At a go

Ephesians 1:7

The lustful desires of your heart

He turns them to divine love

That hatred towards your neighbour

Now passion to save his soul

Before, he is quick to anger

Now, provoke him and he smiles

All pursuit bringing grief at the end

Now a mission to gain eternal rest

It all happened like a mystery

Jesus died to bring it to pass

This is a hard saying, who can hear it?

What a truth! Jesus cleanses everything at a go.

- okenna igbokwe

Until Shiloh comes

Gen 49:10

In service I will continue

Worship Him with reverence

In joy unto the Lord

Singing songs and prayer without ceasing

All the armour given unto you

Quench desires of the flesh

Me against the world

I will not give up to the usurper the devil

For the battle will continue

Contend for the faith

Until Shiloh comes

Unto him shall the gathering of the people be

- okenna igbokwe

Your real boss

Colossians 3:22-24

When he is harsh

Do not reply with a hiss

Unnecessarily he may be angry

Soothe him with a sincere answer

He shouts like a tyrant

Act from a heart so tender

He treats you like a labourer

Follow like a meek lamb

Sometimes his face looks sour

Face him with a warm smile

When he denies your reward

God’s promises remember

Bear in mind your real boss is Christ

Not the man that signs your pay cheque

At last you’re answerable to Christ

Never can tell you may win him to Christ

- okenna igbokwe

Let Us Forgive One Another

Hardly far was His walk

When He met a companion owing

But a farthing compared to his debt

Strangulating was His hold

despite pleas for Mercy

"Never!" he bellowed

"YOU MUST PAY BACK!"
time was sought

but "never!" came the hasty response

For He had forgotten the master’s care

All be paid was his claim

Not a part but all

not most but all

not many but all

Never to leave till he had

paid the least farthing

Aching the master's heart felt

For How could love be repaid so

How could one forgiven so much

yet render such in return.

Do you have aught against your brother or does he have against you? Remember Christ's love for us. While unlovable, weak and without strength he chose to love. Let us also so love one another with a heart large enough to forgive the vilest of offenses.

- Dr bolaji akanni

What happened to my first love?

(Revelation 2: 4,5)

They raised their arms, swaying in tandem with the praise; I gnashed my teeth in despair.

They supped in the same table with Him; I ate the crumbs from their feast.

They beheld His glory; I couldn’t see past the veil on my face.

They jumped in joy; I mourned in sorrow.

What had happened to me?

I decided to quit.

The exit door was huge, but old. I could see the stain from the palm of the last man that used it. The mark was still fresh. How many had left through this door? How many came back? The story goes that it is easy to leave but very difficult to come back.

Heart hitting hard on my ribs, I grabbed the handle. A click, a hilarious shout! I retracted my hand and looked back. A beautiful young woman just came in through the small entrance door. I shook my head in shame. Such was the hilarious welcome-shout when I first entered the kingdom. Then, I was enjoying everything – the music, the worship, the fellowship. What had happened to me?

What happened to my zeal to serve the Lord at all times? What happened to my passion to please the king in all circumstances? What happened to my desire to do His will at all cost? Ashamed of remembering where I had fallen, I quickly grabbed the door handle and turned it hard. Then, everything became dead silent. No more worship, no more music – I was dumb-dead to everything happening inside.

A tap at my back and I turned. Standing behind was a man in white apparel.

“Why do you want to go?”

His countenance was full of care as He asked. His warm smile proved wrong my belief that nobody cared any longer about me in the kingdom.

“I’m no more useful here.” I kindly told Him.

He looked at me with pity. “It’s very cold outside,” He warned. “If you leave, you might not make it back. Stay with us. We love you.”

Me? Those pleading and caring words hit me hard. Am I still loved the way I am? I couldn’t believe it. Shaking terribly, my hands slipped off the door-handle and I fell down on my knees. With tears running down my cheeks,

I promised the King of kings that I would return to my first love.

Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. (Rev. 2:4,5)

- okenna igbokwe

Free to live

"But how shall He pay back?" the judges asked

For He cannot repay

"How ever did he even come about such huge debt?"

asked others

Never did they realise

debt begets debt

Once in, he could only sink deeper

Having naught to pay

His head price was calculated

amounting to a mere speck

in his huge sea of debt

His wife's head included

still his debt hung

including his children to the scales till the 4th generation

didn't tip the scale his way

Surely he shall never have to pay

Concluded the master

"Let him be sold all the same" shouted the judges

He, His wife and His children

Then cried he

"Master be patient

For I shall pay"

Ridiculed the master felt

Even 40 lifetimes could not repay his debt

In Compassion however

the master in love forgave

Not a part but all

Not most but all

Not many but all

Now Free was He

No longer a debtor

But free to live

free to live indeed

His job still in place

- Dr bolaji akanni

Too heavy to fly ...

(I Thessalonians 4:13-18)

In a life full of challenges

Bread to eat, water to drink

Early we wake, late we retire

In all these, never forget you are made to fly

Too many decisions to take

Family to please, friends to appease

Our loyalty is sought everywhere

Nonetheless, you never can tell the time we fly

Enjoyment and pleasure we yearn

Enjoy today for tomorrow we die

Better watch your weight

As you eat and drink, never be too heavy to fly

Trials and temptations abound

We run, they pursue

But He is able to deliver

Flee today, you gonna fly one day

He promised to come back

With the voice of the archangel

We shall meet the Lord in the air

Oh, what a wonderful day we fly

- okenna igbokwe

Third Heaven

II Corinthians 12:2-4

Never was Paul’s “caught up in the third heaven” vision so real in his life than that day.

It was noon. The sky was blue and the sun shone at its brightest. Boulders of white clouds hung weightlessly in space. Whitish-blue horizon adorned his far right. The sky was wonderfully beautiful.

Then, he remembered the rapture. In this sky, the dead and living saints would meet Christ. What a wonderful day it would be, he thought. His heart was filled with joy as he sang silently:

My hope is built on nothing less,

Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness,

I dare not trust the sweetest frame,

But wholly lean on Jesus’ name

On Christ, the solid Rock I stand;

All other ground is sinking sand,

All other ground is sinking sand.

Then, he looked down. Below, all appeared darkish-green with tiny strips and dots indicating man’s settlement. Pitifully, he looked down, watching the world of struggle, the world of trials and temptation, the world of sorrow. He wished he would remain in the sky, develop wings and fly higher and higher, never to return to earth. Consumed in his thought, he was unaware of how fast time flies.

“…The plane is about to land in a few minutes. Once again, be sure you fastened your seat belt.”

The announcement brought him back to reality. His work for God on earth was not yet over.

As height dropped, the tiny strips turn to roads, the dots turn to houses; the young Christian braced himself up, promising to continue in the Lord till that much awaited day.

-okenna obi-igbokwe

Light Has Come

I had a sojourn in a forest once
It was dark and gloomy
The tree sheds gave no room for illumination
I could not find my way through
No matter how hard I tried, I kept stumbling
It seemed the more I tried the worse it became
I had no guide
I was directionless
I knew not the way out
I screamed for help
But it was even too dark for anyone to help
All my hopes for escape were dashed
How could I keep on living…I asked
Until suddenly a deforestation happened
Light came in and I found my way out
I enjoyed a fresh breath of liberty
I could now take the right steps
I could now be guided
Now, I can see a clear distinction between darkness and light
Glory to God!!!
I am saved…Light has come - (Isaiah.9; 2, John.12; 35, 46)

emeka ofia

Here comes my Captain

Ephesians 6:11-18

I may have underestimated his experience in the game. In fury of the damage he had done to my life in the past, I challenged him. My “loins girt about with truth”, I launched my first attack. He dodged, immediately retaliating with a well-aimed punch. My rib-cage crackled.

