Nutrition and Diet ⭕️ What is Nutrition and Diet? Nutrition is the science of how the body uses food to grow, heal, and stay healthy. It includes 6 main nutrients: Carbohydrates 🍞(energy) Proteins 🍗(muscle and tissue repair) Fats🧈 (energy and vitamin absorption) Vitamins & Minerals🍏🍋 (body functions) Water🍶 (essential for all body processes) Diet means the food and drinks a person eats daily. A balanced diet includes all nutrients in the right amounts. ⭕️ How Nutrition Evolved Over Time Ancient times: Food was seen as medicine. Middle Ages: Beliefs about “hot” and “cold” foods based on old philosophies. Modern era: Discovery of vitamins, calories, and nutrition science. Today: Focus on healthy lifestyle, disease prevention, and personalized nutrition. ⭕️ Cultural Differences in Nutrition Different countries have different food habits and cooking styles. Example: Japan eats lots of fish and vegetables. Mediterranean diet uses olive oil and fresh produce. Gulf countries enjoy rice and meat dishes. ⭕️ How Culture Can Improve Nutrition Use traditional foods in a healthier way (grilled instead of fried). Promote home cooking as a cultural value. Use holidays and traditions (like Ramadan) to teach good eating habits. Make awareness campaigns that connect with people’s cultural values and sayings. #health #detox #Diet #Nutrition #healthylifestyle

HIS WORD IN THE WORLD! 🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥 MORE ON COPING WITH DEPRESSION AND LONELINESS AS A CHRISTIAN BELIEVER!(MATT.28:20) [PART TWO] 🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥 Remember, I said I am on a very familiar territory...and without exaggeration, I have spent the better part of my life. It's a place I hate to be in,but mostly always find myself in. Even now,as I write this...even right this moment,my inner man is weeping profusely,while I struggle to present an outward false facade. I said in the first part that you can be surrounded with people that care,and yet suffer loneliness and depression. Born an introvert,in my hay days,I can be by myself for weeks in a house if every supply is available...my most favourable companions being anything sentimental music,novels and poetry, especially when it borders on dirges. AND I TRIED TO *EXTROVERT* MYSELF WITH ALCOHOL IN MY TEENAGE YEARS. And that's where my self destruction began. At 16, I was a confirmed alcoholic, trying to prove myself to those who don't even want it. VERY BRILLIANT IN MY STUDIES(ONE OF THE BEST THROUGHOUT EVERY CLASS AND HALL I SAT IN), YET, I WAS HAUNTED BY LOW SELF ESTEEM. As at this time,my calling was evident,though still a church goer then...and I was running away from it. You see,I grew up witnessing tragedy upon tragedy,losing the people that matter to me,one after the other...and falling from a comfortable city life down to a village hustler. And this past has stuck with me made worse by the continuation of these misfortunes, even long after I have answered the call. The reality of my aloneness hit me like a punch,when it seems I never can get anything right,being alone became my permanent new normal. I suddenly felt more excruciatingly isolated than ever before, as if I had been dropped off on another planet and left there to figure out how to survive. All alone with no escape. I'm writing this as a minister of the Gospel and I'm not proud to say that I'm yet emotionally stricken with the excruciating battles I face daily,even now. WHAT MAKES ME WANTING TO BE ALONE TO BEMOAN MY WOES, IS THAT NO ONE IS WILLING TO TRY UNDERSTAND HOW I FEEL. On a more sincere note, I see myself as selfish and self-centered,vainly wishing everything to revolve around me. And I don't want to be seen as selfish and self-centered, courtesy of being misunderstood. To be in the position of the comforter is great and grand,when contrasted with being the COMFORTED! AND THE ONLY WAY TO COME OUT IS. THE GOD WAY...HIS WORD AND FAITH IN HIS WORD. BEING DEPRESSED AND LONELY DOESN'T MAKE YOU LEPROUS,RATHER,IT SHOWS YOUR VULNERABILITY AS A MERE HUMAN WITH FLESH AND BLOOD, PROBABLY ON THE WRONG SIDE OF LIFE FOR SOME REASONS. *AND YOU'RE NOT IRREDEEMABLE* YOU'VE ALL IT TAKES TO BOUNCE BACK IN GOD'S WORD. WHAT WE ACTUALLY NEED IS FOR PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY SELF-RIGHTEOUS CHRISTIANS AND PASTORS TO LOOK DEEPER, BENEATH THE SURFACE. CONSCIOUSLY TRY TO WEAR THE SUFFERER'S SHOES,AND WE WILL DISCOVER THERE'S A LESS NEED TO CRITICIZE AND CONDEMN. Scripture gives plenty of examples of people who shared these same painful feelings and realities. In fact, all of the Psalms point to evidence that even King David felt lonely quite often. Yet his loneliness is exactly what drove him to lean unto God. And this is the format that has kept me going..."that God hasn't said NO to me." 16. Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me; for I am desolate and afflicted. 17. The troubles of my heart are enlarged: O bring thou me out of my distresses. 18. Look upon mine affliction and my pain; and forgive all my sins. 19. Consider mine enemies; for they are many; and they hate me with cruel hatred. 20. O keep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in thee. (Psa 25: 16-20) This whole passage is a series of pleas for God’s help because David felt oppressed, depressed, troubled, unseen and deserted by God and others … painfully alone. The question is,"Where there not people around him?" Of course yes,but he was still depressed, mentally afflicted and lonely... alone in his inner sufferings...because,he felt misunderstood by men,hence he cried out to God! But, unlike most of us (me),instead of staying upset with God, David’s prayer takes a twist.(for me,not really upset with God,but rather disappointed in myself, knowing the Truth,but lazily unwilling to walk and work with it, until each time, reminded by FATHER), I often wondered if he paused, slumped his shoulders and breathed a heavy sigh as he humbly uttered the words; 20. O keep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in thee. 21. Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee. (Psa 25: 20-21) Despite everything, King David leaned unto the Lord in his darkest moments instead of staying away from Him(like me...like most of us). Despite how alone he felt, David wanted to connect with God and held on to the hope that He was there, even if no one else was. And this is where we miss it. Because we're misunderstood by people,we simply resigned ourselves to our so-called "fate," that God misunderstands us as well(an aberration,yes, undermining God's Omniscience attribute). Really very dangerous a thing to ever imagine; It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. (Lam 3: 22) You see, loneliness can actually be a catalyst to grow our relationship with God rather than stifle it. Loneliness is God’s way of reminding us we were made for a personal relationship with Him, and He placed a deep longing in our hearts only He can satisfy. Maybe you've this feeling of loneliness because of the loss of a spouse from separation, divorce or even death. Maybe it’s because of an empty nest, an empty spot at the table, the loss of friends, or attending holidays, weddings or social events solo in a new season of life. It can even sometimes feel the strongest when we’re in a crowded room or with a spouse who makes us feel invisible or unimportant even when in their presence, proving loneliness is a state of mind, not a state of a being. (For me, the latter is the ultimate TRUTH...a state of mind...a negative minded introvert,who because of scars after scars, acquired years after years,believes "NOTHING GOOD CAN COME OUT OF NAZARETH" A lie from the the very depths of the pit of hell) At this point,we are blinded by our miseries, unwilling to see the devil slowly but decisively trying to scheme us out of God's eternal joy for us; For I am conscious of my thoughts about you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you hope at the end. (Jer 29: 11) So,regardless of the root of our loneliness, we can always trust that God is with us. As we lean onto Him, we can continue to pray that He will bring the right people into our lives and satisfy our need for human connection and understanding as He satisfies our soul’s thirst for Him. AN IMPORTANT ADDITION HERE IS THAT,WE SHOULD ALSO DETERMINEDLY ENDEAVOUR TO MAKE OURSELVES LESS OF A BURDEN TO GOD AND THOSE AROUND US,IN OUR TRYING TIMES... YOU MAY BE SURPRISED I INCLUDED*GOD!* YES, GOD HAS EMOTIONS,JUST LIKE US... REMEMBER,WE ARE MADE IN HIS IMAGE...SO,HE HURTS TOO,WHEN WE MISUNDERSTAND HIM! Connect with God first, and the rest will eventually fall into place. God may not take away the LONELINESS, but as we put our hope in HIM like David did, GOD will make sure we feel HIS NEARNESS. Come to me, all you who are troubled and weighted down with care, and I will give you rest. (Mat 11: 28) Teaching them to keep all the rules which I have given you: and see, I am ever with you, even to the end of the world. (Mat 28: 20) Join me if you're in the same boat with me; Lord, I feel so alone right now. Hear my pleas; help me feel Your nearness as You divinely work to impute Your Joy into my life,as you take away the misplaced heaviness in my heart . In Christ Jesus’ Name, Amen.🙇🙏😒!

