Nigeria: A Mother Betrayed

Nigeria: A Mother Betrayed

By Alwyn Horsfall

Nigeria isn’t the problem, it’s her leaders.
Nigeria is going through the same trauma as Nigerians.
Nigeria wants to stand strong as a Stallion and soar to epic heights as an Eagle….
Nigeria wants to be well catered for with her riches in human and natural/mineral resources.

Nigeria is raped, betrayed, looted and oppressed.
What is more, despite her woes, her citizenry still blame her and curse at her with the slightest chance.
Nigeria is denounced by her own in public places and in the privacy of their hearts.

We have apportioned the blame of the leadership to the mother, our mother….
And the glory of our mother, Nigeria, to the evil leadership….
We have adorned them with titles and given them choicest seats at our occasions, even in our religious gatherings.
All so they may give us a pinch of what our mother offers to all freely.

O Nigeria!!!
My heart weeps for you; the most beautiful land on God’s green earth….
No other nation can boast of the riches underneath your land, nor the strength of your daughters and sons upon the surface.

O Nigeria!!!
I am sorry that I too have been a party to this treachery against you, my mother….
In so many ways too numerous to mention, I have erred.

I weep, O Nigeria my country!
But, my tears my weeping mother desires not.
Justice, Peace and Love; you demand.
Our resolve to amend our past ills and pave a glorious future together with one another, you implore;
Siblings building together irrespective of their tribe and religion.

This, O Mother Nigeria, you yearn for; but we’ve shown you hate that you have not deserved.

Prayer for Nigeria at 59

As in Ex. 4:2 when the Lord asked Moses what he had in his hand, and Moses responded ‘a Staff’….

We shall respond to the Lord, “our skills, our talents, our youthful exuberance” and the Lord that gave Moses and the Israelites victory over Pharaoh and Egypt will use these to give us VICTORY in Jesus Name….

We shall use our God-given gifts to Bless our Nation, in Jesus Name….

Our nation shall once again be the envy of the world over, by our actions in the Light of Christ Jesus….

Nigeria is Blessed because we proclaim the Lord’s blessings upon our Land….

For the Lord said this: ‘….as you spoke in my hearing, so I will do to you’ (Num 14:28)

So we speak to the Lord’s hearing, that:

Nigeria is a land flowing with milk and honey….

Nigeria is the giant of Africa….

Nigeria is the heart and pride of the African people….

Nigeria is a blessing and a Testimony to the Love God has for His people….

Nigeria is uplifted from her travails….

Nigeria breaketh into a morn of dancing and jubilation….

The Sun of Righteousness has risen upon Nigeria with healing in his wings; and so, we sing and rejoice to the glory of God…. (Cf. Mal 4:2)

We prophesy unto Nigeria like Ezekiel upon the dry bones in Ez. 37; we say, Nigeria take up your form and be renewed….

We say, Nigeria your latter days shall be better than your former….

We say, Nigerians for you have gone out sowing in tears, you shall return in rejoicing bringing in the sheaves….

For the Lord of the harvest is with us;

The mighty one of Israel is with us;

The Just God is with us;

We proclaim and so it is, E-M-M-A-N-U-EL — God is with us….

For the One who shuts a door and no one can open it, and who opens a door and no one can shut it, has remembered us this day and we rejoice saying:

“Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus Dominus Deus Sabaoth.

Pleni sunt caeli et terra gloria tua.

Hosanna in excelsis.

Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini.

Hosanna in excelsis. ”

“Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts.

Heaven and earth are full of your glory.

Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna in the highest.”

Nigeria is Blessed in Jesus Name….

Amen!!!!

🙏🏾

Reflection: Solemnity of St. Joseph

Solemnity of St. Joseph– Husband of Mary, foster Father of Jesus, Protector of the Holy Family

On this day we are called as Christians to contemplate on the responsibilities God gives to men and trust with which He so doles them out.

We may wonder, ‘what was God thinking to entrust the care of His infant son, Jesus to mere mortals’.

Man in all his fragility and limitations was to unpreparedly and without any visible provision take in (Mary) and accept the role as foster Father (Joseph) of the Divine Saviour (Jesus). Knowing that at His infancy, Jesus will be vulnerable, God still placed Him in the care of this vulnerable couple who with such little means from Joseph’s carpentry was to cater for the King of Kings.

