This piece was meant to be part of a celebratory note of my 10yrs with Christ coming up next year (March 28) though not celebrating the number but the encounters, but i felt an urge to send it out,coz someone out here needs it. I have actually celebrated Birthdays, Thanksgivings and so many others, but never have i celebrated my " Birthday in Christ". Well that's for another note.
It has being 9yrs and 6 months since i made a willing and strong decision to follow after Christ,well am not excited in the number like earlier said but i take Joy in the journey so far.
On the fateful Saturday morning hours of March 28 2009, a day i supposed was my birthday(until 2012, when i got to know it was actually April 24) as a young boy, born into a christian family of the Anglican Communion, we just finished our morning family prayers led by my mom. I rushed back to complete the last level of my sleeping duties as i was forced out for prayers that morning. while on the bed half way to the corridors of sleep i suddenly realized what actually the day was; my birthday. I went back to the sitting room to declare my birthday news and request to my parent Whlle it was recieved warmly but on the request it was never considered coz they felt i asked for too much!!!
Just like birthdays, they arent complete without Gifts and prayers and drinks but mine was actually a boring day, none of the above was available even though i expected one. only the vibes of the sky from my room was my only company. All alone in the room, i only watched the skies hoping a surprise package would suffice "well that only happens in the bible" was my thought. And yes it happened!!!
I have a pure Christian background, especially with my mom whom drummed the gospel into my ears but the conviction was the missing piece. I have heard hundreds of pastors & teachers talk to me about Christ, but all to no avail. Soul-winners gave up on me. I had respect for God born out of fear of the unknown. I went through children ministry of my church and then a full part of the adult service but that wasnt enough. They taught megood morals but losened on Christian relationship with God.they taught us norms and values but no intimacy. So i grew up with all these until "My birthday". Hours spent in that lonely room,i decided to get busy, so being a book warm i decided to take an adventure in a novel but God had plans. No novel within the room, so I decided to make do with my bible(the only written & printed book close) as i cleared off the debris of dust resting on it.
I have read the bible countless times especially the miracles of Jesus as they made wonderful stories and sounded "Fictional for a good story" how can someone just touch a blind eyes and it will just open piammmmm
Psalm 23 & John 3:16,17 the two portion of the scripture i usually recite off heart and my bragging scripts back in children ministry did the deed. What pastors couldn't undo, the scripture broke and melted...... power!!!
The heavy heart which stood like the walls of Jericho looking like unfrozen ice cream kiaaa...God you are great. I couldnt tell how it happened, how this soft words printed on paper broke me, but i knew i got something unusual from it. I had another side of the scripture maybe other preachers hasn't uncovered,it wasnt their rhema it was for me. I felt Joy, i felt Life. It dawned on me that i was still a baby, i wasn't leaving yet, so i needed to live. I took the biggest and most important decision of my life,in deep sober tears and while on it, i slept off and woke up 12 hours later inside a bathroom in the room. I couldn't realize how i got there not to take of sleep keee....but i felt a backing and from then till now,it hasn't being my strength.
Indeed the walk hasn't being all round smooth.so many times i felt confused,so fluently i felled off the faith,i stumbled and staggered, at some points the devil reminded me of my last sin,that moment i felt lost. At some point i laughed at myself cos there wasn't a difference between the old and new me. Then i knew i needed a guardian.
Speaking of guardian, it took me longer than i thought to find one. I would hook and unhook them within 5days. At one point i was directed to meet a pastor at one church,and he requested i joined his church,well i unhooked him after hearing his message, not just him,even others after him. Well thank God today,am settled on the issue of mentorship.
I never knew what i was actually looking for but i had this thing that could identify it when it comes. The holyspirit could answer all my unanswered questions So i began to ask for his spirit, until wednesday April 6th, 2011 while an undergraduate during a prayer meeting in my campus fellowship SCM ABSU, I caught it.....boommmm!!!!
Congrats to my campus, which had hundreds of christians of different denominations who acted,prayed and longed to be like God(well not bad) but the holyspirit had something different for me. It wasn't a case of being like God, it was just a simple hunger to please him. I never wanted to be a preacher nor even go out on evangelism, i wanted to please God within me not outside. I wanted to be a lone ranger in the christian faith but that wasn't possible.
My hunger for God knew no bound, at some point while in campus, i fought the greatest battle of my days, a fierce battle with an enemy calles "ANGER" . I couldn't believe how i could manifest in the spirit, heard from God and yet allowed anger to dwell in me. I hardly coped with the nonsenses from people as i was easy irritated and reacted angrily. I took some steps to curb that; i starting avoiding people, i skipped fellowship meetings like say naa tablets cos i knew one person will speak " outside the box". Life with anger was indeed a backslide,if only you understand what it means to be fasting and praying with anger in you. Speaking in tongues yet reacting in anger.well maybe that caused me to pray violently against devils. All along the line i was tormented by anger, i never wanted it but i couldn't stop, this minute am anger and the next am leading prayers, quiet disturbing.
