Take Me, Break Me, Make Me

Take me and break me. 

Take this thing called flesh, this part of me that's strayed from you and betrays me...take it and break it. 

Take all that is contrary to your desire for me - people and things...take and break them. 

Take these walls of carnality and the desire to please the flesh...take it and break it. 

Take my wanton desires, lust, pride, ego, selfishness and disobedience...take it and break it. 

Take my body, this vessel that is meant to be your dwelling place...take it and break it. 

Take my eyes, ears, nose, mouth, hands and feet. Take them and let me see, hear, perceive, talk and walk in the light of your love...take me and break me. 

Take my mind, thoughts, emotions, hopes and dreams...take them and break them. 

Take my insecurities, doubts and fears...take them and break them. 

Take every cell, tissue, bone, blood, organ and system in my body...take them and break them. 

When in life's journey I get weighed down, distracted and disconnected from you...take me and break me all over again. 

Take all that I am and hope to be, take me, break me, mould me and fill me up. 

My desire Lord is that you take me, break me and make me like only you can - a vessel fit for the master's use. 

Does God Give And Take Away?

It's easy for us to chant and sing about God's goodness until life deals us a heavy blow.

A friend recently told me about another friend of his that was killed by armed robbers. He was shot in the presence of his heavily pregnant wife and their two children. Now tell me what word of encouragement will be good enough to console this young widow? Do you console her by telling her that God gives and takes away? What kind of good God gives and then takes away? Do you tell her to thank God because her husband is in a better place? I'm sure she will ask you why God didn't send your husband to a better place instead of hers. What will she tell her child when he is born? 

Words wouldn't just do in the face of pain, loss, illness and challenges.

Oftentimes we console those who have suffered loss that 'God gives and takes away' and Pastors/Ministers even say this at funerals. 
It was Job who said this in Job 1:21 'the Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away blessed be the name of the Lord' when he suffered the loss of his children and property. 
This attitude of Job in the face of loss shows he is not a fair-weather believer which is great but that doesn't make him right - God doesn't give and then take away and Christ clearly explained this when he said in John 10:10 - "The thief cometh not but for to steal to kill and to destroy: I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly".
The Apostle James aptly put it also when he wrote in James 1:17 "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming from the Father of heavenly light, who does not change like shifting shadows". 
Christ gives us life to the full and not in half measures and God does not change his mind after he blesses us. His gifts are not just good but are also perfect.

If you are like me, you may be tempted to ask why then do we suffer loss and pain? We must understand that while we are in the world we will suffer loss and experience pain and Christ reminded us of this when he said "I have told you these things that in me ye might have peace; on earth there will be tribulations but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world" John 16:33.

How we deal with pain and loss however is a different matter altogether and it determines what becomes of us when the 'storm' passes.

A wise man once touted that "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger" and experience has proven this statement to be true - we are always better when the storm passes. 
I have learned also that trusting God in the face of pain is a way of demonstrating our faith in him.

Pain can help us lose every sense of self-reliance if we learn to depend on God for strength and may reveal to us the depth of his love.

You may be hurting now and may have questioned God's goodness and presence in the midst of your pain but you must understand that 'God is good' and this goodness isn't dependent on what he does or doesn't do - he 'IS' good, goodness is his nature. God is also faithful and wouldn't let you be tempted beyond what you can bear - he always provides a way for you to endure if you depend on him 1 Corinthians 10:13.

So whatever it is you are dealing with or may have to deal with in future remember the words of the great Apostle Paul to the Romans "and we know that in all things God works for the good of them that love him, who have been called according to his purpose" Romans 8:28. 
Know that pain is an inevitable part of living but it also stretches us and shows us inner strength that we never knew we possessed. Life was not meant to be lived without God - through good and bad times we need him.
The storm always passes, the tears always stops, your heart will heal, you will smile again and hopefully then you will be able to exclaim like Paul "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us" Romans 8:37.

Dear Future Husband

My Love,

How are you? 

I ask this question knowing that I will get no response but I know someday soon when I ask, I will get a response from you. 

As I write this I have tears streaming down my face not because I'm a cry baby but because today I feel overwhelmed. There's just so much going on. 

I think about you sometimes and when I do, I pray for you.

I have searched for you my love amongst men of different tribes, through different races, skin colours, social and educational background.

I have met men that sounded and acted like you but time always proves they are not you as all they had to offer was sweet talk that only left me with mental diabetes. 

I have had promises made and broken, I have been here, there and everywhere in my search for you.

I realize now though that I have been busy playing God when I ought to just wait, trust and pray for you to find me.

But don't blame me, I have been told severally that I have to shine my eyes and be smart and so I tried to be smart. I have been told I would have to kiss a lot of frogs to find my Prince and God knows it's been an exercise in futility. I have learned now though that Frogs will be Frogs and Princes will be Princes and no amount of kissing will change a person's nature. So here I am, still waiting and praying.

Today I am writing to let you know that I'll wait for you.

I have loved and lost, I have given my time and expended my energy on men who did nothing to earn it and because they couldn't handle it, they abused it but from here on the search is over. 

Today I give it all to the Author of love because he is love and has written our story since the beginning of time. I give my will over and I surrender my desires. I have ended my dance with men and entered into his arms. I will waltz with him and learn at his feet because I know when the time is right, he will hand me to you and watch over us as we waltz through life and walk the path he designed for us.

