As You Mean To Go Along...

2And the Lord answered me and said, Write the vision and engrave it so plainly upon tablets that everyone who passes may [be able to] read [it easily and quickly] as he hastens by. 3For the vision is yet for an appointed time and it hastens to the end [fulfillment]; it will not deceive or disappoint. Though it tarry, wait [earnestly] for it, because it will surely come; it will not be behindhand on its appointed day. Habakkuk 2: 2 - 3

On Saturday, I was getting ready to go to the gym – yes, my body is a temple, even on weekends! So, I wondered into my study to pick up my gym bottle and then was confronted with this board below: Well this, people, is my prayer board. It was staring at me in the face, blatantly asking the question “Have you said a prayer or two about the points listed on me?” A few years ago, to help me gets to grip with my prayer life; I got a prayer board (visual reminders work perfectly for me). I keep it in a place where it is impossible to ignore, on my desk.

I moved closer and peered at the board to check the list. Alas, I had missed a few points during quiet time in the morning, so I proceeded to pause and say a prayer or two on the missed points and then made a note to re-align and update all my mobile technology (phones, PCs, Ipods), and then went on my way.

Whilst on my way, I started thinking about the whole notion of starting out well this year, which in turn reminded me of what my mum used to tell her kids every morning when we were getting ready for school. “start as you mean to go along” . Her meaning to be; if you want to have a successful day and a life, then you should start good, start well. which means rising up from the bed early!

She would say this everyday, backed up with… “Go to bed early. So you can rise up early, say your prayers, make your bed (you will get a few lashes if you don’t), eat breakfast and then arrive early to class refreshed and rearing to start the day”! It was a hard thing to do, because some days all I wanted to do was stay in bed. However if I wanted to get good results at the end of the school term, I knew better than to be left behind in bed! I always wanted to be amongst the top five in my class, which meant I had to "start as I meant to go along"!

This brings me to ask the question “Are we starting this year as we mean to go through it”? Are we starting on a high, medium, low or below par standard?

There are many things we can do and may different areas in our lives we can reform or refine, to help us start well, and a few are:

• Writing out our plan of actions for the year
• Fasting at least once a week
• Attending fellowship meetings – other than Sunday service
• Getting to work that bit extra early
• Register or dust off that gym membership and rescue the bulging waistline
• Increase of knowledge – reading at least one book a month – and then increasing
• Enrolling on a course, taking an exam
• Changing jobs / careers

Apart from the suggested list above, an increased and effective prayer life is one of the major areas we need to “start as we mean to go along.”

Prayer is not just reciting and ticking off our “God I want you to do for me list” but having conversations with him – we talk, he listens and then he talks and we listen.

In today’s busy world, it can be difficult to have a refined and meaningful prayer life; to put aside a specific time and a place to do it in! However, it is an important aspect of our lives that will most definitely need refining, improvement and kept active.

"To know, understand, get meaning on and answers to the questions about the dreams, aspirations God has laid within our hearts, and his will for us, we must have a two-way relationship with God. we must speak and listen to him".

Reading the Bible for example will definitely conjure up an avalanche of questions. For starters, imagine reading the book of Job, and seeing what Job went through and not going... What? but Lord why could you... ?!

Thus, we must and should sit at the masters’ feet, at certain times, in certain places, alone to be with just him, to ask and listen, or just love on him and him on us!

This year, I pray by God’s grace to have a more refined prayer life, and one of the things that constantly helps me is that visible prayer board. It helps me to keep prayers in focus when I am at home. When I am on the move I use all the technology available to me (I did say I love technology). At work, we have a quiet room, and I make full use of it. It’s not an easy discipline I tell you, but with time and by God’s grace it gets easier.

What about you? Why not try it and see and then come back and tell me about the changes you see.

On that note, "what do you think will or might work for you as a visible reminder to pray about all the hopes and dreams that God has placed within your heart; a reminder to intercede for that your brother, sister, friend, family, your sanctuary, your residential location, your country or where you work"? What visual reminder will help you have an increased, refined and effective prayer life? A few suggestions are:

At home:

• A visual board like mine.
• A note on the fridge, on the wall or door?
• The first hour when you wake up, or when everyone has gone to sleep?

