Swagger Home

My Head of Department asked to see us all so I had to stay back when most members had gone. I kept poring over the unique teaching I received that evening and the emphasis on understanding the glorious future ahead, made me feel like starting the service all over. I walked to the main street to pick a cab after the meeting and I opted to alight at a point that though much closer home, wasn’t as well lit as the one I would have stopped at usually. However, being already late, I didn’t want to spend any more time outside than usual. So, I started walking towards this eerie path through the “woods” just opposite my apartment. Midway through, I could almost hear footsteps behind me but the much louder voice within me saying ‘I do not have a spirit of fear’, made me pound my feet harder into the ground. With my laptop backpack and my hard-sole ankle shoes, thumping away with so much audacity, you would think it was a one man army approaching.
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

Morning Song

I feel your love around me,
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

The Butterfly

In the premier of my youthful age, I was rather supposed to be proud of the stage. But little as I was back then, I still had a mind for the best of what I could obtain. In those epic and very wondrous years of my metamorphosis, I became quite fed up with the whole process. If it were you, I know you would feel the same. In fact, you might have even felt more shame. Agreed, growing up should be fun and all that but…it really wasn’t that easy because, for me as a worm, all I had to do was eat the green leaves around and hope that someday I would eventually spread my wings and fly. But it just didn’t seem feasible enough for me. I often wondered to myself if all the fancy and beautiful butterflies I see around ever passed through the same stage I was presently passing through. A lot of things went on in my mind and in response to my ardent desire for answers, Heaven sent me a word through Wisdom that appeared as a little white dove. Now, mama told me to stay off strangers but somehow, he looked like me and I would have considered that thought as a stupid one until He spoke up and said;
“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

My heart is filled with a song for You my lover today. I dreamt of you and I wish I were still asleep. Waking up now, my entire being is singing to You and I am so delighted to know You. I remember the wonderful times we have together when You and I sit and discuss in the early hours of the morning and your warm and gentle touch would ignite my spirit and keep me alive throughout the day. It is sweet to remember the wonderful times when we dine together and with a smile on your face, You instruct me in the way I should go. I really do cherish those times at the beach when You would carry me in your arms and all I wanted to do was just forget about the troubles of this world and remain with You. When You cuddle me in your arms and we see the stars together, You would tell me that the plans You have for me are those of peace and not of evil to bring me to a good and expected end. You are so loving my Dear. I love it when You gaze at my form and commend my beauty saying that I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Several times my future would appear unsure and I would be afraid but You would comfort me and remind me that the good work You began, You will complete it in me. When afraid to embark on life’s journey, You reassure me with your words of peace saying You will never leave nor forsake me. The other day, our enemy came and You told me to resist him and he will flee from me. I could go on and on about your mercies and love which are new every morning. Thank You Lily of the valley, Shepherd of my soul and the Living Spring of my life and heart. I love you sweet Jesus.

Yours in tune,
Bayor.

080203

NO GREATER LOVE

Upon the heavens above, He sits and looks
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

My wife is a God fearing woman. She worships God with the unfading beauty of a gentle and quite spirit. She constantly submits her life to Christ and is careful to do his will at all times.

She is a woman of purpose. She walks in her calling as a help meet to me; her husband and she helps in nurturing and bringing my dreams to birth. She brings up our children in the fear of the Lord therefore we call her blessed.

My wife is a submissive woman who submits to God, his word and his constituted authorities. Therefore, she has no problem submitting to me, her husband, in everything. 

She is a woman of godly character. She clothes herself with the garment of honesty, gentleness and the fruits of the spirit. She concentrates her energies on building godly virtues in her inner man. She is thus favored of God and man.

My wife has the mind of Christ and a humble spirit. She doesn’t think of herself more highly than she ought to but she gives honor to me; her husband and those around her. She chooses to serve in humility, so, she receives promotions from both God and man.

She is a virtuous woman. A woman of great worth and value. She honors the Lord with her body and presents it as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto him. Thus, as her husband, my heart safely trusts in her.

