A happy & blessed Mother's day to all virtuous women, wise women and daughters of Zion. May you have a wonderful and glorious mother's day and hope you share your day with the Lord, family & friends.

Happy 8th Year Anniversary

Blessing the Lord today for 8 years of Ministry. 

Happy Anniversary Daughters of Zion. Appreciation to family, friends and co laborers in this work who have supported this ministry all these years with their prayers, encouraging words and resources.

Happy Easter

IT IS FINISHED

When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. John 19:30 NLT 
 

IT IS FINISHED!!

What did these life-altering last words Jesus uttered while nailed to the cross suffering the most excruciating pain any human being can endure actually mean?


These fervent words spoken by our Lord Jesus meant "My Assignment is DONE, ACCOMPLISHED" Our Lord Jesus was referring to the "project of saving mankind"  This was assigned by His Father, our heavenly Father. The GOD of all flesh. He had completed His assignment of being a sacrifice for mankind, carrying the sin of the whole world on His shoulders and ensuring he did not leave anything undone.   

The Lord Jesus Christ invariably became the ultimate sacrifice for our transgressions. He had paid the ultimate price for us in full. And He uttered it on that fateful day on the cross for everyone to hear. Having done that declares to the whole world that there was no more penalty left to be paid for our sins. And in the event, anyone who comes after Him saying he or she was sent by God to continue where Jesus left off. (there have been quite a number of them over the centuries.). It is absolutely false! "Evil/False Doctrines" Run from any congregation that preaches this!!!

Jesus came to complete (finish) God's work of salvation in us. He came paying our debt in full and as a result, we have been redeemed by His precious blood that was shed on the cross of Calvary.  Our eternal future with him is certain as long as we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord & Savior; surrendering our lives to Him. 

  Jesus is still at work today in the world doing magnificent things in people through the Holy Spirit. As followers of Christ and children of God, we have all been assigned our own projects.   When Jesus Christ was ascending into heaven, He commanded His, disciples, to do what?   Let us look at Matthew 28:18-20 "Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.
Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”This portion of scripture is what we refer to as "The Great Commission" in Christendom. 

Beloved, this is our assignment, in a nutshell," telling the world about Jesus and doing great things in His name"  this is what all believers have been commanded to do and with the power of the Holy Spirit who is at work today in the world, we must continue to do the work our Lord and Savior has commanded us to do until He returns for His Church. 

More Scripture verses to meditate on: 

John 3:16

Isaiah 53:4-8

1 Peter 2:21-25

Romans 5:8

Titus 2:14

Ephesians 1:7

Galatians 2:20

Shalom

Merry Christmas From Our Family To Yours

Be Joyful Always

"Always be joyful.  Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus."  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NLT

Today's scripture verse encourages us to be joyful, pray, and give thanks no matter the circumstances, good or "not so good," as I always say. However, is it possible to do all the above when you are facing challenges and struggles in your life? Well, beloved, I will tell you that without a shadow of a doubt, it is not humanly possible. The only way we can be joyful and thankful when facing the storms of life is when we possess God's strength and power through His Holy Spirit. That is why Nehemiah 8:10b states," For the joy of the Lord is your strength."  God, in His infinite mercy, knows that without His divine strength, we can not experience joy, not to talk of staying joyful at all times.  

Did you know that the word "joy" appears over 65 times in the Bible and the book of Psalms 19 times? This tells us how vital "joy" is to the life of a Christian. The key to the joy of a Christian is the Lord Jesus. Our joy can only be found in Him and not in man as with happiness.   Before I talk about how to stay joyful always as a Christian living in the world today, let us go ahead and define what joy is. Joy has often been used interchangeably with happiness, but even though they are both beautiful experiences, they are two different feelings. 

What is Joy?

In scripture, joy is sometimes referred to as "rejoice"  The word rejoice in the dictionary means a feeling or show of great joy or delight.   And so "Joy," according to Merriam-Webster's dictionary, is the emotion evoked by well-being, success, good fortune, or the prospect of possessing what one desire. Happiness is "a state of well-being and contentment; a pleasurable or satisfying experience. " So you see how similar these definitions are according to the world's interpretation.   However, the type of joy we refer to as believers is "God's kind of joy," or we might call it "Biblical joy."  Just like peace, the world does not know and understand this kind of joy. Our joy comes from the Lord God, and it is from within, more consistent and like peace; it is a characteristic of God's love from His Holy Spirit. Scripture states, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,]gentleness, self-control. Against such, there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23".