HIS WORD IN THE WORLD! 🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥 MORE ON COPING WITH DEPRESSION AND LONELINESS AS A CHRISTIAN BELIEVER!(MATT.28:20) [PART TWO] 🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥 Remember, I said I am on a very familiar territory...and without exaggeration, I have spent the better part of my life. It's a place I hate to be in,but mostly always find myself in. Even now,as I write this...even right this moment,my inner man is weeping profusely,while I struggle to present an outward false facade. I said in the first part that you can be surrounded with people that care,and yet suffer loneliness and depression. Born an introvert,in my hay days,I can be by myself for weeks in a house if every supply is available...my most favourable companions being anything sentimental music,novels and poetry, especially when it borders on dirges. AND I TRIED TO *EXTROVERT* MYSELF WITH ALCOHOL IN MY TEENAGE YEARS. And that's where my self destruction began. At 16, I was a confirmed alcoholic, trying to prove myself to those who don't even want it. VERY BRILLIANT IN MY STUDIES(ONE OF THE BEST THROUGHOUT EVERY CLASS AND HALL I SAT IN), YET, I WAS HAUNTED BY LOW SELF ESTEEM. As at this time,my calling was evident,though still a church goer then...and I was running away from it. You see,I grew up witnessing tragedy upon tragedy,losing the people that matter to me,one after the other...and falling from a comfortable city life down to a village hustler. And this past has stuck with me made worse by the continuation of these misfortunes, even long after I have answered the call. The reality of my aloneness hit me like a punch,when it seems I never can get anything right,being alone became my permanent new normal. I suddenly felt more excruciatingly isolated than ever before, as if I had been dropped off on another planet and left there to figure out how to survive. All alone with no escape. I'm writing this as a minister of the Gospel and I'm not proud to say that I'm yet emotionally stricken with the excruciating battles I face daily,even now. WHAT MAKES ME WANTING TO BE ALONE TO BEMOAN MY WOES, IS THAT NO ONE IS WILLING TO TRY UNDERSTAND HOW I FEEL. On a more sincere note, I see myself as selfish and self-centered,vainly wishing everything to revolve around me. And I don't want to be seen as selfish and self-centered, courtesy of being misunderstood. To be in the position of the comforter is great and grand,when contrasted with being the COMFORTED! AND THE ONLY WAY TO COME OUT IS. THE GOD WAY...HIS WORD AND FAITH IN HIS WORD. BEING DEPRESSED AND LONELY DOESN'T MAKE YOU LEPROUS,RATHER,IT SHOWS YOUR VULNERABILITY AS A MERE HUMAN WITH FLESH AND BLOOD, PROBABLY ON THE WRONG SIDE OF LIFE FOR SOME REASONS. *AND YOU'RE NOT IRREDEEMABLE* YOU'VE ALL IT TAKES TO BOUNCE BACK IN GOD'S WORD. WHAT WE ACTUALLY NEED IS FOR PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY SELF-RIGHTEOUS CHRISTIANS AND PASTORS TO LOOK DEEPER, BENEATH THE SURFACE. CONSCIOUSLY TRY TO WEAR THE SUFFERER'S SHOES,AND WE WILL DISCOVER THERE'S A LESS NEED TO CRITICIZE AND CONDEMN. Scripture gives plenty of examples of people who shared these same painful feelings and realities. In fact, all of the Psalms point to evidence that even King David felt lonely quite often. Yet his loneliness is exactly what drove him to lean unto God. And this is the format that has kept me going..."that God hasn't said NO to me." 16. Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me; for I am desolate and afflicted. 17. The troubles of my heart are enlarged: O bring thou me out of my distresses. 18. Look upon mine affliction and my pain; and forgive all my sins. 19. Consider mine enemies; for they are many; and they hate me with cruel hatred. 