Journey of 2020
December started today and many of us will look back and ask; "What have I done with myself this 2020?" Many of us may not feel happy having that thought, which is why I am here to make it easier for you.
I was a freelance contributor to Orient Daily Newspaper in 2013. One day I had gone to submit my article on "The Media in your Business". After submitting it, I stopped by to greet Mr Agusiobo, the editor.
I told him I was happy to always meet my deadline and I don't go out to have fun or hang out a lot with my friends. It was just me, my PlayStation and books.
I was expecting him to hail me, but he reacted in one of the most profound ways I'll never forget. He lowered the paper he was reading and told me to allow myself to be young.
He told me not to always stress myself as if I'll never meet my deadlines. He had seen my work and knows I'll always deliver, so I should take some time off to chill with friends and have fun. "There will always be something to do."
That was what I needed to hear at the time. I called up my friend that evening and he arrived at my lodge. I was still an undergrad student at the time. We drove to a hotel around GRA Awka and we had a nice time. I finished a bottle of sweetened alcoholic wine with meat and fish. When we were done, the real issue started.
I couldn't stand up. "JB, I can't move my legs and my eyes...my eyes...it seems I'm under anointing."
He had a very long laugh. "Beck you're tipsy. Son of Nebu is high."
"High ke, come off it. I'm not. Just help me stand up and I'll walk to my room right now."
"Your room? Young man we are still outside. Better clear your eyes before you sleep here." I didn't hear the rest of the things he said till I woke up the next morning lying on his sofa. Let me not bore you with the details of how I was preaching to his wife and telling her the colour to pick for her asoebi...LOL. As if she wasn't in her husband's house. People that got married in 2010. When I refreshed, I was happy I had that experience. Like Mr Agusiobo said, there will always be something to do.
So as end of the year rush gets close, don't worry your heart and head. If you have enough to eat and provide for those you can, it is enough. We are glad to have survived this year.
If you have a little extra, hang out with your family or friends. Chop fresh fish pepper soup and laugh at old time jokes. Go to karaoke and sing rubbish with your full chest. Free your mind and know that it is not the end of the world.
There will always be something to do.
So here's a lesson worth sharing with your friends and loved ones; tell them there will always be something to do. Let them not go into depression thinking of how to get everything within these last days of the year. There will be time to try again and again.
At least now you know why I prefer glass of water.
Have a beautiful December everyone.
Till we get to the Promised Land, I shall be waiting for when you will pass me a glass of water and thank God for the gift of grace for the race.
A visit after lockdown
I met this tricycle driver at Ajah one rainy afternoon after the movement restriction was lifted here in Lagos.
When I got to the junction, rain had messed up the inner road so I needed to take a tricycle. I didn't want to wait for one to load according to turn, so son of Nebu negotiated with a driver for charter. The sky was already cloudy, so I quickly rushed in, reached a price and told him to drive.
This is where things start to get interesting. Hope you're not reading this in public? Before he moved, he saw a lady in front trying to get into the keke that was loading. He shouted her name and told her to come. The lady was going inside though to a different direction. They said some incoherent things and the driver turned to me.
"Oga abeg, make she just stay small with us. I go drop you then go and drop her. Abeg."
"I am paying you for charter to be here alone. Let her enter the tricycle that is loading."
"Oga abeg, you no go understand. I no wan make this rain go to waste abeg. You na my fellow man. Abeg make she enter the keke. Abeg."
I was reluctant and told him if he doesn't move, then I'll alight and look for another tricycle. The rain was almost touching the ground at this point.
So he whispered something to the lady, gave her ₦200 and she rushed to enter bike since she seemed to be in a hurry. Her bike passed us as we were moving, so I asked the tricycle driver why he was so persistent to have the lady in this tricycle.
"Baba you no see those breasts? For this rain wey wan fall now, na perfect opportunity to gum body ooo."
"Gum body how?"
He told me many guys at their park know the babe. If you're lucky, you get to enjoy a good time with her. So if I wasn't there and it starts to rain, he will carry the babe in his keke to a less populated area.
While waiting by the road side for rain to subside, he will cover two sides of his tricycle and join the lady at the back. He would sit, lower his trouser to expose his male sexual appendage. The babe would accordingly raise her skirt in a typical pant shifting position to collect a quickie while on top.
"Is that why some of your tricycles often shake from one side to another whenever it rains?"
"Hahaha. Na the thing my brother. We dey collect sharp sharp without condom and before rain stops because she fit change her mind. You no see how large her breasts dey? I go just insert my hand inside from behind as she dey ride, press am softly. She go come moan one sweet moan wey go clutch my junior inside her pot. Chai. Baba see wetin you dey deny your fellow man. E good?"
At this point, it had already started raining heavily so we had to stop. He sighted the babe's bike where it had also stopped by to wait for rain to stop and he parked just close by.
He then turned to me and started pleading again.
"Baba do this thing for me na. If I no chop this babe this afternoon, I swear I go fall sick. You don see say I give am ₦200. Abeg. My wife never allow me to touch am for five months now. We never do anything. Na this babe be my saviour."
I felt somehow at this point. I would've said embarrassed but I was laughing at the whole thing. I was almost near my destination, so I told him if I was to complete the rest of my journey by another means, we need to renegotiate the original price we agreed upon.
"Oga abeg no pay again. Just carry the money dey go. Chai, this babe say she go give me head if I manage get her this afternoon. And her veejay na the type I dey like. Very portable. Oga abeg."
"You said you were married? Ever tried going for a test with your wife? Just random check to be sure she's not trying to run away from something?"
"Baba forget that one. Make prick see food Choo abeg."
I called my friend and told her I was close to her house and rain won't allow me to move unless she comes to pick me. Five minutes later, she slowed down besitie the tricycle and I got in.
Through her mirror, I saw the babe rush into the tricycle. I tapped my friend's thigh and smiled.
Same food, different dining table.
Till we get to the Promised Land, I shall be waiting for when you will pass me a glass of water and thank God for the gift of grace for the race.
Trust and believe in God
I was searching for an item inside a drawer when I saw these ₦2 coins again. I got them from Shoprite a while back. The coins ought to be ₦10 but I gave out one coin. Each time I want to spend them, nobody is willing to accept. For a fare of ₦50, I once gave a tricycle driver ₦40 in ₦20 notes and completed it with ₦10 in these coins. The man looked at me like I was crazy and angrily told me to alight from his tricycle. I had to give him a ₦100 note and pleaded to get my change.
I am sharing this coin picture for a totally different reason; a beautiful reason to reassure you that there's a God in heaven.
In 1998, I was playing with a silver kobo coin, not sure of its value now. I know some of us might have forgotten the kobo is also a Nigerian currency along side the Naira.
I would position the coin on my nose and try to dance around while maintaining the balance of the coin. If it falls off, the Son of Nebu would replace it and continue. It was a fun game I enjoyed playing whenever I was alone. I was barely six years old.
That night, I placed the coin on my nose as usual but something happened. I yawned and didn't remove the coin, so it fell into my mouth. I chuckled and instead of removing it immediately, I decided to giggle.
Within a split second, the coin was fighting to get down my throat and I was seriously choking. The more I tried to vomit or bring it out or do anything to just get it out, the more I felt choked and not sure what was happening to me. My windpipe was getting blocked.
This was the point something happened. Remember I told you I was alone. But somehow I felt a strong force or hand, not sure what to call it now, hit my back and I vomited the coin. I coughed and tried to catch my breath. I had no idea what had happened to me.
I was almost choking with a coin down my windpipe and all of sudden, the coin was lying on the floor in front of me and I had no idea how it came out.
I believe in God!
This is why I don't have conversations about religion or beliefs relating to the supernatural. My life has been from one great testimony to another, hence I don't need anyone to convince me about the existence of the supernatural.
I know when things go dark in your life, you may be tempted to question a lot of things. I do that sometimes. But in the end, realize that your being life is a testament to the truth that you worth more; your life is worth more.
If I had swallowed the coin that night, I really have no idea what could've happened to me. But I didn't swallow it and how it happened, I had no idea.
I want you to trust and believe in God!
Though your path may be dark now and it seems this suffering will never pass, I need you to trust that something good will still happen for you in this life.
Miracles do happen. And if the Son of Nebu is alive today to share this with you, I want you to believe that your life and journey will inspire someone some day.
In this new week, resolve to settle your issues with your God and believe in him. He will help you.
So here's a lesson worth sharing with your friends and loved ones today; if it is not happening for you now, that doesn't mean it will never happen. Maybe the time isn't just right for it yet. Keep doing good work.
Till we get to the Promised Land, I shall be waiting for when you will pass me a glass of water and thank God for the gift of grace for the race.
What if I show you a knife, will that change your mind?
Hmm...all my life I can't remember facing a terrifying moment like the one I experienced on 28/11/2020.
Though I have been in a near death experience, during one of my numerous trip when I was serving as the Executive Personal Assistant of the then Commissioner for Education back in 2014.
I and my Principal was riding in the official Hilux heading to Ajaokuta from Lokoja, when our driver did a wrong overtaking at a bend. It was so sudden to have any other option. Directly facing us was a 16-tyre Dangote trailer.
Usually I always take the front seat beside the driver belted up. At that point looking at the trailer on top speed facing our vehicle and no where to turn to, to imagine I was calm & collected without screaming my throat out shocked me myself.
