A lovely Thursday to you in the name of Jesus. 

We thank God for everything. We are still talking about "Thankful in little, Thankful in much". We got that from Luke 16 where Jesus said, “he that is faithful in little will be faithful in much”. 

That you are thankful with the little things, is the qualifier for the next phase and the next level.

You want God to do something in your life; you want Him to lift you, thenbe thankful for where you are today. 

A young man in church told me about something they call “Hammer”. He said when people hit it big, it  means “I don hammer” in pidgin English. If you want to “hammer” big in life, begin by thanking God for the little   “hammers”. Somebody also said, “big shots are little shots that didn’t stop shooting”. When you begin to thank God for those little things, you will see how they begin to gather up and become big things. 

As I studied the life of David over the years, I found out that this was the secret of his life. Not just David’s life; it became something that he  passed down his lineage. 

The ability to thank God for the seemingly little things, to have a heart of appreciation and never trivialise anything God has done. 

2 Samuel 7: 18 - 19 (NLT)

18 Then King David went in and sat before the Lord and prayed, “Who am I, O Sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? 

19 And now, Sovereign Lord, in addition to everything else, you speak of giving your servant a lasting dynasty! Do you deal with everyone this way, O Sovereign Lord?

God was talking to King David and he was talking to him about the things He has done and things He will do for him later. David began to talk to God in appreciation  and said “Lord you’ve done so much already and I cannot thank you enough. I know where you’ve brought me from and seen how far you’ve brought me and still, you are talking of many more things you want to do for me. Is this the way you treat everybody”?  

And you know what? The answer is NO! That's not the way God treats everybody. Why?

Because that's not the way everybody relates with God. David thanked God for every single thing in is life. 

When he sinned and got forgiven, he thank God.

When things were tough, he thanked God. And because of that, God kept lifting him. 

He said, “Lord, is this the way you treat everybody”?

No.

But He'll love to treat everybody that way, if we all can have a truly thankful heart.

You want God to keep lifting you, to treat you like He treated David? Then thank Him like David did.

Somewhere in the book of Psalms it says “Seven times a day I will thank God”.

Thank God for everything and watch how He will keep lifting. 

God bless you. 

Have a lovely day.

Hello and a beautiful day to you in the name of Jesus. 

We thank God for today and we thank God for all He has been doing for us. 

We are still talking about “Thankful in Little, Thankful in Much”

If you are thankful in little, you are thankful in much. It’s about the state of your being and not a function of size. If you are a  thankfu person, you'll always be thankful be it with little orwith much. 

Like we said a few days ago; some people say “the reason why I am not thankful is because I am waiting for that big breakthrough God will give me. Then you will see I grateful and thankful I can be. All these little things happening is not what I need,  I have great needs and I need a major breakthrough”. 

Like I said  before, God is already checking and testing you with the little He has done for you. The attitude you show with that little is exactly what you will with much. 

What are the "little things" we can be thankful for?

The Psalmist gives us an idea.

Psalm 103: 1 - 5 (NKJV)

1 Bless athe Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name!

2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits:

3 Who forgives all your iniquities, Who cheals all your diseases,

4 Who redeems your life from destruction,

Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,

5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things,

So that eyour youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

God says do not forget all His benefits and there are so many benefits we get from Him - little and big benefits. Whatever benefits you get from God, don't ever forget them. Thank Him for those benefits. 

He says “who forgives your iniquities (sin)”. 

We need to thank Him for the blood of Jesus that cleanses and forgives us. 

He said “who heals all your diseases” Be it rashes, sore throat, cancer, HIV, corona virus? Whatever it is, He is the God that heals - thank Him! He is the God that heals, no matter the kind of disease.

 "who redeems your soul from destruction"

He's the one who saves you from trouble; the ones you know about and the ones you don’t know about, on the road, in the air, on the sea, on the land, whatever it is. He is the one who protects  you and ensures you come out of trouble.

