Hope to Cope

As a result of the Corona Virus (Covid-19) pandemic, it is been reported that millions of people are already losing their jobs, thereby increasing the number of the unemployed, several businesses are going through a very hard time, countless numbers of people are predicted to be homeless in weeks, and millions all over the world are hungry with no hope of where the next meal would come from. 

There is every possibility that some of the people reading this are already suffering from the effect of this pandemic - healthwise, money wise, business wise, career wise and even family wise. To make matters worse, there is no sign that this virus is going away anytime soon, so, what do we do?

First and foremost, without your hope intact, whatever strategy you have will fail. You must have heard the saying that, "as long as there is hope, there is life" which means your chances of survival hangs on how strong your hope is. 

WITHOUT HOPE, LIVING BECOMES USELESS. 

"The good news is that there is hope for you.................in God."

Just before you get pissed and stop reading, yes....I knew you want something practical, so keep reading, because you are about to read something very practicallllllllll..... 

Some years back, I was so indebted that it never appeared as if I was working, by the way I was working with a multinational, but it was so bad that my wife and I with our little boy would have to sieve rat feces from 'garri' (cassava powder) to drink....I am sure that is why the boy likes garri till date....anyways, we held on to God....we knew that God had, has and still have the record of pulling people out of the pit and placing them in the palace, so we decided to hold on to God...

We would regularly remind ourselves that our today might be tough and rough but our tomorrow would be super colorful, and little by little, things started picking up.....debts paid off, another job showed up, moved to a better apartment to ensure mental decency for the kids, could afford to buy a car, started a business that was not doing badly and could afford to eat to satisfaction. 

Listen to me, it was not all interesting though, there were times I would cry, times I would wish I could run away, but then I would remind myself about the story of a man named Mr Job....he was the richest and greatest man in his continent, but one day something worse than Corona Virus hit his household, he lost all his sources of income, the house he built with his own money collapsed on his own children and killed his 7 sons and 3 girls, and finally the man became so sick he could not afford a doctor, but used broken piece of ceramic material to scrape his body....terrible one right?

But, despite all of these things, the man made a statement that the people around him must have thought he must have been drunk or losing his mind. He said, "I know my Redeemer (God) lives." Wait a minute.....how can you say that God is alive yet you are going through this horrible time? Anyways, Mr Job kept holding on to God.....He knew God never fails, and God never failed him....he recovered all he lost, including new set of children - 7 sons and 3 girls. He kept his hope alive. 

During this time, your sure strategy to cope would be to be hopeful in God that no matter how bad things are of the moment, a better tomorrow awaits you...when you have this mindset, it helps you think right and in that process, God would give you the strength to go through the dark times and ideas to bring you out to limelight. 

There is hope for you. 

Iamhenrylong
www.linktr.ee/iamhenrylong

February 18, 2015 - KNOWLEDGE ACQUISITION

 The moment you know how to obtain something, it becomes pretty cheap and easy for you to get it. Academic knowledge could be acquired by attending a college (whether physically or online), but the sad truth is that academic knowledge is limited. The knowledge that sets you apart is what I call divine knowledge. It is when no man can gainsay what you know. When you say it, it is final.

When Joseph interpreted Pharaoh’s dream and went further to propose to him what needed to be done to cater for the looming seven years of famine, Pharaoh didn’t give it a second thought, he bought the idea 100%. He went further to set Joseph above every other person in that palace. Where do you think Joseph got that kind of knowledge? Prov 1:7 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.” (NLT)

You would agree with me that Joseph feared God which was why when Potiphar’s wife was trying to lure him to lie with her, he said, “I refuse to do it, not because of Potiphar, but because of God.” When you fear God (pleasing Him always), one of the things that He would bless you with is uncommon knowledge.

Be wise!

