The Nation Newspaper

Tag: rest

  • Expert harps on more rest, sound sleep in Ramadan

    A medical practitioner, Dr Hajarat Davies has emphasised the need for Muslims to create more time for sound sleep during Ramadan.

    Speaking on Al-Mu’minaat Ramadan lecture aired on Television Continental (TVC), Davies of the Solace Vet Clinic,  said more rest and sound sleep were essential to the overall health of those fasting particularly those engaging in strenuous work.

    “We need to take time to rest especially during the day. For those engaging in works that are strenuous, there is bound to be a lot of stress. It’s only better for such people to dedicate some time to sleep.

    “Stress can be controlled. It’s one of the risks we can undergo during fasting. There could also be headache and heartburn. All these conditions can be controlled by maintaining a balance in our rest,” she said.

    Noting that fasting comes with numerous health benefits, she said the body is naturally resistant to stress while fasting.

    She identified long life  and improved health as some of the benefits of fasting.

    She, however, urged the  Muslims to maximise the opportunities of the month.

    Dr Davies also enjoined   them to go for regular checks and report any strange health condition to the hospital for prompt intervention.

  • Laying the ghost of elections to rest

    The echoes of the 2019 elections will continue to reverberate for a long time to come.  The elections came at a huge cost; with votes buying and other sundry electoral heists; ballot snatching, stuffing, and thuggery with official endorsements.    It was an election like no other in our recent history which we shall factor in this discourse.  The result can only be compared with the epic fight between the legendary Mohammed Ali and the pound-for-pound Joe Frazier, titled the thriller in Manila. At the end of the fight, Ali was quoted to have said it was the closest thing to death.

    As patriots, it is desirous to audit the elections and interrogate its integrity and the quality of political leadership driving the state.  The 2019 basically was a referendum and plebiscite on President Muhammadu Buhari and the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC). In 2015, the people were upbeat when they rejected the ruling party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) because it represented everything ugly and odious; there was wholesale corruption in industrial scale.  Infrastructures had virtually collapsed and the party leadership was groping without rhythm in fighting the insurgency in the Northeast and insecurity generally in the six geopolitical zones.   Even though people were still able to buy food, it was just a matter of time before the reality would have done on us that we will be feeding from the dustbin.

    It was not about the president at the time, Dr Goodluck Jonathan who unarguably was a good man; it was about good governance. He lost control of the affairs of the state which made all his appointees to use him; the security chiefs, ministers, governors, the religious people and traditional rulers.  He was not spared even by the Civil Society Organizations and Non-Governmental Organizations who ripped the state off in the name of campaigns that added no value to the people.

    The electorates were not wrong when they rejected PDP and what it represented but unknown to us, the actors in the PDP became the nerve centre of the new APC; old wine in new wine skin you would call it. It is unimaginable that just after four years, that the same PDP could make such a strong showing in a general election. This is what should worry APC and its leadership if they have the capacity of soul searching and truly evaluate and appraise the outcome of the 2019 elections in the inner recesses of their conscience. In spite of the insular, clannish and feudal disposition of the president, he appeared to have been a political capital for the ruling party.

    However, compared with the 2015 elections, it was clear that the president did not enjoy the same level of support in the just concluded elections. It is not in doubt that he has dealt some blow on corruption by taking on some hitherto untouchables in the society. It should be appreciated that the fight has commenced but it may not have gathered enough momentum to bring within its net all the known political rogues some of whom have found sanctuary in the ruling party and even as cabinet members.

    The build up to elections saw Nigerians very bitter with the state of the nation; there was heightened state of insecurity; the entire middle belt region was as bloody as the battle of Solferino in Italy with bodies littered everywhere. Unemployment was growing by the day, no noticeable improvement in infrastructure whether it is electricity or road. More than anything in the past, the campaign was very divisive and deeply sectional and was not issues-based. At the end, it was actually the personality and integrity of the individuals that were the deciding factors; especially between candidates, Buhari and Atiku Abubakar. The PDP no doubt, given the circumstances that led to their defeat in 2015 performed beyond expectation; so they need not take their luck too far challenging the victory of the ruling APC even though it is their fundamental right; after all, all the parties were involved in rigging and vote-buying.

