On the fifty-second day

And it came to pass that despite the stiff oppositions, ridicules and threats against Nehemiah, the rebuilding of the walls and gates of Jerusalem was completed on the fifty-second day. On this fifty-second Sunday of the year, I see the rebuilding of your walls and gates of opportunities, progress and safety complete in Jesus name.

You might not have realized that there were detractors and enemies to your plans and visions in the course of 2013, and you made it this far, despite their dislike of your assignment and purpose. God was on your side to strengthen your hands and mind and to give you victory where you would have suffered defeat.

As you move into 2014, live every moment with the mindset that you have risen above every obstacle and that no barrier will be strong enough to stop you from achieving all that you have been designed for. Be purposeful, strategic, hardworking and grateful. It is not yet eureka - there are still more walls and gates to be rebuilt, more oppositions, ridicules and threats to overcome and more victories to celebrate.  

On the fifty-second Sunday of next year, we would have rebuilt more walls and gates to the disappointment of our Sanballats and Tobiahs and to the glory of our God - the one who is at work in us both to will and to do all things.

Do it well

In a world where there are tonnes of activities competing for our time and the tendency for things to be done haphazardly is imminent, I am reminded of the words of one my father figures, Apostle Stephen Bolaji that "whatever is worth doing at all, is worth doing well"

As the then coordinator of the choir group in my local church in Lagos, Nigeria, this simple and principled Army veteran will always echo these words in our ears to prod us to excellence. For some of us, particularly my senior sister, Bidemi, these were part of the words that encouraged us to excel in our academic pursuits even in the face of indescribable challenges.

Although it's been a while since I saw Apostle Bolaji, but everyday I look at Eniola, my angel, I echo the same words into her ears. She is destined for greatness and this principle of doing all things well will definitely be essential for her. 

Fathers in Demand

It's Sunday June 16, 2013; It's another opportunity to ask ourselves - Where are our Fathers? Where are the providers and leaders of our homes? Where are the lovers of our mothers and the instructors of our children? Where are the 'transferers' of the batons of blessings, responsibilities, hard work, godliness and purpose to the next generation of fathers? 

Is the time changed and we are now living in a fatherless era? Would we have to deal with having our homes 'headless'? Are our mothers going to add the pain of childbirth to the rigor of being tagged - 'Single-mothers'. 

Where are our Fathers? God please bring them back. 

Wake up fathers if you are sleeping; Come back home if you are on a journey; strengthen your hands and legs if they have being feeble all these while. There is job to be done. Children are crying, mothers are wailing. Fathers come out of your hibernation. We need you, we love you. Come back to your assignment; come home to your family. 

Your God is calling you back; your wife and children are longing to hear from you. 

They can no longer deal with you living in the same house with them but absent in the things that matter to them. They wake up to see you everyday but there is no guidance, no vision, no love whatsoever. 

They hear your excuses about the economy but they are unsure why the God who controls all economies has not visited their home for these years. They can sense you have disconnected from God but you are not man enough to admit it. 

Come back home fathers; Come back to responsibility, love and leadership; Come back to purpose and prayer; Come back to your creator. 

You can do it. God is ready to help you; your wife and children will be there to support you. 

Come back home fathers, you are in demand. 

Happy Fathers Day!