COUNTING MY BLESSINGS!

Hey ppl. today was a really busy day...almost stressful, I felt like screaming at work today, I had nine million things to do and five minutes to do them all in!!!! yes it was truly an experience! I was sooo tired and feeling frustrated when I got home, I slumped on my bed and tears started to roll down my eyes! I felt fed up! so I decided to pray! It is truly the best of remedies! as I cried to God for some relief I decided to plough through some YT videos, to take my mind off the day's events and I stumbled across a video of a lady who is going through the IVF process (for the benefit of those who are unfamiliar with the concept, its basically a procedure for getting pregnant through scientific help.) anywho, as I watched this video I was overwhelmed with empathy as I watched this beautiful woman cry bitterly as she expressed her desperation to get pregnant, she has tried all means and this was a last resort for her. I thought about her situation and my 'issues' seemed soooo insignificant! It got me thinking, we go through some much stuff and we feel so sorry for ourselves but we sometimes do not realise how blessed we really are! I am stressing because it was a hard day at work, some folk don't even have a job! even worse some are on the streets and they don't know where the next meal will come from! It really got me thinking! I must celebrate everyday! the bible says "in all things we must give thanks" and truer words have never been spoken! if I look around at my life and see all the good things God has done for me, I really have no reason to complain. I need to channel the energy I would use to complain into positive energy and use it to pray for those that are less fortunate than me. I want to challenge you. As you read this, next time you feel low or defeated, think of someone who is worse off and pray for them. We have too much to be grateful for, so it is time that we begin to count our blessings.
Selah!

JONATHAN BUTLER

I know its been a while since I posted anything, My bad :-( sorry guys. but I'm back now :-).
And I just wanted to do a blog on a wonderful MOG (Man of God) I cannot stop listening to his tracks. Mr Jonathan Butler. Hes originally from south Africa and was a mainstream artist for many years but in the last few years he has released various Gospel albums and he truly has a gift!
I absolutely love 'falling in love with Jesus' and 'I Love to Worship' these songs just take me into the Holy of Holies! his songs are so well written and highly anointed. I love it! He also plays the guitar sooooo beautifully its a really great album to listen to. Just to get lost in worship. the Album names are "Brand New Day' and 'The Worship Project' I would highly recommend them. I have attached a YT video of "I Love to Worship" I pray it ministers to you



and We need you Lord - I Looovvveee this track too!!



God bless you guys

xxx

NEW YEARS RESOLUTION RELOADED!

It is almost the end of April and I got to thinking. As general practice I like to do a personal development audit about this time every year , I have a look at the goals I set at the beginning of the year and I cross off what I have achieved and I investigate the reason why I have some of the boxes are left unticked!
I think its a great way you keep track of your hopes and aspirations throughout the year. By doing a personal audit fortnightly,monthly,bi-monthly or quarterly, it can help to give you a view on the areas you may be falling behind in.
I don't consider any resolutions I make at the beginning of the year a new years resolution. but simply a resolution. It is important that at the end of each year one sets personal development goals for one self, so when you look back on the year you can see a tangible result of the things you have achieved.
my personal resolution is to set goals and achieve them well before the end of the year so that I can also complete other dreams and aspirations. by doing this it means that by the end of the year I have achieved alot more than I originally planned.
There such a sense of accomplishment when you complete a personal task that you set for yourself whatever it maybe and I find for myself it urges me to accomplish other dormant dreams and desires I had left at the back of my mind.
it is all about being the best that you can be in life, with Gods guidance and help.
I write to encourage you the reader that when if you set yourself a resolution, if it didn't work out, jump back on the wagon and set yourself another goal. strive for personal perfection.
Just because we are in April does not mean that it is too late to set a goal. As a personal principle, I set myself monthly goals and you can do the same.
Take it before the Lord in prayer and ask him to guide you.
There is nothing you cannot do by his grace and strength,
God is on your side and he will give you your hearts desire,
so trust him and become a better you,
Reload your personal resolutions!God bless you now and forever.

BOOK REVIEW: How to choose a life partner. by B. ODUKOYA

I recently picked up this book by Bimbo Odukoya, a renowned Nigerian pastor who specialises in teaching on relationships. I love watching her sermons on the SKY Christian channels, She is so insightful and so down to earth. she really hits home about whats important when thinking about personal development and relationships. She is/was (now no longer with us) really anointed.

Personally I really like reading Christian based books because I feel they are a great tool for personal spiritual development and I have been inspired by many-a Christ based book.
So I have decided to start a series of reviews on Christian books I have read and give feedback and recommendations. Hopefully this will help anyone out there looking for a great Godly read.
So today I'm discussing this book. "How to choose a life partner. 165 questions to ask".
A friend of mine was reading it with her boyfriend and recommended that I get it so I did from Amazon (it was £12) and here are my findings;
It's a great book that gives advice on what to look for in a life partner, things to consider and things to be aware of. There are loads of mini stories on people who she had counselled throughout the years and who have been through various situations and the outcomes comes of the decisions they made good and bad.
It was really insightful.
Throughout the book she gives scriptural advice and then illustrates her point using some of these stories. which I found very helpful.
At the end of the book I was able to reflect and re-evaluate what I look for in a mate, there are things that I hadn't even thought about but this book brought those things to my attention.
Praise God! its a great read and I highly recommend it.

