spirit of the season by decorating your homes. While you are at it, remember to always have a common Christmas theme all over your home. In this case, let your colours go with your theme.
Clean up spaces for your decorations. Detoxify over stuffed corners and put away things that gather dust. Start by accessing the area where you will place your Christmas tree and other decorations.
Clean up your furniture and window blinds and make them ready for a Christmas makeover.
The front door to the living room should be the centre of your decoration. This will invite people to your theme. Since your living area is where you receive people, it should get the most attention. Place flowers that remind you of Christmas all over the house whether they are fresh or artificial.
Place Teddy bears and dolls all over your house, especially if you have children, they look like they are celebrating with you.
You can either group them together or place them around your Christmas tree. It will be more fun if you can dress them in Christmas clothes. Decorate your doors and windows with colourful papers and lights.
Christmas books can be placed on your side tables to commemorate favourite Christmas stories and entertain visitors; likewise picture frames and albums with last year’s Christmas pictures and even more vintage ones.
Your dinning space should not be left out; use bright colours and name it ‘my Christmas dinning set’ for this season. Bring out your best dinnerware because sharing meals with family, friends and guests is the centre of the festivities.
If you do not have one, you can buy a set of red plates to compliment the season.
Red flowers, especially seasonal flowers, are nice for the table. Choose something neutral, but classy. White flowers with silver, or cream with gold, or choose a peacock with turquoise, purple and gold. Add peacock feathers to your flower arrangements for height, and decorate your table with the same jewel colours.
You could also add candles and ornaments such as cones, evergreens, or small fir tree branches. Get the best colourful Christmas napkins you can find, with Christmas bells and decorations drawn on them.
Ribbons could easily be tied, untied and retied to all sorts of items in your house such as chairs, stair-case railings, flower basket handles and door knobs. You could even reuse them another yuletide season. Scented candles could be used to commemorate the mood.
Adorn your trees and shrubs with lights if you have them in your compound. You could hang Christmas lights in your garden, balcony and compound. Not only do they look nice, they make your entire home lovely.
Remember it is supposed to be fun. Keep it simple because simplicity is elegant and beautiful.
