Blog Post 6: To The One Who Created The Universe

Hi! I’m so glad you’re here!

As a follower of Jesus, words, phrases and expressions that storm full throttle into the culture almost overnight, fascinate me. I am captivated by the idea -seemingly- that one night you go to sleep and the next morning—out of nowhere, as if orchestrated by some invisible hand—you wake up and a new word, phrase or expression is, all of a sudden, everywhere. The word or expression—there's no other way of saying it—'has gone viral.' 

Typically, these words or expressions first leap straight off the screen from some famous beloved TV character's mouth that we love to watch. Soon enough, the words or expressions make their way into our everyday conversations at casual hangouts and dressy social gatherings. Discussions with colleagues by the office water cooler. Or in random coffee shops. Like here, right now. In the one I'm sitting in right now. 

Well, the phrase—'manifesting from the universe'—is one such viral expression.

Manifesting From The Universe: The Current Popular Ultra-cool Kid In School

Manifesting from the universe seems to be the current popular ultra-cool kid of the moment. And although I can't quite pinpoint exactly when the expression 'manifesting from the universe' was first added to the world's cultural lexicon, nowadays, it has become something of a raging whirlwind phenomenon. So much so that casual statements such as "Oh, I'm manifesting my ideal husband or wife from the universe" or "I'm asking the universe for my dream job"—often said in glib, earnest or flippant tones—or "I'm manifesting my dream house or an idyllic vacation or the perfect location to live in," have pretty much become normal and viable topics of conversation. 

'Manifesting from the universe' in our present-day cultural climate means: to ask 'the universe' for all the things in life you want. It means to put your wants and desires out there for the 'universe' to somehow or the other, hear your innermost thoughts, fervent wishes, yearnings and heart longings. And then, grant or fulfill them. Or bring them to you. 

And as a follower of Jesus learning to search the holy scriptures for myself, the first question that occurs to me is: Why Not Ask The One Who Created The Universe Instead?

By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, And by the breath of His mouth all their host. He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap; He lays up the deeps in storehouses. Let all the earth fear the Lord. Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him. For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast.

Psalm 33: 6 – 9

Jesus Is The Creator Of The Universe And Everything In It

God's word reveals the identity of the only One with the power and authority to create ALL THINGS including the universe and everything in it. Jesus Christ.

He (Jesus) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities - all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.

Colossians 1: 15 – 17

I remember at age eleven—copying whatever I saw or heard.

I would search for four-leaved clovers in gardens, parks and fields because they were supposed to bring good luck. And toss coins into stinky musty-smelling (wishing?) wells. And whether I was watching a movie about a giant blue genie fresh from forced solitary confinement inside a rusty lamp granting wishes. Or a bearded jolly older gentleman in a red-belted suit squeezing himself down a chimney bearing gifts (I have fond memories of these, still) – and just like my favorite character in my favorite animated movie, I remember copying and emulating whatever I watched or heard in my environment. The characters I watched - usually a boy, a girl or even a cute animal – was someone very likable and charming—someone you automatically felt connected to and rooted for. And often in the face of great heartbreak or adversity, this earnest and irresistible hero or heroine would gaze upwards at the sky, wishing, yearning, sometimes singing (yes, full-throated singing) to a star up up up in the sky for their heart's desires to come true. And always—in those moments—I would stare at the screen, transfixed. Totally and utterly enthralled. 

And yes, I copied that. I did! I would gaze up into the vast night sky, staring out of my bedroom window and with all my heart and soul, I too would wish upon a star.

What I Didn't Know Back Then That I Know Now:

Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from (God) the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.

James 1: 17

Another curious thought strikes me now. What if manifesting from the universe—you know, asking the universe for our desires, our hopes and all manners of stuff—is the edgier, more grown-up adult version of my childhood's wishing upon a star? Stars and the universe, after all, are both God's creation.

Self-Sufficiency Versus Jesus-Sufficiency

Jesus Sufficiency means having total and absolute devotion, dependence and confidence in God.

For the Lord will be your confidence, And will keep your foot from being caught.

