Swaddling cloths and baby Jesus

Cant believe I slept the evening away! Its been a very long week and a longer day too.  I have not even gotten round to opening the beautifully wrapped presents under my Christmas tree. As much as I am excited and looking forward to doing that right before crawling back into the bed, I am not in too much of a hurry.

In all the excitement and build up to Christmas day, you'd think I'd jump headlong into opening the presents first thing in the morning but no! I have saved that chore till the very end.

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 But  there is a gift I eagerly opened this morning and its the gift of Christmas itself.  God's gift to mankind did not come wrapped in a fancy package with intricately tied ribbons or tucked beneath a tree but was lovingly wrapped in swaddling cloths and laid in a manger amongst animals. HOW IRONIC! Christmas is synonymous with beautifully decorated Christmas trees and lovingly wrapped gifts carefully placed under the trees. But  there was nothing beautiful or appealing about where  the greatest gift to mankind was found. 

The saviour of the world was found in the least likely place-AN ANIMAL SHELTER. He was not wrapped in fancy clothes but covered in swaddling cloths. The wise men in their quest for the saviour had gone searching in the palace which is where kings are born but not this one! HE WAS BORN IN A MANGER. "while they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,and she gave birth to her first born, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger  because there was no guest room available for them. Luke 2:6-7

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One of the striking lessons about Christmas is that the most beautiful gifts in life don't come beautifully packaged or found in choice places . Some come in rough packages in dark places  and it takes patience, discernment, efforts and faith to reveal the precious inner content. Beautiful diamond necklaces that are favoured by the rich were once ugly rocks found in the depth of the earth until mined.  It takes polishing and refining of these "ugly rocks" by a determined jeweller  before the intrinsic value is seen and appreciated by all.

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Some of the best relationships I have experienced were wrapped in swaddling cloths and found in the manger. Men and women who have impacted my life tremendously simply because I allowed myself to look beyond their packaging. Terrible experiences have also turned out to be blessings in disguise. In all, I've found that the stories that really inspire are those that involve successful business or married couple who saw beyond the ordinary to achieve extraordinary feats. People who don't see ugly rocks but diamonds. People who see beauty in the beast.

Dear friend, your God given vision may be found in the least likely place and wrapped in the most unattractive packaging but that does not deter from its value. don't throw away a great opportunity because it didn't come as you envisaged. 

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Disappointments will come but they are set up for glory.Early  this year, I learnt that suit and tie don't make a real man. It hurt at the time but I'm better off without false friends. Ugly and painful situations are only fabrics for great testimonies. BE PATIENT AND TRUST  GOD EVEN IN YOUR PAIN.
Finally,Are you one of those that judge a book by its cover? Do you look beyond  the wrappings of the opportunities? How many people have you cast aside simply because they didn't come in the package you expected only to realise you made a mistake? How do you view challenges?Successful people will tell you that their best business ventures did not come perfectly wrapped but they recognise the hidden potentials despite the obvious challenges. THEY SAW BEYOND THE PACKAGING 

Thankfully the wise men saw beyond the wrappings on the little boy and recognised the king that Jesus is.

BEFORE YOU DISREGARD NEXT TIME, LOOK AGAIN.

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.

Letter to my Joshy

Appreciating my son at Christmas. He is much stronger than I give him credit for. How else does he manage to live with the Queen of Loko herself?
Dear Joshy boo,
I've made a lot of crazy decisions in my life and followed with a lot of crazy actions but having you tops it all.  Its been eight roller coaster years since you came into my life but it's an adventure I've come to enjoy with the highs and lows. I know its not your birthday but your smile makes me want to celebrate every day. Who knew it'll take a lil boy to turn this ogre into mush.

For many reasons this is the best Christmas ever and its because you are in it. We don't have much but we have each other and that makes other things trivial in comparison. YOU ARE ALL THAT MATTERS.