Death to the Diva!

Killing the alter-ego.

The other day I was talking to a friend and we got into a lil' friendly debate. She had her own opinion about a certain matter and I had my own and we kept going back and forth and she ended up accusing me of being stubborn diva (which I reject IJN lol) , this wasn't the first time I have been called stubborn and recently I have been asking God to purge me of the things in me that will hold me down.
so it got me thinking: what is the true definition of stubbornness? I have always been very firm in my personal moral codes and generally if I am in the wrong in any matter I am the first to admit it and apologise for it . But it got me thinking; Do people misconstrue a strong character for a stubborn one? shouldn't we be allowed to form our own opinions and stick with them without being accused of being stubborn? I really felt that if you had an opinion that there is nothing wrong with standing up for what you believe, but there are times when one can take it too far. I know I'm guilty of it. I know I have a tendency to be stuck on something that isn't that important all in the name of making a point. for example when a driver cuts you off or takes your spot on the roads, usually that was enough to spoil my day at times and I realise the devil will use what he can to destroy my day. the Bible tells us in Psalm 118: 24 that "This is the day the Lord has made and I will rejoice and be glad in it" we sing it all the time but there is power in those words. The day belongs to God but he blesses us with it and we decided what to do with the day, if we allow issues to control our day then we cannot rejoice and be glad.
I had therefore taken it upon myself to ignore those situations that would get in my way and in doing so I allowed the enemy to lie to me once again. to the point when I would not allow anything to affect me as long as I hold on to my precious opinions and points! to the extent that the point became more important than the people.
Its been a real eye-opener for me because I did not realise how "set " I was in my ways I had a look at the Merriam-Webster dictionary and it defines stubbornness as "unreasonably or perversely unyielding" it also defines stubbornness as "one who is difficult to handle, manage or treat".
I was so scared when I saw that, I thought "Goodness! am I really that bad" I know at times I have a tendency to be opinionated and there's nothing wrong with being a strong character, God made us all different but there has to be room for other people, I realised ENOUGH WITH THE DRAMA! I don't have anything to prove because God has blessed me in so many ways. holding on to trivial points is just plain petty! I am bigger than that! So what if the driver cut me off! I should be thankful to God that he didn't crash into me!
I realised that I was indirectly punishing people who reminded me of certain people from my past that had hurt me, the "IT" crew at high school, the "teachers" /" fathers", "evil drivers on the road while I was still learning" - I realise I have nothing to prove anymore.

When Jesus came into my life he took all that away. My life in him is a zillion times better. I have HIM so I don't need to fight anymore. He fights for me and I am on the winning side!
So yes, stubbornness was a part of me but now its dead and buried because I am a new creation in Christ Jesus, old things have passed away and new things have begun (2 Corinthians 5:17). If we hold on to our pass fights we can never enjoy and embrace our new victories.

So Praise God and death to all your inner evil divas!
God bless ya!

CHURCH: BACKBITING

Its been a while since I posted something so I'm back full force and effect.
the issue I want to raise is: BACKBITING. what do you do when someone at the same church as you seems to have it in for you.
you know I have a had a few conversions with many people who are not Christians and most of the them their reasons for avoiding Christianity is because of the behaviour of other Christians.
I think the worst thing about church is the fact that it is filled with human beings. and we are imperfect. and because we are imperfect we mess up but God is graceful and will forgive when we repent, but what about those sisters and brothers in the house of God who are so soaked in their own self righteousness that they can no longer relate to the rest of the world. people who spend all their time trying to bring others down. The bible says that we are called to save the world and not to condemn them. A close friend of mine has left the church because of the constant gossips and bad actions of other so called "saints".
its terribly unfair. verbal murder is committed in churches all over the world because some people are not content with their own lives. we are called to rise above petty issues and to bless the earth. how can we possible do that if we spend all of our time fighting? do they not realise that this is another weapon of the enemy to stop us from achieving that which God has destined for us.
My advice: to those going through issues, hold on - God is your strength. To those avoiding church because of other Christians, my advice is stop looking at people and look at God. and to those who are deliberately causing issues - Repent!. There is always a second chance with God. Love your neighbour and stop backbiting. God is not mocked, for whatsoever a man soweth, that also shall he reap. Galatians 6:7.
Selah