Until then, I will keep learning about love, mercy and grace. I am learning to love the God kind of way - in spite of flaws and mistakes. I have started with myself and those around me and trust me it's hard but I am learning that it's possible.

I hope to love you faithfully with patience and see you through God's eyes 'an imperfect being like me who deserves grace when he strays'. 

The tears have stopped flowing and now I'm smiling...thoughts of you make me smile - a lot.

There's so much I have to say but I will stop here today and will hopefully write you again soon.

Till then I will reiterate that I will wait for you because when you come I'll know.

You will need me like flowers need the rain not because you are incomplete on your own but because I'm part of your destiny, a component of your chemistry, the bone of your bone and flesh of your flesh. 

Unlike the others you will love me in all my forms because God has put in you the ability and grace to love me as a husband should - like Christ loved the Church and gave himself for her. 

You will open my closet and when you realise that just like everyone else I too have got my skeletons, you will help me clean up and you will stay.

I pray for you everyday that God will teach you to honour him and surrender to his will. I pray that he prospers and favours you. I pray that in a world where there are over 6 billion people, you will know me when you see me.

I will write you again soon my darling.

Yours, 

Okiemute.

Waiting 90 Days Before Sex And Other Rules: Steve Harvey's Advice On Keeping A Man

I have seen the film adaptation of Steve Harvey's book 'Act like a lady, Think like a man' and not only was I entertained, the 'SUPER CUTE' actors were a delight to watch, oh how they made me gasp in excitement as I watched them deliver their roles.

I recently picked up the book and spent the last 3 days perusing it.
I am a woman and I may never understand how a man thinks so a man trying to give me insight into how men think aroused my curiosity.
I mean how can I 'think like a man' and still be able to 'act like a lady'? So I decided to read what Steve had to offer.

Steve offered great insights into how men think in relationships but I disagree with some of his advice and I will share my reasons with you.

Steve wrote about 'The 90 day rule'.
He advised that women wait 90 days and make a man work for it before giving him sex as a benefit of being in the relationship.
I don't know if that has worked for some people but I do know that if a man just wants sex, he will wait 10 years if need be - while probably sleeping with someone else -  and when he finally 'hits it', he will still run with a speed that will give Usain Bolt a run for his money.
Men reading this know it's true, some of you have waited 365 days and after you had sex, you disappeared so fast that even Willy Willy had nothing on you.

I think a man will stay with you only if he 'WANTS TO' whether you have sex with him or not. As such a lady ought to do what she wants for herself and not because she wants to keep a man.

Steve also wrote that men love sex so much and cannot live without it. He in fact stated that men connect in relationships by having sex. While this may be good information, I think he convinced me to think men are not only controlled by their primal nature, they will do anything for sex and price sex above anything else in a relationship.
I am not a man and so I wouldn't know if Steve is speaking for himself or for the generality of men but from relating with men, I do not quite agree with Steve on this.

Steve also advised that I ask a man about his relationship with God before committing to him because a man who has no relationship with God can't be trusted.

This one left me perplexed.

How can you advise me to find a man who has a relationship with God and still advise me to 'gbensh' after 90 Days - isn't that contradictory?
I am not here to judge but if we profess to FEAR God, we shouldn't make it seem like there's nothing wrong with fornicating.
If I 'do it' before marriage, I ought to acknowledge that it's a sin and seek God's forgiveness and grace.
We mustn't become so civilized that we decide to revise or edit God's word. He is merciful but his word will not change.
Sex before marriage is still a sin and not a prerequisite for a successful relationship.

In conclusion, I think the whole idea of thinking like a man may help me understand men but it defeats the  purpose of my being a woman especially in a society where women are required to be everything but themselves. I also think that this book kinda pits women against men as opponents instead of partners in a relationship.
Love is not war, it is not a fight.
I learned from the book and had some of my opinions reaffirmed but Steve also left me with some questions such as:
Can I think like a Man and retain my authentic self as a Woman? Are we saying that just being a Woman is not enough? If for instance I finally think like a man just to get a man, do I need to keep thinking like a man for the relationship to be sustained? If ladies succeed in thinking like men, who will fill the vacuum where the ladies once existed?
Lastly is my existence validated by my ability to 'get' a man?

I think it's best to let the knowledge of God's word guide you in your relationships after all it was he who looked and said 'it is not good for man to be alone, I'll make him an help-meet' which is why he CREATED the Woman.

What are your thoughts?

A Prophet And A Prostitute: The Greatest Love Story Ever Told

I am a lover of love and romantic movies are my favorites. 

I have also read a great number of love stories and some of my favorites are from the Bible. 

The story of Abraham and Sarah, Queen Esther and King Ahasuerus, Ruth and Boaz are all time favorites but that of Jacob and Rachel was undisputably the best for me until today when I read a love story from the chronicles of the Old Testament - a story that is hardly ever told even though it depicts grace and love that is enduring, reckless and shameless.

This is the story of a Prophet and a Prostitute - Hosea and Gomer.

I am sure you are wondering how such a union can work and even I was taken aback when I tried to picture the scenario. I mean they are unequally yoked, obviously from different social strata, one 'Responsible, Respected, Godly and Of high standing' and the other 'Dirty, Unclean, Cheap, Irresponsible and a WHORE'.

Now let me tell you the story.

God had instructed the young Prophet Hosea to pick a Prostitute named Gomer as his wife because God wanted to demonstrate his everlasting and shameless love for his people through Hosea's marriage to a prostitute.