I feel like everything in my life was a build up to you; my choices, decisions, heartbreaks, regrets, rejections and applause. EVERYTHING.  You are the crescendo of all my achievements. NOTHING COMPARES WITH YOU. Every time, I see you the rejection, my past, pain and choices are all worth it. If I had done one thing differently, I would never have had the joy that you are my son. YOU ARE WORTH EVERYTHING. Thank God I chose you and I'll do it all over again maybe not via Onitsha..lol

Facts About Giving.

This year has been truly magical for me (its not over yet still expecting more miracles and breakthroughs..abi nah). I have experienced the love of God in more ways than I can count or explain even in the disappointments. I am naturally a very content person hardly expecting much from people but always eager to help out. I LOVE TO GIVE. Like I tell my friends GIVING MAKES ME HIGH..lol. In the build up to Christmas  I have received gifts from unexpected places and people. I have also given when it seemed impossible to give. ITS WHO I AM. Giving is such a beautiful act. Every time people give, I am reminded about the generosity of God and the ultimate gift of Jesus. Lets examine certain truths about giving in no particular order.

FACTS ABOUT GIVING.

•  When God gives, He not only attends to the things you need, He also provides those things that you never knew you needed and probably never prayed about. That's why HE IS GOD.

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He knows you more than you know yourself. GOD HAS INTIMATE KNOWLEDGE OF YOU.

• God uses people-you are created as a conduit of blessing. Everyman is a channel for reaching out to the world.  The blessings, talents, gifts that you have are not meant for selfish purposes but as an outreach to a world in need.
• Little is something- I love supermarket chain Tesco's tag-line "every little helps". Every cent can go a long way to alleviate the need of another. What you consider little or insignificant might just be the right amount of assistance a family in need requires to survive another day.

  

  photo Credit;www.classicalchristianity.com

• If you cannot give from the "little" you've got there's a small chance that you'll give when you've got "much". however since "much" is a relative concept wonder when that is? If you cant give from the thousands in your piggy bank, you definitely wont give when when you have millions. The true hallmark of giving is the ability to give even when you barely have "enough". Mark 12:41-44. When God gave mankind the gift of Jesus he did not have a spare son to replace the one He'd given up/out.
• Giving does not stem from what you have or don't but from an understanding and trust in God's ability to take care of you. Phil 4:19
• It is an act of love. John 3:16
• its more blessed to give than to receive. Acts 20:35
• Giving should be done joyfully and not grudgingly. Corinthians 9:17.

  

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• Its an act of worship.
• Expect a reward. What is a better reward than knowing you've made a difference in the life of another. Nonetheless when God gave the gift of one, he received the multiple result of you and I alongside a lost world.
• Giving can be learnt.
• Giving should be an increasing or progressive act/attitude
• it does not entail money alone.
• Giving is intentional
• You don't really need a reason to give, JUST GIVE. 

  

  Photo Credit:www.ncregister.com

Don't let this season pass without sharing with another person. Remember "EVERY LITTLE HELPS"

Make every moment count.

Finally my uncle has been laid to rest weeks after he passed on  after a fatal accident at work. As the days roll into another, my dear aunt is gradually coming to terms with the reality of living life without her partner of over thirty five years.

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Reality is,no matter how hard you try to cushion the loss of a person especially one who dies suddenly and in such traumatic circumstances- IT HURTS. Though we have the assurance that "daddy" as he is fondly called has gone to be with the lord, we all miss his gentle smile and kind demeanour. He was an amazing husband, father and uncle. It hurts that we never got to say goodbye. 

Death is a reality of life and I am once again reminded of the brevity of life. One day a person is alive and thriving and the next moment like a sudden burst of wind, the person is gone leaving a void that only God can fill.

 Just this evening a refuse truck lost control and ran into a building killing 6 people in Glasgow. These people were probably going about their businesses with no inclination that death was literally round the corner. In the twinkle of an eye wives have become widows, husbands-widowers and children orphan, fatherless or motherless.