In my thought I had resigned to fate, not even the name of Jesus came to my lips, my spirit appeared to have transcended even before any impact.
It was the shout of my Principal that brought to reality of our reality. She screamed in Igala, 'Alé Ku mé o...
It was a miraculous miracle, the trailer missed us by an air's breath.
Fast forward to yesterday being 28/11/2020. I had attended a wedding ceremony of a former school mate of mine. Although I came using an Uber Taxi, I ran into luck, I got a lift after the ceremony. The good Samaritan happen to be going my way and obliged my plea of accompanying him.
On getting to my bus top he mistakenly drove pass my junction. This saw me having to to trek for about 10-15mins to connect back my junction. My bro was at the junction to pick me home.
As I embarked on my trekking to get back on track, about 10mins a middle age man surfaced from nowhere to join in my trekking.
On pacing up to me he engaged me in a conversation: Man: it appears you're coming from a party?
Me: You ain't far from the truth (I was still with my full regalia with my 'Igele', I had removed my heels though & wore a flat slippers)
Man: What did you bring from the party to give me?
Me: (chuckling) nothing o, all the goodies are in the party Man; Are you saying there is nothing in this bag to give me (I had to carry an extra bag aside my clutch purse to house my shoes & my face shield)
Me: i kept Mute
Man: Where are you heading to? Phase 2 Jedo Estate? Your phase looks familiar.
Me: Sorry it's not me, don't know phase 2 (wasn't in a conversational mood at all, I was fagged out from dancing and wearing heels for about 3hours)
Man: Are you trekking down to the estate?
Me: Why did you ask?
Man: I will like us to trek together.
Me: Sorry I don't have intention of trekking
Man: OK. Then can I have your number?
Me: Please I need my me time, I don't feel like talking.
Man:(on hearing me pick a call from my brother) is someone picking you?
Me: Yes Sir.
Man: Can I join you?
Me: I thought you said you had the intention of trekking?
Man: Since you don't want to trek, let me join you in the car that's picking you or is he your boyfriend?
Me: tor! Na you talk am. If you say so.
Man: Can I join you in the car? (My compassionate mind was already thinking obliging him his request but my spirit didn't oblige me to accept)
Me: Sorry you can't (with a smiling face)
Man: What if I show you this? (Brandishing his shiny silver knife to my face)
Me: (Mesmerized, my adrenaline jumped to action, I picked to my heels, holding my phone & bag tenaciously and shouting) Thief ooooo...
Man: (While moving away) don't shout, don't shout...
I kept screaming on top of my voice & running as fast as my leg can carry me. Even with my fatigue I ran faster than Usain Bolt. Bike men came racing to me, I refused giving anybody listening ear who knows, they might be a clique,I kept running and shouting for my brother until I got to him. At a point because of my shouting I ran out of energy, my heart began to fail me, holding my chest I couldn't move anymore but I kept shouting to my brother...
My brother was transfixed at a point wondering why I was running so hard.
Long & short of it. He has done it once again. It can only be God.
3 things would have happened to me if not for God mercies:
1. He would have stabbed me because of my shouting.
2. He would have just frightened me with the knife and collected ally belongings including the phone I am presently using to type this.
3. He would have threatened me to follow him with the knife to the nearby bush. Maybe I would have been brutally raped and killed.
4. As I ran from the footpath because of him and jumped to the opposite side of the road, this happened on the express way, a car on speed would have just crushed me to death. None of this happened...
Because he is too faithful to fail me...he is too faithful to dissapoint me, he can never leave me stranded, what he starts he will finish...and he is not done with me yet.
He has commissioned me to be a blessing to my family, community, country, Continent & the world at large.
I am an answer to someone's prayer. He has blessed me to be a blessing...
Thank you Lord for your mercies...
I will not be counted among the casualty of 2020, I will not be a victim of Kidnapping, rape or robbery. I will not be a patient in the hospital, nor an inmate in the prison. Neither will be tenant in the mortuary...
I am a living Testimony!
Do share your story to lift & inspire a drowning & discouraged soul.
Greed
As we get ready for church tomorrow, let us reflect on greed this night. I joined the couple and their kids to attend children's church.
I sat beside their cute daughters; one is 13 years old and the other is 10 years old. Towards the end of the church activities, church attendants shared biscuits to all the kids in the church.
Don't ask me if I collected any.
The 10 years old daughter collected one biscuit while her elder sister collected 3 packets. Of course, they were free, so you could take as many as you wanted. The younger sister returned the one biscuit she collected and I quizzed her about it.
"Uncle Beck, my elder sister has 3, so I will share with her."
The elder sister told her clearly that she won't share the 3 biscuits, so she'd better collected her own. The 10 years old sister would have none of it.
"Uncle Beck, look, she has enough chocolates and biscuits at home. Why take more than she can finish? It's not as if she will eat this one." I was only smiling and nodding.
Their parents allowed them to argue, who was I to interfere? Sad thing I wasn't with my popcorn or 3D glasses.
After the argument, the elder sister packed her 3 biscuits and the younger one had none. Immediately we returned from church, while still at the gate, the elder sister ran out of the car, pushed open the gate and ran upstairs. The younger sister turned to look at me while smiling.
"Uncle Beck, I told you. See, she has left these biscuits here. Do you know how many kids who would've been grateful getting two extra."
I told her not to mind her sister. I volunteered to make sure the biscuits had a comfortable stomach to rest and she readily handed them over to me.
I thanked the couple for the ride.
"Thanks bros. We already know the right lessons to teach our daughter who ran in."
Their house was within trekking distance from our own.
I kept thinking.
So many thoughts and lessons to learn from this.
Greed sometimes doesn't start with billions. And many times, we don't need those things.
Till we get to the Promised Land, I shall be waiting for when you will pass me a glass of water and thank God for the gift of grace for the race.
Journey of a foreign mom
The first time I landed foot in Nigeria was at age 18, from the warm pleasantries I received at the airport, to the beautiful people and atmosphere generally, i was already in love with the country.. the last eighteen years of my life was spent in Birmingham United Kingdom.. my Mom, a British but my dad a Nigerian which makes me a proud Nigerian too.. For years I have been eager to travel to Nigeria.. honestly i found it quite fascinating that while some Nigerians over at the UK were very pleased to be there, I was hopelessly dreaming of what it felt like back there..
My mom was a University Professor while my Dad was a social worker.. I had no siblings so it made my crave to travel down to Nigeria even more intense.. we lived a pretty comfortable and happy life back in the UK but you could tell that something was missing.. I grew up not knowing or meeting any of my dads folks or even siblings so this bothered me a little bit.. anytime I asked dad about Nigeria or his people, he shoved it aside.. this only made me more curious and anxious.. I had many questions and I was searching for answers but couldn’t find them.. i was looking forward to my eighteenth birthday because I knew only then would I be free to move out and get my own apartment.. I had secret plans of traveling to Nigeria once I clock eighteen.. infact, that’s was top on my bucket list..
Christmas celebrations was mostly boring for me.. asides the usual Christmas tree setup, church and thanksgiving there was pretty much nothing else to do.. I spent hours on moms computer surfing the internet and watching fascinating videos of how Christmas celebrations is carried out back in Nigeria.. I remember commenting on a Facebook post of a Nigerian festival night and Sofia, a Nigerian girl about my age replied my comment.. we started off from there and had a pretty good friendship since then.. Sofia would email me cool pictures of events and happenings in Nigeria and I longed to be there even more. Just before my 17th birthday however, Daddy passed on from brain tumor. It was devastating loosing a parent.. dad and I had a unique relationship and he loved me with his whole heart. He was always there for me because mommy was mostly absent or too busy with work. I guess that was why I was so drawn to him and everything he entails. moving on after his passing was tough but thanks to Sofia.. she was there for me even from a thousand mile away.. on my eighteenth birthday however: I was licensed to access my trust fund after successfully completing my high school..
I approach mom after she returned from work and told her I was moving out.. I had more than enough money to fund my college life and thereafter so I felt independent and free.
“Rosie!! Is this about going to Nigeria again?” She asks me sounding frustrated!
“Mom! I’m going to travel there some day. So please can you start warming up to the idea already?” I respond..
“I forbid you from going out there Rosie! You will not step foot in that country you hear me?”
I scoff loud enough for her to hear me.. and roll my eyes.
“Come on mom!! I’m an adult now.. and you cannot hold me down against my will. I’m old enough to make my own decisions and besides! What exactly are you afraid of anyway? I ask her crossing my arms over my chest.
“Your father and I have tried to protect you all these years from some bad people.. why do you think he never traveled down there since you were born?” “Mom! We are not in the 80s okay.. there’s no evil person or monster lurking around the corner waiting to sneak up on me.. relax! I’ll only take a trip for a week and I’m back before you know it..”
“You will not disobey me Rosie!!”
“Mom! There are bad people everywhere.. here, in Nigeria, hell! Even in Rome so please stop treating me like I’m some idiot who is purposely going to walk into danger without thinking.. you are hardly ever home with me anyway so why do you care so much?
There’s silence between us and I can tell that I hurt her with my words but I’m determined to do what I want this time around.. I want to travel to my father land and find my roots..
I storm into my room and grab all my belongings.. walking out quickly before I chicken out and leaving her standing behind watching me leave.
I have longed for this day for years I cannot turn my back now.. I get into the taxi I already hired and zoom off without looking back at her.
