Just because

I read an interesting article about a guy who who got a job after unknowingly helping an old man who turned out to be the General Manager of the company he was going for an interview at. You might say the old man had no choice but to employ the young man because of the good deed he'd done and you are absolutely right. With man its "rub my back and i'll rub your back but its not so with God.

The bible make us to know that even before the world was created God knew us and loved us. Before you and I burst into the scene screaming and causing mayhem God knew us. He'd always known about the drugs, abortion. backbiting, lies, hurts, unrequited love, the pain, the dysfunction etc. He'd known about the many times we would deliberately ignore His truths in mindless pursuits only to return broken like the prodigal son yet He is out waiting for us to come back JUST BECAUSE.....
1 John 4:19 says God first loved us!! There is nothing you and I have done or would ever do that will qualify us for His love if not for GRACE...Its nothing but grace-unmerited favour and inexplicable love.

If I were God I would have given up on me but God is not man neither are His ways and thoughts.

With man one good turn deserves another but God loves JUST BECAUSE. You don't have to slave away to earn His good pleasure but neither is His love licence to sin.
So stop trying to rationalise the hows and whys, simply accept that that God loves you JUST BECAUSE HE IS LOVE. And that settles it!!

Love in action

Editor's Note: Love has a ripple effect. When the heart is right, love is like a river that flows from person to person, effecting change  in its wake. Being a conduit of love is an ideal we all must strive for. It is simply putting your money where your mouth is. Moreover it is what God expects from every believer. Reminds me of a story about a girl that chose to be the hand of change in the life of a drunken neighbour. All her life she'd known this man as a drunk, a source of comic relief for the neighbourhood. Everyone laughed at this man in his weakness until this selfless young lady chose to be the one to help transform the man. She paid someone to feed him and enlisted other hands to wash him while still seeking assistance to further help him learn a vocation . That is what I call love in action....more than mere expression of feelings! Now the man is on a full road to recovery. Let me share an excerpt from a devotion by Joyce Meyer to encourage us on the benefits of being the conduits of God's love.

Joyce Meyer

"There are many ways to demonstrate the love of Christ. When you show His love to someone else, it can soften that person's heart and before you know it, they'll be finding ways to to reach out and show love to others and so on and so on. So celebrate God's love and let Him lead you. Is he putting someone on your heart right now? 
I want my love for Jesus to be reflected in the way I show love for others, even those that may be difficult to love. If I can soften one hard heart with the love of God , maybe that person will soften another's heart with love then that one will reach out to others and so on and son....And soon we'll have a love revolution!
John 13:35 "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples,  if you love one another."

Chronicles of a good Samaritan

I was at an accident scene yesterday and thankfully nobody was seriously hurt in the single car collision. My friends and I were on the way to a meeting when we noticed the bashed up car at the side of the road so we got out to help although there were other people at the scene already.  We were running late for a meeting but it was just impossible to drive by without lending a helping hand. Not solely because the people gathered round the scene were making their way to the same meeting (I knew because of their attire); IT JUST SEEMED THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

 Mind you, none of us was a medical personnel or had any knowledge of first aid but it was a show of brotherly love. As my friend parked her vehicle some short distance away and we ran to the scene of the crash, I noticed several vehicles with people going to the same meeting zoom pass. while some had the good heart to stop and enquire if all was well, some simply stared and went their way. Like me they were late but it seemed more important to get to the meeting than stopping to help.
I was not going to make mention of the incident until I overheard someone say she'd seen the accident but didn't stop because other people were there already.
HOLD ON A MOMENT

Photo Credit:www.energiekosten-senken.biz

That statement tore at my heart. On one side of the argument, How many times do people overlook others in need simply because we assume others have taken charge? You are not others and your contribution counts. You have something to offer that others might not have and this has nothing to do solely with material assistance. It could be advice or even a shoulder to lean on. You are uniquely fashioned to be the answer to specific problems. At the accident scene, I made the driver's wife sit down as everybody's attention at the time was on her husband. She was not physically hurt but she was in shock and getting some attention helped ease her pain. It wasn't much help in the scale of things  but it was something. I CONTRIBUTED.

How many times have you been in too much of a hurry to help a brother in need; more concerned with your destination to be of use in the present? I was like that too until I purposed never to be so pre occupied with my future that I loose sight of the moment. Fours years ago a strange woman stopped me on my way to college and requested that I prayed for her. I hurriedly prayed for her because I was late for lectures but I somehow sensed the woman also desired to talk but I didn't "have" that time. I didn't make that time for her and was riddled with guilt for a long time. My lecture notes would always be there but that moment with the stranger would have counted more in eternity.
In Luke 10, the story is told of  a man who was badly beaten and left to die on the roadside. A priest and levite walked past the injured man but offered no assistance. However a Samaritan came by, helped him and gave all the assistance he could. He went the extra mile to show compassion. He went above and beyond what was expected. 