I imagine that Hosea had different plans for his life. He must have kept himself pure for his very special bride. A maiden whom other men may have tried to woo but couldn't get. She would be a beautiful woman of virtue. A role model for his daughters, a mentor for other girls, a Proverbs 31 woman and befitting of his status as a Prophet. She would be a solid 10.

Isn't God supposed to grant him his heart's desire? 

So why is he being instructed to marry a prostitute? How would he even approach her? On the street corner as she bargained with her customers? What can be Holy about such matrimony? 

Again I imagine Hosea thinking "Oh God this must be my mind playing tricks on me" but it was God who spoke.

Hosea obeyed God, went to seek Gomer and when he saw her, he fell in love with her. God put a passion in his heart for this prostitute and he loved her in a way that defied logic and common sense.

And so it was that Hosea married Gomer the prostitute.

He relocated her, brought her into a neighborhood that she previously wouldn't have been allowed into, gave her his name, bequeathed to her his property and gave her the benefit of his legacy.

Hosea made a lady out of a Prostitute.

All was well for a while until Gomer went back to her old ways. She committed adultery and when she bore children none of them looked like Hosea rather they looked like other men in the city. Hosea still loved and cared for them but one day he returned home and Gomer wasn't there. He thought it was her usual way of going out till late and he waited till late in the night hoping that she would return after she may have entertained her customers but she did not. 

He went out to the streets late in the night in search of his wife and when he saw her, she was dirty and lay naked on the slave table in the middle of town. Men jeered at her and poked her. A sale was going on and it was Gomer that was being auctioned to the highest bidder - what a shameful sight for a Prophet's wife. 

Hosea must have felt hurt and humiliated but his love was greater than what he felt and heard. As the Men jeered on, he reached into his pockets, emptied his purse and gave his all to reclaim his wife.

He loved her shamelessly beyond her past, forgave her present sins and even paid for her future. What a love!

I imagine Gomer must have drooped her head in shame and probably begged Hosea to let her be as she was unworthy of his love but while everyone including Gomer herself saw a prostitute, Hosea saw the one that made his heart beat, a woman who deserved his all and that was what he gave to her.

This is the story of a Prophet's shameless love that redeemed a Prostitute, proof that even broken hearts can give unbroken love.

It depicts the kind of love God has for us, a love that just wouldn't let go and it is to me THE GREATEST LOVE STORY EVER TOLD.

Sometimes You Have To Walk Away

There comes a time in life when we have to consciously, cautiously, calculatively and carefully do not just what feels good for us but what is right for us and the people we know.
Walking away may mean severing ties with people who once meant everything to us and may cost us seemingly valuable relationships but sometimes the hardest thing to do is the right thing to do.

This is usually never easy and you may have to make this decision more than once especially if you find yourself going back but know that your greatest test usually results in your greatest victory.
Walking away is never easy but this is what courage is about - being able to walk away from people, places, things, habits and thoughts that no longer serve any good.

Find the voice to say 'NO' even when you are not convinced, say it so much so that your mind begins to believe it. Remind yourself of all that is in store for you and before long you will find yourself saying 'YES' to the best.
When the Bible says in Philippians 4:13 'I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me', it meant EVERYTHING - emotions, feelings, habits, people, thoughts can all be defeated but you have to decide that it's possible because it is.

You therefore have to find the strength to walk away from the weight and sin that besets you so as to walk into God's will for your life.

True Friendships

As humans we are made for relationships and almost on a daily basis we form relationships while interacting with people. Some of these relationships will leave so much impact in our lives that we would be willing to risk anything to keep them. 
Sometimes because we treasure these relationships we displease some people and even ourselves just to keep them.There are situations when you know that a firm 'NO' is all you should say to people but you may end up saying 'YES' against your will - just to please. When this happens often then there is a problem because our principles and values are what make us as such we ought to always value principles over relationships. 
The goal of a relationship/friendship should be oneness and not sameness, it is about letting each party retain their authentic self instead of having them become what you want them to be. So when one repeatedly lets go of core values and principles in a bid to keep relationships or friendships, then one may lose their sense of self and become a slave to that relationship.
Relationships should change us in a way that we become the best version of ourselves and instead of fitting into the mould created by others. 
So while we strive to influence and be influenced by others the goal should be to make them better instead having them lose themselves and sacrificing their values to please us - this is the mark of true friendship. 

He Is Intentional!

I just heard a song by Travis Greene titled ‘Intentional’ and it completely opened a new side to my knowledge of God that I had prior to this time not given much thought which is that God is intentional in everything he says and does.

To better get a grasp of this I looked up the meaning of the word ‘Intentional’ and it means to be deliberate and to act on purpose.

This should give a clearer picture of how God operates – he speaks and acts deliberately.

This means that careful consideration is given to every word he says and every action he takes. He doesn’t just act on a wimp, he doesn’t just say words for the sake of saying them – HE IS INTENTIONAL!

Most times we quote verses of scripture but rarely do we take time to ponder on the words. I mean really ponder.

I for one quote several Bible verses when I probably am faced with a challenge and I go oh well, God’s plans for me are of good and not evil.

A clear understanding of a thing though helps to put things in perspective and helps us better appreciate it as such, knowing and understanding that God is intentional with all he says or does can help us fully trust him and ‘surrender all’ to him.

