Take the lid off

Running around doing my daily chores was harder then usual, no thanks to my figure- enhancing girdle..lol. Whoever invented body shapers should be commended then arrested! These constrictors are the real definition of "suffering and smiling". The longer I wore it, the more difficult smiling becomes and its hello cranky!

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 At the end of the day, taking the form fitting outfit off is the best feeling ever. Its an indescribable feeling of freedom. A release from constraints and pressure. Just like boiling water with the lid on- imagine the release when the water reaches boiling temperature and the lead is removed. Steam is released and pressure reduced. In my girdle I was a walking bag of pressure albeit a pretty one.

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Without even wearing girdles, a lot of people are living  constrained lives.These constraints could be external or internal  They are afraid to truly live because of  fear, lack, rejections, low self esteem and failure. . Any situation or position that prevents you from realising your potentials is a constraint and limitation. Negative feelings also serve to constrain and limit an individual from achieving or attaining his or her full potentials. When a person is constrained, it leads to a toxic build of pressure that  causes frustration, dissatisfaction, strife even depression.. A constrained person is an unfulfilled person. They might talk and look the part but inside is a different kettle of fish.

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God created every man for a purpose and His ultimate desire is that we find that purpose and fulfil it. It is important that you fulfil purpose as reaching your potentials has a moribund effect. You are fulfilled and this in turn impacts your immediate area of influence.

Taking the lid off is to be all God wants you to be- unashamed, unlimited, unrestrained and fruitful. IT IS TO BECOME.....! There is no cap to what you can become. God is limitless and because you are created in His image, you have limitless potentials. Every potential has an immense capacity to add value to others.

A donkey is a natural beast of burden. Its inherent ability is to carry cargo. However in Matthew 21, we find a donkey who was nowhere near what it was created for. Instead of helping ease burdens it was tied up until Jesus stepped in. It had the potential to carry a full grown man but its owners had tied him up. The ropes limited his movement as it could only move as far as the length of the cords would allow.But when the ropes were removed, it moved beyond its immediate domain. People began to notice the donkey.  The story of an ordinary donkey became a crucial part of Jesus' grand entry into Jerusalem. Every time the story is told, the donkey is mentioned. Because it carried Jesus, it walked on a path that only kings tread..People put their clothes on the ground for it to walk on. There was ease of traffic because an ordinary donkey carried the king. Dear friend, when you give your dream to Jesus, men will rise to your aid.( During the first edition of the Laugh out Loud event, people were just giving and giving so much that I told some people not to bother. However the holy Spirit told me not to deter people from their blessings and the flow continued.) You have to be willing to be used and transformed. Every dream comes raw and needs refining. When the disciples took the ropes off the donkey, they dressed it up to fit the master's good purposes. "and they brought the ass and colt and put on them their clothes and they set him thereon" (Matthew 21:7
CENTRAL TRUTH:  Your God given vision has the capacity to do more than you can imagine. Don't let fear, circumstances including people tie you down. If you don't know what to do invite Jesus into your vision and ask for the help of the holy spirit to execute it.

STRATEGIC STEPS TO TAKE.

• Up-skill  yourself in the desired field
• Read books that will build your knowledge base.
• Find a mentor
• change your mindset from "I can't" to "I can"
• Leave any toxic environment that does not enhance you.
• Don't be afraid to start small
• seek Godly counsel
• Start, Start , Start.

Get A Grip!- Dealing with life issues

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What will you do if after a hard day at work, you come home to this? Probably faint, flip and flop in no particular order. No matter how many times you superstitiously snap your fingers over your head and say "God forbid!", this kind of  mess happens. As long you have children, this kind of mess will definitely happen maybe not of this magnitude..hopefully!
Kids will be kids and making a mess is part of their developmental process. Perfectly normal children will turn the house turpsy turvy to show they are alive, well and present. No matter how much we desire extremely quiet children, it becomes worrisome when kids don't do childish things like try on mum's shoes, make water splashes, mess up their food, its all part of the process. Except if its up to "Dennis the menace scale" then everything is absolutely fine. Your child is hey Ok. He or she is just having fun albeit at your expense!

Short of thinking you've inherited the modern version of the evil child in the movie "Omen" and reaching for the nearest bottle of holy spirit,  running out of the house in exasperation or even calling social services, clean up the "culprit", give them a good talking to, clean up the mess and life continues! MAKE IT A LEARNING EXPERIENCE.

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Just as you would not think your child has gone crazy on you for making a mess, don't think it strange when challenges come your way. "Dear friends, don't be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through as if something strange thing were happening to you" 1 peter 4:12.

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The dictionary definition of Strange  is "something unusual, unfamiliar, differing from the normal. However scripture helps us to understand that "trials" are normal in the life of a believer. Its part of the process of life. As long as you are alive, challenges will happen. Its not strange! Its not unusual!! IT IS NORMAL.
However your attitude in the wake of challenges matters a lot. It is not the time to wail, stamp your feet, complain or give up. Evaluate the situation and tackle the challenge heads on. The train running late is perfectly normal but when its not running at all, find out why and possibly seek alternative means of transportation. ITS NOT THE END OF THE WORLD. I love the way David faced his Goliath challenge in 1 Samuel 17.  David picked a tried and tested strategy and ran headlong into the big bully causing Goliath to fall with a big bang.
 A lot of people waste valuable time worrying over their problems instead of dealing with them.STOP PLAYING THE VICTIM. Life happens to all of us both rich and poor, big and small, good and bad. A believer is not exempt from problems but he is not without help. "The righteous person may have many troubles, but the lord delivers him from them all" psalm 34:19 .

