Life is not a matter of holding good cards, but of playing a poor hand well.
Robert Louis Stevenson – 1850-1894 – Scottish Novelist
Life is what you make of it! You can make lemonade out of your lemon, or you could just sit somewhere gloomy and dark licking your lemon! Your choice!
Choose you this day whom ye shall serve – Joshua 24:15
Are you serving your heart aches, or serving the Lord through your pain?
Speak to me! Leave a comment.
You can be whoever you want to be friends. Give yourself permission to step out of your comfort zone.
Regardless of who you are or where you’ve been, you can be what you want to be. W. Clement Stone- 1902 -2002, Businessman and Author
Refuse to be limited in your mind. Dream again! Open up your heart for love again! Say Yes!
Give yourself permission to evolve, to improve, heal, grow, and equip yourself to take up new challenges.
Friends, you need to challenge those thoughts, and beliefs that are not serving you.
It is permitted!
What is not permitted is for you to stay tied to one idea, a way of being, and doing what feels safe and comfortable, but unfulfilling! Step out in faith! Become!
Shalom
An encounter with Jesus Christ is all you need to see vision – Acts 9:12. Saul had an encounter with Jesus on the way to Damascus. He prayed and saw a vision even before hands were laid on him by Ananias.
What a comfort this is!
Just a genuine encounter with Jesus, and you will never remain the same.
Acts 9:10 In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!”
“Yes, Lord,” he answered.
11 The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”
13 “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem.
Your life will change for the better. Your story will change. Your life will be transformed by an encounter with the Lord Jesus, with the person of the Holy Spirit.
Seek for a touch from God today. Pray for an encounter and be transformed.
Shalom!
Plan Of Life Series
“You see young lady, I knew there was something about me as a child” said My lady. “I realized much later in life that I was a very special child’. ‘My parent did not know or maybe they knew. They are long gone now, or I would have asked them” continued my lady. “I am glad of the mercies of God upon me and mine.
“My life has turned out better than I had envisioned it. I couldn’t have known back then what today would be, however, with faith and the love of God, I have been able to weather many a storm and come out unscathed and reinvigorated. Someone out there has been watching over me.” Said My Lady.”
“I was one of those children that parents just know there is something about them”. Something off, not like the other children, yet unable to pinpoint what it was. There were lots of experiences growing up that still seem a mystery to me today. How I wish my parents are still here, exclaimed, my lady with a deep sigh. I pray to live to be a hundred years old, to see my newest great grand child” said My Lady”
I rolled my yes and spluttered, having more questions per second than my lips could say. What experiences? Mystery? A hundred years old? You’ve had a beautiful life, with all the adventures I read about in your memoir, shouldn’t you be ready now, haven’t seen it all?
“I have indeed had a beautiful life”said my lady.”I am one of the few blessed ones, living out my days in peace, joy, and divine health. The Most High has been good to me.” Obviously one day soon as the Lord wills, said my lady as she looked on, as if looking into eternity, with a radiant countenance.
He has been good to you no doubt about that My Lady, I said. I guess we should take a break here. What do you think Ma’am? I asked. “Fine with me dear, said My Lady as she got up, and beckoned at me, tea?”
Yes Ma’am,I answered.
To be continued
Genesis 38 tells the story of Judah and Tamar. The wickedness of Er and Onan and their subsequent death. The Lord Himself put them to death. How Tamar must have been ridiculed by those without discernment. Two husbands and she couldn’t conceive and bring forth a child. Accursed woman some would say! I can just imagine Tamar in todays world. The snickering, gossips and label that would have been slapped on her by the “iya yards”, the “Good Women” of today, ignorant of the lofty plans God has for Tamar, imagine this woman in the lineage of the Lord Jesus Christ! The Lord has not seized to amaze me. Every story, every day and hour amazes me. The Lord is Sovereign! Whatever He says comes to pass. Do yourself a favor and stop striving with your maker.
