LET THE GAME BEGIN!

My Father who is heaven, hollowed be your name. Your very kingdom come and your will be done. May you give me this day my daily bread and forgive me for my trespasses, as I forgive those who have trespassed against me. Lead me not into temptation but deliver me from evil. Amen!!!

 

Well, it is hug your blanket season which just got real, having coming back full force with no mercy. I tell you, everywhere you go the bathroom has become the mortal enemy. Touching water is like breaking the silent vow. I have known cold/chilliness but this my friend is another level of torture, you take a shower & you have but seconds to dry yourself & get into warm clothing otherwise, the chill will get you like a bad prank. There comes a time, when one goes like “to bath or not to bath that is the question”!

How have you been? Anything exciting happen while I was away? Don’t worry, am not going to disappear like that without letting you know first. Life opted to come with the ripper to make a claim of how it wants the show to be run. Did you know that we become so caught up with our daily struggles that we forget to take a moment to just take a couple of deep breaths & appreciate that which we have. The speed at which the world is moving is so unpredictable that one wonders when it will stop spinning.

How do you face each day that the sun rises from the east (no hidden agenda in it, am aware you know it sets in the west), if you don’t mind me asking? Is it that you wake up groaning asking yourself, “why has this day come again, could it just end again”? Or do you wake up all pumped up, looking forward to the surprise of the day, wondering what feats you are going to achieve? Am guessing that at times you wake up & question why you are in this realm & who lied to you about adulting.

It takes a lot to face the days as they are (pandemic and all) & one can nearly break by the mere fact that there is so much to handle. As was wisely said, “yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery but today is a gift that is why we call it the present”. This may sound like a cliché, but it has a nice ring to it when you read it, makes you feel all wise & inspired. We do get at times to be between a rock & a hard place, with the puzzle look of why everything is working against me.

You are a strong person (not meaning physically) but mentally. You are a caring person, you have those whom you hold closely to your heart. You are psychologically capable of overcoming anything, as is said “mind over matter”. You are spiritually empowered, it takes belief & faith for you to move that mountain. You are socially compatible, no one is hard to approach as life is a circle. All these may be so, but you are the center piece of it all. It takes having the will that can make you move from one step to another.

We are blessed with 2 eyes, 2 ears & 1 mouth, to it see all, hear it all & talk about it when it is necessary. Nothing is cast on stone as it can be molded to a better shape if need be. Take a moment to just reflect on that which you have, you have been through a journey like no other. No one understands it better than you do because your path is yours & yours alone. However, you can always travel with others to make your ride to your destination more comfortable.

It takes self-will & belief to get to the heights that you desire. It will in no time be easy but in the long run, it will be worth it. The push & pull, the rise & fall, the slow & fast, the high & low is all part of the theatrics of the show that is your life. No one is a better warrior in your story other than yourself. As the performer before the stage set by the world, you know the ending as the credits roll concluding the show. Don’t fret, you have got this & you are built for far much better things than you can imagine.

“Many people will panic to find a charger before their phone dies, but won’t panic to find a plan before their dream dies – Elon Musk”

How heavy is this glass of water? The absolute weight of the glass does not matter, it depends on how long that you hold onto it. If you hold it for a minute, nothing will happen, if you hold it for an hour your arm will begin to ache, if you hold it for the whole day your arm will feel numb and paralyzed. The weight of the glass has not changed but the holder I hold onto it the heavier it becomes. The stresses and worries of life are like the glass of water. If you think about them for a little while there is no problem. If you think about it for a little bit longer it will begin to hurt. If you think about them all day long and you will feel paralyzed incapable of doing anything. Always remember put the glass down!

BREAK THE CHAIN!

Hallelujah, finally the man gets his time having arrived wrapped in a purple ribbon.  This is that glorious & fantabulous day that has come to recognize us (I know you want me to get to the point quickly). Roll the drums, clap your hands, stand up for those who God has blessed with the title "father, daddy, dad, baba, paps etc" - I want to wish you all men a happy father's day. I want you to know that you are really appreciated & today is your day, enjoy & relish it. You may now resume your positions as you were (dusts off hands in acknowledgement & appreciation)

I think the rope is burning or is going to burn my hands. Why am I holding it so tightly, if the rope keeps on slipping am going to burn off my palm, damn! Confusing moment huh, let me clear the sudden fog of being lost by the sentences above. Why is it that whenever we have something in our possession though it may be damaging to us, we still keep on hanging on to it? Is it that we are afraid that if we let it go that we shall be left with nothing to keep us company or is it the sense that we shall feel all empty on the inside lacking a purpose or a direction. 

You have despair, confusion, hate, anger, hurt, fear, trauma & so forth milling through your mind day in, day out. All of which, can tie you down to a state of immobility in your life in such a way that you can no longer unshackle yourself from the prison you are in of your own creation whether voluntarily or not. We get so caught up in the happenings that have molded us that we forget that we can open a door that will set us free, we just need to insert the key & take hold of the handle & turn it. 