Photo Credt:www.dormtainment.com

Jesus was a man of compassion who had time for people. He stopped for the woman with the issue of blood while on his way to Jarius daughter Luke 8:43-48. He also had time for lepers, sinners, children and everyone that crossed his part. HE HAD A HEART OF COMPASSION AND ALSO ACTED.

• Its about time as a people we started showing love instead  of just talking love.
• Its about time we stopped and helped instead of zooming away
• its about time we unrushed ourselves from the busyness of life and take a moment to live
• its about time we translated compassion into action.
• its about time we took time to be our brothers keeper.
• its about time we acted
• stop staring and lend a hand.

Life will be worth living if we all could be walking, talking good Samaritans.

Be slow to Judge.

Editors Note: I watched a video posted on Facebook a year ago about a little boy throwing tantrums and embarrassing his mother in a shopping mall. The comments that followed that post varied from insults on the woman for raising a disgraceful child to calling the boy unprintable names. I didn't know more than what other viewers knew but I do know that some special needs children behave likewise. It is possible that the child had behavioural challenges that was not pointed out in the video. People only judged what they saw but being the mother of a special child I KNOW BETTER. In the early years of my son's diagnosis he'd throw tantrums in public places too not because he was deliberately being bold but crowded places got to him because of his sensory needs.  Many times people judge others without knowing the full story. We jump to conclusion without bothering to find out why people act the way they do or the reasons for their behaviour. Though  it may not be possible to be privy to the whole story, that is the more reason to set a guard over your lips and heart. What you see might be more than face value.
Read this touching story copied from a friend's wall on Facebook. It will change your perspective on judging others."My dear brothers and sisters,take note of this; everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry" James 1:19

Sharing Christmas with Jonathan

"if anyone has material possessions and sees a brother and sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? 1 John 3:17"

Its true that nobody can single handedly solve all the world problems, end poverty or eradicate hunger but one kind gesture can help make a difference in the life of another in need. Its also ironic that even in developed countries poverty and homelessness are still rife.  Weeks ago, Jonathan Corrie a homeless man died just yards away from Dail Eireann, the Irish Parliament further highlighting the growing housing issues in Dublin.

Jonathan Corrie.

Jonathan was one of the many people in dire need of help that never came. Whether you like it or not, we all have a Jonathan around us. He is the homeless man in the street corner begging for a meal. Many times we walk past people like Jonathan, destitute and hungry in our society. Many times we turn a blind eye and heart to the growing number of hungry people in our society. Jonathan could be closer than you think. It could be a neighbour in dire need of help or a faceless stranger on the streets but a Jonathan nonetheless.
I decided to share the festive cheer with five nameless strangers, mostly homeless people; beggars on the street. My bags did not hold much but its five less people frowning at Christmas. Its sharing Christmas with Five Jonathans.

 One particular person kept repeating wao! wao! that he wasn't expecting such kindness and that made the effort of walking in the cold searching for the perfect gift worth it.
My gifts were not much but it was something and I felt good sharing. So in the spirit of the season and even beyond look for the Jonathans in your area and make Christmas count. If you don't know a person in need make your donations to any Charity Organisation, there are many in need of funding especially at Christmas. Remember, you don't really need much to make a difference as "every little helps"
P.S..Special thanks to my darling brother, friend and little boo for assisting me in the Random Act of Kindness. You rock even in shorts..lol.  God bless you.

Victor Famose.

Simple Obedience

Am I the only one that loves reading comments on articles or blogspots? Obviously not! I find the comment section interesting, educative, hilarious and downright crazy some times. Some comments are simply unbelievable! This morning I came across a particular comment that somewhat saddened me. A young lady left a comment on a YouTube video of a popular American preacher. She'd met the man in an elevator at a conference and requested that the man prayed for her as she'd had a near death experience.  Instead of personally praying for the lady, the pastor requested that she asked any graduating student at the even to pray for her. From her comment, she never did as the pastor requested but got upset and now holds a grudge.

 The above story sound familiar doesn't it? Reminds me of the encounter Naaman had with Elisha in 2 Kings 5. This reputable Syrian general had gone to meet the prophet of God to be cured off his sickness only to be given a seemingly silly instruction. Elisha did not even deem it fit to accord him a royal welcome as he'd expected. The Syrian general got upset, ready to return home without doing as Elisha instructed but thank God for his servants who encouraged him to do the prophets bidding.

