Make Me A Blessing



Source: Google Images

 Every one wants to be blessed, ya? So how do you get blessed? Very simple- by being a blessing to others.

Just recently we had the prayer challenge. You can go ahead and do it if you haven’t and feel led to. One key thing the challenge taught me was selflessness and thinking of others instead of myself.

As I prayed for others God has come through for me in ways I did not expect. Even before a problem I am currently dealing with occurred, he had provided the solution!

A friend also shared his testimony with me. He told me he had applied for a new job. Then during the prayer challenge he prayed for someone else who was job hunting and even sent her a job ad in her field. She got the job! She then simply prayed and said “God bless you” to my friend. That same week of the prayer challenge, my friend got that job he applied for. If you hear the perks of this job….in fact, you will join my friend in thanking God.

It's God’s mathematics, what you sow you reap. Simple!

The thing is every single person has problems; big, small, medium size. It doesn’t matter. So instead of protecting our corner and thinking our problem is bigger than others' and that we deserve special attention from God, we should reach out to others instead. This definitely opens doors.

The typical prayer you hear is God bless me…Oh Lord bleeesssss meeee! I think it is high time we changed that prayer to "Lord make me a blessing to others".

So what are practical ways we can be a blessing to others?

Here are a few examples:

Do you want a promotion at work? Mentor someone in your office that needs help


Do you want a new job? As you find job ads that you know someone might be interested in, send it to them.


Do you want healing?- Pray for someone who is sick


Do you want a baby?- Rejoice with those who have children, Attend your friend's baby dedication with a gift, offer to baby sit


 Do you want a life partner?- Rejoice with those who are engaged and getting married. Don’t shy away from attending your friend’s wedding.


Do you want financial breakthrough?- Give to someone who is in need


Do you want to buy a house?- Pay towards someone’s mortgage

How did God show us that he loved us, he GAVE! He gave his ONLY son to die for us. So if you say you love, then you must GIVE.

Luke 6: 38 Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”

This verse just proves to me that givers NEVER lack…when we GIVE we are sowing seeds of abundance

Now please note I am in no way suggesting that you give what you do not have. Duet 16. 17 says "Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord your God which He has given you."

You read that ya? Now please read it again carefully especially the parts highlighted. When some pastors preach and tell you to borrow to give the church and what not, if you didn't hear God tell you same, I will advise you to borrow yourself brain and keep your money. That type of preaching is heresy! (Mini rant over! Lol)

Start with the little you have, NOT what you DON’T have. See God’s promise to Abraham

Genesis 12:2 I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing.

God will make you great SO THAT you can be a blessing to others. Did I hear an amen…AMEN!

So do you want to be blessed? Then change your prayer to “Lord make me a blessing” You will be surprised at the different opportunities life will present to you to be a blessing to others. And then the reward that comes with being a blessing to others.


I will be the first to raise up my hand to say I don’t give as much as I should but by God’s grace all that is changing. Me, I know what I am looking for so I know what I need to give…;)

Lord help me to be a blessing!

So in what ways can we be a blessing to others? Please share in the comments section below.

[Blogger Inspiration]- Rita, Gbemisoke and Chichi

Rita… This amazing woman has blessed my life through her blog posts. Like Geebee, she shares about her life on blogsville which I find very very courageous. I think she left an encouraging comment on my blog once and as usual I checked out her posts. I noticed we shared similar views on a lot of things especially relationship wise. We became Facebook friends and email friends at some point. I met her once when I went to Naija in 2010. She was really reserved yet nice and pleasant. I am quite the opposite (restless soul!) and I must say reserved people unnerve me cuz you can’t tell what is going through their mind. However with Rita I didn’t feel awkward around her, we got along well. We don’t talk as much but I am glad to say I know Rita.

Gbemisoke, now when it comes to personalities this is one madam that I flow with easily. She is so funny and down to earth. Funny enough I knew her on twitter rather than through her blog. One time she said she was coming to the UK for vacation and I DM-ed her to find out where she will be staying. Lo and behold she was going to be near where I lived. We arranged to meet and despite a busy schedule I made sure I went to see her. I wanted to meet the jovial Gbemisoke and she did not disappoint! We flowed like bread and butter (lol)….I met Alexis as well. Such a cutie. Gbemisoke tells you as it is. We have skyped a few times and it was always filled with laughter. 