20. O keep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in thee. (Psa 25: 16-20) This whole passage is a series of pleas for God’s help because David felt oppressed, depressed, troubled, unseen and deserted by God and others … painfully alone. The question is,"Where there not people around him?" Of course yes,but he was still depressed, mentally afflicted and lonely... alone in his inner sufferings...because,he felt misunderstood by men,hence he cried out to God! But, unlike most of us (me),instead of staying upset with God, David’s prayer takes a twist.(for me,not really upset with God,but rather disappointed in myself, knowing the Truth,but lazily unwilling to walk and work with it, until each time, reminded by FATHER), I often wondered if he paused, slumped his shoulders and breathed a heavy sigh as he humbly uttered the words; 20. O keep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in thee. 21. Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee. (Psa 25: 20-21) Despite everything, King David leaned unto the Lord in his darkest moments instead of staying away from Him(like me...like most of us). Despite how alone he felt, David wanted to connect with God and held on to the hope that He was there, even if no one else was. And this is where we miss it. Because we're misunderstood by people,we simply resigned ourselves to our so-called "fate," that God misunderstands us as well(an aberration,yes, undermining God's Omniscience attribute). Really very dangerous a thing to ever imagine; It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. (Lam 3: 22) You see, loneliness can actually be a catalyst to grow our relationship with God rather than stifle it. Loneliness is God’s way of reminding us we were made for a personal relationship with Him, and He placed a deep longing in our hearts only He can satisfy. Maybe you've this feeling of loneliness because of the loss of a spouse from separation, divorce or even death. Maybe it’s because of an empty nest, an empty spot at the table, the loss of friends, or attending holidays, weddings or social events solo in a new season of life. It can even sometimes feel the strongest when we’re in a crowded room or with a spouse who makes us feel invisible or unimportant even when in their presence, proving loneliness is a state of mind, not a state of a being. (For me, the latter is the ultimate TRUTH...a state of mind...a negative minded introvert,who because of scars after scars, acquired years after years,believes "NOTHING GOOD CAN COME OUT OF NAZARETH" A lie from the the very depths of the pit of hell) At this point,we are blinded by our miseries, unwilling to see the devil slowly but decisively trying to scheme us out of God's eternal joy for us; For I am conscious of my thoughts about you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you hope at the end. (Jer 29: 11) So,regardless of the root of our loneliness, we can always trust that God is with us. As we lean onto Him, we can continue to pray that He will bring the right people into our lives and satisfy our need for human connection and understanding as He satisfies our soul’s thirst for Him. AN IMPORTANT ADDITION HERE IS THAT,WE SHOULD ALSO DETERMINEDLY ENDEAVOUR TO MAKE OURSELVES LESS OF A BURDEN TO GOD AND THOSE AROUND US,IN OUR TRYING TIMES... YOU MAY BE SURPRISED I INCLUDED*GOD!* YES, GOD HAS EMOTIONS,JUST LIKE US... REMEMBER,WE ARE MADE IN HIS IMAGE...SO,HE HURTS TOO,WHEN WE MISUNDERSTAND HIM! Connect with God first, and the rest will eventually fall into place. God may not take away the LONELINESS, but as we put our hope in HIM like David did, GOD will make sure we feel HIS NEARNESS. Come to me, all you who are troubled and weighted down with care, and I will give you rest. (Mat 11: 28) Teaching them to keep all the rules which I have given you: and see, I am ever with you, even to the end of the world. (Mat 28: 20) Join me if you're in the same boat with me; Lord, I feel so alone right now. Hear my pleas; help me feel Your nearness as You divinely work to impute Your Joy into my life,as you take away the misplaced heaviness in my heart . In Christ Jesus’ Name, Amen.🙇🙏😒!

