Friendship Week

Sisters

A young wife sat on a sofa on a hot humid day,drinking iced tea and visiting with her Mother. Asthey talked about life, about marriage, about theresponsibilities of life and the obligations of adulthood, the mother clinked the ice cubes in her glass thoughtfully and turned a clear, sober glance upon her daughter'Don't forget your Sisters,' she advised, swirlingthe tea leaves to the bottom of her glass. 'They'll be more important as you get older. No matter how much you love your husband, no matter how much you love the children you may have, you are still going to need Sisters.

Remember to go places with them now and then; do things with them.''Remember that 'Sisters' means ALL the women...your girlfriends, your daughters, and all your other women relatives too. 'You'll need other women.

Women always do.'What a funny piece of advice!' the young woman thought. Haven't I just gotten married?Haven't I just joined the couple-world? I'm now a married woman, for goodness sake! A grownup! Surely my husband and the family we may start will be all I need to make my life worthwhile!'But she listened to her Mother. She kept contact with her Sisters and made more women friends each year As the years tumbled by, one after another,she gradually came to understand that her Mom really knew what she was talking about. As time and nature work their changes and their mysteries upon a woman,Sisters are the mainstays of her life. After more than 50 years of living in this world,here is what I've learned:THIS SAYS IT ALL:

Time passes.

Life happens.

Distance separates.

Children grow up.

Jobs come and go.

Love waxes and wanes.

Men don't do what they're supposed to do.

Hearts break.

Parents die.

Colleagues forget favors.

Careers end.BUT........Sisters are there, no matter how much time and how many miles are between you.

A girl friend is never farther awayt han needing her can reach.When you have to walk that lonesome valley and you have to walk it by yourself, the women in your lifewill be on the valley's rim, cheering you on,praying for you, pulling for you, intervening on your behalf, and waiting with open arms at the valley's end.

Sometimes, they will even break the rules and walk beside you...Or come in and carry you out.Girlfriends, daughters, granddaughters,daughters-in-law, sisters, sisters-in-law, Mothers,Grandmothers, aunties, nieces, cousins, and extended family, all bless our life!

The world wouldn't be the same without women, and neither would I. When we began this adventure called womanhood, we had no idea of the incredible joys or sorrows that lay ahead. Nor did we know how much we would need each other.Every day, we need each other still.

Make the Best of Today

This week I heard with sadness the sudden death of a friend and all I can say is life is short. Too short that all you have is now for sure tomorrow is only a myth.
This news came in a few days after the demise and since then I have been asking myself so many questions. Why being the predominant one.
She was such a young beautiful girl who had so much to live for. Everything was getting in place for her. I am thinking of the perfect teeth, the beautiful long hair,the slender almost flawless body…the beautiful girl and how she is no more.
Just a week of aches and pains and before the tests could confirm anything she was long gone. I now know its been attributed to throat cancer .I hate to think of that word(cancer) and where it came from and how it can attack just any part of the body with no justifiable cause.
As I pray for comfort for her friends and family who like me feel the loss, the gap or made more painful by how sudden it was I have resolved to live today like its all I have got.
Indeed today is all we have, it’s a free gift given as tomorrow may not be. So instead of spending it focussing on what could be to make it better let’s make whatever it is better. Rejoice in it and make it the day the Lord has made.

Of the Positive thinking Arm Band

I recently got myself an arm band... the plastic one's.If you have seen them you know they are so like last last year.True am no fashion junkie so probably you will think that's why am sticking to yesterday's in thing.

Not really though -thought i would challenge myself to look for the blessings in every daily occurance.Knowing that this ain't easy for an impatient person life me i thought the arm band would be a good physical reminder to keep me on the right train of thought.

It's a beautiful one...has blue my favourite colour and a bit of pink for the girl in me and well made complete with the white for purity.Uh am striving on that last one so you see the arm band has really been handy in pushing me in the right direction.The inscriptipon on it reads "Live Strong" and my interpretation of this is simply am capable,talented and trustworthy.

