Miscellanies 70: Death, an unwelcomed foe

Death that unwelcomed foe of life is one that we must all meet. However willing or unwilling we must meet him. He is the enemy of life, the bringer of all things sour. I will have people not mourn for me when I greet him but o how I weep for others who have entered into his voyage. I weep especially for dear friends who have experienced a bitter loss of a dear family member or of them whom they loved with all of their souls. I treasure their tears in those hours and unite in their pain. But as for me, do not mourn for I am going to a better place. People die every day. It is a basic fact. It is part of human existence. Some die young, some die old and some died never lived at all. The greatest misery and blues are of those who died without a saviour. Should I be able to cry for all eternity, I would cry each day for their souls. That pollution that had deprived humanity of heaven, namely sin shall be forever united to their nature. They would know nothing of being united with God in paradise.  And if on a luminous day in eternity, God should gather all of his children and declare that all angels and men should be released from their unforgiving sentence, then I shall rejoice and be glad to welcome such sinners forgiven. I will not be as the first son in the prodigal story but as the angels in heaven when they heard of my salvation. It shall be good news exceedingly. But in all my readings of scripture I do not see such a day as this in eternity, nevertheless God is all the more good and glorious in His infinite counsel. I know I shall have no tears in heaven, no sorrow nor pain. I wish as the apostle that I could be cursed for another, but such is the unaffected steel of divine election by human will. God’s purposes and counsel will stand, and I rejoice in his love which has determined all things.

K.Oni

A Happy week

How blessed is the state of my heart this week that I feel inside it a continual peace and joy. It is firm and honeyed, occupied with that sunlight that emanates from the glorious thrones in heaven. I have no earthly reason to live in such a bliss, consuming nothing that is to my advantage, namely, no prestige, wisdom, power, money, fancy, and so on. I am but weak, failing man, hardly owning anything to call my own, yet I am the happiest of all the green flowers. I may not look it at times but truly in my soul is a heaven upon earth. The cause for this bliss is really owed to this, namely my early rising to pray focusing on the works and power of the Holy Spirit. At six my alarm awakens me and in duty, although of a willingness of heart I pray on my bed because I feel too cold to ascend, but in my heart I pray. As I pray I am left with an abiding presence of sweetness and joy. God does rise in my soul being glad that He has made my heart his temple. I am humbled, for as God saturates my heart with his holy incense, all of my sins, those that arise from the remaining flesh disappears. I am left with holiness, desiring only the bed of Christ. Such is the sweetness that Christ has tipped in my heart that all things have become to me a luxury, thanking God always for all that He is for me and being content in my position. It is an awesome thing for one to have their heart in Christ and it is doubly awesome for Christ to have his heart in theirs. I cannot wait until that glorious day when finally I shall meet my Christ face to face and have the redemption of my body.

K.Oni

Poor Jesus

We are told in the scriptures that Jesus Christ came from heaven. And not from any part of heaven but from the richest place in heaven, namely from the very presence of His Almighty Father at whose right hand there are pleasures forever more. Jesus Christ was also God to whom belongs all things and for whom all things were created. To Him belong the infinite riches of eternity but yet when he became man, that is, in his incarnation he came to our surprise as a lowly obscure inhabitant. 

 Jesus Christ did not come in the manner of a Sovereign or as that of a child of a multi-billionaire attended with the finest clothes and personage, nay, He came humbly and poor. The place of his birth is to be pitied, surrounded by dumb animals and cobwebs for curtains. He was to live with poor parents as they could only offer a pair of turtledoves because the price of a lamb was beyond their income. Christ in his manhood demonstrated his own poverty that when it was required of him to pay his taxes, he had to work a miracle. Christ in his heavenly kingdom had infinite riches to daily feed multitudes but whilst here on earth he could only feed five thousand men through a wonder. Such was the poverty of Christ that at his death he commissioned his beloved disciple to take care of his broken-hearted mother for he had nothing to leave her. No home, no savings, but precious teachings which could not be sold for a price.

O poor Christ! but for him we are not to mourn. We are to mourn our own condition for loving money and wealth. Look how Christ descended to be found among the lowly, consider his humility. Are we ready to clothe ourselves with such humility? Remember that Christ became poor to make us rich, are you willing to be poor to make the poor rich? If we are blessed with wealth, let us consider it as a perishing commodity to be spent for the kingdom. And if we are poor, let us not mourn our portion but rejoice that our lives is more than possessions. K.Oni 

Miscellanies 69: The world always criticizes the way God works

The world always criticizes the way God works. I think most of us would say to God if given the opportunity, that, I think God maybe you should do it this way. The ultimate criticism most people have, perhaps, is of the cross of Christ. Why would you choose to save people this way? what arrogance! one with a heart of humility would repeat after the apostle Paul "Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! "For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counsellor?"
"Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?" For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen."

