NON-CHRISTIAN BUT VERY GOOD

Fondly called MM on campus, he was every ladies dream man. Very handsome, neat and cool guy. We were reading buddies. He happened to be a genius in his field of study and commanded the respect of all, even his lecturers. I knew him to have come from a Muslim background but he was not practising. He was at the time embracing to all. He opened himself to everyone and confessed faith in God. 
After almost two years of whispering his intentions, we sat down to formerly discuss my reservations. Only one, just one reason we could not be talking about marrying each other was the fact that I am Christian and he isn't. We gradually drew apart from this moment. Few years later, he got a top job offer and became a household name with some good money. Still single, he came back to me to rekindle his interest.

This was the time I struggled. I began to rationalise and make excuses for why I should consider him. I suppressed every thought of my knowledge of his background. I compared him with and considered him better than some Christian guys I had met. I made enough justification for him in my heart and would willingly defend my judgement of him. Apart from the fact that I really liked him, he also had everything going for him to make life 'better' for me if I were his wife.
In 2 Corinthians, Paul warns believers by writing, “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common?” (6:14). Paul doesn’t say love can’t exist between a believer and a nonbeliever, but what Paul observes is that a believer and a nonbeliever cannot ever really understand each other. How can we expect a person who walks with Christ to be understood by someone who doesn’t even know him?

But slowly, MM's intimate and intense influence on me almost began to reshape my long-held convictions. He did believe in a god but had no commitment to him. So when he almost rough-handled me into having sex with him, I was disappointed but not shocked. Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 7:1 that we need to “purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit.” Letting someone who doesn’t hold our convictions and beliefs into the secret places of our heart surely can wear us down and contaminate the good there. I would have missed out on God's plan for me.

There is this theory that women are willing to make sacrifices for their partners, once they have become emotionally attached, they’re willing to make compromises to try to hang on to the relationship. Men won’t do that. ... These girls are probably thinking, ‘He’s not perfect. But I love him and I can help him change.’
It hurts our own faith. We can convince ourselves that everything will be OK once the other person changes. But typically, it’s we who change.

What makes us think we can change a man? First off, we can’t save anyone – no matter how hard we work at it. It’s God’s call whose heart to work in, not ours. Second, the basic premise of 'hope-to-convert' dating is purposeful deception. Do we really want to trick or lure somebody to Christ using our love as bait? I hope not.
Temptation to date a non-Christian can take many forms. We may excuse ourselves with the fact there aren't single Christian men showing interest in us. May I ask here: Can God really lack sons? NO.

If non-Christians are showing interest when Christians either aren’t or aren’t around, it can be hard to resist. I mean, if you’re getting no results in your search, it seems sensible to drop the one stipulation that’s narrowing your potential pool, right?
This is where our loyalty to the Lordship of Jesus over our life is put to test. This is one of the reasons why we walk a narrow way that Jesus said leads to life.
Can two walk together except they be agreed? So how do you pray together and to whom do you pray. Which destination for eternity are you heading towards? Together or different ways? What effect does this have on your eternity and that of your children?
IF YOU ARE DOUBTING IT; DON'T DO IT.

Sister, if this sounds a bit familiar to your situation right now, it is high time you prayed. God can do mighty things through prayer. And he can also do mighty things through the people He puts around us. I try to take advantage of those trusted friends and family members by being open with my life so they can lend me truth and accountability. I try to be honest with them. And to ask them to look out for me and keep me in prayer. In fact, I have even given some loved ones specific permission to challenge me and question me about dating decisions.

Most of all, we need to trust God to build our romantic relationships. And we need him not only as the architect but as a day-to-day presence in both members’ lives. Great advice comes from Psalm 127:1: “Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labour in vain.”

Sadly, the guy I mentioned earlier, MM, married a Christian lady. I understand she is battling with her children being called by there Muslim names as insisted by MM's parents and she has been stopped from taking the children with her to Sunday School. My very liberal and moderate friend called MM has suddenly began to wear his full religion cap as this is what got him the top post he has with the government.

Before you say 'I DO', think again. God's word did say, do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers.