Grabbing the “breastplate of righteousness”, I rushed forward again. He stretched forth his right foot, setting a trap. I tripped over and fell flat on the floor.

I had hardly stood up, my “feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace” when the enemy struck again, this time around with an arrow. Too late, the arrow pierced the left side of my tummy. I staggered back, blood trickling down. I tried to draw it out of my flesh, but the pain was unbearable. In agony, I considered giving up.

Not yet! Quickly recovering, I made a beeline for “the shield of faith.” The enemy changed tactics. Taking advantage of my unprotected head, he smashed. My vision got blurred. All I could see were bright stars falling off the dark sky. How did I forget to put on “the helmet of salvation?”

Having recuperated, my helmet now on, I felt safe and confident, hoping to win. Eyes locked, we faced one another, waiting for who would strike first. He charged at me. I charged back, but with bare hands. I needed a sword badly. In a swift turn to pick the sword, the last thing I heard was a descending blow. My world went pitch-dark. Half unconscious, I lay on the floor moaning in excruciating pain.

I didn’t want to give up. All I needed was the strength to continue. Then, I remembered my captain – the one who brought me out of the miry clay. My cry of helplessness turned into “prayer and supplication in the spirit.” All of a sudden, a bright light enveloped me. And I saw One like unto the Son of man. Then I cried: “save me Oh Lord or I die!”

The Captain of my soul smiled at me: “I’m here to help thee.” His warm smile instantly healed my body and strengthened my spirit.

Heart burning with hatred, I slashed the enemy with the “sword of the Spirit.” He fell flat. Closing on, I aimed for the last blow that would finish the evil one, once and for all. Before I could deal this deadly blow, the enemy was gone. In a jiffy he had jumped up and ran for his life.

Oh! I wasted time! Why didn’t I strike immediately? When is he coming back? From now on, I will stick on to my Saviour, the Captain of my soul, who is ever near, to supply the winning grace that I need everyday of my life. 

okenna obi-igbokwe

Stronger at the broken places

Where the pain hurts the most

Where the tendons have stretched taunt

And finally snapped into two

Where the greenstick fractured occurred

And left nothing but permanent

destruction with no remedy

That’s where the mending begins

That’s where the callus is formed

That’s where healing is to be strong

That’s the point that will be thicken

And made stronger by the pain

Yes, the bone is stronger at the broken place

It’s at the point where you broke down and cried

It’s at that path where you thought you’ll never walk along again

That’s where he makes you strong

Cause you will never at that point be broken again

“My strength is made perfect in your weakness”

- bukola soremekun

This Is Redemption ...

We were slaves to sin
We were incapable of living right
We were drenched in captivity
We were misguided by our frailty
We were never partakers of divinity
We were utterly lost
He came to find us
He paid a ransom
He set us free from sins
He gave us the capability to live right
He set the captives free
He has made us partakers of divinity
Yes, it is redemption (Titus.3: 3-7)

-emeka ofia

Man with Christ

Nature with Supernatural
Fatherless with Father
Family less with Family
Friendless with Friend
Unmarried with Companion
Minority with Majority
Strength less with Power
Money less with Gain
Property less with Completeness
Shelter less with Refuge
Oldness with Newness
Deadness with Life
Hopeless with Hope
Man with Christ…(Luke 18: 29-30)

- emeka ofia

The Lord’s Prayer – before & after His death

Before His death...

Our Father who art in Heaven
Hallowed be thy name
Thy kingdom come
Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven
Give us this day our daily bread
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever
Amen...

After His death and resurrection...

Our Father who art in Heaven
Hallowed be thy name
Your presence is with us ... (2Cor.6: 16b)
For thy will has been done on earth as, as it is in heaven ... (Heb.10: 7-10, Jms.1: 18)
You are our daily provision ... (Heb.13: 5-6)
And forgiven us our debts, so we forgive our debtors ... (Eph.4: 32, Col.3: 13)
And led us out of temptation, and delivered us from the evil one ... (Col.1: 13)
For ours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever ... (Eph.2: 19)
Amen...