To be continued....
Marriage issues
"Our marriage was arranged so I didn't have much time to study him coupled with the fact that I didn't have much city exposure.
I was naive and complacent. I took whatever he said as right and could hardly stand up to him. Over the years, as no child was forthcoming, he insulted me at will and even hit me a few times. Since I had nothing doing but followed him to his shop in the market, I had no personal funds. I cowered and lost whatever self esteem I had. I wasn't happy and I wanted a child badly if that would make me have a loving home.
Since the child wasn't forthcoming, there was nothing I could do. At the start of the pandemic, markets were shut down so we had to stay at home. His attitude towards me became worse as we were cooped up in the house night and day with nothing to do. At a point, he stopped eating my food or even talking to me. I decided to travel to my place so I could be away from him for sometime.
While I was there, I saw the market women who came down to buy farm produce directly from farmers. I made some inquiries and some of the women in the village agreed to give me some basins of garri on credit. I brought them to town and quickly sold out and went again. That was how I started going to the "bush market" to buy farm produce to sell in the city. I am so busy now I don't have time to think of my husband's attitude. He hasn't raised his voice at me let alone hit me.
We may not have the best of a relationship but there's some measure of respect. He listens when I talk. I am no longer scared of leaving him too as I can provide for myself without his help."
Years of accomplishments
In one of his famous comedy movies, Nkem Owoh (Osuofia) played the part of Barrister Athanacius Enyi, a UK trained attorney who returned to his native village in eastern Nigeria to advocate for his people and received payments in lands, goats and yams. Though filled with many contrasts, the movie pointed out the vital role legal practitioners play in society. Vital roles that needs to be filled at all times to make sure society functions effectively.
For my reflection this year, I'd like to share my thoughts on tech law (ICT or IT) and intellectual property which happens to be my forte.
I was influenced to explore IT for two reasons; my sister is a tech wizard working for a global brand and I happen to have more friends working in tech. They are generous with knowledge and resources, so I was drawn to them and I wanted to understand if it was an area I could explore.
I soon found out that the marriage between law and tech in this 21st century was mind blowing. And when you add intellectual property to that, you get the perfect trinity of sectors providing the most jobs in a post pandemic world.
At the 2020 virtual NBA conference held earlier this year, a poll was conducted on areas of legal practice likely to be more financially rewarding going forward in our world today. 62.5% mentioned Technology and Intellectual Property, followed closely by Health Law at 35.3% and Mergers and Acquisition at 22.8%. Other sectors trailed behind.
The top 3 richest men in the world have vested interests in tech which is heavily protected by intellectual property. With the current pandemic and issues surrounding the world wide acceptance of the Covid-19 vaccine, you can easily see why Health law came into the top 3.
If you have access to the internet today, there's practically nothing holding you back from doing amazing things with your life and career. All you need to do is to connect with the right tools and people.
Where do you start?
Find your niche!
Find that area of life that naturally tickles your fancy so much so if you're woken up in the middle of the night, you'll be excited to talk about it.
If you're a part of any organization, you'll surely be asked for your strengths and based on that, they'll know where to fix you. My former boss always harped on that. He worked few hours in a day and had loads of fun because he has a special talent of putting square pegs in square holes. With minimal supervision, people just delivered results to him with big smiles on their faces.
At 28 years old, I know there's so much I am yet to learn. I have promised myself to remain humble, hungry and committed to improving myself every step of the way. I know it won't be an easy journey but I am excited at the thought of trying out new things everyday, discovering where my strength lies and doubling down on what works for me.
Today, the Son of Nebu is grateful to God and everyone who made it possible for me to be here and on this life's path. I understand the magnitude of the responsibility rested on my shoulders and God willing, I'll keep doing my best.
Take a glass of water and celebrate with this baby boy today!
Till we get to the Promised Land, I shall be waiting for when you will pass me a glass of water and thank God for the gift of grace for the race.
Good friends
Some people are good like that including my friend. 💚 When she reached out to pay back the money she borrowed in 2014, I was wowed in a good way. She reached out in 2018 and I'd already forgotten I gave her anything.
I told her to forget about paying back, but the son of Nebu was curious how she was able to remember. So I asked her.
She said after collecting the money, she went home and entered it in her records. While going through her stuff after getting married preparatory to moving over to her husband's, she saw it.
If there's anything I pay attention to in my friendship with close friends, it is their financial habits.
And I think people in deep friendship, relationship, situationship or marriage should pay attention to the financial habits of their partner too.
Sometimes ask them, "If I give you X amount for family upkeep or anything else, how would you spend it?"
"If you have X amount for X, how would you spend it?" While you may not get a complete answer, at least you will have an idea how their mind operates. In this social media age, you may never really know who you're bringing home till you're finally home.
Don't always ask them to pick the perfect spot for rendezvous or the happening hangouts in town. Sometimes ask if they're aware of any latest plans you can use to save more money in your family or relationship.
See, if you truly and deeply want to go the length with someone, you need to discuss everything. And if now is not right, you can plan ahead for anything.
I know many of my friends both male and female who are financially prudent to the core. The married ones rarely have family issues and the single ones rarely go broke.
Sometimes I wonder if there's a connection between proper financial management and a calm family. May be I'll figure it out when I get there.
While you invest in love, sweet memories and feelings, ask the love of your life whether they understand what it takes to train and nurture a child. What is their family sustainability or growth plan?
These things may sound funny, but if we are walking down the aisle, I need to know I can trust you with my life and everything. Totally!
Unless you're seeking for short term survival by choking someone and emotionally blackmailing him/her, you need to take your own life seriously.
Knowing a new hotel in town is perfect for jollification. I won't lie because I love to have a good time. But knowing you can run that budget with someone who understands and plans with you makes all the sense in the world.
Till we get to the Promised Land, I shall be waiting for when you will pass me a glass of water and thank God for the gift of grace for the race.
Sex for mark
I remember vividly what happened back then in school,year 2010. I think I was in 500 level. The story goes thus:
It was about 7pm when I got a call from an unregistered number, I picked it gleefully as it's my usual practice. The caller who I was yet to know introduced himself as one of my lecturers and asked that I should come around. I didn't hesitate, so I told my hostel mates what just transpired as I hardly go out without letting someone know my whereabout, they asked me not to go but I insisted.
I lived in the hostel so it was such a short distance to the lecturer's office. In a jiffy I was with him sitting opposite him,waiting patiently so he could tell me the reason for my invitation. Instead he buried his head in the scripts he was marking. After a while he asked what is your matric number which I gave without hesitation.
I saw him scouting for my exam sheet,of course he saw it,he flipped through my scripts and the following conversation ensued.
Mr Lecturer: how come you failed my course like this?
Me: (with a dangerous smile) Sir I can't fail your course, I have never failed a course. I have a reputation for crossing the failure line no matter how terrible the exam was (not my making just grace) Sir,if I will fail that course then I will fail with a C?
Mr Lecturer: (he was awe-struck,I think my reply came as a shock) ehn! But you know I can make you score an A?
Me: (tempting broad smiles) wow! That with be indeed wonderful. What are friends for? ( I have a reputation of making friends easily)
Mr Lecturer: Ah! We will talk more about that tomorrow. Would you mind going on a date? ( who knows he could be a potential husband)
Me: Great! A date we have. See you tomorrow at 5pm.I will make my choice of a venue and get back to you.
(Next day...after telling him where to block me. It was a great outing, I ate to my fill,he bought me yahooza chicken (only futmites will understand) and even gave me extra for my friends) (While in the car)
Mr Lecturer: ehn! Yesterday you said you will appreciate if I score you an A.
Me: That's right Sir. (Holding tenaciously to my chicken)
Mr Lecturer: you know in life nothing goes for nothing?
Me: (feigning ignorance) Sir I don't usually understand parables. Pls can you say exactly what you mean?
Mr Lecturer: I mean you need to rub my back as I rub yours.
Me: oh! Now I understand. So what's the deal?
Mr Lecturer: you sleep with me,I give you an A.
Me: uhmmm! Is that all you can do?
Mr Lecturer: (scratching his head) ehn... OK..I have 2 other lecturers I can talk to which makes it 3 As.
Me: Impressive but not good enough. Mr Lecturer: what do you want?
Me: 9 straight As(5point) if I could score a Grade point of 4.54 solely on my own then I expect more from you.
Mr Lecturer: Silvia, it's not possible to convince 8 other lecturers. You're asking for too much.
Me: Good! Then we have no deal.( I knew he wouldn't meet up,even if he did I had no such intention,then I was under an oath of celibacy. I wasn't so crazy about graduating with a 4 point)
Me: Sir I have a plea, please if you can't add to my mark I beseech thee do not reduce it.(with a stern face)
Mr Lecturer:are you threatening me?
Me: no Sir, how can I threaten a Lecturer? Am just imploring you.
( meanwhile all our conversation was being recorded on my phone as back up in case he dares to play with the tail of a lion. (Dropping me off,he bade me good bye while I thanked him for the sumptuous outing) (Fast forward to when result was pasted) ...........
To be continued later
Dealing with household enemies
TEXT: GENESIS 37:1 20 Genesis 37:4,11
And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him. And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying.