DO NOT CONTINUE WHAT GOD HAS DISCONTINUED

Waiting to be married in itself is very very hard. It is both mentally and emotionally draining, but for the grace of God. 
However, the waiting that must never be condoned is hanging on a man or a dying relationship with the hope that with a little more patience, the man will change. 
The fact of the matter is we cannot make decisions on what we do not know. I say this because the fact that a person "could" change is not enough to support an ailing relationship. You don't know whether they will.
The hope that a person may grow spiritually is no reason to nurture a dying relationship. What you do not know may offer hope, but we ACT, in the moment, on what we do know.
If the decision is whether to continue with someone who continually draws you into sin—there is no decision. It may be a temporary stay or a permanent cessation, but the relationship needs SERIOUS HELP! This is the stuff of police reports—the person who is abusive but claims they "love" you. If they are drawing you into sin—THEY DO NOT LOVE YOU!
Not the way Love should LOVE, sacrificially, unselfishly.
If someone is not drawing you deeper into fellowship with the Lord, that person is a hindrance to running "the race marked out for [you]" (Heb. 12:1). If this seems harsh or exclusive—so be it. It may very well be that to live a life pleasing to the Lord you may need to be somewhat ruthless. If this is why you are still single, no apology is needed.
Some of us may have come from a broken home or an abusive childhood; you may have had or may never have had a serious relationship; you may have many unfulfilled goals and dreams. Some of us may even have it all well worked out yet feeling that we aren't worth it because we are not yet married.
Whatever “it” is in your life that you think you are missing, whatever “it” is that you think is holding you back, whatever “it” is that is your security blanket that you think may have left you incomplete, never hope that one man, just a man will fulfil all this longings. None but the Most High God.
A man without the fear of God, will add to the burdens you already have and the little hope that you are clinging unto may be taken off you. The reason many of us are left broken and shattered today is the error of placing our hope in man, a human like us, who may not even know how to sort himself out. Our youthful and single days are often burnt out chasing the creation and not the creator.
Here is the word of God:

Trust God from the bottom of your heart;
don’t try to figure out everything on your own.
Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;
he’s the one who will keep you on track.
Don’t assume that you know it all.
Run to God! Run from evil!
Your body will glow with health,
your very bones will vibrate with life!
Honor God with everything you own;
give him the first and the best.
Your barns will burst,
your wine vats will brim over.
But don’t, dear friend, resent God’s discipline;
don’t sulk under his loving correction.
It’s the child he loves that God corrects;
a father’s delight is behind all this. Proverbs 3:5-12 (The Message)

THE TRULY SORTED ARE THOSE SETTLED BY JESUS CHRIST. WAIT ON HIM TO SORT YOU OUT. THOUGH HE DELAYS, HE WILL SURELY COME TO PERFECT ALL THAT CONCERNS YOU! YOUR LIFE IS NOT A GUESS WORK. GOD HAS A PLAN! COOPERATE WITH HIM.

If it is a godly man you are looking for (and I pray it is), expect the person you are dating to live up to this great charge. Call them to live up to this great charge. The truth is you may look back and thank God he hindered you. But first, if he is hindering you, you must be hindered. Accept not to forge ahead in your own strength. 
Wait on the Lord!

VERY TEMPTING

Not long ago when our daughter was born, a very kind neighbour visited us and gave us a bouquet of flower and a bottle of Baileys Irish Cream. The beautifully arranged flowers found a good space in the living room but the drink I hid in a cupboard in the kitchen. 
We do not drink anything alcohol but I had tasted alcohol in the past when I had not become born-again. I knew what it did to me in my college days. Nobody in my family ever knew I drank.
Despite not having tasted alcohol for over 22yrs, I found myself not completely out its grip. The Baileys was in my cupboard for almost a year. 
Now listen to this! I was going to this cupboard at minimum of thrice a week just to look at the bottle and often with the desire to at least have a little shot. Unbelievable! But yes, I did.
Eventually, I told my husband what I have been battling with. He had a good laugh and said he knew but was just waiting to see if one day I'll open the drink. 
Then he said something very profound. He made me understand that just like any other sin or habit, the craving and desire never leaves but the power of Christ gives us the grace to master and control the craving. While speaking to me, he grabbed the drink and took it out into the chute.
This drink may represent different things to each one of us. We may be constantly finding ourselves down the same sinful route and still being mastered by our cravings and desires, making us fall for the same old temptation that lures us into sin all of the time. 
There is good news!
Jesus died for all Sin. We have victory over all sin. As we battle on, we draw constantly from the victory that Christ has given us. But here are a few things to note:

1. There will always be temptations and great tempting moments
2. The less we feed on the thoughts of the sin, the earlier it dies. The more we feed on the cravings, the greater the chances of falling for it.
3. Always have a spirit filled accountability partner, people who love you enough to be blunt with the truth and willing to give both physical and spiritual help when needed.
4. Be honest with your struggles and not hide them under your spiritual cap.
5. Do all the necessary physical precautions just as much as you engage it spiritually.
6. Have full confidence and faith in the power of Christ and His shed blood knowing that God is already aware of your battles even before you come to Him with it.
7. Be determined within you that you will no longer be ruled or subjected to your old passions and its orgies.
8. Every form of our hedonistic tendencies are targeted towards rebellion against God. Do all within you to resist. The time is short and the Lord is at hand.
9. Listen to the still small voice within you sounding you with note of caution. That is the Holy Spirit.
10. Jesus saves from all sin, slavery and bondage. He is our strong tower and our refuge.

(James 1:12-13)

FLEE !

Have you noticed a married man trying to get close and desperately wanting to be friends with you? That may not be an issue, is it? No. It becomes an issue when he's bringing you into his emotional and matrimonial issues. This is the subtlest approach to luring you in, into his heart. 
Is he presenting a pathetic picture of his wife's inadequacies?, 
Does he think you are all he had wished for in a wife?
Does he flatter you with sweet words and considers you a good thinker?
Is he trying to make you a confidant?
Does he spare nothing when it comes to spending on you?
Does he crave for 'special' moments with you?
My darling sister, that man has family, he has brothers and sisters, he has pastors and friends, people who are able to counsel him and support him. NOT YOU!
That you are single does not make you an available option for those who are sick and tired of their wives.
Men of easy virtue will take advantage of single women who are desperate for affection. 
Satan knows how to position such destructive and distractive men around God's daughters at the verge of their breakthrough. 
You cannot afford to miss out on the beautiful plan of God that could have rewarded your years of waiting. 
No matter how justifying a relationship is to a married man, it is still adultery. 
His unfaithfulness to his wife will catch up with you and he'll run off with another woman once he's done, it's only a matter of time.
God hates divorce, so do not aid or encourage it. None of us should ever be the reason why homes should breakdown. 
A man must never use you as a reason for divorcing his wife.
Friendship, association or relationship with a married man must be discontinued at the first sign of emotional attachment.
Jesus is not unable to sympathise with our weakness, He actually promised to help us and give us grace to deal with it. (Hebrew 4:12-14)
Remember, we can hide from one another but not from the God who sees and knows all things.
If you are in one of such relationships, God will show you the escape route. He is ready to help. He will help. You are HIS daughter. 
YOU ARE LOVED BY HIM.

GET OVER IT AND MOVE ON

Some people are simply natural-born optimists. Their ability to see the bright side of a dark situation and reset their sites after disappointment is almost surreal. It's mystifying to the rest of us, who are often flattened by the same misfortune. Most of us have to work at being optimistic. We have to take decisive steps to break the spell of moods that can hold us captive for long periods. 
The challenge is particularly great when we experience a serious loss, for it can cast a dark shadow over our life from that point on and forever colour our perception of what God would make possible for us to accomplish.
In reality, we are much more capable of rebounding from the wounds of major disappointments than we normally imagine. And we have much more control over the healing process than we tend to think. Here are four steps that can help.
Have you just lost a job? Has a prospective husband ditched you? Have you just fallen out of a relationship? Did you just have an expectation cut short?
1. Take time to grieve your loss.
2. Appreciate the resilience God has put within you.
3. Dwell on God as one who brings healing to our hurts through giving us new beginnings.
4. Take determined godly steps to break the spell of our grief.
You may be knocked down but you are not out. Here is what God said:

A friend spent hours persuading me to see reasons why certain people and some past circumstances in her life had all contributed to the present situation she is in at the moment. Everyone else is to be blamed but her.

"If only he hadn't....., if my Dad had......, If mum was able....., If my sister had not......, if that Guy never came......, but for that friend who twisted......, had I worked with a nicer boss......, If my company had done......., I blame it on my previous church......, It was the fault of the church members....., my neighbours caused... "
You can be absolutely right—perhaps someone else is to blame, but blaming doesn't get you any closer to fixing a problem or overcoming a challenge. I have found that we can get to the other side of our challenge a lot more quickly if we change our focus:

Let go of blame and grudges, and forge ahead to do what we must do to resolve it.(Where possible with God's help)
We cannot control everything that happens to us, but we can control how we respond to it. One of the most important aspects of spiritual growth is shifting your focus to a solution rather than focusing on who is to blame. Jesus is our solution.

