Random blabs...

Procrastination is such a bad bad bad boy. I've left things to linger longer than they should have. I am ashamed of myself. Sometimes i feel like Scarlet from gone with the wind pushing things to tomorrow and then tomorrow... "I can't think about this now. I'll go crazy if I do. I'll think about it tomorrow."
I'll begin to make good use of my time and by Gods grace complete my project before the year runs out. I'll start for real tomorrow. Tomorrow is another day.

photo credit:http://www.cafepress.com

I know some men call their wives 'mummy' and some wives call their husbands 'daddy'. When it comes to terms of endearment, to each his own. I have no qualms with that. But the day my Husband decides to call me 'mummy' instead of whatever it is that sounds nice and sweet... that's the day we go to the hospital for a DNA test, to show him that i am in no way an Egyptian mummy, and i am not his mother and neither is he my father.


It's Halloween today and the lights are turned off, to ward off the candy eating monsters. My niece was amost tempted to hand out baba blue and vicks lemon sweets last year when they came calling.(who has sen the baba blue commercials? google vicks baba blue, you'll love it) Why anyone would celebrate this day i wonder... but then i guess some don't know what it signifies, its just a fun day to dress in costumes and feel like something you're not. Was at the excel center a few nights ago and i saw people dressed in the scariest costumes ever... there was something beyond the fun of dressing up in scary outfits in their looks, it freaked me out.

I never was overly impressed with the beats by dre headphone. I mean i've thought about giving diddy beats a try as they're smaller and stuff. So one day i decided to use my brothers beats. Goodness, those things make you feel like you're in another realm. I played some worship songs and i got lost. I'm definitely getting myself a beats piece. The perfect companion for the tube. And no, i wouldn't be using it as a neck accessory, it'll serve it's true purpose. (shout out to my naija bros and sisters who post pix after pix of their beats headphones around their neck. una well done o)

It's amazing how advanced, educated and posh we seem to be, but when the sun goes down and we all seat in our houses we're all striped down and just as ancient as our ancestors were. People still discriminate against tribes. A friend from Calabar wouldn't date a rich, fine, sweet Akwa Ibom boy she liked... because apparently the Akwa Ibom people were the slaves back in the day or something like that. I have a dozen other examples... the igbos and their intolerance for Osu people etc. I've seen people loose their joy just because of the tribe factor. Oh well, to each his own. I'm not innocent either, sometimes i get primitive especially when it comes to accents, and I think it's really lame.

I'm not a fan of the Kardarshians. Truth is, i didn't know who they were till i think last year? but two of my three sisters wouldn't mind setting reminders to watch them on E. And so it is that i got to watch the fairytale wedding. I saw almost everything wrong, and i was sure it wouldn't last. They were just so different, he seemed like such a traditionalist and she's all things not conventional and bla bla bla ...  Somewhere deep inside i hoped i was wrong, i really wanted it to be something that would prove everyone wrong. Oh well....
Marriage goes beyond the planning and how spectacular and magical the day would be. It goes beyond wearing three different dresses just because you can. It goes beyond the ring and how much it cost. It's unfortunate that in today's world, away from Hollywood and right in our backyards, marriage has been summed up as these superficial things and devalued by the day. Nothing more than the display of the day itself. No ones thinking ahead, to a moment where there's no dress fitting to go to, and no meeting with the wedding planner, no cake tasting... God will help us sha.


Thanks to didi, honeydame and Martha for the versatile blog award... I'm too lazy to participate. But i do appreciate it :) 
And a shout out to all my followers... God bless you plenty.

Despicable him...

Today I rejoice… indeed I am like a cat with nine lives. I have tasted and seen that the Lord is good. He has saved me from my enemies, delivered me from all evil. I was just a little shepherd boy. But look at me today, King of the greatest nation, loved by the mighty God, honored by both the mighty and the little. Who would have thought? And today I lead the procession in honoring my God, we bring back his dwelling place, his presence into our city… How blessed are we that he's chosen to dwell among us despite our rebellion against him? We offer our sacrifices to him... in burnt offering, singing and dancing.
Oh when I think of the goodness of God and what he has done for me, my soul cries Hallelujah.

I am unable to contain myself, today I cast my crown for the King of all kings, I lay aside my royalty for the one who ordains kings, he lifts the lowly on high, he puts one down and lifts up another. Today in his presence I am nothing… just a mere boy… "accept our sacrifices great and mighty King"

Look at me, he's been my protector, with my bare hands I killed lions and bears as they came to attack my sheep, with a sling and a stone I brought down the uncircumcised Philistine giant Goliath… I will jump and shout with joy at his goodness. What joy fills my soul… he protected me in the mountains when I was on the run from those who wanted me dead… I was a fugitive for so long and yet he kept me and brought me to the throne.
Watch me dance before my God and my king… See me drop my dignity in worship… I will dance to the king of glory.

I am King David. O listen to my song…. “I will Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all my iniquities, Who heals all my diseases. Who redeems my life from destruction, Who crowns me with loving kindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies my mouth with good things, So that my youth is renewed like the eagle’s… The Lord is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. He will not always strive with us, Nor will He keep His anger forever. He has not dealt with me according to my sins, Nor punished me according to my iniquities For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed my transgressions from me. As a father pities his children, So the Lord pities those who fear Him. For He knows my frame; He remembers that i am dust…. But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting On those who fear Him, And His righteousness to children’s children, To such as keep His covenant, And to those who remember His commandments to do them. The Lord has established His throne in heaven, And His kingdom rules over all. Bless the Lord, you His angels, Who excel in strength, who do His word, Heeding the voice of His word. Bless the Lord, all you His hosts, You ministers of His, who do His pleasure. Bless the Lord, all His works, In all places of His dominion. Bless the Lord, O my soul!” slightly edited excerpts from psalm 103

Watch me do the Dougie… see me do the chicken dance, wait a minute, I've got the one head stand to wow you with. He is God indeed. He anoints my head with oil my cup runs over…. Oh play the music, let us “Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.”Psalm 150:4

                 ***********************************************************

From a distance I watched this show, this parade of madness. And of course David is in the fore front of it. Dancing like a mad man. He might as well be mad. Did I really expect more from him? You can’t take away the common streak from a man who's lived, wined and dined with sheep’s for most of his growing years and lived in the mountains for so long can you? Not even the title of king can change a commoner from being who he is.

My father was the king. The greatest king of this kingdom before David. I grew up as a princess. And here I am, a queen today, married to a king greater than my father ever was. My life has been one big party from childhood till now.

I have been groomed in every area, the rules of etiquette craved in my head. My speech, my movement, the way I chew, my smile... Everything has been carefully woven into my core being, it’s a cord that is part and parcel of  the person I am.

The privileges I had as a princess was second to none. I always got what I wanted, as a matter of fact, It was my love for David that made father get him as a groom for me. Back then he was just some shepherd boy brought to soothe father's regular fevers and hallucinations. Playing the harp in a mysterious, beautiful and captivating way for father. I would seat outside the door listening as he played to calm father down. My bride-price was the foreskin of two hundred Philistines... Who else can boast of that?

Today I stand by the window watching for him. It’s a day of celebration for the citizens of the kingdom, but I am ashamed, more like disgusted. It is despicable the way he’s acting. Maybe he didn’t have a royal grooming from childhood, but that doesn’t change the fact that he is a king today. Look at the way he’s dancing, it shames me. He’s a king for goodness sake; he’s going against all royal etiquette I’ve been made to study, this is scandalous.

