My Long Distance Race!

I reminisce with so much fascination my days as an athlete in High School. The whole school team where gathered in anticipation as the race was about to commence. As the whistle blew, everyone set out on track. It was a long distance race.

But suddenly, after the first lap while being in the lead, I stopped, I didn't fall, no one was in my way, I just stopped and walked out of the track. What? How could she? My team members blurted but deep down in me, I knew that I couldn't continue this long distance race.

I was injured inside, no one would see it but I felt the sharp pain over and over again. It was a decision of life or death. I made a choice against popular opinion and expectations, I made a choice and that is why I am alive  today.

At the next competition, I won all the 3-long distance races (800m, 1500m & 3000m), again I took the centre stage and reclaimed the top till I graduated.

No relationship is a 100m or 200m dash or sprint race. Relationships are like long distance races, it requires you to run slower but steady with open stride, water intermittently - communication, it also requires patience and endurance so as to build up. Nevertheless, know how to stay alive cos life is a very long distance race.

I Luv U.
~Oma

As You Lay Your Bed!

Prov 18:21 (NIV)
The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
Prov 18:21 (NLT)
The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.

Sometime ago as a student in one of the Universities of Technology, I visited a senior friend and as I entered the sitting room, the little daughter came to me  crying and I took her in my arms and tried to console her and I asked her what happened she said "Its Junior that want to share my toy and I refused, Daddy now said see my wonderful head" I laughed so hard because to this child, ''see your wonderful head'' was a punishment  for not being kind to her kid brother. That family made a choice never to use a foul languages in their home and they kept at it no matter the provocation.

Life is a choice and as you lay your bed, so you will lie on it.

A lot is at stake in what we say today. Every word we speak is a seed, you have to be careful with what you say no matter the situation, circumstance or condition.

For by your words you will be condemned and by your words you will be acquitted. Make your mouth a fountain of life not a death drum. Say something to encourage yourself and someone else, speak words that build up and inspire.

Some people are agents of destruction, so called Christians alike, you must stay away from such people. All that such people do is complain and complain and complain. They only see bad about the country, the polity, the people etc.
These set of people are negativity personified. They always see the glass as half empty. If you are part of this bunch please stop, desist from such lifestyle. It is unhealthy.

Those that do know their God, they shall be strong and do exploits. You have a duty to search the scriptures and know what is written concerning you as a believer. Take time out and just read the bible, read it to know. You have to patiently read the bible to know what inheritance you have and then continuously speak and appropriate the written word into your life.

As we go into the weekends, I encourage you to speak words that edify, stop complaining. Complaining about a situation never changes it but you can help yourself by speaking life into your destiny.

The lines are fallen for you in pleasant places, you have a goodly heritage, a thousand shall fall at your side, ten thousand at your right but they will not come near you, and all that are incensed against you shall be put to shame.

As God's people in Goshen had possessions therein and grew and multiplied exceedingly despite the famine in Egypt, you also shall experience same  because God never breaks His covenant nor alter the thing that has gone out of His mouth. Jesus said "What I say to you, I say unto all, Watch." (Mk 13:37) Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Brethren, relax, your case is different!
Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid. God is on your side.

Lots of Love
~Oma






 

A Ray Of Hope!

''A merry heart doeth good like medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones''
~Prov 17:22

So many things have happened in the series of my life that I have come to realize that truly indeed, every word is a seed.
when people give counsel, I try to find out if they have had a similar issue before I take such counsel especially when it has to do with life and living.

You can't give what you don't have!

Never let anyone dissuade your positivity especially with statistics, current affairs or their so-called knowledge of the state of the nation.

1Tim 6:20 (NIV)
Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge.
1Tim 6:20 (NLT)
Timothy, guard what God has entrusted to you. Avoid godless, foolish discussions with those who oppose you with their so-called knowledge.

No matter the negative situation and happenings, always keep a positive mindset and attitude. It is a choice.
Life is not a bed of roses cos even roses have thorns, but I advice you to keep a positive attitude.
Make a choice to be patient with God, yourself and your life. Life is in phases, appreciate your phase per time and enjoy it.

Anyone is permitted to suffer anything but not you because the hand of God is upon you. You have to consciously appropriate this truth into your being. Positive words into your life.

I have seen people get sick and die yet I have seen others get sick and recover. No matter what state you find yourself, always know and be rest assured that God is on top of your matter and everything will be alright.
You have got to have a ray of hope, don't give up, don't give in, there is light at the end of the tunnel.
It will surely end in praise for you.

Lots of Love
~Oma.

