A Table Prepared

Various Bible versions of Psalm 23:5 reads:

New Kings James Version:
"You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over"

King James Version:
"Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over"

Message Bible Version:
"You serve me a six-course dinner right in front of my enemies. You revive my drooping head; my cup brims with blessing."

New Living Translation:
You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings."

Amplified Version:
"You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my [brimming] cup runs over."

New International Version:
"You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil;my cup overflows."


Imagine the scene
You live in a town that has a king who resides in a palace. Every day, somehow, you find yourself within the grounds of the palace, surrounded on all sides by the king's numerous subjects. Somehow, you always are in the centre of this crowd, and every time, they seem to be they are pointing, shouting and screaming things such as; let's make his/ her life full of misery, lets make sure he/she does not get promotion at work, lets make sure he/she does not married, lets make her daily reality a miserable one. All these and more coming from the people surrounding you in the room; you can feel the hatred in the room. You can experience the misery they are talking about, you feel stifled at work, you feel lonely and miserable, you feel lost and confused.

Whilst all the shouting is going on, the king of the town calmly walks into the room. At his presence, silence fills the room, for they are amazed by his presence, and his entourage. He has some helpers with him and they seem to be carrying items wrapped up as gifts. They are walking towards you, in the center of the room. The king and his servants stop right in front of you, (by now the crowd has moved a few feet a way to give him room) and without saying a word, the servants come forth and set up the most beautiful table and chair before you.

On the table they place the best served meal you have ever seen, it's a 5 course meal that contains every food you ever wanted to eat, all served on the finest china, not one you would buy for a fiver! And then, the king calls upon each servant and one at a time, and on the same table, they place in front of you, precious gifts, of silver and gold, and much more. And then one of his servants gives him a scroll. He opens it up and reads – "on this day my child I freely give you the gift of wisdom, of understanding, of insight, of strength and much might. On this very day, I give you the best house in town, the finest car to drive around, the finest contracts for you to manage, the best job that will earn you a crown. All this, the king does in the very presence of the people standing around the room, in the very presence of the misery you feeling, and in response the crowd bows their heads in shame, they shake their heads in wonder and slither away in despair. The misery and experience you were once feeling is distanced from you, and all you do is visualise it from afar!

Now that's the beauty of the mind, the beauty of imagination. This is what I envisage (oh and much more) when I read Psalm 23:5. This is my feeble attempt to visualise what it means or what I think God is doing for me and with me every time I read and claim this verse.
When I am going through trials and tribulations, and I read the verse, I imagine the scene and I am encouraged to move on, to proceed, to overcome, to conquer.

Every second, minute, hour, day, week, month and year, God presents a table before us, in the presence of our enemies. He lifts us up! He makes them ashamed, and in turn, He lifts His children up. He is always present, covering, helping and giving.

Whatever it is that you are going through, stop for a minute; let your imagination take hold. Set the scene in your mind, visualise what Psalm 23:5 means to you, what it means God is doing to, for and through you at this particular time. Wrap yourself in hope that will surely come from the reality of this verse. By setting a table before us in the very presence of our enemies, God is encouraging us to be have the audacity to be bold. To be embrace the humble boldness and show that situation that we are indeed the child of the most High God; who is able to deliver and rise you up about all things.


Have a great day walking in humble boldness, whilst making the most High God famous along the way.

Much Love

Remi Banjo

**Pictures by Photobucket**

An invitation

An invitation to self to...
relinquish the void within the realms of my soul
empty myself of anticipation, turmoil and sadness
to be open to the reality and to
re-connect to the meanings of my very essence

An invitation to...
unburden the spirit of shame
unbuckle the corset of grief that surrounds my being
whilst admitting that situations cannot remain the same

An invitation to...
release self into total forgiveness
that comes through the expressions of repentance
whilst embracing self love and acceptance,
that stems from the God of love
which slowly propels me towards total reform
©Remi Banjo, revised February 2008


Isaiah 43:25-26 Reads... 25"But I, yes I, am the one who takes care of your sins—that's what I do. I don't keep a list of your sins.
26-28"So, make your case against me. Let's have this out. Make your arguments. Prove you're in the right.Your original ancestor started the sinning, and everyone since has joined in.That's why I had to disqualify the Temple leaders, repudiate Jacob and discredit Israel."

