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Thursday, January 31, 2008

Talking to HIM

Hey

what's been happening to you ?

The harmattan in Lagos ehn no easy at all. My peeps use to say that this type of weather kills elderly people fast. Even as young as i am i was almost swept away, Opelope annointing!(if not for anointing).

I got this in my mail box and i feel like sharing it with you.


This story was written by a doctor who worked in South Africa .

One night I had worked hard to help a mother in the labor ward; but in spite of all we could do, she died leaving us with a tiny premature baby and a crying two-year-old daughter. We would have difficulty keeping the baby alive, as we had no incubator (we had no electricity to run an incubator). We also had no special feeding facilities. Although we lived on the equator, nights were often chilly with treacherous drafts. One student midwife went for the box we had for such babies and the cotton wool that the baby would be wrapped in. Another went to stoke the fire and fill a hot water bottle. She came back shortly in distress to tell me that in filling the bottle, it had burst (rubber perishes easily in tropical climates). "And it is our last hot water bottle!" she exclaimed. As in the West, it is no good crying over spilled milk, so in Central Africa it might be considered no good crying over burst water bottles. They do not grow on trees, and there are no drugstores down forest pathways. "All right," I said, "put the baby as near the fire as you safely can, and sleep between the baby and the door to keep it free from drafts. Your job is to keep the baby warm." The following afternoon, as I did most days, I went to have prayers with any of the orp hanage children who chose to gather with me. I gave the youngsters various suggestions of things to pray about and told them about the tiny baby. I explained our problem about keeping the baby warm enough, mentioning the hot water bottle, and that the baby could so easily die if it got chills. I also told them of the two-year-old sister, crying because her mother had died. During prayer time, one ten-year old girl, Ruth, prayed with the usual blunt consciousness of our African children. "Please, God" she prayed, "send us a water bottle. It'll be no good tomorrow, God, as the baby will be dead, so please send it this afternoon." While I gasped inwardly at the audacity of the prayer, she added, "And while You are about it, would You please send a dolly for the little girl so she'll know You really love her?"

As often with children's prayers, I was put on the spot. Could I honestly say, "Amen"? I just did not believe that God would do this. Oh, yes, I know that He can do everything, the Bible says so. But there are limits, aren't there? The only way God could answer this particular prayer would be by sending me a parcel from my homeland. I had been in Africa for almost four years at that time, and I had never, ever received a parcel from home. Anyway, if anyone did send me a parcel, who would put in a hot water bottle? I lived on the equator! Halfway through the afternoon, while I was teaching in the nurses' training school, a message was sent that there was a car at my front door. By the time I reached home, the car had gone, but there, on the veranda, was a large twenty-two pound parcel. I felt tears pricking my eyes. I could not open the parcel alone, so I sent for the orphanage children. Together we pulled off the string, carefully undoing each knot. We folded the paper, taking care not to tear it unduly. Excitement was mounting. Some thirty or forty pairs of eyes were focused on the large cardboard box. >From the top, I lifted out brightly colored, knitted jerse ys. Eyes sparkled as I gave them out Then there were the knitted bandages for the leprosy patients, and the children looked a little bored. Then came a box of mixed raisins and sultanas - that would make a batch of buns for the weekend. Then, as I put my hand in again, I felt the.....could it really be? I grasped it and pulled it out - yes, a brand-new, rubber hot water bottle. I cried. I had not asked God to send it; I had not truly believed that He would. Ruth was in the front row of the children. She rushed forward, crying out, "If God has sent the bottle, He must have sent the dolly too!" Rummaging down to the bottom of the box, she pulled out the small, beautifully dressed dolly. Her eyes shone! She had never doubted! Looking up at me, she asked: "Can I go over with you and give this dolly to that little girl, so she'll know that Jesus really loves her?" That parcel had been on the way for five whole months. Packed up by my former Sunday school class, whose leader had heard and obeyed God's prompting to send a hot water Bottle, even to the equator. And one of the girls had put in a dolly for an African child - five months before, in answer to the believing prayer of a ten-year-old to bring it "that afternoon."

"Before they call, I will answer" (Isaiah 65:24) This awesome prayer takes less than a minute. When you receive this, say the prayer,... that's all you have to do. No strings attached. Just send it on to whomever you want - but do send it on. Prayer is one of the best free gifts we receive. There is no cost but a lot of rewards.

Let's continue praying for one another... Father, I ask you to bless my friends reading this right now. I am asking You to minister to their spirit at this very moment. Where there is pain, give them Your peace and mercy. Where there is self doubting, release a renewed confidence to work through them. Where there is tiredness or exhaustion, I ask You to give them understanding, guidance, and strength as they learn submission to Your leading. Where there is spiritual stagnation, I ask You to renew them by revealing Your nearness, and by drawing them into greater intimacy with You. Where there is fear, reveal Your love, and release to them Your courage. Where there is a sin blocking them, reveal it, and break its hold over the lives of my friends. Bless their finances, give them greater vision, and raise up leaders and friends to support and encourage them. Give each of them discernment to recognize the evil forces around them, and reveal to them the power they have in You to defeat it. I ask you to do these things in Jesus' name.

. "Do not ask the Lord to guide your footsteps if you're not willing to move your feet."

Take that step today and talk to God about it.

"Before they call, I will answer" (Isaiah 65:24)

Love!

32 comments:

Obinwanne said...

im the first!!!!..lemme go read...

Thirty + said...

