Aha

When a cheap plastic pen from WHSmith (sorry!) stops working, you throw it in the bin. When your £21,000 Freelander 2, stops working, you just don't take it to any 'ole mechanic. You take it to an expert. Why? Because of it's worth to you, because of how much it cost you, because of the sacrifices that you made to get it, because of how wonderful you feel when you're cruising about town in it.

Sometimes, people hurt us, take us for granted, make us so angry but we need to determine what the relationship is worth to us, a 10p pencil or a £21,000 SUV? So when there are problems, know what to do, whether to ditch or to take to an expert. For the ones that require an expert, may I recommend my ultimate Fixer to you. His name is Jesus Christ.

He can
..wipe every tear
..put a balm over every wound
..make you smile again
..comfort you
..hold you for as long as you need to be held

Most importantly, He can turn around any situation as long as you are willing to act on His advice and like any professional, He sticks to the guidelines in the manufacturer's manual..the Word of God!

Selah! (Think about it)

When I saw the picture of the car, I just had to include it. WOW!

What are you looking at?

Then He commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass. And He took the five loaves and two fish, and LOOKING UP to heaven, He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes. Matthew 14:19 NKJV Capitals mine

Looking down He saw
Five loaves and two fish
Looking around He saw
5,000 hungry men
Looking up He saw
Jehovah Jireh

Looking down He saw
His loved one in a tomb
Looking around He saw
A disbelieving crowd
Looking up He saw
Zoe*

Looking down I see
An empty bank account
Looking around I see
Bills yet to be paid
Looking up I see
The great Provider

Looking down I see
A heart that has been broken
Looking around I see
others just like me
Looking up I see
the One who will make me whole again

Zoe: Greek for life but used in scripture to denote the God kind of life (abundant) encapsulated in man!

As believers we rejoice, not because the fire is not real, but because we know we serve a God who has promised to be with us THROUGH IT ALL. Be comforted this week, knowing that God sees and all you are going through is for a season and you will come through SHINING with the VICTORY.

It is indeed well. 2008 continues to remain our year of UNCOMMON TESTIMONIES.

Rinrin...thank you so much. I'm getting back on track!

The songs we sing.........

It's amazing how one can sing a song so much that it becomes routine and the words seem to lose their power. During worship one day, I felt the Holy Spirit speak to me and ask..."Do you really believe the words you are singing or is it just routine? consider what you are saying and tell me how your perspective of what you are facing changes". That was an eye opener for me and I am making a concious decision to meditate on the words of each song I sing and allow it to truly minister to me.

Today's song is He is able by Morris Chapman...unfortunately I couldn't put it on the playlist but this song has been such a blessing to me.

He is able
more than able
to accomplish what concerns me today
He is able
more than able
He can handle anything that comes my way
He is able
more than able
To do much more than I could ever dream
He is able
more than able
To make me what He wants me to be

Copyright 1988 and this arr. Copyright 1990 by Maranatha! Music. Words and Music by Rory Noland and Greg Ferguson

God is more than able to take care of all that comes my way. He can handle my issues, my fears and my worries. He can make me what He wants me to be. I love this God.

Because He lives
I can face tomorrow
Because He lives
all my fears are gone
Because I know
He knows my future
and my life is worth living
just because Christ lives

Amen and amen. Why worry about tomorrow..He said, "Be anxious for nothing, pray about everything." I can face the uncertainties of tomorrow because my Lord has already gone into my future and so there is no need to be afraid. My life is worth living because He too lives.

Amen and Amen

Have a blessed weekend. 2008 remains our year of UNCOMMON TESTIMONY.