Beware Of The Devourer! 2

One day while on a visit to another organization in search of a job, I ran into another man I once knew...
Standing at the reception of Raw Materials and Research Development Council, confused and almost at the point of tears because the receptionists informed me that collection of CV and applications for the advertised vacancy had closed. Instantly, I remembered that all things worked together for good, lo and behold this man strolls to me, being elderly, I greeted him, he answered and then went on to tell me how he had been observing me, he said I looked liked someone he knew about forty-something years ago, I burst out laughing because I am not anywhere near that age and then he went on to say that the person he is talking about is a man, I laughed harder because I am a full blown woman with three surviving children and a doting husband. I had a good laugh, that was what I needed at the present circumstance. We talked more as I made my way out of the complex. A big black jeep pulled over and the man stepped in, wow, this man is actually a well placed government official and very intelligent too. He called my names in full, to my utter amazement and said, when I saw you last, you were four years old, your passion for life is still as strong as I can remember. Your father was my lecturer in the College of Education in Osun state. He was a father to me. I have prayed to reconnect with him someday and be of help anyway I can. I stood there, speechless because the names he called me, I don't think my husband even knows them because most of them died with my grand parents.
This man gave me a hundred thousand naira to send to my father, he gave me his card and a note to a government parastatal. He specifically asked me to go there by Monday of the coming week, owing that the week was almost over.
I woke up as early as possible and prepared and by 9am, I was at the government agency. From the gate, I was informed that the DG was expecting me. As I walked in, she offered me a seat, collected my credentials and fast forward to this day, I am in level 15 with huge take home and that my colleague? remember him?, he is in level 12. The reason?, my agency has a faster promotion schedule and because I have an Msc., that helped.
The morale of my story;

• God is never late
• Keep improving yourself
• Be patient with God and with yourself especially if you have done all that is needful
• Never ever give up
• God is too faithful to fail
• Be grateful
• Never ever compare yourself with anyone
• Beware of the devourer

Let my story encourage, inspire and strengthen you.
Your testimony shall be sweeter.

Beware of the devourer!

We do not have the audacity to put ourselves in the same class or compare ourselves with some who [supply testimonials to] commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they lack wisdom and behave like fools. ~2COR. 10:12 (AMP)

 But godliness actually is a source of great gain when accompanied by contentment [that contentment which comes from a sense of inner confidence based on the sufficiency of God]. ~1TIM.6:6 (AMP)

 

My name is Pamela I graduated a little over ten (10) years ago with a brilliant second class upper result from one of the prestigious universities in the country and this is my story.

 

 All efforts to get a decent job proved abortive. I submitted my CV in countless organizations. But one in particular struck up my interest, I really wanted to work there, apart from it being in my line of study, it was a government parastatal with multinational affiliation having mouth watery packages. 

 

On one of the days I went visiting the said organization, at the gate I saw a very classy car about to drive out. The car pulled over and behold, it was a former course mate of mine, Bello, who had graduated with a pitiable third class, he worked in the organization and really living large, this is a fellow who partied virtually every night all through school and hardly wrote any exam on his own, I couldn't believe my eyes. He took me to lunch, and made me understand there was no vacancy yet but promised to look in for me incase of an opening, he eventually gave me 10,000 naira for cab, what? I had to pretend all through to be happy but inside me, I was full of jealous-anger, that immediately I got home, all hell was let loose.

 

I cried my heart out regretting all my years of trying to be "a good girl" I was so angry with God more so because in our years in school, Bello had boasted to me when I refused his love advances  that this my 'good girl' attitude will never get me anywhere and that taking a bet, he will one day dash me some change to help my pitiable self, lo and behold, it has come to pass.

 

 I thought about all my struggles through the years to make ends meet, she refused to acknowledge that over this time frame, I got scholarship and did my MSC, a wonderful husband and four (4). 

I was so angry that I stopped attending church service nor prayed to God nor even acknowledged that God has been faithful to me in any way, I compared myself with my former schoolmate who was now 'living large' despite his wayward lifestyle and a pitiable result.

 

I began to doubt God's word and found fault in everyone and everything, I lost interest in doing anything productive or diligent, my heart was so full of bitterness, regrets and anger that I lost one of my child in the process until the day, my husband was fed up, he didn't understand what snapped in me, he threatened to leave. Hmmm! that one I could not bear.

 

I began to seek help, I came to your fellowship meeting at the invitation of a friend. When you climbed the pulpit and read these verses of the scripture;

"God is not a man that He should lie..." ~Num.23:19. 

 

"If we believe not, {yet} He abideth faithful: He cannot deny Himself" ~2Tim.2:13,

 

"But godliness with contentment is great gain." ~1TIM.6:6

 

The words pierced my heart like a sword and she broke down in tears, fell on my knees weeping and crying and asking God to forgive me for allowing the evil of comparism to creep in like a devourer. When I got home that night, I couldn't believe how much I had lost in such a short period because I was comparing myself with another. I made up my mind to make things right, God being my helper.