Proverbs 3: 26

The choice to manifest from the universe however, is the antithesis, the exact opposite of Jesus-sufficiency.

For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile towards God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.

Romans 8: 6 – 9

The choice to 'manifest from the universe' therefore—perhaps even without fully recognizing the meaning of the choice being made—is a heart-felt declaration of self-sufficiency and self-accomplishment, usually inspired by a search in life for self-fulfillment. 

And inherent in this choice is self-authorship: that one, by oneself, without any help from God, can impress upon the universe their own will. And manifest their very own heart's longings and desires. One can be the master of their own ship, so to speak. Further, in seeking to magically manifest one's heart's desires from 'the universe', it places one's own timing above God's divine timing. Often this desire is clothed in self-assured, self-confident and self-empowering language: words that convey tremendous self-control and admirable self-competence and self-reliance. It intimates somehow that the person asking the universe for his or her wishes and heart's desires to come true has some hidden secret superpower to orchestrate circumstances. Events. Timelines. Determine scenarios. 

Furthermore, it highlights a belief in one's own power to make people do things one wants. And single-handedly cause desired results to happen. Without God. 

It is therefore an attempt to play the role of God. Which is idolatry. It leads—ultimately—to the false worship of one's self as god. 

This is in direct opposition to God's word.

You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself an idol or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. You shall not worship them or serve them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me.

Exodus 20: 3 – 5

A follower of Jesus realizes almost immediately that seeking to manifest from the universe is in complete and direct opposition to God's word. It is the sin of idolatry. The false worship of self. Further, a Royal Mystery Searcher understands that the universe is ONLY a part of God's vast creation. Therefore, the universe (God's creation) cannot and is incapable of granting wishes. Or fulfilling anyone's heart longings or desires. How could it do so? It is a created thing.

Praying To The Creator Instead Of Wishing Upon Stars Or The Universe

God's word charges us—IN EVERYTHING—to ask Him and petition Him through prayer. He assures us that there is no need to be anxious about anything we face in our day-to-day life.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4: 6 – 7

Jesus Sufficiency Means Complete And Absolute Dependency On God. This means knowing that:

Unless the Lord builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the Lord guards the city, The watchman keeps awake in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, To retire late, To eat the bread of painful labors; For He gives to His beloved even in his sleep.

Psalm 127: 1 – 2

Ultimately—at some time or the other— we realize living life without Jesus is futile. Life-destroying. Hopeless. For it is Jesus Christ who gives you and I the ability to have breath and life. To function in our daily lives.

For in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, For we also are His children.

Acts 17: 28

And, 'life-transformatively', Jesus has already paid the price—IN FULL—for all our sins. He has given us eternal life! In Jesus, we are set free!

He (God) made Him (Jesus) who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

2 Corinthians 5: 21

Now, another question nudges itself into my mind, unsettling me. What if some of the—all of a sudden—viral expressions, like 'manifesting from the universe' are part of a carefully-orchestrated deception? A trick? A sleek and malevolent quick sleight of hand? A switcheroo? A long-standing, many-years-in-the-making, masterful and calculated plan to take Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior out of the culture? What if this is one step further in the world's trajectory of removing Jesus from culture? By replacing Jesus, the Son of God with ... wishing upon a star? Or a star sign? Or the universe? Or someone or something else out there? Even if it is—in fact—our own selves? 

Worshipping The Creature And Not The Creator

For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

Romans 1: 25

What if popular phenomenons in culture like 'manifesting from the universe' are ever so slowly, without you and I even knowing it, leading us down the dark slippery road towards worshipping the creature—created by God—and not the Creator who made everything? 

I ponder over this sobering thought now. And later in the evening—in between making dinner and getting some leftover work done—I realize that I had forgotten to send a birthday message to a friend of mine. I snatch my phone from the kitchen counter and absently start to type. 'Happy Birthday,' I begin. 'Wishing you a ...' I catch myself. I delete the word w.i.s.h.i.n.g. Perhaps next time—on auto-pilot—I may, without thinking, type a hasty 'wishing you a happy birthday' to a loved one. Most likely. In fact, I'm sure I will. 