When you blame others, you are essentially saying, "Other people determine my destiny. Others determine my happiness, my goals and my future." Whatever happens in your life, taking responsibility for it empowers you to learn and do better in the future.
Be honest with yourself. Are you blaming someone or something for circumstances you don't like in your life?

The good news is this:
"..And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:27 -28)
Pray about that pain. Leave it with JESUS. Fast forward in His Word and move on.
Be encouraged in Jesus name.

".....“Forget about what’s happened;
don’t keep going over old history.
Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new.
It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it?
There it is! I’m making a road through the desert,
rivers in the badlands.
Wild animals will say ‘Thank you!’
—the coyotes and the buzzards—
Because I provided water in the desert,
rivers through the sun-baked earth,
Drinking water for the people I chose,
the people I made especially for myself,
a people custom-made to praise me...."

Isaiah 43:18-20
The Message (MSG)

WHEN IT HURTS SO BAD

Some of us may be having very deep emotional wounds that is proving too painful to heal. We may have been abused, mistreated, or felt unloved as a child. Our growing up may have witnessed domestic abuse both violent and verbal by parents or guardians. 
Even as adults, we may be going through series of unfair treatment, being constantly misunderstood, wrong accusations and shouting down by haters.
We may have trusted or deeply loved people who have been unfaithful, betrayed you, or even turned against you, all of which may have left us excruciatingly hurting or painfully wounded.
These emotional wounds would have inflicted great injury on our sense of worth, identity and security. The effect on our mind could also be self-condemning, self justifying or blame chase. Whichever applies, undoubtedly, must have left us feeling hurt, heaviness, loss, grief, anger, possibly resentment and fierce desire for revenge towards those we consider responsible.
How very quick to say 'I've let go!, I've forgiven!' when actually our wounds are still dripping with bitter pores and bleeding sore. We may have pushed down these painful emotions by denying they exist or suppressing them altogether.
We cannot afford to continue assuming they are no longer there; they are still alive, buried deep within, we have not allowed ourselves to be healed.
Hey! Sis, stop trying to forget it and hoping that time will heal it. Using scripture repetitively isn't the solution either. YOU NEED GOD'S HEALING TOUCH.
Only Jesus Christ can do that for you. No formula or therapy can deal with your heartache. There is no solution in Yoga or any form of meditation. Temporary relief is even worse as the dark stark reality of your wound will be progressing with every stage of your life.
You need to speak openly to Jesus, only to Jesus alone. The only physician Who heals the soul. That is the work He came to do. (Read Isaiah 61:1-3).
Tell him the story (even though He knows already) but crying out to Him reveals your desire to have Him work on you. Tell him honestly that you are hurting, angry, feeling revengeful and deeply bitter. It is OK to cry, but after this, I know in Jesus' name, you will not have to cry over this again. The Lord has been waiting for such a long time for you to admit your helplessness and cry out to Him and allow healing to happen. It was possible for Jesus to forgive those who nailed Him to the Cross while in the pain, he cried out to the Father to forgive them. (Luke 23:34)
Get rid of your hurt for your own sake. You have been held down for too long. It has drained you of spiritual, physical and emotional energy. You have been damaged enough. Those who hurt you aren't feeling a thing. They've moved on. IT IS TIME FOR YOU TO MOVE ON!
Releasing the people to God frees you. Your healing begins and the Lord starts the work of restoration. RESTORATION begins to happen for you as you forgive and let go. God sees in you His nature and character; He is able to bring full recovery of all that had been taken away from you. 
This process may bring back painful memories and fresh hurt but you will definitely feel HIS healing touch upon you instantly, and gradually in the days ahead you will experience the healing and full healing that only our CHRIST JESUS can bring.
Remember, you are loved. 

