Going into an uncharted territory! #NYSC

I'm packing again :-) Heading to NS via Abj for a compulsory volunteer service #NYSC! I can't contest for presidency or serve in public office here in Nigeria without it, I hear :-) (That is to show you how serious the programme is). God dey! In Him I put my trust.

Wishing every Batch A corper an exciting year ahead! May we have a great testimony. And here is my anthem as I head out:

I have been gifted (Testimony time)

Life is a gift. This almost sounds like a cliché now. But it is what it is. Not matter how we want to flip the sentence around, the truth still stares us in the face- life is a gift. It might take a while for some to figure this out but the moment you do, your attitude towards life will never be the same again.

The moment you realize this, you’ll stop competing with anyone. You’ll stop comparing yourself to others and start to realize that your core responsibility is to nurture your talent to increase and bless others around you. You’ll start to live life right, at a different pace.

You ‘ll also start to see the meaning in Ecc 9:11:

I have observed something else under the sun. The fastest runner doesn't always win the race, and the strongest warrior doesn't always win the battle. The wise sometimes go hungry, and the skillful are not necessarily wealthy. And those who are educated don't always lead successful lives. It is all decided by chance, by being in the right place at the right time. Ecclesiastes 9:11 - New Living Translation (©2007)

For those who know me well, I used to rant a lot about how I’m able to achieve the little I have by excessive hardwork. In the past, I have caught myself being overly critical of young ladies who sit on their hands expecting some sugar daddies to come rescue them. I have also been very critical of young men who sit all day hoping to become millionaires by just dreaming and doing nothing. But I know better now.

Everything I have- from my good grades in college to my seemingly stable paycheck- I have been given. I wish I could tell you that it was all earned from sleepless nights of reading with candle lights or many days of juggling two to three jobs, combined with full-time studies. But those were just part of the process that paved way for divine increase of my talents.

I know people who are smarter than me, who even work harder than I do. But each time they turn to ask me how they can step up to a new level, I stare back blankly at them. Sometimes I try to share basic theories they can put into practice etc. but the reality is that I am what I am by the grace of God. It is difficult to explain what I know or how I do what I do. It is all a gift.

Today, I wake up, I ask for strength to carry on and the grace never to abuse the gift or take the grace for granted. I pray for the courage to learn to give back.

We have all been gifted- some with one talent, some with two and some with five talents. What are you doing with your gift?

I was listening to Bishop T.D Jakes preach “Instinct to Increase” last week and I was totally blown away. Because it confirmed what I’ve been thinking about the previous week. Here are some notes from the message:

Text: Matthew 25:14-30

If you don’t understand that you have been gifted, you will spend the rest of your life walking away and walking past only what God has given you. Your gift may not be shimmering in the light like others, it may not be the ability to do what others are able to do but you have something. You have been gifted.

If you don’t see what you have as a gift, you won’t protect it. You won’t guard it, you wont take care of it, you won’t appreciate it. You’ll run around to other people who are gifted and you’ll be so ignominious with what they have that you will not appreciate what you have.

You don’t know how or why you can do what you can do? You just know you can do it? That is the gift of the talent! God is at work in your life.

If there was no gift in the first place, there’ll be nothing to enhance.

The goal is not to catch up with anyone but to be excellent on your level.

Anything above zero is increase.

Opportunity often come to you draped in the suit of opposition.

I am thankful for the gift of life. I’m thankful for the gift to be and do. I’m thankful for wisdom to know how to give back and impact others. I’m thankful for my talents. I pray you find yours too and nurture it well. Don't be like the man with one bag of gold who hid his gold (talent) in the ground.

Live well. Live love.

Praise God!

image via peoplepolarity

I will wait for You...

I Will Wait For You (lyrics) - Juanita Bynum:

I will wait for you Jesus
You're the sun in my horizon
All my hopes in you Jesus
I can see you now arising

There's a wall that stands in front of me
I know I just can't climb
Like an eagle You will carry me
Just a matter of time, Your time

I will wait for you Jesus
You're the sun in my horizon
All my hopes in you Jesus
I can see You now arising

There's an evil army all around me
Another wall thats in my way
I believe in the word you promised me
So I will wait another day

I will wait for you Jesus
You're the sun in my horizon
All my hopes in you Jesus
I can see you now arising.

Note:
I usually just skip through this track on my music device. Today I decided to listen to it carefully. Trust me, I clicked on replay right away! The song is empowering.

All we need to go from victory to victory is Jesus! Wait for Him. He is our Lion of Judah, He will do it again.

Happy New Month friends! Lets keep winning! Great grace, for the race!

Mercy Speaks: That List of Accusations With Your Name On It

The book of Zechariah in the Bible is a very interesting one. The lessons from that story can almost be interpreted in so many ways but without loosing the core message. Not that it should be read in isolation to the other chapters but it captures so well God’s promise and restoration for Jerusalem. A promise, each and everyone of us can tap into for our present time.

Our focus today is on Zechariah Chapter 3 and how it expressly shows us grace and mercy in action.

