Keep the vision in view

The last thing I wanted to do this morning was exercise but I had given myself  a 30 day weight loss challenge and it was just day two!! Day two and I lacked motivation to move!! Then I remembered the reason for the weight loss journey in the first place and this got me off my lazy ****** and back on track.

Sheroes Award night, an annual event organised by the multi talented broadcaster Yemi Adenuga is coming up in October and I want to look my absolute best.

Sheroes 2016

The award night is to celebrate women who inspire,impact and influence in Ireland and beyond in different spheres. Last year was amazing and this year will be more so knowing Aunty Yemi as I do

Yemi Adenuga

I had the perfect dress and have the picture of how I want to look come October 2016 and that "picture" was all the fuel to get me going

Exercise mode

Weight loss experts tell people to have a vision of their anticipated end result for the weight loss journey to be successful. The picture of the end result serves as fuel when you lose motivation, the vision will help you back on track. For me its the silver/black dress in my wardrobe

Hebrews 12: 2 "Looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith". The vision is ahead not behind. It is an onward and forward outlook. So look ahead. Every goal is a future driven event and your vision fuels your goals.
It also pays to write the whys and hows down. These will serve as reminders along the way.
Habakkuk 2:2 "write the vision down; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it".
Don't just envisage the dream run with it!! Bring to life whats on paper! Don't just write it down, Give wings to your dream.
While trying to lose weight for Sheroes night, I am enjoying the daily walk, watching people as they go about their business and getting inspired along the way. These makes it all worth it. Aside your primary motive, as you give expression to your dream you will start to achieve even unidentified lesser goals. Remember its ok to start small and work it up from there. Just never lose sight of the vision. Now time to shed more flabs!

What I wore last year

TIPS TO REMEMBER

• Have a goal
• Picture it
• write it down
• keep it in view
• be committed
• Focus
• Determination
• have a strategy
• have a time frame
• break it into small achievable bits
• run with it
• it wont always be convenient but it will be worth it

Small Matters Too

I wish I had something flowery or even grandiose to write after my long hiatus but I dont. But I do have this to say "Happy New Month".

Photo by www.roccosphere.wordpress.com

Its not much but its something thoughtful, heartfelt and absolutely sincere

I was almost tempted not to post anything at all until I remembered a saying by the great people of Nigeria "at all, at all na im bad pass" which simply translates to "its better to do or give a little than none at all" and I totally agree.
Every little efforts adds up and tiny rain drops have the potential to become a torrential downpour.
You see that small idea that seems stupid, don't discredit its potential. Test the waters with a tiny dip of your feet and before you know it you will be walking on water.

Remember even the greatest idea started from the bottoms up. All it takes is commitment, resilience, a tad of bravery and you will see the potential you envisaged and amazed at the results. Ignore the negative voices and amplify the positives.
As you embrace this new month, embrace every challenge it throws at you. Never disdain the little, it might not mean much to you initially but it could mean the world to someone.
I hope this means something to you as it matters to me.

Weep not child!

This year I didn't put up a post on my birthday but I had the most amazing time with the people that I love doing the things I love....EATING! 

I'm the cute one in the middle

For the first time in a long time I AM INDEED HAPPY and my joy stems from the inside. I realised what an amazing life I am living and what a priviledge it is to be alive and watch the plot unfold revealing a wonderful story  with me being the lead actress and the holy spirit directing.

 I have a ministry that is touching lives one smile at a time ( yeah, comedy is a ministry you know..lol) and i'm living purposefully. I have realised life is not about me but how I impact lives with the life I've been blessed with flaws and all.  Like Paul the scales have fallen off my eyes and NOW I SEE.

That evening while enjoying the sumptuous dinner, I desired just one thing, The Tardis. ...you know the time machine in the BBC show Dr Who! 

My utmost desire was not the head of John the baptist, diamonds, husband or anything grandiose just a time machine!  Oh, if only I could lay my hands on a real time machine, I would go back in time and tell the younger me, that girl that was hurt, unappreciated, unloved, rejected, emotionally and physically abused, not to worry that every thing will be alright. 

I want to give that broken girl a tight hug probably squash her a little bit too hard, wipe her tears and not leave her until I see a twinkle in those lovely brown (I hope..lol) eyes. I would love to give her a much needed kick in the nether region too but that would only damage her some more. Like Jesus " a bruised reed he will not break and a smoldering wick He will not snuff out" Isaiah 42:3.

