Fear will ruin you

While I waited for my connecting flight at Istanbul Atatürk Airport, I killed my time by meeting new people, trying new things and window shopping. I did not intend to buy anything but then I spotted this cute frog inspired knapsack filled with lollipop and I knew it would be a perfect birthday gift for my daughter who turns 3 tomorrow. It was expensive for me (please note that expensive is relative) but I could imagine how excited she would be and so I got it.

Few days before my flight while I was skimming through Instagram, I saw a post by Pst Nike Adeyemi on how she lost her luggage. I had not travelled but fear already gripped my heart, I don't like airport wahala. I got so anxious on the flight that I would lose my luggage. We arrived our final destination, India (carrying my daughter's gift as hand luggage)and true to my fears, I did not see my luggage. I became so restless. Everyone I flew with left me there. I was so angry. Why would only MY own luggage be missing. I went to make a complain and I was given a form to fill. The attendant suggested I check out one suitcase that was standing alone, I replied, 'I've already checked. It's not mine'. I actually did not check, I was just very angry. But on a second thought, I turned, it was actually my suitcase. And it had been there since, my anxiety blinded me to what was right there. In excitement, I dropped the form I was filling and left with my suitcase forgetting my handluggage containing my daughter's gift that I had kept at my side.

Unfortunately I remembered a day to my return or so. I was unable to make a complain online. At the airport, I was told I could not be helped. I needed to go online. It was too late, I was on my way back already.

This will remain an unforgettable experience. Sometimes I just sit and think of my money that went down the drain all because I got worked up for nothing😂 I think about the gift that never was 💔. Anxiety WILL ruin you.

Before beginning a new business, relationship, career, adventure or whatever else, many are already consumed with the thought of failure. When you preempt failure, you inadvertently see failure. Your fear will not let you see the victory standing right in front of you. Unfortunately, some things can never be gotten back when lost. You may get an alternative (like I have compensated Nifemz) but it will never be like the original.

Other times, you may be so consumed with the hanging on to the old (the suitcase) that you take the new for granted. You may not necessarily even need to let go of that old, but the new thing God wants to add is to align with the old. But fear.

Fear is natural. But you are to speak to fear. We actually have dominion over fear. Make positive confessions: I have control over my mind. I am not afraid. I will step out and God will make the provision. I have the mind of Christ. I am fearless. I am a special breed, nothing catches me by surprise. I have control over my mood. No one dictates the tone of my day.

Be fearless.

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.
Philippians 4:6 NLT


Xoxo

Peace, love and CAKE,

Love.

If this has blessed you, please share 😘 (Details on the prayer group coming soon)

My new relationship

So I recently started a relationship with this guy who is simply amazing. Being with him gives me butterflies and most times, I feel like I am a teenager again. He makes me very happy.
For a few days however, I have not been feeling that spark like when we first fell in love. I really don't want this relationship to be boring. I knew I needed to add spice to it. We used to see each other everyday but I was beginning to feel like it was just a monotonous routine.
But yesterday was the most special day of my life yet. Who knew hanging out with friends was all the spice we needed. I attended my regular Choir rehearsal and the prayers started and there was a move I can't explain. What was supposed to be a 10 minute prayer lasted almost 40 minutes.We prayed so hard, You could literally touch the presence of God. And that's when I felt it- that love that makes me want to be a better person, the love that makes me just want to please, the love that makes me sing songs of adoration that even I don't understand, the love of my life who will never leave me❤ I fell in love with Jesus all over again and I was reminded of what it first felt like.
Sometimes, You need others to ignite your fire again. You see that firewood, they burn well when they are together but when separated, the fire begins to die slowly. Don't despise fellowship. We need each other in this race.Hebrews 10:24-25 '... let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.'
It is my prayer that you find the company that draws you closer to Him.
Xoxo
Peace, love and plantain chips,
Love.
*If you would want us to form a prayer support group on here where we meet to pray and stimulate each other at least once a week, let me know.
If this has blessed you please share and be a blessing to others. Xx

On comparison

As I prepared for my journey to India, I went to get my Naira currency changed to Rupees (the Indian currency) and to my surprise, I couldn't find rupees in all the Exchange stalls. I was advised to change to Dollar because 'dollar is accepted everywhere.'

