Thursday 26 April 2007

Life: A-Z; D is for Decisions

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Decision (n) A conclusion reached after consideration (Pocket Oxford Dictionary & Thesaurus)

Life is full of decisions, from when I wake up in the morning till when I go to bed at night. From the day that I was born till the day I die, decisions will have to be made. When I was younger, most of the decisions that affected me were made for me by other people a.k.a the parents but one of the 'freebies' that comes with growing older is being able to make my own decisions.

Decisions are powerful because who I am, where I am and what I have are largely based on the decisions that I have made. So am I making the decisions that are taking me where I want and need to be? I used to find it difficult to make important decisions, just being content to allow life to carry me in whatever direction and then looking for something or someone to blame if I ended up somewhere I didn't really like. My wake up call came one fine morning when someone told me that 'not to make a decision is a decision in itself'. It's like my eyes were opened and at the end of the day like my pastor says "If it is to be, it is up to me".

So now I'm learning to make decisions. It's not easy, the road to success is usually accompanied with some tough ones. I've had to make some painful ones especially in the area of relationships. I've had to let go of some things and some people so that I can follow the purpose that God has for me. I've had to make some decisions concerning my health and my lifestyle especially in the area of diet and exercise (this has been one of the hardest!)

So what am I saying, we can't always blame others and external factors for where we are in life, it's largely due to the decisions that we have made. The good news is that if I don't like where I'm standing then I can make a decision to move. Is it always easy? The answer is no, some decisions are harder than others. Is it possible? Yes, as long as we are willing to admit there is room for change and take the steps towards where we need to be. Even the definition of decision shows that there must be a thought process before it can be carried out!

Another thing I've learnt is that when I commit my decision process to the source of all wisdom, I make the right ones. Problems come when I want to go on my own way so Lord please give me wisdom for every single step, for every single day, hour and minute so that I can remain in the purpose You have designed for me.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV)

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it." Isiah 30:21 (NIV)

Remain blessed

Tuesday 24 April 2007

Life: A-Z; C is for Character

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Dictionary.com defines character as;

1. the aggregate of features and traits that form the individual nature of some person or thing.
2.qualities of honesty, courage, integrity

There are so many C words to choose from. Commitment, courtesy, compliments and some others reigned at the top of my list but when I think about it those words and most of the stuff in our lives are linked to character one way or the other.

The best definition of character I have read is "Character is who I am in the dark". The real me, when I am on my own , when no-one else is there and I can finally drop my mask, stop acting and face reality. The question then becomes who am I in the dark?

On my journey, I am beginning to learn so many things about myself, some good and some bad. For the good, I compliment myself. For the bad, I've got the greatest Life Coach of all walking this journey with me so I know it's all going to work out.

I like the first definition.."the aggregate of features and traits that form the individual nature of a person". Think about it today, in your life what is the aggregate of features and traits that makes you, you? Do we stand for what we believe in or what the crowd believes in? There are so many things that make for good character but character is like a foundation (SIMILE!!) it's like a bedrock on which we build our lives, if it isn't very good we might deceive people for a while but eventually the weight of the pressures of life or even the storms of life will expose us for what we truly are cos in this life I've learned that..we can only pretend for so long.

So I choose (another C word, Choice..for another day) to walk towards good character. I want to give you my word and you can take it to the bank. I want to be compassionate (yes..c again I'm on a roll!) not judgemental. I want to love unconditionally, not based on behaviour. I want to be diligent in all that I do so that I can excel in all areas.

How do I get good character? I listen to the voice of my life coach cum best friend cum lover cum Father (yes He is the all in one) because it is only through and with Him I can make it. He also gave me a manual (known to some as Bibeli mimo) and through it's pages I see a reflection of who I can and should be and I strive towards that every single day.

That's all folks, seems a bit scattered to me but I hope you find a little something something that is a blessing to you.

Remain blessed

Me

N.B: C is also for compliments. We can never give to many as long as they are genuine. I am sensing that some people are being a tad bit miserly with theirs so please this week try and put a smile on as many faces as possible. I'll start.

Although I don't know you, thanks for taking the time to read my blog. You are looking great today so keep stepping ans shining cos you are a STAR! Pass the compliment on to those at home, work e.t.c.

Remain blessed.

Me

Working, working..and more work to come!

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Ok girl, breathe!

Yeah, yeah trying to catch up on my work and men is it much! I'm enjoying it anyway, there's nothing like ticking off all the goals that have been set for today. Thank God for that.