    The elections also exposed the partisanship of the religious leaders (Christians/Muslims) and their attempt to hoodwink adherents to their faith to follow their preferred candidates as a divine direction. There was no need to have taken side by any religious leader invoking the wrath of God on members that did not follow their intuition after all; the two leading candidates were of the same ethno-religious stock. The religious leaders like their political counterparts also rob the people; the denizens who give tithes and offerings and yet cannot afford facilities provided by the religious organizations like schools for their children.

    The big lesson too from the election was that it demystified the kingmakers and so-called political godfathers who arrogate to themselves the power of choice of who becomes president, governors etc. The elections no doubt put the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the spotlight and in the eye of the storm. The commission is headed by an academic egghead, a professor of political history and international studies to the bargain. I am not sure we could have someone of a finer quality than that anywhere in the world that is, assuming our academics are actually worth their salt. I say this with due respect because hours before the election, the INEC chairman assured the nation that all was set for the elections as electoral materials, sensitive and non-sensitive had been deployed only for him  at the eleventh hour, as people were about waking up to go to the polling centre, he announced the postponement giving sundry excuses.

    There were issues of outright sabotage and arson on INEC infrastructures in some states, there were failures of the card readers and non availability of card readers in some states and even polling stations.  On the whole, there appeared not to have been compliance with the INEC requirement in the deployment of technology for free and fair polls. The failure of card readers and non availability in some cases is inexcusable and a subversion of the electoral process. If the POS machines that bankers and traders use on daily basis do not fail, there is no earthly reason for INEC not to have an efficient machine to run a credible election for Nigeria with the huge investment that country has made.  INEC and the government cannot wash their hands off the hanky-panky and the failure of the card readers during the 2019 polls.

    Another prominent feature of the elections was the role played by the security agencies.

    There were damning allegations of involvement of some security agencies in ballot-snatching and destructions, harassment and intimidation of voters to secure victory for preferred candidates. The military was particularly fingered in this unwholesome and unprofessional practice. It is now becoming obvious that it a disincentive to deploy the military in civic electoral duties as it only militarizes the entire process without adding security to it. There is now an urgent need for us as compatriots to properly evaluate the requirement of security personnel for election duties for the sanctity of our democracy.

    I understand the Nigerian Army has empanelled a committee to look into the involvement of its personnel during the election.   While that is a welcome development, we should go beyond that; we need independent judicial body of inquiry to investigate the totality of the activities of all the security agencies that were deployed for the election. There was too much bloodshed, too much killings, too much destruction of properties.

    Our politicians like sorcerers always like the smell of blood and will not see anything wrong when they commission and pay thugs to go and face bullet with their bare chest just to win elections. Those who pay the thugs to go and kill and steal the mandate of the people should be the ones that should face the wrath of the law as we lay the ghost of the election to rest.

     

    • Kebonkwu Esq is an Abuja-based attorney.

  • How to lay restructuring agitation to rest, by don

    To lay the restructuring agitation to rest, President Muhammadu Buhari needs to engage in the debate and to assert himself as the leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), a university do has said.

    Prof. Hassan Saliu stated this in Ilorin at the weekend during a roundtable on economy and restructuring organised by National Pilot.

    Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of National Pilot Alhaji Billy Adedamola said the organisation organised the roundtable as part of its social responsibility.

    He described the topic of the event – economy and restructuring – as two issues that have taken the front burner of discussion in Nigeria.

    The event had in attendance academics, captains of industries, members of the civil society, the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and media executives among others.

    Prof. Saliu, listed lopsided appointment, nepotism and favoritism and uneven distribution of projects, among others as reasons for the restructuring agitation in the country.

    ”The agitation for restructuring is diversionary to President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, stoking ethic tension and engendering mutual suspicion,” he stated.

    “To put the restructuring agitation to rest, the President must assert himself as the leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and he should heed the advice of Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi by educating his kinsmen on restructuring. President Buhari should make up his mind on 2014 constitutional conference report.”

    Emir of Shonga Dr. Yahaya Haliru, who was the Chairman of the event, said for Nigeria to rank high among the comity of nations, there is the need to democratise the vision of its founding fathers.

    ”It is so sad that as a nation we are yet to get it right despite the abundance of human and natural resources. As a nation, we need to democratise our vision and we also need to work collectively towards our vision,” he stated.

