What do I want to talk about today?

How my weekend went? Something I read somewhere? My thoughts? Or that which most preoccupies me? Abi the state that I am in right now? Long story...but like I always say...let's go there. Who knows where this muse will take us??

Again, twice during this long weekend, I came awake and couldn't sleep...again...and when I searched, I found I couldn't really place my hands on any reason why I should have woken up...well, it may be that I was 'woken up' to pray, God Himself kuku knows there is much prayers to be said for me...hahaha...but since understanding that the Kingdom is not about 'self', I hesitate to direct prayers at myself anymore. No matter.

Could it be that, psychologically, my mind is stressed, preoccupied, and while I am not 'actively' thinking about those things in the middle of the night, they still 'preoccupied' me? Does this even make sense? So many questions, so few answer. Sigh.

Anyway, how did my loooong weekend go? Always something to do...always! Friday night I was at the most refreshing vigil ever (Pastor Mo!!! Keep on keeping on..). Saturday morning, the Bliss babes ended up in town shopping for our Old People's Home (remember the Garage Sale?)....afternoon: I was at one obscure place (obscure to me because I never go that lungu before!) around Oregun for an old school mate's 40th birthday. It was so exciting because we laughed and laughed and generally forgot all about life's problems. Laughter really doeth good, oh yes it does! (am grinning!).

Then I got home, tired and spent, fell into bed...and promptly...did not sleep!

Sunday morning: I (along with a dear friend), stole away to be with Him  at the beach for a few hours of alone-ness. That was some experience.

Monday....omg...that rain that began around 4am (yeah, I was awake) and lasted for hours had me curled up tight under that heavy duvet (I dare not forget to give it up to NEPA, they tried o, like my sister would say: the light was so in her face she could find nothng more to do with it! Lol) and prayed to not have to get up. What bliss. What bliss...but alas! I had a cookout to attend that afternoon. My friend and 'besto' (rolling eyes) Mandy is one 'mean' cook. OMG the food...baked potatoes, salad, fried rice, small chops, some incredible ginger drink she concocted, barbecue chicken, that cup cake! (are you salivating already?? I hope you remember this when I eventually invite you to a Bliss Food Fair...when and if). We hung out at hers: good food, great company, chatted and generally laughed for hours until it was time to go...

Promptly at 3am this morning, I came awake, of course. And when I checked in on my emails to read my devotions, Isa 41.13 was speaking:''...fear not I will help you'. And that made my day, I had a huge grin on my face, and was reminded  of Zephaniah 3:16-17 'on that day they will say to Jerusalem, do not fear O Zion (Zainab), do not let you hand go limp...the Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save, He will take delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing". Awww! Abeg, you too judge, what more is there to be said?? What? I suggest you claim these words..cos I know you do need them as well!

And once again (though why I need the daily assurance, I have no idea), I am convinced that HE KNOWS. He just does. So, am just gonna be grinning all day. No place for fear.

Take a cue, and relax.

Be free oh!

PS/one day, one day, absolutely one day, I shall write a short blog! 2 paragraphs!!! Sigh.

Garage Sale (in aid of Charity)

I gats talk about it ke...however not??

May 7th 2011, the day we had long-awaited for the Garage Sale that we had planned since January, and one with which we (well, let me say, I) had generally irritated everyone by practically getting  in their faces. But you are all strong people; some of you were not even moved, I didn't get a single thing from some! Never mind, you have another chance in November....oops! B, did I speak too soon? Lool.

The Sale itself was great and uneventful! It was full of colour and gaiety and such fun...however, arriving at that was no small feat! I will not even bore you with details of the work involved in getting the items, and generally getting them ready for the day, the arrangements on the day itself....let me not go there). We had bagun to hunt for a venue since January oh so the Sale can happen on March 5th...we wanted a garden, but then that meant having to use someone's home...and we just knew that no one would be willing to open up their homes for a crowd of people they do not know, but...we sha had hope...the hope which was 'so defered' it made our heart sick! Very sick indeed.

Anyway, we kept praying and this went on for the next few months! We couldn't believe what God was up to! Haba! We were praying, and speaking to people!! Kilode?! Whither this venue for this Sale? Whither???

Then, of course (in His own time), He miraculously gave us Bibi's Cottage Restaurant, I mean, the owner literally told us to go ahead....and that's how we had a colourful day...(hmmm, reliving the day) men, women and children alike flooded this venue and we had fun, and such favour with the workers at the venue.

I promise to upload pictures subsequently (provided I know how to do that on this blog o!!!)