Daddy was a more regal king, he wouldn’t shame the kingdom so, and my brother Jonathan too... he wouldn’t dare dance like a lunatic in the streets, exposing his inner garment to everyone in sight. I would talk some sense into this rascal made king. If nobody would, I will, who else understands royalty than I do?

My name is Micah, i am a princess like no other. I will not have my royalty stained with the indignity of my husband.

                             ***************************************
This has been a wonderful day. I can feel the presence of the Lord all over. The ark of the covenant is finally in mount Zion, the city of David. It seats in the middle of the tent i had set up for it. All the people joined me in offering burnt and peace offerings.I have blessed them and sent them home.

My spirit is soaring. I am humbled, I am happy, I am grateful... as i go home to bless my household.  The wife of my youth is amongst the first to come down to me. It isn't excitement i see in her eyes... I am taken aback by the coldness in hr looks. She spits out the words even before she's standing before me "How wonderfully the king has distinguished himself today-exposing himself to the eyes of the servants' maids like some burlesque street dancer!" I feel a rush of anger at her words. How cold is her heart? Hasn't she been following all that we are celebrating? Doesn't she know the God in whom we honor? has she been so blinded that she fails to recognize the God of Israel? 
I take a deep breath, as i find the calm and words to reply her foolishness... "In God's presence I'll dance all I want! He chose me over your father and the rest of our family and made me prince over God's people, over Israel. Oh yes, I'll dance to God's glory - more recklessly even than this. And as far as I'm concerned . . . I'll gladly look like a fool . . . but among these maids you're so worried about, I'll be honored no end." 
I see the disappointment in her eyes, but i refuse to be moved or made to apologize for the way i choose to worship. She has lived a sheltered life, she wasn't there when the trials almost overwhelmed me... she's never been in battle as Israel fought for her freedom. I feel sorry for her, she's too sophisticated to understand gratitude that cannot be spoken but expressed in the actions of a man that has been delivered from all sorts. She wouldn't know. He is my God and i am nothing without him.

Michal, Saul's daughter, was barren the rest of her life.
(2 Samuel 6)                       
                                ********************************** 

When it comes to praise and worship, we choose to do it in style according to our status. It's usually the poor and unpopular ones we expect to display traces of 'pentecostal madness', and so we raise eyebrows and turn our nose up when we see the 'big' men and big boys and girls going the crazy way too. We belong to the sophisticated category, it is not expected of us to be so vulgar in church.
If we choose to maintain our dignity in the conventional rhythm claps and feet shuffle, well lets do that and let those who have gratitude that is bigger than their best Sunday dress, fat wallets and fine face go crazy like David.
Michal was barren the rest of her life for speaking up against David's way of honoring God, If we're not fine with it, then lets stay silent. Who knows the curses we incur on ourselves from the smirks and the chuckles we release in disdain at others in their worship. 
 
May we never grow bigger than our praise. For as long as God continues to uplift us, i pray we'll never try to be bigger than he is in us. Just like David a King so great cast away his royal robe and image for the greatest King. Hopefully we'll drop sophistication and all the big titles aside when it comes to praising God, and we would be able to block out the voice of Michal chastising us for been so crass. We don't live to please man but to please God.

Shit Happens... Literally

Now this is a testimony of some fine chic i know. She's the one with the the 4x4 car, fine girl no pimple, designer bags et co... you get the picture? The type you see and just can't imagine her taking a dump.
Well a dump it is she took, and oh boy, what a dump it was. When you got to go, you got to go, but what happens when you go and you can't go? She stayed in the toilet for a long long time, sweating and frustrated.(This isn't hearsay, she gave me the gist herself:)) But It just wasn't werking. Life didn't seem so good in that febreze refreshed toilet.

She was already getting shivers on the toilet seat when it hit her... Why suffer this horrifying indignity and pain when you have a father who can do all things? So she said a little prayer, more like a cry for help and just like that, everything came out nice and easy. When the going gets tough, just send up a prayer :)
I really wish i could put up a picture of what this fine girl looks like, not to embarrass her but to prove the authenticity of the story. But then i would spoil her market:)

What did i learn from this shit that eventually happened?
Nothing is too small or mundane to take to God in prayer.
You can't be embarrassed about telling him certain things, your weakness, your fears... he knows every inch of us(he's seen us finish). He doesn't need politeness from us, we don't have to be posh with him. We can come as we are and cry about our mouth odor or our 'longer throat' Oliver twist character, it could be about the giant pimple on our nose, feeling insecure and wanting to wear a bigger size of bra or just the fact that our dance steps are toxic to the human race. Whether it's about toilet matters, business matters, or emotional issues... nothing is too small or too big for the king of Glory.
Call upon him in every situation and he'll send help to you, comfort you and give you wisdom on how to go about your issues.

"Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." Philippians 4:6(kjv)

Wedding Bells...

And my 'favoritest' man tied the knot today.
Of course i missed it. But i'm sure he understands that i'd leave the queens land back to Lagos just for him if i could.
Am i glad he's hitched? Oh goodness, i am. Hopefully marriage will make him nicer to me. He's too hard on me sometimes, he bullies me and calls me names.
I mean who calls a nice little girl like me 'Mbeke'... and he still wouldn't let me know what it means.
Today, after years of courtship and acting like a lost puppy in the presence of his sweetheart, he finally can bark at the world and walk the walk of a man. He's married after-all.

He's helped me grow in my faith. He's been a source of encouragement to me, and even though we've had our moments... it doesn't make me love him less. I'll take his bullying any day to not being able to hola at him when i'm down and out asking for a prayer and a word.
I'm so happy he's found someone so special, someone so wonderful... he's found a good thing. And i can't wait for the favor coming his way from this good thing. For the word says "Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the Lord." Proverbs 18:18

Here's to Obiwon... the happiest man on earth today.
Enjoy your marriage my friend... you deserve it and much more.

Beyond Description...

There's this joke of a mother who asked her nine-year-old son what he learned in Sunday School that day. He said the teacher told them how God sent Moses behind enemy lines to rescue the Israelites and lead them out of Egypt. When they got to the Red Sea, the army built a pontoon bridge and everyone walked across safely. Then they saw the Egyptians coming, so Moses radioed for reinforcements. Bombers came and blew up the bridge, so the people were saved.

His mother asked, "Is that really what the teacher said?"

"No," he replied, "but if I told it the way the teacher did, you’d never believe it."

Sometimes it’s easier to believe the truth built up with a lie than believe a truth with no rational explanation. But that’s who God is, there is no rationality with him. It is what it is and that’s how he works. Somethings can't be explained and shouldn't be... it makes God smaller than he is when we begin to paint pictures of how he does what he does... Like cancer disappearing, or a blind man suddenly seeing after a word of prayer, or how a barren woman can conceive after the doctors have written her off… how do you explain that?

Don't limit God by putting him in a box and giving him ways to solve your problems, leave your burdens to him and watch the sea part, run through it in thanksgiving when it does and don't spend time analyzing how fast and strong the wind must have been to blow the waters aside, you'll just end up giving yourself an unnecessary burden trying to come up with a rational explanation.