I Can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Wearing this band which i don't take off hasn't automatically made me miss sunshine but it has made me stop and think sometimes willing me to use the energy from within to pull myself from deep pits.As a result my attitude has stood for me in the worst of situations.

Guess it ain't all about the band but what is within coupled with determination.

I am hoping this will encourage you to go back in times and perhaps borrow a band of sorts to keep you on track with whatever you are battling.

Be encouraged with the following quote from one of my favourite books;The Purpose Driven Life

We limit God in our thinking.Thoughts of doubt,unbelief and unforgiveness in your heart will close teh door to His favour.Choose to take teh limits off by choosing thoughts of victory,choose thoughts of increase and blessing.As you do you will rise higher and higher and live the abundant life He has prepared for you.

Be blessed.

Two Choices

Two Choices
What would you do?....you make the choice.
Don't look for a punch line, there isn't one. Read it anyway. My question is: Would you have made the same choice?
At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves children with learning disabilities, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended.
After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he offered a question: 'When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does, is done with perfection. Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do. Where is the natural order of things in my son?'
The audience was stilled by the query. The father continued. 'I believe that when a child like Shay, who was mentally and physically disabled comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes in the way other people treat that child.' Then he told the following story: Shay and I had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, 'Do you think they'll let me play?' I knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but as a father I also understood that if my son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps.I approached one of the boys on the field and asked (not expecting much) if Shay could play. The boy looked around for guidance and said, 'We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning.'
Shay struggled over to the team's bench and, with a broad smile, put on a team shirt. I watched with a small tear in my eye and warmth in my heart. The boys saw my joy at my son being accepted.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three. In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as I waved to him from the stands. In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again. Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat.At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game? Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball. However, as Shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher, recognizing that the other team was putting winning aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least make contact.
The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed. The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay. As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher. The game would now be over. The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman. Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game.Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the first baseman's head, out of reach of all team mates.
Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, 'Shay, run to first! Run to first!'Never in his life had Shay ever run that far, but he made it to first base. He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled. Everyone yelled, 'Run to second, run to second!' Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to the base.By the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball . the smallest guy on their team who now had his first chance to be the hero for his team. He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions so he, too, intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman's head.
Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward home.
All were screaming, 'Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay' Shay reached third base because the opposing Shay, run to third!'As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams, and the spectators, were on their feet screaming, 'Shay, run home! Run home!' Shay ran to home, stepped on the 'That day', said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, 'the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world'. Shay didn't make it to another summer. He died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making me so happy, and coming home and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero> of the day.

On Track

Do I seek God or just his benefits?
Question time calling for instant answers. The first time I was faced with this question my response was quite alarming and not just because of what it was but the fact that I pondered to think about it and that the more I thought about it the more uncertain about my answer I was .
Sometime on now I have revisited the same question and boy am I glad that there was no hesitation this time round as I boldly proclaimed in my heart that it is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob I seek versus his benefits. And the puzzle quickly fell into place this time cause in seeking him and knowing him the benefits in many different ways come as part of the package .I still have a lot to learn in my journey as a Christian but with such a revelation not just at hand but at heart am surely on the right track.
Seek first the Kingdom of heaven and all the rest will fall in line.

Another Day and More.

Have you ever thought about the joy and relaxation the simple change of scenery brings? This is especially if you are running your life around routine. Had one of them yesterday and on any other day I would not have thought much about it but after weeks and weeks of same trail to work, meeting almost the same faces at the bus stop, same bus driver and circle goes on it was such a relief to break cycle yesterday. I did not think much about it as I set out to help a friend do her shopping, So routine that you do some things without thinking .But then as I took a minute to relax I got so appreciative of lovely time spent exploring another part of the city I thought I knew so well. Suddenly the beauties of the green and simple architect of the buildings were speaking to me.
The simplicity of another place not so different from mine made such a positive difference in my life. I feel challenged to savour every moment. It is such a beautiful world when we do.

