The gospel according to the evening service.

It's a Wednesday evening, and my first church service in the last two weeks. I'm sitting there with a friend listening to the message which had just about started after we arrived, and the subject matter was: The role of speech in prayer. I honestly wasn't surprised that this was the focus of the evening service, as my understanding of God is that he will say certain things over and over again until we listen, hear, understand and execute the things that he would have us do.

A few weeks ago, the subject of my weekly video focused on blind Bartimaeus and how he received his sight through the ministry of Jesus. The one question that Jesus asked him was 'What would you have me do unto you? 'And blind Bartimaeus was not shy about stating his needs, and he thus received his sight. In the same vein, someone asked me a similar though less life-defining question a few weeks ago, and my first reaction was actually not commensurate with what my desire was because I felt I would have been asking for too much. During the course of that conversation, however, I adjusted my initial request to communicate more of what I actually desired. Without going into a lot of detail, I got  exactly what I had stated that I wanted, and actually a bit more :-)... Keeping in mind the fact that I had actually talked about this issue a little bit a few weeks ago, one would wonder why I am again writing on the topic. I believe it is because we as God's children, speaking also for myself, have cheated, and are cheating ourselves out of what the Lord would have us receive from him because (quoting from one of the stories in my book 'The Voice of One Woman') we "shrink" ourselves and as a result, shrink our requests to match what we believe the "shrunken" version of ourselves deserves. Using the example of the event that I spoke of earlier, the Lord helped me to understand the questions I believe may have been running through blind Bartimaeus's mind prior to the Lord asking the question that led to his receiving what he wanted from the Lord i.e. his sight.

The Holy Spirit ministered to me that, in Scripture, every significant, monumental, destiny defining miracle reported during Jesus's earthly healing ministry had a question that produced a commensurate response associated with it. One that was generated, before, during, or after the event An example of one such a miracle that occurred after a question was asked is that of the blind Bartimaeus we are speaking of. One that was asked while a miracle was being perfected was the one that Jesus asked another blind man-' what do you see?' after he had put clay upon his eyes; To which the man answered, 'I see men walking as trees…' After which the Lord went on to complete the miracle - restoration of perfect vision. Still another question that was asked after the miracle occurred - the woman with the issue of blood healed after she touched the hem of Jesus's garment was Jesus asking: 'Who touched me?'. Using these instances from scripture, the Lord then outlined the questions that I needed to ask myself, settling the answers before, during and even after any question is asked of me, so that I may receive what exactly it is that I want.

The first question he told me that I need to resolve is this:

Do I actually know exactly what I want? With two fundamental provisos - Is it God's will for me to have it? And does it agree with His Word?

The second question:

Do I believe that I am deserving of what I'm asking for?

The third question that I must resolve the answer to:

Am I assured of the fact that the person who will be asking the succedent question of me is willing, ready and able to bring to pass the desires of my heart?

The Spirit of God said that if I'm able to answer all of these questions, and settle my answers to them prior to my being asked any pivotal destiny-defining question as outlined above, or even any question at all that involves my being on the receiving end of a blessing, I will have the desires of my heart.

So in dealing with the first question of whether I actually know what I want, I soul searched, and discovered much to my amazement that beyond typical generalization, in many instances, I do not actually know, or fully understand what I want, or why I want it! So how do I expect to receive an answer to a question that I do not know the answer to?... Selah.

So needs must that I go into my closet i.e. my mind; to pray, search out, and meditate on God's Word, to discover what I actually want i.e what is entirely right and fitting for me.

Going on to question number two: Do I believe that I am deserving of the things I am asking for? And do I think that it is high enough on the scale of importance in the sight of the Lord? Again to my amazement, I discovered that I have not bothered to make certain requests of the Lord, because I did not believe I was deserving!!! Did not believe I was deserving of a certain type of house, car or job, did not believe that the blemish I wanted removed from my body was high enough on the scale of importance, so I just decided that I would not bother the Lord with such a frivolous request (paying no mind to the fact that the Bible records that the Lord thought it noteworthy enough to record the account of the healing of a certain King, of body blemishes).

So again needs must that I realize that I in and of myself, may not be deserving of anything, but IN CHRIST, God's desire is that I have life, and it more abundantly, knowing that nothing is ever too small or too lofty for me to bring to the Lord in prayer.

The third and perhaps the most important of the three questions that I must settle in my heart are this: Do I truly believe that God is willing and able to do what I am asking him to, and when I am asked the kind of question that I wrote of above, do I realize that it is not actually the physical person in front of me who is asking the question, but God himself? It is essential that I must know, understand, be assured and confident that God is not only willing, but he's able to do exceedingly, abundantly, above all we can ask or think, according to his power, which is at work in us.

