Link to My New Blog site.

Good Morning My Blogger family,
It's been ages since I made my last post here.

Did I stop blogging? No!
Actually, I started a new blog site on Word press due to the fluctuations of the work-ability of this blogger account, most especially since, Google Plus accounts stopped backing up this site.

Well, to avoid losing more, like I said earlier, I opened a new account with Word press, under the name Reinspire.
Please, click here to be redirected to the new blog site.

Thank you very much for following me all these years. It's been an amazing time.

God bless you.

N.B:I won't be closing this account, so please feel free to check out the archives for any of the articles that would inspire and refreshen you.

A LETTER TO GOD...

Sitting on my bed,
45° degrees angle from the door,
Somewhere in Africa.
22.01.2019

Dear God,

The Struggles of a Young, Christian lady

How it all started: The Beginning
Has it ever happened to you, that you will like to chat with someone but you have nothing to say.. So you just have to waka pass??🚶
God, please help me, you have helped me but you know me na, Human being 101, I am still learning to be like you, perfect.. And it's more awkward, I mean, I try to gist with the person but he's always tired or claims to be tired..
And I am like, but you gist with other people, why is my own now different?🤷

You know when you just wish to be friends with someone but you don't know the ice-breaker.
I think the worse is when you actually converse everyday but you don't talk..
In this one, the person just has to reach out to you, because even if you reach out, it won't do or produce much...
God, have you ever felt like this?😞 (Psalm 53:2)

The Conversations
If you have, it must be painful and wearisome but God, so many people know you.. But come to think of it, why in that chapter were you looking for just one person and you didn't find? (Ezekiel 22:30)

Aren't people as close to you as they present to us? Or are you also lacking friends or a friend?
God, if you are lacking a friend, please, let me be your friend and you be mine. Teach me how to be your friend. (Isaiah 54:13)

Let the Bible become interesting to me that I never want to leave your presence...

Do you know what we discussed at ZOE yesterday, we discussed how to know a person better, something like that and Wunmi said, most times, people don't get to know her because they don't pay attention and they make assumptions.
Is that how we treat you, is that how I treat you? If that's how I treat you, I am sorry..😣 Really sorry...😭

Fears & Weaknesses
I guess because you have been painted to me as a Big God, so even when I call you my friend, I have it at the back of my mind that you are someone bigger than me, that can change it for me😡 at any time, if I mess up and I also get scared of overfamiliarity.
You know they say,“Overfamiliarity breeds contempt”, I want to be friends with you but I don't want to disrespect you or make you angry or disappoint you, or make you feel sad.

I can be very annoying, selfish, but you know when I love, I love and I really want us to be friends, irrespective of what our relationship has been in the past up till now.
God, if you feel half of all these feelings I feel, please do let me know..😯 So, I know I am not the only one in this, (you see what I was saying, Selfishness)
Please God, I know you can't behold sin and I also know Jesus has made me holy, but truly, I still don't understand how it works..🤔

You know now, with different teachings, I just stick with what I have known, at least it has helped me this far, although, I know it's simply by your mercy.🙏 (Romans 9:16)
God, I really hope we can be friends, It would be cool and I definitely don't want a one-sided relationship, it sucks🤕 and you know it, so, please help me.
Let's plan this...

Ways to get closer to God
When people want to get close to each other, they spend time together, opening themselves up, not hiding anything. (James 4:8)
I know I have the Bible, but this time around, I want to read it and see, hear you talking to me.
I am tired of reading the Bible and then, wondering who I offended😥 especially when I land on those judgemental verses...

So, from today, you know me better than I know myself,
1. When do you think is the best time for us to chat?
Plus, God, I read singing is a protocol to enter your presence (Psalm 100:4),

2. Must I always sing, I get tired of singing sometimes, especially if I am just waking up or I am really tired or I am just not in the mood to sing?
So, how do we go about that one?

3. How can I pay attention to you and not make assumptions rather, in how many ways have I made assumptions that just broke your heart and you were like I thought she knew me better than this?

4. I read yesterday in Mike Murdock's mentorship program book that you get angry when people don't believe your words and you get happy when people trust and believe your word, is that true? (Hebrews 11:6)

If yes, then, from now, please help me (Philippians 4:13), I will never doubt your words, whether they make sense or not. (Proverbs 3:5-6)
God, I believe we would make the best duo or quadruplets, I mean You, Jesus, The Holy Spirit and Me.

Final prayer
God, please help me be a good friend to you, please show me ways to be a good friend to you in Jesus name.. and help me do those things, so that,
1. I can make you happy,
2. I will be happy and fulfilled and
3. Just like Enoch, we will walk together consistently till Death brings us together...

Warm regards,
From your new found friend😍,
Miss Deborah U👸.

Word for Today:
“From heaven, God looks down to see if anyone is wise enough to search for him.” Psalm 53:2, Contemporary English Version

Welcome NOTE from the Author:
Happy New Year! This is our first official post for the year.
I pray we all live in divine health, prosperity and abide in a greater understanding of God’s love for us, to see more of these posts this year and I pray it blesses your heart, keeps you strong, encourages you, so you know you are not alone in your struggles.. Grace & Peace... Shalom!