"who crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercy"

He's the one who allows people show you love when you don’t deserve it, even when you have done wrong He shows you mercy. We can thank Him for that every single day. 

And verse 5 says “who satisfies your mouth with good things”. 

Thank Him for things you have to eat and drink. Thank Him for the things that comes out of your mouth words, the songs etc . 

Thank Him for the things He satisfies your mouth with and for renewing your wings like an eagle. 

There are so many things to praise God for if we really think about it.

When you thank Him for those little things, you set up yourself for greater things. 

As you do this, watch how God will keep changing your level higher and higher. 

God bless and keep you. 

Have a lovely day.

A beautiful Tuesday to you in the name of Jesus, we thank God for everything. We’re still talking about “Thankful in little, Thankful in much” if you’re thankful in little you’ll naturally be thankful in much.

Let’s read again from Luke 

Luke 16:10-12 (NCV) 

10 Whoever can be trusted with a little can also be trusted with a lot, and whoever is dishonest with a little is dishonest with a lot. 11 If you cannot be trusted with worldly riches, then who will trust you with true riches? 12 And if you cannot be trusted with things that belong to someone else, who will give you things of your own? 

What Jesus is telling us here is that the things we’re doing with the little things, little opportunities we have today is a determiner of what we’ll do with bigger things.  If you want God to trust you with bigger things let Him see what you’re doing with little things.

If you’re trustworthy in little, you’ll be trustworthy in a lot; meaning that what you’re doing with the little you have is the same thing you’ll do with a lot. Understand this, you’re already in class going through a test, God is already marking you based on how you’re showing appreciation for the opportunities you have today. 

If you remember in Luke 17 the story about the ten lepers, they cried out to Jesus and he said “Go and show yourselves to the priest…” and on their way they were healed. One of them who happened to be a Samaritan turned back and came to thank Jesus. Jesus then asked were there not ten of you that were healed, where are the other nine? Are you the only one that has come to give thanks to God? Then He said to him don’t “…you are now made whole”. His gratitude for the “little healing” he received made God perfected all that concerned him, He made him whole. Be grateful for the so called little things.

The Psalmist says,

Psalm 145:2 (NKJV) 

Every day I will bless You, And I will praise Your name forever and ever.

If you look at your life, there is always something to thank God for everyday.

I remember many years ago I heard my friend’s father say a prayer when we traveled together. I had never heard that kind of prayer said before then.  He said “Lord we want to thank you for the miracle of sleeping and waking up”. I thought about it and realized he was right. Believe me it is a miracle that we sleep and wake up and we should be thankful for that. There are people that can’t sleep and need pills or a machine to make them sleep. There are people that slept and didn’t wake up. 

There are so many seemingly little things you can be thank for every single day and when you understand this, everyday will be a day of Thanksgiving. 

You want to see good things happen in your life, you want to move to the next level? Then be thankful for the little you’re seeing today, be thankful for the “tiny blessings” you receive evryday and watch how God will lift you up.

God bless you.

Have a lovely day.

A wonderful Monday to you in the name of Jesus. 

We thank God for a beautiful day and a glorious month of December. I trust God that our eyes that have seen the beginning of this month will see the end in Jesus name. God Who has brought us through this far, will take us through in a wonderful way entering into the year 2021 in the name of Jesus. 

Luke 16:10 -12 (NCV)

10 Whoever can be trusted with a little can also be trusted with a lot, and whoever is dishonest with a little is dishonest with a lot. 

11 If you cannot be trusted with worldly riches, then who will trust you with true riches? 

12 And if you cannot be trusted with things that belong to someone else, who will give you things of your own?

What is the Bible saying here? What is Jesus talking about here?

 He is talking about life and stewardship. That whatever you do with little is the same thing you will do with much. Your level of commitment to little is the same commitment to much. 

So, if you are faithful and trustworthy with little, you will be trustworthy with much. What you are doing with little is already telling what you will do with much. 

Throughout this week, we will be talking about “Thankful in Little, Thankful in Much”. 

