INSPIRATION 4 WHO WE ARE

Being able to See

2010-02-21T22:37:00.000-08:00

There are many things in my life that I am suddenly able to see, just because God has helped me look at them with a new set of eyes.

I think one of the greatest problems we face has to do with our inability to see The HAND of God moving in all our circumstances in spite of our doing or not doing, failure or success, ups and downs and just everything we go through in life.

Seeing is powerful, as an artist, I sketch a lot and one of the hardest lessons to learn is, just to sketch exactly what is in front of me and not what I think is in front of me. I think there is something inside us that always wants to rely on ourselves. But once I trust my eyes and my hand to sketch exactly what I see, with all concentration and sometimes less effort-the results are profound. Whereas when I get side tracked and think, "that persons nose can't be that big, let me shorten it a bit or or the distance between that persons nose and mouth can't be that short and I widen it a bit- I loose control and you can guess the result- I miss the resemblance and most of all it doesn't look right.

Bringing this lesson in a spiritual context can be uplifting too. If I trust God, keep my eyes focused on Him and believe He would work things out, My faith remains unshaken and the results are always a blessing. But when I begin to think inside of me that it might not work out and I loose concentrating on God and His Word and start worrying about the issue and concentrating on my words, which most of the time are never in agreement with God's - I fail!

So I have learnt not trust in myself but in God. It is easier said than done but I thank God for this constant reminder."Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths"- Proverbs 3:5,6

The agony and the ecstasy

2009-07-20T13:05:00.000-07:00

There are times we are up and really up ! It's a mountain top experience and we are rejoicing, it seems all faith makes sense and God is love becomes our anthem! We sing and our neighbours think we have won the lottery! It's joy unspeakable and full of glory! Those are great times and how I wish life could always remain that way, but alas-it ain't that easy!

There are also days that we sigh, cry, moan, complain, refrain, and run into castles of despair that even have dungeons of discouragement! Ah hah! Where is God now? Where is the joy! We have forgotten the way to sing, our throats can hardly be cleared! What has gone wrong? Hmmm brothers and sisters- LIFE IS NOT A BED OF ROSES! THE AGONY AND THE ECSTASY are all part of what makes life worth the living.

If you are in the light- REJOICE! But if you are in the DARK SHADES! Still rejoice because NO CONDITION in YOUR LIFE WILL BE PERMANENT, THE ONLY CONSTANT THING IS CHANGE!

May the GOOD LORD help us in the changing scenes of life! I want to trust HIM at all times!

My times my times are in Thy hand
Whatever, they may be
Pleasing or Painful
Dark or Bright
As best, may seem to thee
-from one of my favourite songs

Silence

2009-04-21T04:09:00.000-07:00

"In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.- Proverbs 10: 19

Sometimes you just have to learn to keep quiet!
Sometimes silence is gold
Sometimes our lives will know no better
Than our lips, we fold

Don't get me wrong, my idea is clear
We love to speak for people to hear
But sometimes the rhythm is not at its peak
And to the solitude of silence, must we sneak

Could I say better, could I say worse
The years of regret and of remorse
You can remember, so can I
So don't let the "non-silence" make you cry

Alas, this is my admonition for you today
For all you speakers who love to say....!
Keep it shut and let the Lord speak to you
There's always something He wants you to do!

-@ Adebanji Alade Silence 2009

STOP!

2009-01-29T14:10:00.000-08:00

We are living in a fast world where almost everything gets done so quickly. We go to work quickly, have to finish our work on deadlines, we end up in the luuch room eating quickly, we join the band wagon to leave work and gasp in the rush hour quickly. The Internet is quick and when it does work to our desired speed we rake and rant for faster service.

Hmmmmmmmmmmm and suddenly all this can get into our spiritual lives and we want to have a fast and quick relationship with God! Hmm Well, God has been known from the ancient of days to kind of never be in a hurry! "But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day." II Peter 2:8- so sometimes God can take ages and He also teaches us to be still and patient-Psalm 46:10-10-"Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth."

In a follow up to this, my life was really getting out of control until I was meditating one day and God said,"STOP!"

But there was more to the STOP than what I thought, each of those letters meant something I needed to do.

So here is how it went

S- SOLITUDE with GOD- Ahh we just can't be in quietness, just you and God and maybe a pen, paper, your Bible and that devotional or bible study book. We just need that time uninterrupted. God LOVES it, our lives would be fresher for it and most of all we'll feel His valuable presence again!

T- TUNE- Get in TUNE with God- Sometimes we get out of step with God we know it! We just don't seem to be operating on the same frequency. God wants our heartbeat and His to rhyme and that's no joke, because HE LOVES us! How about that?

