Downgrades, Setbacks and Upgrades...

On my flight from London a couple of years ago, I met a reverend sister I had seen my mum speak with a couple of times. She has a little trouble with one of her legs and has to use a cane to aid her. I had hustled to make sure I got one of the exit seats. I prayed for an upgrade, but just incase it didn’t turn out the way I pictured; I would be content on the flight with the extra legroom. She sat next to me and we got talking, relaxed, legs stretched out.

Just after the flight took off, one of the airhostesses approached us for an exchange of seats. Some Nigerian women with babies were having issues and they needed to move one of us, or indirectly, the reverend sister, so the lady with the baby could sit there. My Spirit tugged at me… it said “speak up, you know she’s got a bad leg; she needs the legroom more than you do, even as much as you need it. Just get up. Volunteer to move”

But I argued with myself, “I’m not about to get displaced, I struggled for this comfort, I need this next best thing to bliss, I’ll just chill right here.” If sweet sister objected, I would have willingly stood up… (Well that’s what I tell myself.)

And so the kind hearted rev. sister got up without any hassle, asked for her cane from the overhead locker, and walked behind to her new seat. My heart wasn’t at peace, I felt bad, like it should have been me. The women refused to be relocated, which kind of pissed off the airhostess. The seat beside me was now left vacant and I assumed they’d bring my seatmate back. About ten minutes later, I saw the reverend sister walk past me, beyond the curtain, she turned to smile at me sweetly and explained, “they said they’re taking me up front.” In my mind I gasped, that should have been me… silly me for disobeying the spirit. For being nice, they were rewarding her, and I thought, there goes the upgrade I prayed for, that move to the back if I took it would have been my answered prayer for an upgrade.

When we arrived Nigeria, I reunited with my former seatmate. “Oh, they took me all the way upfront, they said for inconveniencing me.” She explained to me, I double gasped in my mind; it was a first class upgrade, not even a business class… And I missed out on all that goodness, all because I was holding on to my little legroom and I refused to listen to the voice of my spirit to step up.

I prayed for an upgrade, but I didn’t see my answered prayer because it came in form of a demotion.

Sometimes we pray for some things, and when God answers, it seems like He’s taking us ten steps back, but in truth, He’s shot us forward. To shoot a sling, you have to draw back to the desired extent before releasing. You dig? You pull back, to shoot forward. (If you don’t understand, you need to go back to your childhood and shoot a catapult)

Maybe you’ve asked God for something, you’ve prayed about something and it feels like He’s taking you backwards instead of towards your answer… don’t loose hope. Just like that reverend sister must have thought she was taken back to discomfort, it wasn’t long before she was taken way beyond the little legroom she was asked to give up.

Remember the epileptic boy in the bible? It seemed like he got worse before he got better… “When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it: “Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!” Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out of him. And he became as one dead, so that many said, “He is dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. Mark 9:25-27(KJV)

Jesus rebuked the demon, and it appeared to get worse… the demon screamed and thrashed about, gave more discomfort to the boy’s body and left, and the boy looked dead. You see when Jesus steps in, everything is made right, but false evidence begins to appear real to shake your faith, and make you speak words of doubt to counter the words of life spoken (Remember, the power of the tongue). It may appear dead even after you’ve prayed over a situation, but don’t let FEAR (false evidence appearing real) take hold of you. Trust, knowing that it’s fine, even when it still appears as dead, because Jesus is involved (Oluwa is involved).

When it feels like your prayer isn’t answered, thank God all the same. Isn’t it clearer now why we should thank God in all situations? Because our setback is a setup for unprecedented promotion (I’ve always hated using that cliché set back for set up term, but it’s so apt right now)

“Favor may lead you into a pit, but only because that pit is a pathway to your palace.” Paul Adefarasin.

Stirring of The Waters...