On the move:

• A handwritten or printed prayer areas in your wallet / handbag
• Written prayer reminders in a small notebook or a diary
• A reminder programmed into your mobile phone, play station or game boy
• A message on your iPod, music or an audio version of the bible – listening to this will encourage and prompt prayer
• In your car, just as you park at the station, or when you have dropped the kids off to school

At work:

• Part of your lunch break: taking a reflection walk, pray whilst you walk, a quiet room (if your company has one), an empty meeting room (you can even book a meeting room – if it is free. It is a meeting with God after all)

In the gym (you knew this was coming right!):

• On the treadmill: listening to messages or an audio version of the bible and praying as you do so, besides you are getting two rewards for the price of one action, keeping your temple(body) fit and enriching your soul – check out http://www.hisfittemple.blogspot.com/

The above are just a few suggestions, but I’m sure there are more. Wherever it is, and what ever time we carve out to do it in, I encourage us all to find a time and a place to be alone with God. A place where we can have that much needed one to one conversation or to simply be still in his presence.

We need wisdom and discernment to know what to do with and how to operate and in this season of change that God has brought about.

So to us all, I say…

“On your Marks, Get Set, and Go”…..

Have a wonderful time refining yourself, whilst running the race that God has set ahead of you, making him famous along your way.

Much Love

Remi Banjo

***Pictures by Photobucket***

September Only By His Grace...

This is the day, and the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it!

I would like to welcome everyone to the beautiful month of September.

It's only by God's grace and mercy that we have made it this far.

Some have started the year, the month of January with us, but right now in September, they are no more.

Let's join the host of heaven to declare and proclaim His greatness, His awesomeness and His glory as the psalmist declares in Psalm 19:11, which reads "The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship".

This month, I pray that we will all make a conscious decision and effort to put God first and in ALL that we do, therefore giving Him room to empower us to prosper and be all that we should be. This we are taught in Matthew 6:33, which reads "Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need".

I pray that we make a conscious decision and effort to INVITE (which is defined as "To ask for the presence or participation of...") His Will and Kingdom into our lives daily (as we are taught in Mathew 6: 9 - 10, which reads "9 In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done ") and He will bestow unto us all that we need for a daily fulfilled life in His presence.

Finally, I encourage us all to do diligently, with a good heart, that whichever we find our hands doing; for it is all for God's glory, it's about making Him famous and drawing men unto Him. This we are taught in Ecclesiastes 9:10, which reads "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going."

Have an awesome month in God's presence, being all that you have already been created and gifted to be.

Much Love

Remi Banjo

***pictures by photobucket***

NO LIMITATIONS...

I swam away from the wall
I swam away from the wall
I swam away from the wall!!!

What is she on about you must be thinking?
Well, about a week and a half ago, I decided to learn how to swim!
Ah! Yes, I decided to make my peace with the water!

Now, this was not an easy decision for me to make, because I am absolutely terrified of water, due to an almost disastrous childhood incident. So you can imagine my anxiety. And finally, after four lessons, I managed to edge away from the wall, bearing in mind that up until now, the picture has been - 'wearing a float around my mid-section, wearing swimming flippers, holding 2 floats out in front, and somehow managing to hang onto the swimming pool side wall, for dear life.' Yes, the utter shame of it all!!!

During the month of July, I attended a week long conference at my sanctuary, and one of the messages was about "living a life with no limitations". The speaker explained that most of us place some sort of restrictions, limitations on ourselves and within our hemisphere. These limitations can be in various forms and shapes and sizes, but tends to affect all aspects of our lives - spiritually, physically, mentally and emotionally. It affects us at work or at play.

The message made me think about all areas of my life where I might have placed limitations knowingly or otherwise. Well needless to say, there were a few barriers firmly lodged in place that needs to be lifted pronto, and one of them being swimming.