MiRaCLeS!!!

This morning was hectic, plus stressful but who caused it? Me!
However, I am not here to cast blame but to inform you that the way you think God would/should work doesn't always happen that way..

(5:12am)
Me: Hello, Uncle Morris, Good Morning. How far?
U.M: Start coming out...

(5:27am)
Me: Uncle Morris, Where are you?
U.M: I have left, I told you to leave the house by 5:10am

Me: Should I still come or should I turn back?
U.M: You can still come, I will try to stall the bus

(5:30am)
I am walking on a deserted road, "Lord, please can I see a bike?"
God: You better start running...
Me: Ah, no wonder you told me to wear my flats, I am wearing heels..

What do you think?

(5 mins later)
If you passed the Chevron-Ajah express way by this time, you would have seen a lady running barefoot with shoes in her hands, that was Me!

Me: Uncle Morris, how far?
U.M: Where are you, the bus has come.
Me: I am close to the bus stop.

Well, I got there at the same time, the second person they were waiting for arrived..

Normally, when praying, we are expecting a "Ghen ghen" miracle, like seeing a bike at 5:30am on a Sunday morning, which can happen but at times when God wants to teach you how to use common sense, that won't happen, plus the bus waiting for me was a miracle, trust me, I know!

Isaiah 55:8-9
8“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the LORD.
“And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.

9For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.

Have a blessed week ahead!

The NAiL! (II)

...Please click, if you have not read The Nail (I)...

At this point, all I could think of was Peter locked up in the prison and how the angel came to set him free, so, my sis & I took our matter to the Lord in prayer.

Sincerely, I thought the door would open by itself, so, I just stood looking 😆, what do you think? It did not open.
Do you know those "SHURE" heavyweight doors, this was one of them..

Then, we decided to use common sense (which was given to us by God), and we started looking round the room for any form of iron, or screwdriver, we did not find any.

Somehow, during our search, My Sis noticed a nail hanging loosely in the wall only supporting the wire of that old looking creaking wall fan, which she pulled out, and to our amazement, it was not the normal pointed tip, it had a flat face like a screwdriver.

This was what we used to unbolt the screws on the door handle and set ourselves free..."

On that day, our ordinary looking nail fulfilled its destiny, that is to be a Savior.
The "Grand nails" could not help us, the "Artisan's nails" could not help us.

Like, our ordinary looking nail, you might feel that your life is ordinary looking, but I tell you, you are made for more.

You might feel like your life has no value or less worth compared to your mates, but I encourage to see yourself through heaven's eyes(from the Prince of Egypt movie) and this is why, God says (present tense, right now),

Before you were born, I knew you and ordained you, you are beautifully and wonderfully made, not just to exist but to fulfil my purpose for your life, here on earth, and I promise that as long as you seek and follow me, I will cause all things to work together for your good and you will have hope and a lovely future...
(Jeremiah 1:5, Psalm 139:14, Romans 8:28, Jeremiah 29:11)

You are made for more, you might not feel like it, look like it but make no mistake, you are not just here to exist but to live and to live to your fullest...

Oh lest I forget, another Tip: After prayers, when in doubt, use common sense..😁

Shalom!

The NAiL! (I)

Are there days you have felt insignificant, like your whole existence can be summed up in a one word, Dull?

In comparison to your mates, your colleagues, your juniors, your friends, even haters, it's like your world is just stagnant.

Let me tell you a story...

So,there was this nail, it was used to support the wire of a wall fan, it was nothing fancy, just a normal nail.

Not too far from it, were similar looking nails, they were used to hold the rods of these beautiful curtains. These nails were nothing fancy too, but because of what they supported, they were called the "Grand nails".

Everyone who entered the room was mesmerized by the curtains and always praised its beauty and this made the grand nails the talk of the town amongst "nails".

Close to these grand nails, were nails used to hold the wooden hanger, used to hold clothes, these were called the Artisan's nails.
They were not as great as the "Grand nails" but they were also proud in their own arena.

Everyday, our ordinary looking nail would always wonder, why it was made to hold wire, ordinary wire of an old looking, creaking wall fan, until this fateful day...

"I needed to use the toilet urgently, so my sister and I entered the room, while I used the toilet, she was browsing on her phone, lying close to that old, creaking wall fan.
When it was time for us to leave, it became a problem.

Flashback:
In a hurry to use the toilet, and ensure our safety, we locked the gate of the house and left the key at the mouth of the gate.
As we entered the room, we left the key at the keyhole of the door and closed it because of mosquitoes.

Remember, we forgot the key at the door outside.
You see, that door had issues, you could only use the key to open it from the inside, this automatically meant we were stuck inside.
That would not have been a problem, but you see, the main gate was locked and the key was still at the mouth of the gate.

Tip: When a key is left at the keyhole of a door, another key can not open that door at the same time, you can try it.

So, this meant, we were stuck twice, nobody could help us from the outside and we were stuck on the inside.
Oh, we would have passed the windows but they were burglar proof..."

Look out for The Nail(II)...

Have you been faced with a difficult decision to make?

Are there times, you have been faced with a difficult decision but you know you have to make it if you want to succeed..

Most especially, when this decision will affect your relationship with others.