When he comes through for you, he just practically takes your breath away and leaves you standing in awe... like the psalmist says " When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream." psalm 126:1(kjv)

He is an awesome God, no one can comprehend him. He works in ways we cannot see, he's the only wise one. His foolishness is greater than our wisdom. And that's why he is God. This song says a lot, he's an awesome God indeed.

"You are beautiful beyond description, 
Too marvelous for words, 
Too wonderful for comprehension, 
Like nothing ever seen or heard. 
Who can grasp your infinite wisdom? 
Who can fathom the depth of your love? 
You are beautiful beyond description, 
Majesty enthroned above..../ 
And I stand, I stand in awe of you. 
I stand, I stand in awe of you. 
Holy God, to whom all praise is due, 
I stand in awe of you." I stand in awe of you

Pose For The Camera... *Click Click*

Pose for my camera *click click*...

I love pictures. I love being in them, and i love taking them. There's so much beauty around and it feels so good to capture them and have a look whenever you want to.
I'm no professional, I am just a girl with a camera. I have taken some good shots in my life time, matter of fact, i took the background picture of this blog.
I'm sure i will be a whole lot of good if i take photography more seriously. I'm posting a few of my shots on here.
When you look, remember i was having fun doing this, not thinking of professionalism. I'm not a big fan of excess photoshop, which is the joy of some Nigerian photgraphers... perfect pictures are damaged by the too obvious airbrush effect. I feel sorry when i look at some wedding pictures, ruined much by an over zealous photographer.
O well, here are a few of my pictures... and criticize with love if you really have to be a critic, biko... I'm not as tough as Linda Ikeji :)

National Theater Surulere... Took this from a moving vehicle on my way home from NYSC camp, had to go in to sign the 'book of life'(i got an exit so i didn't have to be in camp)

Christmas Cow about to be slaughtered, wonder what the eyes were trying to say. I felt so sorry for it and was almost convinced i wouldn't be able to eat the cooked meat... of cos i got hungry and i love my meat.. i love my cow leg more.

Rocky Plateau...Took this on the outskirt of Jos from a moving Vehicle. I've always loved Jos for the weather and the mountains and rocks et co. It's such a beautiful place. So sad at what the ignorance of illiterates has turned it into with all the religious crisis et co.

A view of Dubai Marina... taken from the 5th floor poolside of the Marriot Habor hotel Dubai.

Another view of the Marina. I love Dubai. Have never spent more than four nights there. I plan on doing an extended stay in the near future by God's grace.

Sunset over River Benue... taken from a moving Vehicle.

Another shot of the Sunset over River Benue.

Had this on the blog before. This was in Marina Lagos. I call it 'in with the new, out with the old' The blue sky sort of feels like a new dawn of color coming to take over the drabness of the black and white/old... And the truck represents the moving van taking away the old.

Taken about three years ago at La campaign Tropicana Lagos. Love that Beach resort. My favorite beach in Lagos, Private, secure, neat and all things nice.

My lovely friend. We had lunch in Chicken Republic Abuja and we ended up taking fun pictures. She's such a beauty, she's a crazy lady on the outside and such a sweetheart on the inside.

My favorite muse when it comes to portraits. She is my best friend. We fight a lot cos she loves to be a 'know it all' to me, but then I'm glad i have her in my life. She is me and I love me too much :)

Now this is another shot of this special girl in my life...Me. I love her loads. You will too when you get to know her. X

And that's all folks... well not all, but all i'm sharing with you.
Bless.

Don't 'Jealous' Me.

Jealousy is a feeling imbibed in most of us... you either let it control and consume you, taking over your life or you become the boss of it, choosing not to accommodate it.
I have friend's who have achieved a lot and sometimes the tug tries to take over but i kill it as i feel the green eyed monster rise within me and i make the calls and send the messages to congratulate, because i know we are on different paths, everyone's future has been tailor made to suite him. I could never be a fashion designer or a beauty queen or a banker or a phd holder. It would never work if her fiance proposed to me instead of her...
When it comes to jealousy you've got to take a stand and believe in yourself, cos that's the only way you can kill it and celebrate others instead of bringing them down or try to 'pour sand in their garri'.

Envy is a symptom of lack of appreciation of our own uniqueness and self worth.  Each of us has something to give that no one else has.  ~Elizabeth O'Connor

I go to a friends house for the first time, i compliment on something nice about the house.(i don't go sulking because my house is smaller)
You get a new job, I'm excited about your job, and i try to see the good in it encouraging you while you whine about the bad side(i don't gloat that you hate your new fab job)
I really do want to know that you're fine.(i'm not calling to check that your life sucks so i can feel better about mine)
A friend wears a new dress i compliment.(even though i can't afford it)
A friend buys a car, I'm excited...
A friend has a talent, I'm her fan and try my best to be a good customer and promoter...(not going round telling people she ain't no good)
I try my best, but then i know its a cold world.
Its amazing how you get the best compliments from those you expect less from... and those who are 'close' to you just watch you and never say anything. I mean we don't need their words, but then again it hurts. Are we supposed to be friends?
Can't you see I'm doing something great? Aren't you happy for me? Wouldn't you say a prayer for me when I'm going through stuff? Remember me? I was there for you...
I learned not to expect much from people... especially those i call friends.
Jealousy births hate... It's alarming the venom you find when a backbite/gossip is exposed.

"Jealousy is simply and clearly the fear that you do not have value.  Jealousy scans for evidence to prove the point - that others will be preferred and rewarded more than you.  There is only one alternative - self-value.  If you cannot love yourself, you will not believe that you are loved.  You will always think it's a mistake or luck.  Take your eyes off others and turn the scanner within.  Find the seeds of your jealousy, clear the old voices and experiences.  Put all the energy into building your personal and emotional security.  Then you will be the one others envy, and you can remember the pain and reach out to them."  ~Jennifer James

And those 'friends' whose every other month call always starts with "when are you getting married?" The call feels like a self evaluation test for them. Because they're scared... It's like there's some competition and their day only gets better with the fact that you're still in the place where they want you to be... single, and you haven't gotten married before them after all. Because they're insecure and scared that they'll end up alone, but it wouldn't be so horrible for them if they don't have you see you happy and married. I'm almost always tempted to say "you didn't get my invite?" Just to hear the reaction. There's the conversation you have with other friends when that question pops up and you know it's just conversation and fun jabs, but with these ones... you just know how wrong it is on many levels.
My life is simple... I really don't get the need of you to see your life as a competition with mine, because in truth, if a poll is taken, many would vote your life as more interesting than mine. But you're too busy consuming jealousy straight from the bottle, and you're just too drunk with it to realize.

The bible says to pray for your enemies, then how much more are we to pray for our friends? Pray for them and tame the jealous beast within you. I pray we all learn to count our blessings rather than counting the blessings of others. You'll be amazed at how blessed you are even without her job, without her man, without her car, without her vacations, without living her life...
It's a cold cold world for a person who's life is a slave to jealousy.

"Jealousy is an outgrowth of not realizing who you are and what you possess. It’s born of fear that someone has a better life than yours, even though the people you envy are not without their own insecurities, pains and unrequited dreams and hopes. Focus on your accomplishments, not your failures. Count your blessings. Celebrate the life you’ve been given" T.D Jakes

I'm gonna marry you...