I will tell her the accident, disability, unwanted pregnancy, Joshua, Autism, every stone maliciously thrown at her, she used them to build a bridge of TESTIMONY and what a beautiful testimony it is. 

I will tell her she is stronger than she looks and tougher than she thinks. In fact her life experiences make up the bulk of her comic material. ..lol.  I will tell her about Laugh out Loud,  a comedy platform she uses to reach out to people battling mental health issues  and can't also wait to regail her with the success of Fifty Shades of Beautiful which is the charity organisation she set up  to help people with special needs and disability. All these are fall out from her life experiences. See girl, In all we turn out well. Therefore weep not my child, it will make sense!

That evening, I invited the young ladies in my youth class alongside my dear friend and it was a laughter filled dinner. Through their eyes I saw the young girl I was full of laughter and  dream and in mine they saw what God can do through a broken yet yielded life.

I don't know the point you are right now while reading this post but I want you to know EVERYTHING WILL BE JUST FINE. A broken home, relationship, financial difficulties, job loss, disability are all "night" time experience. It will soon pass." Weeping may last for the night but rejoicing comes in the morning" Psalm 30:5.

As absurd as it might sound, there is a purpose to your pain. It might not make sense now but it will soon.  Your story matters and so do you. 

Now pictures with my girls.

Folake Olasupo...my Chief Operations Officer

Speak the word

My son Joshua  just started to speak at the age of 9. My littleman was diagnosed with autism at age two plus with added complication of no speech! His delayed speech was a source of constant pain to me and frustration for him. As he grew older; he couldn't express his needs and I had to constantly guess what he wanted or what was wrong all the time. This took a toll on both of us, so you can imagine the constant conflicts and tantrums in my house.  Mind you, I throw a mean tantrum and this I did constantly. .lol.

Photo credit:www.songofthelarkblog.com

Fast foward to this day, Words cannot adequately describe my joy the day he uttered his first word! Dear friends, the Israelites were absolutely spot on when they exclaimed with joy in Psalm 126:1 "when the lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like them who dream". Seriously, this is a dream I don't want to wake up from, not even the devil can pinch me out of this....E FITTING'NT.
The miracle of Joshua has become a source of encouragement to many families that are experiencing similar challenges. I give glory to God that there is indeed a purpose to my pain. (we will talk more on that tomorrow).

I have learnt several lessons watching joshua's speech unfold daily.

1. Some of the words have been innate in him though dormant as he did not know how to frame them or give expression to the words.
2. As a parent, I had to teach him more words by pointing out objects and calling them by name.
3. Used the strategy of repetition to enable the word stick., 

Like any SANE mother would (emphasis on sane), in excitement I will point  at anything and everything in sight wanting my son to say them loud and clear to the glory of God and the shame of the devil. However to my dismay, my son got tired of using his words he'd rather pull me or point to the desired object but my humble self was having non of that. You see not using his voice and words would lead to the loss of his acquired skills. WHAT YOU DON'T USE, YOU LOSE! PRACTICE ALSO MAKES PERFECT..KAPISH?

God wants His children to speak the word always.The word of God to a believer is an affirmation of the righteousness and glory of God. It is a declaration of an unshakeable  faith in an awesome God. The believer believes in the heart (innate)and confesses(expresses) with the lips.  In Ezekiel 3, after the prophet had eaten the scroll  which represensented the word of God, he was told " son of man go now and SPEAK MY WORDS TO THEM" As sweet as the word was because it was likened to honey in verse 3, the prophet was not meant to merely savour the taste and lick his lips but to GO AND SPEAK HIS WORD. Ezekiel was commanded to speak the word he'd consumed to a hardened and obstinate people.
Dear friend, what is stopping you from declaring the word in your life? Don't just keep it bottled inside, SPEAK THE WORD and watch amazing things start to happen. What that mountain needs is just the word " Trully I tell you that if anyone says to this mountain 'be lifted up and thrown and thrown into the sea' and has no doubt in his heart....it will be done for them" Mark 11:23

BENEFITS OF SPEAKING THE WORD

• it builds your faith
• It is an exercise of faith
• It builds confidence in you and God.
• It brings God's purpose to bear in our lives.
• It enhances spiritual growth.
• Develops the inner man and transforms us outwardly.
• It gives victory over sin
• It gives life

Back to Joshua, you are not shutting off the words, NOT ON MY WATCH.