Then Judah, a man of promise, from the seed of Abraham, born of promise, falling prey to that prostitute, that good for nothing woman by the way side eh! Friends, I want you to know that things are not always the way it seems. Without discernment and total dependency on God through His word you will be at a loss, deceived and cheated out of your destiny, the best God has for you.
The purpose of God must always be fulfilled, for He planned it before the foundation of the earth was laid. The Messiah has been scheduled to come from Judah’s loin, however, his sons wickedness put him at a spot. Tamar’s womb was ordained to carry that precious seed also.
Can you see our Sovereign God working it out according to His plan? In your life’s situation and circumstances, can you see the hand of God? It does not matter the prognosis, diagnosis, situation and circumstances, God always works All things out for the good of His children. You’ve been married for a while and no child yet? Waiting for so long for your own bone of your bone? How about gainful employment? Your own business? Restoration of broken vows? A life shattered? Whatever the case, are you a child of God? Good! Be rest assured God is working it out for your good. Those seemingly unpalatable situations, my friend are working out the plan and purpose of God for your life. Just take a breather dearie, look back, around, think deeply, look up, can you see God? Yes? He is working it out according to plan for you. He knows your frame. Lean on Him with your whole heart. He will not fail you.
Peradventure you don’t know if you are a child of God or not. Would you this moment ask Jesus to be your Lord and Savior? Confess your sin and ask for forgiveness. Declare the Lord Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, invite the Holy Spirit to guide you in this new walk of faith, flee from all appearances of evil. Dwell in the presence of the Most High God. Walk with the Lord and you will fulfill destiny.
Trust ye in Christ Jesus for He loves you.
Shalom! Shalom! Shalom!
I have been fortunate to learn the greatest truths, many a times, in the most unlikely situations. As humans, we not only hear through sounds, but touch, sight, smell, and taste. What do I mean hear through touch, sight, smell, and taste? Well, they all inform us of danger, pleasure and goodwill, don’t they?
A few years back, I had the opportunity of registering a thirteen year old in the local Cadet Corp where I live. I was invited to stay for a while the first day and this is the sum of what I learned!.
The rookies were all starry eyed shy, standing very unsure of what to expect I guess. Then the commander instructed them to stand in a line, which they promptly did,considering the sound of authority and command. Then, the commander gave another instruction. ” stretch out your hand directly in front of you such that you cannot touch the person in front and also those behind and beside in a 360 degrees radius!”
As soon as the instruction ended, this girl made eye contact with me as she was moving back to make room as per instruction. Why did she you’ll ask. She remembered!! Well, I had been telling her about been aware of herself – safe distance to stand when talking to people, and also to ensure her own personal safety. I had given many examples while at home, in the kitchen, knife in hand cutting apples. Standing an arms length away gives you room to ward off unwelcome attack, make a dash for safety, protect oneself on reflex and the likes. This preteen turned teenager at that time was always breaking this social rule which I was trying to teach her but now, its been confirmed! I was right all along.
Fast forward about a month ago, while taking a group photograph, I struck a pose and this young lady was there. She could not wait after the picture to correct me for breaking the rules. She corrected me right on spot, I was embarrassed but knew she was right! I had acted on impulse, disobeying this rule of thumb. I promptly made adjustment, but not before all the blood in my body moved to my face, blushing right to my heart!!!!(:
Then few days into the new year, I was sitting down with a fourth grader, talking to him about my expectation of him this new year and making resolutions. We agreed on some points, suggestions were made and we both smiled. Then another lesson learned for me here is. He said, ” and you mummy, giving me my own new year resolutions: no.1- you have to leave home early for work – during the holidays, I was always rushing out of the house, am running late had become a song, parting words, almost daily while brushing a kiss on his forehead. No.2 – make sure we get to church on time, ‘cos am always late to my class” he said. No. 3- Work on your anger this year mummy, you yell often for no reason he said. It took me more seconds to respond and a lot more days now that I have been thinking about this message from this gems, a reflection of character.
What a better way for the Lord to talk to me, I thought, and I have since made amends. I have repented of my sins, turned on a new leaf and improving daily even as I write to you. Thanks be to God for a hearing ear, seeing eye, a receptive heart and most of all a humble spirit to accept feedback with gratitude. No one is perfect so there is always room to improve.