You've just got to see this... it's too cute.
One of those videos that perks you up on a very dull and tiring day.



Some boys have suffered sha, the same scene still plays out every day with adults... Some are still going through this phase at age 50. 'Girl means business, guy gets traumatized.'

Hope this video gets played at their wedding...:)

You Think You Know... I Saw Hell

It's amazing how you figure you know someone so well, when in truth you have no idea... A friend of mine put up a note on facebook. I've known her for a couple of years, we went to same school and all. Years later i started bumping into her in church and was like 'o really?' She's one of those who dances her heart out in church while you're trying to be righteously cool in your dance and same time wondering what the deal is with her... Her passion challenges me to be better. I hope this will touch our hearts and and melt the ice away before it's too late. Be blessed by her story.

This is a true life story, I promised God I would tell the world; I however battled with this truth for years, I am willing to finally fulfill the will of God in my life by allowing the world to hear a real life testimony of my encounter with hell.
I got a job to work in a financial institution during my NYSC service year; and reported to a lady who was my Department head. Working with her was very difficult; she made life hard for me. I almost lost the job to her doing, when God intervened. A team member of the management, developed interest in the case and it was addressed. Following these; we developed cordial relationship.

One faithful day, he invited me to hang out and I obliged, when I got to the venue,i realized it was his guest house; we chatted and what followed was not anticipated. He kissed me and became aggressive when I stopped him. What started as a cool evening became an ugly one. He raped me despite all the pleas, screams, tears and struggle. He apologized and said he didn’t know what came over him.

It didn’t change anything as the deed had being done and the incident could not be erased with a sorry.
This incident left me in shock, I was completely traumatized and it got worse as the days passed by. I couldn’t share this problem with anyone and it was eating me up inside. I guess this goes with the saying “a problem shared is a problem solved”. I was almost going crazy with series of emotions flowing through my head; I sure needed to talk to someone, a psychologist, family, friends, or anyone. I could not though, as I felt ashamed and blamed myself for obliging the invite. I got courage and told my supervisor without revealing the identity of the person.

It didn’t get easier as the psychological pain continued and took a different toll, I went for a checkup and the result indicated I was pregnant. It was indeed unbelievable, this is considering the fact I had being working on my faith that dwindled when I got into the university and began dating. I had broken my oath of not having sex before marriage when I got into the relationship. To renew this vow to God, I had to take drastic decisions like breaking the relationship that had lasted for about 5-6 years and was geared towards marriage. I had become celibate for more than a year. With this also in view, it wasn’t easy taking this report. Here was I having difficulty dealing with the trauma of being raped, and I now had deal with being pregnant for someone I could not even imagine having in my life, someone who had violated me.

I had one option to have the baby, thou I feared what my family and friends would think. I was finished; that’s what I thought. He soon realized the position things had taken and suggested I had a clean break, have an abortion and end the story, have my life back and not have to worry about losing my reputation.(did I mention he was married) yea he was.
I considered the suggestion remembering the curse I had pronounced on myself growing up “The day I tried an abortion that would be the day I die”. It wasn’t easy making a decision at that point; I made one bearing in mind the circumstances at hand.

I went to see a doctor he had recommended and was unconscious as the surgery took place, in the minutes that followed I died, my spirit left my body, as I gazed at my physical body almost identical with my spirit body, I thought it was amazing. I was soon caught up in the air and rejoiced believing I was being assumed in to heaven. In a second my life flashed before me and I was in hell. yea hell; it was unbelievable; the fire fumed and burnt uncontrollably. No this wasn’t happening to me I thought, I had been a good person and only got into this mess due to an unfortunate situation. I saw people crying and pleading for a second chance, the screams were horrible. Some people had being burning for over 100 years, as the fire ravished my whole being I realized that I was in here for eternity.

As everyone pleaded, it was obvious that it was too late. I screamed with all the energy in me, I could not stop screaming despite my exhaustion. I couldn’t believe this was true; once again, I thought it was a nightmare and hoped I would wake up and discover it was all a dream. It sure wasn’t, I was in hell. I saw a wall stretched out in the face of the deep, it was bottomless with cubicles (cell units) enclosed with coverings that looked like web made out of sand by locust. It seemed difficult to comprehend the idea that I was condemned to eternal damnation. I remember seeing a lady who had being burning for over 100 years nonstop, she’d being burning way before I was conceived and delivered into the world. She was tired of the pain but it wouldn’t stop, her flesh would melt like magna from a volcanic eruption and soon form back, it just continued over and over again. This view could also be likened with the red steaming liquid of melted iron in a furnace. This image was unbearable. As I continued to scream and experience anguish and horror that can be best described by the revelations forwarded to John in the book of revelations, I thought about decisions I would have taken differently and realized indeed a living dog is better than a dead lion. I was dead and there was no hope.

Everyone reading this is alive so there is hope, you can change your decisions today while you can, cause in a second it might be too late. If you have no hands, legs, you’re deaf and dumb but you alive, you just got to be grateful you are alive to secure your destiny today. It really doesn’t matter if you are deformed and probably eating stool and drinking stagnant fluid from a gutter. Your being alive is a great testimony, I can tell you that. What will you gain if you gain the entire world’s respect, have all the affluence and wealth one could ever dream of and live at least 120years; at that point, you will beg for death. And woe to you if after living an affluent life for 120yrs on earth, you have to spend a million years in hell, where you never die despite all the pain. Think about this!

I continued to plead for a second chance along with the people who were also condemned to burn in hell for a life time. Their cries met no response from God, as a time will come when you will call upon God and he would not listen, you will knock on the door and it will not be opened. Seek God now while you can find him.
I pleaded for a chance to make it right, I asked God to give me just a second to breathe and declare that he is worthy, then he could take me back. Nothing mattered then, not what people would have thought of me if I had made a different choice of keeping the baby. Soon after I realized how many chances I had all my life, as I answered the following question. How many seconds are in a minute? Ans: 60sec. How many minutes are in an hour? Ans: 60mins; how many hours are in a day? Ans: 24hrs, how many days are in a month, Ans; 31days, how many months are in a year and finally how many years are in my lifetime. After doing the math I discovered the number of chances I had missed. I needed just a second, I was given a good number years to make my ways right, and I had failed. I kept gnashing my teeth and pleading for a chance to tell the world what I had seen. God however reminded me he had sent his son Jesus and the world rejected him, he also revealed heaven and hell in the book of revelations; these was handed over to John for the whole world, and the world still refused to listen.


At this time I couldn’t believe it was over for me like the others who are still pleading and burning right now. I kept promising to tell the world what I had seen and would stop at nothing to reveal the truth to the world. The lord told me this had been revealed to many who had experiences of being taken up to heaven and hell, yet the world refused to believe them, so how did I think people would believe me. I told him I would tell everyone the reality of what I had encountered.
In the next seconds that followed I saw myself descending to earth towards the hospital where my body laid; I woke up suddenly and was filled with fear from the encounter I just had. I left the hospital with so much fear as the memory and reality of hell continued to flash on my mind, I wondered why people took this topic for granted. At that time, I felt the best thing to do was lock myself up and just remain there worshiping God, day and night without distractions as little as eating, sleeping, bathing e.t.c But God wants us to live our lives bearing fruit for the kingdom. He has given us the earth so we can take dominion of everything that creeps on land, air and water.