So the next time you are reminded to just praise him through your storm, don’t fret or doubt. Just cooperate and praise him, hold on to every word he says because as he has promised all things are working for your good.

He who promised is a Father you can trust, a confidante you can rely on and a friend for all times. He isn’t just faithful, HE  ACTS ON PURPOSE AND IS INTENTIONAL.

The Danger Of A Single Story

I have read the transcript of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Ted Talk on ‘The danger of a single story’ and I have been pondering on this phrase for a while now because of recent happenings.

First I will state that I am what most people have described as an introvert because I am not the most sociable person and because loyalty is important to me, I am ‘intentional’ in picking my friends as a result of which I have really few friends.

While I choose to not be boxed into any category of behavior – Introvert vs Extrovert, I understand that people will do what they will and that I have no control over.

I must say though that being who I am has oftentimes resulted in people forming opinions and drawing conclusions about me from afar. Some people however have opened up after several encounters with me about how they had seen that I wasn’t who they thought I was and how they were wrong to just ‘judge’ from afar, but some will never get the chance to know the real me and as such will have their opinions.

This is the crux of this article.

Oftentimes we hear stories about people and go on to talk about how they could have and should have acted differently, we go on to talk about how we could never do what they did or say what they said, we go on to talk about how they did wrong without getting to know the truth. But as has been said for every story there is ‘his side, her side and the truth’.

Most of us never bother with knowing the truth especially if the story seems to lend credence to our preconceived notion of the person in question. This however is dangerous as we tend to see people and relate to them based on the opinion we have of them and where our opinion is untrue or incomplete we may treat them unjustly. I say this because I too am guilty.

This is where empathy is required – ask yourself ‘what if people relate with me and treat me based on a story they heard about me which may be untrue or incomplete’?

As Chimamanda stated “the consequence of the single story is this: It robs people of dignity. It makes our recognition of our equal humanity difficult. It emphasizes how we are different, rather than how we are similar”.

This for me means that when we judge people based on what we have read or heard about them without seeking the other side to the story, we risk breaking their dignity, maligning their character and reputation as well as losing our sense of humanity.

We ought to therefore intentionally choose not to relate to people based on their appearance, colour, social class, level of education, religion, gender or whatever parameter we choose to judge people with.

We must do well to not just deal with people based on a single story.

This is the only way we can treat people justly, with equity and achieve true harmony as humans.

Always Be Gracious And Grateful

I read once that the hardest mathematics in the world is the one which enables us count our blessings and I must say it's true.

Oftentimes we get so engrossed with our needs and wants which by the way are insatiable, that we have no time to just be grateful for what we have.

Also oftentimes we compare ourselves with others and sometimes it's with the most mundane issues like your sister whose daughter has started walking at the age of one while yours is still crawling - funny but true.

We get caught up with counting the blessings of others which leaves us no time to count our own and this has resulted in most people being depressed and suicidal.

I am not saying those suffering depression are ungrateful, I'm simply saying that if we focus on the beauty in our lives, there will be no room for depression or suicidal thoughts. 'A merry heart does good like medicine' Proverbs 17:22.

We must therefore learn to always be gracious and grateful. It's easy to focus on all the things that are not going right but we must take time to focus on the positive and the things going right.

Commit to getting better and improving your life, set goals, never settle, do not be content with mediocrity but make sure to enjoy the journey.

Everyday won't be perfect but everyday has its purpose.

We must teach our children to be thankful. Encourage your child to succeed but do not forget to celebrate their small successes.

Be intentional in giving thanks and do not wait for a special day to give thanks instead make thanksgiving a habit and thanksliving a lifestyle.

Remember that someone somewhere may be praying to have what you take for granted.

Spread joy wherever you go because the truth is that life won't be perfect but a grateful heart and thankful lips will make the journey worthwhile.

Who's Your Daddy?

Oftentimes in life, we may get overwhelmed with the challenges of living that we forget that all we have to do is cast our cares on the one who cares for us. 

Sometimes we get sunk in the mire of our sins and mistakes and we feel cut off from God, but we must remember that ours is a Father whose love is unconditional and everlasting. 

When doubts arise and the storm rages, remind yourself whose you are. 

He is Everything To Me:

He is the First and Last, the Beginning and the End!
He is the keeper of Creation, Creator of all!
He is the Architect of the universe and the Manager of all times.
He always was, He always is, and He always will be
Unmoved, Unchanged, Undefeated, and Never undone!

He was bruised and brought healing!
He was pierced and eased pain!
He was persecuted and brought freedom!
He was dead and brought life!
He is risen and brings power!
He reigns and brings Peace!

The world can’t understand him, armies can’t defeat Him, Schools can’t explain Him, and the leaders can’t ignore Him.

Herod couldn’t kill Him,
The Pharisees couldn’t confuse Him, and
The people couldn’t hold Him!
Nero couldn’t crush Him,
Hitler couldn’t silence Him,
The New Age can’t replace Him, and
The intellectuals and rationalists can’t explain Him away!

He is Light, Love, Longevity, and Lord.
He is Goodness, Kindness, Gentleness, and God.
He is Holy, Righteous, Mighty, Powerful, and Pure.
His ways are right, His Word is eternal,
His will is unchanging, and His mind is on me!

He is my Redeemer,
He is my Savior,
He is my Guide, and
He is my Peace!
He is my Joy,
He is my Comfort,
He is my Lord, and
He rules my life!

