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RIZPAR

Rizpar was one of Saul's concubines. She stood and witnessed the gruesome murder of her two sons -  Armoni and Mephibosheth.  More disdainful to her is the fact that the two were not burried; they were left to rot contrary to the prevalent tradition of burrying the dead within the next 24hours.  With sorrow, Rizpar spent days and nights with the corpses ensuring that they were neither swamped nor dragged away by any animals. Soon enough, King David noticed her discomfort, and was moved by her attitude; David ordered for the burrying of Rizpar's sons, the remains of their father, Saul and that of Jonathan. BACKGROUND:  Joshua promised that Israel would be at peace with the Gibeonites. But Saul broke that oath, killing as many Gibeonites as he could in his time. In retallating, the Gibeonites asked David for seven of Saul's son whom they murdered in the presence of Rizpar. LESSONS:   1. Customes can be broken; protocols are skipable. If only we consistently...
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THE SHUNAMITE WOMAN

  She lived in Jezreel, specifically along a road that links Jerusalem to Bethlehem. Being a generous woman, she agreed with her husband and made a resting place on the top of their building for Elisha who mostly plied that road. One day, when the shunamite saw Elisha travelling the road again with his servant she invited them over into her house and showed her kindness so much to the Prophet's satisfaction. Thus, Elisha sought through his servant, Geharzi, to reward her gesture but the woman sharply objected to it. The Prophet then asked his servant if there was any favour he could use his influence with the King of Israel to offer her but the woman would still reject that offer. So he asked Geharzi to suggest a reward for the woman. When the servant mentioned that the woman had no child, Elisha declared that they would have one a year's time from then, which the Lord also fulfilled. When this child died some years later, the woman went laid him in Elisha's room. But God r...
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NAAMAN'S LIFE STORY !

MEANING OF NAME  :  Sweetness  or pleasantness. HIS REGRET      : He  could not live all the years of his life as his name suggests; he was struck with leprosy. HIS JOY         : He  had a good wife and a good maid both of whom played large enough role in his healing.   STORY IN BRIEF : NAAMAN, a Syrian captain of Ben-hadad's  army, was a son of Caleb - a friend of Joshua. The valiant man was living joyously till he became a leper. Fortunately, NAAMAN had a good wife who also often expressed her displeasure about his sickly state. This would always attract their servant - an Israelite, into singing the praises of Elisha to them. Now, the couple were not only enthused by the songs of praise their maid sang; they also believed in the Prophet, Elisha, upon hearing of the miracles he had been performing as recounted by their maid servant. So NAAMAN rose to meet with Elisha in Samaria. Elisha would instruct him to was...
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ANNA

MEANING: Grace. SORROW: As a widow, she would probably have been among the most vulnerable members of society, with no one to provide for her financially or to take care of her if her health failed. JOY: That her own eyes beheld the Messiah she had longed to see. STORY IN BRIEF: Anna, a Prophetess from the tribe of Asher, became a widow after seven years of marriage. She spent whole of her widowhood fasting and praying to God. Anna worshipped in Herod's temple. This temple had tour segments - the outer court for Gentiles or non-Jews; the inner court divided into Women's and Israelites'; the Priestly court for the Leviticus Priests which also surrounded the temple. Anna could only access the Women's court yet God was merciful to her - She witnessed the Messiah; while Anna worshipped in the temple one day, Someon came holding the baby Jesus in his laps. REFERENCE SCRIPTURES: Luke 2 : 22 - 38
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SOWING THE RIGHT WAY !


" For there is a right time and procedure to every purpose..." Ecclesiastes 8:6

A seed is a  gift offered to God or to a man in demonstration of LOVE or HATRED. It takes the forms of money, property, crops, physical food, words of the tongue and attitude. 

Seeds - good or bad, reproduce their kind. This, we must understand in our walk with God and in our relationship with man. The one who desires to reap good fruits must sow good seeds !

Unfortunately, much may not be harvested from our seeds when we sow disregarding the WILL of God. It is, therefore, imperative to observe God's " HOWs " and " WHENs " concerning sowing, as disclosed below.


1. LOVE: 

" If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing." 1 Corinthians 13:3.

  When LOVE guides the giver, the best is offered out. Such gifts are so significant that they create vacuums with the giver, while touching the heart of the receiver. It is the reason Abel's offering was accepted but Cain's, rejected ! For a seed to yield much, it must emanate from a heart of LOVE ( PASSION ) but not one from a FORCED ( PRESSURED ) heart.


2. UNDERSTANDING.

" And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the one who hears the word and UNDERSTANDS and grasps it; he indeed bears fruit and yields, some a hundred times [as much as was sown], some sixty [times as much], and some thirty.”

Matthew 13:23 AMP

Understanding furnishes us with reasons for words spoken, acts, and events. A forced seed is fruitless. So we must gain UNDERSTANDING to replace the sense of COMPULSION with LOVE or PASSION so our givings can yield fruits. God neither cheats nor owes; whatever a person sows, that also will he or she reap. But our UNDERSTANDING of HOW, WHEN and WHY we sow seeds maximises the harvest.


3. THE HEART

 In the parable of the sower ( Luke 8:15 ),  the soil is likened to the heart. Yes, the human heart ! A stony, and a weedy heart cannot keep the seed of God's Word. God's Word in our hearts would only yield fruits in our lives when the heart is first prepared, voided of grudges, hatred and doubt. God does not waste His seeds. So also are His Prophets; before we sow our Words into every other persons lives, let us first prepare their hearts for reproduction. For " the preparation of the heart belongs to man.." Proverbs 16:1.


4. The Grace of Giving.

"... see that you also excel in this grace of giving." 2 Corinthians 8:7

 This Grace of giving divinely enables us to give in such a manner that pleases God. By it, we passionately and joyously sow our seeds without feeling any stress. And there is always a timely harvest for the giver to keep sowing. Added to this Grace is also that special insight on WHAT, WHEN , HOW and TO WHOM a seed must be sown at a time ! Now, it is my prayer that everyone of us reading this article excels in this Grace as we resolve to do His WILL regarding sowing, in Jesus' name !

Beloved, every blessing from God is a gift of trust. He expects us to preserve and conserve them through the sowing of seeds. But while we do, let us constantly observe the revelations above. 

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