My wife’s tongue is a well of life and she knows how to speak a word in season to him that is weary. Her words are seasoned with salt and they minister grace to everyone who hears her. She speaks to me; her husband, with wisdom and to our children with kindness. She is a woman of prayer. She abides in the secret place of the most high. She walks in faith and she is full of the Holy Ghost. She births my dreams and visions in prayer and prays for our children through the circumstances of life. There is no mountain too high or valley too low that she cannot overcome in prayer.

My wife has the spirit of God in her and thus she is able to forgive every wrong. She relates to me; her husband, and all around her with the love of Christ, so she is not easily offended. Therefore, great is her peace.

She shows respect to all people at all times, irrespective of race or religion; class or status; power or position. She treats others the way God wants her to treat them and she recognizes that God is no respecter of persons. She particularly shows respect to me, her husband, and our children, thus, earning our respect.

My wife is a good woman who looks to the welfare of our children and me. She does not eat the bread of idleness. She is relentless in her efforts to see to the needs of our household and she does not engage in idle chatter and fruitless ventures.

She is content in all things so, she maintains a thankful spirit. She does not walk in covetousness because God supplies all her needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Compiled by ‘Bayor Martins, 29/10/09;

(Ref: “Priced above rubies” by Pastor Bimbo Odukoya)

DAILY CONFESSION OF THE BLESSED

I am blessed. 

God will bless those who bless me and curse those who curse me. 

I am a blessing to all the peoples of the earth. 

Lord, I am not afraid, for You are my shield and my very great reward. 

I have received all the blessings of Abraham in Christ. 

I will surely become a great and powerful nation and all nations on earth will be blessed through me. 

The Lord has blessed me abundantly and I have become wealthy. 

I planted seed and the same year reaped a hundredfold because the Lord has blessed me.

Thank You, God, for increasing me a thousand times and blessing me as You have promised. 

You love me, Lord; You bless me and increase me. 

The blessings come upon me and overtake me. 

All my possessions are blessed. 

I am blessed when I go in and when I come out. 

The Lord will grant that the enemies who rise against me are defeated before me. 

The enemy comes in one direction and flees before me in seven. 

The Lord sends blessings on everything I put my hand to. 

The Lord blesses me in the land He has given me. 

The Lord has granted me abundant prosperity. 

The Lord has opened the heavens, the storehouse of His bounty, to bless all the work of my hands. 

The Lord has made me the head and not the tail. 

I am always at the top and never at the bottom. 

I fear the Lord and lack nothing. 

My delight is in the law of the Lord. 

On Your law I meditate day and night. 

I am like a tree planted by streams of water which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. 

Whatever I do prospers. 

Thank You, God for You have given me the ability to produce wealth and so confirm Your covenant which You swore to my forefathers. 

I spend my days in prosperity and my descendants will inherit the land. 

I am the righteous and I am flourishing; I have abounding prosperity until the moon is no more. 

I am blessed because I fear the Lord and I find great delight in God’s commands. 

Wealth and riches are in my house. 

I fear the Lord and walk in His ways. 

I eat the fruit of my labor. 

Blessings and prosperity will be mine. 

I love You, and You love me. 

I seek You and find You. 

With You are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity. 

I bring You the whole tithe into the storehouse that there is food in Your house. 

You, Lord Almighty, have thrown open the floodgates of heaven and poured out so much blessing that I do not have room enough for it. 

Lord, You rebuke the devourer for my sake so that he will not destroy the fruit of my ground, nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for me in the field, says the Lord of hosts. 

I have received the blessing of the Lord that has brought me wealth, and He adds no trouble to it. 

I am a generous person. 

I will prosper. 

I have received the righteousness of Christ. 

Prosperity is my reward. 

I have pursued righteousness and love. 

I have found life, prosperity and honor. 

I have received the humility of Christ, and the fear of the Lord has brought me wealth and honor and life. 

God, You have given me wealth and possessions and enabled me to enjoy them, to accept my lot and be happy at my work – this is a gift from You. 

God has blessed me in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 

God, You grant me according to my heart’s desire and fulfill all my purposes. 

When my desires are fulfilled, it is a tree of life to me. 

God You satisfy my desires with good things so that my youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

I delight myself in You, Lord, and You will give me the desires of my heart. 

You have given me my heart’s desire, and have not withheld the request of my lips. 

For You meet me with the blessings of goodness; You set a crown of pure gold upon my head. 

You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing. 