 

One day while on a visit to another organization in search of a job, I ran into another man I once knew...

TO BE CONTINUED...

 

 

 

You Are Stronger Than The Pain!

It was the morning of 25th January 2013, a bright Friday morning. At about some few minutes to the hour of 8 o'clock, still lazy-ing in bed, my phone rang and a childhood friend was the caller, I was excited 'cos it's been quite a while we chatted, her calls brought smiles to my heart that soon faded. though I was sleepy, I still found my voice to let her know how happy I was hearing from her though my voice was still husky. She told me she had called to sympathize with me on what happened, I burst out laughing and sat on my bed. Nothing happened o, I replied. She said I saw what your brother posted on Facebook yesterday night. What did he post biko? I queried and the line went dead. I redialled the number two more times but she didn't pick up. I began to wonder what it might be that my brother had posted, instantly I became frantic, I called my friend again and she picked. I went on to tell her how I haven't been online for days and begged her to tell me what was posted, she said she was going to call me back and the line went dead again, ha! I started to sweat in my both palms and became nervous. Finally I got data, lo and behold on my brother's Facebook wall was this message "Just got a shocking newz.. That my beloved dad has just given up the ghost... Plzzz join me in prayers .....thanks for being my friends"
Ha! is this boy crazy? how could he joke with such a thing? many thoughts ran through my head, I remember calling my Dad's phone the previous day and my younger sister took the call and said he was at the farm behind the house supervising those clearing the bushes not knowing it was going to be his last but that my Mum was in the kitchen. I spoke with Mum who promised to inform him that I called, unlike him, he never called back. At about 8pm, I started calling the line again but no one picked then I concluded they have all retired for the night hoping that when he sees my call in the morning, he will return the call as his manner was but he never did till date. All I just wanted to tell him was the love of God for him, I wanted to remind him of God's faithfulness and find out how he was faring as usual. Immediately, I started dialling his phone, over and over again but no one picked. I couldn't believe what I was seeing, how could my brother post such on Facebook without informing any of his younger sibling. Finally my younger Sister picked the call and I asked her what is happening, she said it's Daddy o, he has died. Huh? my phone dropped. I cried, I screamed, my heart quacked, I was torn, I was broken to the point that my heart ached physically as though I was going to have a heart attack, I felt my world crumble before me, the tears flowed uncontrollably I became defenceless and empty. I became angry at God, how can he take my Dad without telling me? but I heard a question in my heart, "Do I need to take permission from you before I do anything with my creature? You are stronger than this pain."

Fast forward to this day, it is 3 years already. [Continue to rest in peace Chief C.C. Okereh, (omekagu 1 on Abuja)]

Truth be told, the pain never goes away. you only outgrow it. You may be out there hurting, having lost a loved one, the truth is, I can never understand or know how you feel, no one can understand your hurt or pain but believe me, You Are Stronger Than that Pain! Let the tears flow freely but keep saying to yourself, "I Am Stronger Than This Pain" because truly, you are the only one stronger than the pain, the sadness, the agony, the aching, the hurt, the brokenness, the loneliness or despair you feel right now.
You Are Stronger Than The Pain!

Action Point:
If you still have a Dad, show him some love today!

Lots of Love
Oma.

Being grateful is magical!

Life is a blessing. But it presents different strokes to different folks, no matter how we look at it,

Being grateful is magical!

*Gratitude connotes thanks and appreciation

*It is the quality of being thankful and showing it

*It is the appreciation and recognition of the quality, value, significance or magnitude of people and
things

*It is an act of kindness

Showing gratitude is one of the simplest yet most powerful things humans can do for each other.

Being grateful and expressing it changes everything.

A person who feels appreciated will always do more than what is expected.

A wise man once said
"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words but to live by them".

Being grateful and not expressing it by words of mouth especially is like wrapping a gift and not giving it.

"Thank you" expresses extreme gratitude, humility, understanding, respect, regard and appreciation.

Cultivate a lifestyle of gratitude and live it.

Thankful people are the most happy, they sleep better, have strengthened immune system and no depression.

Be thankful to your spouse, be thankful to your lover, be thankful to your children, be thankful to your parents, be thankful to your Pastors and Imams, be thankful to your friends and most of all, let them know that you appreciate having them in your life.

A simple "Thank you" to that domestic servant, that taxi driver, that bike rider, that market woman, that ware seller, that Cleaner in your office, that Nanny, that Driver who chauffeur you and your family, that Secretary, that P.A., etc. It doesn't matter how much you pay them, a simple "Thank you" does a lot of magic.

It doesn't have to be perfect, just be grateful.

Being grateful is magical!

Action Point:
Let the gratitude challenge begin


Lots of Love
Oma.