- emeka ofia 

What love is this?

In the midst of a world marred with foolishness and disobedience, people hating and maligning one another, we were misled by others and slaves to evil desires. Our lives enthralled in wickedness 

We hated others and they hated us.
OH!!! Woe to the world that lay in utter despondency… waiting for the skies to shut their eyes-what a quagmire …Humanity was caught up between the devil and the deep blue sea!
Amidst this, a silver lining appears in the cloud, the radiance of the Father most high, in its magnificence and splendor.
His love was manifested; in due time his kindness and mercy for humanity- majesty saved us!
Oh!! What love is this?
That paid so dearly, that we the guilty ones should be set free.
Oh!! What love is this?
That cost God; H is life, His divinity, His throne, His majesty, and His very essence… only that we might share in His awesomeness.
Oh!! What love is this?
That has given us the opportunity to be called the sons of God.
Oh!! What love is this?
That paid the ransom, which forgave our sins, which gave us the "Zoë" of God, which has given us the opportunity to be called His own.
This is love, oh!! This is love.
From His majesty in heaven, the reverence of a numerous company of angels
To the frail womb of humanity
Born in the squalors of a manger
Wrapped up in rags
Walked on the dusty roads of Palestine
A mere carpenter he was
Walked with the most inconsequential people of the baser sort
Loved by few, hated by most
Subjected to death, not just death, but that of a criminal
He hung on that old rugged cross for humanity
He despised the shame
He bore the brunt of the cross
On the third day He rose again!!!
This all was not done in a corner
He ascended in the midst of about 500 people
Kai!!! Oh!!! This is love
We did not demand
We did not deserve
He showed it
He bought us with the greatest price-Himself
He gave us the greatest gift   - Himself
He gave us eternal hope  - Himself
He bore our burdens  - Himself
He made us totally whole and complete  - Himself
This is love, oh!!! This is love
No doubt, this is love!!!
God is love!!!

 -emeka ofia

The Greatest Marriage Ever

A maiden who hails from some ghetto
Dingy and rusty with respect to civilization
Suddenly to her utter amazement
An inimitable noble man approaches her
I would like to marry you-he said
Her jaw drops and she mopes in absolute disbelief
Her thoughts traveled faster than a whirlwind
What does he see in me-she wondered?
Is it my beauty?
Is it my sophistication?
Is it my gorgeous outlook?
Is it my large pocket?
Is my exquisite display of good manners?
Is it my soignée cum debonair?
She summed up all her qualities and still amounted to a minus with respect to the guys qualities
Love at first sight my foot
He is obviously infatuated
I am sure he is one of those ritual killers
In fact how can he just say he wants to marry me...why?
He does not just stop there
He wields his influence
He finally reaches an agreement with her
He goes ahead to pay her bride price
Down the aisle they walked
For better for worse they signed as usual
They had a vow to be joined for eternity
This obviously blows the whims
It should be till death do them part?
This is just startling
The greatest marriage ever
Christ and the church...(Col.1: 21-22,Eph.5: 25-26&30)

- emeka ofia

When trials abound …

Leading a set of people Moses called “rebels” would not be easy. Joshua really needed encouragement:

“Be strong and of a good courage” Joshua 1:6. The Lord told him.

He knew what he went through: wars, flight for his life, temptations, pestilence…

He did not forget to leak the secret to his son, who was to take over the kingship.

“And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage”

I Chronicles 28:20

What other encouragement do we need in this life of warfare?

