Death to puff puff

Somewhere along the way this year, I fell off the healthy wagon and picked up a new hobby; eating hot puff puff EVERYDAY. It was all fun and games till I could not find my waist again.

When I realized how far I'd fallen with the most infinitesimal strength to resist, I would actually pray for the puff puff seller not to make that day; or that the hot ones should have finished by the time I arrived.

Best believe I had to pray for God to deliver me from it. God took me on a journey and made me understand that puff puff was not my enemy and could not tempt me. My weakness towards puff puff was my enemy. If I had no interest in puff puff, then it had no power over me. I cannot imagine being tempted to take alcohol. I have zero interest in it and so it has zero power over me. If you give in to your weaknesses, they will control you.

It's been 2 months since I successfully weaned myself away from puff puff and I'm gradually recovering some of the waist line😏 Everyday, I realize what damage I did to my body but thankfully I can recover it back.

Temptation does not originate from God but from our own flaws. For God cannot be tempted by what is evil and He himself tempts no one. The illicit desire gives birth to sin and when sin has run its course, it gives birth to death. James 1:13 - 15.

No, it is not God (puff puff as the case may be) that caused you to fall. It was your illicit desires. Take control of your thoughts and you can take control of your desires. You can win over sin!

Peace, love and death to puff puff,

Your favourite writer girl,

Love.

P.s Thanks for all those who have sent me messages checking on me since I have been away. I am alright but the new book #BeforeIdieI'llLive which will be available for purchase in February, has been taking so much of my time. I will be fully back shortly. Xx

You are SOMEONE.

I did an introduction of myself sometime ago on my social media pages for the new followers that had just followed me.

On one of the platforms, someone was concerned that I did not have 'Wife' in the list. He was concerned he did not see a mention of husband anywhere. He was worried I might be another feminist from the lineage of Chimamanda. Another asked 'When are you getting married?'

It did not matter that I had 3 degrees.

It did not matter that I had worked in print media.

It did not matter that I deprive myself of sleep on most nights to continually put out content on social media that edifies because that is my ministry.

It did not matter that I wrote a book that not only reached 5 continents but sold out and is now published on bambooks to be read online. #31Mornings

It did not matter that I am the School Administrator of a mega institution.

It did not matter that I have a teenagers' ministry.

It did not matter that I hosted my first solo event and people actually turned up.

It did not matter that I single-handedly provide and raise my child.

It did not matter that I am a worshipper and God uses me to heal people through songs and writing.

While being a wife is great (and I will be one some day because I desire it); you have to be SOMEONE first. I say this without apologies; you were not born to be a wife or a husband.

You were born with a purpose and a mandate that should be fulfilled. Getting married, having kids, having siblings; are ADDED blessings from God but they should not take away the core of who you are.

Before you are a wife/husband, father/mother, sister/brother; you are SOMEONE. If you do not pour into yourself first and discover who you are, you can't function in any of the above mentioned roles effectively.

Be someone.

Peace, Love and self discovery,

Your favourite writer girl,

Love.

* P.s if it blesses you, then hit the share button. 😘

Kaduna crisis and how you should live your best life.

 " I'm going to wear my new top tomorrow", I boldy declared to bestie. "Let's go and visit Mrs X now because I want to have my Sunday afternoon sleep and be ready for the long week ahead". I said. "So you finished all that kunu without giving me", I said to him again as I silently planned my revenge.

"Let us park and walk the rest of the way" bestie said as we approached Mrs X's house. We did. It was a lovely visit filled with good humour and laughter. We walked back to the car and drove off to meet up with the fam.

More laughter and jokes. Even my good ol' wig was not spared in the diss. Quick hugs, we all went our separate ways with a promise to see each other later.

Phone rings! 'Kaduna is on fire.' Another religious crisis. Phew! Panic as the fam was on the way back to their base. Next news, one of them was stabbed and alone. Others had escaped and were safe. Next news: '24 hour curfew.' We could not go to them, they could not come to us. The ertswhile laughter was replaced with tears of sorrow.

Good Samaritan manages to get the injured to a hospital. He is fine. We are grateful for the goodness of God. We are sad for the ones we know personally who were not lucky. Like us, they had plans for tomorrow, which is the today they never saw.

I did not get to wear my new top today, there is no 'long' week ahead of me as I am currently indoors instead of working. I am not thinking of how to punish bestie for drinking kunu without giving me. What I would give for 'small' blessings like taking a walk without fear?

It's funny how in the blink of an eye, EVERYTHING can change. It's why I live my life to be ridiculously happy and fulfilled. Tomorrow is not promised. Do the things you want to do now, today! Dress like it's a party, Love like a teenager, Travel if you have the means. Whatever you do, live your best life.

#PrayForKaduna.

Peace, peace and more Peace,

Your favourite writer girl,

Love.

What do you do with unripe mangoes?

Still with my stinking morning breath, unwashed body and scattered hair, I got on a bus. As I sat, I let the tears flow freely causing stares from my fellow passengers.

It was not the bruises or the pain on my body that made me shed tears. It was the pain in my heart. 'When will this end God?', I asked my maker. I was tired of feeling the way I did. I needed for my heart to be unburdened. Even if it was just for a second.