Do you remember the first time?

she remembers the first time
As the crowd looked on
With hate in their eyes, their hearts full of self-righteous indignation
His head was bent as he wrote in the sand
and when He looked up, she saw love in His eyes
feeling unworthy she looked down
and saw he had written 'forgiven'

he remembers the first time
the toil the night before with no results
there was something about the way He spoke
the authority in His words, the passion in His heart
the greatest miracle that day didn't have anything to do with fish
for when He changed his name
he knew he would never be the same

she remembers the first time
there had been so many people
pushing and shoving
trying to get close to Him
but not understanding His power
though frightened, she surged forward to touch Him
and she experienced His healing

i remember the first time
His first words
I imagined the look in His eyes
as He said to me
"Come just as you are,
You don't have to be afraid anymore
I love you with an everlasting love"

What about you? Do you remember your first time? It's easy to get caught up with the hustle and bustle of life and forget it's not about religion but relationship. You can't help knowing the Lord without loving Him. He's just that type of person. Encounters with Him don't always come with peals of thunder and bouts of lightening but we can always make them memorable. Leave the place of prayer today with something special in your heart and keep it with you as you go through the day.

Don't forget to keep smiling

Remain blessed and highly favoured

Me

More than

Peace is more than calm

it is a rest of mind

in the midst of the storm

Joy is more than laughter

it is dancing

for my miracle even when it hasn't shown up yet

Love is more than a feeling

it is the knowing

that we are in this together through thick and thin

Faith is more than just belief

it is standing

even when circumstances want to knock me down

Praise is more than singing

it is rejoicing

in any which way because of who God is to me

Prayer is more than speaking

it is superimposing

the will of God over the will of man

Life is more than the acquisition of stuff

it is about what we have done

whom we have served and why we will be missed when we leave

Hi everyone,
Hope you are having a swell weekend! Just wanted to put down some lines although for some strange reason, I can't get the formatting right so that 3 lines form a paragraph. Anyways, in keeping with 7/7/07 I decided to have only 7 verses, however I just noticed that the number 7 occurs 3 times in the date as well so 7 verses x 3 lines! Today is the seventh day of the seventh month of the seventh year. 7=Perfection and 3=completion so I'm believing and trusting God with you that there will be a perfect completion to the issues and situations that you may be facing.

Don't worry about how big it is, God is bigger and we will surely have cause to look back and smile and celebrate because we serve a miracle working God. Not only will we finish what we have started with Him but we shall finish well.

Remain blessed and highly favoured

Me

N.B Please do suggest a title!

Love is........

She asked the question...Is love enough?

Love is the twinkle in your eyes when I show up, the smile on your face when you hear my name

Love is in your words when I am discouraged and you gently remind me of who I really am, that I'm made of tougher stuff

Love is when you hear past beyond the words to how I feel and even understanding what the silence means

Love is when I place my head on your chest and I can feel your heart beats just for me

Love is when I'm tired of the journey and you place my hand in yours and when I'm really weary, you give me a piggy back ride

Love is when I make mistakes, you open your arms to receive me when I come back home

Love is when I go to bed at night and you are there, i wake up and i can feel the breath of your presence

Love is in your giving. Your willingness to lose everything and to take the pain, shame and humiliation that was mine so that we could be together forever

Everyday, I see the expression of your love. You let me know it's not a feeling, it's a doing. I'm really sorry because some days I take your love for granted but I know it cost you everything. I'm glad you chose me, there's so much to say but know this I love you, greater than anything and more than everything. Thank you for loving me in spite of and not only because of.

I love you and yes I think love is enough.

For God so loved the world that He GAVE His only begotten Son that whoever should believe in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16, capitals mine)

But God DEMONSTRATES His own love towards us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8)

Me

60 questions?

Yay, aint I brilliant. I can actually answer 60 questions about myself. I'm on holiday so I guess I've got the time! Here goes...

