Thank You Holy Spirit! [Testimony time]

"Something" woke me up.

I checked the time. 12.03am.

I stood up from my bed and the words that came to mind was...

"To You O Lord I have come to take refuge..." Psalm 71:1 (When I said these words my mind was on Psalm 46:1).

These past couple of months, I have come to learn not to take lightly times when something jolts me to wake up, for no reason.

So I spent the next hour praying and worshipping God.

About 12.55am.

I stopped. Scrolled through my phone and saw a 12.21am missed call from a colleague. I texted him at 1.05am, teasing him for being a midnight caller.

Then I spent the next couple of minutes ironing my clothes. Preparing for the week.

As I laid down to sleep again, dogs started barking. Very disturbing. Then I heard someone banging on my neighbors' gates. We live in a private Estate so it was very unusual to hear so many movements at that time of the night/day.

I couldn't tell if they came to our house. But "T", our dog, was barking angrily throughout the time. I heard other dogs in the neighborhood barking as well.

They barked, barked and barked.

I called my brother. The intention was to ask him to help us alert the police. His phone rang. No response. Looking back, I am glad he didn't pick. That would have put him in an unnecessary state of "panic."

Fist banging gates. Feet jumpimg over fences. Heartless men stealing from neighbours. Dogs barking. Me: ordering my heart to trust that God is in control. I thought of hiding under the bed, just incase.... but then I asked myself, and where is your faith?

And yes God did it!

A few hours later, I heard some neighbours recounting their experiences. Their houses were ransacked. Fences were pulled down/jumped over. Doors with burglary protection were broken. The thieves stole their material things but harmed none of them physically.

I thank God for divine protection over us. I thank God that I wouldn't have to go to my neighbor's house in the morning to weep over a dead relation or to tell them sorry for a broken bone. The stolen items are replaceable. I thank the Lord for His divine protection.

It wasn't my prayers that stopped the thieves from coming into our house. It was God who answers my prayers. And to Him be all the glory and honour and power forever!

Amen. Amen.

The next time you wake up without knowing why, please take advantage of it and pray, praise victoriously! Even if you have nothing to pray about yourself, pray for Nigeria.

There is a God!

Stay under His refuge.

Psalm 16:1, 31:1, 71:1.

Psalm 91, aloud!

Shalom.

I Wish Us Well

It has been a great year of learning,
falling,
rising
and dreaming.

Still,
there is room for growth.

I praise God for His faithfulness towards me and my family. For it is by His Mercy and Grace that we are still standing.

Dear friends,
May this Christmas be merry for you & your family.
And may the New Year usher in good tidings and joy, indescribable.
Ni agbara Jesu! Amin.

I appreciate everyone,
for the role you played in my life this year.
I appreciate me for still believing,
even when it rained on my parade.
My faith is strengthened,
I have a Wonderful Counsellor.

Is there any sick among us?
May you find complete healing this season.
May your oil of gladness not dry up.
May the hurting be restored,
and made whole.
May the lost come to themselves
like the prodigal son did,
and remember the way home.
May the cursed draw to Jesus Christ,
the original curse breaker.
Nothing is unredeemable, with Him.

Heaven wants to see a smile upon your face,
Every thing else matters not at all.

Laugh.

Live love!

Shalom.

''Public Brand and Private Reality'' by Dr Tunde Bakare

In this era of personal branding and all, I heard this timely message today and wanted to share:

Queenola Kalu To That Cunning Young Man

To: That cunning young man,
I want to let you know that this time.....

YOU HAVE PICKED ON THE WRONG GIRL
You charmer,
With eyes lit by moonbeams,
You are every maiden's dream
Your perfect smile makes hearts leap,
But I've strapped myself so i don't trip

You deceiver,
You sing to me rhymes you haven't heard
You paint for me pictures you can't even see
Your vile intentions now glaring
Flashes of lust, so easy to tell
Flee far from you, I would
Clinging to The One who wishes me well

You destroyer,
Your words are smooth as butter,
But as ready as Fire -
Ready to wipe out everything in sight
Ready to leave the land desolate
Ready to bring pain and tears
But I'll run, I'll run before it's too late

You brewer of lies,
Your sugar coated tongue produces foul scents,
Packaged in attractive candy wraps
I certainly will not BUY THEM
For within lie dangerous traps
As I was told by my father,
What is sweet in the mouth becomes, in the belly, bitter

You giver,
I want not your BBs please
You say it's just a blackberry
But i know your ways,
You'll give much more
A Big Belly and a Bastard Baby,
What else do you have in store?

