Yesterday was my birthday. I am sure our dear Nike Oshinowo (once crowned Most Beautiful
Girl in Nigeria) will allow me borrow from her fitness DVD title and proclaim
that I am truly over –Forty, Fit and Fabulous! God is awesome and today I share
with you in an open expression of my gratitude for His faithfulness in my life.
Yesterday was simply an incredible day – I dare say it marked my ‘best-est’
birthday ever. My family blessed me with an amazing diamond-studded wristwatch…..
and I tell you what? Even though I’m not one who really cares for bling
(especially of the expensive sort), I’m sure loving these sparkles on my wrist,
lol. My sweetheart also gave me the most beautiful flower bouquet ever
(courtesy of Garden Aesthetics. Great job Inyang!). And here’s the best part,
he presented them to me on his knees, telling me I was so well worth
celebrating and once again how grateful he is to God for bringing me to him. Wow!
He had me right there girl! He truly just hit the spot ….right at the centre
of my heart, once again. This is the stuff that life is really made of!
Girl in Nigeria) will allow me borrow from her fitness DVD title and proclaim
that I am truly over –Forty, Fit and Fabulous! God is awesome and today I share
with you in an open expression of my gratitude for His faithfulness in my life.
Yesterday was simply an incredible day – I dare say it marked my ‘best-est’
birthday ever. My family blessed me with an amazing diamond-studded wristwatch…..
and I tell you what? Even though I’m not one who really cares for bling
(especially of the expensive sort), I’m sure loving these sparkles on my wrist,
lol. My sweetheart also gave me the most beautiful flower bouquet ever
(courtesy of Garden Aesthetics. Great job Inyang!). And here’s the best part,
he presented them to me on his knees, telling me I was so well worth
celebrating and once again how grateful he is to God for bringing me to him. Wow!
He had me right there girl! He truly just hit the spot ….right at the centre
of my heart, once again. This is the stuff that life is really made of!
Above and beyond all prior birthdays, I received an
avalanche of goodwill calls, text/BB messages and emails yesterday from all
corners of the globe, with a few more coming in today belatedly. I was blessed
to hear from people I hadn’t spoken to in forever – friends in Nigeria, Canada,
UK, USA, Sweden, South Africa…. I had an entire unit of my Bank call me and
individual members of the team wish me HBD and pray over me. There was just
such an overwhelming outpouring of love and appreciation and in return I just
want to appreciate everyone who reached out to me, and as many who on reading
this will say a silent prayer for me.
avalanche of goodwill calls, text/BB messages and emails yesterday from all
corners of the globe, with a few more coming in today belatedly. I was blessed
to hear from people I hadn’t spoken to in forever – friends in Nigeria, Canada,
UK, USA, Sweden, South Africa…. I had an entire unit of my Bank call me and
individual members of the team wish me HBD and pray over me. There was just
such an overwhelming outpouring of love and appreciation and in return I just
want to appreciate everyone who reached out to me, and as many who on reading
this will say a silent prayer for me.
Forgive me for going on a bit about yesterday, but
I have to tell it to the end. Hubby had asked that I bring the children out so
we could have a nice family dinner together. Only for me to arrive and he had arranged
a surprise dinner with some family and friends
– the people whom he knew I truly love and treasure so much. I was
totally clueless up to that point and needless to say, my eyes filled with tears
of joy. I salute this wonderful man of mine, and I salute the precious people
who love me enough to have given of their time once again in honour of me – despite it being a work day; despite the
maddening Lagos Friday traffic; despite the distance from their homes/places of
work. I love and appreciate each and every one of you. The Lord Himself will
always come through for you IJMN, Amen.
I have to tell it to the end. Hubby had asked that I bring the children out so
we could have a nice family dinner together. Only for me to arrive and he had arranged
a surprise dinner with some family and friends
– the people whom he knew I truly love and treasure so much. I was
totally clueless up to that point and needless to say, my eyes filled with tears
of joy. I salute this wonderful man of mine, and I salute the precious people
who love me enough to have given of their time once again in honour of me – despite it being a work day; despite the
maddening Lagos Friday traffic; despite the distance from their homes/places of
work. I love and appreciate each and every one of you. The Lord Himself will
always come through for you IJMN, Amen.
I simply couldn’t sleep last night. At the end of
it all, there was need for intense reflection and that’s really what I want to
share with you today. I thought about the fact that the Lord spoke one thing
consistently to me through different people yesterday, a Word about this being
the beginning of the best years of my life. From my quiet time, to an early
morning radio ministration I listen to everyday; the reference directly or
indirectly was to Job 8 v 7: ‘And though
your beginning was small, yet your latter end shall greatly increase’. As I
meditated over the words that were spoken into and over my life yesterday, I
found myself pondering once again the import of this piece of Scripture. Questions
to self for me were ‘What are my measures of increase?’ and ‘What are the
things that for me will clearly indicate that the Word of God is being made
manifest in my life?’
it all, there was need for intense reflection and that’s really what I want to
share with you today. I thought about the fact that the Lord spoke one thing
consistently to me through different people yesterday, a Word about this being
the beginning of the best years of my life. From my quiet time, to an early
morning radio ministration I listen to everyday; the reference directly or
indirectly was to Job 8 v 7: ‘And though
your beginning was small, yet your latter end shall greatly increase’. As I
meditated over the words that were spoken into and over my life yesterday, I
found myself pondering once again the import of this piece of Scripture. Questions
to self for me were ‘What are my measures of increase?’ and ‘What are the
things that for me will clearly indicate that the Word of God is being made
manifest in my life?’