This madam has also abandoned her blog, though I think she is trying to dust off the cobwebs from her blog. You can catch her on twitter as that’s where she is these days conveying words of wisdom.

 

I met Chichi randomly but I think it was meant to be. I used to visit her blog sporadically and enjoyed reading about her relationship and her wedding planning. I am not sure I ever left a comment, I was a silent reader basically. I did follow her on twitter though. I noticed she was very pretty in the pictures she put on her blog. One time I went to the local church in my area as I couldn’t go to my church. I stood up to join praise and worship. Next thing I hear this beautiful melodious voice from someone standing behind me…I was so tempted to look back to see who was singing so stunningly. I succumbed and used style to look back and I saw her. Now I am very good with faces, and I knew I had seen that face somewhere but couldn’t place it…Her voice haunted me (in a good way) and then it hit me…this is chichi the blogger from "From Now till I do!" I was like wow OMG, I have just met a blogger and she doesn't even know it yet. I didn’t know if to walk up to introduce myself or what. I didn’t have the nerve as I didn’t think she knew me or my blog anyways and didn't want to start long stories...so I went home. Later that day I asked her on twitter if she attended xxx church and she said yes and how did I know. Hehe. I told her I saw her and that’s how we became friends.

Chichi has a gentle spirit and is as beautiful in person as she is in her pictures. She has been an inspiration to me and is a big fan of Super Working Mum :). She seems pretty organised to me from reading her blog posts. I can proudly call this lady my friend. I hope she feels the same way too.

Ladies, it has been a great pleasure knowing you. You make blogging worthwhile.

Oprah's lifeclass The Tour

I wasn't really a follower of the Oprah Winfrey's show when it was on but I watched a few episodes here and there.  The first time I heard about Oprah's Lifeclass was from Good Nigerian Girl during one of our conversations online. Then she blogged about the classes here and then the Tour which she is attending LIVE in Toronto (well done girl!). I decided to check it out as one of my goals for 2012 is to invest my time in things that will edify me all round- body, spirit and soul. Anyway I have watched two episodes so far and all I can say is WOWOWOWOW!!! Some mind blowing deep stuff, I mean this is not just some fluffy stuff but practical ways of dealing with life issues.

The first episode I watched was the one with Tony Robbins Living Fearlessly. I  am a fan of Tony Robbins (by the way I wonder why he uses Tony now instead of Anthony..I prefer Anthony..lol). He is such an amazing inspirational speaker. He shares some powerful stuff on how to embrace your fear and change the story you tell yourself. Amongst his many books he is well known for his international bestselling book- Awaken the giant within.

I then watched the one with Bishop T.D Jakes- Living with Purpose. This one was just on another level. I was totally blessed by this episode. In fact I recommend you watch this one if you have time to watch just one episode. Two things the Bishop said that stood out for me (which I also tweeted about) were:

The "Yes Yes Yes, was from Tony Robbins- so I was mixing and matching there...lol

I have realised that there are some things I want to do which I either don't do or end up doing "conventionally" because of what friends or family or people I don't even know would say..but Nooo! all that is changing now. By God's grace I am stepping out! I do not need ANYONE's validation. All I need is God's permission.

From both classes I got one key message - My purpose has to be greater than me and cannot benefit just me but people around me. When I look beyond myself & my need and reach out to help other people I can do fearless amazing things.

I enjoyed the classes so much I am going to look for the ones she ran last year.  I encourage you to look for those videos (maybe starting from the two above) and watch. I know not everyone is a fan of Oprah (I am indifferent about her) but please don't let that hold you back from watching the videos...the guest speakers she brings to the show is what does it for me and the message of TRUTH they pass on.

God bless!

Life as a Blind Person- Interview

As a typical Nigerian, the little I "knew" about blind people was that they were illiterates or beggars on the street till I met Dr Ife Akintunde, when I went to do my masters in Lancaster. My perception changed completely. Ife is one of the most inspiring, intelligent, lovable, always willing to help and loving person I have met in my life (he is a blogger as well). He might not know but he inspires and motivates me. I learnt a lot from him during my one year in Lancaster, one of which is you can live a purpose fufilled life even with a disability.

