Sunday, December 12, 2010
MY PASTOR MY FRIEND (2)
Some filled with laughter, some filled with tears.
Some of them I remember, others I wish to forget,
Seeing that instead of joy, these ones brought regret.
But there is a day which stands out from the rest,
This was the day I came to know one of God’s best.
I remember that day as though it didn’t end,
It was the day I met my pastor, the day I met my friend.
When I walked in that day through the doors of the church,
I seemed to have entered his heart, as I left the porch.
Somehow though, he didn’t need to walk into mine,
It just felt like he has always been there from time.
I had walked in as a reject and a nobody,
Wanting to see how I will blend in with everybody.
He taught me that I’m not just anybody,
He made me see that in God, I am indeed somebody.
He believed in my dreams before I knew I had any.
He’s more than Joseph, his interpretations bring liberty.
Much more than a baker, he’s skillful in making bread,
Not the one you’ll take with tea; this kind gets your spirit fed.
Much more than a butler, he’s there to serve you wine,
Not like those from breweries; this one comes fresh from the vine.
What can I say about his spirit of excellence?
How can I describe his wealth of competence?
He’s got character, courage, commitment, compassion,
He’s a great leader in words backed by action.
In diction and elocution, he’s just so winsome;
In looks and complexion, good Lord, he’s so handsome!
Sometimes I inevitably get on his nerves,
Times I feared I’ll get the punishment I deserve.
But in these situations he maintains a calm reserve,
The friendship we share, he would rather preserve.
With gentle words and the maturity he shows,
He gives the rebuke so the child in me grows.
It might be easy to build structures and companies,
But only the truly sent can build lives and destinies.
They make you do much more than what you intend,
They are a few, like the one I call my friend.
So who is this my friend, you might say,
The one I’m speaking about this Lord ’s Day.
More than an acquaintance, he’s such a sweetheart,
He’s my pastor, my friend, his name is GoodHeart
MY PASTOR MY FRIEND (1)
He’s blessed by God with deep insight.
When I’m like a starved sheep in dire need,
God’s Word from him is like succulent feed.
When I feel my search for nurture is complete,
He shows me there’s much more beneath my feet.
He prefers that I don’t run with the herd,
At such times in my life, he is my shepherd.
In seasons of life when like a defeated athlete,
I lay on the floor, intending to quit.
At his counsel I’m strengthened to take it on the chin,
He helps me to remember it’s not over until I win.
With his drills and exercises, mental and spiritual,
I build muscles of endurance and resilience to every trial.
He’s more than a cheerleader in his approach,
He’s my trainer, yes, he’s really my coach.
When in life’s school, it’s like a tough semester,
With so much expected, like one in her third trimester,
He moves me gradually from problem to solution,
Initial stumbling blocks become stepping stones.
Line upon line and precept upon precept,
His instructions make me so much more adept.
These are the times that he’s more than a lecturer,
He brings me to school and he is my teacher.
In happy times of increase and blessing,
I see he’s not intimidated by my lifting.
Though he’s glad that I’m now experiencing comfort,
He’s not hypocritical to be quiet when I fall short.
To those places that I need to go that he’s been,
He shows me an easier path than it was for him.
These are the times that he’s more than a motivator,
Without a doubt, he is my mentor.
Whenever I visit the House of Bread,
I’m always nourished, always well fed.
That’s because whether or not he’s around,
He ensures there’s enough bread to go round.
Like a butler he sees to drinks being on each table,
The wine of the Spirit he pours for all to drink as able.
These are the times that he’s more than a baker,
More than a brother, he is my father
There’s more to him than the eyes can see,
So many things that he’s been to me.
But one thing he’s really been, that’s hard to comprehend,
Is how sincerely he’s always been my friend.
Only a friend would be all the above to me,
Yet relate with me with such great humility.
Handsomely crafted like a great work of art,
He’s a sweetheart, a brave heart, his name is GoodHeart.
Meet my Shepherd, meet my Coach,
Meet God’s servant without reproach
Meet my Teacher, Mentor and Father,
Meet God’s gift to the church like none other.
Meet my Pastor, meet my Friend,
Meet Revd. GoodHeart O. C. Ekwueme.
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Dear Mr. Finisher
I remember those times at the beginning of the year when, being full of hope and aspirations, I wanted to take on all the good looking opportunities that came my way. Thank You for instructing me at those instances that not all that glitters is gold and not all gold glitters. This made me see the blessings of shut doors and open windows. I’m grateful Sir.
I also remember sometime in the middle of the year when I faced some tests I couldn’t comprehend. Those times when it looked like You went quiet on me because all my prayers seemed to “go into voicemail”. I’m glad You later helped me to understand that The Good Examiner doesn’t talk to His candidate during the exam. Not because He hates him but because He’s confident in both the things He’s taught him and the student’s ability to remember them.
