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Sunday, 4 March 2018

WAITING ON THE LORD-BOAZ VS BOZO


WAITING ON THE LORD-BOAZ VS BOZO
To all my ladies, who are yet to be married… Singleness to most of us is about fun, exploration and enjoying life to the brim.
Of course in that fun, we all make some bad choices, but if one is enough quick to learn, you can move on faster and wiser than before.

Mistakes are part of growth. We are not always 100%, but that shouldn’t give you your identity.

Aspire to be better, learn and move on ASAP, with greater courage and wisdom. Still, part of growing up are the intricacies of relationships.

You met a guy, you fall in love, the butterflies, the ‘muumuus’ and the sweet nothings are part of the day to day stuff.

The chemistry is just too much. I know, it’s amazing to be loved and to love. It’s the closest feeling to heaven. For some, the true colors of this guy you are dating are seen from the onset while for others, it takes longer.

The truth is, you can’t know the person you are dating 100%, something which not so many are told. You know the person more in marriage, where the right atmosphere for Agape love to blossom is found. Back to Mr. Charming.

He is this guy that you can’t get over. His physique is to die for! He has loads of cash, he drives, is articulate, smart, witty, he is hands on, his sense of humor is just on point.

I mean what more could a lil’ mama ever want!  So you date him, and within a few months you have a little being growing inside of you.

Who wouldn’t want to be preggers! Woo-hoo!! With such a man, ohhhh! I mean.

You begin to imagine the life you will live. The house you will live in, the car, the insurance, don’t forget the massive shopping, the little mittens and booties she/he will wear, your baby is so lucky!

You count yourself lucky. You didn’t use ‘Dr. Karim from Tanzania’ charms, no jujus, you are simply blessed!

So you tell this guy you are preggers and the next thing that follows is a spat on your face. “Am not responsible”, “Naaahh, I can’t be the dad”, “it’s not mine” -As if you can conceive immaculately like Mary.

Or worse, he takes responsibility, but you realize you are number 101, and he has 201 children, and there are others whom he has no idea about. The figures are exaggerated, but, there are men like that.

The world is full of Bozos’. Of course for every bad seeds there are always good ones. Not all are unfaithful, not all are ‘Bozos’. ‘Boaz’ exists.

These are men and husbands who are a darling! They are simply the sweetest, adorable, hardworking, loving and caring men.

They take care of their families, they are faithful to their vows and are gentlemen. Stereotyping them won’t help your attitude. God always has remnants in every place. He had them during Elijah’s time, He still has them now.

It’s funny how a video that has the husband beating the wife gets a million views, and so does the one with a husband or wife cheating, yet, one that has a husband and wife happy, or hugging – like the photo of our dear President hugging his wife    is jeered, it’s criticized, and a funny stickman goes around saying this “Jane is Smart, Jane doesn’t post her pictures of her husband because she is smart, Be like Jane.”

That’s another lie from the devil.

Oh! If you are happily married! Shout it on top of the mountain! Let the devil and all his little demons know that marriage works!

That union can never be overrated. Marriage can never be overrated. If that builds your relationship, fill up your Facebook wall with her pictures Mr.!

After all, marriage is about the other person, and if both of you have found your path, occupy to the fullest.

‘Boaz’ exists and so does a ‘Bozo’. Notwithstanding all the marriage talks around, you end up making a mistake of marrying that man in hopes that he will miraculously develop the qualities you desire in a husband.

A common mistake among ladies. You end up marrying a “Bozo”, who has perfected the art of makeup and cosmetics.

You are intrigued by the ‘made up’ face he has, and you forget to look behind the mask.

Every lady’s being has been infused with intuitiveness.

You can feel when a relationship is not right. You know the kind of man you need, but you compromise out of fear of being alone, pressure, etc. etc.

To discern a Bozo, you need to take a keen look at him, observe any red flags and pray.

His perfection of the outward look is simply ingenious.

He can put up a show for you, only to later realize it was all a facade. Do not rush to just settle and survive through your marriage, instead, get married to live in abundance of joy through it all, enjoying, thriving and thanking God daily for giving you a man from his throne.