K.Oni

Prayer for my soul - Take my five loaves of bread

Lord Jesus, please take my five loaves of bread and use it to feed this generation, because I’m worried about their spiritual state. They are all buried in the graveyard and need calling out like Lazarus. And besides I am not perfect, I’m hating the sins that I see on my bed side. I long to change, but the past keep telling me it will all be the same. Help me belief, extinguishing all my unbelief because I really want to eat the feast you have prepared for me. Lord Jesus please take my five loaves of bread and use it to feed this generation.

K.Oni

Miscellanies 68: Two gardens in the bible

My friends, there are two gardens in the bible, namely the garden of Eden and the garden of gethsemane. The first garden made redemption necessary and the second garden made redemption possible; even more, Christ's decisive decision in that thorny garden re-purchased for us and more all that Adam had thrown away in his leisure. Therefore my friends, live today in Jesus and not in Adam, being sure that all the kingdom promise is yours in Christ Jesus.  

K.Oni

 

Miscellanies 67: Her sweet love

There was no other place that she would rather be than right here in my arms, and in the comfort of my love. She says with a passionate quiet zeal, that I awaken a fire in her soul that she cannot contain. All the time it is uncontrollable, she wants more. I asked her if this was not lust, and in a flurry of love she declined, and maintained that it was too pure to be lust but it is sweet love. My beloved also mentioned that at my appearance, something in her always comes alive. My love, if you have these passions for me then how much greater do you have them for Jesus? Her eyes fell with embarrassment, and in all my masculine tenderness, I stroke her hair, staring lusciously into her dovely eyes, that her love for Christ must exceed mine, or else I have failed in my ministry towards her.

 

K.Oni

The writings of Sunny Caane (8)

Another soul, my young cousin I should say showered me with his current state of heart on a beauty he witnessed just a few days before. I do not know why he thought it good to share it with me, but lo, I must add it to my collection, being of one accorded to the previous letters I have recently received.

My dear Uncle, At the weekend party which I attended, I noticed that I couldn’t stop looking. Such brown beauty, soft skin, brown eyes, slim figure, one of a kind. A prettiness almost unsurpassed and in her eyes I understood a gaze that too was wanting me. Shall I mourn at my loss? Shall I joy at meeting such tender smile, such summerish glow? We spoke only to address nature, to hide what lingered beyond our shy horizon. What means shall providence employ for us to meet again? In this matter I have no faith, no light at the tunnels end. But these circumstances are such that another of Eve’s kind will win my emotion again and each time I shall be effortlessly won for there is none at present that enamours my soul. My heart is like a reed, blowing here and there according to the blowing wind. Not long ago my nature was besotted, infatuated with another, resting beneath her shade that we were unaware of other myrrh, for our contentment was in dreaming about eating her fruits for she never once descended for us to have a bite. She gave it to another and ever since then, my mind has been in exile, wandering to different amusements until a pasture arise for us to dwell. But her whom I saw today, I cannot say I loved for it takes time for seeds to mature. In meeting her eyes, there raptured in me a jubilee of a noble kind, possessing a secret smile only to be revealed when providence shall see it right for us to encounter again.

 

Your favourite cousin

Winconstin

Craving acceptance from others

Craving acceptance from others is a sure way to cater for what others view as admirable. One only forgets themselves and strive to be that which they are not or that which they cannot maintain. I tell you, do not be concerned about what others consider beautiful if it does not match up to God’s expectation. If others will not accept you because of your external beauty do not worry your soul with such worthlessness but instead concern yourself with your maker and how he has fashioned you according to his infinite wisdom.

