LOL donates to Charity

This week has been amazing!! Despite being hectic, it has been absolutely fulfilling. Finally LOL, an annual  charity event that I host made good its promise to make monetary donation to Samaritans.

Samaritans is  a non profit organisation which provides support to persons affected by Suicide and I was deeply honoured to make a contribution in my "little way" but borrowing the tag line of one of the biggest super market lines in Europe "EVERY LITTLE HELPS.

Words can not truly express how I felt that Tuesday as I shared with the representatives of the charity group on the vision behind LOL and why I chose Samaritans as one of the beneficiaries of my fund raising

Trust me I gladly shared.

LOL (Laugh Out Loud) is an annual comedy event I organise to promote positive mental well being through entertainment. It was borne in 2014 out of several reasons but chiefly in obedience to God. The 3rd edition of the event aptly titled "LOL 3"was to commemorate 3 years of impact as well as raise funds for Samaritans and St.Laserians school for special needs children. At the second edition in 2015, all monies raised chiefly from ticket sales all went to the school to support their great work with "special children" despite cut backs in government spending. I know this for sure because my son  attends the school so I thought whichever way I could help I WILL.

So since inception LOL has been driven by charity  and the favour of God with help coming from friends and well wishers who believe in the vision with me. At the last LOL, I  went from store to store, spoke with strangers and practically begged to achieve my vision no matter the weather with my young son in tow but I didn't mind. I finally found use for all the plenty certificates that I've gathered over the years...in fact I'm the real LOL!

On a serious note, it had nothing to do with skills just PASSION; a heart to help those who are "going through" and GRACE of God.  I am simply a vessel  glad to be in the lord's service.

As I shared my story and vision with the women in that cosy reception area' what I saw in their eyes words still fail me to express.
I left that building with a bounce to my step and awe at what God can do with a life broken and yielded to him-warts and all (in my case seven fingers and a colourful past)

LOL is a vision inspired by God to restore joy and laughter into the lives of His children who have been robbed because that is what any form of mental health challenge does IT ROBS. LOL is still a small part of the greater picture and I am grateful that God is the Master Artist.
Next stop is St. Laserians. I heard they've got something great planned.

SPEAK OUT

I was deeply pained when I read about a pastor that committed suicide a few days after he told his congregation that God was not hearing him. Rev.teddy Parker, a father of two, shot himself in the head with his own gun after Sunday service at Bible Mount Zion Baptist Church Georgia while his family and congregation were still at his church waiting for him for the next service. Reports say He'd told his congregation that he no longer felt a connection with God."I try to pray but I don’t feel like God is hearing me,” Parker said to his congregation “I try to serve but I don’t feel like God is using me. And there are times in your life when God purposely withdraws from you, he doesn’t withdraw for the sake of leaving you but he withdraws so you can grow and mature.. That sounded to me like a desperate plea for help and not a sermon. A lot of comments I have read on Parker's unfortunate demise has been quite unkind given his position as a pastor. Many wonder why "a man of God would commit such a dastardly act as suicide". He is a man of God nonetheless A MAN. The poor man may have had issues that he could not share with friends lest he be labelled "O YE MAN OF LITTLE FAITH". His family had high expectations of him, the congregation depended on him to have it all together and God knows what other matters the poor man had looming over his head that drove him to make such a "deadly decision". Let’s leave the theoretic of Christianity out of this discourse for a moment and be real-FOR ONCE! Many Christians find it difficult to admit being overwhelmed by some of life’s many challenges and put up a facade built on lies. We are afraid to be real to ourselves and to others. Christian admitting challenges is perceived as a sign of Weakness. “What would people say?” we wonder. So we keep up the pretence. 2Kings 4 recalls the story of the widow’s oil and God’s divine provision. She’d lost her husband and her 2 sons were about to be taken away, talk about a whooper-of-a –problem. Did she keep quiet? No! Did she seek out help? Yes! Was her problem solved? Yes- but not till she shared her problems. In 1 Kings 19 Elijah was wallowing in self pity and depression until God appeared to him and offered him a reprieve from his “problems”. Sometimes talking about your problems and crying for help is not a sign of weakness but STRENTH. 2Cor 12:9 "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Next time you feel overwhelmed or burdened, don’t hold it in SPEAK OUT and you’ll be better off after. P.S. Be mindful of who you share your problems with. Seek professional help if you have to.