If you are thankful in little, you will naturally be thankful in much. 

I know so many people that have said “what have the Lord done for me; there is nothing fantastic or out of the ordinary. When He begins to do great things for me, you will see how thankful I will be”. 

Guess what? God is already checking and testing you out; He is already seeing what you will with a lot. If you cannot thank God for the little you think He has done: if you cannot thank Him for the little money, you will not be thankful with a lot of money. If you are not thankful for a little opportunity, you will not be thankful for a great opportunity. If you cannot thank God for healing a headache, you cannot thank God for healing cancer. 

Why? 

It is the simple act of thanksgiving; you either have the attitude of thanksgiving or you don’t. 

I pastor a church and I remember many years ago, I met one of my mentors who also happened to be a pastor. He told me “everything around you cannot go down at the same time”. Some things will be going up and maybe some things will be going down”. 

Then he said, “there will always be something to be thankful about”. He said “maybe your service attendance numbers didn’t increase but somebody gave his/her life to Christ, so be thankful for that. Maybe your offerings were not much but then the message blessed somebody, be thankful for that”. You must always be thankful for something; no matter how little it is. 

Years ago as a teenager I learnt a lesson that can never leave me. My dad was talking to somebody who had done something wrong and he said “if the little that is done for you is appreciated, it will encourage the person to do much more. 

If you are grateful and thankful for the little you received from somebody, the person is encouraged to do much more. 

You want to see God do much more? 

Be thankful for the "little things" He's done; they call it "mercy drops". But you know, these mercy drops can actually save your life. 

So, let’s take time; think of those "little things". Don’t ever take those things for granted. 

When you are thankful in little, you will be thankful in much. 

God bless you.

 Have a lovely day.

A beautiful Sunday to you in the name of Jesus. All this week we’ve been talking about “Deep Thinking, Great Thanksgiving”. The deeper you think the easier and the better your thanksgiving will be. And like we said yesterday thanksgiving is good for you; it’s not for God’s benefit it’s good for you. It opens your heart it opens your mind, it allows the forces of grace, the forces of life, the forces of change to flow out if your life and change your life.

Today we’ll be read from Philippians 1:3(NLT) and (NKJV).

3 Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. (NLT)

3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, (NKJV)

Notice the connection between thinking and thanking in the bible verse. The better you think the easier you thank, that is the direct connection. We also see that the better we remember things, the easier and the better it is to give thanks.

Sometimes when we’ve gone through the challenges of life, we forget all about what God has done and all He’s doing for us. It’s important we take advantage of our memory and use it in the face of life’s challenges. Why? 

There is a direct connection between Thanksgiving and thinking.

If we forget the things God has done for us, then we forget His grace, His power and His ability in our lives. Sometimes it is possible for us to forget, but that’s why the Holy Spirit is there to help us remember. It is interesting that one of the assignments Jesus says the Holy Spirit performs in our lives is to remind us of things.

John 14:26 (NKJV) 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. 

It’s not only the things He has said that the Spirit reminds us of, He also reminds us of the things he has done.

Why does He want to help you remember things? 

Because when you remember it’s easy to flow in thanksgiving and when you flow in thanksgiving your mind is open, your spirit is open, you’re not hard hearted and the Spirit of God can flow through you. As we move gradually to the end of this year 2020, which has been interesting and challenging in so many ways. It’s important we understand that one year cannot cancel out the many years of God’s goodness nor can 12 months cannot cancel out many years of God’s goodness and mercy.

I pray that the Holy Spirit will enable you to remember in Jesus’ name. I pray He’ll help you think deep and see the many things God has done.

Remember the hymn “Count your blessings name them one by one and it’ll surprise you what God has done”.

May God bless you and keep you.

Enjoy your Sunday in Jesus name.

A great Saturday to you in the name of Jesus. 

We thank God for His grace, His mercy and His love.