The great enemy's that human beings can fight and praying to wins over them is a battles from households
Enemies from households is the enemies that knowing you and he they do you
Joseph his brethren envied him because of dreams that is not yet manifest and they are starting planning evils activities against Joseph until they sold him into the place of his breakthrough
I decree and declared to our lives, In the name of JESUS our enemies shall make a mistake that will announce our lifted, in the name of JESUS
IF YOU AND I FIGHTING FAMILY'S BATTLES AND WINE THEM IS A GREAT BUSINESS THAT YOU I HAVE DONE
I pray for you and I and our family, whether the households enemies like it or not we shall prevailed over them by fire, in the name of JESUS
TO ATTACK HOUSEHOLDS ENEMIES YOU NEED TO KNOWING AND BELONG TO CHRIST JESUS
DECREE THIS PRAYER POINT
Household witchcraft enemy, enough is enough die in Jesus name name
O Lord my father give me and my family dominion over household enemy in Jesus name
Every household enemy confronting my life and my family with battle die in Jesus name
My brethren that move from darkness to darkness in order to pull me and my family down, you will not succeed die in Jesus name
Every conspiracy against my moving forward scatter in Jesus name
Every far conspiracy against my destiny and the destiny of my family die in Jesus name
Whosoever planning to slay me and my family because of our destiny, die in Jesus name
Whosoever planning to empty me and my family down die in Jesus name
O Lord my father give me and my family the testimony that will swallow all our battle in Jesus name
Households enemy wilderness release my possession in Jesus name
Whosoever that rose and refuse to cooperate with my comfort zone, run mad and die in Jesus name
BE A GOD LOVER
THANK YOU JESUS
Control your mouth
We have So many Spiritual men without Spiritual principles.......#selah
Learn to control your mouth if you must live long.
I have chosen to mind my own business, I have chosen to run my own race, I have chosen to stay focused on my assignment.
For we will give account to God on how we spent our lives while on earth.
Stop Fighting for God focus on pleasing God on ur own first before you correct someone else.
Stop running around looking for who to spoil, pollute and manipulate against his or her loved ones. Get busy !! Before you speak against any Pastor or Christian be sure you are in the right tune with God.
You can’t be keeping two boyfriends/girlfriends and still be calling someone fake Prophet or Pastor.
You can’t be sleeping with someone’s wife or husband and still got the right to come on Facebook insulting Any Pastor or Prophet.
You can’t be stealing from your madam or Boss in the office and still be acting like angels on Facebook criticizing Pastors or Prophets.
You calling Or tagging someone People fake after you have gone for breast engagements, butt enhancement and hip lift enhancement . Keep quiet 🤫
How can you be living a fake lifestyle and still be talking against others....... Walking about with Condoms in your wallet, pornography and nudities all over your phones and you calling someone fake........ Please Repent from you foolish lifestyles then you can correct others to imitate you just as you also imitate Christ.
You can’t be living for the Devil and still claiming to be fighting for God.
Get Born Again !!
Young Preacher
The Waist that Wasted Many.
One thing you must fear more than the devil you are praying against, casting and biding everyday is the waist of that your daughter shaking round the whole church and especially during praises.
Young Preacher, nothing waste anointing like the waist of a woman. It will dry every drop of oil on your head and your ministry will be history in your very presence.
Listen; not every Daugter is your daughter some are doors leading to your death. When you find yourself lusting after the waist of your Daughter it’s time to excuse her. Speaking in tongues won’t help you. Stop her from coming too close and father her from afar.
You may not get this truth am telling you easily from anywhere. What waist has done to great men, some were even more anointed than you with deep Passion for the things of God but waist took them off before time.
Be very fast in rebuking indecent dressings when you see One around you, don’t take things for granted.
Disallow your daughters from calling you pet names. Stop holding hands with your daughters and avoid making long calls with them on social matters.
If you want to go far in this ministry let me tell you this truth prayer alone won’t save you. You need extreme discipline to survive this journey.
Stay strong in Jesus name.
Prevailing the wonders of pennysylvania
According to sworn affidavits, as released by head of Trump's legal team Rudy Giuliani in the Commonwealth state of Pennsylvania; 1,823,148 Absentee and mail-in ballots were issued.
Approximately 1.4 Million were returned.
But during presidential election count 2.5 Million were registered. The information was on the website of the state till yesterday 24th of November that it was removed.
22,286 Mail-in Ballots were RECIEVED the same day THEY WERE MAILED. 32,591 were recieved A DAY AFTER THEY WERE MAILED. 8,021 DEAD people voted 4,984 NEVER requested ballots, but THEY VOTED 20,000 were RECIEVED BEFORE THEY WERE MAILED. This laughable. It is having a birth certificate before child birth. It is like having marriage certificate before wedding day.
As seen in the picture below, on the election night before the suspension of votes counting, Trump was leading with 689,926 votes but today Joe Biden is "won" with 80,555.
More mess coming out. It is not about Trump, but about the sanctity and survival of Constitutional Democracy.
A big thank you to the Pennsylvania Legislature, now over to Michigan, Georgia, Arizona Legislatures. Those public hearings would happen next week.
Learn from experience
“I didn’t think anybody would be so mean to play such trick on a child.
I think I was ten years old then and helped my sister to manage my mum’s shop anytime our mother goes to the market to buy goods.
I was the younger one but I knew the price of all items in my mum’s shop and I always rushed to attend to anyone who needed any item. Sometimes my sister and mum would leave the shop for me to manage while they go to the market to buy stuff for our shop. I have always done a good job at managing the shop till that day.
I watched him as he walked up and down the street many times. As a ten year old then, I was just curious to know why the guy kept going back and forth.
He finally stopped at my mum’s shop and told me he wanted to buy recharge cards worth ₦20,000. I was so happy. No one had ever bought such large amount of recharge card at once.
I imagined how happy my mum would be when she returns and finds out that I sold out all the recharge cards in our shop. So I went in and counted the recharge cards and wrapped them in nylon for the man.
I handed it over to the man and while counting it, he turned to greet some random stranger I couldn’t see and turned back again to face me. He searched his pocket for money and told me he forgot the money he was supposed to pay for the recharge cards, so I had to take back the cards. But he specifically told me not to open the nylon as he was just going to rush to his house and come back to collect it.
He pointed at one house down the street and I believed that was where he lived. When he didn’t return after more than two hours, I opened the nylon and found out they were filled with WHOT cards.
Back then, recharge cards had almost same size with WHOT cards and he used that to deceive me. He made away with the cards.
I cried till my mum and sister returned from the market and I told them what happened.
My mum consoled me and told me it was not my fault. That helped me to feel better.
It was a bitter experience but that taught me a lot and I never allowed it to happen again.”
Marriage story
"I see what is happening in marriages today, wives killing husbands and I am sad and angry. Sad because I know what it feels like to be in a violent marriage and angry that these women choose to kill and pay for it rather than just leave. My troubles started shortly after marriage. He wanted me to be a full-time housewife and so he forced me to resign my job.
Going to the market, the church or visits were strictly regulated . After weaning my last child, I became extremely bored with staying home and started nagging him to let me start a little business. He eventually opened up a shop for me but in less than a year, it was shut down and I was back home. He said I was out of the home more than I was in. When the beatings started, I kept it to myself. When it became frequent, I summoned the courage to run back to my family but only painted a mild picture of what was actually happening.
After some months, he came begging so I went back. One fateful day, my sister who lives abroad came to visit. While talking, my dentures fell out. She was so shocked and insisted on knowing how I came to lose all my teeth. In tears, I told her everything. She was furious and insisted on leaving with me immediately but I refused, hoping things would get better. It didn't stop. In fact, he started locking me in and left the house with the keys. I would only go out in his company. It took me some more beatings and broken ribs before I finally left. That day, I gave him no hint. He had not hit me in a while and was no longer locking me in because of my daughter that was home from school. I went about my chores as usual waiting for him to leave for work. What he didn't know was that I had made arrangements for a truck to come move my things. My daughter knew and had made the plans with me. The other two were in boarding school. Together, we moved everything I had in that house.
With the help of my family, I relocated and by the time I returned, my other two children were ready for the University. He wouldn't let me take them at first but since he had stopped providing for them, they all escaped out of the house at different times to come be with me. Single handedly, I saw three of them through school and they're all adults and working now. He doesn't care about them and that is fine because so long as I'm alive, my children will not lack. If I had stayed back and died in that marriage, I don't know what would have happened to them.
Now I tell my girls, if they do not want to get married, it is fine. But if they do and I suspect they are experiencing the slightest violence, I would literally pull them out of that marriage because no marriage is worth anybody's life."
Mount Zion
Winning Wednesday Gloria Bamiloye Evangelist, wife to Mike Bamiloye, mother to Damilola, Joshua and Darasimi. All these defines Gloria Bamiloye and more. Gloria hails from Ilesa in Osun state but grew up in Lagos and Ibadan as she schooled in both cities. She is 55 years of age. Gloria was born into a muslim family but got introduced to Christ through her elder brother who got born again and became an influence to her life. Growing up, Gloria admired pastors and wished to be one but she never imagined or knew that she would minister to people through drama.
Gloria has since been an instrument in the hands of God right from her days as a single woman. There is a saying that behind a successful man, there's a strong woman. I'll dare say 'beside' a successful man. Gloria Bamiloye is that strong woman beside Evangelist Mike Bamiloye, the President of Mount Zion Movies. She has indeed succeeded at the home front; as a wife and mother, and in ministry, influencing the Kingdom of God through her teachings and movie productions.