As the days followed I got a revelation from the scriptures on how to attain righteous living. This I got from the book of (Psalm Ch 119:9-13) “how can a young man keep his way pure? And the answer was also in the same verse “I hide thy word in my heart that I may not sin against you”. I then caught this revelation, I realized all I needed to overcome sin was the word (Jesus), and I also remembered Jesus overcame temptations by responding with the word of God “it is written that…” I then knew for certain that I needed to fill myself up with the word of God. By doing so, I would have the right word for any temptation. My heart will become a storage bank for the word, as it is written “my words will no longer be written on tablet of stones but will be written on their hearts.” The body is indeed the temple of the lord where the word (God) dwells.


After these encounter, I continued to grow in faith, though did not fulfill my promise as I vowed. It’s been about 5 being years since this happened. Decided to publish this now with this scripture in mind “I will go into your house with burnt offerings, I will pay my vows which my lips have uttered and my mouth has spoken when I was in trouble” (Psalm Ch 66:13&14).
I want to say congratulations to anyone who have accepted Jesus as his Lord and personal savior, however it’s not over till you reach the mark “you also be patient, establish your heart for the coming of the lord is at hand” (James Ch 4:8), I will also urge all who are yet to receive him to embrace him and obey this scripture “confess your trespasses to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed” (James Ch 4:16) God healed me totally body mind and soul, He can heal you as well with no regards to your situation. He forgave me as I forgave myself and the perpetrator of this tale.
If you are willing to embrace Jesus as your lord and personal savior please repeat this prayer bearing in mind that if “you believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe and tremble.”(James Ch 2:19) You need to know him personally;

PRAYER
Lord Jesus! I confess I am sinner, I believe that Jesus Christ of Nazareth died for my sins, please blot out all my transgressions (sins). Cleanse me with the precious blood of Jesus. Write my name in the book of life; come in to my life and take total control. Thank you for your mercy, am born again, old things have passed away.

If you have said this prayer, rejoice because you are born again, yes! you are! That is all it takes, i'm glad you are knocking when the door can be opened and you're seeking when you can find.
If you are still confused or not ready to do this now remember that “ with the lord one day is as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day” it is also good to know that “If the righteous one is scarcely saved, where will the ungodly and the sinner appear” (1 peter ch: 18) . God saved only Noah and Lot’s family amongst the generations of old that faced destruction. He will not lower his standard.
Choose now whom you will serve God or mammon for tomorrow will be too late. “For God so loved the world he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believes in him will have eternal life” (John Ch 3:16).

Cold Cold World...

It's a cold cold world...
If you've not been given the cold shoulder, then you get the cold stare, if not the cold stare, you find people who take life too seriously you wonder how they live with all that ice inside them...
It's a cold cold world, and so we have to save ourselves by wearing the right clothes, and finding a nice fire place that warms every inch of us, makes our heart steamy, unfreezes the ice on our lips to release our smile... a place where we're not scared of anything because the sound of the fire crackling gives us comfort, and the hot cup of cocoa in our hands is a joy to sip on, melting our insides, releasing every knot in us. If we don't find that place... we just end up catching pneumonia and dying.

photo source:firesfireplacesandstoves.co.uk

I have a couple of fire places.Those places that heal me and warm me up even as the world gets colder....


Like Salvation... It is my greatest source of warmth. Without it, any other fire place is just like a hot water bottle that would eventually turn cold.
Basking in the 'Son'shine. Listening to music, worshiping and spending those quite moments with God. How i love the warmth that flows from my toes, moving all over me. It's special. Because all of a sudden, nothing matters any more. I'm made to remember I'm special. I know all will be well whatever it is I'm going through. I know he has a plan for me, a plan for good and not evil... It's the moments when i just know. And in my knowing, the cold of the world is a million miles away as i find rest in my fireplace. 
"Our real self, our true personality, is dead until lit by the fire of God. Then we become what God meant us to be, each one blessed and filled with the same fullness. We are all made to drink the same blessing, and yet each of us represents the whole." REINHARD BONNKE

Like being in church... Unfortunately, the cold in the world has found its way into this building of comfort... but i know just where to sit to bask in the warmth that remains in the church. Whenever i miss Sunday service or fellowship in church for a stretch, i start to feel a little numb, and then theres this excitement when i eventually make it in, there's this warmth over me, like the frost that has been built up from my absence has melted away.
I know we say church is just a building... but trust me, worshiping with others is not something to miss, doesn't matter how many hours of TD Jakes you watch on Sundays or that your TV's always on some christian channel. "...not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching.' Hebrews 10:25(the message) There's a lot to gain from going to church/fellowshipping with others.


Like being home with my family... Within those doors, whereever it be as long as there's family. Those moments heal the frostbites i get from the world. From the love we share, to the genuine concern we show, to the stories told... everything that it is. The little things, like the food, the portraits, the familiar sound of moms voice on the phone, a sisters laugh resounding in the house, the aunties around just seating and talking, joking with an uncle, evening time watching the news... now that burns me good.


Like reading... I bury my nose in the books and I'm lost. The world is far away, I'm long gone from it's freeze warrant. I'm closer to the sun/son. I'm warming up and I'm having fun with myself. My mind unfreezing with the new information it takes in. There's everything to love about the right sort of books. It just sends the mind years ahead to an age that the body might never get to feel.
Well, these are a few of my favorite fire places. Where i have received sanity, where the frost from the world has been melted away, where my heart warms up. 

Do you have a fire place? How have you protected yourself from the cold in the world? Are you part of those freezing the world? Some have enough cold within them to kill themselves even before the world gets them... Like Christiana Perri sings "you're gonna catch a cold, from the ice inside your soul'. Are you part of what's freezing you? Are you one with a big chunk of ice in your heart?

Do you have that fireplace of salvation that warms and lasts longer than the rest... Or would you rather stay out in the cold cold world, just so stubborn you think you can brave the cold with your new fur coat and leather jackets and an occasional dash to some superficial warm place?... like the old MTV migraine boy ad of back in the day goes "I'd rather catch pneumonia and die" is that your stance? Or are you willing to give that ice in you a melt, see how it works on the other side?
You should try getting some warmth, there's a whole lot of difference and joy when you're warm in a true and sure way. Try Jesus, get warm, It's a cold cold world out there.

Omo Mummy

I've always been a mummy's girl and i sort of, kind of make no apologies for it. My mum is this wonderful woman and there's is absolutely no shame in wanting to continue as her hand bag even in my old age.
I meet some of her old friends and colleague sometimes and i see their amazement at how much i've grown, they remember me as the little girl who was always there...
In family pictures i made sure i was right next to her, and i would be upset when the photographer moved me to my dads side.
I went for official functions with her, i went to work with her, i traveled round the world Nigeria with her, to hospitals, to the market, to the saloon, to church, to visit friends, to her bosses house, to cocktail parties and state dinners, to pick up her award, her swearing in... I was just always there. Probably the only child to have moved around so much.

My mum and her sister were my two favorite women growing up. I followed my aunt about almost as much as i did with mum, i used to tell myself she was my substitute mum. I was a child in love and sometimes had to make tough choices, like where to spend the night, at hers or at home with mum. Most times we went out together, the gang... You know, we should have given ourselves a name 'the terrific trio'. Because we honestly did make a great team
Saw an old picture and all this feelings came flooding back....