Photo Crdit:padreescobita.blogspot.com

CENTRAL TRUTH: God's instructions sometimes never makes sense. He is too Sovereign to be confined within man's reasoning "For my thought are not your thought nor your ways my ways, declares the Lord" Isaiah 55:8. In the case of Naaman, he was expecting Elisha to come out' wave a wand or utter some magical hocus pocus but the instruction was to simply dip himself seven times in water. As if that was not bad enough, he was told to wash himself in the Jordan river of all rivers! That almost made him blow a fuse. After all Syria boasted better and cleaner waters. However before God, it was not about the water or Naaman's expectations but a matter of simple obedience. 

Obedience  simply acknowledges the Lordship of God without questioning his ways. God is seeking men and women who are willing to obey his commands without demanding to know the How, where, when; a generation of people who will run at His commands. A wise man wrote that obedience is an expression of our love for God. "if you love me, you will keep my commands"John 14:15

one reason why a lot of people are not living in the abundance God promises His children can be found in disobedience. Many have "set" minds on how things should be done and how success can be achieved. Unfortunately it doesn't have to be your way "I am the Lord your God,who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way that you should go" Isaiah 48:17. God has your good in mind. Imagine what would have happened if the widow at Zarephat had ignored Elijah's instruction. Her small provisions would have run out and her family would have died of starvation. However in a simple act of obedience to a weird instruction, her family was sustained through out the famine.

Photo Credit:www.brokenfollower.com

If only that lady that made the comment on the pastor's page had simply obeyed instead of being set in her way, she'd have saved herself the heartache and her testimony would have been different today. Since we are  brave enough to call God father, lets take the relationship higher in the area of obedience.

OBSTACLES TO OBEDIENCE:FEAR, DOUBT, UNBELIEF, NEGATIVE SET MIND.

INGREDIENTS FOR OBEDIENCE: LOVE, FAITH, TRUST, GRACE.

Make up your mind.Stop questioning God's method and start trusting HIM. He knows best.

Bought At A Price

Nobody loves to loose anything especially when the object came at a price. Whatever has been purchased has more intrinsic value other than financial. It can also involve concerted physical effort, research, emotions  and time invested. You work hard, save money, do research, build excitement, make the purchase and suddenly you lose the purchase? My dear it will hurt because it was worth something.

www.freedigitalphotos.net.

We have all experienced some form of loss at one point or the other. It could have been a loved one or an object of desire but the pain of loss is the same and we will do anything possible or within our means to get the lost object back. I read an article on how Paula White prayed relentlessly for her son who was lost in addiction for over eight years. Bradley was the son of her womb, she nurtured him as a baby and had great expectations for his future, so she was not ready to allow drugs  rob her or him off the prospects of enjoying life as a family. Paula prayed, fasted and petitioned because Bradley was WORTH IT.  It didn't matter that she had other children because Bradley mattered just like you and I matter to God.

Picture courtesy www.buzz.eewmagazine.com

David knew what it was to lose something precious too. His wife was wrongfully taken from him. Despite having other wives none were like the wife of his youth. None could replace Michal, the daughter of Saul because she cost him something. "David took his men with him,and went out and killed two hundred Philistines and brought back their foreskins. They counted out the full number to the king so that David might become the king's son-in-law. Then Saul gave him his daughter Michal in marriage" 1 King 18:27.
The first opportunity David had to get her back, he did without wasting time. "thou shall not see my face, except thou first bring Michal Saul's daughter when thou comest to seem my face...deliver me my wife Michal which I espoused to me for an hundred foreskins of Philistines" 2 Samuel 3:13-14.
Michal was not just anybody, she was bought at a price. She cost sweat and blood!

photo credit www.ign.com

Dear friend, God is relentlessly pursuing you today because YOU MATTER! You were bought at a price and God is not letting you go easy. You were not bought with perishables but with the priceless blood of His only son. God gave up His son for you so don't think He'll just let you slip away like that. NO SIR!  Don't let your circumstances or anyone belittle how precious you are. YOU ARE PRICELESS and don't ever forget that."for i am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither  the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our lord" Romans 8:38-39.