When you are in need…

When trials and temptations abound…

Persecution keep coming left and right…

No child yet, mockery from friends and relatives…

No job, no food, poverty seems to be enveloping you day by day…

Just lost your loved ones, life seems to have no meaning anymore…

Earthquake, fire engulfed all you have in life, seems like there is no hope for tomorrow…

Only be thou strong and very courageous… for… If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? Joshua 1:7, Matthew 7:11

okenna obi-igbokwe

If you doubt you will sink…! Matt14:22

…It’s a beautiful morning of wonderful brightness!

The breaking of the new day as the cloud starts to clear out!

The long existing darkness has to give way for the dawn!

So the sailors in the boats can now rejoice in the clear sky!

Because they have been troubled by winds all the night long!

Though the gentle breeze on the lake has been interesting…..

But the wind is almost capsizing the boat!

…Now! They have to cross the lake to the other side!

Expected to get there before their master would!

They would not have been so disturbed by the wind, if he was on board! But alas! Here is he walking on the lake…

Incredible, how can he have been walking so confidently as if undisturbed by the wind!

What! He’s walking on the water……against the law of nature…!

What an authority he has even in spite of the blowing wind?

And soon, one of the disciples too feels “I can do the same”

So he has stepped on the waters too, yes fearlessly he could walk too

No, he can’t sink! He saw the master! He has his approval also!

He believed so much in the master, he can’t even fall. It’s the master he saw.

Yes! With Christ present he can prove the Archimedes’s principle to be false!

No! The wind doesn’t matter……!

But what; just in couple of minutes, he has started to sink!

Why? What’s wrong? Has the master left him? Or has he sunk too?

No! Not at all … Peter forgot to keep the rule!

The rule! What rule? Yes it’s the law of faith!

IF YOU DOUBT, YOU WILL SINK! That is the rule!

So peter started to sink because he doubted!

But thank God the trustworthy Promiser!

Friend! Where is your faith?

Verily speaking! The road of life could sometimes be calm!

Sometimes could be sunny or heavily rainy…

While sometimes we are challenged to sail on windy/stormy seas of life.

Where some lives have been crushed and destinies shipwrecked!

And why? Probably because they know not their lord!

Or may be because they doubted…

Because whoever doubts sinks- and that’s the rule of faith?

But why would we sink on the sea of challenges?

Since the father is rightly by our side?

We will only sink when we take cognizance of what is challenging us!

Peter walked confidently when he noticed the master presence, while he could but sink when he noticed the wind.

Friends, how often we feel more of the pains of our trials than we sense the goodness of the lord?

Of course anxiety will kill a man ten times before his death comes,

And fear will put him in grave before he dies!

Yes! Whoever doubt, sinks! The law of faith!

And of course we must not shy away from little doubts that tend to weary our souls, but such fears are balanced by the strong persuasion we received of his promises…!

What an ever present, ever-guiding, ever watching and ever-committed father we do have. The lord of hosts!

So in the face of trials let’s take cognizance of his love and cares than the prevailing circumstances that we do not sink in the rivers of depression and confusions. Ultimately considering to giving up!

Please always remember that whoever doubts will sink!

So Jesus I learn to see when raging storm of life opens their eyes wild against me and him I learn to trust, that I may not sink!

FOR WHOEVER DOUBTS SINK - DON’T DOUBT GOD’S WORD.

- raphael aworinde

Worth more than gold!

I’ m so beautiful and precious a stone!

I’m a yellow precious substance use for several wonderful things!

Never talk of shiny coins, ornaments & jewelleries in my absence!

I make the whole colours of radiating products!

No riches are complete without me!

I make a whole man respected when he appears in gold!

I make a king honoured when he wears a golden crown!

The more gold you have, the more honours you get!

But I’m strictly careful of something!

I’m not available to ordinary men’-so, I make myself so scarce!

You only find me after digging deep a rock!

Yes! I’m more than that, cos I know what I pass through before shining- strictly refined by fire- in pains & in agonies

Subjected to unbearable conditions so as to shine.

- But don’t bother about that!