Many are the times that our path has been chartered by our past that keeps us in check that we don’t realize that there is a different way of handling it all. It is said that if you repeat something the same way over & over again, you still eventually end up with the same result though expecting a different turn out. We become caught up on the thorns in our lives that we forget that there are flowers that we can also smell & appreciate their beauty. No one is destined to be in the same spot no matter what the universe may be communicating. 

It may take time before you reach your full potential but that does not mean that you are to be a slave to your circumstance. We at times resign to fate & gave up on the hope of a better tomorrow as that is all that we know & understand. However, nothing in this world is cast in stone even if we don’t want to admit that change scares us silly. We become so mortified that if you decide to let go of the chains that are holding you down & back, you shall be lost. It is true, you can be lost but that does not mean that you can’t be found. 

Many have been through the very path that you have been in & have managed to overcome their situations. It could be your childhood trauma, it could be your work drama, it could be your health complications, it could be your adulthood drama, it could be your relationship drama, it could be your personal growth drama & so on. None of this matter once you realize that you have the key that can open the padlock that keeps your chains in place. We get to a point in life that we need to find a way of releasing into the world all that is holding us back. 

At times, it may not be intentional bondage but more of an upbringing tie that has kept one stagnated in one place. Who we are, is not defined by the world but ourselves. You can make a choice of breaking free by taking a step in talking & confiding on those whom you trust, you could broaden your mind by reading books, you could take up a sport or physical activity/challenge that can help you decompress the fire/pain/hurt within, you could visit different places to soak in their serenity to change your usual environment hitting the reset button & so forth. 

Let me ask, do you think you hold meaningful conversations? When you are having a conversation does it involve any financial growth or restructuring? Does your conversation lead to an opportunity? Does the conversation build the other person involved in it or even yourself? Does your conversation lead to the broadening of the mind? If not, you need to check what it is that you mostly talk about.

 Most times when conversing with one another we have the weakness of talking about the latest escapade, newest joint in town, most hardcore drink that has been made, captivating technology that has been invented & many others. I have nothing against all these as we must enjoy life as it is. However, is it that most times you center your conversations of things that are but having no meaningful impact in your life (I am just asking; there is no need to feel am up in your space)

Let me pen off with this, when you pray (if you do), have you been praying and crying at night saying, “God why me?”. If God was to whisper back, He would say, “Why not you? I didn’t sentence you to pain, I trusted you with it. I didn’t sentence you to trial I trusted you with it. Because I knew that even through your tears, you wouldn’t deny my name. Even through your pain, you wouldn’t stop worshipping. Even through your questions, you wouldn’t stop serving. Even through the rejection, you would not stop sowing”. Is there anybody that in spite of the circumstance, in spite of what looked like a coin flip, you still served God. You still honor God. You still praise God. You still give him glory!

In my line of living I no longer pray that God gives me what I think I need, but to give me what He knows I need. God is the only one who has been in my & your tomorrow, so he is the only one who knows what I & you are going to need when you & I get there. May you enjoy the week that is about to unfold before you!

AM ON THE RUN!

“No human is limited”, one of the most famous & memorable quotes you have ever heard been uttered by the world renowned marathon runner Eliud Kipchoge. My friend, this man can zoom not even run considering his pacing speed is quite something to admire (runners will understand, don’t feel bad if you are not one). The meaning of the simple quote is so deep rooted that though it has only four words, it has a meaning that goes beyond the normal interpretation. 

While we are alive to the fact that life is journey, it requires that we try our level best to put our best foot forward in all that we do. I can imagine if you & I are or were in the same room, you would tell me to my face (or through a hand written note) that I am going bonkers. Maybe I am, but that does not mean that I am not unto something (loony as I may be, hmm). 

Just like the sun rising in the morning, it comes with the hope of a new day fresh & untouched. There is no day which is similar to the other no matter who you look at it. One Monday is different from the next or previous Monday, thus creating uniqueness in the day that is. When we are brought forth into this world through the miracle our birth, we are catapulted into what is deemed as our destiny. 

The journey of getting where we are meant to reach is a whole different story altogether. The churning of the wheels of fate is lubricated by a variation of oils that makes the gears turn at different speeds. At the time of maturing & realizing where we are meant to be, we push forward to make this into a reality. Soon enough, we realize that we are meant for a greater purpose & thus requiring that we climb those mountains of pain, swim in those rivers of confusion, walk in those valleys of despair, run in the forest of fear & come out victorious. 

No one is better equipped to face all these but you (don’t look around you expecting someone else to do this for you)! Who else did you imagine will take up your mantle & light your torch to burn bright & illuminate the darkness around you? Think about it.

 “Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery but today is a gift that is why it is called the present”.

Did you know that no one can propel you into your supposed destiny apart from you! A simple example, if you are to make tea, you will need to boil some milk (unless you are lactose intolerant – just learned this new term), water & some tea leaves to come up with the final product. No one is going to wake up for you, have sleepless nights, deny themselves the small comforts of life, go out there & test the waters or even clock the necessary hours to get to your intended goal/dream.

When you wake up each day, you are meant to have an idea of what it is that you want to achieve in the course of the day. If you look at the billboards, glossy magazines, newspapers or the internet you will see a face or two that are making headlines for the achievements that they have obtained. Don’t let that douse your fire that you can’t make it.