We’re still talking about “Deep Thinking, Great Thanksgiving”. The greater we think and remember what He’s done the easier it is for us to thank God.  

The bible says is 2Timothy 3:16  “All scriptures are given by the inspiration of God and they are profitable...”  It’s means that every instruction of the scripture is for our good. Whatever God tells us to do is not for His benefit, It’s for our benefit. When God instructs us in the bible to give thanks and live in a life of Thanksgiving, it’s not because it’ll make it bigger or more powerful, its because it makes life better for us.

We’ve been reading  Matt 16:9-10, where Jesus spoke to them about the leaven of the Pharisees and they thought he was talking about bread. Mark’s account  of the same story is in Mark 8:14-21. In Mark 8:17(NCV) it says,

"Knowing what they were talking about, Jesus asked them, “Why are you talking about not having bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your minds closed"? 

Jesus told His disciples that they were worried because they had forgotten about the miracle of the 7 loaves for the 4000. He also made them understand that forgetting the things God has done can result in their minds becoming closed.

When we forget about the goodness, kindness and mercies of God and we don’t thank Him, our minds become closed and our hearts become hardened. When our hearts become hardened or closed we cannot see what God is doing. God’s light cannot penetrate our hearts, God’s grace cannot penetrate our hearts and God’s grace cannot flow out of ud.

Proverbs 4:23 says “ Guard your heart above anything else” why? Out of it flows the forces that shape and influence your life". 

When murmur and complain we shut everything down, the forces that transform lives cannot flow out. But when we learn to live a life of Thanksgiving, when we remember the things God has done and we begin to thank Him, our minds are opened, our understanding is clear and the forces of life can flow freely.

Thanksgiving opens the mind, opens the heart. It keeps you from becoming hardened it keeps you from becoming closed minded.

It is important that we understand that living a life of Thanksgiving is for our benefit. 

2 Peter 1:13(NKJV)says, 

"I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you".

He said it’s important I stir you up by reminding you. Remind yourself of God’s goodness, remind yourself of what God has done for you and you find out how life flows through your spirit.

Thanksgiving is good for you.

God bless you.

Have a lovely day.

A wonderful Friday to you in the name of Jesus and a blessed weekend ahead.

We are still talking about “Deep Thinking, Great Thanksgiving”.

Let’s read again from Matthew 16:9-10 (NLT)

9 Don’t you understand even yet? Don’t you remember the 5,000 I fed with five loaves, and the baskets of leftovers you picked up? 10 Or the 4,000 I fed with seven loaves, and the large baskets of leftovers you picked up?

Jesus was trying to help His disciples understand that the reason why they were disturbed, fearful, and worrying about the past was that they had forgotten about the things He had done in the past. It is important that we think and think deeply, when we think deep we’ll remember that there are so many things God has done in our lives. When we don’t and we allow murmuring, complaining and the challenges of our current situation cloud our mind, it shuts down the power of God in our lives. But when we remember and we thank Him, it gives Him the opportunity to do much more.

There is a story in 2 Sam 6:20-23, David had brought the Ark of God back to Jerusalem with a lot of celebration, thanksgiving, and dancing. His wife, Michal looked and him with disdain because in her opinion he wasn’t dignifying his position as the king with the way he was dancing. When he got back home to thank God with his family and bless them, Michal began to scold him for the “undignified way” he was dancing before his subjects. David responded to her saying” I’m dancing before the King of all kings before the God who took a nobody like me and made somebody out of me. I’m dancing the God who lifted me up to replace your father and your father’s house”. What David said to Michal was true, he never forgot that God brought him from leading sheep, a common shepherd boy to leading the nation of Israel.   

