Last Post of 2011

Hello all!!!!

I hope you all enjoyed your Christmas and that the true meaning of Christmas was celebrated in your lives. As I reflect on 2011 and look to 2012 as it dawns, I want to leave you with this thought: God has not given up on you, and that is why He has preserved you. If He has not given up on you, then you shouldn't give up on yourself. As this year comes to a close, don't think of all the things that you couldn't do, or that didn't go the way you envisioned. As I heard in a sermon lately, don't bring yourself under condemnation or guilt but continue to fix your gaze upon Jesus. The Bible says that when we look upon Him, our faces are not ashamed. There is no disappointment in God. It may not have happened today don't be discouraged, know that it has been re-appointed for His time.
So with this in mind, I wish you all a happy New Year! May the Lord do a new thing in your lives.

What shall I Say?

Hello World!

It's been a minute since I was here. I apologize profusely and promise to try to be better. Interestingly, I haven't been away from Blogville, just away from my own blog. In the time I've been away, I just haven't had the drive or desire to come on here and write. Why, you may ask. I think it has to do with the fact that I had somehow defined this blog as Inspirational and outlet for my creative writing blog and inspiration eluded me these past couple months, so I had nothign to write. However, today I am coming on here to really just pour my heart out. I'm not quite sure there is a particular direcrion this post is going in, so please bear with me. I may just end up re-capping some events in my life.

Just recently, it was Thanksgiving and I had a lot to be thankful for. God has been so good to me and my family. When I lost my job, He surprised me and gave me one even better. He protected us to this point and continues to show us His new mercies everyday. God is good. I thank God for His faithfulness.

Now we are going into another holiday of the season, and for some reason, this holiday has stress associated with it. This ought not be so. Christmas is about celebrating the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, but when we observe how it is celebrated today, it really is not a celebration but a burden. The retail stores beckon on you to come buy their products at so called discount rates, people keep asking you, "what are you getting me for Christmas," and the list goes on. Aside from the strains on your pocket book, there are those thoughts of regret or disappointment that creep in. "Oh I wanted to have achieved this and that by the end of the year but I have nothign to show..." So instead of us being grateful anf joyfull that Jesus the Messiah was born and we can now say "Emmanuel" we are pre-occupied with what we want, what we don't have, and all the regrets of the year. I truly pray that this Christmas will be different for everyone. That we will find the peace and joy that He brings us this season and always. That we enjoy His presence even in the very mundane.

So I leave you with this to offset your Christmas season:

In Him.

Coming back

Hello people,

So sorry I've been away for so long... So much has transpired in the time I've been away from this blog. I plan to be back with fresh rhema, and continuation to the "In God's Timing" series. Thank you for following.

Jeshurun.

Holy are you Lord et al...

Hello peoples,

I've been away for a while, I'm back now. I've been reading a lot of blogs but not writing anything on mine. So today I purposed in my heart that I will write even if my post does not have a flow to it.
First, I would like to share this new song by Hillsong that I love. It's called Beautiful Exchange, and my favorite part goes:
Holy are you Lord,
Holy is Your name,
With everything I've got,
My heart will sing how I love you.

So, I've been through some ups and downs regarding my courtship with Mr. But I thank God that He's brought us through it, and we're stronger for it. I'm just learning to be still and know that He is God. I'm learning to take all my issues to Him in prayer and trust that He will work things out even better than I can ever arrange for myself. He's just good like that. So I roll all my cares over to Him for He cares for me. I will not lie though it is not an easy task to just be still. We're doers, always trying to figure out what to do to fix a situation, it doesn't come to us instictively to just let go and trust God. Oh but I'm learning to do that. To not say too much, to not worry too much, to not react at all. He is faithful.

So my dear friends, till I return again, have a blessed week ahead and be still and know that He is God.

All in God's Timing (Part 8)

So sorry y'all, I have been really bad with keeping up with this series and this blog in general. :( Ok now back to the story.
It's Tuesday morning and Labake is awake at 5AM. Initially she woke up to use the bathroom but as she went back to bed to resume sleep for another hour, sleep had eluded her. In the span of five minutes her mind was inundated with what had to be done for the day and little details that she really could have waited till after breakfast to figure out. Still musing about her to-do and wish list, she chided her overactive mind for depriving her of another hour of precious sleep.


"Okay, meeting with Kevin at 10AM, I need to get all the documents and information for that ready by 9:30, After lunch I have a 1:30, what's that meeting about anyway? Am I taking lunch to work today? Hmm maybe I should just get something out. But what? What am I going to get for lunch? It would really be nice to go to McCormick and Schmick but it's too formal and expensive for just lunch. Maybe for dinner... Oh my goodness! Don't I have a date with Osa tonight?! Why does this date keep surprising me? I've known about it for a while... Toke said she was going to stop by to help with my outfit right? Speaking of outfits, I need to get out of bed and figure out what I'm wearing to work today!"