Your goal or dream may take longer to achieve but you will eventually get there. Patience is one key thing that you have to exercise so as to get it right & in the proper dosage. This idea of using short cuts to get the end results will have a damning consequence that will make the life span of your goal or dream contaminated.

 

“Life is about breaking our personal limits and outgrowing ourselves to live our best lives”.

If you ever watched the movies Coach Carter, you will remember this, “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light not our darkness that frightens us. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine as children do. It’s not just in some of us. It is in everyone and as we let our own lights shine. We consciously give other people permission to do the same as we are liberated from our own fear. Our presence automatically liberates others.  

“You must be willing to do things today others won’t do, in order to have the things tomorrow, others won’t have.

All in all that you do always remember that you have a path that is meant just for you. We may deem that the grass is greener on the other side but in reality the grass is greener where it is properly watered & taken care of. Just like how we would say that you are the source of your own happiness. Life is a puzzle that we can’t figure it all out at once; all we can do is piece it together bit by bit.

In the pursuit of happiness, don’t forget your starting point, why you are battling & where is your intended destination. It may not look like it, considering that at times things don’t work out the way we desire them to. Things will come tumbling down like the walls of Jericho, making you wonder am I strong enough for this like Samson. It may feel like one is fighting while under water against the weight of it all.

No one said that to get to our destiny or goals or dreams will be like taking a ride in the calm sea. Oh no! It will be like walking through a raging storm tossing you all over, pushing you to maintain a stability that will not get you off balance. As you forge forward in life, you have to clear the path of all the bushes of guilt, shrubs of disappointment & long grass of nearly giving up.

When you do get the time, go & listen to the song titled “I’ll give thanks by Housefires ft Kirby Kaple”. Then once you do, let me know what you think about what it is all about. I will leave you with these words found in the word of God in Psalms 19:14 “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my rock and redeemer”!

I AM FEARFUL!!!

Hi, how are you doing? How was your day? How did it go? Ooh! It went like that. Don’t you worry about it, you shall be okay. I know the sun may seem to be blotted out of the sky & covered by the grey clouds but things will look up. You don’t think so, because your world seems to have gone upside down & turned inside out. 

Well, I can tell you for free that no matter what hurdles or obstacles or disappointments or misery or pain or confusion you are facing, one way or another you shall see that light at very end of that dark tunnel. You don’t believe me, I can’t blame you. Who would believe me? 

Who in their right mind would fathom that in this treacherous time that anything good will come out of the wood works as it all seems like a distant reality. Well, don’t fret, it will get better & the sun will shine bright for you. I know that things are tough but you are going to make it. 

Did you know that the sun always rises from the east in the morning bringing with it a fresh new beginning and sets in the west to bring to a close the day that has been. During the day showering you with its warm rays of light, soaking your every fiber with its warmness. 

We do have moments that things in our lives just take a serious left turn making you wonder if you pissed of some unseen force. You think am joking, you should listen to half the stories of the people you meet on a daily & you would be shocked by the weight of it all. 

Anyway, not to digress but what I can but tell you is that you are blessed and highly favoured. It may not seem or even look like it but if you are able to read this you are more blessed than you think. Are you not alive, breathing & living? Ooh, you feel just because nothing is working in your favour that you need to be at the bottom of the pile, as you deem yourself unworthy, isn’t it? 

I can’t allow that kind of thinking to ride in your upstairs? Why you ask? It is because from the moment that you were born there was someone who celebrated your existence on this earth. You would not at the time have realized that you were loved, appreciated & for an instance had brought happiness to others. 

So, No! I don’t believe that you ought to be taking it in at the scum level of the pile. You are a light like no other to those around you, only that you have not realized that you are precious. We have a tendency to think that since we are weak as described by others that is the way we are. 

I also have fears. Ooh! You thought that I was invincible & that the amazon part of me was forged from steel (more like brittle wood). Let me tell you, we all have our own fears on different levels. An example, I have a fear of getting a whooping from the one who raised me as her son if I disrespect her. I have a fear of failing. 

I have a fear of disappointing. I have a fear of not been good enough & so many other fears (you are not the only one, you are human). Through this all, I do know that it is through my fear that I have grown to overcome that which stands in the path of me & my preplanned fate or destiny (don’t worry am also confused by the wordiness of it all). 

All in all, you have got this. You need to believe in yourself as it all starts with you for you are the main attraction at this event called life. When you have the time, you need to take a moment when gazing at the stars (do we still do that? Shrugs shoulders in wonder) or while on a nature walk or stroll to reflect on who you are, to where you have come from & lastly to where you are meant to be. 

It is said that what we don’t understand we fear but that does not change the fact that we are still human. Now, is the time that you take control over your life & steer it on the path that you are meant to be on. Nothing in this world is just black & white, sometimes situations are blurry. We all have our limits but that does not meant that we can’t achieve fetes that seem to be out of our leagues.

Did you know that once you lose something that was of value but you were blinded to its actual weight in gold, it is at that time that you then understand & realize its true worth to you. Just like the way the saying goes, “a bird in hand is worth two in the bush”. Think about it, I could be wrong.