The tears stopped flowing while we journeyed but my heart continued to break inside. I wanted to go very far away. Why do bad things happen to good people? Why are tares sowed among the wheat? Doesn't God have the power to take away the pain? To remove the the tares?

He does. But there's sometime dangerous about using a shortcut to your destiny. If you refuse to endure the process of maturity, you will come out undone. Thereby being useless to yourself and the world at large and ending up being destroyed. Imagine plucking mango from the tree and discovering it is not yet ripe. What would you do? Throw it away!

In the parable of the wheat and tares, when the servants asked the master to uproot the weed, He said ‘...No; because as you pull out the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them...let them grow together...at harvest time the weeds will be burned' MATTHEW 13:29 AMP.

As you pull out of the process, no matter how much you had endured before, you may also be pulling out of the goodness and harvest that was to follow.

Go through your pain and during harvest, you would see that the tares helped you to be stronger. I went through mine and came out standing. I'm grateful for that pain, it birthed purpose. Don't give up. Harvest is around the corner. Soon you will see all that had persecuted you burn to the ground.

Peace, love and sunshine.

Your favourite writer girl,

Love.

How I fell in Lagos

On a beautiful rainy Friday morning, the squad decided we would go shopping. It was our only free day and we had to explore Nigeria's London. It was fun. The rain, the street food, the danfos, the messy hair, the razz nature of Lagos. Everything. But being an ambivert, the joy of socializing soon began to fade and I desperately needed me time.

After 2 shops, I just wanted to be home. But nope! The guys were still moving from store to store. We needed to climb one rickety iron staircase to get to another shop. I refused to hold on to the rail because of the fear of germs. But it was all good, there was someone in front and behind me, I was covered. Then they started to haggle with the store owner. Gosh! I was tired. Just pay already! They finally paid and went on to re-try the shoes they had tried before paying.🙄

At this point, I got up and began to descend the staircase so they would hurry. I was 3 steps away from the ground when I slipped because I was not holding the rail and there was no protection in front or behind me.

Asides the embarrassment, I thought I was fine until I tried to walk. An iron rod had pierced through toes. It was a very deep cut. I slightly lifted my toes and it was a blood bath!!! I cried hot tears as it was being cleaned up and I thought of how things would have been different had I not left the group. If I had just waited 2 minutes more. It's been over a week and I'm still walking funny.😑

It taught me a valuable lesson - Never leave your cover. God goes before you, behind you and makes all crooked paths straight just so you don't slip. Stick with Him. Don't be in a hurry.

Peace, love and a stack of patience.

Your favourite writer girl,
Love.

Just show up

Gun shots blasting!!!! I dived into a nearby bush. My heart was pounding. I could feel the bullet coming towards my direction. I can't survive this.

Chileeeee! This was how I felt the first time I appeared in court. Feet shaking even though I was on flats and head pounding, I walked into the dreaded room. It felt like a war zone.

Family and friends had offered to go with me but I declined. Some battles you have to confront by yourself with God while the village stays back covering you in prayers.

The fight for your sanity, to get over depression, for your life, for your freedom, for your deliverance, for addiction, for your academics, for your purpose requires that YOU face it headlong. And God has promised that if you show up ready for war, then He will be right by your side to help you. Trust me, you won't have to go through it alone.

I showed up -Shaken. I showed up -Afraid. I showed up -Weak. I showed up - Vulnerable. What mattered was that I showed up and then He too showed up.

"There is nothing to fear, for I am with you; do not look around you in terror and be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen and harden you to difficulties, Yes, I will help you..." Isaiah 41:10 Joyce Meyer Amp Bible.

Can I join my faith to yours and trust that you will show up ready to confront those demons?

You will never walk alone.

Your favourite writer girl,

Peace, love and war ammunition,

Love.

Bitter water

Wham! I felt the punch thrust through my abdomen, pushing out a torrent of blood through my mouth. It splattered across the floor. I scrambled through the rough pile but it delivered yet another punch. Its bloodshot gaze caused me to tremble. It stifled a laugh as though mocking me and said 'No one is coming!'. But I wasn't ready to give up so easily, so I let out the last scream I could mutter and passed out. 3, 2, 1...My eyes opened. I was alive. I am alive.

Rape, molestation, abuse, joblessness, poverty, heartbreak, divorce, miscarriage, barrenness, depression, wrong accusations, sickness, sadness!!! At some points in our lives, we have or will encounter some of these bitter experiences. Like Marah~ bitter water, nobody would deliberately choose this path. It may not be because of your sin too, sometimes it is predestined.

Life will try to squeeze out everything in you. You will hear voices that will try to keep you down but you must not give up. Because after Marah, comes Elim where there are springs of water. A place of rest. Don't stop at Marah. If He helped you through one, He will help you again.

God took the Israelites to Marah to teach them to wholly depend on Him. After the lessons were learnt, He took them to Elim. (Exo 15: 1-27)
Don't stop at Marah!

Peace, love and a fighting spirit,

Your favourite writer girl,

Love.

*This article was inspired by a message titled 'When you get to Marah' delivered by Rev. Joshua Omoraiyewa and can be listened to here https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=213280219545635&id=338084476605547