I’m not interested in what proceed the glory even though painful experience- but only interested in the glory itself

No! I can’t afford to be dim or not to shine, I can’t afford to be dishonored- so I bear pains!

But it’s a pity- so piteous indeed that:-

MY GLORY IS FLEETING:- so speak the Gold. It’s PERISHABLE!

It’s so interesting to hear, that gold can bear all these!

Because it cherishes its fleeting glory despite the pains gold bears during refinery for a perishable reward.

How much more then should worth my faith of greater worth than gold.

Giving me a living hope in Christ.

Shielding me by God’s own power

How much more should I shift my attention;

From this fleeting pains and tears

From this present shame and frustrations

As I cherish much more my afterward glory

My future more glorious, more valuable, more wonderful than of gold which its glory perishes.

No matter how costly and unavoidable it may be!

But I, living with a glorious inheritance

Not at all comparable to that of gold’s

Yes! Present circumstances are immaterial!

WORTH MUCH MORE THAN GOLD!

- raphael aworinde

Invest your life for God

Invest your time for eternity

Invest your life for the life to be

Forever gone are the hours you’ve lost

Don’t waste your life; count again the cost;

Your money place in the Saviour’s hand

It’s only safe when in heaven’s strand

You never lose what you give to God

But lose all else when you withhold;

Invest your work in the Saviour’s plan

Work hard for God and His will for man

Don’t count the hours that you toil and plod

You will reap again all you do for God;

Don’t waste your life for a passing joy

Don’t sell your soul for a fragile toy

Give till it hurts; give your very blood

You live but once; LIVE ALL OUT FOR GOD.

- segun eshorun

At The Beautiful Gate

Indeed this is a beautiful place to be! A wonderful and rare privilege it is, being at this entrance! How glorious can the entrance of this place be with the gate made of rare silver and gold! All shining with their dazzling beauties! Of course, it’s worth being called beautiful! Because it was specially designed for beauty! A centre of attraction it is indeed and that is why it is always a privilege being there!

For years a special site has been found for him there, for years his name has been the man at beautiful gate. Even though he couldn’t get what he actually needed, At least he’s always lavished with what he wanted; his pain of course is being eased by this token! Since the Jews will always give arms….!

So for years he has enjoyed the beautiful sight, the beautiful & glorious sight of the gate! His original name from birth may not be necessary again since he can easily be recognized as:

The crippled man at the beautiful gate! Friends are you at the beautiful gate! Enjoying the temporal beauties of the position you are! Or setting for the fading glory of the place you are! You think you know your wants and desires! But what about the exact& need! Only seeking & waiting for temporal blessings of men! Already in this stagnant situation for years! Yet still thinking you’re getting wishes satisfied!

Look at the temple ahead of you! Look at where God would have wanted you to be! You are so crippled that you can’t stand, walk or run! Only you do is sitting down at wherever they put you! Not even crawling, perhaps you may get there one day! You need Jesus of Nazareth! Or are you quite satisfied with your own level of spirituality, of course people hail you when you minister with such a unique and blessed gift!

Please lift up your eyes and see the temple! That is where God wants you to be! Not at all at its gate, no matter how beautiful the gate of the temple is –the inside is better Jesus is more of what you need! Only Jesus can take you beyond the temples gate.

- raphael aworinde

My Heart Rhythm

Each one is gone in his own separate way

The light of the Gospel has cast its rays

Hear the voice of the master; He calls today

It gladdens my heart to do your service

To snatch the life of a man as from abyss

To release the soul the devil often hardens

The kingdom of God; surely it widens

The sacrifice of Christ has set us free

But for His love, where would we be

We once were blind but now we see

For us He’s risen once slain on the tree

We with eyes yet were blind we grope in vanity hoping to find

Something perhaps to satisfy the mind

Alas from above, TRUE LOVE; none of its kind

Flesh of my flesh, Bone of my Bones

Such intimacy desired but then I was alone

Until for me the king left His throne

To redeem my soul that we may be one

- funmi aina

What Awesome Love

They passed
Dropping their coins
Each one

Today was good
At times was real bad
That I couldn’t get some food

Yet I wondered
And pondered
On how I could get yonder
To the ripple of the water

I tried again,
Telling each one of my plight
Yet they all felt fine
By dropping some dime

