I trust in God's Providence

I trust in God’s Providence

“We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.”  (Romans 8: 28)

Why should I trust God’s disposal of events in my life?

1. God sees the total environment of every situation.  He sees the beginning, the middle and the end.  The total environment of any situation comprises the following:  the why, the what, the where, the who, the when and the how.  God sees it all


2. God knows what is best for me.  His plans for me are excellent and nobody except me can make it otherwise.  (Isaiah 25:1; Esther 4: 17 – 19)


3. God wants the very best for me.  And whatever happens in my life constitutes the best plan of God for me.  (Romans 8: 28)


4. God has excellent reasons in weaving pain and pleasure into his pattern of my everyday circumstances.  (Hebrews 12: 5 – 12)

For all these reasons and personal experience confirming these reasons, I trust in God’s disposal of events in my life.

Ask Boldly and Believe

Ask Boldly & Believe

“Jesus answered them, ‘Have faith in God.  I assure you that whoever tells this hill to get up and throw itself in the sea and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.  For this reason I tell you:  when you pray and ask for something, believe that you have received it, and you will be given whatever you ask for.” (Mark 11: 22 – 24)

Today, I am in need to know how to receive from God.  I need to have my container enlarged.  I feel keenly that I am about to witness the outflow of God’s blessings to me.  My ability to receive will be in direct proportion to the size of my container, that is, to my faith, patience, humility and wisdom.  These virtues make up my container.  Christ is saying to me this morning:  Have faith in God and ask for what you want boldly.  Make up your mind that it is yours and it will be.

Thank you Jesus for these marvelous words.  I have made up my mind that I want a very large container in order to receive all the good things you have planned for me.  Therefore I ask you to increase my faith, patience, humility and wisdom.  In accordance with your word, I believe that these are mine and that my container is enlarged.  Help me today to practice faith, patience, humility and wisdom.  Amen!

Do you still love me?

Do you still love me?

“After the meal Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these others do?’  He answered, ‘Yes Lord, you know I love you.” (John 21: 15)

During the trail of Jesus, Peter denied Christ three times.  Christ had predicted this sin and had said that he prayed for Peter so that he would recover and help his brothers.  I too believe that Christ prayed for me that after my fall I will rise again to serve him like Peter.  Paul fell and rose again by the grace of Jesus.  Augustine and Ignatius fell and rose to serve Christ well.  Today, aware of my situation and all that has happened as a result:  loss of faith, innocence, boldness and the consequent self-doubt, Jesus is asking me this morning: “Emmanuel son of Paul, do you love me more than these others do?  After all that happened, are you still enthusiastic about me?”  Yes, Lord, I love you.  I desire to love you above everything.  You know everything Lord.  If you find that I do not love you as I should, please make up what is lacking in my love.  

How can I prove my love for Jesus?  Today, and this day is very important, I surrender myself completely to you Jesus.  I try to do my job well.  I accept whatever happens to me today with patience and fortitude.  Help me Lord.  Amen!

Plentiful Harvest

Plentiful Harvest

“Have you caught anything, friends?’ And when they answered, ‘No’, he said, ‘Throw the net out to starboard’ and you’ll find something.’  So they dropped the net, and there were so many fish that they could not haul it in.  The disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, ‘It is the Lord.”  (John 21: 5 – 7)

Jesus knows where the harvest is plentiful.  He knows where to catch the big fish.  If only I can trust him, he would surely direct me as he did the disciples.  When he told them what to do, they did it.  “So they dropped the net.”  Jesus understands my present situation thoroughly.  I may compare the Enterprise to fishing.  If I depend on my own resources, I fail.  If I listen to Jesus and do what he tells me, I succeed.

Lord Jesus, I thank you for your word this morning.  I realize that without you, I can achieve nothing with the Enterprise.  What I seek to know is how to listen and understand what you are saying to me today.  I promise you Jesus, I will do whatever you tell me.  You speak to me through the scriptures.  I agree.  But how do I apply it to my needs?  Lord, teach me to listen to you and to understand you.  Grant me the courage to do whatever you ask me.

Doubt No More

Doubt No More

“Doubt no longer but believe…… You believe because you can see me. Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe.” (John 20: 28 – 29)

Today, faith is the main message and the principal gift from Christ. Jesus is urging me not to doubt any more but to believe fully. He went on to say that those who believe in the word of God without waiting to see sense evidence like Thomas are blessed. It seems to me that the dominant theme of the resurrection is faith in Jesus and peace and joy to those who believe in him.

