Category: Keeping It Real

I have been learning how to take it easy with what I say. I really don’t look like one that speaks a lot but when I get the audience, especially one on one or in a small group, I tend to; simply put; enjoy the flow😊

And again I never thought it was a really big deal. Yes, I have a few times in history when I wished I didn’t say this or that. But not very many. Of course, thats coming from my perspective of things. Not from my audience…
The first time I paid closer attention to this issue was during our morning family devotion recently. Mind you, I always enjoyed those times of discussions with the guys in my life.

I sometimes would even do a mini skit explaining a verse to my boys. I enjoy it a lot. I love it when we even goof around a bit. I love the laughter…I even love being vulnerable with my guys. When I share an experience and God opens my eyes or rebuked me. I just love our times together.

Then one day, one of my sons said Dad just explains it short and simple but mom goes all out. It was a funny summary to put it that way. We all knew this so it wasn’t anything new. And still nothing much.
Then also started to learn more closely how to listen. Then I listened to Nancy’s podcast on the silence challenge and saw some scriptures about keeping quiet.

That was a few days ago.
Then I had a date with one of my very close sisters. And it was going on ok until all of a sudden I felt we were in a middle of a subtle argument had been on for a few minutes and I didn’t even notice.
Oops…I definitely had said something not really necessary. Then I had to apologize first to God in my heart, then to her. I had to try to amend, but guess what….easier said than done.

Of course, the meeting ended well, however with a few issues to deal with on both sides. We were definitely cool but for sure I recognized my need for His help more on constantly passing every thought through with Jesus in my heart before saying it.

I truly need to be on this challenge. I signed up right away. I can’t wait to see what transformation I will get out of this.
Of course, join me on the challenge if you will. Details below.

I am a sister! I love being a sister.  I have many that I see myself as a sister to. I have a lot of people that I see me as their sister.  I am younger sister and an older one. I love being a sister.

The other day, it just occurred to me that this blessing of sisterhood has been a blessing over the years. I know so many amazing people and indeed I have been transformed my the story of many people. Some male some female.

When I think about each person, each story, I see the role I play. When I reflect about theses wonderful people I see the kind of sister I am to them.

I am..,

The sister that believes in her

The sister that thinks she can do it

The sister that doesn’t understand what more to do or say to connect with her

The sister that will take her burdens as mine

The sister that accepts her

The sister that believes he can do it

The sister who’s heart is intertwined with his

The sister that felt like a twin

The sister that took him seriously even when others didn’t

The sister that will help him stand up and be real

The sister that would ignore his faults and help

The sister that wants to be like him

The sister that takes him for him and loves him no matter what

The sister that will make him do what’s best for him

The sister that would help him clear his mind to think clearly

The sister that would help him see the world with matured eyes

The sister that brings him close to see how easy life in Christ is

The sister that guides and watches to see him gradually become

The sister that is willing to tell her the truth

The sister that just doesn’t understand her

The sister that wants to know her more

The sister that really thanks God for her

The sister that wants to lift him up but not sure how

The sister that knows she is stubborn but loves her all the same

The sister that is similar to him

The sister that’s just so grateful for him

The sister that is grateful for where she is today

The sister that loves her unique ways

The sister that is proud of him

The sister that wishes to be closer to her

The sister that is careful what she says to her

The sister that prays for the best for her.

The sister that wished we were closer

The sister that cherishes her from afar.

These and much more are ways my sisterhood relationship has been expressed towards people in my life.

Some I have seen my prayers answered over them while others its still ongoing. Some I have felt close to and other I consider ongoing. 

For sure it’s been a blessing having people to relate with as sisters and friends.
I continue to build my archery of sisters every day. People that I can call myself a sister to (at least in my own eyes). If you have read to this point you may have identified the way I see the relationship I have had with you or want to have.

No matter where you fall, close or far away, remember that I want to be that sister that truly desires that you become all you were designed to be.

Sisterhood definitely can be expressed in very many ways. Mine keeps expanding and keeps evolving.

I am glad to be a sister to many.

I thank God for each opportunity I have been given.

And I thank you all for letting me be your sister.

Photo by thewebprincess

I choose gratitude today.

Yeah, seems just like any other day.

But no, it’s a unique day.

Today I choose gratitude.

 

I chose the word; ‘choose’ because I am consciously making a choice.

 

There are so many other choices I could make today

Complaints, blame, shame, fear, regrets….

But I choose gratitude

 

I am grateful for my life

I am grateful for today.

Oh no, it’s definitely not perfect; well, maybe not all the time

No, I am not a superhero kinda person

But I’m grateful for just ordinary me

Ordinary may seem as an understatement

But really I am just grateful for who God made me.

 

I’m grateful for my best friend, Ade…

Whose love inspires me to love.

Whose life am extremely grateful for.

 

Grateful for Demi…

Whose smart mind impresses me.

And is growing up to become an amazing young man.

 

Grateful for Damilola…

Who’s creativity inspires me and who turns 7 today!

Happy birthday; my darling Oluwatomisin.

 

Grateful for my Dad…

His pet name for me is sweet in my ears.