HIS WORD IN THE WORLD! 🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥 BETWEEN CHRISTMAS AND EASTER(THE TWO MOST IMPORTANT CHRISTIAN EVENTS! 🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥 My intention is not to debase Christmas nor Easter. But a Bible studying, believing and practicing christian(not a theologian or religious christian) will easily see the manipulative craftiness of the ancient serpent at work...the devil has always strived to drive a hedge into God's Purpose,and in each of such cases, the OMNIPOTENT, OMNIPRESENT AND OMNISCIENT GOD has always turned every spanner thrown in His Works by the devil into His Own Advantage. We men are likened to sheep. And sheep have a tendency to follow the crowd without questioning. Christ Jesus however came and taught us to examine everything by God's Word. The Pharisees exalted HUMAN TRADITION, Christ Jesus EXALTED GOD'S WORD. Man was to live by every WORD that proceeded from GOD'S MOUTH (Matt. 4:4). The battle that Christ Jesus was constantly engaged in with the Pharisees was the age-long battle of God's Word versus the traditions of men. In the church, we are engaged in the same battle today. God's Word is the only light that we have on earth. And when God created light initially, He immediately separated it from the darkness. The darkness is both sin as well as human traditions. We also are called to separate both these from the pure Word of God so that there is no mixture in the church. 👉CHRISTMAS Consider Christmas, which is celebrated by many as the birthday of Christ Jesus. Shopkeepers of all religions look forward to Christmas, for it is a time when they can make much profit. It is a commercial festival, not a spiritual one. Millions of Naira and whatever currencies are spent on Christmas cards and gifts. Sales of alcoholic drinks also go up at this time...a time when the gravest evils are physically manifested... fornications,adulteries, fighting and drunk driving etc, are symbols of the celebration. In my adolescent and early teenage years in my community, on every 24th and 31st December night, the tarred road from beginning to the end must be littered all over by the broken pieces of beer bottles or other alcoholic beverages, otherwise,it means the festivals never held. Alcohol sellers do really suffer losses of bottles. Now, the question is...Is this really then the Birthday of the Son of God, or of another 'Jesus'? This controversial subject has so been thrashed out,that there's nothing left or new to add. Biblical records and the geographical history of the times and place absolutely confirmed that Christ Jesus was Birthed on that day. Therefore, December 25 then must be the birthday of another 'Jesus' that has been foisted on an unsuspecting Christendom by unconverted men! Okay, even if we did know the exact date of Christ Jesus' Birth, the question would still be whether God intended His church to celebrate it. Mary, the mother of Christ Jesus, would certainly have known the exact date of birth of her SON. And she was with the apostles for many years after the day of Pentecost. Yet there is no mention anywhere of Christ Jesus' date of Birth. What does this show? Just this... that God deliberately hid the date OF Christ Jesus' Birth, because He did not want the church to celebrate it. Christ Jesus was not an ordinary mortal whose Birthday was to be celebrated once a year. He was the Son of God "Who had no beginning of days", unlike us (Heb.7:3). God wants us to recognize Christ Jesus' Birth, Death, Resurrection and Ascension every day, and not just once a year. An understanding of the difference between the Old and the New Covenants will also enable us to understand why God does not want His children to celebrate any special holy days now. Under the Old Covenant, Israel had been commanded to celebrate certain days as specially holy days. But that was only a shadow. Now that we have Christ Jesus ,the Will of God is that every day of our lives be equally holy. Even the weekly sabbath has been done away with under the new covenant. This is why no holy days are mentioned anywhere in the New Testament (Col.2:16,17). How then did Christmas and Easter make their entry into Christendom? The answer is: In the same way that infant baptism, compulsory tithing(some pastors teach non tithers are going to hell), priestcraft and many other human traditions and old covenant practices, have made their entry...by the subtle working of Satan. Thus says the Lord, "Do not learn the way of the heathen. The customs of the people are futile. One cuts a tree from the forest with the axe. They decorate it with silver and gold; they fasten it with nails so that it will not topple!" (Jer. 10:2-4). 