THE CONFIRMED BACHELOR

Times when we've had to let go of a relationship that refused to be defined, the first assumption we make is that something was probably wrong with us and the man may have respected us enough and does not want to discuss it, hence the dragging of feet.
Ladies! No, not all times. Some men are just not ready to commit.
Willingness to commit has nothing to do with age or maturity, but more of the attitude of heart. Some men enter into relationship, knowing they are not willing to be committed and possibly not ready for marriage but will lead women on and then pull out gradually leaving the woman to think she's done something wrong or that she's not worth it.
Jacob in the Bible, worked seven years to marry the woman he loved, he was conned on the wedding night and got the wrong bride. He didn't put Leah away but kept her, worked another seven years for Racheal, the love of his life. The point is Jacob was prepared and ready. Circumstances didn't change him. His attitude of heart was that of respect, show of maturity and honour for the dignity of womanhood.
Identify a loser before you involve yourself too deeply. Do not allow vision-less men to block your sight, they will drag you into the ditch of pain, leave you there and they walk on. You will be left to cry out for help, both for physical and emotional injury they may have caused. Some men are enjoying the single life so much they love it with all the perks of it. They never grow up. How do you explain a 49year old single man who is still not ready to settle down and be committed? You want to imagine how many women such men would have wounded along the way back. You shouldn't be the next in line. You musn't be added to that statistics. 
You have no business waiting for a man for over a year to propose and he is not. If he is a confirmed 'Bachelor' or a 'Player', even if he is in the church, stay away from him. Propose a withdrawal from him to yourself, accept it and fast-forward your journey to the next level that your Father in heaven is waiting to take you.
A god-fearing, serious minded man will give you clue to where a friendship is heading even before he puts words into it. The moment you start to wait day after day, night after night and nothing comes from him, you ask and he says he needs more time, it high time you checked out of that relationship. Such men are like taxis without tyres; no matter how much you flag down, they are not going any where. 
Keep walking on, God is sending the man your way. Leave that bus stop, walk further with God and THE MAN will pick you up and take you to his destination immediately. You aren't far from there anymore, just a little while, and you are walking the aisle.
Loving you all Sisters. Precious are you in HIM.

WHY LOSE YOUR SLEEP OVER IT ?

One of the things I hardly give enough time to do is 'sleep'. I'm often the last to go to bed at about 2am, and by 7am, somebody needs a cup of warm milk and I must jump out of bed. My day is usually very busy and rarely have time to rest. When I am disturbed or burdened with an issue, there is no sleep at all. The longest I give myself is a long nap on the sofa which lasts not more than 20mins. 
I get so consumed with the problem, I agitate a lot and do too much of mental processing. Yes, I pray but mostly not unsure of the faith to trust that something is happening and sometimes doubt if God would do something or not.
Recently, I had a serious situation that nearly tore me into shreds. I quoted all the applicable scriptures I knew. Prayed in the Spirit and in my understanding. I did all I thought I could. Dear husband noticed I'm unsettled. He decided to pray with me. I expected or was hoping for that 'fired-up' prayer, that moment when someone prays with you and you can feel that something has happened. No, that wasn't what happened. He simply asked the Lord to give me a deep and sound sleep and reveal to me in my rest that He is sufficient for the situation.
Truth be told, feeling disgusted, I went into the bedroom at about 5pm early that evening and when I woke up, it was 7.36am the following morning. 
I have never had that long hour of sleep in recent times, 14+hours of sleep. The first telephone call to my home after I woke up brought answer to all of the worries that had plagued me for over a week. Then I felt the Lord say to me "My daughter, I had wished that you never panicked but rested, fully trusting that I heard you. You worried for nothing".
Beloved, you may be worrying or panicking at the moment, you may even be feeling overwhelmed and confused, yes, you may be feeling disturbed and restless; if you have prayed and done all the necessary, it is time you rested.
In reality, things may not have changed, situation and circumstances may have remained the same but from the very first day you took the matter to God in prayer, He has heard you. The Lord Jesus is calling you to take a queue from Him and rest. Even though the tempest is raging, and the billows tossing high, they both shall bow to your King and calm they must.
Sister, are you loosing sleep over that situation? Time to leave it with Jesus and go to bed. You will wake up to a surprise!
People, pill or drug, watching TV to cover for time or reading books to take the thoughts away can not bring a lasting solution. Let JESUS have it, live it there ask Him for a good sleep. That situation will not drown you. Once again, you will overcome. This too shall pass.
"...........Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping." (Matthew 8:24).