BEFORE: from left: my aunt, me and mummy dressed in the red and black idoma official color

I was about ten in this picture, we were at the airport to welcome the body of the late ochi' idoma(the chief of the idomas, mums tribe) mum was on the burial committee. The terrific trio traveled together for the funeral. Mum would dress me up in asoke... probably why i have a thing for iro and buba. It was a fun time growing up.

"We go together like
rama lama lama
ke ding a de dinga a dong
remembered for ever like
shoo bop shoo wadda wadda yipitty boom de boom'"

Grease- We go together

AFTER: from left: mum, me and aunt heading for an event

Twenty something years later, i still try to keep up as much as i can. Here is another picture of the 'terrific trio'(i'm beginning to like this name), all 'growed up'(like the rugrats would say) and still rocking together.
This picture made me realize how time has flown and how some things have changed, but even in the midst of all the change, some things are still the same.
I've had cold wars with my aunt, but i'm sure she knows as much as i do that we know what we know... whatever it is that we know :)
Sometimes i notice the excitement in mum's eyes (even when she acts like she doesn't care) when I'm home and i dress up to go for a function with her. I'm still her baby.

No matter how old i feel, i'll always be the little girl who wants her mummy, who wants to be a part of the wonderful people these women are. I got to meet wonderful personalities through them, some who liked me beyond the courtesy of the moment and made me their little friend. I learned to be a great host, and i got to see how a woman of substance carries herself and makes herself relevant without trying to hard. Of course, there's class and style i got from them too.
I think i can confidently say, spending time with them has contributed hugely in making me the woman that i am today.

I am an 'omo mummy' and I'm proud...

Special service advice...

Best take this advice and run with it, you'll thank me later... come closer i need to whisper it in your ears, it's a sacred one "don't ever play a game of soccer with a centipede"
I'm serious about that... here are the facts of the outcome when you do as written by Kenn Nesbitt...

Don't ever ask a centipede
to play a game of soccer.
Remember, he has 50 pairs
of sneakers in his locker.

He dribbles 50 soccer balls
with 50 pairs of shoes,
and kicks them all concurrently.
He doesn't often lose.

He's such a fierce competitor
that, if you ever meet,
at first you'll see his hundred legs
and then you'll see defeat.

My niece's year two class had to learn this poem, the best person was picked out to perform it on assemble in front of the whole school... guess who's bad? My niece got the role... well someone else was almost as good as she was so she shared the stage with her. I had to listen to it over and over again as she memorized it, fell in love with it and now it's stuck in my head thus i decided to be a dear and share it, cos really, it is good advice.
almost as good as the next I'll be sharing.

Don't ever play a game of soccer/temptation with the devil... he has thousand cunning ways up his sleeves to get you falling hard. He kicks, and he kicks hard, not one at a time but concurrently, you get dizzy trying to play the defense.
Thus the good book warns... 'Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.' James 4:7(kjv)
This is the one area where you're permitted to be a coward, there's nothing to be brave about when it comes to beating the devil at his own game.
Know your strengths enough to get you doing a quick spin and running when you see this fierce tempter/competitor coming your way.

You may claim to be strong, but trust me, your strength sometimes isn't half as smart as the devils cunning. '... if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!' 1 Corinthians 10:12
Many mighty men of God have fallen flat in the face in this game, you can too even if you're a devil binding, tongue speaking, religious addict. 
He just knows what to do to get his ball in the court and then he gets you to a place where you feel too tired and ashamed of your defeat you never want to get up again. You're on the floor, watching him score over and over again because you feel you've lost already.
But I'll let you in on something, just maybe you played the game with him, and you lost, after he dribbled you all the way to the score line... don't give up just yet. There's a little rule in the game that his cunning has hidden from you. 'for though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again, but the wicked are brought down by calamity.' Proverb 24:16
That's the rule, you can get up again when and if you fall... remember this and get up, sprint as fast as you can out of the field. That beats him at his own game, makes you a winner even in the face of his own victory.

"Refusing to stay down denies your enemy permission to sabotager your destiny" Steve Whyte

The Apple Crumble.... Steve Jobs

                         
Once you go mac, you can't go back.... Whenever i have a reason to use some other computer that isn't a mac, i feel like i got thrown back into the stone age, for real. Apple just has a way of making things feel so sleek and sophisticated, it's almost a crime not to jump in the band wagon of owning at least one of their gadgets. How much more thankful can i be for the day when i could drop my discman for an ipod... what would music lovers all over the word have done without it?

It was always fun watching Jobs unveil yet another product. He made it look like it was... well, just an apple, an uncomplicated fun gadget he woke up one morning and decided to present to us to eat. I was reading excerpts from various interviews he granted and it just made me want to be better... to do more.

"Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything - all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure - these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.''
"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice.''
"Stay hungry, stay foolish." COMMENCEMENT SPEECH AT STANFORD UNIVERSITY, 2005

"We don't get a chance to do that many things, and everyone should be really excellent. Because this is our life." INTERVIEW WITH FORTUNE, 2008

                                          

"I don't think I've ever worked so hard on something, but working on Macintosh was the neatest experience of my life. Almost everyone who worked on it will say that. None of us wanted to release it at the end. It was as though we knew that once it was out of our hands, it wouldn't be ours anymore. When we finally presented it at the shareholders' meeting, everyone in the auditorium stood up and gave it a 5-minute ovation. What was incredible to me was that I could see the Mac team in the first few rows. It was as though none of us could believe that we'd actually finished it. Everyone started crying.''

"Being the richest man in the cemetery doesn't matter to me. Going to bed at night saying we've done something wonderful, that's what matters to me." .... And that's what should matter. Knowing you've spent the day doing things that will make a difference for others. Knowing you're living your purpose. That's what matters. Hopefully when i die, i would have lived a life poured out... 

I watched a documentary on the life of Steve Jobs on CNN a few days ago. It got me loving him more. So sad to hear about his death. 56years was a short life, but he made the most of it.
Hopefully we wouldn't be having more apple crumbles after this sad news... Apple can only get better, iHope. He was a visionary leader and must have taught them well. There's got to be some young innovative Midas touch left over there to continue to give us what we love about Apple. And while we can only hope for that, we know for sure that his legacy still lives on... in my typing this post on my macbook, in the various gadgets we can't do without.
God bless his family.

Steve Jobs, great innovator & visionary, died; now on to meet the Great Innovator & Ultimate Visionary. via @RickMartinezSac
Isn't amazing that as innovative as Job was, and all the other talented people out there are, they don't come even close to what God can do? Not even near close to it. Ha, Great God indeed.

photo source: telegraph.co.uk                                        

Random blackberry blues...