O- ORGANIZE- Get your life ORGANIZED- every part, God seldom likes what some of us sit pretty and console ourselves by saying, "it's alright, it's organised mess." No!! Those documents must be filed, properly and according to date, section and type, those clothes in the wardrobe must be sorted, those letters must be replied, that room must be tidy, that..............uuurggggghhhhhhhh!

P- PRIORITIZE- Get what is important done and leave the less important till after the most important has been done! We need not put off that pressing thing that is right in front of us, always begging for attention but like a giant we avoid it. My tax return was like that to me but thanks God I got it done before the deadline!

Let try and S T O P! And in the midst of chaos, quick and hurried lives we can bask in the glory of Gods peaceful presence!

THE PLAN OF THE ENEMY

2008-11-18T13:38:00.000-08:00

The plan of the plan of the enemy is......... to steal, and to kill, and to destroy..........."-John 10:10 Now, this doesn't sound funny! There are so many people out there that just don't understand the plan of the enemy for their lives.

The picture you see here was a live shot I took of a Solid BMW car that had been wrecked on my way to my studio in Chelsea. The plan of the People who made this car wasn't for it to end up like this. They built the car to be enjoyed and cruised along the road for the comfort and easy going of the user. BUT if this car is mis-used, abused or carelessly handled without following the basic instructions or even if simple road user rules and regulations are not adhered to-THIS CAR IS DOOMED TO BE IN THIS STATE.

This brings me to the point- GOD CREATED US FOR A REASON - He put it in this fashion,"....I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."-John 10:10. God created us to have life! To enjoy life! To cruise along life's journey without the wrecking and destroying that the enemy brings into it. BUT if we don't follow Gods basic instructions in THE BIBLE, or follow the rules and regulations in HIS WORD, we are DOOMED to be destroyed just like that car.

Please, as you go along life's journey take a pause and think, " IS THIS THE LIFE I WAS MADE TO LIVE?" or "IS THERE A BETTER LIFE FOR ME SOMEWHERE?"

I must honestly tell you that Jesus Christ came to the world so that we wouldn't be used and abused by the enemy of our souls. The plan of the enemy is to steal, kill and finally destroy you BUT God's plan for you is that YOU SHOULD HAVE LIFE AND HAVE IT MORE ABUNDANTLY. The choice is up to you, God cannot lie, He means what He says. If you really need a changeover. Simply Pray to this unseen God to HELP YOU FIND THE TRUE MEANING OF LIFE, I PROMISE YOU HE WILL REVEAL HIMSELF TO YOU IN A WONDERFUL WAY!

FINDING YOUR MATCH

2008-11-11T03:08:00.000-08:00

This has been one of the greatest quests of life, When a man or woman seeks their life partner. The divorce rate today almost makes one feel the impossibility of a perfect union made in heaven could ever exist. But the truth is, God designed this package to last and He even has all the maintenance procedures in place, when it goes wrong. The problem with us humans today is that we have often looked to the wrong sources fro help.

While sorting out my three year old son's socks this morning, a routine I usually practice, I noticed that he had more single socks than perfect pairs. I searched all around the house for the second pairs but all to no avail. Then I now lined them all up just to count the number of socks that were actually single and then suddenly the reflection of socks in the mirror produced them in pairs! Then I thought to myself the mirror to the socks is exactly what God is to us. If we line up our lives right in front of God focusing only on Him, He will produce to us our perfect match. Sometimes it would be vain looking in vain in the wrong places, I think we need to look back to God, he created us and He knows exactly the right match for us. God knows how he will help us to deal with every other thing that follows but from experience and from other peoples testimonies, they ALWAYS HAD A DEEP SILENT, SMALL VOICE THAT REGISTERED WITH THEIR SPIRIT WHEN THE RIGHT PERSON CAME ALONG. It is my prayer that if you are seeking your life partner - Try focusing on God, tell Him how helpless you are in doing this without His divine help and TO YOUR SURPRISE YOU'LL BE SHOCKED TO FIND OUT THAT DOING JUST THAT WILL PRODUCE YOUR PERFECT MATCH. It might sound all to simple and easy but the principles of this are SURE!

"And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.

And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;

And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man."

-Genesis 1 : 20-22

AND ADAM SAID, THIS IS NOW BONE OF MY BONES, AND FLESH OF MY FLESH: SHE SHALL BE CALLED WOMAN BECAUSE SHE WAS TAKEN OUT OF MAN- Genesis 1: 23

LEAVE AND LET GO!

2008-08-15T22:54:00.000-07:00

Sometimes this happens to us, we are enjoying something until suddenly....it's gone! Sometimes we have to leave and let go. Holding on to something that is gone cannot do us much good, especially when what it was is gone forever.