The Journey.

Its my birthday today! I was not going to write anything but just couldn't resist the urge to include you in my day.  This particular celebration is special for many reasons and I want to share with you.
I was at a book launch yesterday when a friend asked how old I was. For a brief moment I forgot and had to tell her the year I was born. After deep consideration, I realised my life has been filled with so many glorious moments that time seems suspended. In fact, there was a time my life seemed paused but that is a topic for another post.

Truth is, the past years have been a journey, a bumpy one at that but an adventure nonetheless. I have been battered, bruised but not broken. My body bears physical scars that cannot be hidden but others are not visible to the naked eyes, testament to deeper wounds. I survived an accident in which over sixty people died but lost three fingers on my right hand. The scars and partial disability do not detract from who I am but only enhances the fact that physical features do not truly describe a person but inner beauty does. I have been emotionally abused and rejected but I always bounced back; bigger and better (my ample folds are a testament to the bigger part..lol). Some of my experiences are still too raw to share and are in the healing process but I'm not lying under. NOT THIS GIRL.

  A lot of friends, acquaintances and strangers wonder how I am able to laugh and make others laugh in the midst of the ugliness and I laugh the more.

You see life is a journey with unexpected bumps and detours with network of connections called failure, rejection, distractions, pain, regrets and mistakes. Some you prepare for and still run headlong into them while others happen upon you despite your better choices and plans. However these bumps do not discount the realities of success, fulfilment, achievement. and other pleasures that are intertwined in the process and most times have to be deliberately sought out.

 A lot of times of times the bumps lead to the bounty, if only you bear the discomfort. never think for a moment that whatever challenge or trials you'r going through will destroy you because it won't. YOU ARE BUILT TO LAST...beyond the pain, rejections, illness, separation, divorce, bankruptcy, betrayals etc.
I have been through some situations that I thought I would never survive but years on, I look back and marvel at how I managed. I even wondered why I worried in the first place. NOW I KNOW BETTER.

Challenges no longer faze me, I have learnt better and mostly from the low moments. ITS ALL GOOD. My new attitude has nothing to do with positive thinking or any new age mumbo jumbo, ITS THE GOD IN ME.

Jesus has been my anchor, my sanity in the midst of the madness. How else do you find humour when your world is turned turpsy turvy? By seeing through the lens of God's Word. I realised The same power that made laughter well up in the heart of Sarah dwells in me.
So I am celebrating because "in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us" Rom 8:37.  Despite my challenges, I AM THRIVING. I AM GETTING BETTER AND BETTER.
 I've got so much to say but you get the gist. Every trial you've gone through make up your story and your story is meant to comfort and encourage others not kill you." blessed be the God and father of our lord Jesus Christ,...who comforts us in all our afflictions so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with comfort which we ourselves  are comforted by God" 2 Cor 1:3-4. 

Since bumps are a necessary part of the journey, I'd like to share certain truths I've learnt along the way.

• Challenges are part of life-"dear friends do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come upon on you to test you as though something strange were happening to you" 1 peter 4;12 .
• You have to be connected to Jesus-"I am the vine;you are the branches...apart from me you can do nothing" John 15:5.
• The Word is indispensable-"thy word is lamp for my feet and light to my feet" Psalm 119:105.
• The Holy Spirit is Guide, Helper, Comforter, Standby, Grace.
• God has a plan- "For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord. plans to prosper you and not harm you" Jeremiah  29:11.
• Trust God and His plans.
• It will end well-"all things God causes everything to work together for those who love him" Rom 8:28.

• Walk in faith
• Pray without ceasing.
• Form godly relationships
• learn from every challenge.
• Have a good attitude-don't complain.
• learn from the experience of others
• don't isolate yourself
• it shall pass-don't give up
• be patient- the testing of your faith produces perseverance. James 1;3
• Expect something good.

Life is a journey. You don't have to go it alone. Weave your experiences into a tapestry of interesting stories with the Holy spirit driving the narrative.

I am grateful for the journey so far and excited for the journey ahead. First stop, dinner with my son, that's a story I'll share tomorrow. Now, what to wear?...lol.