 When you are tempted to worry, set your mind on what God has said, “Matthew 6:34 – Don’t worry about tomorrow, tomorrow has enough concern of its own”. When you are tempted to fear, set your mind on what God has said, “Isaiah 43:1 – Don’t fear for I have redeemed you and I have called you by name, you are mine”. When you are tempted to doubt, set your mind on what God has said, “James 1:6 – But let him ask in faith and do not doubt but trust in the good God”. When you are tempted to quit, set your mind on what God has said, “Galatians 6:9 – Do not grow weary in doing well, for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up”. When we are tempted to sin, set your mind to what God has said, “Corinthians 10:13 – No temptation has overcome you, except that what is common to mankind and God is faithful, He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear, but when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. He will not allow temptation to be more than you can stand”. 

YOU ARE YOU!

How are you feeling today? Are you okay? Did you sleep well? Have you had something to fill the belly? Are the current times, taking you well or it has been a bashing all along? Do you need a hug? Do you want someone to talk to? Or do you want someone who can just listen to you & tell you everything is going to be alright? 

These may seem like just ordinary, normal questions but the gravity they have will surprise you. We tend to assume that we are all on the same boat & everything is rocking about calmly in the sea/ocean. What would surprise you is the lacking, hurting, confusion, despair, lost or the constant pain being felt all around. 

It may seem far-fetched but let me tell you, a lot of people are going through something inclusive of you & dealing with it is no easy feat. It is so easy to wear a mask & plaster a smile on your face to hide the pain on the inside or even seclude yourself from the prying eyes of the world. There is a lot of chaotic moments going round in each of us & we don't know what to do. 

A lot of mayhem has been unleashed into the world right now like the opening of the Pandora’s box that one does not even know where to begin. Why is life such a circus? Going up & down like a roller coaster out of control with no end in sight. We try to understand something but end up getting even more lost. I want you to know that no matter what you are going through, you are not alone. 

You are loved, you are treasured, you have a purpose on this sweet earth. It may not seem like it, as nothing is making sense & the world seems to be upside down but a light will shine in the dark of times. Remember that at no time in this life that you have not made it through situations which seemed beyond you, you are stronger than you think, more blessed than you know, more in control than you can imagine. 

It may look all scary because the future is looking bleak, days are glum, nights are long, opportunities are scarce, pockets are not jingling with coin & so forth. We are living in times that make us think that maybe, just maybe something is not okay with us. Or that lady luck doesn’t want to bestow upon you with her good graces. Or that fortune is not meant to favor you. 

Anyway, am not trying to put you down or to show you how messy life is just getting into a bit of reality check here & there. At least we have progress in the medical field in various countries to curb this migraine inducing pandemic that has been terrorizing us left, right & center (no pun intended). When our lives get turned upside down we tend to lose our mind because we get into the space of believing that there is definitely an error with our biological coding. 

This goes to the extent of us, asking ourselves if there is a problem with us. You are more likely to question yourself based on the very fact of how things turn out in your life. You need to understand that we are all different & thus our uniqueness on how we react to various situations that affect us directly or indirectly. What you can take from all this, is that never ever deem yourself unworthy just because you are different or you are not fortunate enough. 

In all your uniqueness, if you look deep down you will realize there is something that stands out about you amongst your peers. You could be a critical/analytical thinker, you could be a calculate person in your deeds, you could be an awesome researcher, you could be a smooth talker, you could be a superb cooking genius, you could be an avid reader, you could be a community oriented helper with a generous heart, you could be a formidable teacher, you could be a kind person, you could be a good listener & the list could go on & on. 

One way or the other, there is something that makes you different from the person next to you just like the front & back of a coin are not similar. Dare to be different as no one is like you & don’t worry even if things seem to be not in your favor.

 

 I would like you to pray, if you don't mind. Let's pray, "My Father up in heaven, I come before you as your beloved child. Dear God, I place before you myself. May you watch over me as I go about each day. Lord, I know that there is a lot happening in the world right now that has changed the course of how things work in our daily lives. I place myself into your able hand knowing that you are Jehovah Jireh, the provider of everything.  Father I know that all things work in the time that you choose for us, as your answer is yes, no or wait. Give me the patience & grace to know that you have got me. I pray Father that your will be manifested in me & that you shall guide my every step. Thank you Lord for being in my life, I do not take it for granted. I am alive, I am healthy, I have the use of my limbs, I am clothed, I have food to eat & I get to see a new sunrise each day. Be with me Lord & let your will be in my heart. Amen!!!

I DARE TO BE DIFFERENT!!!

Do you dare to be different? Or are you one who confirms to the common norms. I am not trying to become too much with my English. It is a conundrum of sorts that we are plagued into pitch black darkness not knowing where to turn. Lost in the abyss of our train of thoughts, taking in the mountain tops seeking for inner peace.

 Tik tok the wall clock chimes as the minutes pass by. One after another the hours pass by like the gust of wind beating on the sails of your merry boat. Away we go, as we forge forth into the unknown, swords at the ready not knowing if this is the day we breath our last. 