                                           
It's crazy how every other day you have to change your dp to show someone you really are wishing him/her a happy birthday. Seriously though, its not necessary. It doesn't mean i love you less than the last persons picture i put up. I put his/her picture up just because i wanted to. I know you would love me to do a free ad for you with my dp... but sometimes i just want to see my face up and not yours. Don't take it personal. I've got to sell myself too... and it doesn't help your cause if you happen to be born in a  month where every other day is a birthday of someone i know. :)

If you don't have confidence in your girlfriends/boyfriends looks, then don't put up his/her picture as your dp. Because you'll end up being overly defensive and loosing your friends. Someone once passed a light comment on a friends dp, apparently it was a new girlfriend who wasn't as 'hot' as the last... he got defensive and it ended in something fierce. oh broda. Trust me the comment had nothing to do with the said girlfriends looks... he just read meanings to it. *shrug*

How is it that people get so excited when it comes to death and posting up R.I.P updates? Its like there's a prize waiting to be handed out to the first person to put up an update on the social networks and dp's. It's so unfair, the body is still warm, family still in shock and some not informed yet, and there you have some over zealous wannabe newscaster putting it all out there. Found out about a friend a few hours after he died via facebook, sent a mail to the person who put it up to be sensitive just incase some of his family who were away were yet to be informed. Well a family member who hadn't been told yet found out. She found out via bbm. She saw her brothers dp up and an R.I.P next to it. She didn't even get the decency of a soft breaking. How insensitive.

Everyone is suddenly an expert in the state of the nation. I hear theories that gets me gasping for air. I get that sometimes the social networks brings out the philosophers in us, but it becomes tiring when its just an endless blab of nonsense aided by owning a blackberry. Some dude with nothing to do, picks up his blackberry and entertains himself with whatever topic he can come up with... unfortunately most times its just a ball of misspelled and badly put together English/hausa/whatever added to the absurdity of what he just said.

A groom ends up seeing his bride before she gets to the church with all the updates and pictures of her getting dressed sent to facebook and twitter and put up as DP's. Some overly excited bridesmaid letting the cat out of the bag, spoiling the element of surprise for the groom. You'll have to be ready to take the blame if he's not impressed with her looks on her wedding day and doesn't show up in church :)
And like seriously why not just enjoy your wedding? Remember the days where it was just absurd to have your phone on you on your wedding day? Now thanks to blackberry, the unwritten law has been broken... the bride and groom are chatting at some point during their wedding ceremony and even taking pictures to put up, and putting up status like 'my wedding is slamming peeps' ermm... okay!

As much as it's refreshing to know you go to church, it's so annoying to see you tweeting on in church. It doesn't matter if you're saying how well the sermon is going. That's outright foolishness. Put your blackberry away for the two hours please. You can tell us all about the preacher, or the pretty girl you sat next to, or the man snoring behind you right after the grace has been said.

And oh the number of bathroom pictures out there... how in the world would we have fed our vanity/self love without camera phones and instant uploads? How in the world would the world know how nice we looked on that day, in that hour? and of course we look nicer when the evidence of our perceived hotness is taken in the bathroom.
I understand when ladies do this, but i'm going to be a sexist here... why in the world would guys take loads of 'bathroom' pictures and keep changing dps every other hour? This one guy on my bbm list gives me the creeps.

How in the world do you actually enjoy what you're doing if you have to write every detail on twitter?... 'oh my gosh i'm having so much fun?''o, the food looks tasty... u shd be here' 'o my, he just winked at me  :), 'like seriously these girls are staring at my shoes, i'm giving them the attitude'...  how is it fun when your head is always bent on your phone? That's not fun, that's you in a fun place but bored out of your head, you only keep yourself entertained by letting the twitter world imagine how much fun you're having. Like seriously... You're on a date 'awww, he said he loves me' 'uhhh, he just ordered for me....' 'wow, u guys, its so romantic here, he just keeps staring into my eyes'(too bad, cos you've broken the stare to tweet the moment *rolls eyes*
If you're not a reporter, then wait for the dinner or whatever to be over before whipping out the blackberry and telling us how it went... Seriously! We don't need the live update if it's not the election, royal wedding, Mj trial or... you get my point? Something worth taking over our timeline with.

Why is it that the people who never have anything to say are the ones who always go 'PING' on you and want to have conversations everyday? You actually feel like crying when you check you message and see 'that' name there. This feeling of... gosh, i wanna fling my bb. But you're nice like that and have to follow the protocol.

I still haven't figured out why you say 'fanks' and 'fink' to me. Like seriously dude. I really shouldn't start with the 'HBD' 'LLNP' *sigh* And we spent years in school learning to read and write. The shock some parents must be in after receiving mails/letters from their kids.

You've got to get pissed at all the 'subs' flying around. Man up and confront whoever is pissing you off. Throwing subs as your status and tweeting em isn't endearing.
Don't be a coward by going the sub way :p

I shouldn't and wouldn't even go into the broadcasts... not the one of 'if you close/don't broadcast this message then you love the devil...' or 'if you do this then....' Ok, i promised not to go into broadcasts.
This is a perfect response to one of those silly broadcast.....

Classic!!!

Blackberrys... we could hate them all we want, but we're still sleeping with the enemy and reaching out for them as soon as we wake up. (and did i mention those who tweet about hurling the alarm clock? i mean, if you hurled the alarm clock, i just don't get why you wouldn't go straight back to sleep, but pick up your bb to tweet your action? or is it a sleeptweet kinda thing? *straight face*

I'm moving back to the iphone sooner than later.

P.S I'm not judging o... I'll probably be guilty of all these and more if i do a deep bb soul search.

Be real...

You haven't experienced Dubai if you've never been cornered and lured into a room filled with designers of all sorts... wristwatches, bags, scarves, sunglasses, luggage et co. First grade replicas/knockoffs... they look so real until you do a double take, it's amazing. You'll get either tres excited or irritated.And the fake phones? and video games and beats by dre?
Then we have the Aba boys making tommy hilfinger, addidos and prado stuff. Beautiful leather shoes with quipid labels among others.
There's nothing wrong with imitations... high street brands give us the chance to wear the designer designs for cheap... but there's everything wrong with knock offs.(my personal view)
It'll take nothing to put all the energy, talent and resource they use to make knockoffs, to make a good brand for themselves.
I'll be one of those willing to patronize the Aba boys if they decide to do it right, and make good replicas with their own labels.

Same goes for using knockoffs. Not everyone can afford to buy a £1000 bag i know. But there's no law that says 'buy or die'.
I'm not holy here, I've had my moment. O my days!!!!! I wore my 'designer' stuff with so much pride(one of those awesome imitations). I was beyond suspicion, because... hey, it was me.
Everyone loved my glasses and watch, some wanted to have a closer look... but of course, i knew those who had eyes to spot a fake from a hundred miles and i never let them look close enough. I got tired of dodging and got rid of them.
It's hard living a fake life in a world where some humans have eagle eyes.

I had this argument with a friend once, why torture yourself by buying a fake when you know every now and again you have to hide it from the view of some sharp eyed lady? Like dropping your bag absentmindedly and realizing too late you shouldn't have set it down next to dragon eyes Lara. I'd rather walk around confident with myself and what i can afford, than figuring out if she knows or he knows it's fake. Or having my heart race when people snigger and laugh at something else thinking it's me they're talking about.
She said there's nothing to it, if you can't afford the real thing, use the fake.
The question is, do you really need it? if you're willing to settle for less than the original, then my take is, you don't need it in the first place. Or rather you don't need it for the right reason. More or less you're doing it to gain acceptance or something.
Why spend so much on a fake when you can buy other beautiful authentic brands for less? Plus you wouldn't have to do the hide and seek game when in public and you don't get 'the look'.