I always thought it would take a long list of prescription to cure ange until a woman i love so much whom happened to be my fellowship mama(vice president) worked love into my life if you are reading this and you are a campus fellowship leader or church leader listen show your members Love just like christ did to you.......( watch out for my next write-up on leadership).Love isn't a story to be told, its a charcter to be introduced and lived, if you don't have it sorry,you don't have God. And i beieve you know what i mean by Love not Lust.
Love like an antibiotic inhibited the growth of the microbe called Anger in me.
Prior to this new life, i was a guy of so much principles, i had a long list of principles to live by some of which sounded ridiculous if exposed her....it happened to be the second battle i fought.
One of those principles included: 1."Nothing stops me from my studies" 3. My privacy must be privacy 3. No time for fun abi jokes 4. Smiles is a gateway to insults 5. "My word stands as Amen". Plus other ridiculous ones you won't like to hear before people like Alafe Omozua Taiwo and Promzy Unique talks here.
The battle with " NOTHING STOPS ME FROM MY STUDIES" was a competitive inhibitory battle, at some points i brought my textbooks to fellowship meetings and read them while service was on- well the ushers couldn't withstand my stubborn looks but thank God all those where in the past and if i catch anybody now in fellowship with handout ehhhheeee... m ga-aju gi ihe i na acho naa akwukwo ahu!!!
Am being compelled to talk about how i was able to survive as SCM president in my class where we had all kinds of coursemates(well that will be done in my work on leadership in an academic world). But hear me that class was superb and i still miss them till now especially promzy, Francis Le Sabre, Chinaemerem Prosper Oguoma, Ekeh Favour, Godwin Chika , Madueke Victory, Oma Kay Ihediohanma , Favoured Walter, Anyika Prisca etc
Thank God for the holyspirit shaaa Though 2017 was a turbid year for me indeed he has being the perfect guardian & senior mentor. Indeed the remains of my christian life can't be filed here but a broader version comes March 28,2019 .(look out for my work on NYSC & I: THE COMPLETE STORY you need to read my tales)
Indeed it has being a wonderful journey. What i am today & what am becoming started in a small room without a preacher, but not without a doubt, so many christians played a huge role with their lifes,acts and words cos i wasn't a lonely tree. They are too numerous to mention, but help me thank the final set of SCM ABSU 2011/2012. They were examples of living proofs. Mum Okafor Evelyn , Igwe Josiah, Chijioke Godwin Ugochukwu, Dandy Dinnaya, Queen Chichi Nnanna, Eduh Godson, Blessing Ogbonnaya, Nancy Uzoamaka Ogbuji and other fathers and mothers too numerous to mention You people led the foundations of this journey.
Harold Ikewueze(pst), Emberru Sylva Doye, Dad Fubara, Lotanna Alinnor(Dad), Nwaigwe Onyedikachi Caleb(Dad), Chidimma Emmanuel(mum), Daniel Nzechukwu(Biggest Dad) and many others i thank you all for the path & pathways you all showed me in your lifes. God bless you all.
The journey isn't finished, you all should be with me,look after me likewise me to you, for we labour everyday to be in line with God. The devil hasn't given up yet but each day, the Love of God overshadows us. Samuel Dua, Moses Chinemerem Michael, Amb Ngozi Ukaegbu, Appolos Gift Chinwendu, Oludairo Emmanuel, Onuigbo Glory Ezeugo Chioma Emmanuel Enweruzo Alafe Taiwo etc you are friends for life.
For those looking up to me. We march and battle on the wings of his Glory. Nothing is of us, all things come from God, even the dimensions!!!
Think of your journey as a train trip
Your birth is your boarding pass. Your ticket lists your destination as “Union with God.”
The train stops at many stations
Some of the stations are School… Employment… Marriage… and later, Hospital and Nursing Home. These stops may be a source of success and joy… or failure and sorrow.
Many people acquire unwanted baggage — failed relationships, missed opportunities… or things done and words said that can’t be changed. Thanks be to God, Christ loves us and forgives our failures when we ask Him.
When we are young, the train seems to go slowly and there are many stations to visit. As we get older, the train seems to go much faster and the stops become fewer and fewer.
Eventually the final stop does not seem so far away
The death of a relative or friend well before their time disturbs us greatly. It becomes clear that we could be put off the train at any time.
Although the way ahead may not be perfectly clear, we fear no evil for our Father is always with us.
“Even to your old age I am the same, even when your hair is gray I will hear you; it is I who have done this, I who will continue and I who will carry you to safety” (Isaiah 46:4).
Finally that special day arrives
The train stops and our journey ends. All the trials of our life are now over. For those who have tried to follow Jesus... He awaits you.
What words and images can begin to describe our meeting with God? Human love is but a pale shadow of His love for us.
For eye has not seen, nor has ear heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man what God has prepared for those who love Him.(1Corinthians 2:9)
Remain in the faith and Stay Tuned to the ordinances of yahweh
© Sir Joe
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