This may sound rather harsh, as we are all in loss in our lives at one point or the other. It is easier said than done, but we all have to move on, God will always have something better for us, if He allowed it to go in the first place, it is because He definitely has something better for us.

His word says,"......forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus"- Philippians 3:13,14

ARE YOU TRYING TO MAKE -UP IN A HURRY!!!!

2008-08-14T02:14:00.001-07:00

This is a common thing, our lovely ladies do. I don't blame them, I enjoy watching them take care of their looks in a hurry on the train.

BUT, do we bring this into our lives spiritually? The best way to look good would be to spend time in front of a nice dressing table/ mirror at home and then you can really get the best look.

BUT, when you rush into the trains and do it all in a rush............you know what to expect. Even if you get it all right. It can never be compared to the time you spend, if you got up earlier and had a good time at home getting it done far better.

WE do this with our lives sometimes. We are in a rush to look good on the outside, we quickly rush and make up our prayers and devotions on the run, sometimes on the train. "God understands" is always our self-consoling pat on the back.

BUT wouldn't it be better if we take time to go before God's dressing table at home. If we wake up earlier, we'll have a look at the mirror of His word and see where we are lacking, and we'll even have time to pray! May we not rush it all up in seconds, sometimes with a sign of the cross and a few words of prayer and think we'll get good looking spiritually that way!

Of course, God's word says, "BE NOT DECEIVED; GOD IS NOT MOCKED FOR WHATSOEVER A MAN SOWETH, THAT SHALL HE ALSO REAP"-Galatians 6 :7

SOME DAYS ARE BRIGHT, SOME DAYS ARE NOT

2008-08-13T00:12:00.000-07:00

Lets get down to face the real stuff! No two days are the same. Some days are bright and great for us and we are beaming!Some days are not. We are not always on the high and some days leave us wondering, " Where is God today?".

Some times we are up, some times we are down!

Some times is BLAZE and sometimes its SHADE!

But the Good News is God has promised us in His word that, "...ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD TO THEM THAT LOVE GOD, TO THEM WHO ARE CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE"- Romans 8:28
So whether is YELLOWS or BLUES- One thing is sure! If we love God and know we are called according to His purpose, not ours.....Then we can beam on the inside that it is all under control and would eventually work out for our good!

BEAUTY at first sight !

2008-06-20T23:40:00.000-07:00

There is one thing about beauty, it is appeasing to the eyes. But remember the Bible says, "......beauty is vain......"-Proverbs 31 :30. Isn't it surprising that this very rose also has deadly thorns?

Well hope you get the point, We need to be careful we are not carried away by the appearance of things! But lets strive for the deeper, stronger and lasting qualities.

JUST DO IT

2008-05-27T02:13:00.000-07:00

The sloth just won't do it! But you CAN! Get up and do that thing you have been thinking about. JUST DO IT!

God will make a way, when you you move!

How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?

Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:

So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.-Proverbs 6:9-11

Brevity of life

2008-05-27T02:03:00.000-07:00

One moment we are alive the next moment we are dead. Life is short! Just before we waste the next minute let us consider our ways and the Lord will give us understanding in all things.

And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment- Hebrews 9:27

INSPIRED WITH THE FIRE

2008-05-15T07:22:00.000-07:00

We need more people with the inspiration of the Holy Ghost Fire! When that true current flows it would show!!!!!!!!!!!

Jesus said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.- John 14:12

That is the standard! If we aren't experiencing greater works, well, we know who not to blame!

Lets get charged again!

Agonizing prayer

2008-05-15T07:16:00.000-07:00

Lets be frank, nothing really happens until we get into the zone and atmosphere of prayer. If our hearts are right and our spirits are in tune with God, let us sort it out with Him on our knees in AGONIZING PRAYER.

God is on His throne!!!!!!!!

And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?- Luke 18:7

The Annoucement that changed the world

2008-05-15T06:55:00.000-07:00

The shepherds were keeping watch of their flock by night and SUDDENLY an angel appeared with good news for them. It was the news that changed this world and would change this world forever! The shepherds got to hear of JESUS! Have you heard about Him? What have you done about it? The shepherds heard about Him and did something, they followed the star and discoverd JESUS for themselves and WORSHIPPED!

Find time to discover JESUS for yourself. You'll be amazed you'll have no choice but to bow down and worship HIM! That would be the beginning of a new journey into greener pastures for YOU!

Facing Giants

2008-05-15T06:39:00.000-07:00

If you have been facing giants in your life and you feel dwarfed by them.Its time to give the giant another look. I was inspired to create this piece after I read Max Lucado's classic Facing Giants

I encourage you to get a copy and be inspired to face those giants that seem to threaten you day in and day out.

Remember...Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world- I John 4:4

THE LORD NEEDS YOU!

2008-05-02T07:30:00.000-07:00

"And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap............"-Ezekiel 22:30.