When the end of the year drew near and I didn’t know what to make of the things I wanted that hadn’t come, thank You for reminding me that not every thing that is delayed depreciates in value. Sometimes, we don’t value time enough until we have to wait for it. A minute may seem small until it stands between us and a miracle. A time frame is more valuable with expectation at the end of it. Like vintage wine, passage of time causes growth of not just price but value. Thus, even if some of the items on my list are still not ticked, I’m grateful that You have ticked out all the items on Yours because You know the plans You have for me. Surely, I’ll tick out all items on mine before the year ends.
I would also like to thank You for reminding me that a prophecy isn’t what I’ll see when You do a thing but what You’ve done that I’ll see in time. You went on to say that a wait can become wasted at the last minute because, like someone meeting another person for the first time in a crowded place, everybody seems to be that person. So, I’ll wait until what’s mine arrives.
Looking back, I see that I’m not where I used to be and all worry about the rest of the journey fades away when I remember You are the one leading me. I’m effusively thankful that not only is this year ending well, this decade is ending even better. I could go on and on but please note that the brevity of my words in no way measure up to the intensity of my gratitude. Thanks so much.
Yours in writ,
‘Bayor
12/12/2010
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Sunday, October 10, 2010
GRANNY’S DIARY
Monday, September 20, 2010
FRESH PAGE
The Writer turns to the first page of the 29th chapter and He smiles as He observes the book’s sections in decades of age range, chapters of seasons, pages of months, sub-headings of weeks, paragraphs of experience, sentences of days and words of friends.
Spread out in gratitude, eyes wide shut in worship, the book smiles back at the Author, thanking Him for His choice of words: the verbs that account for action, the adverbs that help these verbs, the nouns, the pronouns that stand in for the nouns and the adjectives that describe them both.
The Author alone knows how to make an entire book feature as a word in another book and that’s why this book is grateful that YOU are one of such words.
Your being a bestselling book of meaning and being a word with great meaning, makes meaning.
As one of the Writer’s bestselling books, this book title wants you to know that though silver and gold I’m still acquiring, what I have I humbly share and declare:
May you become a word loaded with such meaning that every where you feature in His-Story: this book or others, the world will not only need a dictionary but an encyclopedia to unravel the mysteries of blessings the Writer has loaded you with.
May the Author, God of the Prophets and Poets, make you such a bestseller that your new tithe will surpass your previous income.
May the Writer delete from your life every word that either changes or adds no meaning to your life so that the pages to come in your future will out do previous chapters of your past in meaning and relevance.
May the WORD, cause every Word that He’s spoken over your life to go beyond just being spelt to beginning to count.
Thanks again for adding such meaning to this book title called 'Bayor.
As always and with ever true sincerity,
Thanks for being YOU!
- ‘Bayor
21st September 2010
Monday, August 30, 2010
RAIN OF GRATITUDE
Monday, June 14, 2010
Dear Mr. Author
Monday, March 22, 2010
Swagger Home
Seeing there was a gorge of some sort across the route, I decided to follow another path that led to the street in front of the house facing mine so I get to walk around the path and not through it as it were. As I moved toward the street, I saw a figure lurking at the narrow exit from the dark alley to the street. I thought to myself that he definitely chose a wrong day if he intends to mug anybody because with the Word I just heard brewing in me and the song “I’ve got the light of God in me… I've got the spirit of the Son of God” playing out in my mind – a song I haven’t heard or sang in ages that came completely out of the blue – I knew something was about to happen…or so I thought. With the thump in my strides sending shockwaves through the ground towards him, he moved out of the way quickly and when I made my way through, I was expecting him to foolishly lift a finger so I would once and for all confirm if what I was feeling inside of me was the anger that led David to tear open a lion and kill a bear or not. On the contrary, with a rather puzzled voice, he told me “bros, I was just robbed there (referring to the path I just walked through), so please be careful”. I gave a casual response and walked on thinking to myself if he was really robbed or was too confused to rob when he saw “us” coming. The rest of the walk home had more swagger because now I had a further confirmation that “yeah though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil”
Well, you don’t need to tell me, I won’t walk that late through the path again but if I have to, it will be a physical “us” this time around and I will be the one holding the cudgel.
‘Bayor Martins
November 2009
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Morning Song
Invisible yet my eyes can see,
Gracious goodness, loving kindness,
Tender mercies, boundless blessings.
Strong as a banner, flowing like a river,
Sweeter than honey, richer than manna,
Refreshing fountain, life giving water,
Living spring, bubbling with life forever.
None compares to You Lord, No one,
Am so glad am a joint heir with your Son.
Copyright © Bayor Martins, 27/01/10
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
The Butterfly
“thou son of man, why do you complain saying my cause is disregarded by my God? Do not be afraid, o worm Jacob, o little Israel, for I myself will help you…”
In that moment, I became rather mesmerized by the awareness of His dazzling white and radiant presence that I began to tremble. Indeed I was as one that was dead and even thought that he might as well eat me up. Rather, he called my name and I looked up to see a very strange looking leaf stretched towards me and He said;
“that which is set before you, take it and eat it. It will turn your stomach sour but in your mouth, it will be as sweet as honey”
I took it and ate and He went on to say;
“I once was a man like you. You’re the apple of my eyes. I see what you see and my glory today can be traceable to those times on earth that I sat and understood by books and the Book. You must have heard of the impact I made in just three years after my 30 years of growth and preparation. I’ll advise you to stick to your vision which won’t lie.”
