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.

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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.

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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.