As mentioned earlier, happiness is a wonderful experience that every human being on earth will encounter in their life's journey. However, it is not the same thing as joy. It is external and inconsistent. Happiness comes and goes with time because the events in our lives trigger it, the people we relate with, and thoughts and emotions.  

Beloved joy is a Christian virtue that every believer must strive to possess and experience daily. The benefit of having joy in your heart is that no matter your circumstances, it will not affect your joy as long as you understand where it comes from. From God and not man! Emotions affect your happiness but not your joy. You may have lost the job you loved, you may not know how you will pay next month's rent, or you might be experiencing marital problems, etc., but you still have joy. 

The joy shows on your face wherever you go, and people around you wonder how you can have all these problems and always smile. You can then say, "It's the joy of the Lord; it's not me"; He is my strength."    You should not let anything or anyone rob you of your joy. John 16:22. It is too precious to the Lord and should be guarded carefully and jealously.   

Apostle Paul knows firsthand what it means to stay joyful always in all circumstances. In times of despair and persecution, he strived to remain joyful, praying continually and giving thanks while imprisoned for Christ's sake. And so, in his epistle from prison, he encourages all believers in Philippians 4:4a to rejoice in the Lord always. 

Ways to Stay Joyful Always in the Lord

1. Be intentional in showing gratitude-   I Thessalonians 5:18 admonishes us to give thanks in all circumstances. Develop a lifestyle of thanksgiving, always showing appreciation in all things.

2.  Spend time in prayer and meditation - Praying, reading and meditating on the word of God daily is an act of worship unto the Lord and nourishment for your soul.  Strive to spend quality time in God's presence.  

3.  Spend time reflecting on the goodness of God - When you remember all the prayers answered, all the troubles he delivered you from and the many blessings, it will cause you to rejoice.  It puts a smile on your face and reminds you of his constant presence in your life. 

4.  Spend time around people and things that enhance your life - Surround yourself with people that can positively impact your life. Guard your heart and your joy jealously.  

5.  Think good thoughts - discipline your mind to focus on beautiful and godly thoughts.  "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Philippians 4:8.

And so, as you celebrate the birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ with family and friends this season, be intentional in staying joyful regardless of what you might be going through. As you do so, the Lord will strengthen and empower you. Strive to remain joyful always and allow the God of joy and peace to use you to impact the lives of those around you. 
SHALOM

Your Marriage Is Your Primary Ministry

"that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, ⁵ to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed."   Titus 2:4-5 NKJV

Recently, I had watched a christian movie recommended by a very close friend and dear sister, and it ministered to me. I felt the Lord was trying to get me to understand something about ministry and patience and preparation.  For the most of this year, I have been going through a time of training and development for the assignment God has for me, and by His leading, I have taken some bold steps to prepare me for the Assignment.   So today my beloved sisters, I would like to share what the Lord has been ministering to me concerning Marriage and the home.  

As a wife and mother, I have strived to build my home, allowing the Lord to guide and counsel me along the way,  I have shared teachings centered around godly women taking care of their home, praying for their husbands, etc.  But it is only in recent times that I have come to know and understand how important the Christian home is to God,  to the body of Christ as a whole and the role it plays in our ministry to the Lord.   Over the years I have seen how many Christian homes had crumbled not because of adultery or money issues, but because many godly women with good intentions have neglected their responsibilities at home to do church.  What I mean by "doing church" is engaging in many activities in the local assembly that takes them away from their service at home.   The word of God reminded me in Proverbs 14:1 that we as women, it specifically says "wise" woman are the ones who build our homes.  The building and managing of our Christian homes which is an extension of the church, the body of Christ has been given to women by God as our number 1 assignment.  Yes, your marriage and home is your first and primary ministry unto God.  Your marriages and the way you hold them are a reflection of the way Christ loves His Church.  

