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.

My name is Gladys, I'm a GARRIOLIC!

Its no longer breaking news that I love food as  my ample plus size is a testament to that fact. I love food in whatever form and from wherever; if its edible, I'll gobble. However what may look and feel like pleasure can also become a bondage. The transition most times are not instantaneous  rather subtle and unnoticed. They most times start out simple and easy to control, then like a flood it overwhelms.  My struggle with garri started eight years ago (Garri is a by product from cassava which is a staple food crop in Africa,Asia and South America)

Cassava

 It was my incessant crave during pregnancy. Its dry, flaky and strong sour tasty was like heaven on my tongue. The Ijebu variety was my favourite

Garri

 I knew it was bad for my health because of its starch contents and I was pregnant and suffering badly from gestational diabetics but I didn't care. I was being closely monitored by the diabetic team and dieticians but I still found a way to smuggle garri into my diet. I was alone and pregnant and garri was my go to comfort food.  Like any addiction, garri was my solace, my cocaine!  I thought my unholy craving might disappear after the birth of my son but  it was not to be rather it became worse. My diet was incomplete without garri. no matter how sumptuous a meal was, I'd finish it off with garri. A spoonful of the flaky product was all I needed- no need to add water or sugar. I'd just flip it into my mouth and I'd be just fine. My friends were not safe from my crave either. Like an addict I'd seek out garri in their pantry but we would all have a good laugh about it. yeah, it became our joke but MY PRISON!!. You see whatever habit you have no control over is an addiction and most times bad for you. Dictionary.com defines addiction as "the state of being enslaved to a habit or practice or to something that is psycologically or physically habit forming" Man was created for dominion but for me garri had become my boss. Garri was bad for my me but I just couldn't seem to help myself. I became tired of  the constant trips to the kitchen at odd times and places. I needed help! All my self efforts to break this bondage was not working and it was now hurting my health again. Garri in itself is not bad but my uncontrollable desire was the problem so I decided to pray. You might wonder, pray over food again? Yes Pray! if it matters that much to me, surely it matters to God. "pile your troubles on God's shoulders-He'll carry your load, He'll help you out. He'll never let good people topple into ruin" psalm 55:22. God cares about the big and little things that trouble His children. He cares enough to send His son to die for me so my "little" addiction matters to Him too
Its three weeks since I started the journey with God to break my addiction to garri, 3 weeks since I last craved the tasty sour powder in my mouth. I still have garri in my pantry because it has several other uses but I no longer abuse its usage. Your addiction might be worry, fear, sex, porn, alcohol, drugs etc. Never mind how many years the unlawful claws of bad choices and habits have held you captive, Jesus came to set the captive free. All you need is ask and believe He can help. God wants His children to live life victoriously. "

MY NAME IS GLADYS AND I AM REDEEMED.