The measures
of increase as the world sees them are clear – the material things we have; the
positions we attain; the people in our circle; our social standing, etc. Measures
of increase by the world’s standards are those things that Solomon referred to
as vanities; they are those nice-to-have/achieves which, not handled properly, can
cause us to absolutely lose focus and turn away from the full service of God.
of increase as the world sees them are clear – the material things we have; the
positions we attain; the people in our circle; our social standing, etc. Measures
of increase by the world’s standards are those things that Solomon referred to
as vanities; they are those nice-to-have/achieves which, not handled properly, can
cause us to absolutely lose focus and turn away from the full service of God.
From a Christian point of view however, I am
convinced that the only measures of increase that truly count are our salvation
first; and then how we are growing in our daily walk with God. Everything else just
pales in comparison and, this is an indisputable fact! So on this my birthday,
my pondering ultimately led me to a self-assessment on where I am with God. Have
I attained the highest level in my relationship with God? Clearly not! I sure
am not still drinking spiritual milk, but even I can question myself as to what
level of spiritual meat I am eating.
convinced that the only measures of increase that truly count are our salvation
first; and then how we are growing in our daily walk with God. Everything else just
pales in comparison and, this is an indisputable fact! So on this my birthday,
my pondering ultimately led me to a self-assessment on where I am with God. Have
I attained the highest level in my relationship with God? Clearly not! I sure
am not still drinking spiritual milk, but even I can question myself as to what
level of spiritual meat I am eating.
Sis, you will never get to a place in your relationship
with God where you have ‘arrived’; there is always room for growth. God promises
to move us from one level of glory in Him to the next. His Word is a constant
refreshing for our souls. No matter how much of the Word we have read or stored
in our hearts, it is new for every situation and there is always fresh
revelation. We can never praise enough; worship enough; or study/ fellowship
enough to bring us to a place where we are at our peak in our relationship with
God. I see this as the beauty of our walk with God
and at the same time, it is also the greatest challenge – a challenge because
if we are not careful, we become so focused on how far we yet have to go, that
we lose sight of how far we have come in Him. The enemy is also always lurking
by, trying to release such a heavy weight of condemnation on you that you
eventually slink away from God.
with God where you have ‘arrived’; there is always room for growth. God promises
to move us from one level of glory in Him to the next. His Word is a constant
refreshing for our souls. No matter how much of the Word we have read or stored
in our hearts, it is new for every situation and there is always fresh
revelation. We can never praise enough; worship enough; or study/ fellowship
enough to bring us to a place where we are at our peak in our relationship with
God. I see this as the beauty of our walk with God
and at the same time, it is also the greatest challenge – a challenge because
if we are not careful, we become so focused on how far we yet have to go, that
we lose sight of how far we have come in Him. The enemy is also always lurking
by, trying to release such a heavy weight of condemnation on you that you
eventually slink away from God.
I want to encourage you today to keep your eyes set
on the mark, literally! No matter how many times you slip and fall, please get
up and begin from where you are. For every new beginning, for every fresh step,
He makes a way for you. Don’t let the enemy take a hold of your mind and
convince you that you are not good enough, clean enough, or spiritual enough to
come before God. Rather stay focused on being in His presence, under the cover
of His righteousness and the Lord will receive you for sure. He is mercy and
grace personified!
on the mark, literally! No matter how many times you slip and fall, please get
up and begin from where you are. For every new beginning, for every fresh step,
He makes a way for you. Don’t let the enemy take a hold of your mind and
convince you that you are not good enough, clean enough, or spiritual enough to
come before God. Rather stay focused on being in His presence, under the cover
of His righteousness and the Lord will receive you for sure. He is mercy and
grace personified!
One thing I know for sure, God sees the heart. He
discerns the thoughts and intents of the heart remember? Once you choose to
remain in His stead, you make yourself available to grow in Him. In this I
assure you sis, as you choose to stay in His presence and to be led of His
Spirit, then for the measure of increase that is truly absolute – your walk
with Him; each time you look back, you will definitely see that where you are
is greater than where you used to be. I celebrate you today my sister. I declare
IJMN that each day shall again mark the beginning of the best years of your
life.
discerns the thoughts and intents of the heart remember? Once you choose to
remain in His stead, you make yourself available to grow in Him. In this I
assure you sis, as you choose to stay in His presence and to be led of His
Spirit, then for the measure of increase that is truly absolute – your walk
with Him; each time you look back, you will definitely see that where you are
is greater than where you used to be. I celebrate you today my sister. I declare
IJMN that each day shall again mark the beginning of the best years of your
life.
Because the Word of God shall not return to Him
void but shall accomplish the purpose for which it was sent, today I celebrate
your journey of growth. I celebrate the sure increase that will be your portion
IJMN.
void but shall accomplish the purpose for which it was sent, today I celebrate
your journey of growth. I celebrate the sure increase that will be your portion
IJMN.
Be blessed sis, because you are blessed!
Happy Birthday and may his Goodness, Joy and favor be new every morning.
HBD sister, very belated but be sure it comes with best wishes! A latter increase is definitely worth lookin forward to.In ur writing, u had me at measures of increase…..suffice to say dis was food for thot for a whole week! Again, wonderful.
Ndidi