Free In Him

I lay my sins on Jesus
The spotless Lamb of God
He bears them all and frees me
From the accursed load
I bring my guilt to Jesus
To wash my crimson stains
White in His blood most precious

I lay my grief on Jesus
My burdens and all my cares
He from them all releases
He all my sorrows shares


I lay my wants on Jesus
All fullness dwells in Him
He heals all my disease
He doth my soul redeem

Meek, loving ,lowly mild
The father’s holy child
Amid the heavenly throne
Brother and Friend
King and Servant
Redeeming Saviour

Of School's

Arise and Shine

Battles must be waged daily against most relentless foes. Delayed buses and trains, bad weather, annoying colleagues at work…the list goes on but this doesn’t mean we are to drain ourselves.
Giving up in an effort to be positive is not an option, if anything it demands for courage, determination, ceaseless vigilance and undaunted hope.
This is naturally of course easily said than done and a motivating factor would be the knowledge that shining in the midst of darkness wins us victory and eventually happiness.
Someone has said “You don’t get experience till after you need it” but in this case I can refute it as I have acknowledged that I already come from a position of victory and try my best not to allow dilemma intimidate me. This sounds arrogant but perhaps to throw more light it is more with faith that this attitude is taken; faith in the knowledge that God almighty is with us and we have a hedge of protection around us. Being in such a confident position obviously opens doors for conflict and spiritual warfare and this is the reason we should stand and wage unceasing war giving good for bad.

At my work place is a daily challenging situation in the name of an elderly colleague who likes to act like everything rotates around her or better still that she is some kind of all knowing mini god. Words can’t describe how hard it is to as much as get on with her and instead of letting her steal my joy each morning I have retaliated by being meek.
Not very easy but it has worked for me after all we spend half our life times at work so why let one woman spoil it .And trust me my acting the fool has melted her revealing a new tender side of this lady. To make it even better other people have adapted my style and the work environment is a merrier place to be.
This whole experience has been very humbling and above all taught me that when we take offence we block our blessings.
Think about it focussing on the negative will keep me in one position as I will be stranded thinking to and around the offence where I could have done uplifting things for a smoother sailing. So there goes let's keep above the negative.

Young At Heart.

Just been out for a youth meeting in my church-well youth is a broad way of putting it as it is basically a teenage meeting and well as I got there I couldn’t help but feel decades old. However, I just want to thank God for the person who came up with the saying, “age is just a number.” Well it made special meaning in my life as lost in a crowd of teenagers God let me know I can still be young at heart without letting a number that symbolises my years on earth come in the way of praising him. These particular youth meeting goes by the name wildlife and when I first got there I was like well this is indeed wild and especially wild for the Lord Jesus. I am thankful Lord Jesus that there are people in the younger generation who are standing for you and more grateful Lord that you are using them just as you do anyone who lets you. Thank you Lord that you used these kids to reveal you to me tonight.

Of Humility

Thank you Lord that you are teaching me to bite my tongue. Sometimes it is not worth it to express yourself especially if you are not going to build any bridges.
Am particularly thinking about my work situation, I go in there with the best attitude but one of my colleagues seems so negative and determined to put me down. Every time he opens his mouth it is to discourage, lament or whine and naturally I feel like I should give him a piece of my mind. However Lord you have humbled me and challenged me to just respond to this individual through use of positive actions. Its not really helping as the person is picking on me despite my good acts but the holy spirit is teaching me not to get involved in such a worthless battle. I thank you Lord that in such times you fight for us and teach us to be the light. Thank you Lord that you are teaching me to be a fool for You.

Now there's a Thought!

Uh been keeping away from the cyber world of constant messages and postings and exploring the more conservative way of keeping in touch or better still in this day and age called keeping away.
And what an eventful week it has been,read as non happening.

For starters been getting all these calls and voicemails that I couldn’t read nor listen to,to keep track of the persevering callers and by the time I got round to see what they were on about I was called all kinds of formidable things and all in the name of having a quiet week.

My greatest joy during this time has been the money I saved in the name of the air credit I would have used to talk small nothings and exchange messages;as it is personal things like making visits don’t count for much anymore.

On the downside I missed a friend’s farewell and bridal shower. As you have guessed they were not about to send anything in the post and now that I think think about it non of my girlfriends at this shower even have an address to send a card to. All this has been replaed by you know what.