I have been wanting to blog about my dear friend for a while now but didn't know where to start as there is so much to write about him so I decided to interview him. I was chuffed when he agreed to let us into his world. Thank you Ife!!!!

A bit of warning- this is a long read but I assure you totally worth it.

Ok let me not make this post any longer. Enjoy the interview.

'It's not where you live, it's HOW you live'

I was really challenged/inspired by this woman's story(1) so I thought to share. I had read about her children (quadruplets) in the metro paper but reading the story from this woman's perspective is totally mind blowing. I am so enthused by women like this. Let me know what you guys think.

Meanwhile a big shout out to ShawnDaVinci
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Watching television pictures last week of jubilant teenagers celebrating their A-level results, I was filled with an amazing sense of accomplishment.
In my home that joyous feeling has been felt fourfold. For my 18-year-old children – quadruplets Tolu, Tayo, Tobi and Tosin, who were conceived naturally – all achieved A and B grades at the St Francis Xavier sixth-form college in Clapham, South-West London.
They have secured places at Manchester University, Goldsmiths, Queen Mary University of London and Cambridge.
I am, understandably, bursting with pride. Because, although I’ve not had to cope with too many social disadvantages over the years, the fact remains that I am a 52-year-old single mother. And I have brought up seven children – four of them boys – on my own in Lewisham, one of London’s most deprived boroughs.

Proud: Single mother Julie Oke believes it's how you live, not where you live

I have bucked the statistics that say my children, who grew up without a father present in their daily lives, should be academic failures.
All of them have done exceptionally well. The eldest boy is 29 and a doctor in Nigeria, my 27-year-old daughter is a nurse and I have a son, 25, who is a lawyer.
However, it is the success of the quads that has got everyone asking how I’ve pulled off this apparent miracle. Well, it is not rocket science. Simply put, it has always been my philosophy that it’s not where you live, but how you live – and that children learn by example.
I’ve always known education and hard work were the ways to improve my life, and I have instilled the same principles in my children.
My goal has always been that they would break down barriers and excel academically. But I also wanted them to do so in schools with a strong moral code, to complement my work at home. So I have always sent them to religious establishments.
I chose St Francis, despite it being a long way from our home, because it has a great reputation for academic achievement. Its exam results are consistently well above average and the majority of its students progress to higher education, including Oxford and Cambridge.
When I visited, the facilities stood out above the rest. I was especially struck by the principal’s mission statement, which says ‘to be successful in today’s world you must develop skills and abilities at a higher level than was ever necessary in the past’. That is what I’ve always told my children: to stretch themselves beyond what is expected.
I am constantly being told children in black communities are failing because 59 per cent of them are raised by lone parents. But, although I accept children are largely better off when they grow up with both parents, just having a man in the house does not mean they will go on to become pillars of society.

Four times the success: 18-year-old quadruplets Tobi, Tayo, Tolu and Tosin celebrate their A-level results

It really does depend on how you bring up your child. How they see you live your life and the values you instil in them from an early age. Too many single parents, of all colours and creeds, are content to collect state benefits and let their children run wild.
I have been a single mum since the quads were born. I was 34 and on my own but I was determined I would open up as many opportunities for them as possible.
They have seen how hard I work. I have never relied on Government handouts. They have learned by example that commitment and dedication will get you a long way.
Yet my background is not a wealthy or privileged one. My father was an illiterate Nigerian farmer and my mother was one of his seven wives. She ran a shop in a small town in the state of Osun. There were 24 children in all – five my mum’s.

I can remember my parents telling us that becoming educated would mean we did not have to work as physically hard as they did. However, they could not afford to send us all to higher education.
I went to an Anglican grammar school and ended up doing teacher training in Nigeria, before getting my first degree in social work education from the University of Paris in 1984.
After moving to London, I lived in a single room and did various odd jobs before I could get my footing. I was a social worker in Lambeth when, to the shock of everyone including myself, the quads were born.
I took a year’s maternity leave, put them into nursery and went straight back to work.
I continued studying child care because I wanted to open a nursery. I now manage a business that cares for 20 youngsters up to the age of five and have a staff of four.