Sometimes, events of our lives flow as peaceful as a stream. Things are so perfect, (either our marriage, relationships, careers, finances etc.) gliding through life easy and free until suddenly there’s a slight disruption, or more than a slight one… The stirring of the waters by certain events that happen, and everything seems to be thrown off course. There are bubbles, ripples, waves, everything far from the tranquility you enjoyed. It’s in those moments we start to panic, and we start to freak out. A stirring indicates disruption.

But something gets me in the story of the pool of Bethesda “For an angel of the Lord went down at appointed seasons into the pool and moved and stirred up the water; whoever then first, after the stirring up of the water, stepped in was cured of whatever disease with which he was afflicted.” John 5:4(amp)

Whenever the water was stirred, that was when the miracle was released. Huh!!! The peaceful pool didn’t have the miracle; it was the disrupted flow that offered them something.

Isn’t that great? If you feel like the steady stream like flow of your life is being disrupted, even in all the confusion it brings, #chillBabychill. For in the stirring is a miracle. It’s been stirred for change, for a greater purpose, to lift up and not to disrupt your otherwise perfect life. We get too comfortable in certain situations that it takes a stirring to give us the change for the better we need. I’m not saying miracles and better are only birthed through conflict… I’m saying, if there’s an affliction right now, there’s trouble that’s got you up all night, there’s a relationship that’s hit the rocks or a job that’s turbulent, even in all the pain and confusion, trust in your God, that you’re coming out better, changed and on to the next level.

My life has been a steady peaceful stream, but it’s recently felt like it’s been stirred up. I’m hovering between being depressed, and holding my head up high knowing God’s got me. One of my comfort food in this moment is knowing and believing that there is a blessing in the stirring, and I just can’t wait for what’s coming out of this. I’m so expectant even in this disruption.

Have a blessed week people. Remember, if it’s been stirred, then it’s stirred for a breakthrough.

Be utterly amazed, He's doing something in/through your life that would be too good to be true when it comes to pass. This little hitch that makes you question is a bend, definitely not an end. Keep trusting!

Mangoes, Rainbows and Circumcisions...

I wrote a post on mangoes some years ago and as I lay in bed one morning recently, I heard the thudding sound of mangoes dropping outside my bedroom window and I knew I had to do another post as it resounded deep in my heart. Every morning, the mangoes drop and we have buckets filled to the brim with juicy tasty ripe mangoes. It’s in season; it’s season to bear fruits and how effortless it is to enjoy the fruits of this tree. After the mango tree has produced its fruit in season, it goes through a process that prepares it for the next season of fruitfulness.

God works in us in times and seasons as well. In the fruitful season, where everything is a walk in the park, He is God and grace is at work as much as grace is at work in the season where we feel empty, like nothing is going right.

After you have served your purpose effortlessly, you enter a season where you have to get nourished again. Where you are processed and prepared for another season of effortless fruitfulness, to be an endless blessing to those around you.

Your soul is being rejuvenated and tilled as it goes through a season to prepare it for another season of fruitfulness.(Romans 5:3-5)

Joyce Meyer taught on rainbows and the circumcisions. And from that teaching, I have aptly named these seasons rainbow season and circumcision season. The rainbow seasons are where everything is great, and the circumcision is where you go through the process to prepare you for that greatness. The trials that bring you out stronger and deeply rooted in your faith, with lessons for others who need it. When the rain stops, the mango tree is still connected to its source, still deeply rooted and planted, and a process is taking place within it. We don’t see what happens, but suddenly we begin to see a bud of a green new fruit, that eventually turns out to be the sweet succulent fruit we enjoy.