He then turned to go and before I called out after him saying “but who are you Lord?”, he was already out of sight. I however heard His lovely voice from deep within me saying “I am that I am”.
Today, I stand as a young butterfly to testify that those times of hard work paid off and though it wasn’t easy, it was worth it. Surely, sometimes, feeding on the Word and study may be tiresome but it makes all the difference between who you are and who you should be.
Friends, don’t give up the struggle. Feed on, read on and move on. You will make it. I have to fly now. See you at the top.
Copyright © Bayor Martins, Winter 2002
Just for You
Yours in tune,
Bayor.
080203
Monday, March 15, 2010
NO GREATER LOVE
He watches everything even the springs and brooks
There is nothing hidden from His view
Nothing occurring ever appears to Him as new
He has made every living thing for His glory
Every tree and fruit, that man may not go hungry
I have watched and seen that all living things
The creeping, swimming, walking and those with wings
Pledge their allegiance to Christ the King
To His Almighty feet, His tribute they bring
They have no job on this earth than to eat and sleep
Yet His loving mercy gives them His blessings to keep
I have had questions about His love for me
Whether or not He harkens to my plea
Then one day, in the midst of those dire straits,
He sent His word to me when I no more could wait
He did not use a preacher or usher, pulpit or pew,
He came to me in a language perhaps known to a few
The heavens declare His glory, the skies His handiwork
Is a Scripture that proves creation does talk
When I received the word, it came quite as a shock
Like manna from heaven, water from the rock
Who did He use, what did He say?
When was it received? Was it night or day?
Well, it was through an animal that chews the curd
Through whom, of all creatures, God sent His word
To me it is like the days of Balaam the prophet
Who received an invitation promising to his pocket
And God called him to order from his façade
When his donkey saw an angel on guard
What that animal said to him, this one said to me
When all his provision and care I no more could perceive
In just seven words, I got the message
That earlier on I had read in a passage
“Can’t you see He cares for us?” it said
Just as Psalm 50 verse 10 says, that’s where I had read!
You see, God has engraved us on the palm of His hands
And trials and storms don’t change the fact that His Word stands
I have come to know that there is no greater love
Than that which God sent from above
This Lord Jesus Christ is the purest form of love
Approved by the father with the descent of the dove
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son
That whoever believes in Him should not perish but have life – an eternal one
There is indeed no greater love
Than Christ, sent from above
Bayor Martins – Copyright ©2nd August 2002
MY FRIEND FOR LIFE
DAILY CONFESSION OF THE BLESSED
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
The Nigeria Of My Dreams...
After we left baggage reclaim and made our way out of the airport, I couldn’t but notice that quite a number of people arriving the country weren’t citizens and this got me thinking about that time when Nigeria wasn’t on the top list of tourist attractions in the world. How did we get here? Over four decades ago, most of us were leaving the country for “greener pasture”. I then started to recall, as much as I could, the steps the government took decades ago towards proper management of resources, which took off our reliance on revenue from crude oil and made us create wealth via exploits in the agricultural and mineral sector. Soon, we saw transformation in the transport sector with the introduction of efficient railways that freed the roads from the damage heavy trucks were inflicting. The dedicated truck routes and mobile cold rooms allowed faster road travel and proficient conveying of perishable goods like tomatoes which accounted for great profit via export trades. The release of erstwhile government owned lands for commercialized farming and several other large scale businesses by the private sector, enlightening of farmers on the use technological equipment and breakthroughs in agrarian research yielded more profit than was anticipated.
On leaving the airport, I saw a policeman standing, fully equipped with the works like we used to know in the movies. His appearance wasn’t quite as impressive as the presence he commanded which was once the reserve of military personnel during crisis periods that I now only have a very blur memory of. Security and the value for life had become ingrained into the economy so much it was no wonder we had such an influx of foreign investors.
Just before alighting, I opened my wallet and saw my online voter’s card which brought back to my memory in a rush of reminiscence, the fact that this same country, had gotten our online voting system with real time results displayed on the internet, adopted by the very nations that had called us names in the past. Perhaps it was all these things that made my entry into other countries more and more welcoming every time. The centennial independence celebration would be coming up in a few years and unlike our first fifty years, we now had more than enough reasons to celebrate.
I opened the door to alight the cab, my phone rang, and I woke up in an almost drowning pool of my own sweat because NEPA aka Power [with] Holding Company of Nigeria had done what they seemingly do best. If you’ve travelled across time zones before and have been really jet-lagged, then you’ll understand the way I felt because before the journey in my dream, I could remember how much I struggled to explain to my eldest sister’s granddaughter, what the words “generator” and “pothole” meant. In addition to going online, some pictures I had taken during my early years as a freelance journalist were of great help. Groping around for my phone whose alarm had woken me up, the thought of getting a digital camera didn’t leave my mind. Who knows, a picture of an “Okada” or “threesome bumps” might come in handy someday.
-'Bayor