Funny how things nowadays are so different.

You rush towards a Bozo, instead of Boaz rushing towards you.

You find Bozo, instead of Boaz finding you.

Look at Boaz in the Bible, he was a man worth waiting for. He needs to find you, waiting for him. He was God fearing, a man of unquestionable character, he was full of integrity, meek, caring and hospitable to his workers, yet he was full of riches.

Therefore, riches shouldn’t make a man arrogant. They say good men nowadays don’t exist.

Truth be told, good men still exist. God clearly knows the heart of a human being inclines to evil, but still knows that you can make a choice to be the last man standing, and be counted faithful
Are you with Bozo or Boaz
1.     A Bozo will drain you, a Boaz will build you.
2.     Marriage is never a sprint race.
 It’s a long long long marathon. Take an example of Tyson gay, the USA based sprinter and our very own marathon runner, Wilson Kipchoge. If you were to pick out a man based on his physique, I can bet most ladies would pick Tyson. Why, he is lean, so chiseled, muscular and ripped. Marathon runners look weak, pale, skinny and wasted. Now, if placed in 40 kilometers race, Tyson would not make it to the end of the first kilometer. – Our marathon runner, Kipchoge, would win the race without breaking a sweat. Why? It’s because, both are fit, but trained in different kinds of races. A sprinter needs propelling power, a marathon runner needs endurance. A sprinter only needs 7-10 seconds to finish the race, a marathon runner can be running for upto 2 hours or more. He needs to have trained his body to have endurance. That he can stand the scorching sun, he can stand the rain, and he can stand any weather variation. A sprinter is not trained for endurance. No wonder they look built. Their diet is different too. A sprinter feeds on more proteins and low carb diet, while a marathon runner feeds on more carbohydrates. With that said, I reiterate again, marriage is a marathon. You have to have the right spirit, the right attitude, the right expectation, the right training for you to succeed. Your mind should be set on finishing the race. There’s no rule book on marriage, you just learn for others, pick what is relevant, and cut your own path.
3.     A Boaz will have his mind and strength towards you, a Bozo will make you change your direction and cause a premature death to God’s plan for your life.
4.     A Boaz will complement you, a Bozo will compete with you. Your differences will be celebrated and those that add no value will be shed off.In Ruth 2:1, 4, the Bible describes Boaz as a man who was worthy and he believed in the Lord.
5.     A Boaz will be a man of unquestionable character. He is of good reputation and he is not afraid of you finding out more about him. The Bible still says that a good name is better than silver or gold. A good name gives one favor. He has his reference point as Christ. As I said before, you cannot change a man. Only the Lord can mold him.