Picture by Ben www.memecenter.com

Handle With Care

The more I brushed my Ombre human hair weave, the more it shed.  I'd spent quite a bit of money to buy the weave so you can imagine my annoyance at the strands of hair that came off with every brush stroke. According to the manufacturer's specification, I will experience little or no shedding but the strand's of hair in my bathroom sink and sometimes food says otherwise. I was about to draft a strongly worded letter of complaints to the manufacturer but decided at the last minute to re-read the hair care instruction. I realised certain things I'd been doing wrong. 1. I'd been been using a brush with hard bristles instead of the recommended soft bristles. 2. No matter how expensive the hair or "human" it seems, it is not my original hair . My hair extensions have undergone a series of processing so requires a more delicate care than my natural hair, hence the shedding. *Lesson to self-always read instruction manual thoroughly*

I have experienced enough brokenness like some of you reading this post to recognise a "broken" person when I meet one. With my little experience, I have learnt never to box people together. People are products of different experiences and environment so require a more dynamic method of approach. It is downright wrong to treat a child from an abusive home with the same gloves as a child with a somewhat more balanced home structure. Broken and hurting people are vulnerable and quite easily exploited or susceptible to more abuse. That is why for some unfathomable reason  abused people tend to seek abusive relationships. It is just not normal! Jesus gives the perfect example on how to deal with hurting people. "to the weak, I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some" 1 Corinthians 9:22. Jesus understood the dynamics of dealing with broken people and lived accordingly. When the sick were brought to him he showed compassion "When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd".  Jesus was moved with the desire to relieve the suffering of the hurting not break them some more.  "a bruised reed he will not break, and a smouldering wick he will not snuff out" Matthew 12:20  but he was much firm with the overbearing Pharisees. What most hurting need is empathy and not condemnation. Imagine going for counselling and leaving more damaged than when you got there. Frustrating isn't?  That my friend is not the purpose of the church but to offer hope to a dying world. Like my "human hair" God did not create the world broken. The present status quo is a consequence of sin but there is hope yet. No matter how much, you deny it, broken people like new born babes need  gentle care.

Next time you meet a hurting person, please handle with care don't be brash, selfish or uncaring.  Take a bit more time with that person and don't be afraid to offer a helping hand, it may well be you needing encouragement tomorrow.
P.S. Got myself a brush with softer bristles coupled with additional moisturising and plenty palaver  and the shedding has reduced drastically. Thank God!!

True mark of maturity.

I read somewhere that "hurting people hurt others" and I've discovered that statement to be hugely true! Statistics show that most people who have a tendency for abuse had at sometime experienced some semblance of abuse themselves-an apple does not fall far from the apple tree the saying goes. There is no excuse whatsoever to inflict pain on others no matter the provocation as I believe we are the product of our choices. We can choose to either dwell on the errors of others or forge new frontiers for ourselves, the choice is yours- you have the choice to be better than your past, toxic environment, alcoholic or bickering parents and to chose more positive options. The purpose of this discourse is that in the face of certain situations don't just jump into conclusion about people but leave room for errors. Sometimes people act in error because they do not know any better, they are hurting or simply having a bad hair day! I greeted a lady the other day and she plum ignored me! I was clearly embarrassed as it wouldn't be the first time she'd give me the cold shoulder.

www.bezambee.com

 Luke 6:27-31 - Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.  If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also.  If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic.  Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.  Do to others as you would have them do to you".
 My first reaction was to never greet her again after all I'm a "bigz girlz" too...what's her story? Well her story was she was really having a rough time as a single parent coupled with other ...ishes! She may not be handling her "...ishes" well but that's not for you and I to judge but show Godly kindness and love.

I have learnt not everybody deserves a piece of your mind nor every situation your response. Everyone wants to be the "bigger person" well being the "bigger person" may require silence instead of a tirade of well intended advice/opinion, saying sorry when you are obviously wronged just to maintain peace. True maturity is not merely descriptive tag but a conscious act in the wake of touchy situations! that my friend takes Grace and wisdom. "A person's wisdom yield's wisdom but it's to your glory to overlook an offence" Proverbs 19:11.

The next time I ran into my friend at the bank, i walk up straight to her and said "hello". Despite her "...ishes" she smiled and said hello with gusto! 

Don't blow it.

EDITORS NOTE: A lot of times we blow up opportunities and relationships either knowingly or unknowingly or even through carelessness and misadventure. We sometimes take golden moments for granted thinking we've always got tomorrow to make up or take that bold step. Unfortunately, some of the consequences of our action or inaction can later come to bite us

.  For instance an opportunity you should have said yes to but never did suddenly comes to mock you. Even simple things like giving up the chance to reconcile with a loved one until its too late( been there and it hurts like crazy but NO REGRETS!!). I believe the most painful is the opportunity to share Christ with others directly or indirectly through our words and actions. Whatever you do, don't lose the opportunity to love like today is all you've got. Be blessed with this wonderful articled culled from UCB devotional

Be Real

You can never put a price on sincerity.  While taking cognisance that the truth could hurt, its better to hurt for the truth than wallow in self deceit. Chose to be different by standing for the truth and saying the truth; never apologise for being YOU.  "Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ" Ephesians 4:15 

True Love

Show me someone that is struggling  with love and I’ll show you someone that does not KNOW GOD. 

