1. Father, thank You for 2021. Please Lord, in the this year, help me do all that You tell me to because I know that if I obey You, You will bless me greatly.
2. Lord, please be glorified in my life like never before. In 2022, let all men know that indeed I serve a Living God.
3. Lord, in this year, please have mercy on all the nations of the world. Let there be peace and prosperity around the world. Take sorrow far from all our nations, in Jesus name.
4. Father, please bless the works of my hands in 2022. Let me prosper greatly, more than ever before, in the mighty name of Jesus.
5. Father, make a way for me in this year. I don’t want to struggle; please let all struggles end this year, in Jesus name.
6. Lord, surround me with great helpers in the year 2022. Please bring helpers of destiny my way – people who have the capacity and willingness to help me, in Jesus name.
7. Father, please destroy every evil that the enemy has planned against me and my loved ones this year, in Jesus name. In 2022, I will enjoy victory on every side, in the mighty name of Jesus.
8. Father, in 2022, make me stand before kings. Elevate me far above my dreams for the year, in Jesus name.
9. Father, open the floodgates of Heaven and bless me greatly. Bless me so much that it will overflow to all my friends and loved ones, in Jesus name.
10. Father, in 2022, I will not cry over my loved ones, my children will not die, no one will be missing and no one will fall sick amongst my family members, in Jesus name
11. Father, in 2022, help me to serve You like never before. Give me the grace to please You and to live holy every single day of the year, in the mighty name of Jesus.
12. Your personal prayer request for the the year 2022.
13. Father, thank You for the great privilege to see the first day of 2022. Thank You, Jesus
(Culled from Open Heavens Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye).
Welcome to last day of 20-day Blogmas (Blog + mass).
Thanks for this journey of 20 days, likes, comments and the follows.
Yesterday was Christmas but Christmas didn’t end yesterday, it is a daily lifestyle for Christmas.
Why? Because Christmas is a celebration of the Anointed One ( Christo + mass) and it behooves us to relegate that to December 25th – once a year.
For a non-christian, it starts and ends yesterday but for a blood-washed believers, it starts today and continues till eternity when we will behold His face and sees Him as He is.
Now, how can celebrate Christ after Christmas i.e., how can we do Christmas after Christmas? There are many ways, but the most important ones are listed below:
See sin as worst disease than COVID-19
And flee from any appreance of evils
By living all your live for the glory of God as this is your highest worship
Be humble as the first Christmas signifies.
Remember the poor.
Fight for the powerless.
Speak for the voiceless.
Pray for a depressed soul.
Encourage a weary heart
Support a ministry.
If you can do this and many more godly acts, you will be celebrating Christmas after Christmas.
Once again, Merry Christmas and Happy New year in advance.
By now Joseph is already on the way home with his pregnant wife to register as citizens in his hometown – Bethlehem not knowing a King will be born the new day – during midnight which will cause a serious climatic change.
With this, I am welcoming you to day 18 of 2021 Blogmas. Thanks for the follows and the likes.
Now, the climatic change I am talking about is not the much-touted physical climatic change but a spiritual climatic change. I believed the former is overrated as if that is the only problem facing the earth and its inhabitants whereas the latter is grossly underrated.
When Jesus was born, the climate of kingship and kingdom was eternally changed – from human finite kingship and kingdom to God’s infinite Kingship and kingdom.
Similarly, When Jesus was born the climate of worship was changed.
Before it is either angel are doing their own or we men are doing ours. No mixture between the angelic and the ‘humanic‘ but on that blessed day, an angelic choir joined a humble human shepherds’ choir to declare and proclaim God’s infinite wisdom.
Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people He favours! (Luke 2:13-14).
Not just that the climatic of worship changed but climatic of religion also changed
Before, to Isreal belongs the Torah, the temple and the scriptures but with the birth of His only begotten Son now to all of us belong as a temples of God, the Word Himself and the fulfilment of all Scripture.
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, wise men from the east arrived in Jerusalem, (Matthew 2:1).
Conclusively, those changes aren’t the last spiritual changes that will occur but at the coming of our Lord, both spiritual and physical climatic change will occur.
I will display wonders in the heavens and on the earth: blood, fire, and columns of smoke.The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes( Joel 2: 30 – 31). For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the archangel’s voice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. (1 Thessalonians 4:16)
But are you ready for the greatest climatic change of all time?
Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved, for there will be an escape for those on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, as the Lord promised, among the survivors the Lord calls (Joel 2:32).
All scriptural references from Christian Standard Bible.
Welcome to another moment with me on 2021 Blogmas titled Miracle So Extraordinary!
It’s day 17 and Christmas is fully in town here; many are heading home now or preparing to do so tomorrow to celebrate the Yuletide with their family. Christmas is such a joyous holiday.
Christmas is around the round and it is usually with pomp and pagentry here.
It is also usually celebrated with Carols organized by different churches, organizations and governments.
Today, the 15th day of our 20 days Blogmas, I am welcoming you once again as we journey into what I will be listening to during this memorable Christmastime. They are just five of them and one of them is in Yoruba. Enjoy as you Google search these songs for your enjoyment.
1. Odún nlo s’opin – Christ Apostolic Church Good Women Choir.
Literally translated to mean the year is coming to an end.
This song is so evergreen to us in the southwest of Nigeria to the extent that as if we have agreed that it should be played only in the latter part of the year especially ember months and once we hear it been played, we all agreed that Christmas is here.
It is a song of praise and prayer and it is a 3-track album. Enjoy the refrain of the first track.
Odún nlo s’opin ooo, Baba rere.
Baba ma so mi tomotomo,
Ohun ti oo pamilekun o o lodun titun,
Maje ko ṣẹle Simi baba rere.
Meaning: the year is coming to an end, good Father,
Father, kept watch over me and my children,
What will make me cry in new year,
Don’t let it happen to me.
2. Hallelujah – Dunsi Oyekan.
This is a sensation worship leader right here from Nigeria. This song is a charge to always praise the Lord with a shout of hallelujah in all circumstances. This is first verse of the song
Hallelujah, that’s what song will be,
That’s what song will be,
That’s what song will be.
Even in the midst of pandemic and the now virulent omicron, our song is hallelujah!
3. Wondeful worker – Nathaniel Bassey.
No long sermon. Reflect on the first lyrics
Summer, winter, autumn, spring,
Mountains, blue skies and seas,
Rainbow, sunshine and trees,
Jesus maker of them all.
4. What a Beautiful Name – Hillsong.
Who doesn’t love Hillsong? I love them for their deep worship songs.
Before I dissect topic day 14, I will like to appreciate you all for the visits, likes and comments for the past 3 years of starting this blog.
You are just wondeful!
Now to today’s business.
The script of Christmas drama was entirely written, directed and actors and actresses chosen entirely chosen and directed by God and God only.
Last I said yesterday, old testament is the promise and the New Testament is culmination of events.
I dare say all the verses of New Testament are Christmasitic because without the birth of Messiah, there can Gospel books, Acts and the epistels, even much celebrated Pauline epistels.
If there was no Christmas, what will writers of New Testament write about?
That’s settled, enjoy the Noel with these biblical passages that talks about Christmas in the New Testament:
1. Matthew 1: 1, 18, 21-23.
An account of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham:The birth of Jesus Christ came about this way: After his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, it was discovered before they came together that she was pregnant from the Holy Spirit.She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: See, the virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name him Immanuel, which is translated “God is with us.”
Did the above verses ring right back to confirm what was prophesied in the Old Testament?
2. Matthew 2:1ff
The fulfilment, confirmation, the agreement and the inclusion of the Gentiles.
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, wise men from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star at its rising and have come to worship him.” “In Bethlehem of Judea,” they told him, “because this is what was written by the prophet: And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah: Because out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.” When they saw the star, they were overwhelmed with joy. Entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and falling to their knees, they worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. After they were gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Get up! Take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. For Herod is about to search for the child to kill him.” So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night, and escaped to Egypt. He stayed there until Herod’s death, so that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet might be fulfilled: Out of Egypt I called my Son.
3. Luke 1:26 – 35.
The first good news delivered to the medium God has chosen to use, Mary.
In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And the angel came to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you.” But she was deeply troubled by this statement, wondering what kind of greeting this could be. Then the angel told her: “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Now listen: You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will have no end.” Mary asked the angel, “How can this be, since I have not had sexual relations with a man?” The angel replied to her: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.
4. Luke 2:6 – 7.
The first Christmas.