Only the Lord can smoothen his rough edges, only the Holy Spirit can convict, and your character will direct him towards Christ.
6.     A Bozo will believe that he can do it on his own, with no regards to authority .He is wicked and unbecoming. Nabal was such a man. Boaz went further to ask Ruth to glean in his own field, among the women, so that she would be safe. He also instructed his men not to touch Ruth. How many men in this modern society would have such standards? We hide under the term “modern trends”, “society has changed”, and we need to keep up. The gospel has been diluted to attract the younger generation and the true gospel of the cross is not preached. Society has lost its moral standards. The moral fiber is rotten to the core.
7.     A Bozo will sleep with you at whichever instance if you cannot respect yourself. He will have no regards of your boundaries if you have no regards to them too.
8.     A Boaz clearly knows that and he will protect you even from the ones he knows. He will set the record straight to them and to you.
9.     A Boaz will protect your purity till the right time. He is a master of his own emotions and feelings.
10.  Being a provider is not about having cars, and lots of money and a house. It’s about knowing that as a husband, you are the head of your family and under your care, they will thrive. That you can go miles to fend for your family, and you need not be told over and over again that you should provide.
11.  A Boaz will be a provider to his family, and support their needs, just like the way Boaz took care of Ruth, while Bozo is an irresponsible, immature man with his priorities upside down.
12.  If there is one thing I know and believe is that Abigail was an attractive woman. She was wise and beautiful. Unlucky for her, she married a Bozo by the name of Nabal. He didn’t notice her kindness, her good deeds and her industrious nature. He was sucked up in his own world of evil and wickedness. Boaz on the other hand took note of Ruth’s character, good deeds and kindness.
13.  A Boaz will study you, take note of your inward beauty as much as you are beautiful on the outside. He will notice that inner beauty that doesn’t fade because the outward one does.
14.  A Boaz will keep complementing you for your good qualities, and seek to understand you. He will work to make you the happiest woman alive. He will cleave to you.
15.  A Bozo will not even notice when you have saved him from a predicament. Nabal did not notice that his wife Abigail wasn’t there when she went to ask David to spare their life.
16.  A Bozo is self-centered and selfish. No wonder, immediately after God stuck him, Abigail run straight to David’s arms! A man after God’s own heart.
17.  Boaz used to take care of the people around him. Am sure his workers, both men and women were happy to work for him. He was a kind man who had espoused good values and always disposed to help.
18.  A Boaz will always be helpful, and compassionate. He cannot mistreat his wife, he cannot mistreat others.
19.  A Bozo will always be critical, intolerant, corrupt, harmful, vicious, materialistic and egocentric.
20.  Psalms 1 says this, “Blessed is the man who does not walk in step with the wicked, or stand in the way that sinners take, or sit in the company of mockers”. The saying goes, “show me your friends and I will tell you the kind person you are “. The people around you determine to a large extent how your character will be. Two cannot walk unless they agree. A thief walks with a thief. Boaz was a man of integrity. He was not manipulative to Ruth, he followed the right procedures in betrothing her, and waited till the whole process is done.
21.  A Boaz is a man of integrity. He does not WALK in the counsel of the wicked. He does not STAND in the way of sinners, he does not SIT in the seat of mockers. His delight is always in Lord.
22.  A Boaz is therefore fruitful in his ways. Both in season and out of season, he continues to flourish. This is because he leans on the unending source of joy, he leans on the Lord.
23.  A Bozo’s life is always dry. He has to use corrupt means to flourish.
Who does your husband to be listen to more often? Who gives him counsel? Which company does he walk with? Where do you find him mostly?
24.  A Bozo is a man whose is largely controlled by his self will. He cannot control himself. He gets really pissed off when things don’t go his way. It’s either his way or no way.
25.  A Boaz can rise above any failure or disappointments that happen in this life. He is willing to adjust himself to be better.
26.  A Bozo is really rigid, with an unteachable spirit. He cannot learn, he cannot be corrected.
27.  A Boaz is a humble man, meek, willing to be corrected, willing to learn. Ladies, your Boaz exists. Develop yourself, enrich yourself, be the best you can be, pray to God for discernment, court wisdom, and our Lord, being a generous God, will fill you. Be a Ruth, and you will be found by your Boaz.    

#marriage works #Gods
 Borrowed from Marriage Chronicles 

Thursday, 1 March 2018

Meaning of Manhood

The Meaning of Manhood

One of my favorite things to do while cleaning the kitchen or doing other chores around the house is to call my mom. It’s become a pattern, so much so that when I call, she’ll jokingly say, “You must be cleaning the kitchen.”
In a recent conversation, I confessed how I’ve struggled as a husband. I explained how I’d failed to fully grasp what true manhood looked liked. For most of my life, I’d assumed that if I was taking care of myself — working, paying my bills, buying my food, and finding adequate shelter — I was fulfilling God’s calling in manhood.
As I grew in my understanding of biblical manhood, I discovered that true manhood demanded more of me. As a single man, I had failed to put into practice what I knew marriage would require. I secretly thought that marriage would miraculously change me and make me a better man. I didn’t drink from the fountain of true manhood as a single guy, so I’m now drinking from a fire hose as a new husband. Now I’m learning the hard way about the high and hard calling of manhood.