Will this be the beginning of good tides & leaps of joy or shall this be the horrific ending? The future continues to remain unknown as we struggle in our present times, evading our past. Who we are, becoming a nagging question at the back of our minds. 

It seems that the distant cries of those lost shall forever linger like a shadowy ghost over our heads. I scream, I shout, at times even yell & all around me, the looks are those of has lost his mind! Have I really gone bonkers or it is just me letting out what is tossing & turning deep within! 

We all get caught up with the societal norms that we forget our individual identity. Living in the shadows of others & hiding away who we are. I have been asked, why do you talk to yourself? Were you dropped when you were a small baby? Then in bewilderment I look back & say, “how dare you say that I have wires that have snapped”. 

All in all, I take a moment to reflect on the oddity of what has just been bluntly stated to me with unblinking eyes. Is it possible because of how I behave, that there could be a slim chance that I have some wires crossed/burnt in my medulla oblongata? Well, I will let you be the judge of that. 

What I do know for sure is that, we are many who have lost it to the extent that our behaviour does not mash up to the expected level of normalcy. Well, I will take each day as it comes not being sure of what the world has in store for me,  maybe I would be slapped unconsciously passing out in wonder. 

 It is quite common place to see the judgmental mentality while looking at someone & putting them down because they are not like you. We get so caught up with the, what will others think of me that you end up diluting your trueself. I am not saying that positive change should not be embraced but rather ensuer that hold onto our identity. 

Let me ask you, have you ever been in your social circle & you have gone to the extent of camouflaging how you are, to fit in? If you are one who takes two cups of tea you make it seem that one cup will do. Yet deep down, you are burning with the desire to quench your thirst but rather pretend to look more civilized. 

Or trying to dress up in the latest fashion so as to look hip, yet the wear you have has nothing wrong with it. Or at work, being the do it all whenever a favour is asked of you, yet you are struggling. Or purchasing that fancy car using a bank loan so that you can be seen to be one of them, yet the payments are crashing you. 

Or going to that fancy restuarant & taking up the bill for the whole group, yet you know that it will set you back financially for a couple months. This is not even an exhaustive list, but am assuming that you are getting the gist of what am trying to point out. 

Did you know that if you say a kind word to another, it will not finish your knowledge. Did you know that if you encourage others, it will not make you a lesser person. Did you know that if you trully support your friend's hustle, it will not close the tap of resources on your end. 

Did you know, if you are true to yourself, you would live a more happier & fulfilling life. Did you know, if you are honest about your opinions, it will make it clear to others what it is that you actually mean. Did you know if you are true of who you are, you won't have to put on a face to impress others. 

Did you know that when we deny the story, it defines us. When we own the story, we write a brand new ending. Did you also know no one can destroy iron, but its own rust. Likewise, no one can destroy a person, but ones own mindset. In taking all this in, you need to understand that you are more than just the physical being. 

You are not just an engine running on oil but a being of various complex components working together, ranging from flowing blood, the pumping heart, the distributing veins & arteries, the holding together flesh, the calculative brain & so on. In all that you do, remember that you are unique in all of your entertity.

I will leave you with this:

"God's timing, not mine! God's plan, not mine! God's will, not mine! God's Glory, not mine! God's word, not this world's!"

MY PATH, IS IT MINE ALONE?

God I come before you as your child & a believer. It has been a journey to see this blessed new year though one filled with its own ups & downs. I come before you knowing that the road has not been smooth. Father, I am placing those who are lacking, in need, suffering, in pain, having lost loved ones, those who are sick, those seeking their daily keep, those healing that your mighty hand shall be on them. Abba Father, I pray for your continued grace, blessings & undying love. In Jesus holy name, I pray. Amen!!!

Hi there, how have you all been doing? It has been a minute, huh! Well, the days have been one of a kind I tell you. It has been like the adventures of Sinbad. Each week has come with its own twist & turn like the devil dust, catching our breath to what is to unfold. Unfortunately, the loss of lives & the number of people becoming critically ill has been on the rise due to the rona. In every corner that you turn, you could always see a tear been shed here & there of one enduring the hard times that have taken us hostage. 

The questioning of the genesis of what has been happening globally has given rise to hair pulling, road rage, maniac behavior of people offing each other. It is quite a sensitive time that people are letting out their frustration the best way they know how to. There are times that I sit down & wonder, am I really strong enough to handle this! Tired, scared, worried, angry, saddened but then I remember those whom I have in my corner & where I have come from & am like, “I can make it & I am not alone in this fight”. 

The reality on the ground is that no matter what is happening around you, not many people will care what it is that you are going through. If you think that am lying & being malicious ask yourself this, “how many of my ‘friends’ have made the time to see how you are doing so far”. I would suggest that we pull up our socks & improve ourselves in seeing how others are faring on. It does not have to be any grand thing, just something simple like a text, a call, a video chat or even a simple visit or having them in your prayers. 

Look at those whom you surround yourself with & what impact they have had in your life & you in theirs. We are living in trying times, where seeing the next day is no small feat but a miracle unto itself. In the real world, currently people are in survival mode trying to see how best to make things work. We are trapped in a whirlwind not knowing which direction the wind will blow & where are meant to go as all around us chaos is erupting like an unstable volcano. What is it that we did to deserve the woes that have plagued us, have we not suffered enough! 