👉 EASTER The word 'Easter' comes from one of the titles of the queen of heaven, 'Ishtar' or `Astarte' (see 1 Kin. 11:5) - one of the idols that Solomon worshipped. There were slightly different forms of that name in different countries. I ain't interested in delving into history...for like I observed above, there's nothing new to add that we don't already know. The DEATH and RESURRECTION of CHRIST JESUS are the central MESSAGE of the GOSPEL. The only way that Christ Jesus intended us to commemorate this was through the 'breaking of bread', which we are to take part in together as a church. When we break bread, we testify not only of Christ Jesus' Death, but also our death with Him. The emotionalism of Good Friday and sentimentality of Easter turns the attention of men away from the necessity of following Christ Jesus, to empty ritualism. 👉 GOD'S WORD OR MAN'S TRADITION? Behind the celebration of Christmas and Easter lies the far more deadly principle of following the traditions of men even when they have no foundation in God's Word. So strong is this power of tradition that many believers who follow the Scriptures in other areas still find it difficult to give up celebrating Christmas and Easter. It is amazing that many believers are not willing to accept Christmas and Easter are basically pagan festivals. Changing the names do not make these festivals Christian! As we said at the beginning, Christ Jesus was engaged in a constant battle with the Pharisees over this very issue - man's traditions versus God's Word. He faced more opposition for opposing the empty traditions of 'the fathers' than for preaching against sin. We shall find our experience to be the same, if we are just as faithful as He was. God's Word alone is our guide and not the example of even godly men in those areas where they do not follow the Word of God. "Let God be found true even though every man be found a liar" (Rom. 3:4). The Bereans searched the Scriptures to check up even on Paul's teaching, and the Holy Spirit commends them for it (Acts 17:11). That is a good example for all of us to follow. David was a man after God's own heart. Yet, for forty years, he permitted the Israelites to worship Moses' bronze serpent without realizing that it was an abomination to God. He did not have light even on such obvious idolatry. It was a much lesser king, Hezekiah, who was given light to expose and destroy this idolatrous practice (2 Kin. 18:1-4). We can follow godly men in the saintliness of their lives, but not in their lack of light on human traditions. Our safety lies in simply following the teaching of God's Word and not in adding to or subtracting from it. 👉 DO NOT JUDGE OTHERS! Finally : What should our attitude be towards sincere believers who celebrate Christmas and Easter? It is important to remember that we do not become spiritual merely by not celebrating Christmas and Easter. And those who celebrate these festivals are not therefore carnal believers. Spiritual people are those who follow Christ Jesus along the way of daily self-denial and the daily infilling of the Holy Spirit - whether they celebrate Christmas and Easter or not. So when we meet believers who celebrate these festivals, we must be gracious enough to consider that they may be ignorant of the pagan origin of these festivals. So they are not sinning in any way when they celebrate them. On the other hand, we will be sinning, if we judge them. Since December 25th is usually a holiday for everyone and the days around it are also holidays for schools, many use this period for end-of-the-year family reunions - which is a very good thing. And since some people attend church-services only twice a year (on December 25th and the Easter weekend) it is good for churches to have services on those dates, so that they can preach the gospel to such people and explain to them that Christ Jesus came to earth to save us from our sins and that He conquered death and Satan for us. True believers are thankful every day of their lives that Christ Jesus was born and that He died for their sins and rose again - and not just at two times of the year. In the early days of Christianity, some Christians celebrated the Sabbath - which was a non-Christian religious festival, just like Christmas and Easter. The Holy Spirit inspired Paul therefore to write Romans 14 to warn other Christians not to sin by judging them. The same warning holds good for those who judge others who celebrate Christmas and Easter. "Accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions. Who are you to judge the servant of another? One person regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who does not, for the Lord he does not, and gives thanks to God. Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind. But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God and each one of us will give an account of himself (alone) to God" (Rom.14:12)). And that is the best word with which to conclude this relatively short submission on Christmas and Easter. May God help us to realize that every day, Christ Jesus was born, crucified on the Cross,died, buried and resurrected for us that we may live... That for every sin we wilfully commit, we nail Him to the Cross afresh. Amen🙇🙏❤️!