 

K.Oni

Miscellanies 66: Keeping a good relationship with Jesus

Keeping a good relationship with Jesus requires much lingering upon his words. It requires abiding in his words. And his words we have always with us so that if I desire for Christ to speak to me after I have had a winterish day, feeling in my soul the burden of life. I can come to Christ and have him speak to me in all of his meekness and gentleness saying 'come to me now troubled child and I will give you rest.' But how foolish are we when we spend the nights in a state of fever because we have had no words from Christ, therefore going here and there for a message which has already been written in his book for you. All that you need is contained therein and this does not dismiss prayer. On the contrary it encourages it. I can only think that the reason why many people have a once a week heart connection with Christ is that they have neglected his words. They have ceased to open that book for which men have died. This book is better than all the spoils of war, it is perhaps the greatest treasure a literate man can find to read. O child of the faith, come daily upon his words, Christ calls you to cherish his words. He beckons you to keep his commandments for by keeping them will you abide in His love. O saint, how can you keep them if you are never at his feet to listen to his honeyed instructions. O know and settle with your soul that his words are not burdensome. If you desire to keep good relations with Jesus, that is a relationship that bears fruit, then you must and must linger much upon his words.

K.Oni

Miscellanies 65

Christianity must be a religion manifested in the life of the one who holds claim to its teachings. What we see is the opposite. Many confess allegiance to Christianity, not because they cherish its Christ and His Kingdom, but because once upon a time they were christened, or were born into a Christian family and into a supposed Christian nation. I have met some who laid hold to heaven because they were baptize and once made a decision, and yet, they speak nothing of a sweet trust in Jesus or a willingness to live for him in regards to personal purity.

I have also met some who loved the ethics of the gospel, who adores the Father’s heart of a reconciliation with mankind. But this very people are the first to protest against the uniqueness of Christ, and the ancient old (biblical laws) against the acceptable morality of today’s culture.

Our culture, we must admit is anti-Christ. The chaffs dominate its firmaments and the wheat’s are increasingly marginalised. Nevertheless, love is the gospel theme and how beautiful are the feet of those who bring glad tidings.

They who hold to the tenets of Christianity must preach the gospel like those preachers in the days of the enlightenment. They did not bow down to the kingship of human reason but they sounded the gospel without compromise. I feel that the doctrinal zeal which awakened the reformers from their papacy slumber and the need for regeneration in the Wesleyan/Whitfield revival must come together in our age.  Men must be born again. Jesus Christ did rise again. The only way to salvation is through Christ alone. It was this evangelical zeal which brought in the waves of revival in the eighteenth century.

K.Oni

Miscellanies 64: Are you living your Christian life or just singing about it?

There is no point singing about intimacy if one never does it. It is like singing of love and never loving. It is as futile as the snail’s plight to reach the sky. Those who perhaps listen to such worship songs no doubt feel at the moment a fervent zeal, but as soon as the song stops playing, so does their present emotion, and their desire for intimacy is blown away as the chaff by the wind.

 

The Christian life consists in much doing, and I fear that many of us have settled to singing about our Christian life rather than living it.

 

Jesus didn’t tell people to pay him lip service but to follow him.

 

We sing there is power in the name of Jesus to break every chain, although true theologically but in actuality what chains are being broken?

 

We sing of an army rising up – but where is this army rising up who are unashamed of the gospel of Christ?

 

I do not doubt that God is going about doing His work through ten million various means and using saints as well as sinners to accomplish his purpose. Nevertheless I believe that God would want his people to live the life He has called them too rather than sing about it and never doing it, or never feeling his divine power.

K.Oni

Who shall be my darling

I know at last, when this time has passed, my solitary dwelling will be swallowed up in the fellowship of another.  

     She shall be my beloved, my grace from heaven.

I shall love her with a Christ like humility. For her I will be a soldier from Jerusalem, I will march the hills of difficulty so that on green pastures, she may dwell.

              She will be to me like the spring rain,

             watering the plants of my joys.

            In my contemplations, her beauty shall be my subject of meditation.

In my prayers, her sanctification shall be my theme.

              I will love her as commanded by the King of Peace.

       My heart will manifest the love that is contain therein. I wonder, when this veil is lifted, who shall be my darling?

         The one whom I may enjoy until I kiss this voyage goodbye.

 

K.Oni

My memory, we must not go to that place

My memory, we must not go to that place where she is.

  We must not open the door of her remembrance.

      Although it makes us smile,

         yet it brings with it the sadness of winter.

          She is gone as the past ages.

        She has departed from us like yesterday.

 

 We must keep her locked away until sight awakens what we have buried deep in the island of  insensibleness.

 

 

K.Oni

Miscellanies 64: This tide of joy

And this tide of joy in my soul does rise,
undefeated by the rocks of suffering,
unstoppable by the winds of unreturned love,
   irrepressible by the banks of status,
                increased by the joy of future grace,
                   directed by the moon of hope,
                      nourished by the salt of love,
                           and moved in the ocean of glory.