Now, the chapter begins with prophet Zechariah explaining to us what he saw during the cleansing of the High Priest:

3: Then the angel showed me Jeshua[a] the high priest standing before the angel of theLord. The Accuser, Satan,[b] was there at the angel’s right hand, making accusations against Jeshua. 2 And the Lord said to Satan, “I, the Lord, reject your accusations, Satan. Yes, the Lord, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebukes you. This man is like a burning stick that has been snatched from the fire.”

During the cleansing of the Priest Jeshua, the devil also came with his list of accusations. By all means he wanted to disqualify Jeshua from getting a fresh start with God. By all means, those accusations might have been right. As we see in verse 3:

3 Jeshua’s clothing was filthy as he stood there before the angel.

A High Priest with a filthy robe. Nothing is hidden from God. He sees all our imperfections and our struggles. The devil is always quick to pick out our filthiness. We don't have the full details of why the clothing of the priest was filthy but keep in mind that all have sinned and come short of God's glory. Even when we think we stand, we all have to be careful or else we fall. Our righteousness before God is like a filthy rag, the Bible says. It is never by our works of righteousness. Okay- enough of my babbling.

“Jeshua’s clothing was filthy as he stood there before the angel.” By normal standard, he did not deserve to even be standing there. The devil did not miss his chance to point that out. But mercy said no! The Lord rebuked the devil and granted Jeshua mercy.

4 So the angel said to the others standing there, “Take off his filthy clothes.” And turning to Jeshua he said, “See, I have taken away your sins, and now I am giving you these fine
new clothes.”5 Then I said, “They should also place a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean priestly turban on his head and dressed him in new clothes while the angel of the Lord stood by.

Jeshua got a fresh start. He was cleansed. Renewed. But it did not end there. Jeshua must also commit and not return to the old ways. We are not to abuse God's mercy and grace. We must agree to walk carefully and follow God's ways. Here is how the Angel puts it to Jeshua the Priest:

6 Then the angel of the Lord spoke very solemnly to Jeshua and said, 7 “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: If you follow my ways and carefully serve me, then you will be given authority over my Temple and its courtyards. I will let you walk among these others standing here.
8 “Listen to me, O Jeshua the high priest, and all you other priests. You are symbols of things to come. Soon I am going to bring my servant, the Branch. 9 Now look at the jewel I have set before Jeshua, a single stone with seven facets.[c] I will engrave an inscription on it, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, and I will remove the sins of this land in a single day.
10 “And on that day, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, each of you will invite your neighbor to sit with you peacefully under your own grapevine and fig tree.”

Like Jeshua, God is extending His mercy to us everyday. Do not let the list of accusations the devil is holding against you hold you down. We have all sinned. We are too much of a sinner to even knock on Heaven’s gate. Fear, pain, shame, greed, death, barrenness, failure and other baggage from the devil are hovering, waiting for permission to knock us out.

But mercy is saying no. 

Get up and embrace mercy! God is a God of a second, third chance and ever new chance! God's thoughts towards us are thoughts of good and not of evil. God wants to give us hope and a future. But we cannot enjoy these promises in its fulness if we continue to walk in the flesh and gravitate towards the pleasure of sin. We must take that bold step, fall before God's altar and surrender it all to Him and let His precious blood wash us and set of free from the grip of sin and death.

It does not matter how low we have fallen, what we have done with our past. Mercy still speaks. Yesterday ended last night. Today, lets choose to embrace mercy and choose to follow God. It is not by force or by strength, but God’s grace is ever sufficient for us!

We might stumble tomorrow but may God's mercy and grace never let us fail to return home. 

We are a symbol of things to come (Zech 3:8).

God's mercy still speaks. Listen up, embrace it and spread the word! 

The Proverbs 31 man we forget to talk about :-)

I read Proverbs 31, again. But this time I read it with a fresh understanding, like I saw new lines I did not see there before :-).

First and foremost, these were the words of King Lemuel of Massa, "strong advice his mother gave him..." It began with:

"Oh, son of mine, what can you be thinking of!
    Child whom I bore! The son I dedicated to God!
Don't dissipate your virility on fortune-hunting women,
    promiscuous women who shipwreck leaders.

Reading further he went on to buttress the importance of speaking out for justice and not allowing too much wine ruin one's leadership ability. And then, we are directed to the famous CV of a virtuous woman. Line after line, we are told what the portrait of a virtuous woman looks like or should be. 

Many young women, like myself, have feasted so much on this portion of the Bible. Aspiring to be a "capable, intelligent, and virtuous woman—" (Proverbs 31:10) for the man we'll treat like a king.

But guess what? It takes a man of Proverbs 31:2-9 and 23 to find a woman of Proverbs 31:10-31.

It is a union of partnership. 

If you notice, the portrait of the virtuous woman was punctuated with a reminder in Proverbs 31:23-

Her husband is known in the [city's] gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.