1. What time did you get up this morning? 7:00 am (I'm not going to work..double hurrah!)
2. Diamonds or pearls? 'Diamonds are forever'.
3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? The last King of Scotland (uhum, it's been a while!)
4. What is your favorite TV show? Without a doubt, 24 i wish I could put it in neon lights!
5. What did you have for breakfast? Smoothie
6. What is your middle name? First name was too long to leave any space on the birth certificate!
7. What is your favorite cuisine/meal? Chinese but my fav meal is 'bangers' n chips with mashed peas! I'm so common
8. What foods do you dislike? Stuff with cheese in it
9. Your favorite Potato chip? Wedges
10. What is your favorite CD at the moment? Greatest hits-Twila Paris
11. What kind of car do you drive? LGB a.k.a Legediz Benz. No alloy wheels but very reliable.
12.Favorite sandwich? Tuna and sweetcorn
13. What characteristics do you despise? Lying
14. Favorite item of clothing? Jeans
15. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go? The Bahamas
16. What color is your bathroom? Green, not my fav but it's ok
17. Favorite brand of clothing? Dunno
18. Where would you want to retire? maybe.. The Bahamas
19. Favorite time of day? Depends on the day but usually bedtime!
20. Where were you born? Eko
21. Favorite sport(s) to watch? Football
22. Who do you least expect to respond to this? Dunno, not sending it to anyone!
23. Person you expect to respond first? Same as above
24. What laundry scent do you use? Lenor
25. Coke or Pepsi? Neither, fanta please
26. Are you a morning person or night owl? Morning, something about the dark interrupts my 'grey' cells
27. What size shoe do you wear? European 41 (well at least they are happy feet!)
28. Do you have pets? No
29. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share with everyone? Later
30. What did you want to be when you were little? A medical doctor
31. Favorite Candy Bar? If it's candy as in chocolate it's gotta be Toblerone
32. What is your best childhood memory? Travelling with family
33. What are the different jobs you have had in your life? Personal assistant, Checkout staff, Call centre operator, teacher
34. What color/type underwear are you? Boys shorts
35.Nicknames: maranthus (named after a weed! no comments)
36. Piercings ? Just me ears, one on each but thinking of getting them partners
37. Eye color? Brown
38. Ever been to Africa? Oh yes!
39. Ever been toilet papering or rolling? I don't even know what this means so I guess NO
40. Love someone so much it made you cry? Yes, it makes me cry sometimes when I think about how much He loves me
41. Been in a car accident? No, thank God
42. Croutons or bacon bits? Neither
43.Favorite day of the week? Wednesday, i feel like it's almost over
44. Favorite restaurant? None, really don't eat out much
45. Favorite flower? Carnations
46. Favorite ice cream? I'm a plain Jane so vanilla
47. Favorite fast food restaurant? Burger King, it's been ages
48. What color is your bedroom carpet? Brown
49. How many times did you fail your driver's test? You really want to know?
50. Before this one, from whom did you get your last email? My boss
51. Which stores would you choose to max out your credit card? Believer is spending wisely these days so no thanks to maxing the credit card BUT in my imagination it would be somewhere, anywhere that sold Manolos'
52. What do you do most often when you are bored? Imagine I am someplace else
53. Bedtime? Very variable
54. Who are you most curious about their responses to this questionnaire? One friend in particular
55. Last person you went to dinner with? A really good friend
56. What are you listening to right now? Micah Stampley-A Fresh wind
57. What is your favorite color? Brown
58. Lake, Ocean or river? Lake, symbolic to me of peace and serenity
59. How many tattoos do you have? 0
60. Which came first, the chicken or the egg? I think the chicken, and humanity especially people of black origin have been grateful ever since

Whew, I thought it wasn't going to end. Have a really lovely day despite what the weather may be in your part of the world. Carry your own weather with you!

remain blessed and highly favoured

me

Life:A-Z, E is for Exercise

1st Timothy 4:8 (NIV) For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life that is to come

So, some time last year I had a 'revelation' that the extra weight I was carrying was not just going to disappear on it's own. Changing my eating habits wasn't going to be enough..I had to sweat it out. So I took up walking, jogging and going to the gym. I haven't reached my ideal weight but anytime I go to the gym, I give myself a pat on the back because I know I'm closing in on the distance between where I am and where I need to be.