Photo Credit:Jill Greenberg

Since death is a reality of life, why do people waste time on trivial pursuits, bitterness, unforgiveness and regrets?  The simplest answer is that most people think they've got tomorrow to make amends or live right but nobody promised you tomorrow. "you do not even know what will happen tomorrow..you are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" James 4:14. MAKE THE BEST OF TODAY.  For the wise, life is too short to be miserable, sad, unforgiving and uncharitable! MAKE EVERY MOMENT COUNT. Make room for only things and people that matter. Make good memories with those you love while you can.

Photo Credit:www.jonssimplelife.blogspot.com

Tend your Garden

My neighbour has a very beautiful garden. He somehow finds time to tend his little garden despite his busy schedule. For the love of me, I think he uses magic! I've got this gut feeling he is a leprechaun..lol Whatever the season, his garden is always looking plush and radiant with colours. My garden on the other hand is like a little wild land filled with weeds.

 Mind you I am clueless about gardening but I do love the idea of having a garden that will be the envy of my neighbours. I'm sure the people that built the house and included a garden did not intend it to be a mini Amazon forest but a haven filled with lovely flowers and plants to enhance the features of the house and give some pleasure to the owners. Right now the garden is anything but!  So I have decided to enlist the services of a professional to help bring life back to my little garden.

To give more meaning to this post, I decided to check what it means to tend.Tend according to the on-line dictionary means to apply oneself to  a task, give attention to, care for or look after.
Do you have a garden and what state is it in? In this instance, a garden is a metaphor for a dream, vision, family, health, finances, relationships, anything at all that is of significant value in your life.
God has put in every life a garden that He designed ultimately to display His splendour.
"they will be called oak of righteousness, a planting of the Lord, for the display of His splendour" Isaiah 61:3.
 There is nothing beautiful about a life gone awry and without structure. An untended garden has the tendency to attract wild creatures so does a life not fulfilling its original purpose. In fact its a sorry sight!
Like a garden, every life designed by God has inherent potentials for infinite possibilities if only we would guard and nurture what the lord has entrusted to us. Stop leaving your life to chance! Stop neglecting the things that are of utmost  important to you. Stop taking your health, family, finances, relationships for granted. Just stop because some of these people are irreplaceable.! Don't wait till it goes down hill before getting a grip.
I know what it is to lose grip on reality so this topic resonates deeply with me but THANK GOD FOR SECOND CHANCES!

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Every successful business or relationship is a product of conscious positive decisions. The people you see and admire did not leave things to chance but nurtured and tended their purpose, visions and that includes everything that is of significant value to them. YOU HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY. What you carry is too beautiful/important to leave to chance and wild creatures to peck on. GET A GRIP.
Admittedly certain situations happen to us that cause us to lose focus but its time to get back in the grid and allow yourself to smile again. THE WORLD IS WAITING!

In gardening, certain activities are carried out to ensure a very aesthetic outlook and these rules are applicable to life.
DE-WEED-weeds are undesirable plants that have the tendency to choke out more desirable plants. In order to have a "beautiful" life vigorously uproot emotions, relationships and attitude that would bar you from making your desired impact.
NURTURE- This means care and feed what has been given to you and this includes your family, health, business, finances. Every farmer knows to nurture their plants and flowers so the garden does not grow wild  Don't let wild creatures devour what you are blessed with and don't you mess it up either. What you have in your hand is delicate.

PROTECT- Set barriers around your vision. Guard it jealously. Mind your influencers.
PLAN AND STRUCTURE: Not all gardens are shaped the same way. My garden is oval in shape while my neighbour's is square but enough to plant flowers and plants. What you have might seem small but it is right for you. Work with what you have.

SEEK HELP: Its OK to ask for help if you don't know what to do. There are people out there who have overcome the challenges you are facing, seek them out. You only have one life, pride won't help you in this matter. I know what it means to ask for help and its beneficial in the long run. No use groping in the dark when help is only a phone call away.

