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.

Photo Credit:www.stylegerms.com

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.

The power of the extra spice

Without shame or any form of remorse, I admit I'm not close to being an average cook.  Infact I lack the basic female cooking gene!  I am gifted with two left hands in the kitchen and an unresponsive taste bud!! Before I embark on the simplest cooking voyage, I have in my mind's eye a picture of the most amazing, taste bud defying meal but despite my best efforts it turns out  blah for want of a better description. Can't wait for the invention of those futuristic  magic food pills that you can simply pop into the microwave and the result is the most gratifying mouth watering dish ever. Seriously, I mean a three course meal in a single pill.

Unabashed by my seeming lack of cooking drive or ability, I blazed into the kitchen to whip up my crave for day, THE AMAZING JOLLOF RICE.

 Like everyone in planet food lovers, I adore jollof rice, in fact its my Kryptonite.  It has the ability to turn this super woman to mush. I can dance the Irish Jig for free at the Dublin city centre on a cold day without a coat just for a plate of this delightful dish.

While digging up my not so secret ingredients, I decided to do something differently today. I had this "enlightening" idea to add extra spice to my pot of wonder. I am quite basic when cooking maybe that's why my cooking has been poorly. But not today, I went the extra mile of spicing my jollof with my now secret ingredient and the result was astonishing!

 I must confess, I truly have outdone myself. Ironically, some of the ingredients had been in my kitchen cupboard all this time while the others were bought during my last shopping but they all worked out well.

Like my previous attempt at jollof rice, a lot of Christians are just as bland-Nothing to distinguish them from the average unbeliever. They live and talk the same defeatist talk like every other person. Unfortunately, unlike the unbelievers what the believing child of God requires to live an extraordinary life is within him or her and within reach. It takes the desire and extra effort to achieve that level. All you need is the extra spice.

In my kitchen adventure, I realised I had the head knowledge of how to cook jollof rice even have some of the extra ingredients but when it got to actual execution, the result were far from perfect. However, with an extra pince of salt and other spices my jollof rice is sort of a master piece.
For the believer the secret ingredient and extra spice for a victorious life is THE HOLY SPIRIT.

http://www.troll.me/2011/11/03/futurama-fry/i-knew-it/

 The Holy spirit is not the only the extra spice HE IS THE MAIN SPICE.There is just no doing without Him if you desire the extra oomph in your life. The Holy brings with Him the total package which is described as the fruits of the Holy Spirit in Gal 5:22-23."but the fruit of the Spirit is Love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. Against such there is no law.
Spice up your life with these basic truths and the result is breathtaking.You simply can't have too much of these  ingredients to live the truly good life. Truth is we have some of these fruits already resident in us but we need the holy spirit to enhance the deposit. The Holy Spirit is the difference between bland and absolutely victorious.

Remember the disciples remained ordinary until they experienced the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the Upper room in Act 2. Peter went from ministering a to few believers to converting over three thousand persons in one day. Wow! Don't you just want that?
 Don't waste any more time living a defeated  life, get the extra spice and enrich your life!
As for my Jollof rice, I'm so proud of it but I'll keep the ingredients secret for now...lol

Dying to selfie by Lynn Cowell

Editor's Note: I knew something had happened. I felt different! I felt peace!! I'd found myself in a "drama-worthy situation" but did not have any urge to throw an Oscar worthy performance. In fact everyone was expecting me to grab the bait and make a contribution to the ongoing "discussion" but I didn't. You see, I was in a meeting that was up on its butt and already some people were angry and ready to vent spleen but not me. From the very beginning of the discussion, I knew it was a train wreck about to happen but I was not going to be part of it. The old me would have got angry and stumped her feet but she was nowhere to be found that day and thankfully so. I have had enough of drama in my life and its time to let go and let God. Its time to let God take centre stage and be the focus of every man's attention instead of me.  With the help of the Holy Spirit, situations that ruffle me no longer do. New life in Christ is to give full reign to the Holy spirit and manifest His fruits. Its letting Jesus take the lead. It choosing peace over anger, joy over bitterness, Jesus over flesh. Enjoy this amazing devotion by Lynn Cowell of Proverbs 31 ministries. There also prices to be won on her blog.

  
Read more and be blessed

Big Brother is Watching

Over the years, reality television has grown into a formidable genre. Love or hate it, several spin off reality shows continue to emerge ranging from the absurd to downright inconceivable. Some actually make for great television with the likes of My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding, An Idiot Abroad, Big Brother etc.

It actually amazes me on how far people would go to be overnight sensations. Some would argue that it stems from this innate desire to be accepted by others-how else can you explain the reason people pretend to be what they are not on Facebook and other social media platforms. The term Big brother refers to a surveillance kind of reality television where a group of contestants are kept in a house specially fitted with cameras giving the voting public all access to participants every activities. The voting public through the lens of big brother is privy to aspects of contestants that other participants don’t know….Uncanny, isn’t it? The idea of being watched and not knowing? Of course some act up for the cameras but they can only go so far before their real character is revealed!