Stop looking over your shoulders, THE LORD NEEDS YOU!

You might ask, what for?

Just own up first, the rest of your powerful destiny will follow!

"going around in circles"

2008-04-21T20:26:00.000-07:00

Have you been going in around in circles lately? You find yourself starting something with good intentions and then suddenly you see you've switched focus and you are on something else. Sometimes the same old thing plagues you without you having a way out? The danger of going in circles is there is no way out.

But there is a way out. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life........" -John 14:6
Once you get hooked on the way-JESUS- He'll lead you to greener pastures everyday.-"...He maketh me to lie down in green pastures : He leadeth me beside the still waters."-Psalm 23:2

Find Him, Discover him and He will stop you going in circles!

THE LORD WILL APPEAR UNTO YOU

2008-04-19T12:53:00.000-07:00

Get down on your knees to some serious prayer and really get the heavens into your soul. Really pour out your heart with a full geared motive to just seek His face. Be sure the LORD will appear unto you.

Now, that is one experience you really want to have and cherish!

..........and the glory of the LORD shall appear unto you.
Leviticus 9:5-7

Depression kills slowly, beware!

2008-04-16T02:56:00.000-07:00

This is a terrible virus that can attack anyone. You give yourself a bit of thinking in the wrong direction. You just think about yourself as a failure. Just dabble in the dark side of your life and you might be heading towards a downward spiral called "depression". Beware it kills slowly!

When you are down and there seems to be no way out. Don't sit down there and bemoan your lot. David had a similar problem in the Bible but he arose to the occasion like this,

"Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help for the help of countenance."- Psalm 42 : 5

SAVED BY GRACE

2008-04-14T00:07:00.000-07:00

The marvelous thing about Jesus Christ is that He paved a way for us to be saved by grace alone. Not by anything we have done, not by any good works we have achieved but simply by an unmerited favour which He grants to us all.

Why not be a partaker and benefit from His wonderful saving grace?

"Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)"-Ephesians 2:5

From This Day will I bless You

2008-04-07T01:07:00.000-07:00

"......from this day will I bless you.- Haggai 2:19

One of the most inspirational things to do on this earth is to get on our knees and pray to the Great God of Heaven.

All our blesings come from this one act, so lets get down to this good old time business, it is worth the effort!

HAVE YOU EVER TRIED TO FORCE A SMILE?

2008-03-19T03:12:00.000-07:00

Now, this must have happened to you. You try to force it or you try to fake it, just so others around will think all is well, but it ain't!

Hmmmm....God sees your heart, he knows how you feel deep inside and one thing is sure. If you let Him know exactly how you feel deep inside, He has answers for you and He'll solve that nagging situation. Even that one that you are trying to hide.

"Casting all your care upon him: for he careth for you"-I Peter 5:8

THE GLORY OF THE LORD

2008-03-15T03:53:00.000-07:00

You get to the place God has been leading you. You can't believe it! The glory is beyond you! This is God revealing Himself in His power. Hmmm... there is no doubt about this, all you can do is to just fall down on your face in uttermost worship to His GLORY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"and I looked, and behold., the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD: and I fell upon my face." - Ezekiel 44:4

HUNGER!

2008-03-14T02:57:00.001-07:00

"I am hungry.................Once we are fed up, we lack motivation"-@adebanji alade

"Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled"- Matthew 5:6

Against all Odds

2008-03-12T21:52:00.000-07:00

There comes a time in a mans life
That he makes a decision
He is not bothered or distracted
He is focused with divine precision
He fears no foe, wind or pain
Even fire, storm or rain
He is determined with courage
To make a way through......
And ask me today, folks......
Can't that man be you?
-@adebanji alade

"Be of good courage, and let us play the men............"-II Samuel 10:12

Triumphant Praise

2008-03-12T02:32:00.000-07:00

Have you ever felt ecstatic! The situation beat your wildest imagination! Suddenly you are thinking, can this be true?

It could be something you prayed for and also it could be the reverse, you didn't expect it but the result is fantastic.

Well, this is the time to praise God triumphantly!!!

""...I will sing unto the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously:..."- Exodus 15:1

Where do I go from here?

2008-03-10T12:58:00.000-07:00

You must have got to this place before, hmmm.....you just think, "where do I go from here?" You want to give up, you want to forget forging ahead, you almost want to throw in the towel.

We'll all get to this place. The monster keeps staring you in the face and your heart beats under your rib cage. Ohh......... What are you going to do? Where are you going to go for help?

I have some good news for you:

"I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye."-Psalm 32:8

Only God Almighty can do what the verse above says. He made you and nothing happening to you is beyond His control. Please try and present your case to Him. He will do what He has promised in the verse above!

God bless you.