As long as you’re deeply rooted and connected to your source, Jesus, you’re all right, even when things don’t seem to be working out well. Christ is enough…. His grace abounds in moments where we see the physical results and in moments when we don’t see it. Grace works in all seasons. I saw this on T.D Jakes instagram page and it aptly captures what I’m trying to say here…

The presence of PAIN does not mean the absence of GRACE. God gives us Grace to get through what we’re going through. But Grace doesn’t stop you from bleeding, it stops you from dying. Gods grace is sufficient. (2 cor 12:9) T.D Jakes

Even when you go through the fire, God calls you blessed, He doesn’t see you as disadvantaged! It’s beautiful how in the beatitudes, everyone who goes through the afflictions and seemingly disadvantaged positions mentioned is referred to as blessed, and what great rewards are attached to them… they all have a promise of such great light at the end of the tunnel. Blessed are the poor in spirit, blessed are the that mourn, blessed are the meek, blessed are they which hunger and thirst after righteousness, blessed are the merciful, blessed are the pure in heart, blessed are the peacemakers, blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake…(Matthew 5:3-12)

Even when you go through trials, God calls you blessed, and what fruitfulness awaits you in the end of that season.

I feel dry and empty… I barely have the will to write or do anything. I just had my high moment, I published a book, and sweet, juicy, succulent mangos dropped with little or no effort, a physical evidence of a grace downpour, a rainbow season. And now I feel dry and empty, a little unfruitful, but in this moment, my soul is being rejuvenated, my spirit is getting refreshed, endurance is built. I attended a great conference; I am being processed in the word of God and wonderful messages I’ve come across, I am getting ready from the nourishing of my soul for another season of beauty and rainbows. So even in this circumcision season, I see grace at work in abundance. This is where we find the peace God promises, peace not like the world gives… peace even when you feel like there should be more.

Like the mango tree, stay put and connected to your source, He’ll never let you down, His grace abounds and you’ll be just fine because you are in Him and He’s got you, no matter how the circumcision hurts, God’s got you child, and His love is carrying you through to the rainbow season, where all you’ve been refined with would be a blessing to not just you but the world. You are blessed even in this… for all seasons.

Be Found... Colour 2015!

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"‘The Whisper’ is personal. It whispers “be found” - be found in His love, be found in His wisdom and goodness, be found in His peace and purpose. Be found so that others may find hope through you."

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The last couple of days have been spent soaking up in God’s presence at the Hillsong Color conference London. Words cannot begin to describe the beauty of it. Thousands of women from different countries trooped to Wembley. Everyone with a different story, a different pain, a different beauty and hope, and as different as we all were, we all had one desperate hunger… Jesus! And how well He was served to us. I received His word on a platter of gold, from women I have looked up to for so long.

When you make that statement "My life is changed forever" and you mean it with all your heart! Seating under the teachings of these great women of God Bobbie Houston, Joyce Meyer, Beth Moore, Dawnchere Wilkerson and listening to Pastor Brian Houston bare his heart out to us has been one of the most defining moments for me, and I haven't even gotten to the worship experience yet!  Brooke Fraser took us there!!!

Sometimes during worship, I would open my eyes and be overwhelmed by the hands lifted up in worship, lost in the Father's love and surrendered to His will and goodness.

My greatest desire is to know more of God; I thirst and hunger for more of Him, and each new experience shows Him in a greater dimension... What more can I ask for, when I find the answer to every question, every challenge, every joy and pain in His love. In getting lost in His love, I found myself and it gets more beautiful each day.

I'm sharing a few of the pictures from the Colour blog and from my camera...

A little flourish wall selfie.. We are colors of the worlds! Day 1

I got to do colour with my friend Joy! Day 2

Day 3

Brooke Fraser and Bobbie Houston... Lifting the name of Jesus

"The story of us is only going to be found as we live under declarations that are glorious and dangerous" Bobbie Houston

Different nations, different stories, woven together in one atmosphere of worship, where Christ is the center. Hands lifted up in total awe and surrender.

"Never loose gratitude for the littlest things... Live gratefully, live prayerfully, live with integrity" Brian Houston

-->  "Everybody gets something and everybody doesn't get something" Joyce Meyer

Dawnchere brought a dynamite to light up the house with the word... Slow Burn! The fire that precedes the dynamite is slow, steady and almost invincible, but it's effect cannot be ignored... DYNAMITE!

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--> "Communicate three things; Christ Story, my story, Our story" Beth Moore