Reputations have been made and sullied in the Big Brother House! Would you behave differently knowing your every acts is being closely watched?

  I know a group of people who would have acted differently if they’d known that unseen eyes were on them or the consequences of their actions.

The day I prayed in Yoruba

It was an unusual kind of day. For some inexplicable reason I woke up cranky, sad and very much upset. There was no obvious reason for my foul mood as I'd gone to bed the previous night happy and ready to conquer whatever the dawn would bring in its wake. But I woke up defeated and angry at the world and at myself-angry at where I was and how I'd stupidly allowed myself to be browbeaten by life. Before the dark thoughts could overwhelm and totally ruin my day, I rolled onto my knees and prayed. The words that rolled out of my tongue were not the grand words that I was used to but the heartfelt cry of a little girl that I'd lost her way. As I poured my heart out, I realised I was praying in a not so familiar language. Not so familiar because I use the language to converse but never actually pray. You see, I was born in a Yoruba speaking part of Nigeria but I'm not a Yoruba girl by origin. To make matters more interesting, I was born in the not so much posh side of town so I know how to get down and dirty in the language. I can read, write and rap freestyle in the language. That day years back, the only interesting and fascinating thing I was doing in Yoruba was pouring my feelings at the feet of the one who loves and cares for me, in a language dear to me. Despite all my claim to Western education, the deep part of me is still that small Yoruba speaking girl and it was that little girl that reached out to the Master's feet after all the bible says "Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me" Psalm 42:7. In order to experience a deeper intimacy with God, there was no room that morning for excessive grammar or pretence before the one who knew me even before creation "Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee, and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee; I have appointed thee a prophet unto the nations" Jeremiah 1:5 Hannah in the book of 1 Samuel definitely understands my position. She found herself in the temple brow beaten by barreness and humiliated by her husband's other woman. When she opened her mouth to pray, no audible word came forth only a heartfelt mumble that only God understood. Many times in the place of prayer words will fail but thank God for the HOLY SPIRIT. "In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God" Romans 8:26-27 "Intimacy with God is found in the realm of the spirit" BENNY HINN. It is a place of perfect communion and fellowship with God-no barriers or hindrances only easy and free access to the almighty." it is at times like this that words become inadequate because spoken words are the expression of the mind and not the soul. Words cease and you stop asking. Only your heart can speak as it erupts in worship". It is a heartfelt, deep level cry, communication and fellowship..TOTALLY AWESOME. That morning, I got on my knees broken but when the Yoruba little girl in me cried out, I rose up strengthened and my countenance brightened. I love that little girl in me , she is the reason I still smile through it all. P. S, THE CELEBRITY BABY PICTURE IS MY DARLING PRINCESS JANIS OBONNA..IS'NT SHE GORGEOUS....AND THAT MY FRIENDS AIN'T A QUESTION!

Wrong Turn

I was never an ardent fan of driving, infact driving scared me for many reasons. I am a survivor of a ghastly motor accident so getting behind the wheels of a car or even being a passenger while another person drives sends bile up my throat!! Moreover, the rules of driving in Ireland is light years ahead of what obtains in my darling home country of Nigeria. While in Nigeria, I drove for a year without knowing how to reverse. Thank God I never killed anyone or got killed myself...lol. I was forced to improve my driving in Ireland because of the strict driving rules, poor transportation network and I also live in the rural area; I therefore needed a car to get around. Over time, my driving has improved and I've grown to love the idea of being the female "Lewis Hamilton". I have a rule of thumb before venturing anywhere especially when it involves strange places-I ALWAYS CHECK THE MAP AND FAMILIARISE MYSELF WITH THE ROUTES. The idea of getting lost scares me shitless moreso since I watched a movie titled "Wrong Turn". In the movie, a wrong turn down an uncharted dirt road leads six young people into a night of pure terror in this horror story.The movie has got to be the gorriest I've ever watched! Sometimes people make wrong turns in life and need the help of the Holy spirit to recaliberate their direction. Even the most logical and ardent planner sometimes miss the mark too but they are never without hope. The most Unfortunate people in life are those that have made wrong turns, refuse to acknowledge they've lost their ways and are stuck in the consequences of their decisions. I recently made a wrong turn despite my best intentions. I am not ashammed to say I made a mistake. Most times admitting wrong is a sign of strength not weakness and a pathway to healing and restoration.The story of the prodigal son in Luke 15 is about a son who lost his ways but later found himself crawling back to his father.To his dismay, he was met with open arms and wrapped in forgiveness instead of condemnation. Have you made a wrong turn? its time to find your way again if possible back to the starting line. It doesn't matter how far down the trail you are. Its better to make a U-turn early than be stuck on a mindless or futile journey leading to nowhere. Recaliberating hurts but is a necessary process. It doesn't even matter what people will say.