Gloria Bamiloye talks passionately about raising Godly children and Godly homes and this is no mere teaching as her teachings reflects in the lives of her Godly raised children and her lovely family. On raising Godly homes, Gloria shared her perspective at an interview:
"Every married woman must have the vision for her home because that is the primary ministry for every married woman. Not that God can't use you beyond your home but whatever you will be eventually, if the home is not standing, you cannot go far. Though in our modern world, many are despising the home thinking they can go far...when your home is standing firmly, then God can take you anywhere, He can use you to any level. That is why I always talk more about the woman, stay in your home, raise your children, help your husband. You won't lose anything, rather you are building yourself and you are establishing your future. All these children are the future, if you don't raise them now, you are neglecting your future and anything can happen, but if you want to have peace at the end of the day, you want to have rest, build those children, keep your home, you will laugh at last".
Gloria was one of the founding members of the Mount Zion movie production which started merely as a drama unit ministration in Ife on the 11th of July 1986. She got married to Evangelist Mike in 1988 and in 1989, their ministry went on full time with just 20 members. Then, the ministry was still called Mount Zion Christian Production before it changed.
As a young lady who would have several suitors, Gloria was no exemption as she had a juicy proposal from a lawyer but chose evangelist Mike rather, who as at then had no steady job as young ladies would wish for. Gloria was quizzed during an interview on the show 'True Talk' concerning this circumstance and how she could discern who her right husband was and she replied thus:
"I want to believe it is the work of the Holy Spirit, because naturally, not that you don't have people trying to woo you but that is why it is very important to give your life to Jesus and be filled with the Holy Spirit...one thing that God opened my eyes to see was the work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit actually work in our lives. Definitely, it is not easy to say yes to a man who has no steady job, things of life, these are the things many of our ladies are looking for these days, somebody who has arrived. But if you have the Holy Spirit inside of you, you will see beyond the man. During those period, God actually showed us the future by the help of the Holy Spirit, so when I saw brother Mike, I didn't see him as just a man but I saw the man who was loaded with the power and the gift of the Holy Spirit, I saw future, I saw beyond him. So when I was saying 'we have work, are we not working now?', so you can imagine that what I was seeing was not for then but for now. That is why it is very important that before you choose somebody, don't don't choose by what you see now, let God open your eyes to the future of that person. So I think that is what helped me then to trust the Holy Spirit to see beyond him, to see the future of that man and the plan of God for that man. That is what we believe in and that is what gave me the confidence to say 'this is the right man for my life.' I think we should give kudos to the Holy Spirit". After Gloria got married to brother Mike as she is fond of calling him, she shared their difficult times and how poverty caused them to eat corn three times a day. According to her, she made different kind of meals from corn and they even as it as rice. Her children were born into that condition. She also said that they had financial concerns as a drama ministry back then as there was no way to collect offering from people, they were a drama ministry after all not a church. Gloria trusted in God and believed in the future of brother Mike and the ministry God had handed to them. She thanks God all of that phase is over now.
Today, Gloria is the co-founder of the Mount Zion Drama Ministry, she is not just an actor but she has written and produced many movies, some are titled; Higher Calling, The Haunting Shadows and My Mother In-law. Gloria's ministry for raising Godly homes is worthy of celebration. She is indeed what the Bible describes as the virtuous woman. She represents the many strong women who have sacrificed to raise their families and build Godly homes.
The fear of the Lord
I pray for you and I and our family, Any souls that delight to do evils that is now after our lives and our family, by the power in the name of JESUS I command them to run mad and die, in the name of JESUS
Proverbs 20:6-7 Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find? The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him. Proverbs 14:26-27 In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge. The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.
YOU will proclaim the goodness of the LORD when you are fear him
DELIGHT YOUR SOUL INTO THIS PRAYER POINT
Nevertheless the counsel of the lord over my life and my family shall stand, in Jesus name When speaking lies against me and my family shall die in Jesus name
Evil ways of the enemy concerning me and my family scatter in Jesus name
Any souls that delighted to do evil, myself and my family is not for you die in Jesus name Favour like a dews overshadow me and my family in Jesus name
Every snares of death, depart from me and my family in Jesus name
Whosoever that mention the name of my family or monitoring my family for evil, run mad and die in Jesus name
Whosoever that is harvest for the nothing of my family,that is not want my family to become something, you cannot live again, run mad and die in Jesus name
Anointing to fear the lord till the end overshadow me and my family in Jesus name
Whosoever that is eating the bread of my family that want my family to be poor die in Jesus name
Favour and grace that pass the knowledge of my family overshadow us in Jesus name
Whosoever that is giving counsel or instruction to the enemy against me and my family fall down and die in Jesus name
Every deceivers around the destiny of my children scatter in Jesus name
Any power using arrow to chase away my blessing die in Jesus name
A word of Hope
I am sharing this for younger people who may have become despondent or lacking a purpose in life for different reasons.
ASUU was on their yearly bazaar of strike in 2013 proudly sponsored by their unfaithful spouse, the federal government. So I couldn't resume school and staying at home sometimes, I got used to watching pictures of events from different newspapers my mum often brought home after mass every Sunday. She often bought newspapers published by different dioceses and church organizations. She said it was her way of also supporting the work of God.
One Sunday morning, I was reading a story in one of those newspapers and it struck me, "Beck, you can actually write for some of these publishers." My writing was awful but it had nothing on my guts. So I searched for the contact of the editor usually at the bottom back page and called anyone I saw his or her phone number.
Some responded, others posted me while one man was really aggressive and told me to focus on my ASUU strike. I overheard him through the phone cursing about his wife not putting enough meat in his soup. Guess he had his own issues at home. I didn't call the editor of Our Nation Newspaper (different from The Nation Newspapers). I decided to visit their head office on Limca Road, beside Zik's house and physically make my pitch to him.
I only had a name and no idea what the person looked like, so when I walked into the first office I saw at the press, I asked for the editor. The man asked why I wanted to meet the editor and I told him I have something he needs. I was bold and didn't really care. I just wanted to talk to the editor and go home to satisfy my curiosity.
"I am Paul the Editor you're looking for. What do you have for me?" The Son of Nebu mellowed. I sat down and told him about my nice ideas of writing articles that would capture a very young audience. I told him how I never really got to read the paper but watched only pictures. However, I can infuse young blood and talent into the organization. He was willing to give me a trial immediately. A new edition was coming out that weekend and he told me to write anything I fancied in line with their guidelines. If he liked it, he will give me half page to write a column.
Well, from this picture taken that Saturday afternoon of August 17th 2013, you could tell both of us were happy. He liked it and I got the slot with a monthly stipend. I continued to write for them and only resigned when I graduated and moved to Abuja for law school.
During that ASUU strike, I also got a teaching job at a secondary school and did some freelancing for other organizations involved in different things till the strike was called off and I returned to school.
Why am I sharing this? I tried a couple of things about 7/6 years ago to figure out where my strength lies. I was open minded to failure, to learning, to being wrong, to not knowing what the heck I was doing and ultimately, getting excited at the next task I was getting involved with. My plan was simple; speculate and do the things I loved till I found my strengths. It worked.
These days, social media sometimes make people think they are worthless and useless. They become afraid of failing, of trying out new things and cultivating the humility to learn through those experiences. They become afraid because failure is seen as fatal.
But I am here to tell you that it is not so. Nobody will give you the opportunity to improve or discover yourself if you don't put yourself out there. I could've stayed home, eaten good food, played video games and enjoyed 2go; the in-thing at the time. I did all of that anyway, but I never allowed it to come between me and finding something I really loved to do and could evidently earn from it in the long run.
This life was given to you because only you can live it the best way you can with your unique skills and abilities. Stop crying and feeling sorry for yourself. Stop saying people look down on you and don't rate you. Start thinking of the many ways you can be better. Here's the lesson worth sharing with your friends and loved ones today; nothing becomes perfect immediately you set forth. You need to be in motion to refine your life, thoughts, ideas, friends, job, love life and a lot of other things in order to make genuine progress.
Whatever happens to you that might break you, take your time to cry if need be but never stop trying out new things.
Till we get to the Promised Land, I shall be waiting for when you will pass me a glass of water and thank God for the gift of grace for the race.
CNN Endsars protest and the burden of truth
The same CNN through their franchise and allies serving as the media wing of Democrats saw the removal of President Goodluck Jonathan from office. He publicly said that and the video is out there for any to watch. Most of their notable allies that fought that battle have fallen out with the current government. I don't want to mention names, if you are familiar with Nigerian politics you should know them, from Lagos to Kwara to Adamawa you would see their footprints.
You see that CNN report on #ENDSARS is not necessarily a report to unravel the truth because they don't broadcast news outside the frame of their interests... 2020 American elections exposes that side of them.
The report is a political warning, a political message sent to the the current landlord of Nigeria and his allies by those who used that same platform to make him president but he has politically fallen out with them. Expect more high profile media and diplomatic fireworks.
If Donald Trump wins, it would break their wings as their American structures are more in the other camps and Trump's template of doing political business is totally strange and unpredictable to their usual selfish styles. Trump's VISA ban after the electoral war in Kogi, which later made Edo to have one of the most peaceful state elections in the history of Nigeria, came to them as a surprise... that is one of Trump's styles that is alien to their kleptomania political gymnastics.