Inasmuch, as Joseph didn't exactly make decisions in the beginning, he always knew and stated where he was going to and this is why everytime he was faced with making a decision, even though it was difficult, he knew where he was going to.

When you know where you are going to, it is easier to know what to avoid and what to accommodate but it doesn't make it easier when it has to do with relationships.

No matter, how well, your head knows what to do, sometimes, your heart will just be playing "Tinko, tinko" with you.

I know where I am going, I have to make this decision, no matter how hard, I need to grow.

This is where the test and lesson of "No Attachment" comes in, but how easy is it, not to get attached to someone close?

Do you know where you are going to? Have you been faced with difficult decisions to make, which are necessary for your growth?

When, faced with this dilemma, what do you choose, do you stick with the relationship because you don't want to offend anyone or do you move on, because you can't afford to be stagnant?

Ecclesiastes 3:5 says, "There is a time to embrace and there's a time to turn away"..NLT

There's time for every activity under the heavens.. #reflect
Have a blessed day today. Shalom!

I am in PAINS!!!

Right now, things might not be going the way you want. It's like everywhere you turn, sadness slaps your face and grief keeps running after you to give you a hug and you are wondering who you offended.

You feel all alone and you keep asking, "When will this pass, Will it ever pass?"

"Though mourning and sadness may last for the night, Joy comes in the morning." Psalm 30:5b(paraphrased)

No matter how dark the night may be, the sun will rise and no matter how heavy and long the rainfall is, and how dark the clouds looks, the sun will shine again.

Jesus said, He won't leave or abandon you, He's closer to you than your brother or your sister, He's holding your hands, he won't let you slip, He's holding you firm.

Yes, you feel alone but He's there, He's waiting to comfort you and give you peace, He wants to hold you close in his arms, hug you and give you warmth. He wants to put a smile on your face and uplift your heart.

Jesus cares for you, no matter what you are going passing through. He feels your pain and hurts with you.
In the midst of these, He has promised that, He will cause All, All,(not some) ALL things(the beautiful, bad and ugly) to work together for your good. (Check Romans 8:28)

He sees your tears, feels your pains. He understands! Yes, He does. However, if you are not convinced, then, pour out your heart to him, the grief, the pain, the anger, the confusion, the heartbreak.
Tell him everything and allow him to comfort you, heal you, restore you and be a father, a lover, a friend, a mother, a sister, a guardian, whatever, you wish him to be, let him be to you...

Jesus loves you and He cares.. It is well. Shalom!

Bible references:
Psalm 91:11-12
Proverbs 18:24
Isaiah 41:10
Isaiah 41:13
Isaiah 43:4

Ignorance wanted to finish me!!!

Did I run away? Not really. Many things happened, some are still happening but really it was my Ignorance that played a huge joke on me.

Really, when the Law of Recognition states that "Every thing you need in your life is already in your life, merely awaiting your recognition of it", it is the truth, a fact, it is real.

So, for the past 6 months, I have been struggling with my old phone, trying to put my pattern to no avail because the screen has been shattered in different directions, I guess this affected the calibration and my password will not complete.

What was I looking for in my old phone, Ask me?
Some information related to the login details of my blog, this is why I have been MIA for the past 6months.

Imagine, for months, I had been struggling with my old phone (Please, don't ask me why I didn't take it for repairs, that is story for another day!), meanwhile, I had a better solution with me, all these 6 months, My New phone.

Yesterday, I just browsed something about blogger login, only to realise I could login from my new phone without needing to refer to my old phone. You can't imagine my shock, happiness, sadness, all mixed feelings at the same time.

The Solution to my problem had been with me all the while, when I was busy stressing myself for 6 months...

How many times have you gone through something similar, stressing yourself over some problem in your past, tying yourself down (your happiness) to your past, wondering what you could have done better, wondering why you spoke when you did and it seems like you can only get the solution by unlocking or brooding over your past?

My dear, if after all your reflecting, brooding, thinking, sieving through your past, you have gotten no solution, then, "Please, what are you still doing there?"
Your Solution is here, in the present, it's with you, you have simply not recognized it.

Your solution can be with a person, probably, your friend, your parents, your neighbor or it could be in that new relationship you are scared of pursuing or maybe, it could be in the heart of your fears, so, in facing your fears, conquering and overcoming them, you get your solution. Your solution could be in any form but it's definitely around you.

Oh lest I forget, in case, you just can't seem to see your solution, I have an efficient and effective solution I can recommend.
You can deny, overlook its potency but I can assure you, it's 100% reliable and true, A relationship with JESUS.

I know, you might wonder what this had to do with whatever your problem is, it has everything to do with it.

Stay with me, and I will show you how...

It's great to be back and you are highly welcome. #Shalom!

Anger is a death trap!

The worse part is, you know when you are angry and you know you can do something about it but you just let it fester.

The annoying part is Anger does not come alone, it carries along Pride, Assumptions (most times, they are wrong), Judgemental attitude, Blindspots, Self-pity.

The funny thing is when you are angry, you never see your faults in full light, only the faults of the person that annoyed you.

The mystery of Anger is you wrap yourself in that deep pain, and it feels like you will never come out of it. You feel like you are the only one that is hurt. You don't see your own contribution to the matter.