(Cf. Luke 1: 26-38, 46-55; Matthew 1: 18-25)

In extension we examine our lives also….

The Psalmist will say in Psalms 8: 4-6, ‘What is man that thou art mindful of him?….Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands…’

Here the Psalmist was in awe over the great dominion and power God has given to this fragile being, this being that is always falling into temptation and sin, this being that will often prefer his on will be done than God’s, this been that will want to receive from God and give nothing or little back to God (even through charity), this same being that will even prefer to take from the poor that he may have surplus in his coffers.

How does God see this imperfect and often immature being and entrust creation to him, and entrust the sanctity of the soul and entrust His Son to?!

This is a day to reflect on the Trust God has in His design of man; His pure believe that we would not let Him down; His Faith even as He hopes against hope that we’d remain steadfast, and when we fall we’d immediately run to Him for forgiveness and raise up again, picking up our cross and follow Him.

1 Corinthians 10:13,

Every test that you have experienced is the kind that normally comes to people. But God keeps his promise, and he will not allow you to be tested beyond your power to remain firm; at the time you are put to the test, he will give you the strength to endure it, and so provide you with a way out. (GNT)

God Loves us, and this life is a testimony to that. Let us love Him first for this love that He has for us.

God Trusts us, and this life is a testimony to that. Let us trust Him first for the trust with which He has given this power and dominion of His creation to us.

Peace be with you….

Unity

I stumbled on some wisdom in my deep contemplation today:

 

“If we cherish our own, we’d be sought after”.

 

This is the simplest way to a blissful economy….

 

If we stopped taking vacations abroad and try to develop our tourism, then foreigners will come and visit and nationalize.

 

If we stopped looking for foreign investors and invested in one another with our 3 Ts – Time, Treasure and Talent; foreign investors will beg to buy 1% stake in our ventures.

 

If we stopped seeking healthcare in foreign lands and develop our local Hospitals, clinics and Healthcare centres; foreign medical practitioners will apply for VISA and work permit to work in Nigeria.

If we stopped going abroad for education and develop our education system, then foreign scholars will apply to have a Doctorate in our Universities.

 

These are just a few of the possibilities we are sure to reap from cherishing our own….

 

We need to be patriotic to the green and white flag, to the motto of the ‘Coat of Arms’ – Unity and Faith, Peace and Progress….

 

Long Live the Federal Republic of Nigeria!

Peace to my Brethren, Nigerians from all ethnicity and tribe!!!

Prayer for a New Dawn- Prayer on 1st of July 2017

Saturday morning rain on the 1st of July….

Showers of Blessings!!!!

In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit!

Amen!!!

Good morning Jesus!!!

Thank you for this new dawn, thank you for this new month, thank you for the rains- as you have caused the heavens to shower your Blessings upon us.

We appreciate you Lord, even as we awake to behold thy Glory, be thou Glorified Great God, in Jesus Name.

Amen!

Oh Lord my God, please have Mercy upon my Country Nigeria and look down upon us with a smile…

Strengthen us with thy Grace and grant us your peace, which the world can never give…

Father Lord we have erred, we have erred, Lord we have grievously erred against you, against all you stand for, against your 1 true commandment- Love.

Please forgive, please have Mercy, Please Save…

Redeem Nigeria as a people, redeem Nigeria as a Land…

May her feet be strong with you once again and her fractures be healed….

For as we turn to you with 2 Chronicles 7:14, Father Lord, receive us and turn your countenance towards us…

Heal us and our land dear lord, if you WILL- for we know you can, if you WILL.

Thank you Jesus for prayers heard, received and answered.

In Jesus name.

Amen!!!!

In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit!

Amen!!!

#PrayerForANewDawn

#NewMonth

#PrayerInTheMorningRain

#FirstSaturdayDevotion

Forced Love and True Love: God desires True Love

Forced love is not true love, God is a pure being and He wants His children to Love Him with a True Love and that’s why He gives us free will to choose….
– The choice is either remain in the house (which is as His Children) in obedience to his laws, precepts and statutes, or go out of the house against his word (law) and fall into the trap set by the devil. 

– About the trap, this is a deep hole dug by Satan which one can almost not get out from and it has all forms of spikes and precarious objects in it that will kill instantly. 

– In falling into the trap, Grace can still afford some things to hang on to so that you do not reach the bottom.

– Hanging on to this Grace, if you ask for Mercy, a greater Grace will call the Father (who is seating at the gate of the house) to come and pull you out of the pit. 