I encourage everyone reading this, no matter what your weight is to include some form of exercise into your life because it is quite important. If, like me you want to lose weight but it's something you've shelved for later, I suggest you take it off from the shelf, dust it and make a DECISION to start today. For some encouragement, read London Buki's and Mrs somebody's blog. You can do it! I'll also blog about my progress to encourage you and to keep me accountable.

I was pondering on the verse above..physically, i know the profit my body has made due to the exercise I have been doing but the Word says that this is little compared to the profit that I make through godliness. What is godliness? To me, it is becoming God-like, living how God would want me to live, exhibiting attributes of His character like love, holiness and purity.

I also realised that there are some similarities between bodily exercise and godliness which I now see as a form of 'spiritual exercise'. Firstly, living a godly life is not easy. I remember the first day I jogged last year..thought I was going to faint! Living a godly life, especially in the days we are in now 'where men have preferred darkness to light' requires more than willpower and discipline but the grace of God cos only He can give us the strength to walk on the narrow way.

Also, like having a jogging/exercise buddy helps me remain motivated, having close people to whom I can be accountable and who encourage and counsel me when I want to give in to popular culture instead of God's way has helped me greatly on my journey. Disclaimer: Please, please, please, allow the Lord to guide you in choosing those to whom you reveal intimate secrets of your life. I'm still praying and believing God to send the right people my way.

Finally, both types of exercise have their reward. Now, I can jog longer, lift heavier and stretch wider, spiritually I am walking in new levels in my relationship with the Lord because as I seek to be like Him, He reveals more of Himself to me accompanied by His favour and blessing because 'He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him'.

There are also long term benefits. I look forward to the day when I will take part in the London Marathon and fit properly into my dream dress size (with no acrobatics!) and also to when my Lord and Saviour will say "Well done, good and faithful servant".

Remain blessed

Me

What a day!!

What a day yesterday was! Got to the lab really excited (at least for a Monday!) about starting a new experiment just to find out that I had forgotten to sterilise some stuff..me thinks this is not a good way to start as I have to delay starting for about 2 hours.

Anyways I started and it just went downhill from there the crowning moment involving spilling some Salmonella (don't worry I was working in a contained environment). I just felt like going home to sleep. Usually I'm quite organised and capable but yesterday was so not one of those days. After lunch I just decided to relax. So the day wasn't going the way I wanted, so there were some mistakes, so I have to repeat the experiment..it's not like these are not serious issues but no use worrying about the past I cannot change.

When I woke up today, I decided to leave the craziness in yesterday because all I have is today. I don't know what tomorrow will bring but I'll work my darnest best today to make sure it is beautiful.

I learnt not to cling to the past, who we are is a sum of all the experiences we have been through both good and bad. This morning I talked to God and received the strength, grace and joy that I needed for today.

It hasn't been so bad, most of the results from yesterday are wack but I've got some moments I wished I had captured on film!

Welcome to a new month. May is the fifth month of the year. Symbolically, 5 in the bible represents grace (one of the greatest gifts that God has endowed my life with). So, may you experience the grace of God in all areas of your life. I pray that you walk in favour as the Heavens open over you and shower you with multiple blessings.

Remain blessed

Me

I cry

06/02/07 Michael Dosunmu (15)
14/02/07 Billy Cox(15)
05/03/07 Odwanye Anthony Barnes (16)
14/03/07 Kodjo Yenga(16)
17/03/07 Adam Regis (15)

The dates represent the day you left this world. The numbers in the bracket remind me that you have gone too soon. So I cry..

I cry for you because no one deserves to have their life, dreams and hopes snatched away from them without giving them the opportunity to fight.

I cry for you because of all the things that you will miss..getting a degree, a job, married, having kids and watching them grow up.