Today I am seeking a deep experience of faith. What exactly do I want? I want a sure and unshaken belief in Jesus’ word, his promises. A belief that is unshaken by delays, obstacles and disappointments. A belief that is born out of the experience of the cross and resurrection. A belief that understands intimately God’s gentle arrangement in life, that is, that cross comes before crown, and tests before testimony. The delays, obstacles and disappointments are the crosses, tests and trials. Surely, like in the case of Jesus, I see them as the sweet forebears of crown and victory.

Lord Jesus, thank you for your word today. Grant me strong faith, faith that stands on your word inspite of delays, obstacles and disappointments.

The Marks of the Cross

The Marks of the Cross

“Peace be with you,’ and showed them his hands and his side. The disciples were filled with joy when they saw the Lord, and he said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father sent me, so am I sending you.” (John 20:21)

Jesus says to me this morning, “Peace be with you.” Then he showed me his hands and his side. Thank you Lord Jesus for the gift of peace. I receive it with gratitude. But why are you showing me your hands and your side?” I listened. “I show you my hands and my side to make you realize that I am really the crucified one. I was dead but behold I am alive forever more. And I will always have the marks of the cross on me to remind you that victory came through the cross. You will also have your crosses but never forget my cross and victory. Let this be your strength and your consolation.”

So this is it, Lord Jesus. I am always to see the marks of the cross on you as a reminder that victory comes through the cross.

As the Father sent Jesus to bear witness to the truth so Jesus is sending me. Lord, grant me a deep understanding of the cross.

Excellent Designs of God

Excellent Designs of God

“God’s designs for me are excellent, trustworthy, long-planned and true.” (Isaiah 25:1)

God’s loving and powerful providence for my life are his excellent designs for me. How I wish I know this forty years ago! When I reflected on the above scripture in 1996, I wrote the following:

“I believe this scripture and I have been blessed by this word of God through peace and the acceptance of God’s disposal of events in my life. The promise of God’s plan for me does not exclude delays, obstacles and disappointments. Rather, these hurdles are in-built in God’s excellent designs for me. The children of Israel suffered delays, obstacles, disappointments and wars before they could take possession of the Promised Land. David waited for many years before he could become the promised king of Israel. During the years of waiting, he suffered obstacles, disappointments and wars.

The best things in my life came after much delays, obstacles and disappointments. I call to mind the following projects: Lond80, Kalamazoo87, QOP92, Enterprise96 and Casa03.

The delays, obstacles, disappointments are testing ground for my faith. They are temporary hurdles. As gold is purified by fire, so is our faith purified by the delays, obstacles and disappointments we meet in life.

Go to my brothers

Go to my brothers

“But go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”
(John 20:17)

Jesus here calls his disciples who deserted him at the hour of his greatest need “my brothers.” I am deeply touched by this. It shows complete forgiveness and acceptance of these “brothers” who had every reason at this time to fear reproach, condemnation and punishment. Oh that I may be as magnanimous as Jesus.

He also said here: ‘I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ God is indeed my Father. This is a great encouragement when I pray to him today.

Jesus spoke these words to Mary of Magdala. (John 20: 17) Mary’s love for Jesus took her to the tomb first thing in the morning. Jesus rewarded this devotion and loyalty by appearing to her and making her the first messenger of his resurrection. There is a lesson here. When Mary took the word of Jesus to his brothers, they did not believe her. They had a stereotype idea of how such a message should come to them. I pray for grace to discern God’s word in my life, no matter from whatever source.

Thank you Jesus for your word this morning. Increase my faith and love for the Father. Open my mind fully to your messages today.

She is my mother

She is my mother!

“Seeing his mother and the disciple he loved standing near her, Jesus said to his mother, ‘Woman, this is your son.’  Then to the disciple he said, ‘This is your mother.’  And from that moment the disciple made a place for her in his home.”  (John 19: 26)

Jesus hung on the cross for three hours.  Mary stood by Jesus till the very last moment.  She stood there without support of any kind.  I think of occasions when I had to stand for about an hour in a function.  It was stressful.  But we see Mary here stood under the cross with her eyes firmly fixed on Jesus.  She saw everything.  She watched Jesus as they drove the nails into his flesh.  Then they hauled up the wooden cross with the body of Jesus and fixed it to a deep hole in the ground.  It can be safely said that not too many women from the beginning of the world had witnessed such a deep sorrow and suffering.  Mary did not faint nor swoon.  God gave her the strength to endure everything.  She became as it were, the first Christian martyr.