Grateful for my Mom…

An epitome of love, strength, and grace

 

Grateful for my Dad-in-law…

I got the best for me

Grateful for my Mom in law….

God’s so good to me.

 

Grateful for my big brothers…

Grateful for my big sisters…

Grateful for my brothers in law…

Grateful for my sisters in law…

Grateful for my nieces…

Grateful for my nephews….

And all my relatives…..

 

Grateful for our pastors at Overcomers….

They are a rare bunch.

Grateful for all the friends I have made at Overcomers…

All over the world.

Ordinary people living extraordinary lives

All because of love.

 

Grateful for my past….

Grateful for this time of my life….

Grateful for what lies ahead…

 

Grateful to be alive at this time in history….

 

Grateful for my assets…

Grateful for my liabilities…

Grateful for my freedom….

Grateful for my limitations….

 

Grateful for amazing people I know from

Methodist church, Sabo, Ile-ife.

Methodist Evangelical Movement, Ile-Ife

SDA primary school, Ile-ife

SDA grammar school, Ile-Ife

Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), ile-Ife

Evangelical Christian Union(ECU), OAU.

Shekinah Business Ventures, ECU.

All those I did National Youth Service with – Maiduguri, Nigeria.

Friends from Affina

Friends from Investors Group (Montreal & Kingston)

Grateful for all my friends all over the world and on Facebook

 

I am grateful for the true life I have (in Jesus)

And for the love He gives today…..

 

I choose gratitude today

And I want to continue to choose gratitude every day…

So help me God!

 

The other day I stole a selfie moment….

When no one was looking️

 

I choose to be grateful though I may not know tomorrow…

 

I choose to be grateful today for all He has done for me!

A major question everyone serving God must answer is: Who is your God?

Indeed Who is your God?

In September of 2012,  I was at a ladies’ conference in Indianapolis, IN. And there was a break out session for pastor’s wives. It was so refreshing to be around women that are either in the similar situations with me or have been one time in the past and even some fresh ones. The fact that we were all from different backgrounds was really refreshing.

I remember we were asked to pick a partner at 2 different occasions and share with them. The first lady I shared with had been in ministry for a long time and so I was all ears while the other one was a newbie, she just married a pastor. Got married a month after the fiancé took the new pastoring position (and about 6 months prior then the conference) and now expecting their first child. As we talked, she was in tears. The pressure was so much on her already. Of course I could relate a bit with her. The pressure is much when different people come together and especially as the pastor’s wife.

Thinking about it now, I think I will write another post soon on the challenges and excitements of being a pastor’s wife- the good and the not so good 😉

Who Controls You?

Anyway, one thing for sure is that as a church member or let me say a christian, we are faced daily with decisions that make us wonder who our God is.  I use this topic who is your God because many people come into your life and make demands on you, they many times dont even give you the room to either say no or explain what you think, they just want it and thats it.

Sometimes this comes in form of a custom believe or assumptions. In the case of the rookie pastor’s wife I met in 2012, one of her main challenge was that as she was welcomed to the church as a new pastor’s wife they asked her what she could do. They also stated to her that the previous pastor’s wife they had was the church pianist, was in kids church and was also baking the muffins for fellowship tea time after each Sunday service. You can see why she was in tears at the conference.

She like many of us then to compare ourselves with others and think we need to measure up in order to be respected. Then we start to put on ourselves burdens that God did not put on us. And this is why I ask you to really ask yourself that weird question: who is your God. As if I didn’t know you would say God/Jesus of course.

Well, its not that easy to answer. Who determines what the state of your heart is? Who tells you what to do or not do? Who’s influence takes the most part of your being? Who is the one on the throne (the highest throne) of your life? The list goes on. Who do you try to please with each action and decision? Is it your Mom, Dad, Hubby, Boss, Children, church member, Big Sister….

Or Are you the one on that throne?

In order to have a good and satisfying life, your God must be the Lord.

I have not found any other god like this God. One of the problems we have as Christians is that we compare God with other people in our lives and so we assume that he is also very demanding and fierce like so and so. We look at God with the same lens  that people in our lives have and so we get stressed about this loving God.

Change of Mind Set

Let me invite you to clear out all your unproven thoughts and ideologies about God and begin to learn to know him for real. Put all your lenses down and look at Him for real.

Jesus said in Matthew 11:28-30

²⁸ Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.³⁰ For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

He is not a task master, he is actually willing to take off your own load. So when others come to pile a load on you, learn to cast it all on Him.

After that take his yoke and burden, trust me that are not heavy at all. Try it out and you will see. And the good also is that he will also give you the grace to obey him. He wants to be your only God.

I found this free book on amazon that will show you 100 powerful reminders of who you truly are in Jesus.  The more you know who you are the more you will find strength in your relationship with him. The more you begin to make decisions based on what God said and not what someone said or didn’t say, the more you will be at peace to live a rich and satisfying life. This Book is Free so buy for $0 on kindle, not sure how long it will be $0.

Also here is another book that may also help. This one is not free. It helps you to discover to character of God. Guiding you though scriptures.

Work hard to know your God, and then you will not need other gods in your life.

Who is Your God?

Joshua said to the people in Joshua 24:1

¹⁵ And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (NKJV)