I got to India and no one would take Dollars from me. I needed to get it changed to Rupees to be able to spend. I had some Naira on me too but it was useless to me in India. No one would even exchange that one for me😂 Does this mean that in reality Naira and Dollar are useless? Of course not. Every currency has it's sphere of influence. Each of them are King in their own areas. Naira is king in Nigeria but to be spent in India, it needs to adapt or better still conform to what is accepted in India. In the process of changing/adapting/conforming, some value was lost. A percentage had to removed. It will also not make sense for either of the currencies to be jealous of the other because just as their colours and designs are different so are their areas of purpose different.

You have your lane. You have your strength. Identify your uniqueness. Be proud of your difference.Your purpose is unique to you. When you try to copy or alter yourself, you lose value. Stay true to yourself. Stay true to your calling. Stay true to your purpose.

Galatians 6:4, NLT Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else.

Xx

Peace, love and chin chin 😋

Love Ebunlola Omoraiyewa

P.s If this has blessed you, please share and be a blessing to others.

Fickle Emotions

'What should we do today?' I asked him. 'Will you be a nuisance with me?'. So we hatched a plan. We were to play the role of new parents shopping for baby supplies. So we went from shop to shop, stressing out attendants who kept showing us different options and we would end up leaving politely while laughing hysterically once we got outside. I don't even like Tomblerone but since he was having it, I had to have it too. We fed each other in full glare of everyone. It was out of the norm. In this part of the world, you are supposed to be conservative about things like this but he had no care in the world. The first day he said 'meet my girlfriend' to an uncle, I almost froze. 'Meet my friend' would be perfect. 'Why do I have to hide you. I like you a lot. Like a lot'. We often avoided the term 'love'. It often put too much pressure and expectations. Slowly, he was bringing me out of my shell. I soon found myself singing aloud in a bus while we shared an earpiece. It was late in the night, he took me home himself. He needed to make sure I was safe. We lived very far from each other. He headed back home but I couldn't reach him for about 3 hours. I felt my heart was about to ripped apart. 'Why wasn't his line connecting?' Then I began to cry. Maybe he was kidnapped. I kept trying his number almost every 30 seconds. Then he picked. Phew. Something had happened but he was safe now. 'Don't ever put yourself in harm's way for me again. I would die if anything happened to you.' I meant every word. I loved him that much. Or do we say, liked him that much? Whatever.

It was an intense kind of love. The I-have-to-speak-to-you-50-times-in-a-day-or-i-lose-my-mind kind of love. The kind of love that no matter how bad the fight was, you know you both will be okay. The love/like was bound to bring you back together. One time, I swore it was over but then he sent a mail and I found myself dialling his number. I had actually deleted the number from my phone but how do you delete the number from your heart? I was certain- I am going to marry him. We had names for our babies.

And then one day, he said he no longer wanted to be in the relationship. I had actually suggested it first because we didn't seem to agree on certain things but I never believed he would happily agree to it. I carried my bag with whatever dignity was left and walked out the door. He didn't move. I walked out of the gate, still no sight of him. I was to leave town the following day. I couldn't breathe. Like a maniac, I kept calling and texting. There was no reply. I decided to go see a movie. It was a comedy yet I was crying profusely as I watched. It was time to leave. I got to the airport and kept turning back before I boarded. Romance movies always mess with your head. You know how the guy is supposed to come running, sweep you off your feet and beg you not to get on the plane? Well, that didn't happen. And just like that, that chapter closed.

I didn't die. He didn't die. Everyone's moved on. Emotions are fickle. One minute, you think you can't live without a person and the next minute, you can't even remember their name. It is the human nature. People change their minds about people. Deal with it and move on. There is someone however, whose feelings never change. His name is Jesus. He is my best Friend

I know this was cheesy😛

Love, peace and cupcakes

What shape are you creating?

My friend needed to shop for gifts for a child's birthday party and so I accompanied her to the kids store. While she shopped, I decided to walk around and just feed my eyes. Then I stumbled on this heap of sand with various shapes by the side. I was drawn to it. I was so fascinated that I kept making different shapes from the sand to everyone's amusement.