I serve Him because His bond is love,
His burden is light, and His goal for me is abundant life.

I’m bought by blood and bound by love.
I love Him because He first loved me.

I follow Him because
He is the wisdom of the wise,
The power of the powerful,
The ancient of days,
The ruler of rulers,
The leader of leaders,
The First of the overcomers, and
The sovereign Lord of all that was and is to come.

And wonders of wonders- 
His goal is a relationship with ME!

He will never leave me, or forsake me,
Never mislead me, or forget me,
Never overlook me, and
Never cancel my appointment in His appointment book!

When I fall, He lifts me up!
When I fail, He forgives!
When I am weak, He is strong!
When I am lost, He is the way!
When I am afraid, He is my courage!
When I stumble, He steadies me!
When I am hurt, He heals me!
When I am broken, He mends me!
When I am blind, He leads me!
When I am hungry, He feeds me!
When I face trials, He is with me!
When I face persecution, He shields me!
When I face problems, He comforts me!
When I face loss, He provides for me!
When I face Death, He carries me Home!

He is my everything
He is God,
He is faithful.

I am His, and He is mine!
Our Father in heaven has defeated the god of this world.
Greater is He that is in me!

So, if you’re wondering why I feel so secure, understand this...
He said it and that settles it.
God is in control, I am on His side, and that means all is well with my soul.

Everyday is a blessing for GOD Is!

Adopted. 

When I Look At You, Who Will I See?

I came across this post this fine morning and thought to share.

It's profound...read on,

A few years ago a group of salesmen went to a regional sales convention in Chicago .. They had assured their wives that they would be home in plenty of time for Friday night's dinner. In their rush, with tickets and briefcases, one of these salesmen inadvertently kicked over a table which held a display of apples. Apples flew everywhere. Without stopping or looking back, they all managed to reach the plane in time for their nearly-missed boarding...
ALL BUT ONE!!! He paused, took a deep breath, got in touch with his feelings and experienced a twinge of compassion for the girl whose apple stand had been overturned.
He told his buddies to go on without him, waved good-bye, told one of them to call his wife when they arrived at their home destination and explain his taking a later flight. Then he returned to the terminal where the apples were all over the terminal floor.

He was glad he did. The 16-year-old girl was totally blind! She was softly crying, tears running down her cheeks in frustration, and at the same time helplessly groping for her spilled produce as the crowd swirled about her; no one stopping and no one to care for her plight.
The salesman knelt on the floor with her, gathered up the apples, put them back on the table and helped organize her display. As he did this, he noticed that many of them had become battered and bruised; these he set aside in another basket.
When he had finished, he pulled out his wallet and said to the girl, "Here, please take this $40 for the damage we did. Are you okay?"She nodded through her tears. He continued on with, "I hope we didn't spoil your day too badly."
As the salesman started to walk away, the bewildered blind girl called out to him, "Mister...." He paused and turned to look back into those blind eyes. She continued, "Are you Jesus?"
He stopped in mid-stride .... and he wondered. He gently went back and said, "No, I am nothing like Jesus - He is good, kind, caring, loving, and would never have bumped into your display in the first place.
"The girl gently nodded: "I only asked because I prayed for Jesus to help me gather the apples. He sent you to help me, so you are like Him - only He knows who will do His will. Thank you for hearing His call, Mister."
Then slowly he made his way to catch the later flight with that question burning and bouncing about in his soul: "Are you Jesus?"

Do people mistake you for Jesus?

That's our destiny, is it not? To be so much like Jesus that people cannot tell the difference as we live and interact with a world that is blind to His love, life and grace.
If we claim to know Him, we should live, walk and act as He would. Knowing Him is Great . It's actually living the Word as life unfolds day to day.
You are the apple of His eye even though you, too, have been bruised by a fall. He stopped what He was doing and picked up you and me on a hill called Calvary and paid in full for our damaged fruit . How AWESOME! How Great is Our LORD!

The Road Trip: The Little Things Count

Buy me a Rose, call me from work, open the door for me why would it hurt...these are the little things I need the most in my life'
These are lyrics from Luther Vandross' song  'Buy me a Rose' and they express a lover's plea to their partner to show them love in the littlest of ways.

I recently fell ill and had to stay home from work. Having completed the prescribed medication, I resumed work as I thought that I had fully recovered but I was wrong as I collapsed before the close of work and had to be rushed to the hospital.
The Doctor said I needed to rest so I stayed home today - hoping to recover.
Then a friend visited and suggested that I go on a ride around town with him, I felt weak but took up his offer and we hit the road.
We drove round, had lunch at a nice restaurant, chatted, laughed, sang to songs on the radio and took the longer route back home.
By the time I got home, I felt refreshed, rejuvenated and strong - the trip, the sights, the jokes did what the Doctor's prescription couldn't do.
I feel stronger and I owe it to the simple gesture of taking a trip round town.

Oftentimes in life it's the simple things that count.

As a parent just taking time to tuck your child in bed may mean more than a hundred toys.
Calling up a friend just to know how they are faring could make a difference in their day.
Making time for family will create memories that will last a lifetime.
Buy a Rose for your partner or do something nice for them just because you appreciate them.
The little things we do are often what add up to become the big things and create memories that last a lifetime.