The sad part is you hurt the people you don't want to hurt, drive away the ones that should be there to help you.
  You enter this cocoon filled with webs of lies, blinding you from seeing the light, tangling you so, that even when you see the light, you feel stuck and then you lose hope and sink deeper and deeper into misery.

One thing with Anger is, you are not free, you are not happy. It takes away your joy, your happiness, your sanity, your morals, it strips you and leaves you bare and vulnerable to every attack from the devil, whether you believe it or not.

Now, I understand why God did not allow Moses enter the promised land, or why Jesus said, "Anyone given to anger is capable of murder"..

When you are angry, you think evil thoughts and your defense: spiritually, emotionally, physically, even health wise is down.

With the kind of punishment that God gave Moses due to his anger, he could never be angry till his death. Anger is so deadly, really, it is a death trap.

When you are angry, reasoning flies out the window, it's only the grace and mercy of God that can deliver you. And because, you don't think while you are angry, you are capable of carrying out any form of evil.

NLT:An angry person starts fights; a hot-tempered person commits all kinds of sin. Proverbs 29:22

Anger is an emotion so strong, it takes the grace of God to deliver one from its power.
  Come to think of it, how do you correlate a man with a record of being the meekest man on earth, to be the same man with severe anger issues?

No one is immune to this spirit called Anger, it is only the Grace and Mercy of God that delivers us all..Only through dependence on God, can we find liberty and deliverance from this destructive spirit.

If you have found yourself getting angry of late or one day out of the blues, you just exploded and everyone was wondering what's wrong with you or You have a full time record of getting angry, then,
  "Ask the Lord for his help, ask him to have mercy on you. Tell him to show you the way out. Ask him to deliver you from this web of destruction you have found yourself in. Ask him to hold your hands and lead you out of this dark tunnel, because you can't do it on your own. ‎Begin to thank him for answers to your prayers."

One final thing: God will help you but the onus still lies on you, Will you help yourself out?
  When he tells you to go and talk with that person that hurt you, to iron things out, You better go.. Don't procastinate. Don't assume things will only get worse.
  You have prayed, now rely on his grace and strength to help you through.

God bless you.

POWER pass POWER!

You have used your brain, your body, your charm, your charisma, your cunning sense, your connections, your jazz and none, worked.
They failed you at the point where you needed them the most.

You're even worse than when you started. The funny thing is people envy you because they seem to think you own it all. Well, in some sense, you do own stuffs, I mean, money is at your beck and call, your pictures on Instagram are always on point, your snap chat videos are sleek, you have so many followers on Facebook and Twitter, what more could you ask for?

Is it the brains? You came out First class, you have connections to known and unknown people but there's one thing you don't have, that you want badly... It is called Peace, peace of mind, it's called Joy, it's called Love, not the fake types you see on social media with the ladies in tears, acting all surprised when they get proposed to, even though, they knew he was going to propose..not that kind of love.

Basically, you are just living an empty life, feeling empty and you ask yourself one million times, "Is this all there is to life, is this how I am going to continue living till I die?"
However, in response to your question, you get silence & suicidal thoughts as your answer.

I have a question for you, "Do you want to continue living life this way till you die?", "If there is a better life, how badly do you want it?"
Really, because, at the end, it all ends with you, "What do you want?"

If you are interested, I have a solution. It's a simple one, so simple, you probably would not believe me but it's the best and only solution.
Besides, since you have tried everything else and nothing seems to work, trying this won't cause any harm.

The Solution is Jesus! I know that might sound cliche but it's the truth.
NLT:Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.(John 14:6)

"Lord Jesus, I have tried all I can, I have used all within my power but nothing has helped me thus far. People around me think I am living the life but I know I am not, and I can't continue living this lie.

I need your help because I have come to my very end. Life doesn't even make sense anymore but I heard you can make life make sense for me.

I heard that with you, My life will have a meaning, I will have a meaning. Please Lord Jesus, come into my life, I accept you as my personal Lord and Saviour.. Please come and save me.

Thank you Jesus because of your love for me, and because you have saved me from the destruction that was awaiting me, few seconds ago.

I am free"

If you have just said this prayer, then, you are Welcome into God's family. Please look for a Bible believing church around you and begin to enjoy, experience and grow in God's presence with your new family members.

God bless you!

His Love offers forgiveness

There are stuffs we have done that we are not proud of, stuffs nobody would ever think we were capable of doing.

We have said words we wish we never spoke, words that destroyed relationships, friendship and things never remained the same..

You begged, pleaded yet, you were not forgiven. Some say they have forgiven you, but it doesn't make much difference because you can't forgive yourself. You have been carrying this burden for so long, it's a wonder you are not dead due to the heavy guilt you carry around.

And people around you have no idea, how heavy this burden is, they don't even you are carrying a burden but someone knows...

He knows, he feels your pain as deep as it is, and he wants to help you. Will you allow him help you? Will you run into his open arms or will you continue to carry this burden?

His name is Jesus, you probably have heard his name but maybe you don't believe in him, you don't believe he's capable and that's probably because in churches these days, you don't see his power, or the pastors don't tell you about how much he loves you.