This means, the virtuous woman is not married to a man who sits all week watching SuperSports and debating about Arsenal and Manchester like it is what will pay the children's school fees :-) The man also knows not to waste his strength on promiscuity or those things which ruin kings (Proverbs 31:2).

That whole chapter can as well be titled, "Portrait of a virtuous couple that honor God." As it speaks to the man, so does it speak to the woman. Seriously, this is not an impossible standard to attain or what do you think? 

So we must not just limit the teachings to women alone. Emphatically pointing out how women should model the woman of Proverbs 31. Men can also be that king who chooses to be responsible. 

Take a fresh look at Proverbs 31 again and let the Holy Spirit grant you a clear understanding.  

Enjoy your weekend!

Proverbs 31 (BibleGateway.com)

King James Version (KJV)

31 The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.

² What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?
³ Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.
⁴ It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:
⁵ Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.
⁶ Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.
⁷ Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
⁸ Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.
⁹ Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.
¹⁰ Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
¹¹ The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
¹² She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
¹³ She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
¹⁴ She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
¹⁵ She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
¹⁶ She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
¹⁷ She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
¹⁸ She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.
¹⁹ She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
²⁰ She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
²¹ She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
²² She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.
²³ Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
²⁴ She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
²⁵ Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
²⁶ She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
²⁷ She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
²⁸ Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
²⁹ Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
³⁰ Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.
³¹ Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

May Nigeria not become beyond redemption

"'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Because some say to you, "You devour people and deprive your nation of its children," therefore you will no longer devour people or make your nation childless, declares the
Sovereign LORD. No longer will I make you hear the taunts of the nations, and no longer will you suffer the scorn of the peoples or
cause your nation to fall, declares the Sovereign LORD.'"

Ezekiel 36:13-15 New International Version (NIV)
Via www.Biblegateway.com

Happy New Year!! God is our helper!!

Thankful!

"Don't be afraid to shut a door when that season has ended- God already has a better one opened for you!" Paula White.

Alright! 2012 is not ended yet... but I remember one of the goals I set to achieve this year was to have fun, I think!! How did that go? Did I really just relax, as I aimed to? Well, it has been a mix of working harder and playing hard :-) I totally love how the year started- with a big challenge of learning to close some doors and just say a blunt NO to many things. Yup, it was hard, but also a good skill to learn. Sometimes, saying no is not as easy as its spelling- even when it is the right thing to do. Anyway, looking back, it has been an interesting year of growing and learning. I caught myself complaining once in a while....but all the stress, I'm thankful for.

More of it come 2013! 

God have been gracious to me, family and friends- and colleagues at work. 

Talking about work... with all the challenges they brought o.... seriously...I'm thankful to and for everyone who gave me an opportunity to learn by doing- CP-Africa.com gave me the space to practice leadership and explore Africa. Dis Generation column in the Nation newspaper gave me a platform to speak up for youth development. UNAIDS' CrowdOutAIDS.org opened up a unique global opportunity to lead by serving. Ventures-Africa.com taught me how exciting it is to build from scratch, focus, work hard and be paid for what you do. My Oga there was very finicky about little errors so I did learn to embrace an excellent work culture too. Aside the above mentioned, there were a lot of other opportunities here and there.... But I pitched my tent at GPI, yup the work-culture has won me over.

So I think I'm going to stick to GPI globalpressinstitute.org for a long time :-) I love my boss and colleagues. The work culture rocks! And yes, it is DEVELOPMENT JOURNALISM! I've learned a lot these past months and definitely look forward to learning more and be productive! It is not going to be easy... but is anything easy these days?

I hope this post does not sound too good to be true. I mean, it has not been all rosy. I failed here and there. Was financially broke. Disappointed some people. Fell ill. I face the usual challenge people face. But in all of it, I think I'm still very well excited and alive!

On education and the rest of us, I did finish strong at NIJ. Combining full time education with full time job is a hard nut to crack :-) But I survived, by God's grace. One of the price I paid was becoming very anti-social for a while... but that is changing now- hopefully. It is very important to just relax- eat well, love deeply and pray fervently.

I lost a very dear friend this year. I was shocked. Devastated. Angry. Discouraged. And became afraid. 

But in all of it, I found comfort in God's word- the same words of comfort in three places- Psalm 42:5, Psalm 42:11, Psalm 43:5:

Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul?
    Why are you crying the blues?
Fix my eyes on God—
    soon I'll be praising again.
He puts a smile on my face.
    He's my God.

(Psalm 42:5,11 Psalm 43:5.)

God is not a secret to be kept.

The year 2012 is not ended yet, but I'm thankful to everyone who has impacted my life, directly and indirectly. With all its challenges, we still have more than a thousand reasons to PRAISE GOD! Don't let the devil steal your joy. As I read on a friend's facebook update recently, "Think back on what God has done for you and praise Him in a new way."

No matter how broke or broken we are, there is always a reason to PRAISE God! Don't settle for being down in the dumps! Arise, yes arise and let God's glory shine through you! His love is not a secret to be kept.

Year 2013, the year of more LOVE. And, yes love is a verb. I've learned the hard way.