Don't run from problems, hide in denial or wish them away, THAT'S NOT LIVING. To live is to turn your trials into triumph.
Next time when "life happens", seek Godly counsel, step aside briefly from the situation to clear your head and strategize, seek help from good friends because we all need a shoulder to lean on. Finally, Remember you are not alone and problems are part of the process. GOD' GOT YOUR BACK.

Mr Fix it

I am the crappiest person when it comes to D.I.Y. I'm just all thumbs when it comes to anything self assembly  even with products that come with the most basic manual. As far as I'm concerned manuals are written in gibberish and the pictures just don't compute with me. Don't blame me please! I didn't know how to change a bulb up till I was 28 but these and many more I started doing as a single parent(make that forced to).

  There is a saying that "necessity is the mother of invention" and I rightly agree. Prior to living alone I never showed interest in anything outside my immediate female sphere i.e money, career, men and eating. Cooking did not come close...lol. Things changed for  me as a single parent living far from home. I learnt to change light bulbs, pay bills, do basic checks on my car etc. There were some things I could fix and some that I had to enlist the help of a professional. Good ol' Andre is my fix it guy. He fixes everything in my house including electrical, painting, carpentry. I break it, Andre fixes it. I need anything assembled, Andre is just a phone call away.

In the Christian walk, the Holy Spirit is the go to person when anything is broken or needs assembling. The flesh cannot help itself because its inherently flawed and weak. Paul aptly express the weakness of the flesh in Roman 7:18-19 " for I know that nothing good dwells in me that is in my flesh; for the willing is present in but the doing of the good is not.For the good I want to do I do not do but I practice the very evil that I do not want"
Now since the corruptible flesh cannot help itself it therefore needs the incorruptible to save it in Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Since we are in the dispensation of the Holy Spirit, He is the go to person when you want something done. John 14:26(Amplified version) describes Him as the Comforter, Counsellor, Helper, Intercessor,Strengthener and Standby. You need the Holy Spirit for everything from salvation to victorious living.
Everybody with a gadget knows that some things are best repaired by its manufacturer. Who else can restore a broken world or person except the creator and those that were present at creation. The book of Genesis helps us to know that the Holy Spirit was right there at beginning of creation. I call Him God's MUSCLE MAN.

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Jesus knew the disciples will be ineffective without the Holy Spirits that is why He told them in the book of Acts to wait in Jerusalem for the outpouring of the Holy and what a transformation they had when this happened. Peter went from preaching to a hundred and twenty people to an incredible three thousand! He couldn't have done that without the Holy Spirit.
The Holy spirit equips the saints, teaches, guides and enables the believer to live a victorious life.  He also interprets scripture and turns word of God into pictures.No more struggling to understand the bible.

Life will be a constant struggle without the Holy Spirit. Are you battling an addiction or need help in your Christian walk? Only the Holy Spirit can help not will power or good intentions.What are you waiting for? Call on the Holy Spirit, He's just a prayer away.

Life is an Adventure

Life is an adventure but many times we are crippled by the fear of being hurt or failure so much that we fail to launch out into the deep. A huge number of people are stuck at the river bank of life fretfully testing the waters with their feet and would rather watch others sail their boats far way into sea and also watch them haul nets full of fish back to shore. In failing to follow their dreams, many people are living a life full of regrets and unfilled dreams. I believe it is better to try and fail at something than not try at all. It is in launching into the deep that you have great adventures and stories to regale others with. Get off the side lines and launch out today. The people who made history dared to grab life by the balls and change their circumstances. Imagine what would have happenned if Rosa Parks had not stood up against racism that fateful day in 1955? She was an ordinary girl who was tired of the discriminatory rules against blacks in America and did something about it. It wasn't an easy decision but one that had to be done. Rosa Parks is now known as a national hero who stood against racism and fought for freedom. Join the adventure train and make your own story. Don't just listen or watch others have all the fun. I have made a promise to myself as we enter the second half of the year never to miss out on any opportunity that crosses my path again; I've missed too many chances in the past and its not a pleasant feeling. I'd rather try something and If I mess up, I've only just learnt one way not to do it again. How would you know your strengths if you don't try? How would you know the path that leads to life if you don't venture out. I have a friend who loves adventures! many of the adrenaline pumping experiences I've had in life were at the nudgings of my dearest friend Tola Fowora. Tola is like a sponge, eager to soak up knowledge and experiences. Most times, she plunges head first into an adventure without thinking but always comes out laughing with a tale to regale her friends with. I remember my first mountain climbing experience back in the university. Of course it was at Tola's prompting. It was a spur of the moment decision and we were not even properly attired for the exercise. I remember getting midway to the top of the mountain and my foot slipped. I saw my life literally flash past and wondered if I'll ever make it down or ever get to kiss a guy before I died...yeah, at that point in my life kissing a guy was part of my bucket list!! I still wonder how we never broke our necks that day!! But the experience was worth it!! The adventures and stories we create don't have to be tied to the past. With the help of Jesus, you can rewrite your story. You can write a beautiful and motivating story for others to read, learn and be inspired by. Whatever, challenge we face in life can be woven into a captivating tale. Remember life is short, make every moment count What challenge lies before you? lets turn it into an adventurous story. I'm sure it'll make a worthy read. Mine is getting more interesting by the day.