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February 17, 2015 - KNOWLEDGE IS KEY

A man’s car broke down while travelling on the highway. He had a very important appointment to catch and was almost running late. Suddenly a young man came claiming to be a mechanic, he asked the man to open his bonnet, went straight to the battery compartment and hit the battery head like four times. He then asked the man to start the car and it worked. The man asked what his bill was and the mechanic said $50. The man almost ran mad wondering what the mechanic did to be asking for such ridiculous amount.

The mechanic said, “Sir, I am charging you $10 for hitting the effort of hitting the battery head and $40 for knowing where to hit.” Knowledge is what you KNOW that gives you an EDGE over others. Come to think of it, the difference between a first class and third class student is what they know. What you know determines how you behave. Prov 8:10 says, “Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.”

Someone is saying but grace matters. You are very correct, but grace without knowledge is an invitation to disgrace. When you know better than others and the grace of God is working in your life, you shine better and rise faster. Remember Hos 4:6 says, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.”

Enjoy!

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February 16, 2015 - I AM NOT ARROGANT, I AM CONFIDENT!

I have discovered that it is just a thing line between confidence and arrogance. Most times people take confidence for arrogance not knowing they are wrong. For example, would you call a lion arrogant for refusing to eat grass? That would be very unfair because lions naturally are not created to be eating grasses, they eat animals (humans inclusive). As believers, we were created to be the best and to shine the most.

David had this understanding when he faced Goliath. His brothers took his confidence for arrogance. But they didn’t know that they that do know their God shall be strong and shall do exploits. Sir, I tell you, it is not arrogance for us to say we CANNOT be begging because I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

Of great importance is you knowing what has been made available for you in God through His word, because the entrance of God’s words gives light and understanding to the simple, and without understanding, it becomes hard to be outstanding in life. You are to study the word to show yourself approved.

Fabulous week ahead!

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February 15, 2015 - DON’T GIVE ME THAT!

Have you ever been in a situation where you are trying to explain to someone why you couldn’t do something, and the person said, “Don’t give me that!” In other words, it is just a flimsy excuse. An employee got to work late and as the business owner, you ask what happened and, and the answer was, “the traffic gridlock was much”. Unless the employee is your wife or blood brother, you would naturally not take that excuse as genuine. He could have left home earlier right?

Many people are very good at giving excuses as to why something wasn’t done or cannot be done. When Jesus asked that man who had been by the pool of Bethesda for 38 years, “Would you love to be healed?” The man said, “Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.” He was making excuses for his predicament.

You are not poor because your parents are poor, you are poor because you are ignorant. Someone said black is not synonymous with lack. Stop telling us your village witches are the ones blocking you. Listen sir/ma, the more you keep having excuses for your inadequacies, the longer they linger. 

Remember, excuses are reasons to be unsuccessful.  

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February 14, 2015 - WHO IS SAYING IT? – 2

When my wife was sensing signs of pregnancy and she went to the hospital for test, the doctor said he saw fibroid. My wife came home worried and immediately she told me what the doctor’s report was, I told her, “the doctor’s report is so incorrect, can we talk something else.” I never prayed about it, I never worried about it ever again. Guess what? The same doctor that saw fibroid took delivery of the baby.

Sir/ma, you will be limited in life when you keep living your life based on man’s forecast and prediction. A man is limited, but God is unlimited. When He says it, it sure comes to pass because, He is not a man that (can, may or will) lie, neither a son of man that (can, may or will) repent of his words. When God said you are the head and not the tail, it is not geographically determined, it is a universally accepted truth.

Friends, I have discovered that living on what God has said makes life worthwhile. When God said in 2 King 7:1 that, “To morrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria.” The economic adviser to the ruler that said otherwise didn’t live to enjoy it.

The word of God is ever sure! Just believe!

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February 13, 2015 - WHO IS SAYING IT?

If I go on air today and say, “I declare next week Monday a public holiday in Nigeria,” it won’t make any meaning to most people. I am sure my wife would become very worried. On the other hand, if the President of Nigeria says the same thing, “I declare next week Monday a public holiday in Nigeria,” it becomes done deal. So what is the difference, even when the statements are same?