HIS WORD IN THE WORLD! 🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥 BETWEEN CHRISTMAS AND EASTER(THE TWO MOST IMPORTANT CHRISTIAN EVENTS! 🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥 My intention is not to debase Christmas nor Easter. But a Bible studying, believing and practicing christian(not a theologian or religious christian) will easily see the manipulative craftiness of the ancient serpent at work...the devil has always strived to drive a hedge into God's Purpose,and in each of such cases, the OMNIPOTENT, OMNIPRESENT AND OMNISCIENT GOD has always turned every spanner thrown in His Works by the devil into His Own Advantage. We men are likened to sheep. And sheep have a tendency to follow the crowd without questioning. Christ Jesus however came and taught us to examine everything by God's Word. The Pharisees exalted HUMAN TRADITION, Christ Jesus EXALTED GOD'S WORD. Man was to live by every WORD that proceeded from GOD'S MOUTH (Matt. 4:4). The battle that Christ Jesus was constantly engaged in with the Pharisees was the age-long battle of God's Word versus the traditions of men. In the church, we are engaged in the same battle today. God's Word is the only light that we have on earth. And when God created light initially, He immediately separated it from the darkness. The darkness is both sin as well as human traditions. We also are called to separate both these from the pure Word of God so that there is no mixture in the church. 👉CHRISTMAS Consider Christmas, which is celebrated by many as the birthday of Christ Jesus. Shopkeepers of all religions look forward to Christmas, for it is a time when they can make much profit. It is a commercial festival, not a spiritual one. Millions of Naira and whatever currencies are spent on Christmas cards and gifts. Sales of alcoholic drinks also go up at this time...a time when the gravest evils are physically manifested... fornications,adulteries, fighting and drunk driving etc, are symbols of the celebration. In my adolescent and early teenage years in my community, on every 24th and 31st December night, the tarred road from beginning to the end must be littered all over by the broken pieces of beer bottles or other alcoholic beverages, otherwise,it means the festivals never held. Alcohol sellers do really suffer losses of bottles. Now, the question is...Is this really then the Birthday of the Son of God, or of another 'Jesus'? This controversial subject has so been thrashed out,that there's nothing left or new to add. Biblical records and the geographical history of the times and place absolutely confirmed that Christ Jesus was Birthed on that day. Therefore, December 25 then must be the birthday of another 'Jesus' that has been foisted on an unsuspecting Christendom by unconverted men! Okay, even if we did know the exact date of Christ Jesus' Birth, the question would still be whether God intended His church to celebrate it. Mary, the mother of Christ Jesus, would certainly have known the exact date of birth of her SON. And she was with the apostles for many years after the day of Pentecost. Yet there is no mention anywhere of Christ Jesus' date of Birth. What does this show? Just this... that God deliberately hid the date OF Christ Jesus' Birth, because He did not want the church to celebrate it. Christ Jesus was not an ordinary mortal whose Birthday was to be celebrated once a year. He was the Son of God "Who had no beginning of days", unlike us (Heb.7:3). God wants us to recognize Christ Jesus' Birth, Death, Resurrection and Ascension every day, and not just once a year. An understanding of the difference between the Old and the New Covenants will also enable us to understand why God does not want His children to celebrate any special holy days now. Under the Old Covenant, Israel had been commanded to celebrate certain days as specially holy days. But that was only a shadow. Now that we have Christ Jesus ,the Will of God is that every day of our lives be equally holy. Even the weekly sabbath has been done away with under the new covenant. This is why no holy days are mentioned anywhere in the New Testament (Col.2:16,17). How then did Christmas and Easter make their entry into Christendom? The answer is: In the same way that infant baptism, compulsory tithing(some pastors teach non tithers are going to hell), priestcraft and many other human traditions and old covenant practices, have made their entry...by the subtle working of Satan. Thus says the Lord, "Do not learn the way of the heathen. The customs of the people are futile. One cuts a tree from the forest with the axe. They decorate it with silver and gold; they fasten it with nails so that it will not topple!" (Jer. 10:2-4). 