Fiction: The Vow

Loving all I know about you and trusting what I do not yet know. In all that life brings us, I pledge...no I promise would be better, she thought.
She struck out the word Pledge and made to write promise instead, then she looked up as Kate her sister's giggle caught her attention, she smiled. Kate was trying on her dress and Cynthia teased her about trying to outshine the bride.
Then she looked in the mirror before her, Cynthia did a perfect job with her makeup as she looked every inch the perfect bride.

She looked down again at the note pad in her hand, she was reviewing her vows for the umpteenth time.

Today she would be one with the best man she ever met, they had both agreed to write their vows and she wanted hers to be perfect. She intended to paint her love with the best of words - Charles is worth more than words can describe.
She smiled again as she pictured his face, she imagined him stifling his laughter at some of the things she would say about him and their love.

Then her mind flashed back to the day they met - 12 months earlier.
She had gone to the bank to retrieve her ATM card which got stuck in the machine the day before but she was told the same thing she had heard the day before. The man in charge wasn't on seat and she had to wait or return again. She was angry and frustrated as she had deadlines to meet, besides she was to leave town the next day. She knew playing it cool would get her no where and before anyone could say anything she sat on the floor, surprising even herself.

She sat down and told the Customer Care lady that she would not get up until she got her card.

'In fact I'll post pictures of myself on Social media and let everyone know how incompetent and insensitive you are to customers plight' this was her reply when the lady insisted that a well dressed and pretty lady ought to not act in that manner. The lady threatened to call security but she didn't flinch.

Before long the HR manager came out to pacify her but she insisted that she would not move until she got her card. Shortly after, the man who was to give her the card came in and she was handed her card. She got up, dusted her dress and walked out. She didn't even wait to hear what the bank officials were saying to her - she felt a little embarrassed but her act of desperation paid off.

Two weeks later, she had gone to get grocery from the City mall and as she made to hand her card to the cashier for payment she heard a voice 'you still have your card huh'?
She turned and it was the HR Manager from the bank, she was too embarrassed to say anything.

He extended his hand for a handshake 'My name is Charles' he said.

She nodded and smiled as she took his hand 'I'm Grace, nice shirt you have on', she replied.
He muttered his thanks and offered to take her wherever she was headed to make up for the embarrassment his bank had caused her. But she politely declined as she had driven to the mall. He insisted then that he would make up in anyway possible. They agreed to have dinner that weekend and exchanged cards.
He took the bags from her, walked her down to her car, helped her put them in the boot and watched her drive off.

That weekend they had dinner and the dinner dates continued for four weeks before he asked her out officially. Then they had formed a bond.
Charles was the quintessential gentleman and though he had his flaws, he was a good man.

He gave her the best time of her life.

They navigated through the tough times, shared each other's pains, celebrated successes and just grew together. He proposed eight months after.

Two months ago today she thought, as Kate's voice jolted her back to reality, 'Grace, your phone is ringing'. She picked up her phone, it was Charles.

'Hello, My best man' she said.
'My pearl' he responded, 'My favorite girl, how are you'?
'I'm good, getting ready to be your wife'.
He chuckled.
'I have a confession', he said.
'I'm listening' she responded.
He went on 'My darling, did you know I have dreamt of this day from the day I saw you sitting on the floor at the bank? I knew I wanted you from that day'. She smiled and he continued.

'Meeting you at the mall was God's answer to my prayers and I knew I would never let you go. Sometimes I wonder if I can love you the way you deserve to be loved. I wonder why a woman with such a beautiful soul would choose me in spite of my imperfections. I just love you'.

I love you too, she replied

He continued, 'Remember the day you canceled your trip to take care of me when I fell ill? I overheard you telling your mum on the phone to pray for me and that you would give your blood if you had to. That day I knew I would give anything to make you happy.
So babe, I can't promise you a perfect life but I'll do all I can to protect, defend, honor and love you. If I err as I'm wont to do, if you feel overwhelmed and are tempted to leave me, remember I fell for you.

When life's storm rages and we can't stand any longer, we will go on our knees to the God who brought us together - our king.
I choose you today, my favorite girl, prayer partner, cheerleader, teammate, sister, lover and Wife. Don't you ever doubt my love for you cos I will love you faithfully and no matter where life takes us Grace will lead us home - to each other.
Thank you for accepting to be the mother of my children. You have brought me happiness and I will do right by you, God bless you my pearl'.
She felt a tear trickle down her face.

God bless you too my love, she muttered.

'I imagine how beautiful you look right now. Now let's go do this' he replied

She dropped the call and looked down at the Note pad in her hand, she reviewed her Vow and beckoned on Kate and Cynthia, 'let us pray' she said.

They came over, held each other's hands and bowed their heads to pray.

The Art Of Marriage

What does it take to have a great marriage?

I have never been married and so I have absolutely no idea what married life is like but I do know that as with everything in life married life has it’s challenges. I also know that no two marriages are the same as each individual is unique.

I have heard and read a lot of articles on marriage and while heeding such may not guarantee a healthy marriage, I do know that the best person to take advice from is one who have walked the walk.

So I came across a Poem titled “The Art of Marriage,” by Wilferd A. Peterson who was married to his wife for 58 years and you will agree with me that if he was married for 58 years then he has advice that should be heeded. 

I thought to share his poem, read on.

The Art Of Marriage

Happiness in marriage is not something that just happens.

A good marriage must be created.

In the art of marriage the little things are the big things…

It is never being too old to hold hands.

It is remembering to say “I love you” at least once a day.