    Delivering his paper; ‘An Appraisal of the proposals for restructuring in Nigeria’ Prof. Adigun Agbaje of the University of Ibadan, described the Emir’s position on attitudinal change as the only solution to the nation’s problem.

    He said, “You cannot give what you don’t have. Nigeria is yet to have democracy especially with the wide spiral impunity in our system.

    “We need to first get the basis right.  We don’t have federalism in terms of minimal requirement. We should not demonise Nigeria. Restructuring has long being with Nigeria and federalism comes along with restructuring.”

    Speaking on the topic: ‘Understanding the fundamentals of Nigerian Economy and its current challenges’, Prof Israel Olufemi Taiwo, from the Department of Economics, University of Ilorin, said.

    “Human development in Nigeria is improving but remains low by international standard with 0.5 to 0.527 index. It is only Nigeria and Angola that are under the low development indices in Africa.

    “Literacy rate is about 60 per cent of Nigeria’s population with poverty rate more than two-third of Nigerians are living below poverty rates. This shows that Nigeria is lacking in all development indices.”

  • Obtaining rest in the family (4)

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

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

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

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

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

    What does it take to be Happy?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Obtaining rest in the family (3)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Obtaining rest in the family (2)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    If you are not a part of God’s people and you want to be, now is the best time. Do not postpone or procrastinate; rather, say this prayer with me: “Dear Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me of my sins and cleanse me with Your Blood. Deliver me from sin and satan to serve the living God. I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Make me a child of God today. Thank You for accepting me into Your Kingdom.”

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

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

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

  • Obtaining rest in the family (1)

    Dear Reader,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    The Scripture above says you should confess with your mouth, and then believe what you have said in your heart. The time for you to do that is right now. Wherever you are reading this article, kneel down and with conviction in your heart that you desire the rest that comes only from God for you and your family, say: “Dear Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me of my sins and cleanse me with Your Blood. Deliver me from sin and satan to serve the living God. I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Make me a child of God today. Thank You for accepting me into Your Kingdom.”

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

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

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

  • Rest to avoid stress-related diseases, experts advise

    A medical doctor, Dr Joseph Okonkwo, has advised Nigerians to devote enough time to resting to avoid contracting stress-related diseases.

    He gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sideline of a health talk, organised by Christ the King Catholic Parish, Kubwa in Abuja.

    The conference had as theme: ‘’Health for all’’.

    He said stress-related diseases, especially high blood pressure, was a silent killer ailment, if not checked early.

    He stressed the need for people to take proper care of their health, adding that only the healthy could contribute to national development.

    Okonkwo said many people, including members of the parish, were not aware of some untreated stress-related diseases and their implications for their health.

    He described the forum as an important medium of making the parishioners aware of such diseases and how to treat or avoid them.

    The medic said six doctors and five nurses volunteered to offer free services, such as consultation, drug dispensing and conduct tests on the parishioners and the public.

    Okonkwo said doctors offered free treatment of  hepatitis, sexually transmitted diseases, weight control, eye diseases, cancer of the cervix and blood pressure, among other patients.

    ”Ordinarily, the parishioners would have gone to conventional hospitals and pay for the cost of treatment of these diseases, but we offer to treat free of charge,” he said

    Okonkwo said the doctors enlightened the people on some diseases and the need for them to take precautionary measures to avoid them.

    “We are imparting the health knowledge in them, more like creating awareness for them to know what to do to avoid these diseases,” he said.

    The doctor expressed concern over the increased rate of hepatitis in the society, noting that the disease was caused by toxins, such as alcohol and hard drugs. He said the commonest way of getting the disease was through unprotected sex and blood transfusion.

    Okonkwo described the turnout for the event as very encouraging.

    Mrs Ikhumi Florence, a parishioner, described the conference as very educative.

    “I am really happy that I have learnt a lot from this event and it will help me to be more conscious of my health,” Florence said.

    Mrs Esther Edawu, another participant, commended the church for contributing to the health of its members.

    She said the event was an eye opener for her to be more conscious about some diseases and how to avoid them.

    “I did not know a lot about cancer of the cervix before the event, but after the lecture, I have been better informed about the causes and preventive measures of such diseases,” Edawu added.

     

  • A classical way to rest

    A classical way to rest

    Ebony Vault, an out-of-the-world cemetery was recently unveiled to the public in Lagos. Adeola Ogunlade reports.