What am I getting at here? What message am I trying to pass across to you my friends. The message is that you are not making any real impact on your wards, children both physical and spiritual, if you are not seeing the evidence of what (hopefully good and fairness) you have invested in them manifesting even slightly in the most subtle of ways. They must be inspired to be assertive with sound judgement. Except if what you have invested is sown in hypocrisy, and they always see right through!
As a parent, a leader, you must be such that your children can access you and be free to speak their minds without the fear of retribution. Do not take every opinion and action as as an act of insubordination. You must be able to receive feedback from your children! You will be training them to be authentic, assertive and forthright! There is always room to improve on your game! Be open to your children’s feedback and complaint. It will help you to be a better parent and influencer. It is also a test of your leadership.
Sometime ago, at a meeting, the speaker got up to speak and it was quite obvious she was under the weather. Where I was seated, I could see mucus running down her nose while she attempt to pull it back in. The moment she stepped down, I was about to write a note and pass to her but then, what about those sitting next to her I thought. It was unfortunate that none bothered to tell her throughout until she realize herself, very much latter. I have seen many doing and saying what is obviously wrong and none to correct or point out, I presume. When you are at a place where no one can give you feedback without fear of retribution, you are stagnant and a stale drink. Open up to feedback and you are fresh and vibrant.
As a student of human behavior, it was clear she might not have been accessible and open to others opinion and suggestions in time past. I sensed that she might be one to refuse any form of feedback, with a fallacious sense of perfection. Some will brush it aside and you wonder why you even bothered to point it out. Over time when anyone is known to detest correction or observation of any kind, those around this dominating personality will be conditioned to only speak that which fans the fancy of that personality if they speak at all.
I will leave you with these leadership quotes:
” Leadership is a combination of strategy and character. If you must be without one, be without the strategy.” – U.S. Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf
” Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others.” – Jack Welch, former GE chairman and CEO
“The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.” – William Arthur Ward, Author
” If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” President John Quincy Adams
“As we look ahead into the next century, leaders will be those who empower others.”- Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft.
As a guardian, parent, and leader, strive to lead such that your wards, without your presence, in autonomy, make real and commensurate impact like you would under the same circumstances.
Shalom! Shalom! Shalom!
.
Humble me Lord!!!!!!
Do you feel like you have been resisting but he isn’t fleeing? That is because there is something else you must do first.
A tamed 500 pounds Gorilla ridden like a horse into town is unheard of and dangerous in itself. However, if the rider notices a change in the tamed Gorilla, common sense would warrant him/her to return back to a safe zone- the environment where the Gorilla was tamed right.
In taming any animal, the animal is conditioned by reward for an expected action in a controlled environment over time since its usually done from birth. Riding a full grown Gorilla then to an uncontrolled environment with pointers strewed over reminding the Gorilla of how it was tamed is probably not a good ideal.
This is what happened in this story. A gorilla was rode on all four into town. Everyone was in awe, it was a spectacle. Everything was in order and the rider was having fun until, she/he sees what the Gorilla sees. Every iron bar is a reminder of captivity, a chain lock by a school ground reminds of restraint. The rider consciously guided this 500 pound mass away from the play ground. In an alley way, there was a barred container jolting memories long dormant but the rider saw this also and gently guided this mass away from wrecking havoc should instinct take over that moment.
When safely out of this populated area, just in the border of the controlled environment the scientist came and brought out a chain to restrain so they can give a dose of medic to the Gorilla, bringing out a chain lock, like that used to secure a bike. The rider warns the scientist seeing the look on the face of the Gorilla. It was almost like it got an ha ha moment.
This 500 pound mass just acquired a form of intelligence that cannot be tamed. It stood up and sat like human with the human trying to inject serum to kill this new sight just received so close to an uncontrolled environment. Can you imagine what will happen if this mass breaks loose. The residence and schools unguarded? What is about to take place leaves no room for guess work?