Forgiveness is not what we do for others – it is what we do for ourselves in the first instance. When we forgive ourselves, THEN we can reach out and forgive others.
Forgiveness is a decision we have to make and embrace; it is a refining process we have to go through until we are totally reformed.

The verse above explains that God takes care of our sins, when we confess them to Him and repent of them. So it's safe to say we have no right to dwell in self- un-forgiveness which hinders the forgiveness of others.

Have a great day living out the reality of God's will, whilst making Him famous along the way.

Much Love
Remi banjo

Motional Stillness

Still and calmness
Moving stillness
Far from where I'm from
Nearer to total reform

Sometimes moving too fast
Most times seemingly moving too slow
Yet wrapping myself in natures grasp
Moving towards the centre of its universe

Moving fast, yet standing still
Striving and yearning to
Embrace the father's will

motional stillness
standing still whilst moving fast
yet never exactly running out of gas
© Remi Banjo, revised February 2008

Sometimes whilst driving, I put my foot down on the accelerator, and I feel, "yeah, I am moving quite fast now"; only to look at the speed dial and then realise I'm only driving at the required speed limit, not moving any faster than I wanted to! Better still, I look around to other drivers hooting and passing me by!!! Imagine that ( I think I have ruined my Schumacher reputation now!:-).

Sometimes do you feel like you are running ever so fast, yet looking at your daily reality in God's will; it seems you haven't really gone very far! That sure is annoying as much as it is confusing! Sometimes, we want to run as fast as we can, but at the same time, we seem to be moving at a snail's pace!!!

Personally, I think God puts His finger on the speedometer and I can almost hear Him saying.. "now, now my child, this is the pace I have set for you at this point in time, mainly because I want you to appreciate the view, I want you to take a few classes, learn a few things, pick up a few wisdom points, and a few blessings, before you go any faster" (That's just my imagination taking hold).

Regardless the feeling of moving at a slower place, keep running, keep moving forward and keeping focused, we must; as long as we are not running on the same spot or going round the same circles like the Israelites did in Acts 7:36 and Exodus 14 & 15. Nope, but running with meaning, but still running the pace and race that we have been apportioned, in its due season.

1 Corinthians 9:24 - 25 reminds and encourages us why we run the race. It reads: "24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. 25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown".

Well, I don't know about you, but I want an imperishable crown, fully decorated with the most precious Jewels such as jasper and clear glass pure gold as described in Revelation 21:18 " The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass."

Also in Galatians 6:9, it reminds us to keep running and not to be weary, regardless. It reads "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."

And finally in Hebrews 11:6, it reminds us what we need to keep ourselves focused, whilst in the raise… the essence of faith! It reads " But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him."

So here is me encouraging you, and yes, it might seem that you are not making progress as you would like, but keep on going. There is achievement and progress in the very act of trying, in the very act of starting and continuing the race!.

Just making a decision to run at whatever pace, means that we are a few paces ahead from where we were yesterday.

How fast we run, is not equated to what we are able to accomplish on a daily basis; these are part of the mysteries we have to embrace in the daily reality of God's will

Have a great time running your very specifically designed race of all races; whilst making God famous along the way.