But this time, I think to myself: there is a far more effective way than mere wishing. Another way powerful beyond measure. I close my eyes for a few seconds and I pray to God, the Creator of the universe, the stars and everything in existence ever created. I pray for God to bless my dear friend, today and for the next years of my friend's life. I pray to the One who hears all prayers. To the ONLY One who has the power to answer prayers. In Jesus's mighty name, I conclude, silently. Afterwards, I type with rapid fingers to my friend, 'Praying for you today.' I hesitate for a brief moment, before I press: 'Send.'

Till next time,

lots of love

Blog Post 5: Meditation

Hi! I’m so glad you’re here!

Right now, I am standing on a very crowded underground platform—waiting for a train. And as I and the throng of people around me jostle, shift and shuffle for breathing space, and wait impatiently, I gaze up at the Information Board. The next train it says—my train—is due in four minutes. This seems like the perfect time to meditate on a bible verse.

Your word is a lamp to my feet, And a light to my path.

Psalm 119: 105

As a Royal Mystery Searcher—keenly aware that the world you and I live in is a battleground—I am currently cultivating the habit of meditating on a bible verse everyday.

How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree FIRMLY planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season, And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers.

Psalm 1: 1 - 3

I open my satchel bag, rummage deep inside and dig out my phone. A moment later, I'm on my Bible App.

The word 'meditate' has flooded the culture. In recent years, I have heard it over and over again. On popular TV and Talk shows. In books. Even in conversations, the question "Do you meditate?" arises from time to time. Meditation in culture has become cool. Hip. Trendy. Tres chic. Something that says something about you. Something that conveys to others your great depth. Unwraps your sophistication. Unfurls your intelligence for others to admire. And reveals to them that you are a deep, philosophical and clever thinker.

The question that arises however is: Is there such a thing as meditating the right way?

Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

Matthew 7: 13

Meditation As Defined By The World

Meditation—the world's way—is a practice that involves focusing or clearing your mind using a combination of mental and physical techniques.

Phrases such as: Empty your mind. Focus on your breath. Feel the peace of not focusing on any thought that floats into your mind—common verbiage and lingo even on our phone software and apps—are frequent meditation strategies and tools.

This type of meditation style encourages you and I to relax, reduce anxiety, stress and more. More often than not, it requires you and I to empty our minds of 'all thoughts and clutter'. And a smorgasbord of delightful benefits are promised as a reward when we do so. Better health. Enhanced clarity. Sharper acuity. Calmer nerves. Greater focus. Peace.

Meditation As Used In Scripture

However, while the word 'meditation' the world's way encourages us to empty our minds of all thoughts, 'meditation' God's way is vastly, humongously, hugely and radically different.

One could—in fact—safely say: the exact opposite of the world's way.

God charges us to meditate on His word.

God requires, in you and I, a complete renewing of our minds with His word. A filling up of our minds—never EVER an emptying of it—with His word.

O how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies, For they are ever mine. I have more insight than all my teachers, For Your testimonies are my meditation.

Psalm 119: 97 - 99

Meditation God's way is Life Transforming

Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

Romans 12: 1 - 2

Meditating on a bible verse is a weapon every Royal Mystery Searcher can actively—a day at a time—develop.

It is, in fact, the regular mulling over of the Sword of the Spirit—which is the word of God—in your downtime that enables us wield it (the Sword of the Spirit) with greater and greater skill and familiarity in the unexpected battles you and I will inevitably— sometime or the other—face.

This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.

Joshua 1: 8

Yes.

Just as I need to put on my physical clothes—I think to myself now wryly (today, after all, I am wearing a trench coat, a pair of jeans, a tee-shirt and low kitten heels)—meditating on the Sword of the Word is a key part of putting my spiritual clothes on daily.

1 minute.

The Information Board above my head informs me. And I shift to accommodate a man and a woman maneuvering a baby pram next to me.