So, I made a list of all my self imposed limitations, the actions I need to take to lift them and timeliness. Yes, we must pray about them too, but physically doing what we have prayed for, is also required to bring about deliverance and breakthrough. It's like the story of the lepers that Jesus healed. They did not get healed when he spoke to them, but they got healed when they were engaged in the activity of going to (walking - doing something) show themselves to the priests. Luke 17: 11 - 14 11 As Jesus continued on toward Jerusalem, he reached the border between Galilee and Samaria. 12 As he entered a village there, ten lepers stood at a distance, 13 crying out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” 14 He looked at them and said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.”[a] And as they went, they were cleansed of their leprosy.

At this point, I must ask; what barriers or limitations have you placed knowingly or unknowingly on yourself, in your life? Think about it, make a list, pray about it and write an action plan and go forth and conquer!

The dictionary explains Limitation as thus: "a restriction; a qualification; a restraining condition, defining circumstance, or qualifying conception; as, limitations of thought"

Further more, Restriction, or Restricting is defined as "the act of keeping something within specified bounds (by force if necessary); "the restriction of the infection to a focal area"

From the above definitions, it is safe to say that when we place limitations on ourselves, we are basically keeping ourselves confined or contained- our abilities, thinking, learning, growth and much more. This being the total opposite of what God wants for us and who God created us to be.

I truly believe God does not want us to live a limited life and embrace the "I can't do attitude or thinking" . This is very much evident, from the beginning of time. Lets go back to where it all began, Genesis.

Genesis 1:28 reads 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.” Now if that is unlimited living, I don't know what else.

Here we see God commanding us to live freely. No where did he imply that "we should be fruitful or multiply to a point, or fill only the left or right side of the earth, or just reign over the fish, don't go near the animals on the land, that will be too much for you! Ah! No!

He gave this powerful and complete command in its fullness and it's entirely - no restrictions, no limitations; and after the fall of man, master Jesus Christ, came and reconciled us back to the father, so we still have that command working for us today.

So, yes, I swam away from the wall. I'm quite excited, it's a little step, but I'm trying to put the "no limitation" principle into practise, in all areas of my life. How about you, do you need to implement the 'no limitation' rule to certain areas in your life? Does a "can do" mindset" need to take hold, changing your vocabulary from "I can't" to "I can by God's grace"?

I believe a life of no limitations, means we are empowered to reach out, embrace and experience a rich and fulfilled life, according to God's will and purpose; making him even more attractive to those around us, and therefore drawing men unto him.

Have a great day of breaking free from all forms of limitations - spiritually, physically, mentally and emotionally; whilst making the Almighty God famous along the way.


Much love
Remi Banjo
***pictures by photobucket***

Walk into your Season of Harvest... Payday is Here!!!

Ezekiel 12: 21 - 28 reads "21And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 22Son of man, what is this proverb that you have in the land of Israel, saying, The days drag on and every vision comes to nothing and is not fulfilled? 23Tell them therefore, Thus says the Lord God: I will put an end to this proverb, and they shall use it no more as a proverb in Israel. But say to them, The days are at hand and the fulfillment of every vision. 24For there shall be no more any false, empty, and fruitless vision or flattering divination in the house of Israel. 25For I am the Lord; I will speak, and the word that I shall speak shall be performed (come to pass); it shall be no more delayed or prolonged, for in your days, O rebellious house, I will speak the word and will perform it, says the Lord God. 26Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 27Son of man, behold, they of the house of Israel say, The vision that [Ezekiel] sees is for many days to come, and he prophesies of the times that are far off. 28Therefore say to them, Thus says the Lord God: There shall none of My words be deferred any more, but the word which I have spoken shall be performed, says the Lord God.