What is all this noise you are making about harmattan. Go Calgary in Canada tis currently like -17C even me wey dey 0c just dey thank God when my friend told me how they are coping,

Amen, thank you touching post, got it in my inbox a while back 'tis good to reread again.

ababoypart2 said...

I will swap harmattan for the weather here...And the post, well touching

Jennifer A. said...

a) Harmattan
b) Winter...

I'm finding it difficult to choose. Let me go and read...

Naija Chickito said...

What a very beautiful read. God is so faithful, what can we do without Him?
'Before they call, I will answer'
Words cant express how much this has ministered to me. God bless you.

Ms. emmotions said...

i feel u on the harmattan thing my dear, i feel am already blown away..lol

Afrobabe said...

babesss leave hamattan alone oh...the one that is worrying here is deadly...

i have seen that post before, yet it brought tears to my eyes...

No more reading blogs jare...second one almost making me cry today...

shhhh said...

meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeen its freezing in scotland, really cold

Rinsola said...

I would gladly swap the harmattan weather for this face stiffening cold here, and thanks for stopping by.

little miss me said...

im sure harmattan is like paradise compared to this -11 degrees im suffering here in Canada.
very touching story

Allied said...

With the heat on full blast, i still have to wear a sweater to bed... Abeg harmattan is spring jare..

The post id beautiful.. that is why Jesus said we have to be like a child to enter the kingdom of God..

Toochi said...

sheesh...welll i guess harmattan is already gone....i hate that:(

All-Mi-T [Thought Crime] Rawdawgbuffalo said...

u should come to the ATL. any who nice spot hon, chk me out one day, ill b back

SOLOMONSYDELLE said...

my mother has been hallaing about harmattan and I even watched an NTA report on the coldness of this year's season.

Anyway, nice post.

Savvy Dreamer said...

WOW!!! God answered the prayer even before it was prayed. This is amazing.

Great post. REALLY great post.

Savvy Dreamer said...

WOW!!! God answered the prayer even before it was prayed. This is amazing.

Great post. REALLY great post.

Simi Speaks said...

Great inspiring story.. So many reasons to always be thankful.

Cold in 9ja, common on girl.. no sympathy here. lol..

wats up for vals day? i know, nosy me, abi! hehehe

Anonymous said...

How wonderful

♥♫♪nyemoni♫♪♥ said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
♥♫♪nyemoni♫♪♥ said...

I've read this before in Chicken soup for the soul but it still gets me starry eyed.....Our God is awesome, isn't He?

Anonymous said...

@afro, no readin blogs...u fit??

Very touching story.

darkelcee said...

@obiwanne
You've just won yourself a box of popcorn! Congratulations, come and pick your prize!

@30+
We were not used to the cold weather now. No be our fault.lol

@ababoypart2
thanks and i can feel you about swapping. Odikwa easy! lol

SOLOMONSYDELLE said...

Aunty darkelcee, update nah! I will update on TE, TK and Officer Bomboy on Monday oh.

Mommy said...

Wow girl...Thanx for sharing this. I'll keep Isaiah 65:24 to heart. Thanx!!

La Reine said...

Word
God definitely dey.

Anonymous said...

will def take t hat harmattn over this freezing cold!!
thats an inspiring story!

Rinsola said...

How about updating missy? Nywayz, just stoppng by.

Anu boy said...

this is a really beautiful post...

i read this a while ago...

gives me a lot of faith oh...

Lighty 'neferet' Kopearl said...

harmattan???? u joking me? lol! is it dat cold? can not be. omo wear sweater and cardigans and jumpers u'll be fine. pele.

Sasuke said...

very moving story darkelcee.... God works in mysterious ways..oya e don tey way you update oh abi gist don finish? lol

darkelcee said...

@Jaycee
sista, please choose Harmattan.lol!

@Naijachikito
I am happy it ministered to you. it touched me too.

@Ms emmotions
Now that every where is hot... we must not complain o. lol

@Afrobabe
Can you stop blogging? How is exam prparation going?

@T.L.K.S
Pele its now "melting" hot in naija.lol

@Rinsola
you are most welcome. i am not sure you want to swap the heat now? or do you? lol

@L.M.M
-11, My God!, I dont envy you at all sista. just dey enjoy ok. i am with you in the spirit.

@Allied
you wear sweater to bed?lol, pele dear.

@Toochi
I dont even know what i hate again, harmattan or this heat? lol

@TSbkaAMT
i will check you out definitely and you must come back too. lol

@Solomonsydelle
Mummy bomboy,it was really cold.i no blame mumsy jare.

@Nahja
Our God is Amazing.He is the all knowing God.

@Simi Speaks
Haa you for sympathise small nah,Val's day? nothing happened.lol

@Olamild
thanks for stopping by.

@Nyemoni
Yes He is awesome.

@princesa too lazy to sign in
lawl.too lazy to sign in ?
enjoy

darkelcee said...

@Solomin sydelle
i don manage update somin nah. lol

@Mommy
Please do. Our God is faithful.How is my baby doing?

@lareine
Oro indeed.lol

@Pink Satin
Definately. sebi we just dey run mouth for naija too much enjoyment.If na snow nko?

@Rinsola
I have updated.thanks for stopping by.

@Anu Boy
Thanks dear.same here

@Lighty
Lol i cant wear sweaters to office. but trust me my camisoles are thicker than some sweaters.otutu po men

@Sasuke
I don update...God don move me in mysterious way to update.lol

Thanks all for the love.