God, You will satisfy my desires, for I fear You. 

My desires will be granted; for I am righteous. 

Now to You, God, who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that I ask or think, according to the power that works in me. 

I am diligent and my desires are fully satisfied. 

My God shall supply all my needs. 

I prosper in all things, even health, just as my soul prospers. 

For the Lord has pleasure in my prosperity. 

The Lord shall make me plenteous in goods, in the fruit of my body, and in the fruit of my cattle, and in the fruit of my ground. 

The Lord shall command the blessings upon me in all that I set my hand to. 

I seek first the expansion of God’s kingdom worldwide, and all these things shall be added unto me. 

No good thing will He withhold from me whose walk is upright. 

Blessed am I who fears the Lord, who delights greatly in His commandments. 

Wealth and riches shall be in my house. 

I am a faithful person and abound with blessing. 

Blessed is the Lord, who daily loads me with benefits. 

I keep the words of this covenant that I may prosper in all that I do. 

Riches and wealth are the gift of God. 

The Lord will open to me His good treasure. 

I walk in His ways that I may prosper in all I do and wherever I turn myself. 

Jesus came that I may have life, and that I may have it more abundantly. 

I seek the Lord early and find Him. 

Riches and honor are with the Lord; yes, durable riches and righteousness that He may cause me, who loves Him, to inherit substance; and He will fill my treasures.

Compiled by ‘Bayor Martins, 22/01/10;

(Ref: “Think like a billionaire, become a billionaire” by Scot Anderson)

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

TENANT OR HOMEOWNER

You realize, don’t you, that you are the temple of God, and God himself is present in you? No one will get by with vandalizing God’s temple, you can be sure of that. God’s temple is sacred – and you, remember, are the temple.

1st Cor. 3:16 (MSG)

If someone comes up to you and says “my house is always disturbing me that it is too cold so I tore open the roof to allow the sunlight find its way in. The rain may soak all my furniture and drench me but it really doesn’t matter. I just want my house to be happy”. Your initial reaction might be to wonder if it he was joking or perhaps he has some more treatments to undergo before being discharged from the psychiatrist home he apparently ran away from.

That is the way some humans talk to God with the way they use their body especially when it comes to acts of sexual immorality. When God had formed man, He breathed into his nostrils and man became a living being. Without the breath of God, man is mere dust. (Gen. 2:7). Man is a spirit having a soul and living in a body. The real man therefore is not the container but the content. We are occupants of a house-body and we see our world by looking out through two windows called eyes (Eccl. 12:3). Some of us are storey buildings whilst others are bungalows. Some are narrow, others are wide. Our roof or paint can either be black, brown, white etc depending on the Makers design or the home owner’s renovation.

Sexual immorality is fast becoming a norm in our society with the illusion that “everybody is doing it” – nothing could be further from the truth. The fact that a man can be reduced to a loaf of bread and that his soul is destroyed when he indulges in sexual immorality remains ever true (Proverbs 6:26, 32). 

Are you a tenant in you own body, paying the rent of indulgence to your body at the detriment of your soul? You are meant to mortify the flesh and all the lusts thereof: and that means killing off everything connected with that way of death: sexual promiscuity, impurity, lust, doing whatever you feel like whenever you feel like it, and grabbing whatever attracts your fancy. That’s a life shaped by feelings instead of by God. It’s because of this kind of thing that God is about to explode in anger…you know better now, so make sure it’s all gone for good…(Colossians 3:5-8; MSG)

Same principle of chaste applies to our feeding habits. It is said that the most common form of malnutrition in the western world today is obesity. We are finding it more and more difficult to watch what we eat and it is apparent in lives being cut short because of improper feeding. It’s your house; make it cozy and comfortable for your spirit. Your body doesn’t own you, you own it and God owns you (1st Cor. 6:13; 9:27).

WHO'S DRIVING? | "QUANTUM OF STRESS"

Perhaps it was the mattress because though it wasn’t written “waterbed” on it, it behaved in much the same way like one except that this one gave me so much body aches that I wonder why I would sleep on it a second time. The woozy feeling that characterizes going to bed tired and waking up tired seemed to be my lot as I dragged my bag, with a laptop that passes for a starter-kit for weight lifters, ready to go to work.