Nobody has ever tamed a Gorilla in the true sense for they are intelligent and powerful, however in a stroke of chance, if you find any tamed, I guess threading with caution will be a good idea right?
What does this mean I pondered!! What does this spectacle mean? What possible out come can be envisioned? Is this even ever possible? Please comment!!!!!! Your response will help in deciphering this message!!!!
Please respond here or send email to joansanusi@gmail.com. Thank you!!
Shalom! Shalom!
There was this story I heard and would love to share with you today. In a village somewhere in West Africa, there was this girl been raised in a communal family. She was very inquisitive, and attentive. She noticed that when her mother passes by that other women makes faces, snares and shares words with one another snickering. She observed this for a while and felt she must tell her mother about it, which she attempted but was always shunned and shushed off.
Whenever she is alone with her mother, she would begin by saying, “Iya, while you were out today, ….” her mother will always cut her short, cut into the conversation and send her on errands. This goes on for a while and she was more frustrated, day in day out because those same people snickering about her mother behind her back are the same ones that always run to get the basket and the calabash from her mother when she comes back from the farm or market. Her mother will always have something to give these women. A bunch of plantain, basket of fruits, and vegetable and much more.
One day her mother came home with bush meat, her favorite and cut pieces to be given to one of these women. The one that she has observed to be the ring leader. She vehemently refused to go until her mother listen to her. Her mother been very tired, for it has been a long day indulged her for once. She told her mother what is been said about her and her mother just told her that the fact that they were talking behind her meant they were afraid of her. Her mother told her that whenever things are said about you behind your back, it is either because those saying it do not want you to hear, what they are saying is not true or they are afraid of you and as such your servant, her mother said. That sort of confused her for that was not what she expected. After all said and done, her mother instructed her to take the meat to the woman, which she did.
There was this day that her mother came home earlier than expected. She went into her hut and laid down without any knowing she was home. When it was evening the compound started buzzing with activities, for the market women were back and those that went to the farm were back and the village school children were home. Some women gathered together to talk about their day and as usual they started talking about her mother, wondering why she is not back from the market, making insinuations and jesting about her stoic stance and all sort.
The little girl went into her mothers hut to get water from the water pot and was surprised to see her mother sitting on the clay bed obviously listening to the racket going on in the yard. She waited to see a confrontation and the likes but was surprised when the mother greeted and gave her a small basket of snails to give to these same women to share. “What on earth is wrong with you Iya? “, she said. Now you have caught them red handed and yet you still want to give them your stuff. What have they ever given you? Why can’t you confront them to their face? Her mother smiled and said to her, they are speaking behind my back still for they are not aware I am home. This little girl was baffled and at the same time confused. That day she felt her mother was a weakling and lack courage. Why will anyone let people double face them?. Smile on one hand and pass demeaning remarks on another.
Then one faithful day, something happened in the compound and some people were at logger heads with each other. Her mother stepped in as a peacemaker and the aggression was transferred unto her. All those things she has been telling her mother all those years were said to her to her face by the people she was trying to mediate between. Other people stepped in while her mother walked away. Just walked away!!! Why will she not bring all those words she’s been telling her about all those years up and make them eat their words!
The moral of this story is that some days later, her mother called her and said to her that she should never say anything she would not be able to say on the roof top in the hut/shed. Do not listen to people that comes to you bearing tales about another, for so they will take tales about you too. Do not join others to make jest of another for the tides could/will turn against you- what you sow, you shall surely reap. If someone comes to you with a tale about someone, ask them if you can ask the person about it quoting them? Once you ask that question, one by one the gossips will spread the word, they will not come to you with tales anymore. When people are talking, do not eavesdrop for you can hear something that will trouble your mind, affecting your day negatively. People are entitled to their opinion, so do not ever let what people say behind or even to you to your face, to have any negative effect on you. There is no permanent friend, nor are there permanent enemies. Whatever about you that you know if it is repeated on the roof top will break your heart, do not share with your bosom friend, for that bosom friend is bound to have another bosom friend that she or he will tell and whatever 2 to 3 ears have heard the whole world have heard. Learn to save some words, it is not all that you see that you speak about. Some words are better spoken with action. Some are better left unsaid like water flowing beneath the rock!!!!
