You shouldn't miss...

...the International Gathering of Champions (IGOC).

For more info, click here. Please click on the picture, to see all the speakers. Shhh don't tell anyone, I hear Bishop T.D Jakes will be preaching Sunday morning (31/08/08). I am so excited, although for the most part, I will be buried somewhere in the children's department (so much for anonymity!) where we will be having a blast ourselves.

Remain blessed and highly favoured. 2008 continues to remain our year of UNCOMMON TESTIMONIES as we are EMPOWERED TO PROSPER.

So you think you can....

...PRAISE!

I am just in one of those moods, when I just want to forget about everything else and lay on my face in the presence of my Master, the one and only God, the immortal, invincible and invisible....anyway Lord, this is from me to you.

There are kings
but you are the KING OF ALL KINGS
The are lords
but you are the LORD OF ALL LORDS
The God who created
the heavens and the earth
and all that is within them
God of wonders
An awesome God
Awesome in your majesty
Awesome in your beauty
Awesome in your splendour
Awesome in your holiness
I join everything and everyone that has breath to give you praise
Redeemer
Lover of my soul
My Husband
My song in the night
My strong tower
My great protector
My great provider
Who is there like you in all the earth?
I ask again...Who is there like you in all the earth?
Your knowledge knows no bounds
You know the number of hairs on my head
You know the thoughts in my heart
You know the tears that I cry
You know my yesterday, you know my tomorrow
Your power is limitless
You arise and your enemies are scattered
You decree a thing and it must come to pass
You watch over your word to perform
Who is there like you in all the earth
A great God, a God of justice
Yet also, a God of mercy
The One who has compassion on me
The One who sees me through the blood of His son
The One who clothes me with His own righteousness
The One who answers prayers
Ever Present
Ever Loving
All seeing
My Banner, you surround me
You clothe my enemies with shame
You give me confidence to laugh in the face of trouble
Osanobua
Olodumare
Igwe
Author of my story, you will finish it as well
Alpha and Omega, the beginning and end of all matters
Daddy I give you praise
Father I give you praise
You have been my Rock
You have been my song
You have been my testimony
You have been my UNCOMMON TESTIMONY
Giver of life
Giver of hope
Giver of new beginnings
My turn it around God
The Unexplained Explainer
Ese Modupe
For the victory
Daddy I thank you
You called me Hephzibah
You called me Beulah
You called me Grace
You called me Glory
You called me Beautiful
So I dance
So I praise
So I worship
Rocks, you can't take my place
I will holler from the rooftops if necessary
That my God is great, He is greatly to be praised
The One who understands all languages
Nothing takes Him by surprise
Is He not worthy
He is my Beloved and I am His
Shall we not give Him praise

...so if you think you can...give Him praise...

I am Woman

I am woman
Soft yet strong
Curves in just the right places
Intuitive
Discerning
Multi-tasking
Able to change my mind, no apologies

I am woman
Lover, wife
Mother, sister
Friend and daughter
I nurture
I Influence
Able to cry in public, no apologies

I am woman
From bedroom to boardroom
From homemaker to CEO
I learn, I teach
I listen, I speak
I encourage and build
Able to live the dream, no apologies

I am woman
And I am complete
Whether single or married
I am whole
Because I walk in my purpose
I run with the vision
I am a DIVA, no apologies

I am woman
Created from man
Equal yet different
Taking him to the next level
His seed becomes a child
His house a home
Able to turn things around, no apologies

I am woman
I am secure in who God made me
So I celebrate my sisters
Their gifts and talents
United we stand
A three fold cord not easily broken
Working together, no apologies

I am woman
Created by God
Who I worship
With all of me
Who I love with all my heart
In Him
I am free to be ME

Sisters isn't it wonderful to be us!

Shhh...it's my darling's birthday

My darling Rinrin

I didn't really know how to compose this, so I'll just say it as is. Today, you celebrate your birthday. Celebrate, because it is indeed a celebration. A celebration of you, the battles you have fought and overcome, the victories you have won, the testimonies you are about to start testifying about. 07/08/08 or as you will (wrongly!) write 08/07/08....whichever way it is written..the date of your birth signifies a perfection of the new beginning that God has started in your life. This year 8 appears twice just to confirm that word! I know you will begin to walk in and in a lot of ways are already walking in it though you may not be aware.

You are a sister in the true sense of the word, ever willing to listen, never judging but always saying what needs to be said! I am blessed to have you in my life. Woman of God, your desire for the high places of God is inspiring and I know that as those who wait on the Lord have their strength renewed to mount up with wings as eagles so shall your portion be in the mighty name of Jesus.

Happy birthday darling, I am still standing with you and trusting God about all He said concerning you. I am grateful to Him for how far He has brought you but even more for that place He is taking you to. Rinrin, He said He is able to do exceedingly, abundantly, far above all that you can THINK or IMAGINE in your life. So, relax and REJOICE because His word will never return to Him void without accomplishing it's purpose for your life.