These would seem like the times that the Israelites faced all manner of hardship while in Egypt awaiting to go to the promised land of milk & honey in Canaan. Don’t fret all things work out for good, we may not see it but just know that there is greatness at hand. I would like to encourage you with the word from the book of Mathew 7:7-8 which reads as follows, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds and to the one who knocks the door will be opened”. 

We live in a world that we need to have something that we have our footing in & a firm foundation. Most of us may have a good heart that allows us to be there for others even if our own situations are weighing us down like sin. Responding to that call that requires our attention because someone we know needs our help & assistance. Right now I can tell you, you can’t do it all by yourself, it will be too much to bear. The thing is this, if you ever do anything for anyone do not do so with the expectation of something in return. 

If you do something & are expecting something in return that is business. You need to search deep in yourself & figure out what kind of person you shall be for those around & close to you. I have had to learn that the smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention. We become so lost in our self-righteousness to the extent if we see someone we know in need we assume that things will just work out for them. 

Since they seem to be clear mind, are strong, are composed, are unfazed or seem to have it all together nothing can shake them. You would be surprised by the hard truth that is, don’t be deceived with what your eyes can see. In the words of a very common cliché, “don’t judge a book by a cover, but by its pages”. I will tell you for free that as long as I have seen today, I am blessed.

I stand by a simple cradle, "Stand behind me, I will protect you. Stand beside me, I will respect you. Stand against me, I will end you".

KEEP IT COOL!

Hey you, hold your tongue! Just before you utter another word, think very, very carefully about that which you are about to say next. How dare you just blast off like a radio without knowing the repel effect of your words. You do know that what comes out of your mouth can not be shoved back in! 

What is it with us humans, that once we get provoked just a little that we let loose a torrent of unfathomable words that can even shame our own parents, wondering who they raised. We raise our voices not caring what is the pinch or punch that will come with our actions or the very words spewed from our lips. 

Well, we are a people of wonder, when a small spark ignites the flame within for a wrong whether intentionally or unintentionally done by another, we become barbaric like the Vikings. Slashing, stabbing, swinging, dicing, smashing with no second thought all enraged like a bull squeezed at its balls knowing that all hell must pay. 

We become like hired assassins wanting to take everyone out because we have been wronged or someone has interfered with the intended purpose of our mission. Anyway, am just trying to bring to your attention just like the way the internet never forgets, the heart doesn’t always heal completely as there are strains of the pain caused that usually are lingering about. 

In all that you do, just take it in good stride to tame the words that slip out of your mouth. Some may take it lightly deeming that we are all hardcore, my friend you would be surprised by the lingering effects of utterances. I just thought it be crucial to just bring to the fore since it seems at times we forget & need a reminder here & there. 

Did you know that most times we are so ungrateful to the extent that if you ever have an out of body experience & look at yourself, you would go like, “what the……”. Yep, we take some many things for granted not appreciating the value that they possess. It is only at the point of loss that we come to the realization that what we had, was a treasure to be held close like the gift of life. 

When we are myopic of the things that matter, that which is worthy slips through our fingers like sand in an hour glass. When you have clothes even though not the best, you are grumbling why can’t I have designer like so & so yet your nakedness is covered & you are protected from the elements. 

When you are driving a simple jalopy down the streets you wish you had that 4x4 guzzler to cushion you from the whacky road, yet yours moves you from point A to B. When you have this loving, caring, providing man/woman in your life, you get the wondering eye lusting after the younger, finer, more athletic, lad/lass at your place of work, neighborhood or even at places of social gathering. 

When you have a simple gadget, you go nuts about the fancy more technologically advanced gadget, yet that which you have can still connect you to the outside world. I am assuming that you have heard the saying, “A bird in the hand is worth two in the bushes”. Did you get what it meant or you just thought it was a colourful play with words. 

I am in no way saying that you should not desire to have the best, but don’t let you desires cloud your judgment. What you want & what you need differ, a want is not compulsory while a need is a necessity. It is important to remember that though anger is a feeling that gets emitted from within it can explode like a ticking time bomb if left unchecked, leading to a trail of burned bridges don’t let it blur your path. 

If you go back in time, into the biblical space, Cain dealt with Abel in a horrific moment of weakness, as his anger went unchecked & unleashed into the world. Who we are when we let our emotions control us, is a different entity or personality that can either construct or destroy you. While a blessing is the feeling of knowing that no matter what is happening within you, around you or for you there is good meant for you. If this doesn’t make sense, bite on a piece of ice, maybe it will calm & cool you down. 

A little bit of side note, I am no authoritative figure but this is a free public service announcement. Well, we are now in the thick of it(biting nails uncontrollably)! Did you or did you not know that we are in the third wave of the Rona. My friend, this is the stuff the resident evil movie was made off. It all just started all easy peasy lemon squeezy, until all hell broke loose. We need to protect ourselves, those whom we care about & love as well as those around us. Mask up, sanitize, wash your hands with soap thoroughly, keep that physical & social distance, if you are lucky, you can get vaccinated.