    Frontline Lagos undertakers, Ebony Vault, recently opened a classy cemetery in highbrow Ikoyi, Lagos to provide options for Nigerians who crave some decency and luxury for their dead.

    The beautiful landscape occupies about 2 hectares, with lovely flowers adorning the walkways, giving it a luxury garden ambience and lending a sense of fun in the midst of mourning.

    Speaking, Chief Executive Officer of Ebony Vault,  Dehinde Harrison, said having established Atan Cemetery in Lagos in 2003, he had always wanted to do something more for the funeral services industry. “I believe in creativity, innovativeness and tact in my business. I was born into the funeral service business as a child. … The first thing I see is a casket and the last thing I see before going to sleep.”

    He spoke of an international conference he attended where there were over 10,000 funeral service providers, and the need to do more and make funeral services less stressful and fun were adequately discussed, saying it “I thought of doing one in Lagos.”

    Ebony Vault has a showroom for caskets, a Viewing Room for families to view the bodies of their loved ones before they are taken for burial and a car park can take between 200 and 250 cars. “This place is a one stop shop for funerals. You can also hold a service in our hall….  Also there are two different set of burial grounds, one for the Christians and another for Muslims. The Muslim vault has a space that can accommodate 100 people for prayers and there are six taps for them to wash their legs as their religion permits.

    “There is also a reserved area for Christian service. And at request, the in-house clergy can be arranged to conduct funeral service.”

    “There are almost 1000 vaults on two hectares of land occupied by the cemetery. The space is segmented into high-density and low-density burial sites. There are also medium-density and special sites. The high-density area has a longer cluster of vaults while low-density consists of fewer vaults.”He said.

    Odunlami added that “We do a-z of funeral service. We are here to help any class of people be it artisans. We have caskets for difference classes of people. We can help with any budget. We do pre-paid for our clients who feel that they want to prepare the family before their death. We can choose their casket, vehicle, and how long the dead will stay in the mould.

  • Encomiums as Thompson’s wife is laid to rest

    Eminent Nigerians at the weekend paid tributes to the late Mrs. Adeshiyanbola Ayoka, the wife of the late Justice Adewale Thompson, a former Secretary-General of the Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE).

    They hailed her for her love, charity and devotion to service of God and mankind.

    Madam Thompson passed on November 15 at 78.

    Prof Gabriel Ogunmola described her as an epitome of love and kindness. He recalled Mrs. Thompson’s meekness and kindness.

    Former Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Prof Olukayode Oyediran, said the deceased was a virtuous woman, who will be missed.

    At the All Saints’ Church, Jericho, Ibadan, where she was a chorister, the officiating priest, Rev. Adesola Kuyebi, urged the congregation to emulate her life of devotion, adding that the “deceased has finished her divine task on earth and is now resting in the Lord’s bosom”.

    Venerable G.B. Daramola, who gave the sermon, said there was no need to mourn like those without hope, because the late Mrs.Thompson triumphed over death and had received the crown of everlasting life.

    He urged the children to take solace in the fact that their mother served  God faithfully.

    “We thank God for the life of Mrs. Adeshiyanbola Ayoka Thompson . We remember her devotion to the service of God in this church.

    ”Our God has conquered death through his only begotten son, Jesus Christ and thereby opened for us the way to everlasting life.

    “We thank God for the life of Mrs. Thompson who ended her sojourn here on earth trusting and fearing you.

    “She lived a long, full and satisfying life and had the privilege of bringing up her children to a point where they can stand on their own,” Daramola said.

    The deceased’s children – Dr Adeshola Thomas, Adeyemo Thompson, Adeniyi Thompson, Adebola Thompson and Adesegun Thompson- were at the service.

    Adeshola said: “My mother was the most selfless person I know.

    “She was humble and modest to a fault. She was a good mother, wife and housewife, who literally sacrificed all for her children.”

    Also present were Prince Wale Williams;  Dr  Olu Akinkoye; his wife, Motolani;  Kayode Shobanjo; Olumide Ayoola; Kayode Tejuoso; Mrs. Jare Alade; Mrs. Joko Oni; Princess Ilori Thomas and Mrs Funso Akingbola, among others.

    After the one hour funeral service, her remains were moved to Lagos where they were interred at the Vaults and Gardens.

    A reception was held at the Yoruba Tennis Club in Onikan, Lagos.