Isn't it funny how from just one heap of sand, I could create a bear, a star, and even a castle. It could also just remain in its ordinary form - a heap of sand. It is up to you to become whatever you want to be. The tools (shapes) to create what we want of ourselves have been handed to us. Some ignore it and are comfortable in their ordinary form while others work extra to be extraordinary. Some of these 'shapes' may include:
*Working hard in school
*Doing a side business
*Choosing to save instead of spend
*Choosing to be loyal to your establishment because you understand that you cannot reap what you did not sow.
*Allowing yourself to be mentored
*Engaging in multiple streams of income
*Working for an older person/couple who cannot pay you just because you understand the blessings attached.
*Interning in your dream organisation or an affiliate
*volunteering wherever and whenever you can
*Learning new skills  etc etc

It is up to YOU to create the life YOU want. You can't wish it, you gotta work for it.

Peace, love and raindrops 😛

Love.

If it blessed you, share with others 😘😘😘😘

Time

I knew I was going to wait 12 hours for my connecting flight from Turkey to India. I was prepared for it. I had my mini blanket, books, pen, hotter, sweater, money and charger (unknown to me; different charging adapters).

After arrival, I really began to feel sorry for myself. I spread my blanket in a corner and I really looked like a refugee. There were many others like me. I tried listening to music but when I discovered I would not be able to charge my phone, I had to stop to save some battery. I opened a book to read, and I felt so bored and sleepy at the same time.I got tired of feeling sorry for myself. I got up, folded my blanket and off I went. I paid for Wi-Fi and stopped searching for free Wi-Fi 😅 I walked around and even bought a few things. I went into a shop and the attendant said to me 'You are so beautiful, where are you from?' You cannot even begin to imagine the moral booster I got and then she gave me free snacks. Then I went to the perfume section and sprayed like 20 different bottles of perfume 😀 'They' are the ones that put 'not for sale. For testing' on the bottles.I was only 'testing'. Then I met the nice black French man who let me use his charger to charge my phone. I met a Cameroonian woman and her daughter who were so delightful. Every the time the girl called out 'mama', I imagined it was my daughter, Nifemi. Her laughter was infectious. Just like Nifemi, she kept her mama on her toes and then finally she slept and mama slept too while I watched her charging phone. There was a Jamaican who was charging his phone and power bank but he left  and forgot the power bank. One of us there took it to the nearest shop in case he came back. It wasn't up to 5 minutes, he walked by and we all called out to him at the same time. He did not even know he forgot it. He was so happy he thanked us individually. Then I met the Nigerian man who could not decide if he wanted to use Nigerian or American accent. It was ridiculous. He told me stories that were 60% untrue but it was amusing so I listened anyway. Then there was this other one. He had a very strong Igbo accent and was fighting hard to keep it away and he goes 'Hi baby, are you married? I live in Boston'😂 How this information was relevant, I still don't know. Then I met another Nigerian, she walked up to me to ask if I had water in my bag. I didn't. I eventually bought and tried to find her but I didn't. She looked very tired and hungry. A Nigerian girl walked up to me to ask if I spoke English. Not her fault, there were so many dark skinned people who spoke no English. She just wanted to talk with someone. She said she was travelling to Kiev. I asked if it was an Island because i've never heard of it. She laughed and told me it was in Ukraine and that was where she schooled. Her gate number soon came up and we parted. I never got her name. Then I had an amazing meal and then went back to spray more perfumes😁. 10 hours had gone by. I settled down to sit for a while then I video called home and was chatting with my daughter and mum and this woman kept staring at me. She walked up to me to ask how I was able to call. I told her I paid for internet so whatsapp calls were possible. She asks if she can use my phone to call her daughter in America. I gave her my phone. She called but her daughter's husband picked instead. They had a brief chat in Yoruba. I pretended not to understand Yoruba. Trust me, you don't want to meet another Yoruba person in a foreign land, the 'parapo' is not here (Those that know, know). Then she starts beating around the busy 'ah if only I can call my daughter's other number. She will be that one o' So I asked her, 'Ma, would you like to call your daughter?'. 'God bless you my child.' She called her and she was speaking in Yoruba advising her on marriage and how everything will work out. From the conversation, both husband and wife were out of work and it was taking a toll on them. She promised to raise money to send to them. Then she says she would have bought internet time to call them but she's so broke, she's barely going to manage till the next day when she will fly to Nigeria. Then she says her daughter should thank the stranger who lent her the phone. I was still pretending not to understand Yoruba so I kept a straight face. Then she gave me the phone and said her daughter wanted to greet me. I greeted her and that's when '304' came up on the screen. That was my gate number to board. This was exactly what I had waited 12 hours for. It was finally time to fly to India.