Can I tell you a secret? This shouldn’t even be a secret, you got this. I just want to encourage you today that whatever detour you encounter along the way; you will make the right decision. Whatever mountain is blocking your pathway; you are strong enough to climb it. You see it always being you! You have always being strong enough to overcome any storm, struggle and obstacle. You just needed the right mindset & today I just want to encourage you. 

Heavenly Father, I ask that every man and woman who is reading this that they may be uplifted, they be encouraged, they be renewed through you dear God. Whatever they are struggling with dear God, may it be medical, emotional or a financial need, I ask you dear God that you combine them into one dear God and that they feel your presence like they have never felt it before. I pray this to you in your heavenly name. Amen!!! 

Remember, it is always being you. Go out there & face the world with no fear of what may be in front of your because you are strong enough to overcome it.

RAW IN DETAIL!

"When I was born, a woman was there to hold me: My Mother. As I grew up as a child, a woman was there to play with me: My Sister. I went to school, a woman was there to help me learn: My Teacher. When I needed comparability, company and love, a woman was there for me: My Wife. When I will die, a woman will be there to absorb me in it: Motherland!"

Does the above paragraph invoke anything in you or it is just some fancy words with no weight or lacking the expected oomph (please don't search the meaning of the word, I can't unread what I have just read) or do you think it is a ploy to get attention (lifts hands in surrender). I have a feeling that I will be either stoned or crucified for this, but a man has got to do what he has got to do. 

By a show of hands or a shout out, are you a person who says things as they are or you are more of letting things play out & see the proverbial fireworks? (looking around anxiously).Well, for me am a straight shooter. I will say it to your face without even flinching. Please don't take it in bad stride, am not saying that I will cuss you out, but I will make it known to you that what you are up to or doing is not in the right. 

I know some will say, "why are you nosing into other people's business". Well, for starters, am minding my own business but when something has caught my attention & requires a voice to condemn it or correct it, I will not be silent. If something is wrong we are not meant to hold our lips tightly shut about it. Let me give you an example closer to home that can be palatable. 

When we, as a nation get near to the elections, it seems that we lose all sense & become all tribal, rising up in arms. We forget the friendships/relationships that we have built with each other & opt to act like savages. We go into political divides, chanting one slogan or the other as our daily mantra (just walk in the streets & you will see the clusters of heated discussions). 

When things don't work out in our favour, we are told we need to finish this or that people of a particular region/race, we become blinded by our foolish loyalties & cause harm to others. Yet the inciters (the supposed big men bazuu) themselves keep far away, safe & secure behind their personal security, 4x4 vehicles & palatial homes watching the chaos & mayhem, not dirtying their own hands. 

Anyway, to a more simplified example, as a people there are habits that others or even ourselves exhibit that are so irritating that you wonder how does one live with themselves. Let me ask you, have you ever seen a person who was drinking a cold beverage throw the plastic bottle out of the window of a vehicle or while walking, onto the tarmac or the drainage or sweet wrappers? 

I usually wonder is it that they think that it will decompose automatically or as one said it is the creation of employment. Yet when an area is not pleasing to the eye, blame is thrown around like a fly whisk. When we hold conversations with our peers & we note that one of our friend's is using heavy of vulgar language. Do we step up & let them know that they need to check themselves or you are more like, that is just the way he/she is(I have fallen short)? 

I didn't mean to offend anyone but I thought it best to lay it bare before you the reality that is out here. Hey! I am not saying am a moral cop or anything so don't organize to take me out. I am just merely looking through the glass from a different angle. Do you know people who are in your lives, whom you know if you go on the wrong they will straighten you? 

I don't mean our parents (more so African parents, no offense), they are a different breed of humans. We need to take a moment & just reflect on this fact about being truthful to each other (or is it one another). Do we let someone know that one thing or the other they are doing or are involved with is not right or we cover it with other colourful words to mask that which really lies underneath? 

Let me tell you something, as for me I have on several occasions been told things as they are raw & unedited. At first it hurt because I was like, "woow, why you so harsh with the truth". I have learned to embrace the truth as it comes from a good place. 

There is a quote that I have read online saying, "I refuse to please others at the expense of my emotional well-being. Even if it means saying "No" to people who are used to hearing "Yes". It is your own choice of how you interpret it, but I am assuming it is clear as day what message is being passed along. In the days as they currently are, you need to know that there are people who are jobless, who are sleeping hungry, who are dying, who have lost all hope, who have no homes, who have fallen ill, who have given up, who are hurting on the inside & so on. 

Did you know that to some this may not seem like the reality on the ground, it may seem like a bad dream? However, the thing is this, we are living in unprecedented times that we need to be there for one another for the long haul. We may have all switched into the survival mode, where now it is all about survival for the fittest. 

However, don't forget that though that may be so, you need in your own heart to search yourself & see how can you contribute to those in need. It is not a mandatory obligation like going for morning preps as was the case in high school. This is all down to personal decision making, the call is yours. If you get time, listen to the song by Maverick City Music titled "Yes & Amen".