Jesus with eyes bloodshot from intense suffering saw his mother standing beside the cross.  He said to the mother, ‘Woman, this is your son, Emmanuel.’  As I stood there, crushed with sorrow, I heard Jesus say to me:  ‘This is your mother.’  What exactly does Jesus mean by saying to me, ‘This is your mother?’  I understand.  Life will present unbearable moments after his death.  I would need a mother to console me, advice and intercede for me.  I need Mary.  Yes, Lord Jesus, you are right.  I need a mother.  Thank you for your mother who is also my mother.

Amazing Demonstration of Faith

Amazing Demonstration of Faith

“The royal official said to him, ‘Sir, come down before my child dies.’  Jesus said to him, ‘You may go; your son will live.’  The man believed what Jesus said to him and left.”  (John 4:49 – 50)

I had been a Christian for many years before I understood what faith means.  I remember that the first time I came to realize that faith means believing or trusting in what God says to us, I was surprised.  It sounded so simple.  My immediate reaction to this definition of faith was:  “Would anybody doubt what God says?”  In fact, this is what we do most of the time.  

When Jesus said to the royal official, “You may go, your son will live,” scripture reported that “The man believed what Jesus said to him and left.”  Later when his servants met him on the way to inform him that his child was healed, he asked the time of his improvement in order to confirm to himself that it was Jesus’ action and not a coincidence.  His trust in the words of Jesus is to me an amazing demonstration of faith.

A centurion approached Jesus on one occasion and appealed to him saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully.’  He said to him, ‘I will come and cure him.”  The centurion told Jesus that there was no need for him to come personally but to “only say the word and my servant will be healed.”  Jesus praised his faith and healed his servant.  For me this is an amazing demonstration of faith by the centurion.

The good Thief who saw beyond sense evidence to recognize the divine in Jesus when his bloodied body hung on the cross demonstrated an amazing faith when he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’  He replied to him, “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” (Luke 23: 42 – 43)

There are many amazing demonstrations of faith in the Gospel, but I chose to focus on these three today.

EWTN - Eternal Word Television Network

EWTN – Eternal Word Television Network

I left Houston early Friday, March 25, 2006 for San Antonio to attend the EWTN 25th Anniversary Family Celebrations. San Antonio, Texas is one of four cities chosen by EWTN to host its 25th Anniversary celebrations.

I thank the Lord for the opportunity to see how he uses the Eternal Word Television Network to touch souls everywhere in the world. Touched by this work, I signed up as an EWTN Media missionary. I committed myself to spreading the good word about EWTN ministry of evangelization.

I returned to my home in Houston, Sunday afternoon. During my absence, there was no Blog from the Friday I left for San Antonio to Sunday when I returned home.

Pearl of Great Value

Pearl of Great Value

“The kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls; when he finds one of great value he goes and sells everything he owns and buys it.” (Matthew 13:45)

When I reflected on the above passage in 1996, I made the following entry in my journal:
“For years I have searched for the holy grail of God’s will for my life.  I was determined to find my definite major purpose in life that could engage my whole being.  I found this idea in the Enterprise.  In order to buy “this pearl of great value,’ I am prepared to pay the ultimate price.  I look with coolness at the liquidation of material things which I acquired and valued over the years.  This is part of the price I am paying for the Enterprise – “this pearl of great value.”  I am also prepared to pay the price in effort, perseverance, hard work and “begin again.”

Today 2006, I am still paying the price in effort and perseverance to hold on to Jesus, “this fine pearl of great value.”

“The kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field which someone has found; he hides it again, goes off in his joy, sells everything he owns and buys the field.” (Matthew 13:44)

They Slapped Him

They Slapped Him!

“Pilate then had Jesus taken away and scourged; and after this, the soldiers twisted some thorns into a crown and put it on his head, and dressed him in a purple robe.  They kept coming up to him and saying, ‘Hail, king of the Jews!’ and they slapped him in the face.” (John 19: 1-3)

In this scene, we see Jesus scourged, crowned with thorns, insulted and slapped.  All in one scene.  He suffered severe physical and mental injuries.  Contemplation of the passion of the Christ has converted many people to Jesus.  Jesus in suffering humbly, patiently and innocently is showing us a powerful example.  “See how much I suffered for you.”  And then he challenges us, “Can you not stay with me for 30 minutes?”