It is never going to sleep angry.

It is at no time taking the other for granted;the courtship should not end with the honeymoon,
it should continue through all the years.

It is having a mutual sense of values and common objectives.


It is standing together facing the world.

It is forming a circle of love that gathers in the whole family.

It is doing things for each other, not in the attitude
of duty or sacrifice, but in the spirit of joy.

It is speaking words of appreciation
and demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways.

It is not looking for perfection in each other.


It is cultivating flexibility, patience,
understanding and a sense of humor.

It is having the capacity to forgive and forget.

It is giving each other an atmosphere in which each can grow.

It is finding room for the things of the spirit.


It is a common search for the good and the beautiful.

It is establishing a relationship in which the independence is equal,
dependence is mutual and the obligation is reciprocal.

It is not only marrying the right partner, it is being the right partner.

It is discovering what marriage can be, at its best.

– by Wilferd Arlan Peterson.

                    

Cinderella: A Different View

The Cinderella story created by Disney is one of the most popular stories and has been reenacted severally in movies and books. 

I think though that it is not a story I will tell my daughter(s) for reasons I will highlight below. 

1.Cinderella's Step-Mother was depicted as evil but Step-Mothers are not always evil. When one hears the word stepmother they usually think evil and wicked first and it is the idea sold to us from such fairy tales. As a result when we see children living with Step-Mothers we tend to see them as victims, it's wrong.

2. Prince Charming is not real. Abeg no need to create the picture of the 'perfect and handsome' man that would come to save your little girl. Instead of emphasizing on his looks, tell her about traits such as resourcefulness, tact, thoughtfulness, kindness, discipline and decency. Innate qualities are more important than a man's appearance.

3. Girls do not need to be pretty to be accepted. We are told that Cinderella was pretty and good while her stepsisters were ugly and wicked which is why she got the Prince's attention. This makes us judge people most times based on their appearance and may lead girls to desire perfection - which is unattainable.

4. Girls are active participants in relationships. Cinderella is painted as a passive female whose only role was to look good for the ball and even when she fled at midnight (which is akin to trying times in a relationship), the Prince went all out and all she had to do was fit into glass slippers. In the real world, a woman is a partner and an active participant in a relationship.

5. A girl doesn't need a man to save her.  Cinderella is depicted as the poor maid who waits for Prince Charming to give her life a meaning. This may lead to girls fantasizing about a man who would come to save them from their 'hard' life instead of seeking success on their own. I do not deny that a good man sometimes encourages and supports you to succeed but you must first have the drive on your own. Christ already saved us and that is enough.

I would teach her instead about Queen Esther. 

Esther was an orphan that became a queen but she didn't just live happily ever after, she fought battles on her knees and physically to save her people and was even willing to die for them. She didn't just sit pretty like her predecessor, I think that's a better story to tell my daughter.

An Unending Love Affair.

I would like to think that most relationships start out this way:

Boy meets girl, girl catches his attention, he goes all out to get her attention and does everything in the books to win her heart. 

Girl may not be interested at first but may become deeply moved by the length he goes just to get her attention and girl may decide to have a relationship with boy.

Overtime they both form a bond through communication and fellowship. 

They learn about each other's likes and dislikes, hopes and aspirations, fears and pet peeves, past mistakes and failure and this knowledge helps the relationship to just grow. Then they may decide to seal it forever and continue in fellowship.

This is akin to God's motive of sending his son to die for us - John  3:16.

No human love can compare to his kind of love for us but I used that illustration to buttress the fact that Christ died and rose not just to save us from sin but to draw us to the Father.

The highest purpose of his birth, death and resurrection is not to save us from sin. It is to call us into fellowship.

'God is faithful, by whom ye were called into the fellowship of his son Jesus Christ our Lord' - 1 Corinthians 1:9.

As such believing in him and being saved is only a first step, communing with and knowing the Father is the ultimate goal.

We see then that Salvation from sin is a means to an end, the end here being 'Fellowship with God'.

Christ came to call us to oneness with God and to make us part of his family.

This is why John the beloved exclaimed 'behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God' - 1 John 3:1.

In time past the Israelites had to rely on the Priest to communicate with God as only he could enter the holy of holies but when the Temple Veil was torn in two upon Christ's death, we too got access to God and for the first time man could boldly stand before God. 

Now we can reach out to him from the confines of our closets needing no ceremonial garb and can also learn of him through his word.

The Christian life is an unending love affair with the Father. A relationship that only gets better with time, guiding all other relationships we have and producing fruits of souls.

Apostle Paul put it aptly when he proclaimed that 'nothing can separate us from the love of God' - Romans 8:38-39.

The Father's dream beyond redemption for you is that you 'know' him, experience him and understand his nature. 

Above all else he wants a relationship that no force can sever - what an honour to not just be loved but to be called into fellowship with God.

There is no higher calling than to have a relationship with God, this is the Father's dream.

He Claimed My Baggage

I was born in Church yet for a long time I was a slave to my flesh.
I grew up memorizing verses of scripture, observed religious rituals, did 'good' things, said the right words, emulated Church leaders but deep in my heart I felt a void.

I desperately needed salvation.

I continued in my 'good' deeds, indulged in oblation, practiced acts of righteousness and though I appeared clean in the eyes of men, I was entangled in sin.

As I grew older I yearned for love & acceptance and because my righteous way did not seem to help, I gave up altogether.