With that, Labake rolled out of bed and prepared herself for work. As usual the shower was a brutal wake up call; works better than her alarm clock. When she got downstairs, she spotted her mother in the living room with her Bible open. She paused in the hallway debating whether she should disrupt her morning devotion or just call her when she was on her way to work. She opted for the disruption, she might have some nuggets of grace to share withe her before she starts her day.


"Good morning mom!"


"Ah oko mi good morning. How was your night?"


"It was good. Thank God. How was yours?"


"It was good. Are you off to work?"


"Yes mom, I just wanted to greet you and disrupt your devotion" Labake said with a grin.


Her mother laughed. "As always my dear. Eh I was reading my Every Day with Jesus, and today's topic was on guarding your heart, especially in the area of relationships. As I'm not looking into any new romantic relationship, I felt maybe I should pass it on to you. My dear, be careful how you let any man into your heart o, I know I pester you about getting a man and getting married, but it is better to be single and have peace than to be with a man that will destroy your heart."


Labake's heart almost stopped. Did her mother know about her date with Osa? Was she eavesdropping? She quickly calmed her nerves and responded, "mom I hear you, that's some solid advice though. I have to run. Don't bother making dinner for me tonight, I will be going out to eat." With that Labake got up and made towards the front door.


"With who? By yourself?" but before she could finish Labake was in her car.


All the way to work, and throughout her entire day the words of that scripture played over and over in her mind. "Guard your heart with all diligence for out of it flow the issues of life." For some strange reason, she couldn't shake the words out of here mind.


She got home later than she had anticipated that evening so she had to run into the shower the moment she was in her bedroom. As she was getting out of the shower, she heard Toke greeting her mom and exchanging pleasantries with her. Good. She didn't have all the time in the world to wait for Toke. She can get the basics together and Toke will just put the finishing touches to everything.


"Ah ore, you're almost ready. How are you darling?" Toke said as she walked into Labake's bedroom.


"Toke thank God you're here on time, I got home late so please let's hurry. Does this necklace go?"


That was all Toke needed to hear to begin working her magic on Labake.

When they were done, they hurried downstairs and Labake hoped that her mother wouldn't see her leave so she won't have to explain why she was so dressed up. Thankfully for her, her mother was not in the vicinity. She opened the front door for herself and Toke and they got into their separate cars. Toke was on her way home and she was on her way to a date. A DATE! How long had she been on one? Did she even know how those go anymore? She really needed to get into the romantic mood. So all the way driving to the restaurant she played romantic songs and tried to calm her nerves.


Upon arriving at the restaurant, a valet was at her door to park her car. She was ushered into the waiting area of the restaurant, where the Maitre d' welcomed her and asked if she was meeting someone. She replied that she was meeting Osa, and quickly he took her to his private dining area. She was taken away by it all.


"Hi. Hello." She said as she approached him, sticking out her hand.


"Oh wow. You look amazing. Nice to finally meet you." With that he took her hand and pulled out her chair.


After they were both seated, Osa had to take her in. She was beautiful beyond what he had anticipated. Those pictures didn't do her any justice at all.


"So how was your day?" He said, jolting her out of the nervous wreck she was becoming, made evident by the way she was fiddling with her napkin.


"It was nice, very busy but so far so good." She replied regaining her composure and the conversation the rest of the night was easy. He was charming and definitely a gentleman. She was a natural beauty and he was beginning to catch a glimpse to the inner beauty as well.






When they had finished eating, they danced to a live jazz band till she hinted it was time for her to go. He walked her out to wait for her car to be brought to her; all the while holding her hand. When the valet pulled up in her car, she turned to him and thanked him for a lovely evening, he thanked her as well and expressed a desire to see her again soon. She leaned in to hug him and say goodnight, and he pecked her on her cheek. A rush of butterflies were released in her belly as she walked to her car and drove off, playing the night over in her mind. By this time she had forgotten all about, "guard your heart with all diligence for out of it flow the issues of life."

Let The Redeemed of the Lord Say So

Say Something!!!

"And they overcame him by the Blood of the Lamb and the words of their testimony."

Recently I've been thinking about the power of the testimony. What is a testimony? A testimony is when you recount something that happened to you or that you witnessed. Just like in court a witness comes to testify. Those of us that are Christians also have a testimony. Our testimonies can vary from person to person and subject to subject. It can be about how the Lord saved you radically or how He healed you or how He came through for you when there was no other way, or how He protected you from harm. Bottom line is we all have a testimony.

What then do we do with our testimony? We're supposed to say something. It says we overcame by the words of our testimony. Not the thoughts of our testimony. We always have to remember and recount what the Lord has done for us. I've heard Bill Johnson of Bethel church say that the root of the word remember in Hebrew means seed. So when we remember what God has done and say it, we are sowing the seed for a repeat of that testimony and sealing our victory. Saying your testimony is essentially rehearsing your victories.

Realize that you have a testimony today and say it.

Letting it all out

I need to let it all out

Let out the frustration

Let out the fatigue

Let out the anger

Let out the disappointment

Let out the anxiety

Let out the tears that are welling up

When is relief going to come?

When is respite going to come?

When is help going to come?

When is hope going to rise?

When is joy going to rise?

When is laughter going to rise?