 You can never know true love until you know and embrace God's love. Life will be a trudge through a dump pile until you find the God kind of love. No wonder the world is searching for love because it has been searching in the wrong places!! God is the template of love. God is love. All others are not even shadows of what real love is. Relationships suffer because the concept of love has been perverted. A lot of people struggle with giving and accepting loved based on experience instead of relying on God. The matter is further compounded with the media but the media is driven by people who are also confused about love! You see, the media tries to instil its own definition of love on susceptible audience based on sex and sexuality but all with destructive results;  if it aint God, it ain’t real!!   To enjoy love, you must know God. Love is not a baton to batter people with but an expression of God through man and God is not out to destroy you.

 Love is serious business not an idle stroll in the park. It is commitment,

hardwork and service. If you don’t mean it, don’t say it! God said what He meant and meant what he said when He told man “I LOVE YOU”. John 3:16 “For God so love the world that He Gave…” God’s profession of love was not an idle statement but a demonstration of His nature. I’d rather a man not tell me he loves than have those precious words tainted with deceit or used as meaningless jargon. IT IS A SLIGHT ON THE NATURE OF GOD when people are abused in the name of LOVE.

 Never start a “love” relationship until you know the God kind of love. It is only therein that that you can truly be the best and give the best. It will no longer be about you but the other person; love is then no longer self- centred but selfless. You cannot know the love of God via self- help books or other kind of intervention. The source of love is God and His nature is revealed in the bible with the help of the Holy Spirit. What better time than now to start relearning love? let’s give real love a go and it begins in the bible not Shakespeare!!

Chose Kindness Always #hotchocolateforcoldmornings

For some reasons, when we were younger my sister would never wear any new stuff in the middle of the week. No matter how beautiful the outfit is she'd wait till the beginning of a new week to show it off. It didn't matter what it was, how much it costs, as long as it new; it deserves attention and celebration..lol.  My loko baby sister believed starting and showing off her new stuffs at the start of a new week gave her a boost!!

 I can't confirm the veracity of her claim but I do know new is beautiful, fresh and good. Every new day deserves a new set of attitude-no carry overs. God does not recycle his love and mercies, He gives His children fresh daily doses."The steadfast love of the lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning" Lamentations 3:22-23. In the spirit of newness, start this week with kindness and relate with people in kindness. In the face of difficulties, be kind anyway. People will not necessarily appreciate you but chose kindness always. In due time you'll reap the reward. IT PAYS TO BE KIND  Have a great week peeps.

When I say "I LOVE YOU"

"I love you" is arguably the most loosely used words by people. It is carelessly tossed around by men and women alike without great thoughts given to its meaning. For many the words "I LOVE YOU" is a means to an end and not an end in itself. In some cases it’s even used as an instrument of abuse. For instance, many blame an abusive relationship on love. Recently, a man "battered" the mother of his new born child in the heat of an argument and later pulled are to his laps, rained kisses on her and said "sorry darling but you know I love you"! The poor woman remained in the relationship purely out of fear of being alone and justified the man's action as a consequence of “drunken love".
• • True love will never consciously hurt the other no matter the provocation. 
  • True love implies commitment through the good times and the not so palatable situations. 
  • True love is saying what you mean and meaning what you say. 
  • Love is not determined or motivated by external factors.
  • It is a conscious decision not based on emotions alone.
  • It is a deliberate decision to remain in love no matter what.
  • Love is work.
  • Love does not bully.
  
  
  
  For some love is an acquired behaviour as it does not come naturally and has to be learnt. Since God is the author of love, let’s examine what love truly means in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, I call it the LOVEOMETRE.  
  