Also did I tell you that my keeping away from the IT era for just 8days was treated suspiciously…people were wondering did I have debts ….who was I hiding from and the list goes on.

On a random night out a guy asked me for my number and it got me thinking how it was done back in the days. Did these men pursue potential partners by following them home? Did the ladies unleash all their details in the moment and take chances on this being their prince charming? Uh such comparisons made me appreciate the communication options we are blessed with now.

On the downside I realised I have been spending a lot of time in front of a computer in the name of social networking and limiting myself to the IT options of keeping in touch and forgotten there are other fun things of doing thing.This experience has revealed to me that there must be a balance and anything with some kind of physical activity definitely adds essence.

Letting go and letting Him

Life is to be shared and it definitely opens a completely new world to you when you find that one special person. However, what happens when that one person is not all that they seemed to be and all the hopes you have built in them come collapsing down.
When it becomes clear that without trading your belief’s and your God the best thing is to let go.
Just thankful that today I am working on letting go –knowing people and letting them be .I have to remember to say thank you again if only to keep me going . Right now it seems like the hardest thing to accept that a special person’s purpose in my life is done with and I have to start out again on what seems a lonely path.
My decision to let go is reminding me of my love for the saviour and am thankful that the Lord has instigated in me such great love and wisdom to discern when I should let go and let Him. I am thankful that it is teaching me to overcome my natural inborn tendencies to put myself first and instead put my God first.
I am thankful that it is teaching me to trust my father above. I am happy too that this pain is for a reason and once I have truly let go I will look back and give praise for his goodness.
Thank you Lord that even in such times you never let go of us and I pray for other young people who may have invested time in a relationship but have to let go that you give them the strength .Thank you Jesus that you are not just faithful but you are sufficient.

In Stride.

"And we know that God causes everything to work together for good for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them."Romans 8:28
Sometimes you read scripture and well it is just words that in the moment do not speak into your circumstances. I memorised Romans 8:28 way back as a teenager and I have since used it on several occasions to encourage me and rebound me to the purposes of the Lord in my life. Last Saturday created another opportunity for me to be encouraged with this great scripture …only that this time it spoke in my life not only tremendously but also in a whole new light.
I mean sometimes when we give in to temptation there are consequences and if you are not careful, they may overtake you. I had one of those acting so irrationally moments, that when I stopped to think the me I know and love did not fit in the picture. In addition, try as I may, questions just kept popping in and out of my head…as if I did not feel guilty enough they rolled and rolled that it started to feel like a punishment. Just as I was starting to despair that precious word took over my thinking and the more I thought I about it the more everything made sense to the point of everything falling in place if not justified.
I have never been one to think that bad things especially done by us also revolve around God’s purpose of us being fulfilled…there are no words to explain but my moment of sheer anger and acting stupidly was saving me from being taken advantage of, from being carried away with the excitement of the moment.
I do not even have words to comprehend the protection of the Lord I have felt since then and still do in everything I do. If we just pause and let Him, God is leading us on.

Building Relationships.

As a young girl I was taught to summarise the word Joy as “Jesus first, Others next and Yourself last”. Emphasis was put on the fact that if I followed that principle, then I would be assured of joy in my life. With time as I started not only to engage my brain more but also to relate more with people, I couldn't help but think what a joke the whole "joy" concept was. Time has taught me that putting others before you is easy if they are going out of their way to make you happy. But what happens if all you are getting is hurt and rejection from those you have put first at all costs? The truth is whether I want it or not, you and I need people to live life with. Needless to say, it is a continuous struggle if we are to put others no matter what before ourselves.

However why not start just by involving people in our lives? After all our lives are enhanced by the relationships we have. I am sure you have had one of those days where a kind word, hug or kiss from a special loved one and in some cases a stranger has made a difference to an otherwise gloomy day. I believe human beings are relational in nature. The world has put it simply as "No man is an Island", and I couldn't agree more. In addition, relationships are very vital to the quality of life that we have.