Proverbs 17:4 An evildoer gives heed to false lips;
A liar listens eagerly to a spiteful tongue.
27 He who has knowledge spares his words,
And a man of understanding is of a calm spirit.
28 Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace;
When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive.
God speaks in diverse ways to His children, the question then is can we hear Him? Do we want to hear Him? Are we listening? Or has the cares of this world, the issues of life and sheer disobedience drummed out the Still Small Voice?
Numbers 22:19 Now therefore, please, you also stay here tonight, that I may know what more the Lord will say to me.” 20 And God came to Balaam at night and said to him, “If the men come to call you, rise and go with them; but only the word which I speak to you—that you shall do.” 21 So Balaam rose in the morning, saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab.22 Then God’s anger was aroused because he went, and the Angel of the Lord took His stand in the way as an adversary against him. And he was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him. 23 Now the donkey saw the Angel of the Lord standing in the way with His drawn sword in His hand, and the donkey turned aside out of the way and went into the field.
Read the full chapter 22 of Numbers and you will hear a donkey speak. With God, you will hear the sound of matching on a mulberry tree as in 2 Samuel 5:24 And it shall be, when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then you shall advance quickly. For then the Lord will go out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.”
Some years back, wow! It’s been over a decade now. It was on a Sunday, I had gone to Church weary and was not relieved. My soul was not refreshed on that fateful day, so after Church I did not want to be alone with the heaviness, for I knew it would bear down heavily on my heart.
I decided to call up an elder I knew from another branch of the Church I was attending. She is from my hometown and she is like a mother to me – Mrs Deborah Famutimi. I asked her what she had at home, I mean food! 😀😀😀. I mean, I wanted to know if she had just cooked stew with all the delicacies I liked, Oh yes!
“Oh, I am about to make vegetable stew- efo riro, she said. I replied with excitement, great! I am on my way, can you make my eba- cassava ball and leave out to cool down I said.
After the chit chat, pleasantries and all, the conversation turned to the vegetable cooking on the stove. Mummy went on to tell me about the vegetable seed someone had brought for her some years back that she planted in her garden but did not grow. We proceeded to the backyard. She pointed to the spot she planted it the first year, another spot the next year, for it was only viable during the summer months. It was on the fourth summer that she saw weeds all over her yard. Everywhere was filled with weed she said, so she asked her brother when he came to visit her to check if this is weed or not. Uncle was like, no, this is – spinach for ease. This is how she has been harvesting since then.
Where am I going with this story? What is the correlation with God speaking here? Well, as she was speaking and I was listening and looking around as she was pointing to one area after another, the Lord was speaking to me.
What do you mean the Lord was speaking? Well, what I heard was, ” all the prayers you have been praying all this while, specifically for four years at that time, the Lord said they were going to be answered within the same year! I said aunty, as I sometimes call her, do you know what I am hearing as you are speaking? She answered me, ” what are you hearing? So I told her and she said Amen.
We went back into the house, I ate my eba with efo riro, packed some for latter, we jisted some more and I went home. Few months down the road, one thing led to another, I got a better job, got a confirmation that a surgically removed ovary had been supernaturally replaced, finished a degree course I was taking, met my husband, bought a house, and started a journey with the Holy Spirit full course!
God speaks in diverse ways friends, are we listening? Are we conscious of the presence of the Holy Spirit! Are we eager to hear? If only we will be quiet for once and often, to listen with the intention to obey God’s every command! How sweet our journey will be, regardless of the rough terrain, the mudslides, downward spirals, and what not!
Friends, be encouraged,be determined to listen and obey! Come to the Lord today for no one that comes to Christ will He cast away! John 6:37 All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.
Jesus Christ loves you and want a relationship with you! He wants to reveal His heart to you my friends!
Shalom! Shalom!
Radiant Glory Of Love 