Much Love

Remi Banjo

Melodies of Love

Melodies of love
mounted on the wings of a dove
Sung from the heart

filled with the elements of love

Flowers, chocolates,
hugs and kisses
dinner in view of warm fireplaces

A card tucked, hidden in a briefcase
to be discovered unexpectantly, by the intended

Whispers of I "love you's and desperately need you"

The furor of love has risen as expected

©Remi Banjo February 2008

Happy Valentines Day

Essence of Love

Love's yearning
To have love in my possesion

would to show you I am capable of submission

Love, teach me the nature of renewed definitions

your embedded meanings and weigthy responsibilities

engross me in your mysteriousness

draw me into the very realms of your essence

for this is my hearts' utmost desire

Love's consideration
Reaching within the depths of me
Conjuring up feelings of
Meekness, welcoming, wanting, and needing
Bringing forth trails of sunrays mixed with teardrops
Lighting up the pathway for love to find it's way,
quickly, home to me

Love's Reflection

Love within the walls of a sacred heart

creates musical melodies

to the makings of the soul

A heart in love,

is a heart that's whole

Love's Affirmation
The soul's yearning for love

makes itself known

through hunger and desire

that simply takes hold

Love... a Perspective
God is love
Love is God

Love is a beautiful smile
Displaying enchanting colours
of God’s Grace and favours

Love is Rich
Love is real
Love is fearless

within reach of our fingertips

Love is contagious
Sometimes ferocious

Love in all seasons

that is the beauty of

it's very meaning

the reality of

it's unspoken reasons

©Remi Banjo, revised February 2008

***pictures by photobucket***

Under The Circumstances???

The other day I was having a conversation with a friend of mine about work and all that, and at some point, she asked me, "so anyway, apart from work, how are you doing?" I replied "I'm good" and in turn I asked her, "How about you? How are you doing?" and she replied "Not too bad under the circumstances"

I paused for a moment, wanting to say something in response to that statement, but for some reason or the other, I held back. I thought about it for the rest of the evening though, but then promptly forgot the conversation, until Sunday night! I attended the Sunday evening service at my sanctuary, and the message was about rising above the storms of life, and then I remembered that conversation and the statement that seemed to bother me so. The combination of that phone call and the message spurred me on to write this.

Now that statement "Not too bad, under the circumstances" lets pause for thought right here; look at the 2nd part of that statement – "under the circumstances!"

When we say "under the circumstances, what are we really saying?

Under means - to be beneath, to be at the bottom of, to be below.
The dictionary describes under as thus:
Beneath, and covered by
Below the surface of
At a point or position lower or further down than
In a position or state of bearing, to sink under a heavy load

Circumstances means – a situation, a state of affairs.
The dictionary further explains circumstances as a condition or fact of attending an event that has some bearing; a determining or modifying factor!

Now that is heavy right? So basically, when we say we are under circumstances, we are effectively saying we are beneath some sort of situation (which usually is not a good one) and this situation has a bearing effect on us, and is determining or modifying our daily reality??! Wooooa! Negative power of words in effect right there!

Based on the definitions and explanations above, as children of the Most High God, the one who resides ABOVE the Heavens, the one who has given us dominion over all things as commanded in Genesis 1:28, which reads "28 Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.” .... 'what in Heavens name are we doing UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES?!'

Surely, that is NOT the place for us to be! We should be over, and above every circumstance!

John 16:33 reads " 33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

Yes, it does say there will be tribulations, which we can see as circumstances, but it does not say we need to dwell and live under them! Part b of that verse reads "But take heart, because I have overcome the world"
Now surely, if God has already overcome the world, and plus the fact that He has given us dominion over all things, we really have NO RIGHT whatsoever, to be 'under circumstances' won’t you agree?

Going back to the time of Moses, when the Israelites where held captive in Egypt, in Genesis 5: 1 it reads "1And afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness. "
This was when God commanded Pharaoh to let the people go, so they may hold a feast unto Him, to worship Him! The people of Israel were in captivity in Egypt, they were under the 'circumstances' of slavery and all that it comes with it, one being deprevation of freedom. It is fair to say that in captivity the children of Israel were not able to:

* Freely worship God as they wanted to or should
* Be all they could; be their own people

I believe this applies to us when we say we are 'under circumstances' we will be under the circumstances of our words, of that confession, we will not be free to worship God as we should, or be the best that we know we should!