K.Oni 

Miscellanies 63: I am always astonished when anyone becomes a Christian

I am always amazed when anyone becomes a Christian. It is nothing less than divine power working a miracle as marvelous as the miracle of creation itself. It is ex-nihilo. Once, there was no faith, absolutely nothing, then suddenly as light immediately quenches the darkness, faith appears, birthed in the soul. I am always astonished because when I declare the gospel to one who has no interest nor history or knowledge of Christ, a thought always occur in my mind, namely, how foolish this message is that I proclaim to him – it must make no sense to him although it makes all the sense in the world to me, but I must declare it unashamedly, and not change it in order to please his reasons. I preach on knowing that in his heart that this unconverted person is perhaps offended by my message, for I have just declared to him that He is a sinner, he is alienated from God, that his good works at best are filthy rags, he cannot do anything to merit God’s smile in attaining heaven or in anything else, but that he must beat his chest, understanding his own deep depravity and unworthiness, and that his only hope is in the death and resurrection of Christ and in the mere sovereign pleasure of grace to bestow grace upon his wretched condition. I tell him that God loves him and sent his only Son to die for him. I assure him of a sure peace with God and reconciliation. The reconciliation or his salvation is not merely to do with his own personal interest but with the whole creation. If he doesn’t believe in this message then he must have his miserable portion which is an eternity spent in the chambers of hell because of his own wilful rebellion against God. I am sure that there are many who are in the faith who would not smile at this gospel message but mourn at my sad depiction of the human nature and powerlessness to conjure up even a percentage of their own faith. I am sure that man can only produce unbelief in this regard hence why it is impossible for any man to be saved except by God’s grace alone. This is what I have read in the scriptures and this is why I am surprised and amazed when anyone believes in the gospel. It is nothing short of a divine work.

 

K.Oni

What I feel about God's Sovereignty

I feel about God's sovereignty the way Jonathan Edwards felt about it. I find it a sweet comforting doctrine that God's omnipotent hands is in every grand event and in every minuscule occurrence. God's providence directs all the ways of men although they know it not, yet providence leads the blind by a way that they know not. Many have reasons to doubt the absolute sovereignty of God in all things especially when it comes to those things which have caused many to detached God from this immoral universe. But as for me, as I read scripture I see the clear hands of God in all things even in those woes which causes men to mourn the existence of a seemingly disastrous universe. But I see as with Joseph that it was not his brothers who sent him to Egypt but God (Gen 45:5,8). Jacob was incompetent to direct his own way, he was blind to the future misfortunes of his kinsmen due to the famine which would have erased their existence. But God was wise to it and seeing this event which we must say He himself was the authour of, directed young Joseph's feet until it found its rest as the second hand of Pharaoh. I submit to this providence and sovereignty, although I do not know much of God's secret counsel yet I know this, namely that God means it all for good and His glory and therefore He is not guilty of sin. There are no objections in my mind concerning this truth and the more I contemplate its vastness the more in love I fall with God, my Father, His Son and Spirit. I know what many will now say, throwing rocks at this impenetrable truth, but I will not be mad and impatience but will turn my words to the heart of heaven praying this, that many may come to have the mind of Christ who uttered 'Are not two sparrow sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. And all that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out' Matthew 10:29 and John 6:37.

This is what Jonathan Edwards felt about |God's sovereignty:

From childhood up, my mind had been full of objections against the doctrine of God’s sovereignty, in choosing whom he would to eternal life, and rejecting whom he pleased; leaving them eternally to perish, and be everlastingly tormented in hell. It used to appear like a horrible doctrine to me. But I remember the time very well, when I seemed to be convinced, and fully satisfied, as to this sovereignty of God, and his justice in thus eternally disposing of [dealing with] men, according to his sovereign pleasure. But never could give an account, how, or by what means, I was, thus convinced, not in the least imagining at the time, nor a long time after, that there was any extraordinary influence of God’s Spirit in it but only that now I saw further, and my reason apprehended the justice and reasonableness of it. However, my mind rested in it; and it put an end to all those cavils and objections. And there has been a wonderful alteration in my mind, in respect to the doctrine of God's sovereignty, from that day to this; so that I scarce ever have found so much as the rising of an objection against it, in the most absolute sense, in God’s shewing mercy to whom he will show mercy, and hardening whom he will. God’s absolute sovereignty and justice, with respect to salvation and damnation, is what my mind seems to rest assured of, as much as of any thing that I see with my eyes, at least it is so at times. The doctrine has very often appeared exceeding pleasant, bright, and sweet. Absolute sovereignty is what I love to ascribe to God. (Jonathan Edwards, Selections [New York: Hill and Wang, 1962], pp. 58-59).