Spare me the floods of sweet forged messages,
Spare me those clichés "sugar in my tea",
Spare me those precious gifts in pretty packages
Spare me, I beg, and let me be

I'm sorry for you, my dear
I hope that quickly you realize,
All efforts are futile, move on
Go and pick on someone your own SIZE!

-QUEENOLA @Queenola_Kalu

Redeemed

"Who do you think “spoke and it happened”?
It’s the Master who gives such orders.
Doesn’t the High God speak everything,
good things and hard things alike, into being?
And why would anyone gifted with life
complain when punished for sin?"
Lamentations 3:37-39

"You drew near on the day I called to You; You said, Fear not.

O Lord, You have pleaded the causes of my soul [You have managed my affairs and You have protected my person and my rights]; You have rescued and redeemed my life!"

Lamentations 3:56-58

Scripture reference: Bible Gateway

People's Participation. Make Change Happen, Volunteer #IVD2014

Happy International Volunteers Day [IVD]!

For this year, I thought I should share this short video-- actually it was an interview for "On The Street", a youth program aired on TVC.

I hope you will encourage young people around you to start early? For more insight on how it might work with combining full time education and volunteering, you can read a copy of my new book "Half a Loaf and a Bakery." You can also download it from Okadabooks app on your android device or buy copies from Terra Kulture Bookstore Lagos, Florence and Lambard bookstore Lagos, or the Media Store, Silverbird Galleria, Abuja. The book covers youth volunteering, education, entrepreneurship and transitioning.

I am excited about today and tomorrow! On how the non-volunteer journey has been so far since... you can see the second video below:





For anyone who might have failed while attempting something this year, hey, cheer up! Failure is a good opportunity to do something differently in an improved way next time.

Here is wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a lovely 2015 of magical thinking and fruitful exploits!

There is a God.

I Tried To Climb The Mountain Today (By Gary Barnes)

I tried to climb the mountain today. As I inched my way up the path, I felt overwhelmed, so I had to turn back.

I tried to climb the mountain today. On my journey, darkness started to fall, and I was full of fear, so I had to return to a safe place.

I was ready to climb the mountain today. But it was so hot outside, I thought I better stay in my nice air-conditioned house and rest up for tomorrow's attempt.

I was about to climb the mountain today. But I had so many other things to do, so instead of climbing the mountain I took care of much more important tasks. I washed my car, mowed the grass and watched the big game. Today the mountain will just have to wait.

I was going to climb the mountain today. But as I stared at the mountain in it's majestic beauty, I knew I stood no chance of making it to the top, so I figured why even bother trying.

I have forgotten about climbing the mountain today; until a friend came by and asked me what I was up to lately. I told him I was thinking about climbing that mountain some day. I went on and on about how I was going to accomplish this task.

Finally, he said, "I just got back from climbing the mountain. For the longest time I told myself I was trying to climb the mountain but never made any progress. I almost let the dream of making it to the top die. I came up with every excuse of why I could not make it up the mountain, but never once did I give myself a reason why I could. One day as I stared at the mountain and pondered, I realized that if I didn't make an attempt at this dream all my dreams will eventually die."

"The next morning, I started my climb." He continued, "It was not easy, and at times I wanted to quit. But no matter what I faced, I placed one foot in front of the other, keeping a steady pace. When the wind tried to blow me over the edge, I kept walking. When the voices inside my head screamed "stop!" I focused on my goal never letting it out of sight, and I kept moving forward. At times, I was ready to quit, but I knew I had come too far. Time and time again, I reassured myself that I was going to finish this journey. I struggled to make it to the top, but I climbed the mountain!"

"I have to be going," my friend said. "Tomorrow is a new day to accomplish more dreams. By the way, what are you going to do tomorrow?"

I looked at him, with intensity and confidence in my eyes, and said, "I have a mountain to climb."

Written By Gary Barnes.

Originally posted by "Light A Lamp"
April 22, 2012 at 11:09pm ·