What Does The New Year Hold ?

Celebrations are taking place all over the world to mark the beginning of another year. We dealt with the old (2008) and took hold of the new (2009). From Sydney to Hong Kong, from London to Rio De Jenerio, from America to Africa, fireworks hit the midnight sky as the clock tickled past midnight. Some 400,000 people braved freezing temperatures in London for a fireworks display beside the Thames. In New York almost a million people packed a freezing Times Square as the famous Waterford crystal ball descended to cheers at midnight. It was, to say the least, breathtaking.

The year 2008 was a different year in many respects. America witnessed the election of the 1st black President, after several months of political maneuverings. We were told that the earth’s rotation in 2008 was also somewhat slower; hence one leap second was added to the clocks worldwide as the year drew to a close. Not only did the earth’s rotation slowed down, global economies were at an all time low. It is almost unbelievable how many established companies is either folding up or downsizing. Those who are not are running to the government for help. The stock exchange is not spared for this troubled times. Stock market in tumbling at an alarming rate. I mean some people practically lost all their retirement benefits to this fact. A barrel of oil that was sold for $147 in July is not sold for less than $40. Can you imagine what that means to the economies that are solely dependent on oil (like my dear country, Nigeria)?

A barrel of oil that was sold for $147 in July is not sold for less than $40.

The truth is that most people entered the New Year with lots of caution and pessimism. Unlike the promises that the New Year brings, this year promises tougher economic crises, tougher financial situations and a lot of uncertainties. Listen to speeches from leaders around the world, and the message can be summarized – The year 2009 won’t be an easy year. We will have to find new ways to solve the world’s overwhelming economic crisis. What then does 2009 hold for us?

All hope is definitely not lost. I believe strongly that one can thrive well even in the midst all these clouds. During the all night service I attended at Daystar Christian Centre to mark the New Year, the Pastor of the church, Rev. Sam Adeyemi, gave some keys to ride on the winds of the Season of Change that we are experiencing all over the world. May I share some of these points with you?

Put Your Trust In God –

The truth is that even our leaders are sort of confused about the economic situation of the world. They know we won’t pull put of it fast. The only one who has the solution at the tip of his fingers in the Leader of all leaders. You had better put your trust in him. The arm of flesh will fail. Formerly proven ideas and methods won’t work. Only God inspired ideas will thrive in the year 2009. Wouldn’t you rather bank on the one whose capacity to fail is zero? I will!

Formerly proven ideas and methods won’t work. Only God inspired ideas will thrive in the year 2009

Build Your Life On Scriptural Principles

Methods changes with time. Principles don’t. Whatever goes up must come down. That’s the principle of gravity. Principles have no respect for economic situations. They have no respect for location. They are universal laws that hold through, no matter what. In the year 2009, we need to build our lives on principles and not methods. As change occurs, we adjust our methods, but not the principles.

Act In Faith

Whenever there is a global recession, it always comes with a redistribution of wealth. Position yourself in faith to be on the receiving side of the redistribution. Step out in faith and take positive actions. Do not sit down with your hands folded, waiting for government to effect changes. Don’t cry over spilled milk. Yes, it’s going to be a tough year and it will take tough people, not only to survive, but to also succeed.

Pursue the Expansion of God’s Kingdom with a Passion

When you mind God’s kingdom, then he will appoint to you a kingdom. The purpose of this coming wealth transfer /redistribution is to promote God’s kingdom. It’s not just to make our bank account fatter or for show off. It is to propagate His course on earth. If you will not mind God’s business then do not expect Him to mind yours. What kingdom activity will you be involved in this year? This is what will compel God to act on your behalf.

If you will not mind God’s business then do not expect Him to mind yours.

Maintain Your Joy

Sometimes, things will not go exactly the way you have planned it to go. As such times, you need to keep your joy. “The Joy of the Lord is your strength”. If you lose your joy, then you have lost your strength. In high and low times, keep your joy. Even when you are behind on your dreams and on your bill, rejoice in the Lord your God! “Although the fig tree may not blossom, neither shall fruits be in the vines…..yet, I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation”.