But that's not your fault, here right now, he's holding out his hands, he's opening his arms to you, why don't you answer his call? He will remove this heavy burden eating up your soul.
  No one understands, He understands! "People will judge me", you say, He won't judge. He won't condemn you. Let him help you.

For God so loved you, that he sent his one and only son, Jesus to save you, to give you eternal life when you believe in him. (John 3:16)

"Lord Jesus, I can't do this anymore, I can't take this pain anymore, no one understands, please help me.
   I confess you as my saviour, friend, Lord, King over my life. Receive me Jesus as I receive you into my heart.
  Take all the burden away, I can't forgive myself but I heard you can help me, Please help me.
  Thank you Lord Jesus."

If you have said this prayer, Welcome into the family of God. Please search out for a Bible believing/obeying church around you and worship God together with your new family members.

ON YOUR MARK, GET SET, GO!!! Part 2

Happy New Month!!!
(Excerpts from Part 1) "You don't have a good paying job, talk more of a car, where will you even see bae, just forget marriage, till the next five years and everything just seems off and backward.
Do you know what is happening to you?"

You are taking the *game* too serious.

The persons you compare yourself with, are you going towards the same direction?
There are a number of your mates that, to you, they have made it in life, infact, they can retire at age 30. What if they told you that the life expectancy in their family ends at 31 and their next birthday would be their last?

I had two lovely girl friends in school, Agatha and Sarah. When Agatha was graduating, it was like all her family lineage came to celebrate with her.
  If you see the kind of owambe party, ehn, it was large and I remember Sarah asking me,"Does her mother know she finished with a second class lower, 2:2 with this kind of celebration?" What's my own, I came to eat and celebrate with her.
‎  A year later, Sarah graduated with a second class upper, 2:1. She got into NYSC and was living okay.

Few weeks to P.O.P, I got a call from a long time friend, Sarah was dead. How? "A fatal accident". It was shocking and terribly painful.
  Some months later, I was browsing online, going through Agatha's profile, She was already married and living abroad.

I am not saying Agatha was better than Sarah but remember the words of Sarah, "Does her mother know she finished with a second class lower, 2:2 with this kind of celebration?"
I am quite sure, you had school mates that were the Efiko's in your class but where are they, today?

That, it seems like, all your friends, class mates, neighbours, family members, etc. have gone far and passed you in life does not make you a loser.

This life is a singular something. Your journey is different from another person's, Your destinations are totally different.

Let's take a look at the lives of Isaac & Ishmael in the Bible.
To the world, Ishmael was the leading guy, he was born first, he would inherit his dad's properties and God blessed him with power, greatness, etc.
‎  Some years later, Isaac was born. To the world, it looked like he didn't have a chance in comparison with Ishmael and that's where they got it wrong.

‎

Isaac and Ishmael were never on the same path. Isaac was the child of promise with the covenant which supercedes the blessings of Ishamel, because Salvation, Deliverance, Divine health, Eternal life, Wealth, Greatness, Power, etc. are all in the covenant, however that did not diminish who Ishmael was.
  They were both great in their own way.

Am I saying that because it seems like your mates have passed you, in time, you will overtake them? No!
Instead, I am saying that Everyone is unique and going towards different destinations, in career, family, finances, etc.
  So, don't compare yourself with another. It will only give you heartache, headache, envy, high blood pressure, lack of peace, un-neccesary rivalry, jealousy, etc. which would cause you to sin against God & yourself.

‎

Rather, be content with yourself, enjoy your journey, the process, your results. Aim to be a better version of yourself and work towards it. Don't compete or compare with others. You have ONE life and it is yours to live, only ONCE.

(MSG)Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don't be impressed with yourself. Don't compare yourself with others.
  Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life. Galatians 6:4-5 ‎

ON YOUR MARK, GET SET, GO!!!

There is this little game, my Uncle & I like to play.
The Game: Whenever we are going out, the first person to board a bus going to his/her destination is the winner.

"On this day, my Uncle left the house for work. Ten minutes later, I left the house for the shop, as God will have it, I got a bike ride to the bus stop, which was fantastic because I passed my uncle, who was still far behind, trekking.

Infact, the bike man carried me two bus stops away which was awesome because where I alighted was a sure place to get a vehicle on time.
  As I came down from the bike, feeling good with myself, I saw my uncle smiling widely at me from the back seat of a bus, which was already full.

Imagine, after all the double 007, James bond moves, he got a bus before me and left me at the bus stop.
As I entered another bus, I was infuriated and I started thinking."

After reflecting on the matter, I caught some things, let me share them with you.
First, we were not going to the same destination.
Second, where I was going to was a #50 naira ride, meaning it was of a close distance while the cost of his transport was #300 naira, which meant a long journey.
Third,That he got a vehicle before me did not mean he will get to his destination before me.

This little game of ours, though, simple and of no consequence can be likened to the way we, all live our lives, unfortunately, some of us take it too serious and forget to reflect.

Let me explain, using this scenario:
Whenever you go on social media; Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat etc., you see the posts of your school mates, showing the progress in their lives through their pictures; snapshots of cute & tearful proposals on Yabaleftonline, colorful engagements & the perfect weddings on Bellanaija with multiple hashtags.
  The guys cruising in sleek rides on the way to their High paying jobs, trips to exotic places with their take home to mama bae, in short, their perfect lives, then you start to compare.