CHECK YOUR 'PRAISE' TEMPERATURE

I noticed I didn't see this lady throughout last term and was wondering if she's moved home. I ran into her this morning as I previously would on school runs. She's literally gone to her grave and back. She never knew she could make it back to life but God healed her. It was a life threatening illness. For the first time ever, she mentioned God. I woke up this morning to the news of so many who looked to the weekend on Friday but never made it to Monday, not of their will. The lives lost in Kenya bombings, the worshippers killed as they came out of church in Pakistan, the Christian community maimed and massacred in a northern village in Nigerian, those killed in the US Naval base and the list goes on.
Among these deaths were women, married with children, living the life but had it snuffed out of them in their prime. 
An ingrate is anyone who may have woken up today with the gift of life but feeling like not living. The dead would have wished (I'm sure) they escaped death. You have been preserved, kept by the power of God. As rough as life may seem at the moment, you can still live through life with a hope for a brighter tomorrow. We are not better than those gone, we are just blessed to still be here.
Our gratitude level should always be on the rise. We must not wait to experience pain or have a bad time before we appreciate and praise God.
Earlier in the evening yesterday, I sympathised with a friend at her despair on being single for far too long. Later in the night, I was praying with a traumatised married woman who was wishing she had not married her man and wished she was single.
This is life. Ladies, the Lord knows what's best for us and when it's best to bring us to it. Till then, check your 'PRAISE GAUGE' and see what you measure. Are you found wanting?
Break into a song of joy to the honour of the Lord Most High, whom, even though we may not understand what He is doing and our view of His workings may be limited, we can trust that He is working for our good. His love for us is so special and so great. He has our best interest at heart. He knows what to do with that situation on your mind.
TRUST HIM and show it by being THANKFUL.
I actually just thanked God for Angela Mikel of the Christian Democratic Party of Germany who just won the election and returned to power. I celebrate women in power who fear God. Just on a thankful note. There loads of other things to praise God for even going to the rest room and being able to do it by myself, yes, as funny as that may sound. GOD IS GOOD.
You are loved.
Check your praise temperature, it is very healthy when HIGH. Make it rise.

GOD CAN

My friend, her husband and four children bought this four-bed house in Wimbledon some 12yrs ago. They were able to pay their mortgage conveniently without default as they both worked. Sadly, both lost their jobs late last year and piled up the mortgage in arrears. Prayed all manners of prayers with fasting, did all could be possibly done legally, sort every avenue for a respite but no help came through. 
The court gave a judgement against them in June and were given 3months to pay up all the arrears or face re-possession. As at 20th September, at the expiration of the court order, they were still unable to pay. A notice for bailiff's visit for 28th of September arrived. Those were eight days of rigorous and exhaustive praying. We prayed until there was no more prayers to be prayed.
 It was obvious we all got depressed about it. Friday night/Saturday morning, this family prepared for the now inevitable worse scenario. Yes, the bailiffs arrived on Saturday morning but 'mistakenly' they knocked on the next door, banged and forced the door open on an Irish elderly lady who was still in her bed. She came out in shock to find they were meant to evict her next door neighbour. She was furious. She called the police to report her home broken into. The police stopped the bailiffs action and demanded her door be replaced by today Tuesday. (My friend said this old lady is very nosy and would not want her to know her family issues.) Well, she now knows. Troubled all through weekend,
 The old lady knocked on the couples home early hours of yesterday and offered to pay (not lend) all the outstanding arrears totalling £9,775. She wrote off this debt by 11am yesterday. No more bailiffs and they now own their home again. Her husband got a letter this morning for a new job.
Fearing the worst has led many on suicide path. The 'worst scenario' may also be a part of the solution.
 God can never run out of miraculous ideas that can produce that spectacular victory you've been longing to have.
Welcome to October, prepare to harvest your miracles.
Whatever you are trusting God for, never fear the worst scenario.

Keep this in mind:
".......“Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?" (Jeremiah 32:27)