PAYDAY IS HERE

Let the righteous rejoice
Children of Zion, give praise to the Lord
For it is a new season, a brand new day

The wait is over,everything ever prayed
and hoped for, is finally coming your way

In diligence and in faith
you have laboured and prayed,
all through the father's grace
Now, the wait is over, the
harvest starts manifesting today

It is a new season in God's will
to show off his glory and
proclaim him as the faithful king
His words never go back to him unfulfilled
Every prayer uttered is about to be fulfilled

It's a new season, it's a new day
Stake your claim, on it, write your name,
It's time to get paid
the glorious father's way

©Remi Banjo, July 2008
****pictures by photobucket and Google***

Welcome to your season of harvest, a season of manifestation, a season of making God incredibly famous and attractive. We his children, who are called by his wonderful name are about to experience the manifestation of God's faithfulness in the richness of his blessings.

Do not forget to ask the holy spirit for wisdom, understanding and insight; to understand the reason for the season, the meanings that lay therein, proclaiming it all for God's glory.

Much Love
Remi Banjo

His Promises,Your Testimony

My Year of Change
I will keep praying and praising God
He's not slack concerning His promises
I have been decided by God to prosper
Greater works than what I am doing now I shall do
My adversity will end up promoting me
Out of rejection God will make me a selection for promotion
I receive help out of Zion today
My change is coming
It's riding on the promise of His word
©Bolaji, April 2008

My dear friend sent the piece above to me yesterday, and it got me thinking of the season we are in; Spring.

Sitting at work, looking out the window towards the park across the street, it's evident that spring is finally here!

Okay, in England right now, we are experiencing four seasons in one day! But hey, according to God's order of change, its spring time all the same

I love spring time because to me, it is the season of unfolding.

Flowers slowly stretching their tender petals
Yawning to the emergence of spring
At the break of dawn the birds
they ruffle their feathers, spread their wings
open their lungs to start the day, with a beautiful song

When I think of spring, I think of rising up, leaping forth and changing position. I think of moving forward and outward, of releasing myself from my current coiled, yet comfortable position.

Spring time somehow translates to:
Clearing out the old, and bringing in the new.
Getting ready for impending changes before the month of June!

Spring fills me with excitement and anticipation of changes to come; changes that hang on the very promises God whispered to me through his word. God has given each and every one of us a great promise, and his promises are trustworthy and ever so faithful as described in Hebrews 10:23 "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful."

And also as explained in 2 Corinthians 1:20 "For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us."

It reminds me that as the seasons change, our lives is and should be subject to change, to fit into his will, his purpose and evolve us to who we are meant to be.

Today, as we enjoy the beautiful sun rays of spring, I remind us all that in our lives, change is imminent; positive changes propelled by the promises of God's word.

As you progress through this year, I remind you not to give up on those promises God made to you. I encourage you embrace the changes his promises will bring into your life. You don't need a ticket to get on board the change train; all you need is an open heart, a receptive spirit to take part.

Have an awesome day enjoying the freshness of spring, reveling in God's promises, getting rid of the old, making room for the new and making room for changes that are coming soon.

Much love
Remi Banjo

God promise picture by executabe ***

Sunflower picture by photobucket***

The Jewellery Box

It was her birthday, she was going to be 10 years old. She woke up with bouts of extra excitement, for she remembered her father telling her the night before that he had something very special to give her today. She is so glad today has finally come!

She rushed downstairs, still in her nightgown, her parents were at the table, having breakfast. "Happy birthday" they cheered, with jubilation and much clapping.

Her father beckoned for her to come a little closer and he proceeded to present her with a beautifully wrapped gift. She was excited. She unwrapped the gift ever so carefully, not wanting to ruin it's beauty, little did she know that what laid inside the pretty wrapping paper was even more beautiful and precious. And then she saw the gift; it was the most beautiful jewellery box she had ever seen. She had been admiring a jewellery box from the shop window, down the street for as long as she could remember, but this particular jewellery box was even more beautiful that the one in the shop window. It was pink and had shiny bits attached to it. The inside was carefully laid with a pink satin cloth and yellow ribbons, and when you closed the box, a shiny gold lock was on the cover, attached to a key, to lock it and keep it's impending contents safe. She was ever so pleased with her gift. But then there was more.