Navigating through the town from my home to my office had never been an issue but today, it seemed like I was traveling to one of those remote villages with dilapidated classrooms…to write JAMB! (If you’ve written that exam once or more, you’ll get the picture perfectly.) I tried to keep the strut in my steps as I walked to the street ahead to pick a cab. The walk was unusually long and I couldn’t help but think of how I would be able to do all the things lined up for the day. At the junction on any other day, I would keep walking till I got a cab or just pick a bus for all its worth but with my bag pack feeling like a ton of bricks, standing and walking both seemed like daunting tasks so I chose to just glide so as not to get the feeling of either alternative.

All the cabs appeared to be avoiding my street until this particular cab surfaced in the distance and my hand was out in a flash motioning for him to notice me first amongst the many others that were all along the street, way ahead of me. We both seemed determined because he sort of ignored the other people and headed straight for me. Now I think I understand why he did because on getting to where I was, the Golf Volkswagen car he was driving seemed to move further than where he wanted it to stop and before I got where he was, he was making the attempt to open the door as though he had seen me on TBN or CNN. I got to him and the look on his face had nervousness written all over it. I told him where I was headed and he said “oga, I just dey start this work, I no too sabi road”. Now, am quite sure that if I wasn’t feeling the way I had described earlier, I would have heard him clearly, especially those things he wasn’t saying and that I was about to find out.

I got into the cab and reached for the seat belt and we were to move when he asked me what direction he was to go and I said the same one he came from. His attempt to turn the car around sort of made me take back the instruction to go that direction and made clear to me the reason he had asked if there were any V.I.O’s (Vehicle Inspection Officer) on the route. I had told him I don’t usually look out to observe them because half the time, am reading something and only looking up once in a while. By now, I knew reading would not be an option this morning but to be sober and vigilant!

Clenching the steering wheel, changing the gear and looking up to see the road ahead as though he was replaying the process in his mind as was told him by his driving instructor, I knew this was a good time for me to get out of the car but my curiosity got the best of me and I wanted to see what would happen. I can’t die in a car accident so I knew being in the car was insurance for him because with the way he was sweating, without a license, he needed insurance!

The paint on the cab was quite fresh as I saw through the side mirror which suggested that he must have just acquired the car, got it painted for town taxi business and got the “taxi driver’s list of music cd’s for dummies” (which he was still acquiring by the way). The cars whirring past us were somewhat more intimidating now that I wasn’t sure the way this guy was feeling about it.

Getting to the expressway on the bridge before the Sheraton Hotel, a Toyota Camry car joining from the overhead bridge on my right hand side came in so fast that this guy pulled a stunt that caused him to bash into the car to our left. Seeing our car screeching, somersaulting and then bursting into flames, the normal outcome of events, played out in my mind in rapid succession but I knew none would happen. I then told him to pull over and motioned for the cars coming behind that we needed to stop. You can be sure that he got insulted from a car driver that was miles away and whose car wasn’t even the one hit. The owner of the bashed car came and parked in front of us and I told this very jittery driver to just calm down and sincerely beg the other driver because he was out rightly wrong in this case. He got out and before the car owner could make a “you don bash my car” accusation, this guy was on the ground prostrating and begging with such superfluity that you would think he killed someone. After about five or so minutes, the Alhaji and his colleague let this guy go mentioning to him that an apology would not repair the car.

We got to the office in one piece except that I was actually exhausted, “driving” from the passenger’s seat in front, with this guy that by this time looked like he could use a life jacket! I paid him his charge as we had agreed and he wanted me to manage the change he was giving me because he couldn’t find some few Nairas to complete the said amount. (Can you believe this guy?) Well, I told him if there was anyone to manage, it should be him. I think I’ve had my month’s share of managing this morning alone.

Reflecting on the incident, I now know that when we pray for patience or any other virtue, God doesn't just give us a potion with the label "patience" on it. Rather, He gives us opportunities to be patient and acquire the virtue. It reminded me that God sometimes sits in the car of our lives when we don’t have a clue as to where we’re going and like this driver, we should learn to just say “yes sir” and “ok sir” to our Instructor on the journey of life – the sweet Holy Spirit. With Him by our side, our car can take a bump once and again without casualties.

‘Bayor Emmanuel Martins