👉 EASTER The word 'Easter' comes from one of the titles of the queen of heaven, 'Ishtar' or `Astarte' (see 1 Kin. 11:5) - one of the idols that Solomon worshipped. There were slightly different forms of that name in different countries. I ain't interested in delving into history...for like I observed above, there's nothing new to add that we don't already know. The DEATH and RESURRECTION of CHRIST JESUS are the central MESSAGE of the GOSPEL. The only way that Christ Jesus intended us to commemorate this was through the 'breaking of bread', which we are to take part in together as a church. When we break bread, we testify not only of Christ Jesus' Death, but also our death with Him. The emotionalism of Good Friday and sentimentality of Easter turns the attention of men away from the necessity of following Christ Jesus, to empty ritualism. 👉 GOD'S WORD OR MAN'S TRADITION? Behind the celebration of Christmas and Easter lies the far more deadly principle of following the traditions of men even when they have no foundation in God's Word. So strong is this power of tradition that many believers who follow the Scriptures in other areas still find it difficult to give up celebrating Christmas and Easter. It is amazing that many believers are not willing to accept Christmas and Easter are basically pagan festivals. Changing the names do not make these festivals Christian! As we said at the beginning, Christ Jesus was engaged in a constant battle with the Pharisees over this very issue - man's traditions versus God's Word. He faced more opposition for opposing the empty traditions of 'the fathers' than for preaching against sin. We shall find our experience to be the same, if we are just as faithful as He was. God's Word alone is our guide and not the example of even godly men in those areas where they do not follow the Word of God. "Let God be found true even though every man be found a liar" (Rom. 3:4). The Bereans searched the Scriptures to check up even on Paul's teaching, and the Holy Spirit commends them for it (Acts 17:11). That is a good example for all of us to follow. David was a man after God's own heart. Yet, for forty years, he permitted the Israelites to worship Moses' bronze serpent without realizing that it was an abomination to God. He did not have light even on such obvious idolatry. It was a much lesser king, Hezekiah, who was given light to expose and destroy this idolatrous practice (2 Kin. 18:1-4). We can follow godly men in the saintliness of their lives, but not in their lack of light on human traditions. Our safety lies in simply following the teaching of God's Word and not in adding to or subtracting from it. 👉 DO NOT JUDGE OTHERS! Finally : What should our attitude be towards sincere believers who celebrate Christmas and Easter? It is important to remember that we do not become spiritual merely by not celebrating Christmas and Easter. And those who celebrate these festivals are not therefore carnal believers. Spiritual people are those who follow Christ Jesus along the way of daily self-denial and the daily infilling of the Holy Spirit - whether they celebrate Christmas and Easter or not. So when we meet believers who celebrate these festivals, we must be gracious enough to consider that they may be ignorant of the pagan origin of these festivals. So they are not sinning in any way when they celebrate them. On the other hand, we will be sinning, if we judge them. Since December 25th is usually a holiday for everyone and the days around it are also holidays for schools, many use this period for end-of-the-year family reunions - which is a very good thing. And since some people attend church-services only twice a year (on December 25th and the Easter weekend) it is good for churches to have services on those dates, so that they can preach the gospel to such people and explain to them that Christ Jesus came to earth to save us from our sins and that He conquered death and Satan for us. True believers are thankful every day of their lives that Christ Jesus was born and that He died for their sins and rose again - and not just at two times of the year. In the early days of Christianity, some Christians celebrated the Sabbath - which was a non-Christian religious festival, just like Christmas and Easter. The Holy Spirit inspired Paul therefore to write Romans 14 to warn other Christians not to sin by judging them. The same warning holds good for those who judge others who celebrate Christmas and Easter. "Accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions. Who are you to judge the servant of another? One person regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who does not, for the Lord he does not, and gives thanks to God. Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind. But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God and each one of us will give an account of himself (alone) to God" (Rom.14:12)). And that is the best word with which to conclude this relatively short submission on Christmas and Easter. May God help us to realize that every day, Christ Jesus was born, crucified on the Cross,died, buried and resurrected for us that we may live... That for every sin we wilfully commit, we nail Him to the Cross afresh. Amen🙇🙏❤️!