Nothing much to say except may the good Lord bless you and keep you, may He cause His face to shine upon you and give you peace. May you have a reason to smile, even laugh this week. May this be a week of receiving strength, a week of testimonies where your expectations become a reality. May you wake up each morning and feel like you have just been kissed by the breath of His Grace. May you receive the wisdom that comes from on High that allows you to make the right decision even the ones that don't seem important.

I hope you are as expectant as I am for wonderful things this week. Look beyond the hard work that you do..to the BIG impact that your job makes in this world. I don't care what it is you do, all jobs are important and I don't care if you are in locked in a tiny cubicle or on the top floor of a sky rise building. Your job is significant because not everyone can do it and even though there are other people in your profession they don't bring the same uniqueness and flair you do..so keep stepping.

Have a great week. I'm rooting for you!!

Me

Saturday 21 April 2007

Life:A-Z; B is for Brokenness

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When I think of this word, i think of the term 'breaking a horse'. It's a classic scene in an old Western movie, wild horses are brought to the ranch and the cowboys make wagers as to which of them will be able to break the horse, to break in this sense means to tame and make useful for a particular and specific purpose.

The aim of being broken is not to destroy the spirit of the horse.."for who can bear a broken spirit" (Prov 18:14b). Wild horses are beautiful and fast but they live for themselves, are masters onto themselves and live for no specific aim so they must be broken.

Before, I was like that wild horse, living for myself with my own plans, my own agenda, my own view e.t.c. but then I had an encounter with the Love of my life and although at the beginning it was all good and sweet, He soon made me realise that if He was going to be able to use me, He would have to break me escpecially my will so that He could use me for the specific purpose He had for me.

At first like the horse, I resisted violently but then I realised that He would be doing it Himself and because He loved me, He would never allow me go through anything beyond my capacity to endure also as I see what He is doing (this process is far from finished in my life!) it's really great! One thing I've come to realise in life is that there must be PROCESS before a PRODUCT and usually the more valuable the PRODUCT (e.g gold, perfume, pearls) the more stringent the PROCESS. Also, I noticed that He didn't change every SINGLE thing about me, just how I expressed my gifts and myself.

I think a lot of people shy away from my Love because they have this idea that you need to be perfect before He can use u, i want to tell you that is not just true..don't let our Baptist shouts and Pentecostal halleluyahs fool you. Underneath it all, there are cracks from where we have been broken and it is through these cracks that His anointing, power and love can flow from us to reach a hurting world.

Another misconception is that He will change us into 'zombies' but just like breaking the horse doesn't change it into a cow, this process just makes you the best you that you can be because the One who created you is now in charge and He knows what you are capable of. The same giftings and talents you have now will just be redirected by Him to His own purpose. So no, you don' have to join the choir if you aint got the voice ( was that sigh of relief from me or you? ha ha)

I end with some lines from one of my favourite songs..'Holiness' by Micah Stampley

Brokenness, brokenness is what I long for
Brokenness is what I need
Brokenness, brokenness is what you want from me

Remain blessed

Me

N.B Just a quick prayer

Dear Daddy

I am giving a shout out for myself and any others that have found themselves in 'breaking' encounters. Please give us the strength to endure all that we must face and also the ability to trust that you are with us in everything even when we don't understand. Also, bring divine messangers that will help us on this journey.

Thank you so much. Love u loads (though some days I know I don't act like it).

Keeping it real as always,

Your girl (I'm so proud u chose me!)

I'm Back

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Praise the Lord, Jehovah Rapha my Healer. I just thank you because I know you have promised me that I will walk in divine health.

Thanks people, for your prayers. My blood test showed that I had anaemia, the doctor was surprised because he said that at the level of my blood cell count i was supposed to have a blood transfusion and he was surprised I could still function and my body had started to cope with it.

I thank Jehovah cos He is my strength so yes I can cope with it and also I am believing Him for new blood cells so that I can continue stepping and doing my thing. I never thought I would be able to say this but I actually miss going to the gym!

Anyway, I'm back now so more on Life:A-Z!

Remain blessed.

Monday 16 April 2007

The one word meme

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Hello people,

Just recovering from...(still dunno) but thought to do this meme that seems to be going round blogville as i wait for my prescription to get filled up.