Every Little Helps

€100 might not mean a lot to many people but it was exactly what *Kathy* needed to sort her daughter's music lessons. Unemployed and single, getting by financially was hard enough without adding the extra burden of music lessons but her daughter loved singing. Little *Tabitha* needed a new guitar as her old one was broken but there was no way her mum could afford a new one at the moment. Not being able to provide for a child is any parent's dilemma and Kathy was no different.
But she turned her concerns to the one who can.

That morning Kathy had come to church broke without even the requisite money for offering. Imagine her surprise when an usher gave her an envelop with her name on it. An anonymous person had dropped the envelop in the offering basket with a note for her. It was specifically addressed as a contribution towards her daughter's new guitar. I CALL THAT A MIRACLE! Even as I write this article, Kathy does not know who gave her the gift.

We all need a miracle don't we?  A confirmation that God's got our back when the bills are pouring in or the medical report aint that encouraging. What's your trust gauge in the wake of challenges? Like Kathy do you trust God and expect a miracle or do you throw in the towel and panic.
CENTRAL TRUTH: God is still in the business of doing the supernatural. HE HAS NOT CHANGED. If He has to cause manna to rain from heaven for your sake He will. Don't worry about the method of provision TRUST THE PROVIDER.

God can do anything all by Himself but He wants you and I as part of the process. God wants to involve you in performing miracles in the lives of others. WHAT A PRIVILEGE. Remember the story of how Jesus turned water into wine in John 2:1-11? The servants had to fill jars with water-fetching water and filling the jars was their role in that miracle process. I'm sure after the miracle happened they made a boast about how they logged jars after jars of water for Jesus. I WOULD!

God desires that we become conduit of His blessings-no more hanging on the sidelines. The €100 did not solve all of my friend's financial issues but it was one less problem for her to fuss about. It was a €100 she did not have earlier that day. IT WAS UNEXPECTED YET APPRECIATED. That's the benefit of helping others. Your gift no matter how little will help assuage the other person's challenges.You may not be able to single handedly end world poverty or eradicate hunger but you can make a difference in one life.

 There is something beautiful about helping others. ITS INDESCRIBABLE. You have to experience it to know it. According to my people "at all, at all, na im bad pass". This simply means, not giving anything is worse than giving a little.
Be part of the change. Be a conduit of God's miracle. Be part of the process.  Don't go worrying about what  little help you can give  because that little might just be all the help a person needs. Remember, EVERY LITTLE HELPS even if its a smile or a hug.

Don't Miss Your Moment

Did you attend church service today? Hope you did and I believe you were blessed. Church was amazing for me. Wow! The way God chooses to use the choir never ceases to amaze me. I have told you about my choir. Its a small motley crew of less than ten people with little or no training in music but with a heart that pants after God. My humble self at the helm of affairs is the absolute joke of the century but I've learnt God uses the most unlikely people to perform His acts. Seriously I still don't get my role in this humour thing but I'm loving it. 

After such an experience the only thing left to do is rest and bask in the glow of God's love with a pillow and a bowl of hot pepper-soup.

Photo Credit:www.srxa.wordpress.com

LIFE IS INDEED GOOD!! In the midst of my musing, my attention was caught by a conversation in the movie "Night at the Museum 2.  If you've been following the franchise you'll easily identify the scene I'm analysing. The museum was facing a major upheaval and Ben Stiller's character "Larry" was having a deep conversation with Teddy Roosevelt when something happened. Teddy was giving one of his inspirational advice when Larry’s phone rang and interrupted the flow. One would think Larry who knew the dynamics of the museum would finish the conversation and attend to his call later but he didn't. By the time he was ready to hear the advice being proffered, Teddy had turned into a statue and he missed the moment. Larry thought he had all the time in the world but the distraction of a simple phone call cost him a valuable advice-and the call was not even important.

Sound familiar?  How many great opportunities have been missed simply because we assume there is still time. You blink and the moment is gone in a flash and you begin to wonder!.  

An indisputable truth is that you might not be able to control time but you can manage the hours you have. Its about understanding the time and setting priorities. Remember the poem 

"tick says the clock,

tick, tick

what you have to do 

do quick

Photo Credit:www.buzzle.com

Everyday life comes with packages and opportunities. Successful people recognise these opportunities and make the best of them. "I have seen something else under the sun:The race is not to the swift or the battle to to the strong, nor does food come to to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favour to the brilliant or favour to the learned but time and chance happen to them all" Eccl 9:11.