Saul didn’t do as much wrong as David did, but Saul forgot who he was before God made him king. Saul forgot God’s goodness and mercy in his life and it cost him the throne and eventually his life. Saul lost his place to David because he forgot about all that God had done in his life but David never forgot. Even when David sinned against God, he’ll still go back to God to ask for mercy. And because of this attitude that he had, God kept lifting David. Jerusalem is called the City of David. The Star on the Israeli flag is called the Star of David. Michal his wife and daughter of Saul ended up barren all her life. Since she felt too big and too dignified to remember and appreciate God for all He had done, her attitude made her unproductive. This is what happens when we forget to thank, appreciate, and praise God for all He has done for us.

I pray that as we continue in this season, you will think deeply and remember all that God has done for you and truly appreciate Him for it. The deeper you think, the greater will be your thanksgiving.

God bless you.

Enjoy your weekend.   

Hello and a lovely Thursday to you in the name of Jesus. 

We are still talking about “Deep Thinking, Great Thanksgiving”; the deeper you think, the greater your thanksgiving. 

I don’t know if you’ve been in situations in your life when you were in deep trouble, things were very challenging and you said to God; “Lord, if you just see me through this situation, I will praise for the rest of my life, if you see me through this, I will never ask for anything again? I will just be thanking you all my life”. 

God saw you through that situation, and guess what? You didn’t thank all your life! You still complain and get angry.

I guess God understands; He knows that we are just being humans when we do such things. 

The Bible talks about the children of Israel; they complained, prayed, cried out to God to save them from the trouble in Egypt and He delivered them. After delivering them, they complained, whined, murmured, they wanted to go back to same Egypt they were crying to be delivered from.

Sometimes, the reason why we do these things and don’t thank God is that we forget about the goodness, love and care in our life.

Jesus spoke about this in the parable of the sower. He said “The seeds that fell amongst thorns, are those  that the cares this world, the deceitfulness and ove for riches and desire for other things choke away the Word of God, so it does not produce in our life”. 

It's the same thing in life, sometimes the reality and challenges of life, the hustle and bustle make us forget things God has done for us. It is important we remember things He has done for us. 

Matthew 16: 9 - 10 (NLT)

9 Don’t you understand even yet? Don’t you remember the 5,000 I fed with five loaves, and the baskets of leftovers you picked up? 

10 Or the 4,000 I fed with seven loaves, and the large baskets of leftovers you picked up?

Jesus had told His disciples; “Be careful of leaven of the Pharisees” and they thought he was talking about the fact that they didn’t hold bread for their journey. And they said “oh it is because we forgot to bring some bread along, that’s why He is saying this”. Jesus said, “What’s the matter with you, bread cannot be the problem. Remember when we didn’t have enough bread; from five loaves, I fed five thousand, from 7 loaves, I also fed four thousand”. He said, “It is important you don’t forget the things I have done in the past”. 

If you think through your life, you will discover those times where from nothing, God brought something out, where there seemed to be no way and God made a way,   when everybody thought it was over and God gave you a new beginning. It might have been a challenging health situation, relationship and financial situation; it might have even been a situation on the job or a car accident or some things that you never knew how you would have gotten out of it if not that God brought you out. And here you are are today! 

If you think deeply, and you stir up yourself by remembrance, you will find out that there are many things God has done for you already.

Let’s not be like the disciples who had forgotten about God’s ability. Let us all train ourselves to always remember, God’s greatness and power at all times. And believe me, if you do at all times, thanksgiving will flow naturally. 

God bless you. 

Have a lovely day.

Hello a wonderful Wednesday to you in the name of Jesus. May you see the wonders of God today in the name of Jesus.

We’re still talking about “Deep Thinking, Great Thanksgiving”. I said something in Yoruba yesterday so I’m going to say it again “Eni toba mo inu ro, a mope da" meaning if you know how to think well you’ll know how to thank well. If you know how to think well, you'll know how to thank well and that’s how I see this yea. If you can think well enough you know that God has been good to you, God has been merciful to you, God has been kind to you. 

The Psalmist says in Psalm 8 verse 3(NKJV): 

When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained. 

He’s just saying, "Lord when I consider everything you’ve done, your works in my life, in the creation, in the galaxy, everything I cannot just but give thanks". 