I lift my eyes up to the hills, where does my help come from, my help comes from the Lord the maker of Heaven and earth. That's what the Bible says. These says we're living in are proof that we need supernatural help. The ordinary just won't do. I can't rely on man for the arm of flesh will surely fail. Our eyes are on you Lord. Send help. Send help. Send help. He will keep in perfect peace he whose mind is stayed on Him. Out eyes are on you Lord.

Counting My Blessings (Jer. 29:11)

Happy Saturday to you!

I hope all is well with you and yours. Very quickly we are progressing in the year. I hope and pray that as the year is progressing that we all are making progress in all of our endeavors. God help us all.

I entitled this blog post counting my blessings because God has been so faithful to me and I do want to take time out to give Him the glory. As you may have read in a previous post, I was laid off from my job. However that was man doing his own my God had greater things in store. In the time I've been home on my forced vacation, (that's how I like to think of it), I have been spending more time with my Father. I've become more aware of His mighty hand in my life and knowing fully well that He is working things out for my good. I have also discovered some wonderful treasures in His word. You know that scripture that says, "For I know the thoughts I have towards you, thoughts of good and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope" ? Well if you read two verses after it the Word says, "Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. " I've read and re-read Jer. 29:11-13 in times past but there was something new that shouted out at me this time around. What the Lord is saying is that yes He has plans for us, but us knowing that He has plans is not the end of it. Notice that verse 12 starts with a "then." This means that once we know His plans for us, we have to seek Him ernestly for those plans to be manifested. Often times we quote Jer. 29:11 like it's a magical verse that acts on it's own without us playing a part. You have a part to play in your victory. It's called partnering with God and seeking His face. God wouldn't do anything in your life without you coming in agreement with His agenda. Just as Jesus said, "Your will be done on earth, as it is in Heaven." Don't you just love that?

So in light of that nugget I've just shared, I want to share that my Father has done it, and I now have job offers! All this happening in less than a month. Praise Him!!!

Musica!!!

I hope this song blesses you as much as it blessed me.

Crisis and Opportunity

When written in Chinese the word "crisis" is composed of two characters - one represents danger and the other represents opportunity. ~John F. Kennedy, address, 12 April 1959




Bonjour mes amis de Blogville!!!


Happy Sunday to you all! Today I just want to share on the thin line between a crisis and an opportunity.
Just recently, I was laid off from my job. Shocking?! I know. To say I was devastated is hitting the nail on the head. I couldn't understand why God would allow such a thing to happen to me. Why me? After all my prayers and all I had done in serving Him. He also knew quite well all the financial responsibilities I had on my shoulders. Why did He now choose this time to allow such a thing to happen to me? To be honest, I felt like God had deserted me. I cried out and wailed. I couldn't understand it. The crazy part was that I felt so powerless and He is all powerful; how was I to question Him?


As I was wailing and wallowing in my sorrow and self-pity, Mr Right said to me, "but babe, you don't even like the job." Yes I did not like the job but I didn't want to be humiliated by being "FIRED!" But he went on to remind me what the Pastor had said at the watch night service on New Year's Eve. She said in 2011, there will be crisis but in every crisis look for the opportunity. So he began to encourage me to trust God and believe that an opportunity will present itself. Initially, I was resistant to his advice. I wanted to feel sorry for myself. However, I felt like God jolted mewith  some faith and I began to really believe that things were going to work in my favor. I started applying for jobs and praying and I can confidently say that within a week of being laid off, God is opening some doors that I will have never thought of on my own. He is opening doors without me even having to do anything.


What crisis are you going through today? Can you trust in Him who is the author and finisher of your faith? He knows the plans He has for you. Why don't you ask Him to show you the opportunity in your crisis?

Courage

Hello Blogville,

I hope the new year has been gracious to you all so far. One of the things I have really been pondering this new is courage or boldness. The courage to tackle any obstacle that I face without retreating to my hole in fear. I have so many dreams and ambitions that were held back last year by fear of the unknown, regret, and a sense that I didn't have what it takes to achieve them. I analysed and analysed even to the point of paralysis. This new year, I am determined to take strong strides in faith and courage. To me courage is to have heart. To put all my heart into a matter and not lose faith. Courage to try and believe that with God on my side I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. I'm coming out and I want the world to know. There are two areas that I want to step out in courage/faith in this year, and they are:
-Graduate school
-Business.
What are those goals that you are shooting for that you know you need major guts to achieve? Ponder on these quotes and let them inspire you!

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light not our darkness that frightens us. We ask ourselves 'who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?'

Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.

It's not just in some of us; its in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

-Marianne Williamson

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."

-Mark Twain

Happy New Year!!!!

Hey Blogville!

Happy New year to you all. I apologize for being AWOL in the last month. Well this new year I pray for the grace to come back with a greater momentum for this year. Hopefully this year I will bring you some inspiration, something from the heart and a continuation of In God's Timing.

This year, let God make you over like a potter remolds the clay in his hands.
I pray that this year will mark the beginning of something great and wonderful in all of our lives in Jesus' Name.

So let's get started!