I cry for you because you were supposed to be protected, most of you were killed close to your homes..Michael how could you have seen it coming, you were asleep on your bed!!

I cry with your family..it is an irreplaceable loss. It is a great tragedy for your son that came after you into this world to exit before you.

I cry, because it seems your deaths have become the stimulus to make us deal with a problem we had ignored for a long time. Anyway, your deaths will not be in vain.

I pray for your families..that God will enable them bear the loss, that God will reach out to them somehow. I pray that the people who did this will be caught as well.

Rest in peace.

N.B Please let us pray for our young men. These are the leaders, fathers, presidents, business owners e.t.c of tomorrow. There have been so many attacks against black men all through history. We all need to stand in the gap. It is time for a revolution.

Remain blessed

Me

Why I love Jack!!

I love the series 24, honestly i LOVE the series 24 so much that sometimes it seems i am being paid to broadcast the fact. I am ashamed to admit that whilst I was on holiday last year, I watched 18 hours of a series in one go!!!! I really have it bad. Another thing is that this love is quite contagious so now my family has caught the 24 bug as well. I just finished watching season 5 on Sunday ( i know the world is in season 6 but I have been very, very busy).
I was trying to explain to someone about my devotion to the show and then I realised that it really all starts and ends with Jack Bauer. So why do I love Jack? simply because of 4 words that he asks in every season.. 'Do you trust me'?

And yes, everyone does trust Jack because they know that his word is more important to him than life itself. I know that it is just a show and it is difficult to get that level of integrity from any human being but there are 2 ways to look at this.

1) It can be my personal goal to work towards being a woman of my word so that when i ask the question 'Do you trust me?', people would not have to think twice before giving a resounding Yes.

2) It reminds me of my Heavenly Father, who asks me everyday to trust Him. It is easy to trust the Lord and sing 'Trust and obey' when everything is working well, the bills are paid, i have a job, my health, my stocks and bonds but it is only now I am truly learning to trust Him.

I am in a place where everything has been turned upside down in my life. It's amazing how a single event can occur and make you wonder and question what you truly believe. Faith is different from trust, faith says I know my God can do it, trust says 'Even if He doesn't deliver me from the fiery furnace, I know that my Redeemer liveth'. I am learning to trust God every single day.. trust that He knows what is best for me, trust that even though bad things have happened, something good and great is coming out of this, trust that even though sometimes He is silent, He is there because He has promised never to leave me nor forsake me.

So why do I love Jack?... because I see in him as a shadow, the reality of the One in whom when I trust can never disappoint me. The One who has promised to uphold His Word that He has promised to me as He said it can never return to Him void until it has accomplished its purpose in my life. So today, I choose to look beyond the events that are happening and trust in His Word. If it is powerful to create the earth out of nothing, it shouldn't take that much to make a TESTIMONY out of my test.

Remain blessed

Me

The Emotional Bank Account

Hello people

Like I said yesterday, I am in a place of self-evaluation. These days, I am taking a lot of time to assess relationships. I love relationships because God is all about relationships. He created us to relate to Him and to each other in the beautiful earth that He created. I think this is one reason that the enemy is out to attack relationships in all forms. These days, broken families, marriages and hearts are becoming too much of a norm and i think it is time we all looked inwards to ask ourselves and try and answer 'What is going on?' because most of the time we kid ourselves that the answer to most of our problems is 'out there'. The 'it is your fault' mentality is killing a lot of relationships and as i evaluate mine, i want to work from the inside out. Private victory precedes public victory.
Today's blog is something I learnt from the book I am currently reading, 'The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People' by Stephen Covey. It is a really great book for people who are considering changing aspects of their personal lives. The main focus is on character, achieving independence so that we can move to a higher level of living which is interdependence. I cannot do it on my own, neither can you we depend on relationships and if i have problems relating i am reducing my effectiveness.
Therefore, the emotional bank account comes in, unlike other accounts we are used to this account cannot be opened in Natwest, Barclays or First Bank. I open it with you, the person I am in a relationship with. I use the word relationship here in a very 'open' manner. It could be a family relationship or a relationship with your spouse, or your boss, or your customer but as long as there is a relationship there is an emotional bank account. This bank account is a measure of trust, the feeling of 'safeness' that I can have in you as a human being.
Each day, we have an opportunity either to make a deposit or a withdrawal but just like the regular bank continuous withdrawals without any deposits results in us going into the RED!!
We then wake up and wonder 'where has the love gone' or 'Why is all this happening', it's because we have ignored the law of balance.
So ask yourself today like I will (after analysing the results of my experiments!!!)
1. What are the key relationships in my life?
2. What does the statement of account between I and the person look like?
3. What can be done to maintain a healthy balance between both of us?