Then……
He passed by
Not pleasant to the eyes
So why make the cry
But he asked
Would you like to get to the well?
What a question
Maybe he would help I thought
Finally someone to show some love
So I wailed
Telling my tale
Of how I seemed so late
Just to get to the fountain

I seemed to say
Could you stay?
And help me to the way
Just to the fountain

But what love the master displayed
“Stand up, Pick up your mat and walk” He said
And I was healed

Shocked and pleased
I wondered
Not about the law
But at such love
Which didn’t wait for me to ask?

WHAT AWESOME LOVE 

- Dr bolaji akanni

Cover to cover

Cover to cover was the game,
From Chase through Jeffrey, even Guyton wasn’t spared
All bowed to the master,
Who could read all through?
The question hung standing more as the aim
Though we sought to fill our vacuum.

But in a corner,
An old rugged book sat,
Funny no one
Seemed to give it a second thought
Few fulfilled the promise of reading through
And though they couldn’t nor I
I knew I could not do without it
Lies were told in it
Bringing humanity doomed to death
Coups plotted in it
Some won, some lost
Battles fought
Some won, some lost
Strength displayed,
Trust betrayed,
But above all
A love story was all it portrayed
Of a king going through death
To pay the eternal price of freedom
For a people who never knew the bondage they were held
I cried
How could someone be so kind?
To stand for them while the spat on him,
While they mocked him, scourged him, crucified him
Leaving him to die a cruel death

I could have understood if I had a price to pay
If I needed to complete the task he went through
But in a fainting but yet victorious voice he made me know
It is finished (Te Te les tai)
Nothing more could be added
As he took his rightful place
Seated beside the father
Tears streamed down my face and I
Knew I had found it
The book that revealed The Way of Life
But much more
I had the life within
Residing forever
Filling this vacuum with indescribable joy

-bolaji akanni

Salvation! My inheritance and marriage

I remember the day of my union with Christ

I call to mind as He shed His light upon my life.

Lost I was;

But direction He brought

Dirty was I;

But cleansing He did

Sin held me and death was my reward

He died and rose again

And a newness of life was my gift

A whole new beginning

A beautiful and glorious one like that

I am spotless, without blemish, wrinkle or reproach

The bone of His bones and flesh of His flesh

Today I’m in total surrender to Him

Oh you that is married

Behold my union with the savior

The couple out there

Fix your gaze on this “wedlock”

Love and submission – TOTAL

- funmi aina

God indeed is Greater

Greater than my Achievements and Ailments

Greater than my Beauty and Bitterness

Greater than my Crowns and Cry

Greater than my Diamonds and Dirt

Greater than my Excellence and Emptiness

Greater than my Fortunes and Failures

Greater than my Glory and Grass

Greater than my Honor and Heaviness

Greater than my Ingenuity and Inadequacies

Greater than my Jewel and Junk

Greater than my Knowledge and Knots

Greater than my Loftiness and Lack

Greater than my Medal and Mountains

Greater than my Nobelity and Nothingness

Greater than my Opportunities and Obstacles

Greater than my Pearls and Problems

Greater than my Quest and Queries

Greater than my Riches and Rage

Greater than my Success and Sorrows

Greater than my Trophies and Troubles

Greater than my Understanding and Undermining

Greater than my Victories and Vileness

Greater than my Worth and Worries

Greater than my Yearnings and Yelp

Greater than my Zenith and Zeros

God indeed is Greater

There is nothing I desire compared to Him

All that bothers me I lay at His feet

God forbid that I glory in anything other than Christ.