Lord Jesus, you suffered so much just to show how much you love us.  Help us to appreciate this and to trust you completely in everything.

My own Cross

My own Cross

“They then took charge of Jesus, and carrying his own cross he went out to the city to the place of the skull or, as it was called in Hebrew, Golgotha, where they crucified him with two others, one on either side with Jesus in the middle.” (John 19:17)

Jesus carried his own cross to Golgotha.  The cross is the mark of the Christian.  We often think of prosperity, good health, and well-being as marks of God’s blessings and approval.  But the New Testament (Covenant) is clear that it is the cross that is the mark of blessings and God’s approval.  The cross is at the heart of the New Covenant/Testament.  “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” (Galatians 6:14).  The Holy Spirit revealed the wisdom of the cross to St. Paul through personal experience and revelation.  

Jesus carried his own cross to Golgotha.  He wants his followers to carry their own crosses everyday and follow him.  Ten years ago when I reflected on John 19:17, I was carrying a heavy cross and I wrote this:  “What are my crosses today?  They are those unpleasant circumstances, events or conditions that I have not chosen.  Today, I have not chosen to be unwell, broke, bereft of tools, no electricity or roads.  If I bear each of these situations cheerfully and with fortitude, then I ill be obeying Christ by carrying my own cross and following him.  The word of God says that it is not possible for me to carry my cross cheerfully and with fortitude unless Christ helps me.”  

Today, my situation has changed dramatically but I do not want to forget the lessons of the cross.  Woe betides me if I do.

Bearing witness to the truth

Bearing witness to the truth

“Yes, I am a king.  I was born for this, I came into the world for this:  to bear witness to the truth; and all who are on the side of the truth listen to my voice.”  (John 18: 37)

I find that Jesus makes a great statement of purpose in the above scripture.  He is a king whose purpose in life is to bear witness to the truth.  Pilate asked Jesus:  “What is the truth?”  He did not wait for the answer.  But we know the answer.  “I am the truth, the way and the life,” said Jesus in another occasion.  

Jesus is king.  But where does he reign?  “My kingdom is not of this world,” he says.  Jesus reigns in the hearts, minds and souls of believers.  He reigns in the Church.  In the Lord’s Prayer, we ask:  “Thy kingdom come.”  We ask God the Father to hasten the reign of Jesus in every heart and soul.  

Jesus came to bear witness to the truth about God, myself, the Church and the world.  Because I have a spark of the truth in me, I listen to Jesus.  

Lord Jesus, help me to share in your ministry of bearing witness to the truth.

Did I not see you with Jesus?

Did I not see you with Jesus?

“As Simon Peter stood there warming himself, someone said to him, ‘Aren’t you another of his disciples?’  He denied it saying, ‘I am not.’  One of the high priest’s servants, a relation of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, said, ‘didn’t I see you in the garden with him?’  Again Peter denied it; and at once a cock crew.”
  (John 18: 25 – 27)

Everything in the Scriptures is written to instruct us.  What lesson is the above incident teaching me?  The lesson is very plain:  How the mighty can fall!  If it is possible for Peter who had been so close to Jesus to fall, who can be spared?  Is the Holy Spirit not right when he spoke through Paul that we should work out our salvation in fear and trembling?  We gain strength and victory only through Jesus.  Cut off from him, we wither.  There is nothing we can do by ourselves.  A curious question is:  Did the grace of Christ abandon Peter on this occasion in order to teach him a lesson in humility or did Peter reject grace?  I recall the black Saturday of June 1974 in Lusaka.  On that occasion, I had an analogous experience to Peter’s.  The difference is that Peter recovered immediately.  It took me a longtime to recover.  Lord Jesus, I thank you for calling me back.  Grant me deep trust in you and humility as I work out my salvation in fear and trembling.

The Cup

The Cup

“Put your sword back in its scabbard; am I not to drink the cup that the Father has given me?” (John 18:11)

Jesus has now come to the supreme moment of crisis, the moment of decision.  He knows what his Father expects of him at this hour.  But there are other voices suggesting he takes a different approach.

In all of life-threatening crisis, we face the same temptation.  There is always more than one way:

• The way of “the cup that the Father has given.”


