Healing
Will Stop Writing For A While –But Keep Pressing Towards The Mark…
By Joseph Jerry Umaru([email protected] )
[email protected]
www.myspace.com/joseph2nations
www.FaithWriters.com/member-profile.php?id=35402
January, 2009.
***Permission and encouragement to reproduce and re-transmit this article is hereby granted, but only in its entirety, including author’s name and contact details at the end of the article, and without any alterations.
Join me as I celebrate the efficacy and the progressive fulfillment of this awesome Scripture in my life and destiny:
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28 NIV).
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28 KJV).
If there is anyone that should fabulously celebrate the above Scriptural passage, it’s me!
Upon my graduation from the University, I went on the one-year compulsory National Service (a must for all graduates under 30 in my country). I rounded up the Service in August, 2005.
After returning home from the National Service, the Lord gave me a revelation of apostle Paul’s 3 years ‘wilderness/training’ experience in Arabia (see Galatians 1:17-18). I then received a witness in my spirit that I will also be passing through a 3-year wilderness/grooming experience. But, as a Christian with a Pentecostal upbringing, I immediately ‘reject/cast down’ such “negative” imagination with a fiery Pentecostal “positive confession”. But as things turned out, I could not escape it.
My search for a job began in earnest, but the more I made efforts to secure a job, the harder it gets.
One fateful day, as I was lamenting my inability to secure a job, the Lord spoke to my heart thus: “stop counting the days when you will secure a job… instead, make the days count”.
The Lord then laid on my heart to start an outreach ‘ministry’ on the Internet. Then, in December 2006, He instructed me to start writing for Him, and thus beginning what I do fondly call; Joseph2Nations Internet/Writing Outreach. That outreach has turned out to be a blessing to many across the nations.
I now look back at my three years “Arabian” experience with an attitude of thanksgiving. The Lord has made this three-year period to work for my good and also further His ends. Those who were privileged to read my December 2008 article would have read my testimony.
The Lord has truly made ‘all things’ (the past 3 years) to work for my good, serve His purpose and bless the nations.
The writer Thornton Wilder says we should think of our lives in terms of a great landscape that extends far beyond what the eyes of our experience can see, “who knows” he says, “how one experience so horrible to us can set in motion a chain of events that will bless future generations?”
And I humbly submit here that the things the Lord has led me to do on the Internet and also inspired me to write these past 3 years will not only bless this generation, but also generations yet unborn – they will outlast my lifetime.
If there is any solemn lesson I have learnt from this three years wilderness experience, it’s this: Through all the countless good and bad experiences of our lives a guiding Hand is at work – working behind the scene to perfect that which concerns us in ways unseen to the natural eyes…
God is with us in all our challenges and difficulties, and when we stay close to Him and joyfully serve Him (inspite of the challenges), He will make chronic challenges and difficulties work for our good and contribute to His ends.
From experience, I can humbly submit: Anything that happens to us as Christians is bearable when we see it as contributing to God’s universal epic – His divine story…
The Lord will not hesitate to dip His pen into the dark colours of our life’s experiences, and in the process, write a story that will transform evil into good. Simply put: Our God can bring good out of everything bad…
Hey, God’s incomparable skill at turning negatives into positives not only fascinates me but encourages me as well!
The past three years has (so far) been the most spiritually engaging, exciting and fruitful phase of my life…
What more? I got to discover within this period that the Lord has endued (endowed) me with such a phenomenal grace and gift of writing!
No doubt, difficulties and problems to a God who is infinite and loving only serve to bring out certain characteristic(s) (e.g.; special talents and individuality) which, previously hidden and unknown to us, He delights to reveal.
Brethren, I have come to view the things that have happened/happening in my life in terms of a transcendent drama. I view such happenings with the clear awareness that a loving, destiny-oriented God has allowed me to pass through the things I have passed/passing through for a purpose – a divine purpose…
I am really awed by what God is doing in my life – enabling me to float on the waves of His divine purpose for my life and destiny. Hallelujah!
Anyway, to cut the long story short: My three (3) years “Arabian experience/training” has been completed – it has come to an end!
The Lord has graciously bless me with what I will call; a dream job.