Too many people waste time on trivias', questioning what is not, reliving what is past and worrying over what might not be instead of dealing with the now. STAY IN THE ZONE. Many times it comes down to the choices we make.. You either make a choice to improve your skills by reading or wasting time by chatting away the hours on mindless issues. You have a choice to be miserable or happy, its up to you. Just remember that while you are busy being miserable, precious moments that can never be regained are being wasted. LIFE WAITS FOR NO ONE. Make life changing decisions today.

Photo Credit;Jessica Phillips on Pinterest

Finally, the bible talks about a time when God will not be found Proverbs 1:28. How scary is that? It is scary but true. The greatest moment you have is now not tomorrow...DON'T MISS IT.  Don't postpone till later what you can do now. CHOOSE GOD TODAY.

Photo Credit:www.motoroid.com

Get A Grip!- Dealing with life issues

Photo Credit:www.antidicaprio.blogspot.cz

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.

Photo credit:www.freedigitalphotos.net

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.

Photo Credit:www.deviantart.com

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.

Change your perspective

There is a story about a sales man who was sent to a remote region to sell shoes but on getting there he reported to his superiors that there was no viable market in the region as the residents don't wear shoes. After several months another sales representative was sent to the same region to sell shoes and his report was different.He called his superiors highly excited about the prospective market in the region for shoes.

 Two sales man working for the same company, selling the same product, catering to the same market but with absolute different outlook on the target. The challenge was the same but their attitude was the different. One saw potential  while the other saw defeat.

In the book of Numbers 13, Moses sent twelve Israelites to explore the promised land as God had instructed. Twelve people spied the land, had the same report but had a very different response to the situation. Ten people said the land was filled with giants and  noticed the surrounding problems totally disregarding the viability of the land. In analysing the situation they saw themselves as "grasshoppers" with no hope of survival.  Caleb and Joshua on the other hand only saw the potentials and their ability to possess the land "we should go up and take possession of the land,for we can certainly do it" Numbers 13:30. They had a can-do attitude.

Photo Credit:www.memegeneratore.com

CENTRAL TRUTH: Every body has the potential to see but we differ greatly in what we see, how we see and our response to what we see. For every knotty situation, we either see problems or challenges. A problem is a negative mindset about a situation while a challenge presents itself as a potential for growth and success-its a matter of perspective. When you view your circumstance,  do you see  problems or potential for excellence? Remember David? Goliath was an opportunity for promotion not a problem before the young shepherd. David did not cower before the ginormous man towering above him but saw a situation no bigger than what he'd faced in the past. To prove this point, he tackled this challenge with a simple shot from his sling. Goliath did not deserve a sword or worth stressing over.

The perspective you have concerning any issue will determine your attitude. Its a known fact that your attitude in turn would determine your altitude.

The Israelites were on the verge of the promised land, seen evidence of the abundance in the promised land but their "grasshopper" mentality prevented them from taking possession of the land "we seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes and we looked the same to the same". They had a wrong mind view of themselves. They'd experienced the wonders of God in Egypt, the red sea and the wilderness and they still thought themselves to be NOTHING!!. They spent years wandering the wilderness because of their warped view of themselves. To think they were so close to it. The promised land was within their reach but they missed it for another forty years!

. Caleb and Joshua had no such low perspective of themselves. They'd experienced God and trusted Him. Same as David.Your perspective is in the WORD OF GOD."you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood,a holy nation, God's own special possession" 1 Peter 2:9
The first shoe sales man would have experienced a record sales but for his negative view of the situation. He could have been named regional director of that region if he'd only seen right. The truth is our strength is not of ourselves but of God. Until a person starts seeing from God's perspective, life will be a vicious cycle of defeats and unfulfilled potentials. its almost the end of the year but not the end of the world, miracles still happen if only you will believe. Change your perspective and change your life.
STRATEGIES FOR CHANGING A WARPED PERSPECTIVE.

• faith in God.
• Study and meditate on scripture
• trust.
• prayer 
• recall the goodness of God.
• Grace.
• mind your influencers
• Guard your heart and mind
• watch your word.