While they were there, the time came for her to givebirth. Then she gave birth to her firstborn Son, and she wrapped him tightly in cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
5. Luke 2:8 – 12.
The call of the first evangelists.
In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped tightly in cloth and lying in a manger.”
6. Luke 2:13 – 14.
The first Christmas Carol.
Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people he favors!
7. Luke 2:15-16.
Not disobedient to the heavenly vision
When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the manger.
8. Luke 2:20 – 21.
The sending forth for celebrating and proclaiming Christmas.
The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had seen and heard, which were just as they had been told.After seeing them, they reported the message they were told about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
Thank you for the follows, comments and likes so far and welcome to 13th episode which is 13th day of 2021 Blogmas. I pray the the God of Christmas will endowed you with His unsurpassed glory.
Most of us think Christmas is New Testament event but we haven’t realised the the story of Christmas was actually from old testament of the Bible – right from Genesis. What happened in new testament is the fulfilment of the promise of old.
Having understand that assertion, the following passages backup the facts of Christmas in the old testament.
1. Genesis 3:15.
This verse accurately tell about the birth of Jesus.
I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.
2. Deuteronomy 18:15
“The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own brothers. You must listen to him.
Now, let’s see if there are similarities between Jesus and Moses.
Moses fasted for 40 days, Jesus also did.
Moses was hidden in the Egyptian palace, Jesus was also hidden in Egypt.
Moses delivered Isrealites from physical bondages, Jesus delivered us from both spiritual, physical, mental and social bondages.
Moses instituted the festival of Passover which involved slaughter of unblemished lamb, Jesus was the Lamb of God that took away all the sin of the world.
Moses is the law, Jesus came to fulfil the law.
Do you now agreed that Jesus is the prophesied Messiah?
3. Ruth 4:18-22.
God started writing the second chapter of Christmas in Old Testament here 👇👇
Now these are the descendants of Perez: Perez was the father of Hezron, Hezron of Ram, Ram of Amminadab,Amminadab of Nahshon, Nahshon of Salmon, Salmon of Boaz, Boaz of Obed, Obed of Jesse, and Jesse of David [the ancestor of Jesus Christ].(Amplified Bible).
4. Psalm 2:7
This is self explanatory.
I will declare the Lord’s decree. He said to me, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father.
4. Isaiah 9:6 – 7.
The crescendo of Christmas.
For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on his shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. The dominion will be vast, and its prosperity will never end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from now on and forever. The zeal of the Lord of Armies will accomplish this.
5. Isaiah 53:4ff.
The Old Testament talks about the purpose of Christmas here.
Yet he himself bore our sicknesses, and he carried our pains; but we in turn regarded him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced because of our rebellion, crushed because of our iniquities; punishment for our peace was on him, and we are healed by his wounds. He was assigned a grave with the wicked, but he was with a rich man at his death, because he had done no violence and had not spoken deceitfully. Yet the Lord was pleased to crush him severely. When you make him a guilt offering, he will see his seed, he will prolong his days, and by his hand, the Lord’s pleasure will be accomplished. Therefore I will give him the many as a portion, and he will receive the mighty as spoil, because he willingly submitted to death, and was counted among the rebels; yet he bore the sin of many and interceded for the rebels.
6. Zechariah 2:10.
The joy of Christmas right here.
“Daughter Zion, shout for joy and be glad, for I am coming to dwell among you”—this is the Lord’s declaration.
7. Zechariah 9:9.
Hallelujah! Our King cometh!
Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout in triumph, Daughter Jerusalem! Look, your King is coming to you; he is righteous and victorious, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
Dear, is there about Old Testament verse that you think convey the essence of Christmas? If yes, share with us.
All Scripture quotations from Christian Standard Bible (CSB) unless otherwise stated and all emphasises mine.
Tradition is defined as a specific practice of long standing.
Therefore today, I will talk about 5 Christmas specific practices of long standing in my family.
Most of these traditions are common to Nigerian family.
Here are my 5 most favorable traditions while growing up
1. Buying of Christmas and New year Clothes.
In a typical Nigerian family, Christmas started by contemplating on what’s new to wear on Christmas which we called odún kekere (small festival) and January 1 which is called odún nla (big festival).