You take a good look at yourself and it's like you are have not attained much. You don't have a good paying job, talk more of a car, where will you even see bae, just forget marriage, till the next five years and everything just seems off and backward.
Do you know what is happening to you?

To be continued...

STAY RIGHT THERE!

Are you feeling stuck in your place of work, on a particular level, in a specific area of your life?

Are you feeling like there is more out there, do you know what God is saying?

"Stay right there", I know, you heard me, "Stay right there".

You might not what to hear this, right now but that's God's message to you.

Most times, when we have been in a place or on a level for quite some time, either in our walk with God, in a relationship, or at our workplace, we begin to quest for more and there's more.

However, where you are currently, How much have you maximised it? Have you learnt the lessons that God wants you to learn?
   Because, in actual fact, there's more than you can imagine but for you to operate in an excellent fashion on that new pedestal, it's the acquired knowledge from your current level that would sustain you there.

The truth is, until you learn the lessons and acquire the knowledge and experience assigned to your current level, you are going no where.

God expects his children to grow, from glory to glory. As his child, he's glad when you attain new heights but sad & disappointed when you mess up, feel bad or disgrace him.

"How can we shame God?", you may ask.
  We can't exactly shame God rather we can make his name look bad in the sight of people around us.
   When we say we are Christians but we keep messing up, not working up to expectations, there, we are putting God's name to shame.

Today, God is saying, "STAY RIGHT THERE!", in that place where you feel at any second, you might explode.
  God is asking you, "Have you learnt the lessons I want you learn?", because with God, once you have learnt all that's required and expected of you, you will move on, automatically, that's the way it works.

I learnt from Bishop T.D Jakes, that every phase of our life can be compared to a womb.
  A baby leaves the womb of its mother when the womb can't carry him/her any longer and is thrown into another womb, The womb of the world, the growing phase and this is the same with our lives.

When you have learnt all the lessons attached to a particular womb in your life, you won't be able to continue living there, you will have to shift base.

It's like a baby at 7 months that has stopped moving in the mother's womb, that would give the mother concern because it's either the baby is dead or about to die and that's the way it is with God.

If God has kept you in a place, on a level and you are not growing or learning, you are just going to stay there.
  God is not going to move you because if He does, it will be to your destruction and Our God, My Father is not the Author of Evil.

The Bible says, "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."(NIV) James 1:17

God will not give you something that would destroy you, He loves you deeply to allow such evil.

The Bible says, “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone?
  Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?
If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!"(NIV) Matthew 7:9-11
   God knows when a gift is right for you.

In Conclusion, God is saying to you, at that place where you are feeling stuck, where nothing makes sense, where you are feeling underpaid & overused at your workplace, where the supposed "Will of God" for life is not forthcoming, where your business is making more losses than profit and your mind is telling you, "There's more out there, there are better options", God is telling you to "STAY RIGHT THERE".

That bigger place is there, that bigger offer is there but if you don't learn what's expected of you, if you don't grow, expand or develop yourself, you are going no where, it will just be the same old cycle.

I pray that the Lord will help us, have mercy on us, strenghten us and show us what's expected of us and give us the grace to do them, and we would grow and mature, not remaining as babies, in Jesus MIGHTY name, Amen.

Are you well prepared???

(In Continuation of "Please take my picture, is it fineee?")

"You are on your own o! See me I am well prepared.", Police man A tells Police man B, as he covers his nose with a nose mask. As though, in response to Police man A, a heavy truck passes by, polluting the air and covering we, bystanders with thick black fumes.

You say, "There's no hell, there's no heaven", "There's no hell, just heaven", "When we die, we come back into the world, in another generation, it's just a cycle", "When we die, we go to a place where we are dealt with for our wrongs, right after, we can enter heaven".

What if, there's a heaven and a hell? What if, immediately after death, there's judgement, where you either go to heaven or hell? What if, there's actually a life after death called *Eternity?
  What would you do at that point? Would you throw in a punch line, "How would I have known?" or would you sing the No.1 song on the billboard of Eternity, "Mercy, Mercy said no" or "Second chance"?

Second chances don't work after death except in rare cases with the statistics of three in every one billion persons. Besides, who guarantees you will be part of the three?

The only qualification that would get you into heaven is how well you lived your life on earth. I am not talking of how moral you lived your life or how good & nice you were to people, No. It's by these qualifications:
1. Have you given your life to Christ?
2. Are you living a Christ-like, holy and righeous life?

These days, people become Born-again but continue to live the same old lives with the addition of "In Jesus name".
  For instance, Before Salvation, they went to parties, got drunk and committed any & every form of sin but now, After Salvation, they stay in their houses, offer prayers over the same drinks in Jesus name before drinking and getting drunk.
  Who are you kidding?

They don't change, their lives don't change. Nothing about them changes, instead, they say, "It's all in the heart".
  The Bible says the change on the inside flows out and reflects on the outside.

NLT:You blind Pharisee! First wash the inside of the cup and the dish, and then the outside will become clean, too. Matthew 23:26

NIV:(1)Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.