Sisters,  the Lord God is not a God of confusion, He created marriage for a purpose and for that purpose to be fulfilled both the man and the woman have to play their role in the home and the family. The christian home is an extension of the church, so it is important your humble service to the Lord begins from there.  Even the world believes it, by this popular saying "Charity begins at home."
Like many of you, I have a calling upon my life, and I have waited on the Lord for years to release me to do the work.  I have received prophetic messages, word of knowledge, dream interpretations, open visions, etc. regarding my purpose and the assignment He has for me, and a lot of it involves me traveling around the world,  the mission fields teaching, counseling and doing outreach.   Sometimes I have found myself becoming impatient, asking God when will this great ministry take off because I have just been doing ministry part-time for years.  After all, He has spoken and all that keeps being revealed to me especially in recent months is to be patient,  I am still being prepared for the work ahead. One of the last prophetic messages given to me by a Man of God was that the Lord is taking me through a preparation process, I need to perceive how He is leading me.   And so when I watched that Christian movie the other day, my attitude towards my marriage and home changed.   I knew I could do better once I understood it to be my primary assignment.  

The movie showed two different scenarios,  both women loved the Lord and desired to do His work.  They were married with children and had a calling upon their lives, one sought God's leading and husband's permission, and the other did not.  She went ahead, and at the end of the day, there were consequences for the latter, but the former who followed the Lord's leading and guidance and listened to her husband, at the end of the day, everything fell into place for her.  Directed by the Holy Spirit, she faced the affairs of her home, her primary ministry and eventually, opportunities opened up to her for outside ministry work.  What a great lesson learned!!

Sisters, your primary ministry is your  loving and humble service to your husbands and children ,  keepers of the home, women of excellence who are caring, protective and supportive to your husbands and the children  God has entrusted in your hands,  godly women who  teaches her children the word of God, nurturing them and disciplining them with wisdom and care.  In Proverbs 31: 21-22, we are referred to as homemakers and also in our main text,  and are encouraged to be homemakers.   It states   "She fears not the snow for her family, for all her household are doubly clothed in scarlet.  "She makes for herself coverlets, cushions, and rugs of tapestry. Her clothing is of linen, pure and fine, and of purple [such as that of which the clothing of the priests and the hallowed cloths of the temple were made]."      In this ministry, your job is to create an atmosphere of the warmth of love for both your family and guests alike.  Even in times of difficulties,  you must be prepared and ready to embrace what comes next in  your life and that of your household; it is in those times that you will begin to develop the skills  (e.g., resilience, endurance, perseverance, etc.) that the Lord wants you to have as you also prepare for your outside assignments.   Beloved, the Lord has equipped women with the talents and spiritual gifts needed to establish and make fruitful your ministries, and your homes can be considered as a training ground to prepare you for the secondary ministry/assignment outside the home.  There is a time and a season for everything and the Lord who gave you the passion, the will and the strong desire along with the gifts to serve Him will reveal to you when the time is ripe to step out into other assignments and ministry work He has called you.  

 Beloved, as married women, the home is your primary ministry, the success in your home will determine your promotion in the mission field.  It is essential to understand your marriage and home as a ministry unto the Lord, handing it over to Him to help grow under His nurturing hand. He desires to bless the works of your hands, and your marriage is no exception.  Even though the Lord knows building a home in this fallen world can be quite challenging, as long as you are dedicated to keeping your homes, raising godly children and including God in every aspect of it, He will give surely give you good success.  Joshua 1:8b ESV. 

If you are reading this message today and you have neglected your ministry to your husband and children or husband, if no children yet, then it is time to repent and ask the Lord, your husband and your children for forgiveness.  Seek the Lord for guidance and wisdom in taking care of your home and also being able to balance your work life, responsibilities in your local church and your home life.   Your home must always come first in your service to the Lord.  If you hold a position of leadership in the church, in your workplace that requires being away from home for more than 8 hours a day, it is time to make a change, and the Lord shall help you do that in Jesus name.

I will leave you with the words from a Christian actor & minister   " A married woman must humble herself and take care of her home. She must build her home before she can build the church of God and the nation."

I pray this message has ministered to you!!  If it has, please share with your fellow sisters and friends.