Why I forgive

Forgiveness is such a difficult concept to understand. it is difficult because it is contrary to the world system of beliefs. The nature of man is "tit for tat", be hit and hit back" but that is not the nature of God. In fact I remember a song that was popular when I was young titled "Face me" by popular Nigerian musician Sunny Neji. Although the song had its entertainment value, the underlying message was revenge. There was also a slogan that says "push me I push you God no vex". However I beg to differ! God is indeed "vexed" when we repay bad with bad. Scriptures says we are in the world but not of the world so we are not bound or operate by the world system. As Christians, we are expected to live a life that reflects Christ which can be seen when we forgive others though they hurt us. Someone rightly said Unforgiveness is like drinking poison and waiting for your enemy to die. It is futile and counter productive. The person that is most hurt by unforgiveness is the unforgiving person! it is torture to have hateful thoughts in your head. so why chose unforgiveness? I have heard the story of a lady that was bound in a wheelchair but there was no medical reason for her condition. During a deliverance session it was discovered that the cause of her problem unforgiveness. While she was confined to a wheel chair, the person that offended her was roaming "free". Abeg who come dey suffer? I forgive because I was forgiven. "Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you".Colossians 3:13. I am constantly reminded that while I was yet a sinner Christ died for me so who am I to hold a grudge? 2. Forgiveness makes me free. I am not bound but free. why waste mental or psycological strength on what is not profitable because unforgivess is unprofitable in the long run. Forgiveness allows God work in me and heal my hurt. 3. It releases my offenders into God's hands. According to Joyce Meyer "in trying to get revenge or take care of the situation instead of trusting God, He is not obliged to deal with the person."Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord".Romans 12:19. God will deal with those that hurt us. 4. Unforgiveness hinders my prayers "Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering" Matthew 5:23-24 5. Unforgiveness hinders fellowship with God 6. Unforgiveness is the root of bitterness. It gives the devil a foothold into a believers life. 7.life is too short to short to live in bitterness. 8. I forgive because its the right thing to do! No excuse, no justification!! its just the right thing to do. 9. Forgiveness is a virture."Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things" Philippians 4:8. Forgiveness is not easy but it a choice and a command from God. It allows God to be God in a believers life. It takes focus off you, the other person and is God centred. Sometimes the first person to forgive is yourself-for allowing yourself to be hurt, used or deceived again. But forgive anyways! "UNFORGIVENESS IS SPIRITUAL FILTHINESS SO GET WASHED IN THE WATER OF GOD'S WORD TO FORGIVE AND STAY CLEAN", Joyce Meyer.

A glimpse of Heaven

I had a glimpse into the love of God today. No! it had nothing to do with food though lunch was a delight-spaghetti and meatballs and yes, I cooked it..lol.(not real picture displayed below. Ate mine before writing this post #hungerthings#) I was reading John 17 and trying to understand the kind of love God has for the world. its indescribable, inexplicable and inexhaustible(wow..who knew that someday my B.A in English would eventually pay off..lol). Christ loves us the same way God loves him. The same love the father poured into the son, He also has poured into us. A love that is kind,generous, gentle, full of grace and above all keeps no record of sin. That is why Jesus was able to forgive those that crucified him instead of blinking his eyes and obliterating the whole lot of them sniggering mob..lol. Stephen understood this love too and what applause he got at his death."But Stephen was filled with the Holy Spirit. He looked toward heaven, where he saw our glorious God and Jesus standing at his right side. Then Stephen said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right side of God". Jesus stood to welcome this faithful servant. The world will never understand why a child of God would choose forgiveness and mercy over punishment to those that hurt them or choose to bless instead of curse. It is simply because we are in the world but not of the world. YEP! WE ARE ALIENS ALRIGHT..LOL. YOU ARE DIFFERENT IN A GOD KIND OF WAY. I almost OD'd on verse 13 "I am coming to you now, but I say this things while I am still in the world so that they may have THE FULL MEASURE OF MY JOY IN THEM". Someone please call 911!! since we have a full measure of the Joy of the lord in our heart then there is obviously no room for hatred, bitterness, unforgiveness, depression and a whole lot of negativity. Hallelujah!! I feel like giving the whole world a big hug. Now who's first in line