So tracing my steps back to the situation I spoke of above, I realized that I, almost unwittingly, had been (albeit clumsily) able to settle the answers to all the outcome-defining questions I was asked by that person, because I was able to boldly state the desires of my heart, knowing that it was God's will for me to have that thing, was not guilty or embarrassed about the magnitude of my request, and had assured myself of the fact that the person who was asking the question of me had the power to make whatever it was I asked him, happen.

And since then, I have become highly sensitized to the fact that I must be careful to put every inquiry with regards to what I want or need in my day-to-day living through the "3-5 question step", before I give my answer, i.e. before I open my mouth to speak or answer any such request, I wait, listen to God in my heart until I am sure of exactly what I want, then boldly make the request, being fully persuaded  of the fact that it is God and not man who's asking the question of me and that He's doing so from the stance of One who is willing, able and supremely capable of fulfilling the desires of my heart: big or small, frivolous or weighty, significant or seemingly insignificant, to praise and glory of his name forever.

...And that my friends, brings us to the end of the evening service.
Peace and much love from "Me" called Mettabel, to you.

© OluPero Mettabel, August 31, 2012

Mary, Mary quite contrary; How do your lashes grow?

I was in the bathroom applying mascara to my eyelashes, when I suddenly realized how much they'd grown! I was ecstatic!! What gave rise to my seemingly mindless and joyful calisthenics was the fact that I actually had luscious and long lashes, which, I could not have boasted of a year ago. Now this is a marvelous thing I know, especially for those of us who wear makeup and for those of us who know how extremely frustrating it can be to apply the false eyelashes that make eyes look so mysterious :-), especially if you have also had a run-in with the inventions from the pit of hell called eyelash extensions (don't ask me how I know). Where am I going with this? because you know there must be some highly spiritual reason why I am talking about mascara on Facebook. Right you are if you thought so, because this immediately brought to my mind of Scripture from Galatians chapter 5 which says '… be not mocked, whatsoever a man sows, that shall he reap'. Now what does this have to do with mascara and lashes? I'll tell you: A few months ago I had an unfortunate experience with false eyelashes, which, I had a beautician apply for a special event. The process involved the gluing of small individual hairs to the base of each lash. The individual lashes theoretically would then grow naturally with the real ones, and then fall off over the course of about 3 to 4 weeks with one having the choice to maintain application of lashes or to just let it lapse. Being the somewhat inpatient individual that I am, I proceeded to try to remove false lashes myself when the lashes started appearing somewhat lopsided,  which regrettably resulted in my becoming lash-less!!! A horrific state which I had to endure for about 2 to 3 weeks with me praying frantically and desperately that my eyelashes would grow back. Thankfully they did, and I vowed never to do such a thing again. From that day onwards, I viewed my natural given eyelashes through different eyes (pardon the pun). I decided that from then on other than the application of mascara I will be thankful and content with the lashes I had been blessed with. I started using gentler products on my eyes, and a contraption known as vibrating mascara application stick. After a few weeks, I noticed that my eyelashes were becoming thicker and fuller and continued to do so as I suddenly realized this evening. This taught me two valuable lessons:

1. Whatever I pay attention to whatever and I stimulate in any way, will grow i.e. if I pay attention to love, joy, peace, and stimulate long-suffering, temperance, and brotherly kindness in my life, THEY will grow. On the contrary, if I pay attention to whatever or whoever has hurt me, disappointed me, failed me, and if I stimulate hatred, bitterness, and anger in my life, THESE TOO WILL GROW!

2. The second lesson I learned from this experience is that I cannot fake what is not there, otherwise the strain of maintaining status quo will pull at my emotions and peace of mind much like the fake lashes pulled on my natural ones, so all I'm left with are at best tattered emotions and at worst, an emotional barren wasteland.

Some will read this piece and say: but that's a bit of an extreme inference based on an activity as frivolous as the application of mascara! But I submit to you that I have found great value in allowing the Holy Spirit to use such frivolity to deposit in me wisdom, and to build in me depth of character. As He  rightly said in his Word, He uses the foolish things of this world to confound the wise.

I hope you enjoyed reading this piece as much as I loved writing it.

Peace, and may your lashes continue to grow and prosper!!!

PS Since then I have used and still occasionally use the temporary and EASILY removable ones for that WOW!!! effect :-)...


  OluPero Mettabel, August 28th 2012.

                                         

My luscious God-given lashes!

Celebrate Jesus; Celebrate !!! Ba ba ba ba ba ba bum!!!

You cannot be fully celebrated, until you fully imbibe the culture of celebrating others, and good things that they have, or have done...