– Perhaps at this point, you would have learnt of the Love of the Father and Love Him with a true Love as He desires to be loved. 

A White Space

What do you see?
Some may see emptiness….

Some may see ugliness….

Some may see loneliness….

Some may see sadness….
But what do you see?!
I choose this day to fill this emptiness with the beauty of companionship and joy….
I choose this day to fill the white space with the objectivity of a toddler that knows no regrets even when failing…
I choose this day to fill the blank sheet with colours bright and bold, clear and sharp that even pierces the eyes of the sun….
I choose this day to fill the day from this morn with all forms of simple possibilities which doubts had once dismissed….
I choose this day, today and every other following to infect my mind with the reviving virus of Positivity, as I say now:
I Can do all things through Christ who Strengthens me!
#AWhiteSpace

#ICan

I am You

Love in a relationship is often viewed as- ‘You and I together as one’.

‘You‘ before the ‘I‘ meaning I put you before myself. 
Pardon me please! I beg to differ…
Love in my own opinion should be more like- ‘I am You‘… 
Which will mean I am your image as you are mine…
Now this was the Love Jesus spoke of when He taught, “… Love thy neighbour as thyself “.

If you do not see yourself in your neighbour, how then do you know how to Love your neighbour. 

The heart of man is naturally selfish, rather than deny or prove this wrong, accept it with all your being and want the best for yourself… 
Best life; best car; best home; best education; best clothing; …; best everything. 
Then see yourself in your neighbour and want likewise for him. 
If you can’t mirror your neighbour in yourself then you can’t feel compassion… 
If you can’t mirror yourself in your neighbour then you can’t have true Love for him…
If you give without Love, then it was just to showcase your vanity… 
If you Love without giving, then your vanity showcases it’s will over you…
Because the will of Vanity is to Accumulate, but the will of Love is to Dissipate…
Learn the True Love today, Love thyself the best way you know how to and in like manner me, for I am You and We are one body in Christ Jesus.
Peace be with you… 

Matt. 22:36-40 (39)

In Ecclesiastes one will see, “A feast (food) is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things”.
But in the New Testament, 
Christ says: “I am the bread of life”
Putting this in the context of the Old Testament wisdom:
Food (Holy Eucharist), is the body of Christ and Wine His blood, Jesus answereth all things… 
As St. Pope John Paul II will proclaim that the Eucharistic Sacrifice is the “source and summit of the Christian life”…
Money may provide food or organise a feast that we may all have laughter, money may provide wine that we may all drink and be merry…
But please never be confused, Money NEVER answereth all things… 
God does…
Oh if you hear this word today, harden not your heart…
#HolyEucharist 

#BodyOfChrist 

#BloodOfChrist 
Ecc 10:19

John 6:48-58

1 Cor 11:23-29

John 14:13-14

The Lost Jewel

I often ask myself, “what makes people change”?
I heard this reply once, life happened to them…
There’s a saying that goes, 20 friends can’t play together for 20 years…
…but who said it?!
Is he God?
In my deep contemplation I am writing this very deep eulogy, as though for a friend’s requiem…

 
Who has died?!
No one…
Well, none so close…
But,
Everyone…
We have died to ourselves…
We have lost that one jewel which the devil could never provide… 
Diamond he can; ruby he can; sapphire he can; pearls he can, but this jewel is more precious than all…
This jewel is cut in a shape that the hands and mind of man cannot replicate…

 
This jewel shines with a light from within that illuminates the darkest of wormholes… 
This jewel is so pretty that it’s beholder can never set his eyes off it…
This jewel so enormous in size, but fits in quite nicely into a pinhole…

 
This jewel which is found everywhere, but it’s a scare commodity… 
This jewel is…
LOVE

Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. 
Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. 
Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Where have we put this ‘greatest’ jewel, LOVE?
20 friends can indeed play together for 20years, because: 
Love erases differences…
Love ages not…
Love angers not…
Love does nothing but Love, so it will always abide…
Love is there for Love, always…
Love is interested in Love, always…
Love is compassionate to Love, always…
Love loves Love, always…
If Love could be found once again, the earth will get it’s morn…
And the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings…
God is Love…
Jesus is Lord, to the Glory of God the Father.
Goodnight!!! 

1 Cor 13:4-7; Mal 4:2; 1John 4:16; Phil 2:9-11