Growing up in a not so small family, I had those moments where I just needed some time to myself and as a teenager; I asked one of my married friends if they ever had that urge to have space away from their spouse. ‘Of course’, was the reply as naturally we all need that one to one time when we can reflect without any background noise although however, that is not to say that people aren't important for if we can't get along with people, then there's a ceiling on our lives. A better way of looking at it is how the Ten Commandments are summed up. The first to the fifth of the laws relate to our relationship with God while the sixth to the tenth, our relationship with other people.

Every one of us was created to have a relationship with God and a relationship with other people. If you thought you could do without people, there's no way out since relating to both our creator and fellow man is the most important thing we can do. Someone else said that in order to be happy in life, we just have to spend time with the people we love. Put in another way, we have to place value on the people we live with and in the end everyone will be happy.

The Beauty Of Friendship.

You start out on this walk, all alone and frightened. Otherwise how do you explain the wailing cries 99% of babies make when they first come into this world.
And then step by step the crying has to stop or at least for a while as you adjust to the woman who cuddles you to her body and if you are lucky a man who tries to do the same. Then with time come the aunts and uncles who try a fair job at getting close to you.
But perhaps the best stage of it all is when you finally find another little person who you can fight with as well as be nice to without trying so hard to please or thinking if it is right. “I think at this stage the riddle of your existence seems to be solved,” says Gladys Shazace a Business student at University College Northampton.
I wouldn’t agree more only that I think you appreciate that more when you are older. My mother once told me you make true friends when you are older cause then you both know what you are getting in and treasure it more.
Someone else has said, the people we meet when we are older are not true friends cause they are only there for a moment and don’t know the half that there is to know.
I have caught myself say that loudly as well after a disappointment from an acquaintance I thought was a friend but well this time round I would rather agree with my mother.
Maybe it’s because I am reflecting on two friends I have made in my latter part of life and can’t help but say my mother couldn’t be more than right.
I mean circumstances force you to meet people and they even push you to be nice to them for after all life is most of the time an exchange of energy.
You go into the whole thing thinking-oh will they like me, will it work out and all those other questions lingering on at the back of your mind.
And then ooops you are there going through the formalities trying to register what you like and don’t like and wondering how you will go through this stage of your life.
Then step by step you adjust and in so doing get the best from the other person. And who better at this stage to call friend than this person who is learning and getting to know your life and loving you right that they only bring the best out of you, making your flaws a thing of the past.
I know it almost doesn’t happen like this all the time but when it does it is beautiful cause then you most certainly know that at every step of your life you can sure count on this friend. For after all you have trusted them with your secrets, your possessions and your inner being and can now count on them to make sure you are keeping in step with being happy and all because you found each other.

Pressing For Fulfillment.

Been reading about a black woman who raised her seven children to integrate in the white system in 1970’s Mississippi.
It must have been so hard as the segregation was out right clear as other people were determined to fight tooth and nail against integration of the black people in society.
Just thinking about how many people were not as bold and motivated as she to do their level best to catch up with the top dogs. I am not sure I would have been that determined with everything so against and in the way of any possibilities and yet she did it.
Without thinking about what I should or not have done just want to thank God that I live in a time where there is no segregation where my limitations are not based on race. In addition, am just so grateful for all those men of power you put in place that fought for the redemption of people of colour to be treated just as all people.
Deep within me I can’t help but believe just like the animals in Animal farm put it, “All animals are equal but some are more equal than others” However regardless of my prejudices am thankful that you enabled the times we live in to recognise that all people regardless of race deserve to be treated equally.

Hem of His Robe

“Happiness is never something you get from other people .The happiness you feel is in direct proportion to the love you give.” Oprah

I am thankful that yesterday in church the Almighty reminded me of where I have always got my happiness from-In Him.
Of late been trying to get my happiness in man, letting people define my happiness and of course the results have been despair. You can only let yourself be disappointed for so long especially if you are lucky to know and acclaim the father as your saviour.
I just want to thank God that my happiness is assured in him; all of it is from him even when I fail to see it. Moreover, even in moments when I have been so unhappy it has been for my future happiness as he tries to teach me to surrender to him who commands my destiny to him who has only plans to prosper me and not to harm me.