Jesus’s Selflessness and Sacrifice

Jesus’s life embodied true masculinity. How could it not? No doubt, we could produce a long list of characteristics that Jesus embodied that made him a real man, but two noteworthy traits are his selflessness and sacrifice.
Jesus’s life embodied true masculinity.
Jesus’s teaching in the Gospels are soaked in these themes. When asked, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” Jesus responds,
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:36–40)
Furthermore, Jesus taught us to not only love our neighbor, but to love and pray for our enemies (Matthew 5:44). It’s easier to sacrifice and act selflessly towards those we feel are worthy of our affection, love, and resources, but true manhood is displayed when we freely and selflessly sacrifice for the unworthy.
Alongside his teaching, Jesus added an unsurpassed testament to his selflessness and sacrifice: the increasing lowliness of his life, even to death. Throughout his ministry, he selflessly gave up his time, energy, and resources for the sake of others. Paul writes that Christ “made himself nothing” and took on “the very nature of a servant.” Paul admonishes us to embrace this mentality: “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5–8). Christ’s lifestyle is a model not only for the married, but also for how unmarried men (and women) should live.
Jesus best displayed his selflessness and sacrifice when he freely went to the cross for the good of his bride, from obedience to his Father, and for the joy set before him. Our perfect Savior died for a bride that had unassailably proven herself unworthy of such a sacrifice. Which presents a beautiful picture of how sinful husbands should love and cherish their wives.

Real Men Freely Give

For many, there is a huge disconnect between what we say and do. But as we can see, Jesus’s life embodied his teaching completely and perfectly. Unlike us, Jesus understood the implications of his teaching better than anyone and never cut corners for the sake of personal comfort and convenience.
We learn from Jesus that true manhood isn’t simply about keeping our noses clean and our own ducks in a row. True manhood means getting beyond ourselves to love our neighbors — and our neighbor is anyone we meet that is in need. Real men freely give their time, resources, attention, energy, and emotional support to those that need it without regard to what they can give in return.
Masculine leadership isn’t an opportunity to be served, but a calling to serve sacrificially.
For the unmarried Christian man, this means freely giving your time and resources by being hospitable, volunteering at church, providing for the needy, visiting the sick, and helping the elderly. It has implications for how you steward your money. Could you give more to the cause of Christ since your present expenses are fewer? How can you honor your parents in this season? You might check in more regularly to see if they have any needs that you could meet.
For the married man, your closest neighbors are your wife and children. Manhood means leaning into your marriage and family. It means providing for them physically, financially, emotionally, and spiritually. It means humbly loving your wife even in the moments when you feel she’s especially unworthy of that love and loving your children when they seem least deserving. And real men honor their father and mother, and are eager to “to make some return to their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God” (1 Timothy 5:4).

The High Calling of Manhood

The first time I called my mom while washing dishes, she was shocked because she knew that acts like this didn’t come natural. I’ve always been quick to think of myself and slow to think of others. But her reaction to me cleaning the kitchen, which was amusing in the moment, encourages me today. It reminds me that though the journey to manhood has been slow and difficult, I’d grown — even if the growth feels insignificant. Her shock reminds me that God is at work.
Real manhood is a hard and uncomfortable calling, whether you’re single or married. The role of leadership God has given men isn’t an opportunity to be served, but a calling to serve sacrificially. In a world that offers immediate gratification — financially, emotionally, and sexually — Christian manhood may seem unattractive and even pointless at times. Why live selflessly and sacrificially when I can do the opposite and enjoy instant pleasure? When society tells us that leadership amounts to privilege, why hold fast to the biblical vision of leadership as sacrifice?
If you’re not serving others like Jesus, you’re not fully walking in biblical manhood.
Real men deny themselves carnal pleasures for true joy in Jesus. Whether you’re married or single, if you’re not serving your neighbors selflessly and sacrificially, you’re not fully walking in biblical manhood. Boys say, “I’m responsible for myself.” Men say, “I’m responsible for my neighbors.” Boys are forced to give, but men give freely because they’ve been freely given. Boys expect their wife or mom to do the dishes, but men are quick to grab the sponge and soap. Ultimately, manhood means serving others as much and more than you serve yourself.
While the temporal rewards are not always immediate, the eternal rewards will be well worth the wait. God the Father demonstrates that he will indeed reward the obedient and faithful, just as he did with his selfless and sacrificial Son:
God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9–11)

Look My Way Come My Way

Look My Way
Come My Way