I’m not saying it hasn’t been hard. At times, money has been incredibly tight. The children wore each other’s clothes and never got the designer gear or fashionable items their peers had. Yet they never complained. They saw how hard I worked and they knew it was all for them.
I’ve taught them to be respectful of other people, especially their elders. Once, one of the girls got into an argument with a teacher over her grades. I explained shouting was not the best way to get her point across and it was disrespectful. Another time I discovered that my sons wanted to settle a row with a local boy by fighting. I explained that violence could escalate and that it rarely solved a problem.
Obviously, there has been peer pressure put on them over the years. They see other kids running wild, doing what they want. But they know that is not how we live in this family.
I’ve never had to worry about them getting involved in gangs or drugs or any other bad behaviour for that matter. It is just out of the question because they have been brought up as good Christians.
People think being a single parent means your children have to fail. I live by my own code and my own notions. I tell my children they are individuals, that they do not have to be like everyone else.
What has held a lot of black families back is that they have accepted the stereotype. They do not realise they can achieve anything they want, that the sky is the limit, that class or colour should not classify who they are.
People have said I shouldn’t blow my own trumpet. But I know I’ve done everything possible to give my children a good start in life. It has taken commitment, time and care but it has been so rewarding for me to see them growing and achieving. And I confess, I’m privately amazed by how well they have done.
My message to other single parents is that they should not let the system determine their lives.
I say, always push yourself. Pray, work hard, respect yourself and your children.
I don’t think I’m unique or alone and only wish the good work of other lone parents with children doing well could be heard as loudly as those crying about the effects of guns and violence.

(1)Story taken from here.

Meanwhile a big shout out to ShawnDaVinci a new blogger. Please visit his blog and welcome him warmly. Thanks peeps :D

It is Well- Part 2

Hello People,

Hope you all had a great weekend? On my last blog entry I felt compelled to write about this three words- "it is well" and I said I would conclude on my next entry. Well here goes. Sorry this is coming a bit late. Part 1 can be found here.

I am not sure how many of you have heard/sang this great hymn “It is Well with my Soul”. I love the song so much because the words are so profound and deep. I decided to do some research on the song and the person who was inspired to write it and this was what I found.

This hymn was written by Horatio Gates Spafford a famous Chicago lawyer. Looking at the title of the song you would probably think this man had it all together- family, money, wealth and all the good things in life. Well initially he did till he suffered unthinkable personal catastrophe.

First of all, his only son was killed by scarlet fever at the age of four. A year later, there was a great fire that destroyed a large estate he had heavily invested in. As a result of this he lost so much money. Am guessing by now some of us would think there is definitely someone after this man (maybe some old woman in the village). Anyway to get away from all the calamity around him, he decided to take his family on holiday to England. As they were getting ready to depart, some last minute business came up which kept Spafford behind. He decided to send his family ahead of him. Nine days later, Spafford received a telegram from his wife in Wales saying "Saved alone." Apparently the ship they were on collided with another ship and sank! Only his wife survived, while their four daughters died.

When he heard the terrible news, Spafford boarded the next ship out of New York to join his bereaved wife. On his way, the captain of the ship he was on, called him and showed him the spot where the ship sank. He then returned to his cabin and penned the lyrics of his great hymn- It is Well with My Soul.

Sad as it is, this song reveals a man whose trust was in the Lord because how else can you write a song saying it is well with your soul with so many catastrophe in your life none stop! I am not sure how many of us have experienced half as much sorrow and it would be difficult to predict what we would do under similar circumstances. However, the fact still remains that even though bad things happen in life, God is still a good God and we should put our trust in him. Who else could we even depend on except the Omnipresence and Omniscience (is everywhere and knows all) Hmm...I think I should stop here before i start a whole new topic!

Below are the lyrics of this great song

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot,
Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Chorus-
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

I hope this song makes some sense to you like it made sense to me.

My prayer is that as we move into the next quarter of this year 2008, it is well with us no matter the circumstances that come our way. If God is on our side, no one, nothing can be against us.

God bless!

"I am the New Year"

Happy New Year everyone!!!! 2008 is your year of new birth. The Lord says "Forget the things of the past, I want to do a new thing in your life." (Isaiah 43-18-19). Let go and Let God!!!

By the way, a friend sent me this new year poem that I will like to share with you. I hope it blesses you as it did me.