My family is not different, a few days to Christmas, the female members of the house will go and get clothing materials for the house to be given to the family tailor for sewing before Christmas.
When we are small, it is uniform that is aso-ebí but when we grow up, each one of us will collect his/her share of the largess to buy what he/she likes.
2. Rearing of Chicken.
This is also traditional to an average Nigerian Christians for Christmas.
This usually started in September and the innocent chicken will be slaughtered on 25th after the Christmas service.
For most families like me, more than 4 chickens are reared. This is to cover Christmas, New year and gifting.
3. Christmas services.
We used to have 3 Christmas themed services namely; Carol, Christmas Eve on 24th and the Main service on 25th in our new clothes (if we bought any).
All these services are very special to my family and we do attend yearly.
4. Cooking and Exchange of Foods.
This is my favourite tradition.
After Christmas service at church, we return home to slaughter our chickens and cook food for family and likely visitors.
We will cook rice and prepare Amala for would-be visitors and neighbours – Christians and non-Christians alike either on Christmas day or boxing day.
We will not only give out food but assuredly, but we will also receive food packages from our Christian neighbours.
5. Visitation and Partying.
Most of our brothers, sisters, uncles, aunties and long time friends who aren’t living in the native homes are around now. We use this period to visit them, going from one house to another, eating and partying in all the places visited.
We also take the time to visit family members who will live in the same town together with also eating and merry.
That’s the 5 most cherished Christmas traditions I grew up with to mark day 12 of 2021 Blogmas.
On the 11th day of Blogmas, you as true love can plan and package a gift for him this season afterall Christmas symbolises love.
Who is he? The he/him could be your boyfriend, fiance, brother or male friends.
Dear women in our life, I am bringing it to your notice the we too are not anti-gift infact we are pro-gift and we will surely appreciate if we can get any of these from you this season of love:
1. Favorite club jersey.
2. Pairs of Boxers/Singlets.
3. Christmas haircut payment.
4. Data recharge.
5. Viewing centre subscription (imagine deposting 1k at his football house for next season. In Nigeria, that is 10 matches).
6. Match tickets for December. 🤦
7. Books.
8. Bible.
9. Some litres of petrol if he got car/bike.
10. Cable TV Subs.
11. Bags.
12. Wallets.
13. Doormat.
14. Bedspread.
15. Belt.
16. Pay-by-me Dates to fast food outlets, cinemas, beaches, vacation, etc.
17. T-Shirts.
18. Customised towel.
19. Bathroom/ Palm Slippers.
20. Pay for any online seminar that can benefit him.
21. Shaving Stick/Blades/Powder.
22. Shoe Polish/brush.
23. Perfume/deodorant/body Spray.
24. Credit Recharges.
25. Credit Alerts.
26. Clothing materials.
28. Game console and
29. ???
30. Love
Love is a beautiful thing and no man despises having a loving woman in his life.
Christmas is around the corner and the commemoration is how our heavenly Father gifts us His Son – Jesus Christ for the salvation of humanity.
In addition, Bible urges us to be Christlike and one of His characters is benevolence.
If He did, we should do it especially in this season of love towards our earthly fathers as we have done for our mothers, sisters, girlfriends, etc., some day ago.
If your dad is a Nigerian or you have a friend whose dad is a Nigerian and or a father figure who is a Nigerian, you can think of blessing them with the following items:
1. Visit.
2. Perfumes/ Body sprays.
3. Rechargeable torchlight.
4. Ties.
5. A couple of Cufflinks.
6. Polo shirts/ shorts/ sewn clothes.
7. Wines
8. Wristwatches.
9. Shaving kits
10. Beloved club jersey.
11. Favorite Artiste’s CDs ( maybe old albums that you knew he loves listening to when you are growing up).
12. Writing materials.
13. Travel kits.
14. Finance a night out with long time buddies.
15. Money.
16. Sport kits.
17. MP3 player.
18. Cinema outings.
19. Sponsored honeymoon with his wife.
20. Cable TV subscription.
Remember that most of these fathers can afford these suggested gifts but it is not the price of the gifts that matter but the heart of the giver.
To accurately get the memo, ask his wife for suggestions on what he needs.
Thank you for day 10 of 2021 Blogmas themed miracle so extraordinary!
I love you and I really want to hear your suggestions in the comment section.
Courtship Forum 