Because when God blesses a person, and you celebrate them, you are saying that you believe that it is God who has blessed them and that thing or trait is an achievable possibility and are thus planting seeds of belief and possibility in your own heart. But if you do not, or refuse to celebrate another, what you are actually saying is that you DO NOT truly believe that it was the Lord who blessed them, and you do not see that thing or trait as an achievable possibility in your life, thus planting seeds of doubt and impossibility in your own heart! 

And if you're wondering why nothing good is coming up as a harvest for you, maybe you just need to change the type of seed you're sowing...

And do you know why we can receive from God? It's because we celebrate Him!

... Be not mocked whatsoever a man sows, that shall he reap! - Book o'Galatians.

© OluPero Mettabel, August 7, 2012

Dream Big, See it as done, Then go ahead... STRUT YOUR STUFF!!!

We are currently being taught a series on "eyes" at church. My pastor, during the Sunday message, said the following: 'Exercise yourself daily in "seeing" the things  the Lord has told you about your future. Let your imagination run free, see it as done, and picture yourself doing the things that He has said that you would do' Upon hearing these words the following rejoinder immediately popped into my mind (I believe that it was a Holy Ghost inspired thought, because I am not this savvy with words):

 'When the Lord speaks a "Word" into your ear, Hang on to it and don't let ANYTHING hinder you... Like Abraham look up at the sky, squelching the sand in between your toes, and remembering the promise, Like Sarah laugh, remembering the ludicrous and gargantuan appointment with destiny, made for you by God, according to the "time of life".

'Like Moses hold onto the rod, remembering that the head of the dead staff, was the tail of a living snake, and like Joseph, with your dreams vivid and clear in your mind, Strut your stuff wearing with pride, your coat of many colors... Knowing with foresight that no seducing wiles, warden, nor butler can hold you back, FOR FAITHFUL IS HE WHO HAS PROMISED, WHO WILL ALSO DO IT!'

'SO HOLD FAST TO YOUR CONFESSION OF FAITH, LOOK UP INTO THE SKY AND "SEE" THE INNUMERABLE STARS, SQUELCH THE SAND IN BETWEEN YOUR TOES, LAUGH OUT LOUD, AND MARKING THE GROUND COVERED WITH YOUR ROD, WEARING YOUR "COAT OF MANY COLORS", YOU GO ON AHEAD AND STRUT YOUR STUFF...'

'... And yes! there will be mothers who will ponder and keep these things in their heart, Papas who will look on with pride and veiled trepidation, and there will be brothers who will also be haters. But you pay no one but your God and your  Word no mind. Just go on ahead and "Strut your stuff"...  Y'hear me? YOU STRUT YOUR STUFF!!!'

... And that my dear friends I believe, is how to exercise your faith unto good works...

Peace and much, much love,

From "Me" to you.

© OluPero Mettabel, August 7, 2012

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Dry Bones Can Live, But May Come Alive With Great Noise!

Hello everyone, I hope your weekend has been phenomenal!

I was sitting in church this morning, and my mind being one to meander from time to time, wandered right over to Ezekiel chapter 37... :-) Now what made me think about this particular chapter? (Even though my mind IS prone to wandering and has to be regularly reined in). It was a conversation I had with a wonderful friend of mine, who although has been through a lot over the past year has maintained her joy, her infectious spirit, and her smile… We were talking about a situation she had prayed about, which, instead of her seeing an immediate turnaround in the situation, seemed to result in things going somewhat awry. The events that followed eventually led to a favorable ending, but it was through much prayer, fasting and holding on to God's promises.

As I thought about our conversation, I believe the Spirit dropped something into my heart. He said: When a seemingly noisy and chaotic series of events follows a season of prayer and prophesying, the brouhaha is not necessarily the work of the devil, neither is it (although may very well be the case), always a test of one's spiritual mettle.
'What you perceive as noise may actually be the sound of the power of my might, moving things around, and bringing parts together, mobilizing and executing the desires of your heart, of me, creating universally animated unified wholeness, from a previously dead, dismal, and hopelessly disjointed situation'.

He said to me, 'Ezekiel was led to the Valley of dry bones, dead bones. What he saw was a horrific sight to behold! A sight so terrible that when I, the Lord God Almighty asked Ezekiel if the dry bones could live, he said 'only you know Lord!' The Lord said 'I then told him to prophesy to the bones, and you know what happened afterwards...'