1. Yourself: Enigma
2. Your partner: Great
3. Your hair: Breaking!!
4. Your mother: Great
5. Your father: Forgiven
6. Your favourite item: Handbag
7. Your dream last night: None
8. Your favourite drink: Water
9. Your dream car: Porsche
10. The room you are in: Quiet
11. Your ex: None!
12. Your fear: Heights
13. What you want to be in 10 years: Learning
14. Who you hung out with last night: Family
15. What you're not: Mean
16. Muffins: Blueberry
17: One of your wish list items: Tickets
18: Time: Enough
19. The last thing you did: Observed
20. What you are wearing: Slippers
21. Your favourite weather: Bright
2. Your favourite book: Logos
23. The last thing you ate: Sandwich
24. Your life: Great
25. Your mood: Light
26. Your best friend: Parakletos
27. What you're thinking about right now: Well-being
28. Your car: Coming!!
29. What you are doing at the moment: This!!
30. Your summer: Teaching
31. Your relationship status: Single
32. What is on your TV: Trouble
33. What is the weather like: HOT!!
34. When was the last time you laughed: Today

That's all folks, trying to say what I need to say in one word is a bit difficult! Anyway I think the pharmacist is ready for me. Please say a prayer for me today. Remain blessed

Me.

Monday 9 April 2007

Life: A-Z; A is for Acceptance

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Authority, anger, advice, acceptance...some words beginning with the letter A that went through my mind but I decided to stick with acceptance. So what do I have to say? Hmmm, okay here goes.

I think there is a desire in everyone to be accepted. We want to be accepted into the right University, accepted on the perfect job or other great opportunities. Most importantly, we want to be accepted by others. The Cambridge Advanced Learners Dictionary defines accept as to approve, to consider someone or something as satisfactory.

I think I chose this word because I have struggled and sometimes still struggle with wanting to be accepted by people. For a long time, I tried to say the 'right' things, in the 'right' way and at the 'right' time so that I could have a sense of belonging. I did this until I began to lose a sense of my own identity and what made me me, my unique selling point.

I don't have anything against learning from others and adapting to new environments and situations but I don't think we were created to conform to a mold that was designed for us by others. We are created unique and I had to learn to accept the TOTAL me, with my flaws and imperfections and I realised that the most important person whom I would need to be accepted by was God and He had already accepted me just as I was but would work with and in me until I conformed to the image that He had of me. I didn't need to earn His acceptance, all I needed to do was to accept His forgiveness and I was accepted into His Presence.

Now I live for His approval because I love Him so much, I just want to do the things that make Him happy. It's still a journey for me breaking this cycle of 'approval addiction' as Joyce Meyer calls it but every day I am learning and I am changing.

I now realise that it is easier for me to accept others as well because as we are all loved by God. I'm learning to love and accept the person while not accepting the sin. Loving unconditionally.

My literary skills are limited but I pray this has been a blessing. If this is an area that you have had struggles in, remember that God loves you just as you are, you just need to accept His love and if you haven't please accept him into your life today because His greatest desire is to have a relationship with you.

Romans 3:27 (NLT) Can we boast then that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on our good deeds it is based on our faith.

Romans 15:7 (NLT) Accept each other just as Christ has accepted you; then God will be glorified.

Remain blessed

Me

The similes of life

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My posts keep becoming more sporadic..that has got to change. I have decided to do a kind of series..'The A-Z of life'. I'll just take random words from A-Z and see what sense I can make of the words in my own life and just anything about it in general.

This got me thinking about my life. These days I seem to be doing a lot of thinking which is good as it is reducing my talking which usually gets me into trouble!!! My question to myself this morning was What is life like? I wasn't a fan of English literature in school but I think I remember my own definition for a simile as a statement that had 'as' or 'like' so I decided to write down some similes for my own view on life.

1. Life is like a play..it doesn't matter if you are the main actor/actress or just a backstage hand, if everyone does not fulfill their role the play will not be a success

2. Life is like a train journey..some people are going to get on at the first stop and stay on till the end, others are going to get on and get off at various points, the most important thing is that everyone reaches their final destination

3. Life is like a building..the most important bit is the foundation, if it is strong enough the building can take a lickin and keep on tickin!!!!!

What's your simile?

Remain blessed

Me

Tuesday 3 April 2007

On a lighter note

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I 'stole' this from Daddy's Girl. There are so many things to do in the lab but I just need to take a break. So here goes..

The Threes' Tag

Three things I do not want to experience:
(a) The fire of hell
(b) The death of someone I love
(c) Me..singing at the opera!