So, going back to that very conversation and that question, here I am asking you... "How are you doing today?"

And here is me hoping that your response will go somewhat like this: "I'm doing great, for I am an overcomer and I have risen above all circumstances"

Have a wonderful day riding above all circumstances, situations and tribulations; exercising your God given power of dominion, over every single thing, whilst making God famous along the way.

Much Love
Remi Banjo

© February 2008

***pictures by photobucket***

Alter your stance

Give ear to the sounds of life
Arise, be inspired, be set alight

Give ear to the sounds of the breeze and trees
Musical rhythms they play,
like a thousand orchestra playing a symphony

Relief yourself of soulful hunger
Filling your soul with the essence of
God's awesome wonder

Give sight to the view of the world
Embrace it's calmness
Understand it's stillness
walk in the realms of it's un-experienced mysteries
a privilege to walk in, a blessing to experience
© Remi Banjo, February 2008

Isaiah 60:1 reads "1 Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you. "

Whenever I read that verse, I am encouraged to say to myself
"Girl, get off your knees, arise and propel yourself into action!"

This verse encourages us to get up, to move, to elevate ourselves, to change positions, to alter our spiritual and physical stance; to simply arise, get up and do!

I believe sometimes we as Christians hide behind the act and veil of prayer (pointing to self!). Have you asked someone about a certain situation in their life and the answer they give is "I am praying about it"! If you ask them in 6 months time, the answer would STILL be the same!

There comes a time in this journey called life, that we MUST get off our knees, quit the praying and start the doing!!!

There are instances in the Bible where God commanded His people to alter their stance; change thier physical position, which no doubt, altered their spiritual position and most certainly changed the shape and reality of their future!

In 1 Kings 17:9, it reads " 9 "Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. See, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you."
Here God commands Elijah to get up and move from his current position. And by changing his present state, he walked into the reality of provision for his future.

Another instance is in John 14:31, it reads "But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave Me commandment, so I do. Arise, let us go from here."
Jesus explaining that God had ordered him to arise, and in doing so, walked in the reality of the Father's will!

In Genesis 35:1 it reads "Then God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there; and make an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you fled from the face of Esau your brother.” "

And finally, in Joshua 1:2, it reads "Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them—the children of Israel" This was when Moses died, God spoke to Joshua, the son of Nun, the assistant of Moses, and told him to Arise and go… God commanded him to change his physical state, and not doubt his spiritual state and go to his future, the land which God will give him.

The dictionary explains arise as thus:
1. get up from sitting, lying or kneeling; to rise
2. to awaken; wake up
3. to move upward; mount; ascend
4. to come into being, action
5. to result or proceed; spring or issue

I believe this means to:
Change, move from, to alter current state or position! If we map it to our journey in God's will, it's to alter our spiritual position and hence physical. It's to arise from praying and embrace the spirit of enablement, conjur the zeal to get up and put all those whisphered prayers into action, into motion!

It means to simply raise up into the daily reality of God's will.

When a solder is preparing for battle, he prepares his mind, he prays before the onset of batte. But then there comes a time when he must get up, arise from his praying position, get kitted out in battle amour and then move forward into the battle field, exercising faith and hope that he will come out victorious at the end of it all. Note he had to change his position to walk through and into the reality of victory, in hope and by faith.

Like the soldier, we too must RISE UP, we must get up, put on our battle gear, move forth to bring to pass the reality of living out the daily intricacies of God's will.

Today, I encourage you to "Rise and be all you can be"

I encourage you to "Arise, change, alter your present position for in doing so, I believe it will bring forth that very reality that you seek in the future."

Have a great day, soaring like an eagle, shining bright for all to see, from near and afar, whilst making the Almighty God famous along the way.

Much Love

Remi Banjo

***pictures by photobucket***