The only man they fear is Trump. If he wins, 2023 elections would be one of the freest and you would see the emergence of new leaders. If he looses, I can't see a peaceful 2023 elections, because those that would have roared from Washington DC would have had their business associates and interests to protect in Nigeria and that alone is likely to downplay the stance of Almighty America against their likely mischief.
Stop over celebrating the CNN report, it is not for the liberation of the common man. It is a political weapon in the hands of politicians. If CNN has become an agent of truth and "investigative journalism", they should start by telling us the truth of what is happening in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin and Georgia.
Bullets are killing Nigerians in north east and in Zamfara, they should also help us "investigate" where the bullets are coming from.
My pain is that youths of my country are so ignorant of what is happening. They don't even know when they have become political tools in the hand of someone somewhere else... from EndSars to IPOB, from Boko Haram to armed herdsmen, from bandits to militancy, someone somewhere is making political gains and the sad part is that the youths who are at the forefront of these may never live to know. Oh God of creation, help our youths this truth to know.
My experience
"I work with a private construction company as a manson. We are placed on monthly salaries and other allowances. 3 months ago, we had a board meeting with our director and in the meeting, he told everyone that there would be a 3 percent reduction in our salaries due to the economic state of the country and because the company barely gets contracts as before. When he first said that, my mind was relaxed because all I had in mind was that we might be relieved of our jobs but the reverse is the case. He also said that once things stabilize and the company bounces back, that we would all get a salary increase. Some people said they can’t take the 3 percent cut off their salary that it’s better they quit the job. He gave everyone one week to go and consider the offer. I told him there that I would accept his offer. Some people left and didn’t come back but those of us that accepted the offer were welcomed and our boss surprised us by doubling our salary. He said that we were the kind of staff that he needed, those who were willing to work and see the company as theirs rather than only focusing on the money.
When he asked us our reasons for accepting his offer, almost all of us had same reason—he treats us well,he has never owed us salary and he always gives us salary advance whenever we are in urgent need of cash. For these reasons alone, I can work for my company even if they decide to cut my salary into half. Most times, it’s not all about the money but the experience and things you learn while working."
Intro to Forex
Forex is the largest financial markets in the world. When I mean *MARKET* . It is not the local market in your country or community. The meaning of forex is *FOREIGN EXCHANGE* .
So when you hear about forex or fx, it means foreign exchange. A person who travels to another country must in one way or the other practice forex trading.
Trading the financial market can be done anywhere irrespective of the country of your residence allows you to trade in the market at the comfort of your home with your smart phone or laptop.
Now, The foreign exchange markets is the largest financial markets with a volume of about 5.3 trillion dollar traded daily compared to the stock market which is 22.4 billion dollar.
It is open 24hrs a day, 5 days a week and closed at weekends. That's to show you how large it is.
Now you ask yourself what is traded in the forex market. It is simply currency pairs....
We have the following currencies
EUR, USD, AUD, JPY, GBP, CHF, NZD, CAD.
EUR- European dollar
USD- United states dollar
AUD- Australian dollar
JPY- Japanese yen
GBP- Great British pounds
CHF- swiss France
NZD- New Zealand dollar
CAD- Canadian dollar
E.g GBPUSD, EURGBP, USDJPY etc. Now if you sell GBPUSD, It means you are selling GBP and buying USD.
The first two letters represents the country's name and the last letter represents the currency Like GBP GB is the country's name which means Great British and P is the currency which is pounds. Very simple
Forex is interesting and you can make millions of money every day of the week.
Hope and Faith
Text: Romans 5:1-2, 1st Thessalonians 1:3.
Objectives:
1. It is understanding the relationship between hope and faith.
2. We will understand the difference between hope and faith.
3. We will understand what it takes ti shift between hope and faith.
Scriptures clearly show that hope and faith are vital necessities to the life and destiny of the child of God. The Bible also makes it clear that hope travels in the company of faith. Hope and faith move together. Where you find faith, most times, you must find hope. The Bible also made it clear that the end objective of both hope and faith are similar if not the same.
Hope is hoping to attend the same thing that faith achieves.
The question is, what are the difference? - Hope lays the foundation while faith does the construction.
- Hope without faith therefore is like the foundation without the construction. That is, I believe God will do it; that is the foundation (Hope), making it happen is faith.
- Hope pictures the possibility while Faith captures the reality. Hope fantasizes with the possibilities while faith crystallizes the reality. So hope without faith is fantasizing the realities without getting the possibilities.
- Hope wishes for a desirable or better outcome in life while faith works out a desirable or a better outcome in life. Hope is a little bit passive, faith is active and the two are necessary.
Summary:
- Faith does not and cannot exist without hope. So we are not downplaying hope at all. The meaning is that is is impossible to be hopeless and be faith filled, because the Scripture says Now Faith is the things. Hebrews 11:1. There is hope inside faith. - Hoping cannot produce without faith. I am hoping that I will get a job, I am hoping that things will be better. Hope alone doesn't produce.
To remain at the level of hope alone is to remain in perpetual expectation without resultant manifestation. That is, you are expecting permanently without manifestation, that's frustration.
What do you do to move from hope to faith?
1. Possess valid Scriptural reasons for your hope. You are expecting something, do you have any Scripture that backs that believe. That believe is standing on what? That is what shifts your hope to faith. 1st Peter 3:15. Every hope must be backed with reason to produce at the end. It means you are not just hoping and leaving your hope to chance, don't live like that. It is not a random motion. Once hope becomes backed by Word, it has turned to faith and that moves God to action because anywhere God sees his Word, He moves.
One day I must marry, what is your reason? He made them male and female. I am a female, there must be a male for me, that is the Scripture. The Lord God, He is my shield, He is my glory, no good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly. Psalm 84:11. Husband is a good thing, wife is a good thing because He said, he that findeth a wife findeth a good thing and no good thing will He withhold.
And I shall have my children, what is my reason? He created Adam and said be fruitful and multiply, replenish the earth. Genesis 1:28.
Do you know that the birth of Jesus Christ is one of the worst attacks on barrenness because by being born without a man, by passing the normal reproductive processes. By passing the male spermatozoa fertilizing the female ovary, by bypassing that process and bringing out flesh and blood.
Abraham met his wife-all the people that gave birth that time, nobody bypassed the process, only Jesus.
How shall this thing be since I know not a man? Forget about man in this matter. The Holy Ghost shall come upon you... It cancelled every low sperm count, every barrenness, every endometritis. It cancelled every reason, fribiod, it cancelled every single reason.
I announce to you, every barrenness, every empty handedness is deleted now! Don't just be hopeful, gather reasons.
2. Boldy declare and announce your Word based hope expectations continually. Psalm 91:1-4. Don't just hope it, say it, don't just wish it, declare it; what you believe is not real until it is declared. God came, saw light and declared it. Even though God believed there should be light, He had to say it. What you believe is not real until it is declared. What is real in your heart is not real until it is spoken out of your mouth. If it remains in your heart, you are hoping. If you speak, you are 'faithing'. Corinthians 4:13.
When we said that we will build a structure like this, many people didn't believe but it didn't matter, we kept on faithing it and it came to pass. This whole place will soon be populated with iconic structures; on my right here, there are two seven floor office towers coming up, after that you have a shopping mall, Shepherds place where you can just buy things, after that, in front of the main garden 1, is a seven floor five star hotel and then all the way from the stretch of the garden, 1 kilometre at the very end of it, you have a beach and you have the water entering the land and coming out with big trees and sand. And at the end of it, you have two filling stations.
I am not just talking, these are things that have already been approved. The whole design is approved. Then we have a medical centre right here and then we have the secondary schools and all that. There are many other things that are there, all of them will just rise up as trees in a short while.
If the devil cannot stop you from saying it, no power can stop you from seeing it. And God said and it was so, and God said let there be light and it was so. If the devil cannot stop you from saying it, no devil can stop you from seeing it. Matthew 5:18.
I speak by prophecy today, your life that is set on the hill, no devil can hide you.
Every single thing that I am mentioning that is going to be on this ground is for the benefit of the people of God. The one stop centre (shopping mall) is where you can find things you would have been looking for. The children park is somewhere there where children can enjoy their lives.
What I just said now is deliberate. I said it so that you can hear, so the devil can hear, so the witches can hear, so that wizards can hear and so that God Himself can hear and of course our medical university is coming, everything medical and paramedical. Again I am speaking, we are not just hoping, we are faithing. The way other people are going to India and other places to look for help, they'll be coming to our direction. Halleluia! Is it possible, is it doable? It is already done in the Name of Jesus.
3. Never be ashamed of your hope. Never be ashamed to behave in the line of what you believe is going to happen for you. Psalm 119:116. Romans 5:2.
4. Celebrate your expectation, it has not happened yet but you expect that it will happen. Romans 4:18. Don't wait for it to happen, dance now, celebrate it now and it must happen.
When you do these four things, hope has shifted.
Listen, before the 31st of December, before December ends, your hope that has now turned into faith shall produce your results. Amen!
Dance and celebrate what you are expecting. Dance for three minutes.
That meal (Abacha)
I have not eaten abacha close to four (4) years now or more, so I decided to satisfy my craving of it this evening. I was enjoying a cool evening reading at the car park when it arrived, so I decided to eat it out here so nature can enjoy with me.
The story of how this abacha craving started for the Son of Nebu was something else.