NLT:(2)Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:1-2

If we claim there's a change on our inside, then, there should be an obvious change on our outside.
   However, we don't want to live holy lives, we want to continue with the same old pattern and think we will make heaven.. Lie, a very big lie!

I am aware of the "Grace" sermon going round town and it's okay but what if, at the end, it is not exactly the way, we envisioned it?
  For instance, the things that we say don't matter, what if, at that point of no return, they matter?
  Remember, there are no second chances.

Like the policeman, I ask you, "Are you well prepared? Have you given your life to Jesus? Is the Holy Spirit leading you? Do you believe in the Holy Spirit?"

It's unimaginable how a person can live a godly and holy life daily, without the help of the Holy Spirit, it's impossible. As this can be compared to a car without an engine or fuel, how will the car move?

Remember, the ten virgins, the five wise and the five foolish ones? Both groups were prepared, however, the wise ones were well prepared by carrying extra oil for their lamps.

In churches today, sermons are centred more on "Discovering your gifts & talents", "Maximising your potentials", "Making positive impact in the world", "Living the wealthy life", and there is nothing wrong with them.
  However, after attaining all these, what next?

If your eternal place is not secured, if you are not sure, if you are not adequately prepared for eternity, then, what's the point of living?
   Do you know that eternity is forever? Infact, time doesn't exist in eternity and there, you will stand face to face with your creator, The Lord God Almighty, The Lord of Hosts is his name.
   Then, what will be your excuse?

Please take my picture, Is it fineee?

Me: Please, Uncle Shola, take my picture
Uncle Shola: *Snap*, *Snap*

Me: Let me see, let me see.
This one is not fine, it's too dark, this one is not sharp. Please take another one.
Uncle Shola: Move a bit to the right, that jerry can is showing.*Snap*,*Snap*

Me: Let me see, Let me see.
This one is a bit far. Aww, this one is perfect, with a little editing here and there. Thank youuuuu.
Uncle Shola: You are welcome.

Just like our pictures, with all the filters and editing, we want our lives to be perfect.
On Social media, we create this impression of a perfect life we live in, including pictures that we tag "No Make up day", "Caught unaware" or "Accidental", Why?

Why do we awfully compete with ourselves, that we miss the little, important things?

Why do we deeply care about people's opinion, their likes, their mentions (of you)..Me inclusive, even to our detriment?

Why do we torture ourselves to create a life that becomes meaningless to us?

What is our gain, when we compare our progress with other's success and guilt trip ourselves on other's pain?

Why do we tirelessly struggle to gain the approval of one, who also seeks the approval of another?

For how long will we continue in endless banters of the wrongs people did to us?

Because, at the end, it comes to one thing, DEATH, and its proceeds. You become yesterday news. Out of Sight, Out of mind.
  No matter the monuments constructed in your memory, you will be forgotten.

Once you are gone, with time, no one cares, you become a memory and guess what? Memory fades!!!
Then, what next?

Your all trying to be perfect comes to an end and you are at the mercy of another, at this point, O.Y.O(On your own) is the national anthem, the life you lived becomes your C.V(resume), your life line.

Or do you think life after death is a joke, stay there. Is it at the point of no return, you will begin to take life seriously?
To be Continued...

My Overprotective father 3

I am so sorry for taking this long to post this last series on My Overprotective father

(Please refer to My Overprotective father 2, Slide to the left)
Please answer these questions truthfully and prayerfully:

- When was the last time you acknowledged God as a father?

- Do you even have a steady relationship with Jesus?

- Who is the Holyspirit to you?

- Have you come to an understanding of who God is to you, as a father, talk more of an Overprotective father?

- How diligent are you in pursuing a steady, thriving relationship with Jesus?

- When faced with challenges, trials, who/ what/where is your fist call for help?

These questions are simply a mirror to show you the state of your heart. Before you start blaming God for being an uncaring father, Check your heart first, Check yourself. I pray that the Lord will help you, in Jesus name. Shalom!

My Overprotective father 2

We are expected to pray for protection, not because God is not aware that we need protection but because that shows our dependence on him, to let him know that we recognise his authority figure against and above all powers, strongholds, principalities and territorial powers of darkness, to let him know that we don't take his grace for granted and to make the Devil know that we know our place in God.

Like my earlier example in Overprotective 1, just because I am the daughter of the Greatest and Highest being who was, who is, and who is to come, does not stop the Devil from threatening me, Satan tempted Jesus, so Who am I?

Even though God is my Overprotective Father, and he's always in my space, He's also a gentle father, he won't force himself on me.
  Although, he's aware of the threats of the enemy against me, he might not always, necessarily come to my defense immediately, not because he doesn't care, rather, because he wants to see my reaction(my heart), my response to the threats.
  Would I be afraid and run to people that can't help me or would I remember that I have a father that is over capable and likes to show off his power and authority at any given time?

Yes, there are times He(God) will rise on our behalf without our input, simply out of Mercy, however, he doesn't want us to become complacent and lazy rather he wants us to be diligent and committed in seeking him and that is because until, we have come to a level of understanding God as a(our) father, then and only then can we can lay claims to his promises and power with all boldness.
  We come to this understanding by diligently seeking him and knowing him in a place of intimacy through the studying of his word, having communion with him(prayer), and so many other ways that would get us closer to him.