Three people who make me laugh:
(a) God
(b) My family
(c) Susan

Three things I love:
(a) A sense of humour
(b) Integrity
(c) Shoes

Three things I hate:
(a) Lack of humour
(b) Lack of integrity
(c) Doritos

Three things I don’t understand:
(a) God's grace and favour towards me
(b) E=mc2
(c) Myself on some days

Three things on my desk:
(a) Loads and loads of research papers I ought to be reading
(b) A computer
(c) Loads of textbooks

Three things I’m doing right now:
(a) Answering these questions
(b) Thinking about the experiments I need to do after the Easter holidays
(c) Going through some research papers

Three things I want to do before I die:
(a) Go to the Bahamas
(b) Buy a home
(c) Set up a trust to pay for the education of bright students who are from poor backgrounds

Three things I can do:
(a) I can listen attentively to whatever is on your mind
(b) I can pray
(c) I can break complex ideas down into simple things you can relate to

Three things I love about myself:
(a) My sense of humour
(b) My hunger and thirst for knowledge
(c) My hands and my feet ( really weird but well!!!)

Three things you should listen to:
(a) God's voice
(b) The voice of encouragement
(c) My voice!!!

Three things you should never listen to:
(a) Fear
(b) Gossip
(c) Discouragement

Three things I’d like to learn:
(a) French
(b) To dance the foxtrot, salsa, tango
(c) Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction!!!

Three beverages I drink regularly:
(a) Water
(b) Herbal Tea
(c) Fruit juice

Three TV shows I watched on NTA as a kid:
(a) Checkmate
(b) The Village Headmaster
(c) Aluwe ( i can't remember the name of the show!!.. not even sure about the spelling)

Three Books I read as a kid:
(a) Educating Marmalade
(b)Sugar Girl
(c)Famous Five

Well, well it was a bit harder than I thought. I think I will steal some more!! It's a very interesting exercise, you should give it a try.

Remain blessed.

Me.

Monday 2 April 2007

The Terminal

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I just watched 'The Terminal' over the weekend. I know it's an old movie but for some reason I never got the opportunity to watch it when it came out. My sister recommended it and honestly it looked a tad bit boring BUT she said to give it a try so I did.

I was so blessed.

In summary, Tom Hanks plays Viktor Navorski from Krakozhia, who arrives in the United States at JFK airport. Unknown to him, while in the air there is a coup in his country which leads to his country being at war and 'dissolved' therefore his passport is no longer valid including the visa inside. This means he cannot enter the US as he has no visa, neither can he return home until the war is over.

Interestingly, he only speaks a few words of English but as he tries to converse with the airport officials he understands that he must wait.."For how long?"..but nobody really has an answer to that question.

...hmm isn't that how life is sometimes. We seem to be 'stuck' in a certain place or position, desiring to move. We want to move forward but there seem to be some limitations we have not been able to overcome but we are also unable to go back for one reason or the other, especially when going back means embracing the system of the world.

Sometimes like Viktor, we try to explain our predicament to those around us but it seems we are speaking a different language and even those who try to understand tell us to wait .."For how long?".. but again no one really has an answer to that question.

So what does Viktor do? Ahh, he is indeed a man to be admired. He presses and pushes past his limitations. He learns a new language, 'creates' a job for himself (he even soon starts earning more money than some of the airport staff!!), he becomes a mediator between a secret admirer and his one true love. He helps and begins to influence those around him until everyone knows and loves him.

Back to me and you..my question is aren't we all waiting for something? Some people are waiting for a job, a partner, a baby. To wait, seems is part of life so we need to look beyond the waiting to how we should wait.

The word wait is defined as; to remain inactive or in a state of repose, as until something expected happens

This is what we do sometimes until we get bored, lose our faith or get depressed. But as I look into the Word (I'm sure you know the word just had to link in somehow!!) it shows me that the word wait is usually stuck to the word on.

One of the definitions of wait on is "to perform the duties of an attendant or servant for". Therefore, waiting is also a time of doing. Even though I am waiting for something, I still need to be doing something. I need to wait on the Lord, asking Him how best to serve Him. I need to wait on others by giving of myself, reaching out in love and being a blessing. Why? Because I am God's child and because I am God's servant. I must wait on the Lord and i must wait on others.

How does it all end? Well Viktor does finally make it into New York and is also able to go back home. Was it easy to get to this point? No, he remained in the terminal for over 9 months but the lives that he touched remain blessed. Indeed, i think that might have been the reason for his wait all along.

There are much more lessons to be learnt from the movie..if you haven't watched it, I recommend that you do but your wait is not in vain. You are blessing someone somewhere even though you do not know it. You are going through this season for a reason and even if you don't know why now..the One who loves you most knows and has promised to equip you with the strength to hold on and hold out until your change comes.

Isiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint (KJV)

Job 14:14 ....All the days of my struggle I will wait Until my change comes (NASB)

Psalm 27:14 Wait for the LORD; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the LORD (NASB)

Remain blessed.

Me.