TRAVELLING LIGHT but DWELLING DEEP

You may have experienced this before but permit me to share. Last Friday, my family travelled with a few others from church on a weekend away. This Christian resort had everything to make a village a home. We were already told to travel light as everything else apart from clothing is already provided. Two nights(Friday-Sunday) should not require much anyway. 
Yours truly, I packed all and everything I thought would be needful. I had a few extra clothing for the kids. I sneaked a few extra for hubby just in case. For my self, you trust. You won't believe this, but in my restlessness and fear, I packed food (cooked food), cereals. I insisted that my husband packs the Kindle, laptop and kids Nintendo.(That's way too much you'll say).
We got there Friday night to my first shock, WiFi and mobile network were disabled for the resort.(mobiles and computers couldn't function). No food allowed, so it was impossible to store the cooked food. Secondly, the heating was turned on so high, extra clothings were unnecessary. Finally, there were so many activities lined up for the kids they didn't have any time for the games I packed. 
The truth is, we came back home with so much that was never used. we shouldn't have travelled with them at all. 
We sat back at home Sunday night to reflect on the theme of the weekend away "Travelling Light and Dwelling deep". As we were sharing, we saw on the TV, the corpse of a very wealthy man being taken for burial and all he had on in his casket was a piece of suit, tie and shoes to match. He left behind all the Billion pounds, the mansions and huge wealth. He died and took nothing. 
We reflected on both, this rich man's corpse and my clumsy packing for the weekend. How so easily we toil and labour to gather that which is never needful and in the process we forget the needful-dwelling on the instructions of the Almighty. We can be so full of baggages that we leave the very necessary undone.
We came into this world with nothing and whether as single or married, we shall return one day with nothing. Let us keep this in mind that we do not allow ourselves to be beclouded with the fear of the unknown that we fail to rest in the known. The known is that God has faithfully promised to carry us through and our only baggage is FAITH in Him.
Ladies, let us endeavour to travel light and trust God to take care of us as He has promised. Let us give attention to our walk with Him and seek to deepen our relationship with Jesus Christ. That is all that will matter at the end of the journey. That we are single does not make God unfair, that we are married does not make us better people. We are all pilgrims on this earth and praying that at the end of our journeys in good ripe age, we would not have carried unnecessary baggages that will have earthly value but will be eternally useless.
Let's have a quick look at how we are travelling on, is there any baggage we need to drop? Are there things we are holding on to that are not needful for our Christian journey e.g anger, unforgiveness, hatred and strive? God had planned every provision for us in advance and we must shed the weight of everything that may be holding us back from fully relishing in the fullness of His provision. 
Is your bag light? Are you making what God planned to be pleasurable a little bit clumsy for yourself?
Shed the load; Travel light. 
We brought nothing to this word and with nothing we shall return. 
Rest today, in the promises of God that in Jesus, all that we need is fully provided. 
You will not lack your mate.

YOU ARE NOT A JUNK

Recently, I came across a teenager's Facebook status that reads " If you have it, flaunt it. If you don't have it pad it up". I didn't quite get it. After a while, I chose to look at her pictures out of curiosity. She had some pictures of herself before and after she's 'pad it up'. I started a chat to know what could have led her into this. This innocent life had believed a lie some four years back that she is too shapeless to be a lady. she is 18 and rather than go under the knife, she opted for padded underwears. She has had it all corrupted that she is nil at good self image without big burst and big bum. 
Physical attractiveness, sexual potency and symbolic status / reputation are all she is worried about. Self image is the idol that she worships. Would anyone imagine what this could lead her into in the next ten years ?
Insecurity starts with little lies that we have believed and accepted. Working on our self image is what we consider as the only antidote to insecurity.Some of us have had our senses of self-worth so utterly devastated, through no fault of our own. We think that the only possible way to shore up the mores of our deeply wounded sense of worth is to compensate for the overwhelming feelings of powerlessness and worthlessness with which we are swamped, there by creating an image for others to worship.
However, this image is not really who we are; it is something which we set up because we feel so utterly debased, unworthy of love, vile, repulsive, a haunt for every kind of filth, or whatever, that we must hide behind something grandiose, gorgeous and breathtaking, even though it is ultimately counterfeit.
Trying to buy back our security, we do not need to engage in toxic behaviour that leads to false life. Love that is pure accepts us the way we are and will love who we truly are. Thank goodness that we did not need to impress God to earn HIS love. His love is pure and never considers what we think as flaws. His love never makes us feel empty or worthless. His love His perfect just as He says we are in His Son Jesus. 
Let us spare ourselves the troubles of trying to attain to an artificial perfect and flawless image that still never fill the void of our insecurity. We can give our fears and worries about our looks to God. Jesus cares about everything and can help us to handle everything.
A friend of mine has always complained that her nose is too big for her face. Nothing you say ever seems to change her view of herself. She hates to take pictures except from her side view. She is married, happily married to a good man with smaller nose than hers. We joked about her past worries recently and she said her husband really loved her nose as he too would love his kids to have a balanced size of nose kind of. God works in mysterious ways. We must love who we are and accept how He's made us and be secure in His ultimate purpose for and in everything that pertain to us.God does not make junks. 
YOU ARE PERFECT IN HIS EYES.