You are wearing new garments, garments of joy, garments of peace, garments of thanksgiving and praise, garments of victory, garments of winning. You are singing a new song, a song of thanksgiving concerning all that the Lord has done for you. You are dancing a new dance, walking a new walk, laughing a new laugh as you see that your 'Isaac' has shown up! Indeed the stone the builders rejected has turned around to become a corner stone, this is the Lord's doing it is marvellous in all our eyes.

So enjoy your day, eat some cake, HAVE FUN because a few years ago (yes it's a few...ask Methuselah!!) a miracle came into the world and creation is still in expectation for the FULL MANIFESTATION OF YOU.

You know I love you, my sister, my friend. I don't take this season of our lives for granted. I pray that I can be there for you half as much as you have for me. You are blessed. 2008 continues to be your year of UNCOMMON TESTIMONIES ni oruko Jesu.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY..Eku Ojobi (Hope I got that right!)

If you've been able to read this far...please take time to visit Rinsola's page and show her some love on her birthday.

What are you wearing?

When Mordecai learned of all that had been done, he tore his CLOTHES, put on SACKCLOTH and ASHES, and went out into the city, wailing loudly and bitterly. But he went only as far as the king's gate because no-one clothed in sackcloth was allowed to enter it Esther 4:1-2 NIV Capitals mine

Mordecai left the KING's PRESCENCE wearing ROYAL GARMENTS of blue and white, a large crown of gold and a purple robe of FINE LINEN Esther 8:15a (NIV) Capitals mine

Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. The angel said to those who were standing before him, "Take off his FILTHY CLOTHES.". Then he said to Joshua, "See I have taken away your sin, and I will put RICH GARMENTS on you." Then I said, "Put a clean turban on his head." So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him, while the angel of the Lord stood by. Zecheriah 3:3-5 (NIV) Capitals mine

When he had said this, Jesus called out in a loud voice, "Lazarus come out!" The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, "Take off the GRAVE CLOTHES and let him go." John 11:43-44 (NIV) Capitals mine

Thank you Lord for your word. Alpha and Omega, author and finisher. You are worthy of all praise. I like watching makeover shows, for me it's not really about the cosmetic surgery or what not but just the observation of the difference a change in hairstyle, makeup and wardrobe can make to an individual.

I love being African..hmm so many textiles to choose from, so many styles, when I see what young Nigerian women are doing with our fabrics, I am blown away!!Yes o, African women, we love to dress. The clothes we wear are indicative of our personality (ouch to me, what is this raggedy boubou saying about me?Lol!), they are also indicative of the place and function we are attending. We need to dress the part. I love the fact that irrespective of how 'modern' times are, strict observance to dressing etiquette is still observed at institutions like Royal Ascot..no hat, no entrance, dress way up above the knee, no entrance and it doesn't matter who you are!

Brings me back to my question, what are you wearing? Are you wearing garments indicative of the pain that you are going through at this moment like Mordecai, in Bible times the wearing of sackcloth and ashes signified that the person was mournful, sorrowful and was waiting on the Lord to hear their cries. We are blessed to have a God who accepts us as we are, where we are. Unlike the king in the story, you can enter His gate no matter what you wear. What I love about Him is that, He loves us too much to leave us in a fashion faux pas. He too is fashionable, the Bible says the train of his robe fills the temple (Isaiah 6:1)! He takes us into His closet and clothes us with royal garments, garments of praise, garments of joy, garments of peace and garments of testimony!When Mordecai finally found his way into the king's presence, his garments changed. So do not be worried, sackcloth and ashes are for a season but a new season is coming, so rejoice!

Some are wearing garments of shame like Joshua the high priest, these are filthy garments indicative of sin. Even then He still asks that you come, confess and repent of those sins and ask for His grace to live the life He has called you to live. I am not perfect, no one is, daily I must ask for grace to carry the cross and follow him. Forget about the past and reach forward to the future He has for you, He will clothe you in clean garments, garments of purity, garments of righteousness.

Are you Lazarus, wearing grave clothes? A dead relationship, a dead business, a dead dream or a dead loved one? your clothes have got you bound. You are alive but not living as life goes on around you and you are unable to move, unable to love, unable to BE. I think it's interesting that the first thing Jesus asked was that they removed the grave clothes, they had to be removed so that Lazarus could go, leaving the place associated with death and walking into the destiny the Lord had for him.

Brothers and sisters, it is well. At different points in my life, I think I have worn some if not all of these garments but I thank God that He has become my consultant and always gives me a wardrobe makeover!!Removing things that should not be there, putting in things that should. Like the belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, designer shoes from the house of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation. Most importantly in this season the garments of humility, patience and prayer. It doesn't matter what you are wearing now, feel free to enter the throne room. He will change your garments.

Amen and amen. Welcome to a new month. I'm so excited 08/08, double confirmation of new beginnings every single day of this month.Hurray! Remain blessed and highly favoured. 2008 continues to remain our year of UNCOMMON TESTIMONIES in Jesus name. Ayo, we will surely testify!