My chosen bible verse to meditate on today is Proverbs 3: 5 - 6. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.

And HE WILL make your paths STRAIGHT.

Your paths. And mine.

As I read the verse from my phone screen, I say it—inaudibly—in my heart. And then again, under my breath, just as the train—roaring through the tunnel—thunders into view, screeching to a jerky shuddering stop in front of me.

Till next time,

Lots of love

Blog Post 4

Finders of The Armor is the first book in the Royal Mystery Searchers Club Book Series: a middle grade Detective and Mysteries Series.

It takes you into a world of mysteries, friendship and courage.

A world of recognizing there are two realms—visible and invisible.

A world of fighting invisible battles with deadly, merciless and immortal enemies who are not of flesh and blood.

A world of becoming Royal Mystery Searchers.

Join Ada, Toby her younger brother, and her two best friends—Ivie and Johann—on their first adventure as they embark on a new and unexpected mystery.

As they face personal challenges and overcome obstacles.

And ultimately, as they discover for themselves: the ONE TRUE ARMOR.

Finders of The Armor is available on Amazon and everywhere (good) books are sold.

Watch the Finders of the Armor book trailer here: https://youtu.be/MPDHEDTtHAU?feature=shared

Get your copy of Finders of the Armor here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DK3NRVVM

Blog Post 3

What Am I Reading This Summer?

The Book of Psalms.

My favorite Psalm right now (sorry—depending on what is going on in the world—it changes all the time, lol) is Psalm 1.

Why? Because it is like a manual for life wrapped up in a Psalm.

Meditate on a Psalm A Day with me this summer…

Blog Post 2

Battle Of The Moment: Identity (Part 1)

Your Identity. This is the first thing a Royal Mystery Searcher grabs hold of and buries in his or her heart. Chewing it over in large haphazard chunks or small deliberate bites. Mulling it over in quiet reflective moments. Turning it around over and over again. Like some precious hidden jewel worth more than all the rubies, emeralds, sapphires and diamonds in the entire world.

The other day, this is what I thought of.

Imagine if you suffered from complete amnesia…

I was sitting at a table outside by a hotel swimming pool, staring at some oleander bushes, swaying—ever so slightly—in the wind.

Listening to the loud reverberating sound of noisy cars and motorcycles in the immediate distance.

I observed through the transparent fence, a cyclist whizz past. Then another. Then a bus full of passengers zipped by, a little too fast on the narrow road for my liking.

I observed my daughter and her friend, from the edge of the hotel swimming pool, leap—in almost choreographed unison—into the air and take rather elegant nose dives into the clear blue water. And it was then I had this thought.

What if I suffered from complete amnesia? Right here and now?

With all its frightening implications, what would that mean?

This thought was alarming enough to fill me with foreboding terror and cause my skin to break out in a cold, clammy sweat.

It would mean that I, all of a sudden, would forget who I am.

Who my husband and my daughter are.

Who my father is.

Who my mother is.

Who my siblings are. Where I come from. What is important to me.

I would forget…everything.

What feelings would that evoke in me?

Disorientation. Gripping, paralyzing fear. Feelings of extreme vulnerability.

An overwhelmingly lost feeling. Not knowing who, what, where, why I am.

Not knowing who is safe. And who is an enemy.

Who loves me. Who hates me. Who wishes to harm or protect me.

A bone-crushing feeling of terrible isolation would—most certainly—follow.

My identity. Who I am and Who made me.

That’s what Ephesians 1 and 2 tells me.

I shift in my seat. A man and a woman—an older couple—pass by and beam widely at me. Perhaps it is because of the plethora of books I’m surrounded by. My Bible— open—in front of me. A large notebook. And multiple sheets and stacks of paper and other books I have spread across the table I’m sitting at.

The pen in my hand, the end of which I’m chewing.

Unusual—it must look—at the swimming pool.

I smile back at them. The man, with a grin, says something I don’t quite catch, before walking away with his wife.

I look down at the page open in front of me. And I read Ephesians 1: 3.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.

I read on. About how I have been chosen. Ephesians 1, verse 4.