Whether you choose to do something with time or not, it will still pass. It is up to you to decide the worth of time. I'm currently pursuing another degree I have always wanted to do and I remember telling my dad I wanted to wait till next year because there is so much happening and now is not a good time. He said to me (I'm paraphrasing), whether you do it now or not, 365 days will still go by so do you want to just say 'Happy New year in January 2018 + regular self' or 'Happy New year + regular self + new degree' Either ways 2018 will still come. I'm happy I chose to start the program NOW not later. I'm happy I packed up my blanket and decided to make the most use of 12 hours instead of feeling sorry. I'm happy I chose to live and savour every moment. I am happy to have met all the unique characters at the airport. It reminded me how similar and unique we all are no matter where we come from or what language we speak. I am happy I am making the most out of my friendships (new and old) I am happy to be taking a vacation even though I don't have a vacation fit body 😂, I am happy creating memories with my family. I am not waiting for a perfect time. No, don't sit around waiting for love. Live and love will find you. Don't sit on your butt waiting for that dream job, do what you can until it finds you or you find it. If I can't afford to buy that Michael Kors  bag just yet, I will buy that one in Central market that is pretty, nice enough and less expensive. And when the money comes, i will buy the MK but whichever way, I will be happy. I made a decision not to postpone my happiness anymore and I am seeing it through.  
 Ecclesiastes 11:9 You who are young, be happy while you are young, and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth.

Love fiercely, live purposefully

Peace, love and cupcakes.

Love.

If this has blessed you, share with others. Plenty hugs from India.

The Chinese

I looked forward to campus life at the University of Westminster and all the friends I would make. My first roommate was Chinese. The first day we met, I did not even know how to feel. Truth be told, I thought I would be paired with an African. But I decided in my heart to make it work, I was open to the challenge. So I gave her a nice big hug, told her my name and asked for hers and she just smiled in return. Super weird. It was a very long awkward silence. I thought She did not hear me, so I asked for her name again. Then she said 'aaaaaa no English' Jesu!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! How am I supposed to live with somebody who does not understand English. That's not even the point! Who gave her visa to come and study in the UK? Those were my thoughts. Then she began to really irritate me. She cooked inside the room. She had her bath like twice in a week and never cleaned. She was always up at 4am and would start banging drawers and I would just get up, sit and stare at her. She could tell she really annoyed me but I could not communicate that anger to her. Like we were literally not talking at all. I did not understand Chinese, she did not understand English. You can imagine my shock the day I found her laughing and talking loudly in Chinese to one of our neighbours who understood both Chinese and English. I honestly thought that girl was a weirdo but when she found herself among familiar people, Who understood, she broke loose. I got back from lecture one day and saw that she had moved out. I went to our neighbour, her friend to ask about her and he told me She had moved to another room with another Chinese girl. Oh well

I was still very puzzled by the Chinese. I had many of them in my class. They always sat together, looked expensive and were one with their MacBooks. They hardly ever spoke any English. A minority of them did anyway. I asked a classmate about this and then he told me something that forever changed my life. They were always with their MacBooks because they were converting the speeches of the lecturers delivered in English language to text in Chinese. All written documents were also converted. They did their assignments in Chinese and would convert to English for submission. Whichever way, Chinese language had to be the basis for transfer of knowledge. I learnt in English, Xin learnt in Chinese. Both ways, communication occurred. Wow

There needs to be a familiar enabling environment for communication to take place. I hear a lot of people say they do not hear from God. The question is what familiar enabling environment do you present to God? I made the decision to completely stop listening to secular music about 2 years ago because music is an enabling environment for me. I sink in every word and so I began to think those vulgar things. I was sick of it and decided I wanted a deeper relationship with God. Now, that music is one of the ways God speaks to me now. It is enabling and the lyrics are ‘familiar’ with both God and me and so we can communicate. Recall how in 1 Samuel 3, God had to use the voice of Eli to call out for Samuel. The voice of Eli was familiar to both God and Samuel. Through this, God got Samuel’s attention. When I read books, it feels like I can hear God clearly. My choice in books are always edifying so as to create a familiar environment for both God and me. How God speaks to one is different from how he speaks to another. I like to read my Bible (especially my Joyce Meyer Amplified Bible) and that is how most of my messages are borne, just by reading. For others, it is through sitting still and just worshipping, others it’s in the place of prayer. Whatever it is, it must conform  to God’s standard and be familiar for Him to speak. Just like a marriage cannot work when both parties do not understand their love languages so it is with God. You must understand and agree to His terms of communication and then He will meet with you through the medium He knows you will understand Him most.