To the person reading this I want to pray for you. Let us pray. Our Father up in heaven, I come before you thanking you that we have seen this day. We may take it for granted, but you Lord has preserved us by giving us the breath of life. Lord I place the reader of this article in your able hands. May you bless the works of their hands, if they are sick may your healing hand be upon them. If they are in need may you fulfill it, if you see they are worthy. As you say in your love letter to us in Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future". Lord, thank you for who you are in their lives. In Jesus name I pray, Amen!!!

GRINDING!

Everlasting Father & Redeemer, I come before you thankful that I have seen the end of a gracious week. I have seen days that have pushed me to the end, nearly crushing me due to the weight that they bear. Lord, I come before you knowing that every day that I see which is the present, is nothing more than a gift from you. I am humbled that I am your child, a sinner whom you have forgiven my sins. Lord I come before you seeking that you shall go before me, in the coming days to come. I place all that I shall touch with my hands to be blessed by you Abba Father. I do pray this in Jesus name, Amen!!!

Hi, hoping that you are well. Is everything okay on your end? Or has life just decided to give you a beat down that has got you all bruised & wondering if it is worth getting up & facing life? It seems that every time that you are making a step forward in life, you stagger back like a drunkard wondering if there is a ploy to rid you of your God ordained destiny. Well, it seems that the path our lives have been chartered for, keep on changing day by day, making our course more eventful than anticipated.

We are but mere mortals, living on this realm on borrowed time. We are visitors having a time clock that keeps on ticking. Well, it seems that we are only meant to be here for a duration of time. It makes you wonder what is the purpose of all this that we have been forced into since our birth. Or do you think that you had a choice or a say at the time of you being born? Did you know that when you grace this earth, a lot was waiting to welcome you both the good & the bad & that it was up to you to make a choice of which side you wanted to fall on.

Here is the truth, no one is ever born evil or dark as some may claim (but, I can be corrected). The environment that we grow up in molds us to what we become. If we are not strong enough we usually fall short & take in all that has been spoon fed to us since the beginning. You want to make a change, then you have to step up & decide to man/woman up. It will not be easy as you shall be deemed to be going against the grain. We are who we are by the fact of how we view ourselves, how we hold ourselves when the odds are not in our favour.

Take a quiet moment with me for a minute. Things are still pretty rough for you, huuh! I know that this life is hard & some days are tougher than others. Some times you have got to break down & cry, before you can move forward & that is okay. Even on your worst days, the days you told yourself, "I can't go on", the days you told yourself you have no more hope, the days you told yourself there is nothing left for you. You should be reminded that your track record for overcoming bad days is 100%. If that does not speak volumes to who you are, then I don't know what does.

As you struggle to make ends meet, know that you are not alone & that no matter the distance between us we are all facing our own storms which we shall overcome eventually. Have you ever tried to pitch an idea to an investor & gotten that look that what you are offering is not holding any water. Maybe you have tried to get your business up & running & every time you hit wall after wall, making you wonder if you made the right choice. You may have even tried to scale up in your career but the odds seems to be against you on a daily.

Maybe you even tried to court that man/woman & you were not winning their hearts. You may have even tried to get your daily bread but nothing has been materializing. Maybe you tried to work out to be in shape or for your own health but things are not going according to plan. Well, as was anonymously stated, "These hard times, this pain, these lessons - one day they will be your strength, your awareness, your blessings". It may seem that this phrase makes no sense to the reality on the ground, but fear not, you never know what can happen for you. 

Do not douse the lights yet, there may be a slim chance that you may rise from the ashes like the phoenix & cease an opportunity which may just come up in the nick of time. Whenever, we hear how the rich have made it. We go like, "damn! that can't be me, am not engineered like that". Me! to wake up early, to plan in advance, to be disciplined, to think ahead & so forth. Is this really something that I can do? In my considered opinion, yes, you can do it. It is not going to be easy but it is indeed possible. 

We live in a life where we doubt our true potential that we short change ourselves. Always seeing that we can not be better, we can't achieve greatness, we can't outshine others & so on. Why are we so down cast? Living a life where we see ourselves as not being worthy. Listen to me, you need to stop stooping so low as to think that you are useless. Who told you that (you are not)? You need to understand what you think about yourself matters more than what others think of you. If you don't have a daily routine, what will hurt if you try to have one.

 

There is nothing in this world that is cast in stone & that is why we have the next day so that we can start all over again. When you take the time to learn from that which made you trip, you shall find a stance to take without falling. Thus, making it be that on your own two feet nothing will be impossible. It is stated that Thomas Edison in inventing the light bulb tried it 1,001 till he got it right. Meaning that he had failed 1,000 times but still pushed on to make it a reality. You need to know that we are all cut from different cloth.

I may not know you, not met you, not heard of you, not interacted with you, not seen you but all that I know, is that you are meant for greatness. I believe in you, even if you don't believe in yourself. I pray that God will open for you doors that have been closed & give you the strength to forge forward. You are loved & nothing should stop you from achieving your dreams & goals even in this trying times. 

Les Brown says that to be successful: you have to change your mind set, practice only quality people & develop your communications skills. Once you open your mouth you tell the world who you are.