How I have been adopted through Jesus Christ. Ephesians 1, verse 5.

How I have been redeemed through His blood. And forgiven according to the riches of His grace. Ephesians 1, verse 7.

How I have obtained an inheritance. Ephesians 1, verse 11.

Paul—the writer of Ephesians—prays in Ephesians 1, verse 17 and 18 that:

The God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. I pray (Paul says) that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.

I repeat Paul’s prayer in my head silently. That the eyes of my own heart may be enlightened to understand better. And I go back to the beginning of Ephesians and read through Ephesians 1 again.

My identity.

Your identity.

It is the most common thing the enemy of our souls viciously, ruthlessly, systematically and calculatedly attacks. This is because it is the foundation on which you and I either stand or fall…

Be of sober spirit; be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 1 Peter 5: 8

My identity. Your identity. Priceless.

Knowing who you are and whose you are. Infinitely more precious than all the treasure in the world.

For we are His (God’s) workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we would walk in them. Ephesians 2: 10

Till next time,

Lots of love,

Uche

Blog Post 1

Hi! I’m so glad you’re here!

I’m Uche.

I’m a wife, a mom of a beautiful daughter, a lawyer…

And a real-life Royal Mystery Searcher—navigating life.

Who, I hear you ask, is a Royal Mystery Searcher?

A Royal Mystery Searcher is—first and foremost—a child of God.

This means that a Royal Mystery Searcher centers everything on identity. Knowing the truth of who he or she was created to be.

A Royal Mystery Searcher knows that the only thing more important than his or her identity is the answer to the questions:

Whose am I?

Who made me?

And a Royal Mystery Searcher knows the answer to these questions is Jesus Christ.

Secondly, a Royal Mystery Searcher’s greatest heart desire and most sought-after passion and discipline is to learn to search the Holy Scriptures daily. This is because God’s word provides the spiritual eyes to see the world as it really is.

A Royal Mystery Searcher understands that although there is a lot of knowledge in the world, true wisdom comes from renewing your mind through God’s Word.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Proverbs 9:10.

Furthermore, a Royal Mystery Searcher knows irrevocably, without a shadow of doubt, that there are two worlds in existence —the visible and the invisible.

The seen and unseen.

And sometimes, the two worlds collide.

And the veil that separates them, shimmers…thins…parts …

For God’s Word illuminates.

Every Royal Mystery Searcher, at some point or the other, stumbles onto this weighty tremendously life-altering realization. The realization that, from the moment you and I were born—without our consent or even our knowledge—we were drafted, recruited, enlisted into a grave battle. A battle we are now part of.

Whether we like it or not, we have been pulled into this fierce, raging warfare.

And it is between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of darkness.

Yes, the world you and I live in is actually a battleground.

We are all unwitting participants fighting hard in an age-old battle (it does kind of makes sense if you think about it. And it explains why things we encounter in life can be so devastatingly hard sometimes, doesn’t it?)

Though this is all startling and thoroughly dumbfounding, a Royal Mystery Searcher soon realizes, with insurmountable joy and heady relief, that in Christ, the battle is already won.

For our Lord and Savior Jesus has paid the price in full.

He has overcome unimaginable suffering and death to give every Royal Mystery Searcher new life. In Him.

Now armed with this incredible spiritual bullet-proof vest—this Good News—you and I, as Royal Mystery Searchers, can learn how to clothe ourselves with the full armor of God.

In Jesus.

We can work on being more resilient in adverse circumstances. And—with great intent, and of course, the right weapons this time—fight this life and death battle. Knowing—in Jesus—our victory is assured.

Guaranteed and unavoidable.

And now, time for a Fun Fact. Why The Name Royal Mystery Searchers?

The word ‘Royal’ is from 1 Peter 2: 9.

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”

The word ‘Mystery’ is from Daniel 2: 47.

The king answered Daniel and said, “Surely your God is a God of gods and a Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, since you have been able to reveal this mystery.”

The word ‘Searchers’ is from Proverbs 25: 2.

It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.