A NEW YEAR, NEW BEGINNINGS, NEW POSSIBILITIES......

2016 is here and I want to thank anyone that has ever stopped over at this blog to read or comment for doing so. It means more to me than you can ever know. 

So today, I am just thankful for life...Truly, sincerely thankful. And that spirit of gratitude has made my life a whole lot fuller and richer...

Dear God, I am thankful for the goals I achieved, for the ones I started working on, for the ones I forgot about (ouch!), for the ones I remembered, but never got round to starting (despite shifting the timelines again and again); I am thankful!

MEMORIES...

I have always been the smiley type...could be a typical Nigerian thing. In the words of the late music legend, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, he says Nigerians sometimes are suffering and smiling. With all the economic difficulties and bad news flying around today, it is becoming increasingly difficult to keep smiling and I doubt that we have enough psychiatrists and psychologists to cater for the teeming number of people who may actually need counsel.

So what do we do? I suggest that in the words of Jay Danzie above, we all focus on making others feel better after encountering us.

Believe in Your dreams!

I must admit I have never been the strong confident person I think I should be. I am the reserved, behind the scene kind of person who would rather let others take the credit for what I probably should revel in. I admire and respect people who are strong, bold and confident. Kudos folks!

I am not hiding because I don't believe in my dreams; I am hiding because I love my privacy too much - that peace and freedom that comes with living a simple, everyday life in which you don't have to worry about who will recognize you on the street and publish in the tabloids that your make-up was not 'on point,' or that you wore last season's clothes...

UWA! (LIFE!)

 

I say this by faith & knowing that "Life is a mystery to be lived and not to be solved." 

 I found this saying interesting as a young girl: "Don't take life too seriously, you never get out of it alive!"

 It did not mean in my own understanding that one should not work hard, it just meant that one should take life events calmly knowing that this is only a temporary abode.

 

Readers' favorite gives #BeyondtheTrial a FIVE STAR REVIEW!

#BeyondtheTrial has just been given a five star review by a reviewer on Readers' Favorite.

"There is a strong theme of the importance of using one's mind to see positively, despite difficulties. Also, the characters rely on their close friends or mentors, and on prayer. The momentum of the stories is natural but gripping and in it the main female characters achieve closure by their own courage in facing past tribulations. The style is refreshing and direct, and certainly the book is a useful motivator to people who need courage to face their troubles."

Reviewed By Nandita Keshavan for Readers’ Favorite

To read the entire review visit:
http://readersfavorite.com/book-review/beyond-the-trial/

Living an Addiction Free Life

LIVING AN ADDICTION FREE LIFE

Everybody values personal freedom and independence. One can never fully appreciate this basic, essential right in life until one loses it to incarceration, debilitating illness, disability or addiction. I am sure when you read the word ‘addiction’ your mind goes straight to drug addiction. But then there are so many others things we get subtly addicted to and do not view as a problem. So what is an addiction?

Following God's leading 2

Hi  there!
I am sure you are wondering what I have been up to. It has taken me over three weeks to share my thoughts and I  have been getting 'leadings' to put pen to paper all this while! Suffice it to say that I am still a work in progress in this obedience business. May God give  all of us grace to obey His directions. Amen o!

I have been STRESSED lately. Sometimes, even too stressed to  sleep! Do you think one can be too stressed to sleep? Or too tired to sleep? Let me  know what you think!  But the good news is that I have been working on a book project which  I want to believe I commenced in obedience to a leading. (As in, you know, It's like...lol!)

My book 'Beyond the Trial' is an inspirational collection of three African based stories that highlights strategies for coping with rejection, betrayal, abuse, injustice....and encourages us to turn our trials into testimonies, setbacks into stepping stones and insults into results. If there is ONE book you should read this year, it is BEYOND THE TRIAL. It is a must read for the entire family! You won't be able to put it down!

It celebrates the challenges and struggles of African women living in a largely patriarchal society who put the love of children and family above themselves. It  highlights the force and ability of determination to rewrite destiny after monumental mistakes! Let's rewrite destiny this year. Let's inspire one another for  greatness!

Hang in there! You were sent to the world at such a time as this to affect your generation  positively! See you in the Hall of fame!

BEYOND  THE TRIAL- emerges a stronger YOU!

Available from:

AuthorHouse Bookstore

Amazon.com

Barnes & Noble.com

5 Reasons why it is good to obey God's leading.

Have you ever gotten into trouble and felt like you walked into a trap? I have. Even more painfully, I have had experiences where I had felt "Something" telling me that this would happen and it did! I don't know what you call it...intuition, sixth sense, a still small voice, your subconscious? I call it God's leading.

Last night, I was "led" to safely put away a new set of gate keys. By safely, I mean out of the reach of some little hands that belong to my "Oga" and my "Madam." I got caught up in following up recent Naija headlines. I did not.

You can imagine my shock and regret when I woke up bright and early at 5am the next day to discover the keys were gone from the last place I sighted them.

Instantly, I started praying.
"God, I am sorry. You had warned me about this. Help me. Please!"

Bearing in mind that we needed to make an early start for school, I ran to rouse the entire household. We had barely an hour and a half to find the keys or else, nobody would be able to leave the compound.

As I passed my children's "yellow jeep" parked in its spot, a glint of shiny metal caught my eye. Alas! It was the missing set of keys. Apparently they had tried to use it to start their "car"!

I was saved from the embarrassment of having to turn the house upside down and asking groggy toddlers where they had kept my keys.

Ah! I forgot one important detail: Hubby had handed the keys over to me and asked me to share them into "relevant" key holders (as Odoziaku concerned!). Hmm!

There are at least five reasons why it is wiser to obey God's leading:

• It leads you away from temptation (not into it).
• It delivers you from evil.
• It is based on wisdom.
• It brings you peace.
• It can bring increase.

Have you ever faced an embarrassing situation despite some forewarning?

How can we ensure we obey these directions more often and stay out of trouble? Please share your experiences as feedback.

Till next post, please stay in boundaries where God's love can reach you and richly bless you!

Image courtesy of sage garden care center.

YOU ARE UNIQUE

It is a brand new year. Well, nearly brand new year. We are in the second month of the year, and you are still your brand  new self. It doesn't matter how old you are, or how old you feel; you are ALWAYS brand new. Original! Authentic!Unique! God made us all very unique and that is why exact DNA or fingerprint  matches are impossible.

When I look at my fingerprints, all I see are concentric whorls or circles which look pretty much like what I see on every other person's finger. Nevertheless, science tells me that no two people have the same fingerprints in the entire world. I am talking about over six billion people in the world having very distinct features! I doubt that you can find any better proof of your uniqueness!

Being unique means you are equipped to do special things. There is added value that only YOU can bring -whether you have discovered it, or not! Only YOU can reach and positively affect the circle of people whose lives and destinies are attached to yours. Dare to leave a legacy behind for posterity!

In 2015, I choose to break through limitations that had held me bound - fear, insecurity, timidity and low self-esteem; and soar. I challenge you to soar  in 2015! Let's do things we had dreamed about for years. Let's turn those dreams into reality! Embrace greatness!


Image courtesy of dreamstime.com