Oh yes, I know it takes God to get God but there has to be a desire, a hunger, a thirst for Righteousness in you.

Please be the judge:
A man has two sons, identical twins to be precise. Whenever he sends the first son on an errand, the son promises to go but never goes while the second son always seems reluctant and stubborn but always ends up going on the errand.

The man is a business mogul, in partnership with major companies in the world. The boys just finished their undergraduate studies and they wanted to work for a while before furthering their degrees.
  On a Sunny, Saturday afternoon, the first son that hardly goes on errand, walked up to his father and asked him to connect him to a job.
  Well, a father will always be a father, he made a call, and a placement was created for him in a multinational company. He was to resume work on Monday morning, a car with a driver had been provided.

The second son never asked his father to help him get a job because he expected his father to automatically help him since he was the faithful one. His father, so eager to help him was also waiting, expecting him to make a request as he didn't know what his son would like.
  So, he waited and waited and waited....and is still waiting for his son's request.

Question: Whose fault is it that the 2nd son, the faithful one does not have a job and the 1st son, the unfaithful one has a job?(Please, be sincere to yourself)

God knows you need protection and he's the Overprotective father but you still find yourself, his child getting oppressed by the enemy, being threatened here and there, living life on little, next to nothing, sleeping in fear of uncertainties, then it's high time you: Check yourself.

Overprotective father 1!!

I overheard a Mummy call God, an Overprotective father. Please, let's check the meaning of *Overprotective*: having a tendency to protect someone, especially a child, excessively.

My picture of an overprotective father is one that is always in your matter. He doesn't give you space to breathe and God help any person that wants to stand as a threat to the child, you will face the Father before you come close to the child and that is where I am going to.

The Lord knows I have always been scared of anything to everything (N.B: You can check Jesus, My Protector 1 & 2) however, Jesus caused a transformation in my life that drove that fear away from me, as far as the heavens are from the earth..

However, sometimes, I get scared of the spiritual realm, when it's time to sleep and I can't control much in my dreams, I cover my self with the blood of Jesus as many times as possible, then, plead the fire of the Holy Ghost to protect and raise a hedge of Fire around my dream life, it's not funny...

But, when that Mummy called God, an Overprotective Father, something resounded in my heart.
  If I call God an Overprotective father, that means, not just anyone comes near me, this means God screens anyone that comes 1000m close, he screens those I call my friends, so much that when their hearts start to change and I don't know(because I don't read people's heart), he starts to show me reasons and starts to tell me to watch out and when necessary cut them off.
  Now, this is just in the physical, talk more of the spiritual where Jesus is the head of all principalities and powers, and everything, everyone, and anything bows to him from the highest heavens to Hades, the lowest of hell, including under the sea.

If I have family members that are the heads of evil and good, then no evil is permitted to touch me, except they allow and every good is my portion in full measure.
  Imagine, my father is the head of kidnappers, which kidnapper will dare to kidnap me, infact once they hear my name/surname, fear would run down their spine and if they even dare, the person's end is at hand.

Now, I am the child of the Greatest and the Highest being plus he is overprotective in nature, meaning He's all in my business and guess what, I am not to pray for protection out of fear but out of an understanding of who I have as a Father.
An overprotective father means, even when I am tired of his presence(which I can never be, by the mercies of God), his protection is 100% standby.

Please note, I did not say we should no longer pray for protection, rather, when we pray for protection, we do not pray from the angle of fear but from a depth of understanding of who we call and have as a father.

To be Continued...

*Please check out this space for My Overprotective father 2

Dont touch my hair!

I remember when I was in primary school, there were friends I had that while playing with them, if your hand mistakenly touched their head, you will hear, "Don't touch my head", when asked why, the reply would be "Because my Mummy said I should not allow anybody to touch my head".

That time, it sounded trivia and nonsensical but over the years, I have come to realise that indeed people should not touch your head.
  As a girl, that can be a bit difficult especially when you have a nice hair texture, everybody just wants to touch your hair, indirectly touching your head, and guys are not left out, especially when they have unusual hair patterns and texture, then, you hear, "Are you an half-caste?" or "Is this your real hair?" followed by the next inevitable question, "Please can I touch your hair?"(trust me, I am guilty here), the worst is when, they don't even ask for your permission and start touching your hair, that can be very annoying.

Your head is a sign of your authority, you don't allow people touch your hair or your head anyhow, from your friends up to even a man of God, except by the leading of Holy Spirit.

If you allow people touch or play with your hair, it's as well giving them the power to do anything they like with you, either physically or spiritually.

If people or anybody can touch your hair or head anyhow and it's okay with you, then, you are as well saying, "You can have control over my life".

Even the Bible says, the hair of a woman is the glory of the woman, so in allowing people touch your hair, including hairdressers/barbers, you have to be watchful of the hands that work on your hair, you can't let just anyone touch your hair/your head.

This might sound trivia and nonsensical like what my primary school mates were saying back then, but it's the truth, and guess what the truth will set you free.

Some people are going through some terrible stuffs, just because of someone, somewhere that touched their hair.
#Reflect