SINGLE IN CHRIST: DATING

As a single girl in Christian-Dom recently I have been reading up on a few things that have helped to get my mind in perspective about dating.
When I was younger I dated here and there, nothing too serious but when I decided to start living for God I realised that the concept of dating in my mind was different to God’s ideal for us.
I think as believers (and I am guilty of this too) we tend to think that we should date the same way as the rest of the world dates with the exception of pre-martial sex.
But this is wrong. I really had to go back to the drawing board on this one.
If you think like the world then you will eventually behave as the world.
So I got to thinking, what should a Christian romantic relationship be like?
And I came up with this. It should be like a deep friendship with the intension to commit to each other for eternity. I know there are some who like to date for the sake of dating but if we really think on it. Is that really the best cause of action?
Surely if we follow God’s direction he will lead us to the right one. Imagine if we spent our time trying to date as many as possible (for numbers sake) what we may miss out on. What if the person God has designed for you is around the corner but we are so distracted with everything and everyone else around us that we miss out on that special someone.
That is why the Bible calls us to obedience, in 1st Samuel chapter 15:22b it says, “Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice”. God expects our obedience at all times.
We lose out (not him) when we are not obedient to his word that’s why we should always be in a place of constant prayer, where we commune with him on a regular basis, to build up our relationship with him. Once you know someone you know what he or she likes and dislikes. It’s the same with God once you really get to know him, you’ll know what his desires towards you are.
In short; the dating process should be taken seriously with prayer, fasting and supplication. Before you say I do you should have all the facts. Remember it’s not our decisions that matter, its Gods decision that truly counts.
I came across an article on dating tips, which I found useful, here it is:

Christian Dating Tips...Honouring Christ, Your Date,and Yourself!
We've put together some Christian dating tips that we hope will be helpful for you or for someone you love
When it comes to dating, Christian singles are in a battle every day.
As Christians we all are called to a higher standard of living than when we walked in our fleshly desires. The Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 "You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honour God with your body." (NIV)
Whether we are young or old, the battle rages on in our flesh to remain pure and holy while we are dating. We MUST honour God with our bodies and we also want to honour those we are dating.
The good news is that we have help through the Holy Spirit who guides us and we know that Jesus has overcome the world! We don't have to face the battle alone.
Below, you will find some very practical dating tips that you can apply while dating. Some of these dating tips may seem a bit rigid, but when followed you’ll find that you end up with a beautiful relationship on the other end; and you’ll have no regrets.
We don’t want to spend a great deal of time on some of the more obvious dating tips, but we thought they should be mentioned none-the-less. Here are some well-tested dating tips that never fail. They may seem pretty obvious but you would be surprised how many people (mostly guys) don't apply these grooming tips.
Dress nicely
Comb your hair
Brush your teeth
Wear deodorant
If you are driving – Clean up your vehicle inside and out
And always bring along your sense of humour
We have discovered these dating tips through our own relationships, by watching triumphs and mistakes of others, and by simply taking a common sense approach to relationships and purity. We hope these dating tips help you in your search to honour God and your date while you are building a wonderful relationship.
Dating Tips to Grow a Strong Relationship!
Pray – Before you even leave home to meet your date you need to spend time on your knees asking God to help you honour Him and your date. You can never go wrong with prayer. This will also put you in the proper mind-set for your time together.
Talk a lot – There’s no better way to get to know someone than by talking to him or her about a wide variety of topics. The more you talk, the more you will begin to know if this might be a relationship that you should pursue.
Let’s be friends! – This is an important dating tip to remember. Don’t forget that until you are married the person you are dating could be some one else’s future mate. When you begin dating someone there is a lot of pressure to move things along much too quickly. Choose to keep your relationship on a friendship level. The longer you can remain "just friends", the better your relationship will be if you decide to get married at some point.
It's great being married to your best friend!
Pray in groups – What in the world does that mean? This sounds like an odd dating tip. What we’re suggesting is that you don’t pray together alone as a couple too early in your relationship. Prayer is so very important in any relationship so please don't misunderstand this point. When you pray with someone of the opposite sex that you care about you begin to build a level of intimacy that can often lead to trouble.
The goal in any Christian relationship is to honour God. Prayer is intimate communication with God and can draw couples together in ways not intended if you are not careful. It’s better to pray together when you are with other Christians. This will help keep the focus on God and not allow thoughts and emotions to wander to prohibited areas.
Choose to not kiss – At least until you are engaged to be married. Okay, this can be extremely difficult, but if you can follow this one dating tip then most of the others will happen naturally. Even kissing once you are engaged can be very dangerous. It’s better to not kiss at all until your wedding day! Before you laugh and click to another page with thoughts that we must be insane, consider these points on kissing.
A kiss begins to sexually stimulate a man (and woman) instantly.
If you aren’t kissing then you won’t become tempted to take things to a more intimate level. You’ll be protecting yourself and the purity of your date.
If a Christian man is kissing his date and it gives him an erection (often just the possibility of a kiss can do this), is God or his date being honoured?
Is this healthy for the man to get sexually aroused time after time without sexual release? When men become sexually aroused a large amount of blood flows to the genitals. If ejaculation does not occur; the build up of blood can become painful. That just can't be a good thing for anyone! Ouch! :O)
A kiss will surely break down your barriers and leave you in a position that could ultimately devastate your relationship with your date and separate you from a close walk with God. Self-control seems to be the better option.
Just think how magical that first kiss will be if it is saved for your wedding day!
Include another couple – You will find that physical issues are much less distracting if you plan most of your dating situations to include other couples. Group dates can be a lot of fun and you’ll also be helping your friends maintain purity in their relationships as well.
Always treat each other with respect – If you respect the person you are with then you won’t say or do things that will intentionally hurt them. Ask yourself "what would Jesus do?" and then do it!
Hope this has been helpful; let me know what you think.Selah