K.Oni

Ever since this revelation

At the appointed time, I saw her in all of heaven's morning beauty, full of joy as she drew near to her Father's throne by faith. I watched her intensely, intrigued by such an intimate communion, something I have never known; a sweetness beyond my reach and capacity.

Then she opened her eyes, smiling at me which at once warmed my heart, although my eyes fell feeling unworthy to gaze at such a one who mirrored the meekness of Christ. She opened her sanctified mouth and said, 'Your Father in heaven wants you. He says that you are one of His favourites. He wants you to dream big, to lay down your inwardness and shine your light in community. Do not be afraid to fail, I have already qualified you.'

Knowing the vivacity of her words, my eyes closed to hide the tears which had flowed from her prophetic speech. God cares about me, I thought to myself feeling before that He would not think about such a clay as I. She interrupted my thinking with the words, 'Your Father in heaven thinks much of you. He loves you.'

She drew nearer to me, placing her soft holy hands on my shoulder and on my head. Immediately I felt a rush of joy and happiness pour into my soul seeing as if for the first time, my Father's smile and delight that I was clothed in the garment of His beloved Son. Ever since this revelation, my disposition has never been the same again. It was as old saints have declared, the new birth.

The same radiance which coloured her now coloured me. She will remain forever in my memory, giving thanks to God for her until eternity shuts her eyes to go to sleep.

Have you dear reader felt the new birth? Have you, inside you the witness of the Holy Spirit? Have you seen by faith your Father's smile.  O dear reader, if you know nothing of God's beauty in your soul, then all of your religion thus far has been carnal. You need the new birth - ask now for the Spirit and your Heavenly Father shall grant you the good gift.

K.Oni

My Peace with God

Today the rain may pour and tomorrow the sun may shine, but yet this I know that His love for me remains the same. I know this because, My Father in heaven, to whom I was once alienated and hostile in mind has through Jesus Christ, reconciled to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

So tomorrow, the clouds may come and go, my love for him maybe high or low, my joy may cause me to dance or in mysery sit, but peace with my Heavenly Father remains the same, My God does not know any change in regards to my peace with Him.

K.Oni

　

What are your opinions on Paul the apostle? Did Paul deviate from the teachings of Jesus?

Two figures dominate the New Testament, Jesus and Paul. Jesus was a carpenter from Galilee who became a charismatic preacher of the arrival of God’s kingdom, performing many miracles. Paul on the other hand was an intellectual, born in Tarsus in Cilicia who received the best education possible, learning his craft from one of the most noted rabbis in history. Did this two dominant figures ever meet?

The New Testament accounts would suggest that Jesus and Paul never met in Jesus’ lifetime, but they met after Jesus rose from the dead. Paul is extremely silent about witnessing any of Jesus’ miraculous acts but was very much vocal about His Damascus road experience where He met the resurrected Jesus while He was on His way to persecute the church. This was the turning point in Paul’s life and some have argued that this was the turning point in the simplicity of the Christian message, furthermore that Paul was the person who ruined the good news of Jesus the saviour.

Jewish scholar Hyam Maccoby in His book The Mythmaker: Paul and the invention of Christianity, Maccoby calls Paul “an adventurer” and “the greatest fantasist of all” who founded Christianity as we know it today. Some Muslims would adhere to this theory, arguing that Paul has somehow corrupted the teachings of Jesus. Within some Christian circles, especially some that I have spoken to, would like to erase some of Paul’s words from the New Testament, finding Him difficult and dogmatic, and un-like Jesus in some of his teachings on sex, women and slaves.

Did Paul preach a different message to Jesus or was Paul a faithful follower of the Person whom He claimed was His master and Lord?