I still believed in God, still went to Church, paid my tithe, gave my offering, still praised and dance but my heart was far and when I lifted up my hands in worship I always felt unworthy as my heart was laden with guilt.

I was in Church but the Christ of the Church was not in me.

In my quest for one who would bear my burden, I turned to humans.
I thought if I hung with the right crowd I would be accepted but that didn't help either as just like me most of them had their baggage and were yet to find their identity.

I devoured self-help books written by big talkers who promised to help me discover myself but the feeling of satisfaction was often short-lived not because the message wasn't genuine but because I was building on a faulty foundation.

I tried to look up to Pastors too but more often than not, I was disappointed.
I realised that they are mere mortals and were like Physicians that also needed healing.
So as much as they wanted to help, they couldn't as it was a burden too heavy for them.

I searched in the wrong places and did things the wrong way - this left me frustrated until I found him.

No, he found me really - Jesus Christ did!

The Christ of the Church had been there all along but I never really reached out to him.

I was mired, helpless and hapless as I had thought I was the Captain of my fate.
He watched me struggle in vain as the weight of my baggage held me back.
I was like a ship without sail, going to and fro with no direction.
My ego and self esteem had been battered in the course of my quest for Salvation and validation still he wanted me.

His invitation to me was simple, 'Follow me and I will make you a Fisher of men'.
At first it was hard to comprehend, but I thought to just taste and see.
I handed everything to him and experienced a rebirth.

Oh what joy and light flooded my life!

All along I had searched in the wrong places. I had tried to be righteous but that wasn't my duty, all I had to do was believe and surrender.

I surrendered and he claimed the baggage of my sin and set me free from the shackles of my background.

I have come to the knowledge that my sin doesn't count anymore as the price was paid long ago on Calvary's Cross.

Jesus ransomed my soul when he walked the dusty streets through Golgotha to Calvary stripped and beaten bearing my sins and burden on him.
Though I was yet to be conceived he already reached out to me on that most memorable day in Calvary.

His last words were 'it is finished'.

Now I lift my hands in worship without guilt, the void in my heart is gone and the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead now dwells in me.

I live and love freely knowing that my baggage has been claimed because when he said 'it is finished' he meant it.

As we celebrate his resurrection I urge you to yield to his invitation and surrender all to him.

Happy Easter.

Shades of Grey : Life Isn't Always In Black and White

I have burned a lot of bridges. I have cut off communication with a lot of people and sometimes I go the whole nine yards of warning them to never communicate with me, deleting their numbers and blocking them on all media.

Sometimes it’s because of something they said or did. Now I hear you scoff ‘so you think you are superior to them’?...uh huh, well I’m only being honest.

I am sure also that I am not alone. You too have some point may have cut people off. You probably didn’t go the whole nine yards, maybe you just made a decision within yourself to never talk to them again or just ignore them till they are frustrated and the message hits home that ‘you are done with them’.

Sometimes we still communicate with certain people but deep down we are perplexed by them as we can’t fathom why they wouldn’t just do what ‘normal’ people do. Or at least do what we expect them to do or act the way we expect them to.

I guess it’s part of our human nature – judging people we don’t understand.

While I am not trying to say it is wrong or right, I have come to understand that we often see people through our lenses and judge them based on our own experiences. Life however isn’t always as we see it, there’s not always a yes and no answer to questions, we may never fathom why people act the way they do because we may never walk in their shoes.

Life isn’t always in black and white, sometimes and more often than not there are shades of grey.

As such seeing people always through our lenses may limit our view of the world and cause us to misunderstand, misconstrue and even hate them when in reality we only need to expend time to think about the experiences they have had and try to understand why they act the way they do.

Our backgrounds, education, culture and beliefs often influence us and determine what we hold in esteem – values, we can’t therefore expect a child that grew up in an environment where criminality is prevalent and only the fit survive, to act in the same way as a child who grew up in more stable environment where everyone looks out for the other. Their experiences will impact their lives.

The girl that was probably raped as a teenager and has had countless abortions or the girl that was forced to become a woman because she had to fend for herself and siblings may be seen as ‘immoral’ by everyone but maybe if she had known love and security she may have turned out differently.

This is not to say that we should condone immoral, violent, antisocial, or plain bad behavior but we may only need to be more tolerant of others to really understand them.

Sometimes we need to extend to others the same grace we think we deserve.

Truth is, you may never be able to influence people until they can trust that they can be themselves with you, then you can help them see that there is a ‘higher way’.

We are admonished by Christ in Matthew 7:1-2 to “not judge and criticize and condemn [others unfairly with an attitude of self-righteous superiority as though assuming the office of a judge], so that you will not be judged [unfairly].  For just as you [hypocritically] judge others [when you are sinful and unrepentant], so will you be judged; and in accordance with your standard of measure [used to pass out judgment], judgment will be measured to you”.

As I have grown older in life and in my walk with God I have learned and I’m still learning to be tolerant of people. You do not have to make everyone family but it will be easy to not judge them when they act in ways you deem ‘unbefitting’.

So the next time you think of deleting that number, warning them to never communicate with you, blocking them or just turning up your nose when they ‘act up’, take time to put yourself in their shoes – would you act differently?

Take time, expend energy to think it through always before you strike that match stick to burn that bridge – you may or may not need to walk over it sometime in future.

Life though isn’t always black and white, there are shades of grey in-between.