During the lock down, a friend uploaded a picture on her WhatsApp status of a tasty homemade abacha she prepared for herself and her husband.
I couldn't get over the picture, so I sent her a message to please send some over to me since we were all in Lagos. She said it had finished, but promised to prepare one in the coming days and send over to me. This was around April.
Because I had a perfect picture of what she showed me, I just didn't want to buy it elsewhere. I wanted to taste her own. You know that feeling when you strongly believe for no particular reason that someone or something will offer you the best and nothing else can change your mind.
So I held on. Week after week, she kept giving me excuses and reasons. But she never stopped sending me other dishes she prepared. It was like she was punishing me for wanting to eat abacha. Chai! Fear Anambra ladies!
From April till November, she never came through. I am a really patient person. I love to make and share my life memories because they are stories I want to relish intermittently. I wanted to quench my years long abacha craving with a beautiful story of how my friend helped me out, but sadly, that never happened. I still wanted to tell this story, so I had to find an alternative.
I called up a very popular restaurant in Ikeja and requested them to prepare this special abacha for me. I sent Tosin to get the package for me this evening.
So ladies and gentlemen, here we are here. Come and enjoy with me. But I made sure to finish eating it before sharing this story, so nobody will rush down here to chop my fish. I love fish and turkey so much.
What's the lesson worth sharing with your friends and loved ones today?
Patience.
Because I believed it was worth it, I decided to wait for such long periods for my friend. And perhaps you should too when something means a lot to you. No time is too much to work hard towards what we truly want to get.
Sadly in my own case, I didn't get exactly what I wanted. But from the taste of this abacha, I think I must've gotten something much tastier and satisfying. I'm definitely sure about this.
Till we get to the Promised Land, I shall be waiting for when you will pass me a glass of water and thank God for the gift of grace for the race.
Life in Nigeria
Exactly a month ago today, around midday on October 20th 2020, in the heat of the #EndSars protests across the country and especially at the Lekki toll gate, the Lagos State government announced a 24-hour curfew to begin by 4:00pm same day. It spread panic and backlash as people scampered to get home in time. The government later moved up the enforcement time to 9:00pm.
While people struggled to escape traffic, secure their children and get home safely, an interesting theater of drama and blood was setting up at the #LekkiTollGate
Cameras attached to the toll gate were removed and when later pressed, authorities said it wasn't the CCTV, but what they produced as CCTV footage captured nothing of what was about to happen to unarmed, young and peaceful Nigerian youths who were at the tollgate protesting for government to #EndPoliceBrutality
The big advert screen which provided light around the toll gate axis was turned off for the first time in over two weeks of young people peacefully protesting at the toll gate. This same advert screen provided lighting and even carried messages of support and enlightenment about the protests.
Later that evening, soldiers arrived on the scene and shot at peaceful, unarmed and tired Nigerian youths who waved the Nigerian flag, believing waving the flag would invoke a strong spirit of patriotism.
That night, as DJ Switch streamed it Live for the world to see, sleep was murdered in Nigeria. I was having dinner when I joined in to watch what was happening. I lost my appetite and said to myself, "Martin Beck Nworah, you must not have kids in a country that has no regard for her flag."
We heard the gunshots and saw the bullet wounds, but events of the following days made us question if such ever happened.
For days and weeks, the tollgate became a theater of sorts. The Lagos State government said "forces beyond our direct control" invited the soldiers. The soldiers said the Lagos State government invited them. A serving Minister found a camcorder after days of cleaning and we hoped to see something from it. That never happened.
Today, nobody has taken full responsibility for what happened that night on 20th October 2020. As the blame game moves from one side to another, we are made to forget why we even started this movement in the first place.
Millions of Nigerian youths are jobless, helpless and have no idea what their future would look like. #ASUU has been on strike for many months and those who hoped to graduate this year and move on with life won't be able to do that. Do we encourage young people to have dreams in this nation? Yet when you manage to train yourself, learn skills and become self employed, the same security operatives who ought to protect you will brutalize you for just looking good.
We have leaders who lack empathy and have refused to identify with the struggles of the people they are leading. To them, relating with us beyond the election period is below them. This is why they had the demonic courage to hide food palliative meant for people during the Covid-19 lock down and some had the temerity to use same for their birthday party hampers.
This hurts me personally, because I went through ASUU strike to become a lawyer today. I've passed through the crucible of being a Nigerian youth fighting to be sure my voice is heard and my dreams never die. I look at myself in the mirror and say, "Beck, your life is worth more than the sad situation of your country. Fight for yourself."
This is the lesson worth sharing with your friends and loved ones in Nigeria; let them fight and work out their salvation in fear and trembling.
May the souls of all those who died in this struggle across the country find peace in God's heaven, since they never found it here. Amen.
Till we get to the Promised Land, I shall be waiting for when you will pass me a glass of water and thank God for the gift of grace for the race.
Never give up on yourself
Two years ago, a friend's shop got burnt.
He taught me that money making is an art. And if you've learnt it, no matter what happens to the physical paper, you'll always bounce back.
He proved that. But when the tragedy happened, I also talked about his girlfriend who left him.
It was gloomy dealing with a broken heart and business.
But I always knows people who are drilled to last in tough places. He was one of them.
Out of the blues last week, his ex-girlfriend called him on phone.
She sounded nice and she said nice things to my friend. She had smelt the scent of his return to life.
My friend listened without saying a word. "You've not said anything. Should I come over to the house so we can talk?"
"Babe, you never wanted to talk all these while? Why now? Did you for a second think I was a one hit money miss road guy? So after the fire, I had no life again."
She kept on apologizing and insisted on visiting him.
"Sadly, I traveled and I won't be back till next year."
She was shocked. His car was parked on his street. "But your car is here na. I'm in front of your street...abi building. And your flat door is open."
While still answering her, he came out and waved at her. "For others, I am around to see them. For you, I may be available next year or the year after."
It was a nice upper cut.
She wasn't patient. She never waited or even had a conversation with him after the tragedy.
She wanted to play smart. It all made sense and my friend never held it against her. "Bros, when tragedy happens to you, people are free to express themselves however they wish. But most importantly, never give up on yourself."
I nodded.
Till we get to the Promised Land, I shall be waiting for when you will pass me a glass of water and thank God for the gift of grace for the race.
Honesty is the best Policy (No Secret)
What can we call a secret? A secret is any knowledge that is hidden and intended to be kept hidden.
It is important to note that in your relationship the way you handle secrets can either build it or destroy it. Secrets can and will ruin your relationship if not properly handled.
It is very wrong to meet someone and that same day, you start telling the person the story of your life without first trying to know how the person really feel about you. It is also a time bomb to be in a serious relationship and keep very sensitive information that might cause commotion a secret.
Having stated these facts, there are so many questions that comes to mind and I'll try to do justice to them.
1. How do you know you are keeping a secret? If the person you are keeping this information from knew about it, would he or she be angry? If the answer to this question is YES, then you are keeping a secret.
2. Why do we keep secrets? We keep secrets because we fear the impact it will have on us or in our relationship if revealed. The fear of being judged is another reason people keep secrets.
3. Is there a right or wrong time to share a secret?
The answer is YES there is.
Before spilling the beans, you have to check for the following to avoid chaos in or destruction of your relationship. Does your partner value you and the relationship? Is your partner matured enough to handle the information you are about to share?
If the answer to these questions is NO or you are UNSURE please do not spill yet.
Do not also spill the beans or reveal that secret when: Either of you is tired.
Ill Angry or stressed When there is already something else going on that's making your lives difficult. Make sure you're both well-fed, energized and haven't got any big commitments later that day just in case your partner needs time to process the information or are upset by it.
NOTE: do not use the excuse of finding the 'PERFECT MOMENT' to postpone or avoid coming clean. It is better your partner hears the truth from you, rather than finding out for themselves.
4. Is every secret worth sharing? It is important to remember that we are entitled to keep certain things to ourselves, especially if they don't directly have to do or affect another person.
For example, I can decide to keep the information about how I sorted to get my certificate a secret and it wont cause any damage to my relationship. This understanding will be helpful to those that have partners that are not really matured when it comes to handling matters or that are not very understanding.
However, there are things that shouldn't be kept secret. They include : Finance Job issues Illness [both physical and mental] Addictions Cheating /extra marital affair
EFFECTS OF SECRETS IN OUR RELATIONSHIP
The ultimate effect is that it undermines trust,and we all know the healthiest relationship is built on mutual trust.
It could lead to the end of your relationship. You loose your peace.
In conclusion, if we want to enjoy our relationship, we should try to be as honest as possible as this helps to build integrity and trust. One of the things partners must understand is that nobody is perfect, but they both care enough about each other and their bond to be honest instead of keeping secrets, which is a powerful and very comforting to know. In all we do let's always remember that HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY.
A great lesson for today
After paying for my cable subscription this evening, I stopped by his church on my way back to the house. This pastor is a good friend and often pays me for consultancy in relation to his investments.
He was walking to his car park followed closely by Mary, his chef whose culinary abilities is out of this world. I've eaten her jollof rice, semo and okro soup at different times. I exchanged greetings with the pastor.
"my brother. You didn't care to call me when you returned to Lagos. I'll just dash you one evil spirit now to possess you."
We laughed and he told me he was headed out to bless a new shop opened by a member of his church. I brought out my phone to show him certain documents he asked me to research on, but we were interrupted by a random man who walked in on us.