Happy Marriage Anniversary IRON LADY

Love is beautiful isn't? It's not an inanimate feeling but an action that is visible and real to its recipients- you KNOW IT, you can FEEL IT and you can PRACTICALLY TOUCH IT. It is such a joy to love and be loved in return, that is why the world is constantly seeking love. Unfortunately many are looking in the wrong places. In the words of the Late Pastor Bimbo Odukoya of Fountain of Life church,Lagos Nigeria LOVE IS WORK and I dare to add "commitment to work". These days, most people want the trappings of love but are not ready to put in the work that makes love worth all the work. A lot of couples exert energy and huge finances on their weddings but bolt at the first sign of trouble in paradise-HOW SAD. Its no wonder the world is riddled with divorces and single parenting is an accepted life style statement(I don't mean for those who are accidental single mums and dads). The other day, I even came across a website that offers DIY divorce services...wetin man eye no dey see for this world. marriage vows now has an escape clause "for better for stay, for worse for go" (pls ignore my grammar that's how I heard the vows in a movie). So given the warped attitude towards the marriage covenant, I am always excited to see couples who stay married and IN LOVE. Its my darling friend Uwa's marriage anniversary today and I'm so excited. I've wanted to do a post on Uwa for a long time but never got round to it so this epoch celebration is a welcomed opportunity to do just that. The first day she walked into the newsroom at my former work place, I knew there was something different about her. She had on a bright red lipstick- her signature lip colour-and exuded confidence. Her red lipstick said a lot about her- strong,sexy, fearless, bold, shrewd and very smart. I privately call her IRON LADY because she's never afraid to voice her opinions or bare her claws if the situation warrants it. Yes! the iron lady could fight dirty if pushed to it..so BEWARE!! However beneath the armour lies a very soft and loving heart. I caught a glimpse of this hidden part the day I found out she was married and that was the beginning of a never ending flow of "sweetness" lol. She unashamedly calls her husband SWEETNESS everywhere and at any given chance in fact I don't even know his name or even thinks he has a name anymore..lol. It takes a woman that is confidently in love to boldly declare that love both in private and in public...I GO LOVE OH. It also takes a strong woman to nurture love without giving up. YOU MY FRIEND ARE VERY STRONG. That sweetness that started eight years ago is still exuding goodness today and will forever. Happy anniversary IRON LADY.

GOD’S TEMPLATE OF LOVE by KELECHI ANYALECHI

I don't know much about "love love" but I've come to understand the LOVE OF GOD. In all, I've discovered that the God kind of love is POSSIBLE and it translates to "real love" in every area starting from yourself and streaming to the people around you. In my quest to understand more about this LOVE, I came across an article that challenged and broke some stubborn stray thoughts in my head. It's written by life Coach Kelechi Anyalachi. Kelechi's coaching strategies is underpinned by biblical principles and scriptures which makes it all the more distinct and trust worthy....even his courtship and marriage to the lovely Uloma is an Inspiration. This article so blessed and inspired me its going to be my marriage template(trust you are reading this Mr future husband..SERIOUS!) Read and be blessed. Over the past four days, there is a song that has been playing in my heart. Here it is: ‘…The Steadfast Love of The Lord never ceaseth, His Mercies never come to an end, They are new every morning, always new every morning, Great is thy faithfulness, O Lord (2ce)…’ These are my thoughts on the meaning of this song! The STEADFAST Love of The Lord – His love is deeply rooted, firm and unwavering. The Steadfast Love of The Lord NEVER CEASETH – No expiry date. His MERCIES never come to end – When we err, He forgives. Though, He has the power to punish us. His Mercies NEVER COME TO AN END - No matter how many times we err and despite the gravity of the wrong done, He always forgives. They are NEW every morning - His Love is FRESH everyday. Just like the past never existed. New EVERY MORNING – The hurt of the previous day dissolves and doesn’t see the light of a new day. Great is Thy FAITHFULNESS – He keeps to his word on loving us All over the world, we are all in a major quest: ‘to GIVE and RECEIVE Love’. From time to time, we either receive complains of not being loving enough or we complain of not being loved enough! Everyday, we read or hear stories of broken relationships, broken marriages et al… The reasons emanate from: ‘no more love again’, ‘incompatibility’, ‘infidelity’, ‘irreconcilable differences’… I have been asking myself – what if God’s Love for us was this way! Would we even be alive by now? We were made in God’s image and after his likeness. We should exhibit His kind of love towards our friends, family and spouses. The secret to this is: ‘THE MORE OF GOD IN YOU, THE MORE HIS LOVE WILL BE REVEALED IN AND THROUGH YOU! How can you have ‘more’ of God? It is through His Word. Study God’s Word more often! Soak yourself in it! As you do this, your life will become a replica of His Word (2 Corinthians 3:18). This may not be immediate, but this must be your goal! GROW YOUR ‘LOVEOMETER’ Be as loving as you can till your spouse can testify about you. As I write this, I am also talking to myself. It is my desire that one day, my wife will sing or recite the song above or something similar to that about me. Let her describe my love for her to be STEADFAST, UNENDING, NEW AND FAITHFUL. God has set a TEMPLATE for us. All we need to ‘copy and paste’. Our Love Lives will be the better for it! MEDITATE on this deeply. May God guide you and help you increase His Kind of Love in You!

The bucket list.