On Tuesday, December 23, 2008, Daily Trust and Punch (national dailies in my country) published the names of successful candidates for enlistment (recruitment) into the Senior Officer’s Cadre of the Nigeria Immigration Service.
It might interest you to note that about 150 thousand people nationwide applied for the less than 550 available vacancies. Only 12 people were successful (taken) from my State and my name was second (No. 2) on the list of those adjudged successful from my State.
Working with the Nigeria Immigration Service has been a kind of a long-time dream for me. Way back in 2006, in a night dream, I saw myself being enlisted into the Nigeria Immigration Service. Now, after about two years, that dream has finally come to pass (see Habakkuk 2:3 KJV). I therefore have no doubt in my mind that the Lord has a hand in my picking up an appointment with the Nigeria Immigration Service.
Am I in anyway ‘abandoning’ my Call to pursue a secular job? NO, and a thousand times NO! I was never into full-time ministry. That is clearly stated on my WebPages. As I did state on my WebPages: Am still being groomed by the Master Potter. I am therefore of the conviction that my enlistment into the Nigeria Immigration Service is part of God’s divine progressive ‘Process’ in/on my life and destiny.
I’m not yet into full-time ministry, and will NOT propel myself into it without a CLEAR signal from God.
God’s Word clearly says: “No one takes this honor upon himself; he must be called by God, just as Aaron was.” (Hebrews 5:4 NIV).
I am of the belief that the Lord is sending me into the Nigeria Immigration Service for a purpose – as part of His unfolding/evolving Will/Plan for my life. I am therefore going in there to make a mark for Jesus…to represent the interest of the God of Heaven and earth. I am going into the Service to serve God, my fatherland (Nigeria) and humanity.
With God’s help, I hope to discharge my duties as a God-fearing, diligent, patriotic and Christ-possessed Officer.
If the Lord does at anytime instruct me to go into full-time ministry, I will gladly and promptly obey with all pleasure. Am just a mere clay in the Hands of the Master Potter.
As things stands at the moment, we (the successful candidates) will be sent on a six-month training/induction exercise (course) after which we would be given our postings. I will therefore be off writing for a while.
However, I will continue to vigorously pursue and press on towards the mark of the high calling of God upon my life…
DO KEEP ME IN YOUR PRAYERS.
Let me use this opportunity to thank all my mentors, readers, partners and those who have been supporting me these past 3 years…
Worthy of special mention here are: the late Bishop Bitrus Kato, Mr&Mrs John Umaru, Miss Keturah Umaru, Mr. Joseph Jiya and Rev. Elijah D. Singer of Netherlands Antilles.
Bishop Bitrus Kato is my late spiritual father – a man whose life and ministry has had such a great impact on my life and destiny. The Lord has over the years being grooming me under Bishop Kato’s tutelage and ministry. He was called home to glory on 23rd August, 2008.
Papa Kato; the eternal seeds you have sown into my life and destiny lives on – it is bearing fruit and growing! See you at the Father’s feet on that Day – that great Resurrection Morning.
Once again; thank you readers, mentors, partners, loved-ones and well-wishers. In enhancing my opportunity to serve God and humanity, you have given an opportunity to grow. May the good Lord bless and increase you all.
All my past (previous) writings and articles are accessible on my WebPages.
FINALLY; Let’s magnify this Great omnipotent God together for He is worthy! He is a Master at making ALL THINGS work together for the good of His people. His mercies and righteousness reaches to the skies, He has done great things; who is like unto Him!! Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out… How majestic and excellent is His Name in all the earth – He is the Lord God Almighty!!! I stand in awe of His majesty…
There is no higher calling, no greater honour than to knee and bow before His Throne. I’m amazed at His glory, embraced by His mercy; I just love to worship HIM!
To Him Alone Be All The Glory And The Praise And The Honour, Now And Forever. Amen!
†Shalom!
_____Joseph Jerry Umaru
Emails: [email protected], [email protected],
Phone: (+234)-8036-814-178 and (+234)-8052-917-334
Webpage: www.MySpace.com/joseph2nations
For More of My Articles& Writings Visit: www.blog.MySpace.com/joseph2nations
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Joseph2Nations – Speaking and Declaring Boldly Concerning The Things Of God, And The Revelations Of Christ Being Received In The Name Of The Lord Jesus – To The Nations…
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