Hey People,
So today, you get TWO posts and just to make sure you truly do, I won’t publish the first till I am done with the second so I publish both together and not be a
‘LIAR LIAR, PANTS ON FIRE!!!’
I am actually home alone at the moment, with the rest of them in church. Didn’t go today.
My body has been sending me signals, and the past couple days have been intense, so I decide to rest it out. KingDaveed didn’t cease from tormenting me though…
Mommy, stand up and let us go to church, then when we come back, you will continue to sleep…
Choi!!! Almost made me jump up, if only I could jump.
I am so grateful for my kids.
Motherhood is such a GIFT which you are privileged to behold as it literally peels off awesome layer after awesome layer daily.
Both my kids are not so different. I don’t have a quiet and an outgoing one. I HAVE TWO TYPE A, STRONG WILLED KIDS, with ElJohn, my barely 1 year old being MORE STRONG WILLED than his brother.
You need to see both of them struggling for one thing, and especially ElJohn truly hustling for one of his brother’s stuff, and protesting.
I am already separating fights, and teaching the importance and absolute necessity of sharing. Choi.
TWO KIDS and I AM DONE!!! Nobody should be waiting for any surprise pregnancy or baby. Except it will be an ‘immaculate conception’.
So, while I am home, I thought to write to actually find some strength. I should have joined the service online, but trust me, I need to find strength through this outlet first…
Ok this is not even why we are here. Today, I wanna share THREE THINGS I AM INSANELY GRATEFUL FOR!!!
1. Shut doors
2. Unanswered prayers
3. Corrections
1. Shut doors
I do mean doors that were open, and I was already walking into and wham, it shuts right in my face. Of course, the default is to be sad and pained, especially when it is something you have testified about?
One happened with me recently, and for like 2seconds, I was shocked. Then like a split rock with God-filled fresh water flowing like a wave all over me, I felt gratitude. I truly was GRATEFUL that the Lord shut that door.
We seem to forget that even though the Bible says that He opens doors, it also says that HE SHUTS DOORS NO MAN CAN OPEN!!!
“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, ‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens” :
Revelation 3:7 NKJV
So, I had been called to handle an annual Men’s fitness related event put together by my Church men’s fellowship. I didn’t want it. I didn’t feedback for a long time, till I was given a deadline to put a proposal together.
Then I poured everything into it. It was more than a million naira. It looked like hard work but it was an Open door from God, I knew.
Work was progressing, and one day, for perfectly valid reasons on their part, I was told I couldn’t handle it again. Hmm.
For 2 seconds, I felt like
‘Oh no, I poured so much into it…’
Hmmm, then that split rock moment, which kept getting stronger and stronger.
I was still called to speak at the event, which held yesterday, on Nigerian foods and how to navigate healthy eating with them.
I could have felt like hmm abeg, I am not coming. That was a complimentary service I was gonna offer as a part of the package, but since I wasn’t handling it again, I could have turned that down.
Plus, like I said, the past couple of days have been intense.
Oh, but I happily did, and gave it everything. It was 40mins of fun fun fun, talking about a subject I am so passionate about, answering questions, getting real time feedback, and so on.
And guess what? I got paid for it too, which of course I wasn’t expecting, so I turned it down, but they so insisted. Plus, I KNEW like I know my name, that this is EXACTLY what God would have had me do, instead of handling the whole thing. Oh gosh I’m so sure!!!
He wanted to give me THIS PLATFORM and I am so THANKFUL for that SHUT DOOR!!! I have more shut door stories but let’s move on to the next…
2. UNANSWERED PRAYERS!!!
Ok, I can CRY on this one!!!
Things that I prayed PASSIONATELY about that didn’t happen!!!
Things I wasn’t ready for that would have DESTROYED me had God not been a super RESPONSIBLE Father and reined me in.
Hmmmmm!!!
Some details are too personal to share but I recall praying for God to just let me marry my ex. Amazing rich guy that he was. Today, I can’t even imagine life with anyone else but Bolaji even when he gets on my LAST NERVES lol
God is such a good good God, and we should be VERY GRATEFUL whenever He says NO!!!
I know we all have a thanksgiving journal, usually full of things he has done for us and prayers He has answered, but we should have a segment too called UNANSWERED PRAYERS and we should be stinkin’ grateful for.
And finally,…
3. CORRECTIONS/CHASTISEMENTS!!!
Ok, this is THE REAL DEAL yawl. This is MATURE STUFF!!! I love this cos I can be such an immature Chick, pouting and having a bad attitude when anyone corrected me.
Today, I am not exactly at POINT PERFECT but I have come a long way when it comes to correction.
But this is not even about HUMAN CORRECTION because I have seen that while some are good, some are flat out wrong, from the motive to the act itself, and so I make sure that I am taking everything to the One who is called a RIGHTEOUS JUDGE and a GOOD GOOD FATHER.
In fact, before any man even gets the opportunity, my desire is to let God check me, and get my life ALL THE WAY TOGETHER in my private place with Him.
Of course, sometimes He uses humans and the voice of the people can be the voice of God, but I am still careful to elevate the voice of God over and above the voice of any people, especially when they are in dissonance.
Which is why I am grateful that He speaks to me.
Which is why this post on how Christians should handle criticismis da bomb dot com for my life!!!
Let me tell you, I would accept His corrections like a Christmas present these days.
I love that He checks me. I am not saying it is always the easiest but it makes me feel like a real correct daughter of God. I don’t wanna just be spiraling down the wrong path without any one checking me, and calling me to order.
GOD FORBID BAD THING!!!
And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: “My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord , Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; For whom the Lord loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.”
Hebrews 12:5-6 NKJV
Chilllleeeeee, I never ever wanna NOT BE CHASTENED by God!!! EVER!!!
So should you!!!
So, UNANSWERED PRAYERS, SHUT DOORS ABD CORRECTIONS??? Once I an sure they are from my heavenly Father, and not the devil, I AM HERE FOR IT!!!
Let me go and write the second post…
Kisses,
E’
PS
Nigerians in Diaspora, here is something you dont wanna miss.
Guys please help me publicise too. Thanks