Hebrews 4:16 (NLT) says,

So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. 

Yesterday we spoke about God’s mercy and today we want to talk about His grace.

What is Grace?

Grace is God’ goodness at Christ’s expense. 

We’re enjoying His goodness at the expense of somebody else. Paul put it in a wonderful way in 

1 Cor.15:8-10 (NKJV): 

Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time. For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which  was with me. 

Paul was talking about the grace of God in his life. He said "I got into this late. People have been moving, People have been understanding and I started late. Yet God’s grace was available to me. I wasn’t supposed to be called to be an apostle, I’m an apostle today and everything I am today is a product of God’s grace and goodness towards me".

If you look at your life and you look at your efforts you'll find out some of the things you enjoy are not direct products of your work. It's not  because you’re that smart or you’re that wise or you’re that savvy. God just somehow multiplied your efforts, multiplied His grace on your life and you’re enjoying it. If we think well about God’s grace in our lives and His mercy we cannot but say God we thank you.

Grace is a multiplier, you do something little and great things have come out if it. That’s because of God’s grace. 

As we reflect on God’s work in our lives this year think about what grace has done for you, think about His grace and how far His grace has brought you and I’m sure you’ll just keep thanking and praisihng Him.

God bless you.

Enjoy the rest of your day.

Hello and a lovely Tuesday to you in the name of Jesus. 

We thank God for everything. We are talking about “Deep Thinking, Great Thanksgiving” - the deeper you think, the greater your reasons to thank God. 

In the Yoruba language they say, “Eni toba mo inu ro, a mope da”. 

It means, if you can think well enough, you will thank God very well; and that’s why we say “Deep thinking, great thanksgiving”. If you think deep enough, you will have so many reasons to thank God. 

Let’s read from Psalm 8: 3 (NKJV) 

3 When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained,

The psalmist was simply talking about the works of God; that when he thinks about what God has done; the galaxies, the Milky way, man and everything, he just cannot but thank and appreciate Him. 

We thank Him for life and so many other things He’s done for us. But there are other things he has done for us besides giving us life. 

Hebrews 4: 16 (NLT)

16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

His mercy and grace are two things that God has given to us so generously. 

Let’s talk about “Mercy”

What is Mercy? 

Mercy is that attribute of God that ensures we do not get the judgement or penalty we deserve for the wrong we have done or do in life. This year, a lot of us have done so many things that are wrong, we have done so many things carelessly and recklessly. We’ve done so many things that, if for God’s mercy, we should be suffering from the consequences of our actions. 

It is like the story of that woman that was caught in adultery in the Gospel of John 8. They took this woman to Jesus and said “We caught this woman in act of adultery. They said the law says we should stone and kill her. What do you say?” Jesus began writing on the floor and said “The person without sin should be the first to cast a stone at her”. By the time Jesus looked up at the woman, all her accusers had gone. Jesus asked, “Where are you accusers”? She said; “Nobody accuses me”. Jesus said “Neither do I, go and sin no more”. 

Understand that many things we’ve done wrong that some of us are still carrying the burden of guilt and condemnations. God is saying as He said to this woman “Don’t worry, I’m not accusing you”. God’s mercy is more than enough”. 

Hosea 13: 9 (NKJV)

9 O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in me is thine help. 

What’s He saying there? 

He said “Israel you’ve messed things up; you’ve caused trouble for yourself but in Me is your help”.

That’s God mercy; no matter how bad things are, even when you have caused the trouble yourself, God said when you come to Me, the blood will available -in Me is your help. 

Guess what? 

When you think about God’s love and mercy, you cannot but just thank Him. 

For the many things I’ve done wrong that Your mercy prevailed, I say Lord thank You.

For shielding me from judgment by Your mercy. I say Thank You. 

I don’t know what you think about this, but I am sure, if you think of His mercies you have enjoyed, you can say also say to the Lord, “Thank you”. 

Enjoy the rest of your day.

God bless you.