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I Am The New Year
Author Unknown Life

I am the New Year.
I am an unspoiled page in your book of time.
I am your next chance at the art of living.
I am your opportunity to practice what you
have learned about life during the last twelve months.
All that you sought and didn't find is hidden in me,
waiting for you to search it out with more determination.
All the good that you tried for and didn't achieve
is mine to grant when you have fewer conflicting desires.
All that you dreamed but didn't dare to do,
all that you hoped but did not will,
all the faith that you claimed but did not have -
these slumber lightly,waiting to be awakened
by the touch of a strong purpose.
I am your opportunity to renew your allegiance to Him
who said, 'behold, I make all things new.'

I am the New Year.

What is "right" with me??

Have u ever noticed that we are quick to ask ourselves “what is wrong with me?” when things seem out of control.

“Why am I not yet married?
Why is my husband/wife not like so and so?
Why don’t I have a better paying job?
God, why me? (And I ask- why not you?!)
WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME???”

Does it automatically mean that when things are not going your way that something is wrong with you? I don’t think so because in life everyone has their fair share of woes.

Many of us grumble a lot when things don’t seem to go our way. Grumbling is certainly not an attractive trait. It gets to a point when your family and friends can't take your moaning and whining anymore.

As it ever occurred to you to ask yourself- “what is right with me?” Seems like a strange question to ask but I believe that if we start focusing on what is right with us, we might have the right attitude towards life and not think we’ve been cursed or some thing.

So what is right with you?

• You are alive today- someone died during their sleep


• You have food to eat- so many have nothing to eat


• You can wake up whenever, go where ever anytime you want- ask the married they need "permission" from their partners before they can hop and go


• Your husband sits at home lazing around watching football after work- some women don’t know where their husbands have been for the past two nights


• You are free to pursue your dreams, you and your husband can travel around etc- those with children will need to "readjust" (removed "saddled with that responsibilties")
  
• Your job pays the bills- some people have been searching for a job since they left school

I can go on and on but I believe you are getting my point. This is the real world, bad times are defintely going to come but don't give up hope. There is a light at the end of the tunnel. If only we can change our focus. I know it is easier said than done but if we want to be appealing to others around us, enjoy life and maintain a good attitude we need to be more thankful to God for the good he has done and is doing in our lives.

Inspired by this!

Hi y'all, A friend sent this to me and I was blessed by it so I thought to share with y'all. Trusting in the Lord is the best decision one can ever make in life. Feel free to share your thoughts. Ta!

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Praising God for Closed Doors

We need to learn to praise the Lord as much for a closed door as we do an open door. The reason God closes doors is because He has not prepared anything over there for us. If he didn't close the wrong door, we would never find the right door.

God directs our path through the closing and opening of doors. Once a door closes, it forces you to change your course. Another door closes; it forces you to change your course again. Then, finally, you find the open door and you walk right in to your blessing.

The Lord directs our paths through the opening and closing of doors, but instead of praising him for the closed door (which keeps us out of trouble); we get upset because we "judge by the appearances."

You have an ever-present help in the time of trouble that is always standing guard. Because He walks ahead of you, He can spot trouble down the road and set up a roadblock or detour accordingly. But through our lack of wisdom, we try to tear down the roadblocks or push aside the detour sign. Then the minute we get in to trouble, we start crying, "Lord, how could you have done this to me?"

We have got to realize that the closed door can be a blessing. Didn't He say that no good thing would He withhold from them that love Him?

If you get terminated from your job, praise God for the new opportunities that will manifest themselves: it might be another job, it might be school.

If that man or woman won't return your call, it might not be them; it might be the Lord setting up a roadblock (just let it go).

One time, a person had a bank they had been in business with for many years tell them "No!" to a $10,000 loan. The Lord put in their spirit to call another bank. That bank gave them $40,000 at a lower interest rate than the first bank was offering.

We can sometimes trap ourselves in doubt and discouragement through judging by appearances. Be grateful for the many times our Father has closed doors to us just to open them in the most unexpected places.

The Lord won't always say in spoken words: "Go to the left, now to the right" ...sometimes He will just close the doors that are wrong for you.

The saying is indeed true: trust in the Lord with all your heart. Lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him – and he will direct your paths.

If you are blessed with this, bless others by passing on.............. When You're down to nothing, God is up to something!