Deposits include integrity; STOP PRESS a lot of us use this word, integrity is different from honesty. My own definition of both terms are; Honesty is telling the truth about the past while integrity is telling the truth about the future. Integrity means if i tell you i will do something, I do all that is in my power to make sure that I do it and if i can't I get back to you with an explanation of why I couldn't. A lot of people underestimate the power of integrity as a deposit. Other deposits are courtesy, acts of kindness, listening e.t.c. Another point to note is that as we are all different what constitutes an effective deposit to you might not be a big deposit to the other person therefore we must learn about what the other person's needs are (more on that later if I can get time to discuss 'love languages'!).

There will be withdrawals, life is not a bed of roses, hard times do come, we are fallible and we make mistakes BUT if you have prepared a good, strong foundation when the storms of life come, you will remain standing like the man who built his house on the Rock though the winds came, the house might shake but it won't break.

Gotta get back to work now (lots of number crunching and deep thinking required... goodness gracious!!!) but remain blessed and highly favoured.

Put a big smile on your face today, just because Jesus loves you and because He is smiling right back.

Me

...Thanksgiving

Hi there,

Today is all about being thankful. Thank you, thank you, thank you Lord.

Thank you for my mind, i am sane, able to think for myself and make rational decisions.
Thank you for my body, i aint no Halle Berry but you have made me beautiful both inside and out.
Thank you because I can walk by myself, talk by myself, run to catch the bus. I can breathe, eat, sing and even cry.
Thank you because I have a family who loves me even when I am not perfect.
Thank you for my friends, the true ones who stick with me through thick and thin.
Thank you for my pastor, who stretches me until I become the best that I can be.
Thank you for my job, it puts food on my table and clothes on my back.
Thank you cos i have ten fingers and ten toes, when i hurt my big toe, i kinda knew how important it was to my overall well being.
Thank you for Jesus, salvation was free for me but not for you because You had to watch your only Son die because of me.
Thank you for today, i know i have messed up big time but as I rise to embrace the day I am reminded of your words that 'Your mercies are renewed every morning, great is your faithfulness' so I know that I can make a fresh start.
Thank you for London Underground and the Silverlink, i know the trains don't always run on schedule but at least I finally make it to where I am going.
Thank you for being my Rock and Refuge, being someone and also somewhere I can go when life seems to be too much to handle.
Thank you for even the disappointments, heartbreak and pain that You have allowed. I know sometimes it has been of my own doing but even when I don't understand, i feel your love more when i know i truly don't deserve it.

There are so many other things that I am grateful to you for. I am sorry for being so into myself and having a pity party sometimes. When I look back over my life i know i can truly say that 'The Lord has been good and gracious', my shield and defence, my strong Tower. You have done so much for me. Thank you.

In difficult moments of our lives, it is important we look and start thanking God for the things that are actually working. Even when all seems lost, remember it is only those who are alive that can still fight to get to a better place, so start with that. Let today be a 'Thank you Lord' day and let me know if it makes you feel any better.

Remain blessed and have a great day

Me