Stick with the programme

Am I the only person that find diets exhausting? thought not! it requires a lot of energy, determination and discipline most of which I tend to have in short supply *shamefaced*. With so much diet fads and trend its no wonder dieting would seem like an overwhelming task. The journey to a healthier and sexier me is further stressful given the ease with which other people seem to lose weight. *sigh*. Never mind those skinny *****es* on magazines cover..lol(blame the bad language on envy). The truth is I love food! If its edible, I'll eat it despite my better intentions. When I see food, all semblance of good sense and sensibility goes out the window especially when I visit my good friend Beauty-her red stew is "sinfully delicious". Oh, why do I have such hyperactive taste buds and insatiable appetite?. WHY!!! Many times I've been tempted to give up the whole diet palava but at the last minute remember I have much more to gain if I lose weight compared with the health challenges of obesity. Its not easy but I'm sticking with the programme. For instance, I have green tea with lemon on my mid day snack plan but my tummy is craving correct Eba smothered in vegetable soup yum yum!! Despite the rumbling of my tummy, I chose to stick with my plan, refusing to give into my baser instinct like a ravenous beast. I've simply had enough of the yoyo diet. I want to shed the extra flabs once and for all. Aside from my uncontrollable appetite *cough*, doctors have identified other reasons but I say bull crap!!(too much expletives going on..my bad). More than ever before, I have come to appreciate the power of the holy spirit in weight loss. Whenever I fall off the wagon (which I do), I get back up with His help without any condemnation. To the many ladies struggling to achieve their dream weight goals, you are not programmed to go the journey alone. If it matters to you then be sure it MATTERS TO GOD. However the holy spirit is the perfect gentleman He would not force his way into where He is not invited or welcomed. Ironically, we invite His help into our relationships, finances etc but shut the door when it comes to weight loss. We boast in self effort and crumble when we fail. The power for lasting transformation lies in GOD. the journey to a healthier and sexier me has been a slow YET progressive one. More than ever before I'm sticking with the program. Aside from the health benefits, I want to look good on my wedding day. I want my husband to carry me across the thresh hold and not drag me by the hair or hire a crane to do his job-don't want him to hurt his back either*cough* All parts are necessary for a blissful honeymoon, I've waited too long to be denied any part of my "entitlement" *cough*. With that picture in mind, I'm putting my back into the programme ."fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God".Hebrew 12:2. It is important for a successful weight loss programme that you identify why you eat, connect with friends with similar goals and seek help from the Holy Spirit-you are just a prayer away from your desired goal.

Dare to BELIEVE

"Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptised with water but in a few days you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit". Act 1:4-5. There was much anticipation in the air as they gathered together for felllowship. It had become a habit this gathering. It didn't matter that the room was small and dingy. They moved around greeting and welcoming each other. Over the din of the small chit chats, a husky male voice raised a song. It was Peter. All those years spent fishing had taken its toll on his voice.It was slightly hoarse and hesitant. Everyone turned and looked at Peter. How he'd grown and matured since the Lord appeared to all of them. Andrew joined in the singing. A glimmer of tear rolled down Peter's cheeks as the other disciples joined in the song. How far they'd all come. The reformed tax collector, the fishermen, and the women- ordinary people whose life had been transformed by THE CALL. With outstretched arms they lifted up their voices to heaven. In unison they sang, a heartfelt song for the fulfilment of the promise-THE PROMISE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. It didn't matter that they were considered strange and uncouth they dared to believe Him that had made the call. It didn't even cross their minds to doubt, after all the promise of His ressurection was not a myth, they'd seen Him with their very eyes. They'd even broken bread together and Thomas' had his doubts wiped away at His appearance. In that room, they were ONE. Not divided by gender, status, or occupation but a unified expectation of the promise. "Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting" Act 2:2. Wow! They wondered with elation! The manifestation of the Holy Spirit was more than they imagined! Tears streamed unchecked down Peter's cheeks as he heard the other disciple speak in other tongues. Amazing! What He was experiencing was far above his craziest expectations. Amazing!!! The disciples experienced the supernatural because they obeyed Jesus's instruction and dared to believe. They dared to believe Him that promised becaused He had a track record of being true to His words.

In my study of Acts chapter 1, I realised Jesus did not give the exact day or time for the filfilment of the coming of the Holy spirit but instructed them to remain in Jerusalem "for in a few days they will be baptised with the Holy Spirit". They didn't mind the wait because they knew it will happen just as He'd said. They were happy to wait and fellowship in a small and dingy room. In life we do not know when an expectation will be met or a prayer answered but we need to remain in faith. As difficult as that might seem sometimes but "My grace is sufficient for you, 2 Cor 12:9. . yes! God's grace is available and sufficient enough to tide you through, all you have to do is dare to believe.Yours might not be a dingy room but a crappy situation nonetheless. Dare to believe Him for that promise? The disciples did and look at the awesome testimony. Its in the book of Acts-READ IT, I DARE YOU.