David Wenham in his book Paul: Follower of Jesus or founder of Christianity deals with this issue thoroughly devoting five chapters to an examination of the teaching of Jesus and Paul. Wenham considers two important questions, namely, (a) Is Paul dependant on the teaching and traditions of Jesus, directly or indirectly? (b) And is Paul’s theological understanding and emphasis similar or dissimilar to that of Jesus? David Wenham concludes after giving an overall view on the question of Paul’s relationship to Jesus, that Paul himself would have been horrified at the suggestion that he was the founder of Christianity. For Paul, the fountain of theology was Jesus: first, the Jesus whom he met on the Damascus road; second, the Jesus of the tradition, namely the Jesus as witnessed by the twelve disciples. Paul saw himself as the slave of Jesus Christ nor its founder. Paul even said that He received his gospel not from any man but from Jesus Christ (Galatians 1:12). Paul’s Christianity was a submission to its founder, namely Jesus Christ.

What are your opinions on Paul? Do you consider all of his teachings to be approved by Jesus Himself, or do you think that there are some points where Jesus himself would chastise Paul for marring his simplicity?

Whatever your answer to this question is, will be determined by your view of scripture, whether you believe that Paul was divinely inspired or not. Or perhaps Paul was only inspired in those aspects which you believe correlates to the teachings of Jesus.

For a more detailed analysis, read David Wenham’s book. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Paul-Follower-Jesus-Founder-Christianity/dp/0802801242

K.Oni

The Joy of Confession 23

Sinner: Dear Sir, can there be any more mercy for me? Is there any more mercy reserved for me? I long to be free from the burden of sin, for long my heart has sigh at my lingering sins, unable yet to fully do his will. Can God me spare, will His wrath pass me by?

Here I am once again, to confess my ugly deeds. Lost in the forest of iniquity, refusing the light offered to me. But here I stand without one plea, without hope save His grace alone. That me once again He may look, overlooking my resistance, forgiving my thousand falls.

Without heavens light on me I die, but every grace impart I have spun. On me, it seems such a sweet waste, your grace so free spending it on cheap sins.

Now I give my all to thee, another surrender will it end in betray, plagued by these chains I own, dear Lord come break it or I fold. But what to do, for I cannot quit, knowing Christ my redeemer lives. As the sun comes each day to give its light, so will I continue to fall on your alter of grace, to plead forgiveness for my daily sins, knowing for me the saviour stands.

Sir: O sinner, you are one in need of obedience. You know the doctrines of forgiveness well. You know that Christ is all for you. But in as much as you forsake the school of obedience, your soul will continue to be in a state of perpetual misery.

It is true that God is love, and great that you feel this in your soul. Your sins will be forgotten. Bow your head now, in pardon He has accepted you.

 

K.Oni

My sins were written down only to be forgotten

O, the loneliness of the wandering sheep who has left the safety of the ninety-nine; or the unquenchable fire of restlessness of that Christian who has grieved the Holy Spirit. 

Such is the power of the flesh that one must not leave it to rule one’s heart, for it only breeds contempt for the things of God.

There are strongholds in me which I have not fought with the blood of the lamb. I have forgotten that the battle for righteousness is daily, nay, every hour. Every thought must be held captive, every vision must be salted with holiness and every speech seasoned with the sweet spices of grace. 

I have so fallen, yea so wretched that I cannot dare look into my Lord's pure holy eyes, for I shall be worse than Isaiah in His exclamation; ‘Woe is me for I have sinned!’ I would say, woe is me for I have doubly sinned under a greater light and dispensation.

But this, my poor miserable soul also knows, namely, that God’s mercy under Christ is limitless and able to conquer and overcome my wretched heart.

It is true that my sins were written down only to be forgotten, only to be screwed up and burned in the fire of forgiveness, and to be drowned in the sea of mercy and grace. Love has chased away the hammers of justice, satisfying her needs on the cross of glory. 

K.Oni

Our faith renew

There are some whose faith has almost expired. They have been wearied by the world, by the devil and by sin. The weight of guilt has driven them to the edge of heaven, far away from the throne of grace; the arrows of doubt has taken them to the place of powerlessness.

I pray Dear God that these saints, so close to shipwreck, so close to falling from the hill of Jerusalem, who have lost all zeal or ambition for their dear Christ, their faith renew. Holy Spirit, take them once again to the school of the cross, where they can discover the world’s vanities, the pleasure of the forgiveness of sins, their redemption sealed in blood. Take them to the empty tomb, grant them a glimpse of the jubilee of the descending saviour, where all who endured to the end shall dance in glory.

Renew them, my Lord. Their faith renew. Their passion restore. Make their faith as the high noon, shining in all of its splendor giving glory to you. Renew their faith, renew our faith so that we may consider the impossible possible, evidenced by our willingness to go and wake the dead.*

K.Oni

*By this I mean more spiritually but of course also, physically as well to those with such a faith.