And that brings me to what i wanted to talk about all along... How as humans we strive to be someone we're not for the wrong reasons. Not like there's a right reason for not being yourself...
If only we take all the energy, money and time we use trying to be someone else and spend them on being ourselves, we would be better people, accepted for who we are, free and happy, enjoying life the way we should.
Have you ever seen a wannabe try to push her way into certain circles? She's always spotted from miles away, everyone somehow knows she's so fake and she ends up being the inner circle joke as well as a joke to the world around.
Stop trying so hard.
Have you noticed the girl who has to wear every new trend out there even when she looks terrible in them... just because she wants to belong?
I was in the the changing room at Tiffany amber with my sister and this lady tried on an outfit... i'm sure we told her the truth or something close to the truth... it looked awful on her, her folds et all were smiling at us and she sort of got pissed and walked out to look for her husband. She just had to have a tiffany number. Be it fit or not.
On the news yesterday, a lady was going under the knife to get Pippa Middleton's butt... like seriously? You see her in a dress from a wedding one day and the next you think your life would be better if you had her butt? 

One of the nollywood movies i can honestly say i enjoyed is 'i belong' check it out here to get a full picture of the shame in the whole fake it to make it then it breaks you game.

So you're no Angelina Jolie my friend, you're a wonderful sweet girl the way you are... you don't have to pout your lips extra to get attention... Buy your super yogo off the bicycle cart when you feel like it... run to the drug store without some makeup on.... give your hair breathing space and go natural sometimes. Just be you. You'll find life is easier that way. You're not always docking when you go out in the 'wrong' clothes and spot people you're trying so hard to impress...

And not just with humans... when we come before God, we're expected to stripe it all down. To drop the facade, to stop pretending we're fine, to leave our 'religious' self behind. He expects us to bare it all and be real with him, he sees beyond the show we put on for the world. He knows us and is not impressed with our cover. All he wants is the real you... original and authentic when you come before him, not praying like you heard Pastor B pray or sound like a replay of the kings james version 'oh thouest fatherest, who heareth my prayereth from heaven, in thy hands thouest holdest ...." you get my drift.
He's just daddy to you and me, and he wants us to talk to him that way, in our own way. "The world is full of so-called prayer warriors who are prayer-ignorant. They're full of formulas and programs and advice, peddling techniques for getting what you want from God. Don't fall for that nonsense. This is your Father you are dealing with, and he knows better than you what you need. Matthew 6:7-8(the msg)

Proudly Nigerian...

I got this mail some years ago, and thought it'd be fun to share it here. With all the tension in the country, bomb blast, threats of bomb blasts, stupidity of the bombers and you know everything... It's only fair to post this to lighten the mood for our independence...  Remember it's just light hearted humor, we're better than this....

***If you have been away from our beloved Nigeria for some time, and you feel like you've lost any entitlement to call yourself Nigerian, let alone carry the coveted GREEN passport. Please answer the questions below and see if you still qualify, compute your scores and let us know what you get.

1) If the sum of $700,000 was erroneously credited to your current account, what would you do?
a. Contact the bank and let them know of
their mistake.
b. Act as if nothing happened and wait it out with the hope that they do not realize, then start spending.
c. Open a Swiss account,transfer the money into it then emigrate to a country where your
bank could not trace you i.e Nigeria.

2) What does the sight of a person in a flowing white garment conjure to
you?
a. A ghost.
b. A Ku Klux Klan member.
c. A member of a reputable spiritual church.

3) If you have good credit do you have.....
a. 1 credit card.
b. 2 credit cards.
c. More than 3.

4) If someone died and left you an 1846 antique Rolex of inestimable
value, would you ....
a. Get it valued and sell it.
b. Donate it to the national maritime museum so the world can view this piece of art.
c.Wear it.

5) Someone brushes past you and hits you in the process, do you...
a. Grab your wallet to check if it is still there.
b. Grab your private parts to see if they are still there.
c. Apologise and expect them to do the same.

6) If you are in the room with three colleagues and you feel like farting, do you......
a. Try and let it out silently and if it smells, deny it wasn't you.
b. Let it out without caring, afterall everybody farts.
c. Let it out silently but apologise to everybody (even though they were not aware in the! first place).

7) You see an ad in the paper for your dream job, but they require one year more experience than you actually have, do you....
a. Not bother applying for the job.
b. Apply but tell the truth about the amount of experience you have.
c. Apply and add the one year of your CV.
d. Apply but add two years experience.

8) You meet a member of the opposite sex you fancy and fancies you, but you find out he/she is a multimillionaire from embezzling public funds in their country, do you ....
a. Feel disgusted and turned off because you think they are corrupt and they lack integrity.
b. Get closer because it doesn't affect the way you feel about them.
c. Become more interested in them and make getting closer to them a do or
die affair.

9) You buy a "pay as U go phone" and before crediting it, you find out
that you can make unlimited and unrestricted calls world wide, do you..
a. Notify the supplier of the problem.
b. Use it until they bar the phone.
c. Use it and call your friends to use it until they bar it.
d. use it to call your friends, and charge people to use it till they bar it.

10) You have a job in an okay career, but you'll need steady career
progression to get a really good salary, however your friends are
getting high paid salaries in a totally unrelated field to yours, do you

a. Feel happy for them
b. Find out the details and get into the field.
c. Find out the details, get into it and tell everyone you know to get
into it, until supply exceeds demand and there is no money in it
anymore.


Please score yourself the following for each question.

1) a-10, b-20, c-50
2) a-10, b-10, c-20
3) a-10, b-20, c-50
4) a-20, b-10, c-50
5) a-20, b-20, c-10
6) a-20, b-10, c-10
7) a-10, b-10, c-20, d-50
8) a-10, b-20, c-50
9) a-10, b-20, c-50, d-50
10) a-10, b-20, c-50

Results:
* If you score less than 110 - APPLICATION DENIED
Please apply for British Citizenship, you are not worthy of holding a
green passport.

* Between 110-200, further cultural adaptation necessary, it is obvious
that you have strong ties with Nigeria, however you need some more work
done. We'll give you a 3-years residency and assess you after that.

* Between 210-300 - APPLICATION ACCEPTED
Nigerian we hail thee - you're truly one of us.

* Between 301-350 - APPLICATION GLADLY ACCEPTED
Please also try applying for govt. position or go into Nigerian
politics.

* 350+ APPLICATION DENIED
You are a threat to Nigeria. Please apply for Indian, Pakistan or
Lebanese Citizenship.

*********

                                          
I'm one of those who has blind, ruthless hope for the future of this nation. I still don't get all the negative vibes aimed at the country from youths, predicting doom for the nation in the coming years. Well, maybe it'd be for them in the portion of Nigeria the stand in, as for the rest of the country... all will be well indeed.
Paul advices to pray for our leaders whether we voted them into power or not...."Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity." 1 Timothy 2:2(nlt)
They need wisdom to lead while they seat in that seat that speaks for us as a nation. 
And as a people, lets keep praying, for a healed and restored land... 'If my people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.' 2 Chronicles 7:14(nkjv)


There's this song that says 'Nigeria go better...' She certainly will be, because like it or not, the positive outweighs the negative. Only a nation with a people as strong as we are can still stand despite all the horrors she's faced in the past, can still be whole even with all the pounding shes received. And we'll still stand strong as 'one nation bound in freedom, peace and unity...' 
God definitely is on our side.


Happy Birthday Nigeria, my beloved country, my motherland....