Be honest with yourself, is there something you are doing that is obstructing the flow of communication? God wants to speak, will you grant Him access?

Xoxo

Peace, love and sunshine

Love.

If this has blessed you, please share with others...

By all means, keep moving

My mother and I were home alone that fateful day in April 2011. Her phone rang. It was someone from church. The person simply said 'Mummy, they (CPC supporters) said they are coming to burn down the church, the school and the house'. PDP had just won the election in Kaduna state and somehow, CPC felt the need to take it out on Christian schools and churches. She made calls and then she asked that we join hands and we PRAYED. We came out of our house and walked to the junction. We continued praying there and then it happened. We saw heavy flames going up. Even though we could not see the buildings from where we stood, we knew it had happened. And I broke down uncontrollably in tears. My mother looked at me and said 'Why are you crying?' Huh

We had not left when someone arrived from the scene to tell us how all the policemen had absconded and how they were now headed for our house. My mother said 'run' and we took to our heels. We rushed back home, locked our door and we started to run on foot to a family friend's house who was military. We got there and met other displaced people too. I remember everyone sharing a meal of moi-moi. Some were crying. My mother seemed so in charge of her emotions. My dad was in America. Different time zones, it was useless to call him. All the decisions rested with her. We heard the Christian youths had teamed up. They surrounded our house and it was spared. A curfew was declared. My mother called another officer from church, he promised to send a rescue team. And he kept his word. It was like in the movies. My mum and I jumped into the military van. They took us home and asked us to pick essentials. The confusion 😂 my hands were shaking terribly. Anyway, we picked few clothes and money and hopped on. The streets were deserted. Bodies could be seen on the ground. We arrived the Air Force Base. It was filled with human beings who had escaped on foot. They had set up tents and just grateful to be alive. We were blessed to get a comfortable accommodation. We had money we could not spend. Nobody was selling anything then. We got through to my dad eventually. My mother had to switch off her phone because the people calling to console were too many. My mother said to me 'Love, now is the time to focus. School will soon resume'  😂😂 what kind of human being is this one? We don't even know how we will survive in this case and she was already thinking of the life after. Then Mami  market came alive. I was beginning to feel like one of the Barracks  babes. I even made my hair sef. Nothing do me 😁😁. Those were my own priorities 😉 My mother convinced the military men to take her back to the site to assess the damage. She did not take me along, it was too risky. I was so worried. She was gone a very long time. She returned with so many loaves of bread. Our fellow campers were so happy. She saw a small bakery operating when she went out. That bread was like manna yo. She briefed  me that we cannot use the structures for both the church and school anymore. EVERYTHING (computers, books, uniforms etc) was gone.

A few weeks later, the curfew was lifted. My mother began to scout for a place to rent. The church had ordered for a very massive tent from Lagos under which we worshipped for months. She found a 3 bedroom apartment. Got a loan, paid for it and demarcated. We got school supplies released to us on trust and we paid little by little. Both the church (Chapel of Redemption Mando Kaduna) and school (Redemption Academy Schools) buildings are standing in new sites today; bigger and better.

She said to me later after the ordeal was over and I paraphrase 'I did not have time to cry. Children would still need to go to school. I needed to focus. I can't afford to lose both ways
Maybe I will find time to cry when we are very settled' 😂😂😂😂

When David lost his child after all his praying and fasting. Bros just stood up, thanked God and asked for food to eat. His house members were surprised he wanted to eat and he said 'why should I fast? Can I bring him back?' 2 Sam 12:20-23
You need to make peace with God's answer to your prayer whether you like it or not. Be thankful and move on. You can't get back what was lost. Make the most of every situation. What's the point wasting energy mourning over what cannot be changed. Do not ruin the time left grieving over what was lost. Stop wasting valuable time feeling sorry for yourself. Live each day to the fullest. Restrategize; something has to work. Start another IVF treatment, consider adoption, try another business, give love a chance again, make new friends, go on that trip you've always wanted, buy that bag you love if it makes you happy, apply for that scholarship; who knows, go for that audition, take that step whatever it is BUT by all means, keep moving.

Xoxo
Peace, Love and sunshine

Love.

P.s if this has blessed you, share and be a blessing