He fell straight on his knees and asked the pastor to pray for him because his family is hungry and he has no hope of what they were going to eat this night. The pastor asked him how many they were in the family and he replied; 4. Him, his wife and two kids.
Mary, the pastor's chef whispered something into the pastor's right ear and he said it doesn't matter. "Whether he is our member or not, God listens to all prayers."
My friend stretched out his hand over this man's head as he knelt down and started praying for him. After about 20 seconds; the pastor hissed, stopped praying and told the man to stand up.
"You said food is the problem right?"
"Yes man of God."
"I don't need to disturb God." He asked Mary if the jollof rice for lunch was remaining and she nodded in the affirmative.
"Please put enough in a takeaway pack for this man and his family. Enough for them to eat today and tomorrow. I cannot be disturbing God for something I can handle." As Mary walked away, the pastor's phone rang and he excused me to answer it. I quickly followed Mary, squeezed in some Naira notes into her hand and told her to add it to the food package for the man.
I returned to the pastor with a big smile on my face. I joined him in the car and he dropped me in front of my Close before proceeding to his destination to bless the new shop.
His actions made me happy today and the point he stopped inbetween praying made me laugh. He appeared really angry and troubled that our people pray to God for the most basic of things.
I'm grateful the pastor also listened when he heard God's voice inbetween the prayers. I believe strongly it was a good spirit that told him to pause first and think about what he was asking God for. In that moment, he knew that God cannot do for us men what he has ordinarily given us the power to do for ourselves and our fellow humans.
This is the lesson worth sharing with your friends and loved ones; if you can do something for someone, don't tell them to pray about it. You may be the answer to the prayers. A little kindness can go a long way in healing hearts. I know this, because people have shown me massive love and support over the course of my life.
When you can, lend a helping hand in anyway you can.
Till we get to the Promised Land, I shall be waiting for when you will pass me a glass of water and thank God for the gift of grace for the race.
If I perish I perish
She was initiated into Marine world when she was 4years... And she started her full operation immediately,where she killed many breadwinners... And destroyed many homes and marriages ...
At midnights, she stood in the middle of the roads and cause accidents...
In school, she bought 'chewing gum', initiating her fellow students...
And anyone that ate those gums they got from her saw themselves in her coven in that same midnight ...
But to the glory of God, at 22, she repented and joined a church ...
But since then, I have not seen her preaching in the streets...
All I see her do is changing choir and usher uniforms every Sunday...
All she is doing in church now is shouting Amen and fire to all the prophecies of miracle marriages and miracle jobs...
As long as she is paying her tithes and sowing seeds...
As long as she is punctual and regular in church, we are happy...
The same girl that was useful to Satan is now useless to God in our hands...
The same girl that used her witchcraft to cause pregnant women to miscarry when she was serving Satan only comes to our churches today to receive prophecies....
Some of the girls she initiated into Marine kingdom are still there now serving Mami water...
Yet, in our services, all we tell her is to sow painful seed so that the enemies of her father's house will all die...
Friends, this generation of preachers have lied to this generation of members...
If you give Satan half of the members in our churches, you will see more clubs and shrines in every nook and cranny of your streets...
If you give Satan half of the rich men in our ministries, he will use them to sponsor the most dreaded criminal hide outs in town...
If you give him half of the pretty ladies that sings in our choirs, in 1year, he will use them to distract many married men from their marriages...
We are a generation of preachers that gathers members without knowing what to tell them about God...
We do heavy publicities and paste posters and stand billboards, just to gather people to start telling them the same things they hear from their lecturers in school ..
If what we are telling our members today is what we were told when we repented newly, we would still be serving idols today...
If the things we preach in our churches today is the same things imams tells muslims in their mosque every week, Islam will go extinct in 5years...
The man that trained me in ministry is a registered nurse in America that left America and relocated to a bush in Nigeria to raise a people for God...
For the 6years I stayed under him, he never mentioned any country he has been...
He never mentioned the cost of cars he has...
He never told us that he was so close to Benny Hinn... He was close to T.D Jake's ministry, but he never used it to preach..
He never bragged how he has properties in some choice cities of the land as at that time...
Because he didn't want to raise us to start thinking that the gospel is about Visa, riches and fame...
Jesus! Please, let it please You to raise more men like that in our time...
Man of God, it is time to preach a 'visaless' gospel to this generation...
It is time to raise an army that hates Satan and will want to end his reign in their communitues...
There was a gospel I heard that made me reject a visa to the US in 2009, and rather, I chose to go to the bushes of Ezamgbo in Ebonyi State, winning souls for Jesus..
My late mother started taking my name to prayer houses, crying, thinking that I have ran mad...
And of a truth, I was 'mad'... You can't hear the same gospel that I heard and be normal...
There is a gospel I heard that made me going from secondary School to secondary school in the missionary area of Igara, in Akuko Edo LGA,...
Dashing my books free to those boys and girls that have their own personal shrines in their houses ..
And in a hurry, they were abandoning their shrines, bowing to the God that made heaven and Earth ..
If they have not told you about a God that might not make you richer than your classmates, they have not preached the complete gospel to you...
Revival is far if we are still telling this generation about the blessings and not the Blesser...
We can't see the full glory of God in our time, if all we are still telling people is about the promises and not the Promiser...
Friends, there is a mighty wind that is about to blow in our time...
That wind will remove microphones from the mouths of men and women who doesn't know what to tell this generation about God... That wind will empty many churches where men gather men and be promising them chewing gum and biscuits...
Heaven is not ready to sponsor churches that will not raise men that will die for Jesus, if need be...
I don't know how many people you want to show that you are doing well in ministry... That alone has disqualified you from what God is doing in our time...
Men that will grow in weight in this generation are those that have no one anywhere they are competing with...
They will not be ashamed of shame... Mockery to them will mean compliments to them...
Even in the face of matrydom, they will defend Jesus...
Bring hungrer, they will convert it to fasting... Loneliness will increase their holiness... Believe me, Satan can never fear any generation more than a generation that have lost their shame...
Watch that guy everybody is mocking in your community for not having 'evidence'... Soon, angels will tell the world about him... And it will become too impossible to ignore his value among men...
I have made my choice...
The gospel of 'If I perish, I perish" must be heard again in our time...
Let us pray!
The crazy world we live in
The crazy world we live in. The world is crazy.It has always been.Those who are yet to realize this obnoxious fact are probably crazier.This craze actually have different shades. From ethinic to religious and the beat goes. Somehow enormous efforts are required to keep our sanity as one generation changes the dynamics of our society and leave the previous struggling to catch up with the realities of the times. If you are a 70's kid like me, you probably saw your dad wearing bell- bottom trousers, high heeled shoes, large collar shirts and the legendary afro hair.Our mothers couldn't resist these blokes and probably got pregnant annually for them.Few years later, that became the most ridiculous thing to wear.A decade later, it returned and became the most desirous. What we laughed at, we became partakers of.We crazy. In the early 80's , Micheal Jackson transformed from a thick-afro wearing dude to a Jerry-curled dangling superstar with his Thiriller hit.It ushered in a dawn that proved that blacks could have their hair curled if they wished.Everyone rushed in. The relaxer industry boomed.Our mothers who had the guts to attempt it faced alot of condemnation.They were the 'daughters of Jezebel'. Our father's went after the girls that had the curls but restrained their wives from it.The presumed 'daughters of Jezebel' were ridiculed on the streets and were considered as the portrait of the ungodly.They were almost lynched in the church.Today, pastors wife adorn themselves with curls of different colours, shades and styles.What we criticized, we became partakers...We Crazy. We all love to dance.Those that don't publicly, actually do so in their closet.This keep musicians in the business and producers cooking up beats to keep us on our toes. The dance steps keeps changing more rapidly than the beats. Tony & Orlando popularized the breakdance and Micheal Jackson introduced the moon walk.The 80's in Nigeria came with the 'garbage' dance, then came 'shuffle',next came 'garala' popularized by Daddy Showkey and the Ajegunle kingpins. Awilo Logomba and the macossa rave almost made us deaf.In a short while, the 'swoor' , yahoozee, Alanta, Ethigi, Azonto,Shoki, and then .....'Shaku Shaku' cometh. Dance steps has generated controversies amongst the various fabrics in our society. There are the naysayers who say it is improper to display those dance moves in Church especially because of its 'secular' source.Infact, one lady had to sing a song titled ' Azonto for Jesus' to incorporate it into the church. Falz got a group of hijab-wearing girls to dance Shaku Shaku and the religious Muslim folks went bunkers. Some religious christian folks say it is ' actually 'shakle,shakle' with an origin from hell which tries to put the dancers in bondage.So hey! dance it at home, at parties and anywhere else but within the confines of your religious houses.We crazy. Today, we heard there's a ' Kupe challenge' and group of young folks are doing the dance moves and flooding the Internet. ....then came the 'Idibala challenge' wherein the dancers falls down intermittently to the rhythm of the song like they died suddenly.It appears the Mountain of fire ministries ' fall and die' prayers for the wicked is begining to crystallize.
Funny part is, one guy remarked that as easy as the dance routine is, some folks won't even fall properly.Lol.Come to think of it, people who strive hard to stay alive, now dance to a song that suggest they die and music tend to make the process appealing for them. In truth, if crazy was a continent, the earth would be it's twin.
We crazy, We mad!
@Ezzyoj