Month: April 2020

ANYONE CAN GET IT!

ANYONE CAN GET IT!

My daughter shared with me earlier this week how she did a sweep in one of the WhatsApp group chats she manages. She went through the group and removed everyone who hasn’t been active in the group for a certain amount of months. After she’d done that, she contacted each of the people removed and explained why she removed them.

The funny part then came when she decided to send a message to everyone else left in the group chat – a line which the government has used repeatedly to communicate their message about being careful in recent times: “anyone can get it”. While the government was referring to the coronavirus and how we should be careful, my daughter in messaging the rest of the group was insinuating that anyone can get thrown out of the group. All of a sudden after that time, engagement got stronger within the group, with passive members becoming more active.

As I listened to her I thought about the fact that many of us have the strong desire to belong and that still reflects when chucked out of a group you don’t even participate in. On the other hand, there is an open invitation within the body of Christ which gives us all a chance to be adopted into this family and become sons of God. Using the same phrase, positively however, I’ll say anyone can get it – accepting the love of Christ and becoming part of His family.

God’s word says:

‘See what great love the father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are….’1 John 3:1

As much as His love and acceptance of us is unconditional, we as His children, need to reciprocate by engaging with Him. We are not saved to be detached from the one who now calls us His children, so we should still endeavour to engage with our father who has called us His.

The love of God is real, surely anyone can get it; but to maximise the benefits, you must engage with Him in prayers, bible study and fellowship..

God is on your side!

Leadership

DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY!

DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY!

One of my lockdown habits is a daily morning run (apart from Sundays – that’s an evening walk day).

Just before I set out for the run today, I decided to do things differently and change the sequence and direction of my run. I was wondering if doing things differently could give me a fresh perspective, increased performance and create more enjoyment for me as I was used to a repeated routine and route. With my current pattern, I am almost sure of who I’ll meet and where, whenever I go for these runs. Now if you know me, you will know that I like schedules and routines – so I will normally not want to do things differently but for this strong inclination to do so.

As I set out going a different route, I realised that I ran further than I normally would and also ran it in my best record time. That is, I improved just because I chose to do things differently and put in a little adjustment into my routine. I was super proud of myself (by the way, it doesn’t take me too much to be proud of myself!) but this situation got me thinking of the lesson I’ve learnt from my little exercise. I learnt that ‘though it’s good to be predictable, it is better to be flexible so that you can embrace something new and open yourself up to more opportunities in life as well as better results.’

God’s word that I started meditating on with regards to this lesson says;

“For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland” Isaiah 43:19

God is always set to introduce us to new things that will make our lives better if we are not resistant to Him and His instructions. Turn your gaze towards Him and you will see what He has already started, rather than only what you are familiar with. The familiar can only produce so much for you – but your God is doing new things around you. Embrace Him and His new plans for your life and be ready to do things differently if required.

God is on your side!

Leadership

MY DAUGHTER & I

MY DAUGHTER & I

The quarantine period has given rise to members of my family as well as many other families doing some activities on a daily basis. One of such is to exercise daily. Earlier on this week, my daughter, Bethel, decided to get involved in something she hates and has always said she wouldn’t get involved in – running. As much as she does so many other exercises, she claims “her body is designed for bending – not running”; she does not fancy the idea of running or jogging. Why does she hate it so much? She once came to our church running club and was so put off after that experience. She felt she was one of the people that finished last and was not able to function for the whole day due to exhaustion and leg pain. So for her, running was a NO! NO!!

When she told me last week that she would want to go for a run with me at some point, I genuinely didn’t take it to heart, but kept inviting her everyday. Then came Easter Monday and she said she was definitely coming out with me. I was shocked but excited! Well, we started the journey and within few minutes she started struggling. I was convinced she was going to turn back and go home. She however continued to push forward. After a while, I advised her on the best route to take so as to start heading back home as she had already done almost 2km at that point. I pushed ahead as I continued the journey. At some point, I looked back and saw my daughter; wow… she continued! I couldn’t believe it as she had now gone beyond what she attempted with the church run which she struggled with.

I asked her how she was able to jog/walk that far, and she said “I have been most definitely praying – I asked God for help rather than giving up and going back home.” I was super proud of her and could not stop telling her how proud I was of her for two things: for pushing herself beyond her comfort zone, as she completed a 4km+ jog and also for praying to ask for God’s help when her own physical strength couldn’t take her further forward in our run.