• The way of “the sword” for rapid victory or solution.

Every good general understands that for every battle, there is a corresponding and appropriate weapon.  It is an over-kill to kill an ant with a hammer just as it is useless to face a motorized armored division with one on a horse back.  Deep prayer, similar to the one Jesus said in the Garden of Olives gives us the spiritual freedom to make the right choice.  Without this support from God, the temptation to adopt the way of “the sword” will be overwhelming.

When we face a crisis, we should aim to discover God’s way of responding.  We can discover this, only through prayer and subsequent gift of spiritual freedom.  

“Lord, what is your will in this?  I seek your will and not my own.  Show me your will.  Amen”

St Patrick

"He shall receive a blessing from the Lord, a reward from God his savior. Such is the race that seeks for him, that seeks the face of the God of Jacob."
(Psalm 24: 5-6)

Every 17th of March is remembered as St Patrick's Day in the United States, Canada, Ireland, Australia, and many other countries. Why is this saint who was born in 386 still remembered and honored today? St Patrick is remembered in history for bringing Christianity to Ireland. He is the patron saint of Ireland, a small country with great influence in the world. Ireland is best known for its missionary spirit. St Patrick survived many hardships and achieved his life's purpose because of a spirit of strong faith and tenacity.

Patrick was abducted from his home in Kilpatrick in England at the age of sixteen and enslaved in Ireland. He worked as a herdsman for six years before he got an opportunity to escape into Gaul, modern France. There he prepared for the priesthood and was ordained a priest. After his ordination, Patrick returned to Ireland and worked for the conversion of the Irish people.

St. Patrick died in 461. March 17 is the feast of St Patrick. March 17 is also my birthday. I was born on St. Patrick’s Day in St. Patrick’s parish at a time when the feast of St. Patrick was a school holiday in my country, Nigeria. But I was not baptized Patrick but Emmanuel. I had often wondered why. I never had the opportunity to ask my parents before they died. Most probably the reason may be that my parents chose the name Emmanuel before I was born.

Prayer of St Patrick
Christ is with me,
Christ is before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.

BOOKS ON ST PATRICK

Consecrate me to the truth

Consecrate me to the truth

“Consecrate them in the truth; your word is truth.  As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world, and for their sake I consecrate myself so that they too may be consecrated in truth.”  (John 16: 17-19)

Jesus prays to the Father to consecrate me in the truth.  To be consecrated to the truth is to be completely dedicated to the truth, fully immersed in truth.  This is a critical condition for being in the world and not of the world.  To be effective in God’s service in the world, one must be consecrated in the truth.  

What is the truth?  The truth is Jesus, the world of God.  I must be consecrated to Jesus , the truth in order to bear fruit in the world.  The world represents those whose priorities are other things apart from God.  We have three realms:  public sector, private sector and religion.  There are those in the public and private sector who by their lives and witnessing do not belong to the world.  And there are those in religion who are worldly.

Jesus also said that knowledge of God and his Christ constitutes eternal life.  Consecration to the truth is eternal life.  And the eternal life is for those who are in the world but not of the world.  

The Joy of Answered Prayer

The Joy of Answered Prayer

“I tell you most solemnly, anything you ask for from the Father he will grant in my name.  Until now you have not asked for anything in my name.  Ask and you will receive, and so your joy will be complete.” (John 16: 23-24)

I have said to myself many times that I have never experienced any joy as intense as the joy of answered prayer.  Jesus himself seems here to confirm my intuition that when the Father grants your heart’s desire, the joy is intense.  

One time I experienced this joy was in 1980.  I had desired to go to London to study Marketing.  All the odds were stacked against me.  But one day, God opened the way.  I landed in London on a September night.  The next morning when I left my hotel and stepped into the street of London, I experienced the intense joy of answered prayer.

July 18, 1992 was a day that will be difficult to forget in my life.  Seven months earlier, I embarked on building my own house from the scratch.  I had no clue of what was involved.  After I had committed a great deal of resources to the project, it seemed as if it was mission impossible.  I bent my knees in prayers.  I raised my hands before God asking for his assistance and favor.  On July 18th, the first night in the house, I had such a sweet feeling during my light sleep that I thought the whole thing was a dream.

Yes, indeed, God our Father answers prayers in Jesus’ name.  And when he does, how great and how intense is our joy.