Other factors include patience and commitment(would expand later. dashing for a meeting)
My prayer is that as the year draws to an end, you will receive grace to attend to the things that truly matter so your life will display the splendour of God. DON'T LEAVE YOUR LIFE TO CHANCE. TAKE CHARGE.
HAVE A GREAT DAY AHEAD.

Take the lid off

Running around doing my daily chores was harder then usual, no thanks to my figure- enhancing girdle..lol. Whoever invented body shapers should be commended then arrested! These constrictors are the real definition of "suffering and smiling". The longer I wore it, the more difficult smiling becomes and its hello cranky!

Photo Credit:www.cbs-i.com

 At the end of the day, taking the form fitting outfit off is the best feeling ever. Its an indescribable feeling of freedom. A release from constraints and pressure. Just like boiling water with the lid on- imagine the release when the water reaches boiling temperature and the lead is removed. Steam is released and pressure reduced. In my girdle I was a walking bag of pressure albeit a pretty one.

Photo Credit:www.themaidensgied.blogspot.com

Without even wearing girdles, a lot of people are living  constrained lives.These constraints could be external or internal  They are afraid to truly live because of  fear, lack, rejections, low self esteem and failure. . Any situation or position that prevents you from realising your potentials is a constraint and limitation. Negative feelings also serve to constrain and limit an individual from achieving or attaining his or her full potentials. When a person is constrained, it leads to a toxic build of pressure that  causes frustration, dissatisfaction, strife even depression.. A constrained person is an unfulfilled person. They might talk and look the part but inside is a different kettle of fish.

photo Credit:www.freedigitalphotos.net

God created every man for a purpose and His ultimate desire is that we find that purpose and fulfil it. It is important that you fulfil purpose as reaching your potentials has a moribund effect. You are fulfilled and this in turn impacts your immediate area of influence.

Taking the lid off is to be all God wants you to be- unashamed, unlimited, unrestrained and fruitful. IT IS TO BECOME.....! There is no cap to what you can become. God is limitless and because you are created in His image, you have limitless potentials. Every potential has an immense capacity to add value to others.

A donkey is a natural beast of burden. Its inherent ability is to carry cargo. However in Matthew 21, we find a donkey who was nowhere near what it was created for. Instead of helping ease burdens it was tied up until Jesus stepped in. It had the potential to carry a full grown man but its owners had tied him up. The ropes limited his movement as it could only move as far as the length of the cords would allow.But when the ropes were removed, it moved beyond its immediate domain. People began to notice the donkey.  The story of an ordinary donkey became a crucial part of Jesus' grand entry into Jerusalem. Every time the story is told, the donkey is mentioned. Because it carried Jesus, it walked on a path that only kings tread..People put their clothes on the ground for it to walk on. There was ease of traffic because an ordinary donkey carried the king. Dear friend, when you give your dream to Jesus, men will rise to your aid.( During the first edition of the Laugh out Loud event, people were just giving and giving so much that I told some people not to bother. However the holy Spirit told me not to deter people from their blessings and the flow continued.) You have to be willing to be used and transformed. Every dream comes raw and needs refining. When the disciples took the ropes off the donkey, they dressed it up to fit the master's good purposes. "and they brought the ass and colt and put on them their clothes and they set him thereon" (Matthew 21:7
CENTRAL TRUTH:  Your God given vision has the capacity to do more than you can imagine. Don't let fear, circumstances including people tie you down. If you don't know what to do invite Jesus into your vision and ask for the help of the holy spirit to execute it.

STRATEGIC STEPS TO TAKE.

• Up-skill  yourself in the desired field
• Read books that will build your knowledge base.
• Find a mentor
• change your mindset from "I can't" to "I can"
• Leave any toxic environment that does not enhance you.
• Don't be afraid to start small
• seek Godly counsel
• Start, Start , Start.