She turned around thanked her daddy, but to her greater delight her mummy promptly presented her with another present. This time it was a beautiful fresh water pearl necklace, with a matching bracelet! Her mummy handed it to her and said "now you are a big girl, with a pearl necklace and a jewellery box. The box is to keep all your precious jewellery ssafe from harm and accessible whenever you need to pick one to wear for all those special occasions you will be attending in the future." She felt so grown up!

She was ecstatic she thought to herself "I have the best parents in the whole wide world". As time went on, she acquired, lots of jewellery; necklaces, bracelets and rings and she kept them all safe in her precious jewellery box. Ever so often, when she had an event to attend, she would go into this box, pick up the perfect piece of jewellery just for that event.

There were instances when she did not have an event to attend, yet she would simply go into the jewellery box, observe the contents, made sure they were in top condition; she cleaned and polished them so they were gleaming. Sometimes she would simply wear a piece of jewellery just because she was happy or just because she wanted to feel it's closeness to her skin or simply observe it's beauty.

She wore her jewellery on both happy and sad occasions. A sad occasion was such as when grandma Louise died. She was real sad, as she loved her grandma very much. She had to attend the funeral service in a dark outfit and that made her even more sad, and then she thought, I would wear one of my necklaces to make me feel better. So she reached into her jewellery box and found the prettiest necklace, and she wore it along with her outfit. This made her feel much better, infact when she arrived at the service, everyone commented on her necklace and said she was a brave girl for being so pretty for grandma Louise. The necklace it seemed took away her sadness.

Now think about the HEART OF MAN, envisage this to be the jewellery box and the WORD OF GOD; liken this to be to the jewellery that goes into the box. Now picture the word of God as precious jewels given to you, one at a time and you keeping them safe, locked up within the corners of your heart. Awesome isn't it?

Now, how do we get the word of God into our hearts and keep it safe I hear you ask?

We do this by studying the bible, daily, diligently, in all seasons, through all situations. When we study the word, we should practice instances of memorising verses; of keeping these and the meanings the holy spirit gives to us within the walls of our hearts so that they do not depart. Such as the declaration of the Psalmist David in Psalm 119:11, it reads "Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You. "

When we enrich our hearts with the word of God, we are being diligent, as explained in Proverbs 4:23, it reads "4:23 that we should "Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life"

Imagine that. Issues of life flow out of the hearts. So it's safe to say, whatever we put in our hearts, either good or evil, will eventually flow out of it right?. If we store in the word of God in our heart the issues that will flow out will be of blessings, love, peace, joy and much more, and if we store away the world within our hearts, the issues that will flow out will be of hatred, jealousy, envy and much more. Which one would you choose?

To diligently hide and keep safe the word of God in our precious jewellery box, the heart, assists and enables us to sing to God with our hearts. Imagine that!!! If our hearts are not pure, we would not be able to worship God as we ought to - in spirit and in truth, such as described in Colossians 3:16 which reads "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord "

Finally, as the little girl was able to retrieve various precious pieces of jewellery for various occasions, we too should be able to reach within our hearts and retrieve precious pieces of the word of God to help us in in our daily reality, to assist us in that situation, that circumstance, that trial or tribulation, or simply to help us remember the one who is the reason for us being here.

Remember, the word of God is powerful and able to pierce through and rectify any circumstance as explained in Hebrews 4:12, which reads "For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

It is to our very great advantage that we understand the jewellery box that is our heart, guard it with all our might, but most importantly fill that jewellery box with the most precious pieces ever known to man - the precious word of God.

I encourage you today to make the living word of God your daily bread. Delve into it's richness daily. Store, the contents and it's meaning within the walls of your heart, for when you find yourself in the valley during your daily journey, I promise you, it is that very word that you stored a month, or two or a few years ago, that will reach down and pull you out into victory and unto higher ground.

Have a wonderful day loosing yourself in the realms of God's word, whilst making Him famous along the way.

Much Love

Remi Banjo

All pictures by photobucket***