I watched an amazing programme that featured a woman dying of cancer. she had a few weeks to live but seemed unfazed with the notion of death. Instead, she made a bucket list of the things she'd like to do before death comes knocking.Oddly enough her list did not include travelling the world or going for incredible adventures unlike what we see in movies but simple things like spending quality time with family. Her reason was after all is said and done "FAMILY IS WHAT MATTERS". The irony of the issue was that this sweet lady was never a jet setting lady or high flying socialite in the first place but a simple family woman. she'd spent most her of life with family and when push came to shove, her family was all that counted. The other day I read an interesting quote that said "the only thing that you'll take to heaven that would matter is PEOPLE and not THINGS. If that quote is true then WHY ARE PEOPLE SO ENGROSSED WITH THINGS? we treat things better than people! The other day Josh mistakenly poured juice in my car and my immediate reaction was to scream like a banshee in heat! After I got over my self, I felt ashamed. The mess made in the car can be easily cleaned but childish tantrum over a little accident could leave a terrible scar on a little boy. Later I thought to myself, what memories would I love my lil boy to have of me-the screaming witch or loving mum? Things can be replaced but not people especially when you are blessed with wonderful friends and family. Back to the bucket list! If you were to make a bucket list what would it contain? As for me, I would be less selfish and self centred(yeah, I could be that sometimes), be more brave and less fearful,take a chance in love, spend time with the people that matter because seriously its not everyone that deserves your time and attention. Emotions like anger, bitterness, regrets, etc don't deserve your time either. After all is said and done, the things that would really truly matter at the end of the day are the relationships we forged, the impact we made in people's lives and the memories we leave behind. By the way, you don't need death to come knocking to re-prioritise your life. You owe it to yourself to live a FULL AND ENRICHING LIFE so you can boldly say like the Apostle paul did in 2 Tim 4:7-8 "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing". The reality is its not everyone that would have the privilege of making a bucket list AND YOU DON'T NEED DEATH TO COME KNOCKING TO MAKE ONE. THINK ABOUT IT.

Never Alone

She sat cross legged in front of the television flipping through the channels with a remote. It’s the second week in November but the screens were already inundated with Christmas adverts. "The commercialization of Christmas, I can never understand", she muttered as she gently rose to her feet to fix her second cup of coffee. She needed the caffeine to get through the drudgery of the day. Her flat mate was away on holidays so she had the whole apartment to herself. It was a much appreciated silence as her flatmate could be very loud and noisy but she missed her sporadic burst of laughter and unpredictable nature. For a brief moment, she considered going over to her Nanna's for the weekend but she killed that thought before it could take hold in her mind. Nana had been putting pressure on her to get married; more so since her younger sister got engaged and was set to marry before the New Year. She didn’t think she could be nice to the seventy two year old woman today, she didn't think she could be nice to anybody today! She wanted to curl up in a ball and cry. She wanted to open her mouth and give vent to the frustration she was feeling inside. She just had this huge urge to cry. She wanted to simply cry! She was so ALONE. The sudden sound of the telephone ringing startled her . It was her Nanna! The sprit old woman had a way of showing up anytime she felt despondent. "Hello honey, are you ok? I just had this irrepressible urge to call you. Is everything ok baby? her familiar raspy voice continued leaving no room for her grand daughter to answer. "I am fine now", the young lady answered and indeed she was. Her Nanna had that effect on her. Her voice was cool, comforting and welcoming.In as much as she was avoiding the old lady, her grandma was a constant yet gentle reminder that she was not really alone and that brought an elusive smile to her face. One of the challenges of living abroad is that constant feeling of loneliness. Far from home and everything familiar I would most times long for my brothers and even the thought of seeing good old chief (my dad) sounded like a good idea...Lol. I had made new friends in my new home, but it never seemed enough! I had settled in my local church but that didn’t seem to fill that nagging void either. It took years of unnecessary tears and self pity before I learnt that because I was feeling alone didn’t mean I was alone. That nagging void I felt at the pit of my stomach could be filled but not with food as I’d been doing but with the lovely relationships I had around me, waiting to be reaped from. I had to consciously break through clouded vision and embrace the relationships around me. God wants us to reap from the lovely relationship He’d mapped for us-A LOVELY RELATIONSHIP IN HIS PRESENCE. You don’t have to feel alone or disconnected anymore. I remember the statement made by the late Pastor Teddy parker who committed suicide after telling his congregation that he “felt” God was not listening to him. Feelings most time don’t mean real! They could be as erratic and sometimes unpredictable as the weather-cool now and warm the next!(talk about a tumulteous Irish weather) "Don't equate the presence of God with a good mood. God is near whether you are happy or not" Max Lucado. God is not erratic. He says “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Heb 31:6. It’s not about how you feel, ITS WHAT THE WORD SAYS. Don’t let your circumstances or feelings distract you from the TRUTH, YOU ARE LOVED AND NEVER ALONE.