The Bible stated that as Ezekiel spoke, suddenly there was a rattling noise all across the Valley and as he watched, bone began to move towards bone, attaching themselves as parts of whole skeletons. He watched, and the process continued until skin covered the entire bodies, over muscle, over bone, but still no breath was in them. The Lord then said to him 'prophesy to the winds! Speak breath into these dead bodies so that they may live again'. So, Ezekiel spoke the message, and the Bible records that they came to life-A formidable army!! This vision that Ezekiel saw was representative of what God wanted to do amongst his people that is, to raise them up from a place of deadness unto life!

Ezekiel 37  
1 The hand of the Lord came upon me and brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord, and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones. ² Then He caused me to pass by them all around, and behold, there were very many in the open valley; and indeed they were very dry. ³ And He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”
So I answered, “O Lord God, You know.”
⁴ Again He said to me, “Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! ⁵ Thus says the Lord God to these bones: “Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live. ⁶ I will put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and you shall live. Then you shall know that I am the Lord.”’”
⁷ So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and suddenly a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to bone. ⁸ Indeed, as I looked, the sinews and the flesh came upon them, and the skin covered them over; but there was no breath in them.
⁹ Also He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.”’” ¹⁰ So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army.


Using the account above allegorically, I came to the realization that if things seem to take a turn for the worse, rather than the better when I pray, instead of seeing it as a setback, which usually would result discouragement, and thoughts that God was not answering my prayer, the devil was waging war, or believing that it was an obstacle I would have to surmount by faith, that may not be the case at all! It may actually be the magnificent and mighty power of the Spirit working to change my situation.

 This is borne out by Scripture:
 1. Paul and Silas prayed, and the prison where they were kept shook so much so, that their chains fell off.

Acts 16:25-26
²⁵ But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. ²⁶ Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed.


2. On the day of Pentecost, the Bible records that there came a sound as of a rushing, mighty wind that filled the upper room just before the disciples got baptized by the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in diverse tongues. 

Acts 2:2
And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.

These accounts corroborated what I felt the Spirit was ministering to me. He said to me, when things like this happen after a period of prayer and prophesying, do not be silent! What to do? Keep listening for what He wants you to say, keep saying what He tells you to say, keep prophesying, keep declaring and don't give up hope. And as Ezekiel saw a mighty, living Army raised up as the Phoenix from deadness and decay, you will see the answers to your prayers manifested right before your eyes.

Interestingly, this spoke to me on an extremely deep level as I am currently going through a similarly "chaotic" situation. I now know that instead (as I previously did) of seeing this as the end of the beginning, I now see it as the beginning from the end! So instead of a wail, I will let out a victorious shout! Instead of a moan, will groan in the spirit, to birth the desire of my heart, and instead of being quietly dismayed I WILL PROPHESY!!!

You all have a fab week, filled with righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost!

With love from,

"Me" to you.

Of The Old and The New...

Hello everyone,
It's "Me" wishing you happy new month! 
This year is going by so fast that it's almost dizzying! I'm actually right now trying out a software, that's translating my spoken words into text. I had bought the software a few months ago, and had given up on ever being able to use it because it would not recognize my accent… Imagine that! My initial introduction to the software was singularly humbling because I felt that my diction was pretty decent but alas, after the umpteenth try I gave up frustrated, and a little ticked off. I forgot about the software for about four months, but yesterday out of the blue, I decided to give it another try. I downloaded it again from the App Store and went through the training trepidatiously. This time, however, things seemed to go a little bit smoother, which made me feel a little bit more optimistic about how things would turn out. After the training process, I started dictating and lo and behold it actually recognized the majority of my words! Except that just now, when I dictated 'words', it inserted the word brides - Freudian slip? Maybe we'll see :-) … 

What I am trying to say right now is that something that I had given up on and considered a total waste of my time, money, and effort is actually now doing quite well on the usefulness scale!
 Why am I telling you about all this? Well, this is a new month, and I'm sure you like I, have had many things that we tried earlier in the year that just didn't work out the way we expected them to. Maybe you shouldn't just give up on that project just yet, maybe you should give it another try, maybe this time it just might work. I realized, and I'm realizing that as the book of Ecclesiastes says: There is a time for everything, and a purpose to every season under the sun. 

So the fact that whatever project  or thing that you had laid your hands on in the past did not turn out the way you expected it to should not discourage you from trying it again if you feel particularly strongly about it, or you can't seem to forget about it… You may just have tried it out of sync with its time and purpose. So... remember that forgotten project? discarded dream? "set aside" vision? maybe just now ready to be resurrected. The fact that this note exists is proof of what I'm saying. 
This month, reflect, think back, dig deep, let your creative juices start flowing. You may just start loving Piña Coladas! Again happy new month to you all from "Me".

Peace!

PS this time, I finished dictating this note without wanting to hit something or someone - namely the developer (Sorry Lord) :-)… Have a terrific day y'all. 

"Me"