We completed the run, did Minister Ayo’s workout together after which we did my daughter’s body stretch routines together. It was a great mother-daughter bonding experience indeed; though my daughter spent the better part of the day in bed (lol) she was equally proud of herself and was sure we will do this together again.

As I thought about our run, and the way Bethel asked for God’s help for the seeming simple and inconsequential matter, I remembered the scripture that says;

‘In my trouble I called the Lord. I called to my God for help. In his temple He heard my voice, He listened to my cry for help’. Psalm 18:6

When she felt she needed a little help to push forward rather than turn around, she prayed, asking the Lord for help and He strengthened her to accomplish her desire. If she could, so can you and I for both the simple and the tough issues of life.

God promises that whenever we call upon Him, He will answer us. He is still in the business of answering prayers, so do call upon Him for help at this time and He will surely help you.

God is on your side.

Inspiration

CAN YOU SEE THE SIGN?

CAN YOU SEE THE SIGN?

One of the most difficult things to deal with in any new environment or place is the feeling of loneliness and isolation. I remember quite vividly when we were in Cyprus, how we experienced two separate incidences that God sent to reassure us that we were not alone, despite how things looked.

The first of these experiences was when we were in the cow farm with no other person living around us. We, husband, wife and young boy were the only ones within 2 miles of civilisation. It was tough, but a certain day came when the next farm owner chose to hire a farm hand. He was a young Egyptian lawyer, who fell on hard times in his country and had to come to Cyprus to work for a while. He mentioned how lonely and alone he felt before he saw us which was a few nights after he arrived in the farm. We became more or less like family, we hosted him almost every night while he told us stories about his life in Egypt and the fact that he could never have imagined finding people he could relate with in his situation. We got the chance to be good ambassadors for Christ to him and show him what Jesus had to offer.

We then moved to the city and met another young man, who again found himself in Cyprus due to economic difficulties in his home country. The first day we saw each other, I remember him telling Eddie how lonely he was and how great it was to see familiar faces. He mentioned that he had prayed that God showed him a sign that he was not alone and seeing us was a huge confirmation of that in his mind. He became such a great friend that at some point, we were blessed to house him for a while during which we again were able to influence and hopefully assist him in his faith development.

All in all, I’ve come to realise that we are all likely to go through some places and paths in life where we are likely to feel lonely and alone. We must understand that God will never leave us alone, but will be with us and provide us companions and confirmation along the way that shows that we are not alone. He still shows signs.

God’s word as a confirmation of what I have said above says;

‘……because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” 6 So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” – Hebrews 13:5-6

God is with you and He has equally set people along the way to show you that you are not alone on this journey. Be at peace and rest assured that God’s got you and will send men and women of like minds your way, who will be a blessing to you and you will also be a blessing to.

Continue to stay safe, at peace and strong; because God is on your side!

Inspiration

DO NOT COMPROMISE!

DO NOT COMPROMISE!

I am sure I am one of the few people that still watches advertisements. Apart from the fact that I enjoy them, I find some of them educational. One of such adverts is the ASDA 2020 campaign that focuses on the main message ‘DO NOT COMPROMISE’.

In this advert, Nanna, a grandmother and her daughter hit an impasse when discussing living arrangements and failing to agree. Nanna wants independence – hurtling around country lanes on a motorbike with her toy boy. Helen, the daughter, however, wants her on hand, at home, to help out with her kids. As a compromise, the grandmother lives in a caravan on the daughter’s driveway so close neither gets any privacy, so both lose out. ‘Don’t compromise,’ the voiceover says. The advert showcases that there is greater quality at Asda prices and you won’t need to compromise if you shopped at ASDA.

I particularly enjoyed the funny part of Nanna opening her curtain to find herself looking right at her daughter who was having a moment with her husband. The price the family was paying for having grandma at hand seemed rather high in my opinion and at some point, you wonder whether some things are worth it when it comes to compromise.

I’ve come to discover that there is no point compromising on anything of value to you because compromise always ends up being costly. As a young believer, I was taught the value of living my Christian life in such a way as not to compromise with the devil because he will always come back to ask for much more than you’re willing to let go of. No matter the short joy and pleasure of compromise, the long term cost is not worth it and ends up taking whatever was gained from the short burst of pleasure one might have received from compromising.

God’s word alluded to this by saying;

‘ Joyful are those who obey His laws and search for Him with all their hearts. They do not compromise with evil, and they walk only in His path. Psalm 119:2-3 (NLT)

Those who will enjoy lasting joy from above and in their hearts are those who do not compromise with evil: so I implore you to not compromise with evil as it is just not worth it.

God is on your side!

Watch the advert here.