In all things I see Him as my Priceless Possession and Sufficiency

My Present Help in time of Trouble and Difficulty.

God indeed is Greater.

- funmi aina

Tribute to tongues - Romans 8:26 - 27

Like a coded note
to the one my heart desires
So my lips flow
uttering messages too deep
for you to follow
It's language only for the initiated
I and the father sharing a moment
like none other
The world and its deepest technology
can't decipher the boundaries of the matter
So deep is the message
You can't be involved lest you are introduced
You can't know unless by an interpretation
By the one who started it all
Only then would you discover
that praise like none other can well up
from the heart of one who is one with God
Join me in the glorious flow with the
one who owns my soul
Flowing what I ought
and not what I feel
Saying what is meant
and not I guess
It's coming from the heart of one who is one with God

- bolaji akanni

What a wonder!!!

David wondered and pondered

Could God really consider

Righteousness apart from the worker

Ooh!!

How blessed that man is forever

To whom God would declare all over

“Behold my righteous one”

Now I pondered

Could God really declare

Such to a man

who had not works to share

Ooh!!

How blessed that man is forever

But then I found such a man

Ooh!!

Weep and howl for he didst not know

I cried and screamed

For God had made

A gift of his righteousness

Not to be worked for

Not to be prayed for

For His Son paid it all

When he died on the Cross

Now to all

Who would only believe

Is God making this call

Rejoice ooh man

Stand up from the dust

For righteous we stand

Because of him who died

I said, “Righteous we stand’

Because of him who died

- bolaji akanni

Let my heart sing this rhythm

Today, I wake by the power of Him who loved me

Today, I live by the assurance of Him who keeps me

Today, I excel by the power of Him who works in me

Today, I pray to the one who by grace, saved me

Today, I am strong because of Him who healed me

Today, I am purposeful because of Him who called me

Today, I shine because of Him who glorified me

Today, I AM WHAT I AM BECAUSE HE DIED AND ROSE FOR ME

My heart, the lord has been faithful to me

My heart, the lord has been good; can’t you see?

For where you are is far from where you were

And where you will be, He’ll be the one to take you there

- funmi aina

Over a man's tomb

Over a man’s tomb I sat,

Wondering what to write,

Phrases I had used in times past

Didn’t just seem right.

Gone too soon was such a line

But before he died he said it was just the right time.

Gone but not forgotten nearly sounds cool

Only that He said he would be back soon

We lost a gem was for a brilliant boy who died at the age of twelve,

Only (this man) that He was not lost, but we found a gem through his death

Call to Glory was for a Christian whose folks didn’t like the sound of lost

Only this man had no such worries for he knew where he was heading towards

He said he left his Glory to die and has gone back to the same,

Transition…always wondered what that meant,

Only to learn it meant to move away to another place,

But this man didn’t really do that saying He would not leave us as orphans

Forever in our minds could stand but I don’t really like the mind part

For I know he is more real to me than my mind can fathom

Never to be forgotten…how could I

In memoriam…sounds too solemn

Gone but not forgotten…I just don’t like the gone part

But while I was wondering what to inscribe with chisel in hand and mallet in the other

The tomb shook…

I peeped in to see the remains of this man…maybe I would get some inspiration

What a neat tomb I must say…

Most likely used for the very first time

…. But wait a minute

Something isn’t right

The tomb was empty

No one!!!

Only a cloth wrapped neatly

Mouth agape I cried

Now I understood all He said

As under a spell I left the tomb

And struck away with my chisel ad mallet

Pieces of stone flying across my face

The wolves howled

The owls hooted

The crickets were really noisy that night as I was told later on but I didn’t notice

Soon the cocks were crowing

But soon it would be over

Stroke after stroke and then one final stoke

Yes

…Under the moonlight

I looked at what I had inscribed

And I knew nothing else could I add

For on the tomb was written

-HE’S NOT DEAD. HE’S RISEN!!!

- bolaji akanni