Most times in life, it is not what is been said that matters, but who is saying it. Unfortunately, most believers focus on the statement and not the ‘sayer’. Bible says in Lam 3:37 that, “Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not?” In other words, any other statement apart from what God has said or saying is total and absolute heresy.

I don’t care what the doctors have told you about your medical condition, God said by the stripes of Jesus, you WERE healed – meaning, even before sickness came, healing existed. Stop listening to what man is saying and start hearing what God is saying, because faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God and not the word of man.

Enjoy!

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February 5, 2015 - YOU ARE WIRED TO BE GREAT

A cub (baby lion) doesn’t need to be told not to live as the prince of the jungle pending when he fully grows to become a king. Naturally, he is aware that he is from the royal lineage. If there is one thing that is too certain, it is that you are wired and programmed to be great. This is not a product of whether your biological parents are great or not. Most of the great men of today do not have great parents.

From Biblical record, John the Baptist parents weren’t exceptionally great, but Jesus Himself said it in Matt 11:11 that, “Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist.” That confirms the truth that your greatness is a product of your spiritual genealogy. Jesus went further in that verse to say, “But he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he (John the Baptist).”

In order words, you were not created to be little, you were created to be great and I mean exceptionally great. That is why Eph 3:20 says, “For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (NIV).

Arise! Shine!! Shine Bright!!!

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February 4, 2015 - I AM SOMEBODY

Whether a military officer is wearing mufti or his uniform, that doesn’t change his status. Many of us have lost our senses of identity because of our temporary challenges. Many call themselves poor because they do not have cash today. Many refer to themselves as jobless just because they do not presently have a job. It becomes so sad when because a woman hasn’t given birth, she categorizes herself as a barren.

The scripture says, you shall know the truth and the knowledge of that truth will set you free (deliver you). It then means that the deliverance that is most essential is not the one conducted in the corner of a room, but the one you conduct by yourself through the renewing of your mind, which is only possible by knowing, accepting and living the truth of the word of God.

Whatever brand of car the President of America calls his official car (say Volkswagen 1500 1980 model) doesn’t in anyway remove that title of being the President. Hear this, no matter what it is you are going through, that doesn’t change the fact that you are wonderfully and fearfully made and always on God’s agenda.

Stay lively.

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February 3, 2015 - LIVING IN FEAR

There is a tale about someone questioning Mr. Death why he’s always going about killing people mercilessly. He replied, “80% of the time, people die because of fear of death.” Countless numbers of people have died whether physically, emotionally or mentally because of fear. Many young believers are dying today because of fear.

In the case of brother Job, Satan was granted permission to do what he wanted by Job. In Job 3:25, Job said, “For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.” Job’s fearful life gave the devil a freeway to penetrate into his home and do some major damages.

Fear is the one of the main strategies that the devil uses in crippling the destinies of believers. We are living in an age of fear; fear of poverty; fear of sickness; fear of the unknown; fear of death; fear of failure, etc. However, I need you to understand that fear is not of God but of Satan, 2 Tim 1:7 says, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

Be bold!

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February 2, 2015 - VALUE TIME

Many times we live our lives as if we have all the years to ourselves. It is so painful that many a lot of us are doing today what we should have done years back all because we thought, “there’s still time to do that.” Unfortunately, now we can see that there really is no time. Every great man I know lives with a time scarcity mentality while poor people live as if they have all days.

Some patients with terminal diseases were asked what their top two regrets were. Their first regret was, “I wish I had lived a life true to myself.” Countless souls are wallowing in littleness and poverty all because they are trying to live up to the expectation of others for them. Sir, Rom 12:2 says, “And be not conformed to this world.”

You have just one life to live and you know what – it is your life and not the life of your folks or friends or fans. Bible says Jesus went about fulfilling purpose because He knew His days were numbered. Little wonder why Jesus’ three and a half years of ministerial work looked like a hundred years achievement because Jesus had a plan for each day. Stop living to impress people, live to fulfil purpose. Stop living a fake life.

Place premium on your time!

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