Here is wishing you a splendid year ahead. You deserve one!

Happy New Year.

It All Began In A Manger

What’s the big deal about Christmas? Why do we celebrate the birth of someone who died over 2000 years ago? Why does everything in the whole world have to come to a stand still to remember and celebrate this day? The interesting thing about it all is this – his birth wasn’t really celebrated. His birth sure didn’t appear on the national dailies of his days. There were no fun fares. No fire works. No special team of Doctors ready to help with the delivery. It was an ordinary day. Were someone to chance upon the sheep stable on the outskirts of Bethlehem that morning, what a peculiar scene they would behold. The stable stinks like all stables do. The stench of urine, dung, and sheep reeks pungently in the air. The ground is hard, the hay scarce. Cobwebs cling to the ceiling and a mouse scurries across the dirt floor. A more lowly place of birth could not exist.

His birth sure didn’t appear on the national dailies of his days. There were no fun fares. No fire works

Off to one side sit a group of shepherds. They sit silently on the floor, perhaps perplexed, perhaps in awe, no doubt in amazement. Their night watch had been nterrupted by an explosion of light from heaven and a symphony of angels. God goes to those who have time to hear him—so on this cloudless night he went to simple shepherds.

Near the young mother sits the weary father. If anyone is dozing, he is.He can’t remember the last time he sat down. And now that the excitement has subsided a bit, now that Mary and the baby are comfortable, he leans against the wall of the stable and feels his eyes grow heavy. He still hasn’t figured it all out. The mystery of the event still puzzles him. But he hasn’t the energy to wrestle with the questions. What’s important is that the baby is fine and that Mary is safe. As sleep comes, he remembers the name the angel told him to use . . . Jesus. "We will call him Jesus."

Wide awake is Mary. My, how young she looks! Her head rests on the soft leather of Joseph’s saddle. The pain has been eclipsed by wonder. She looks into the face of the baby. Her son. Her Lord. His Majesty. At this point in history, the human being who best understands who God is and what he is doing is a teenage girl in a smelly stable. She can’t take her eyes off him. Somehow Mary knows she is holding God. So this is he. She remembers the words of the angel, “His kingdom will never end.”

Meanwhile, the city hums. The merchants are unaware that God has visited their planet. The innkeeper would never believe that he had just sent God into the cold. And the people would scoff at anyone who told them the Messiah lay in the arms of a teenager on the outskirts of their village. They were all too busy to consider the possibility.

The circumstances surrounding his birth however did not diminish the concept.

Those who missed His Majesty’s arrival that night missed it not because of evil acts or malice; no, they missed it because they simply weren’t looking. Little has changed in the last two thousand years, has it?

The circumstances surrounding his birth however did not diminish the concept. A king was born. “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” (Isa 9:6). In our world today, people are often remembered for the problems they solve. Of course, we know some people because of the problem they created (remember Osama Bin Laden?). However, they are not often remembered for long, neither are they celebrated. Solving problems is one of the ways that one can be remembered for a long time to come. Faraday is often remembered today for solving the world’s electricity problems. Jesus, the reason for the season today, solved the greatest of man’s problem – SIN

When God created the world, everything in it was good. There was no problem at all, until sin came in. The fall of man when he sinned exposed him to all kinds of things imaginable. Sickness came, Poverty got hold of him. Death overpowered him. Fear gripped him. Man entered into the “crisis” mode as a result of SIN. Sin is a sinker my dear readers. It sank the destiny of man, and still does till date. The greatest hindrance to enjoying a good life is Sin, and Jesus came to solve that problem. By hanging on the cross, he paid the debt he didn’t owe; all because we owed a debt we couldn’t pay! Celebrating Christmas without understanding this is just like celebrating a mass. Christ is what makes an ordinary mass become Christmas.

As you celebrate Christmas today, ponder on these things. Ponder on the greatest love story ever told – the story of a man who laid down his life for his friends.

Merry Christmas to you all.