I use this opportunity to thank everyone who was part of it one way or the other, don't worry if you were not, as long as you are in my radar, you will do something for the Bliss Group ai! I can assure you that the next item on our Keep My Light in My Window Project is in the offing....watch this, and other pages!

 

As always, I like to talk about what I take away from whatever I have been a part of; it was (once again, sigh) reiterated to me that God does His thing, in His time...you cant rush Him, the one who is Timeless. We had despaired, we were ready to go pay 50k for a venue (imagine, we were raising money for Charity, and we had to give away 50k, painful, yes, but we felt we had no choice at that point), but on that same day, nick of time, we got this. Where in the Bible does it say something like '....wait, I say, on the Lord....' e hard but how for do?? How for do?

Personally, am still waiting for many things, the most important of which is a house (I cannot stop talking about this) but, even though we cannot explain why it hasnt happened, I will 'wait on the Lord' oh.

Show love to someone, be 'charitable'...a smile, a gift, a word, a hug, anything...just....help the needy...be charitable....the greatest of this is, of course, LOVE.

Enjoy the weekend...and be freeeeeeeee oh.

NYSC

This issue is still making waves, so I figured I could post this since its been sitting duck for weeks...
_____________________________________________________________________

I remember vividly when it was announced that the services of NYSC members will be employed during the election process, I listened in on a program on Smooth FM 98.1 where one lady vehemently disagreed that they should not be used because of the fear of ‘post-election violence’, she also argued that these were fresh inexperienced (and mostly really young) graduates, some even came from abroad to fulfill this mandatory duty, and if they have no ‘allegiance’ so to speak, to the Nation of Nigeria, why would they be expected to whole heartedly discharge this very important duty? While she was not predicting post-election violence even then, we all know the reputation of some Nigerians where elections are concerned. If something does not happen the way they feel it should, there would either be bombings or shooting or machetting; in short: death! It is just history, unfortunately.

Needless to say, the young lady (I forget her name now) was so right! Today, true to form, we are mourning, amongst many others, young men and women whose lives have been abruptly cut short.

I never served, so I do not know if I would have enjoyed it or not, but while some hated it and called it a waste of a year of their lives, others love it; that (very drab, if you ask me!) uniform just made them have a sense of purpose!

Unfortunately because of these deaths, (though this is not the first time corpers have lost their lives in their areas of posting) attention is now finally on yet one more aspect of the country that needs fixing as a matter of urgency. Gowon created the scheme in ‘a bid to reconstruct, reconcile and rebuild the country after the Nigerian Civil war… with a view to the proper encouragement and development of common ties among the youths of Nigeria and the promotion of national unity". And also ‘it is primarily to inculcate in Nigerian Youths the spirit of selfless service to the community, and to emphasize the spirit of oneness and brotherhood of all Nigerians, irrespective of cultural or social background. The history of our country since independence has clearly indicated the need for unity amongst all our people, and demonstrated the fact that no cultural or geographical entity can exist in isolation.’  In fact, shey the Scheme even support NYSC members who meet and marry someone from another state on camp, abi? You would agree that the idea behind it is laudable, however, the implementation process nko? Things got worse as the years passed…difficulties experienced in camps, difficulty getting ‘good’ posting, in fact, people with the longer legs got the best posting, post-NYSC is another issue because there are no jobs waiting (depending on which category you fall of course: leg, no leg, long/longer leg!). We will not go through all the issue surrounding this so-called National Duty.

I do not know if the solution lies in out rightly scrapping the scheme. I am pretty sure some people have gained from having served, but what percentage of people as opposed to those who can only recount tales of woe? Perhaps it is time to go back to the drawing board and have another look: How has the scheme fared? How far have we moved away from the vision? Is it achieving its aim or not? Off the top of our heads, we would say a resounding NO, of course, and unfortunately for the Nigeria I know, no matter what the government promises, it may not get better, biko note I said may oh. But determination can move any seemingly insurmountable mountain. It only means finding the right person whose sole aim is to make it better, not to enrich himself in the process! Dora at Nafdac deserves commendation after all., so it is do-able.

I join in mourning the deaths of every single person who died during that violence, the God that I serve is loving but He is also a God of justice and will visit evil upon those who take pleasure in it. Because they love ‘cursing, so shall it come upon them, because they hate blessing, it shall be far from them!’  (Ps. 109) and much more. Na God word.

God help us...as we strive to be free...

Accountable? To Who?

My Bliss Group had a retreat on Saturday morning and I need to share what I took away from it.

I hope this blog will not be long because, me I shall say everything that is on my mind.

In no particular order (of thoughts) lets go there…

Who are you accountable to? You would say God. Then again you may say yourself. Whether the former or the latter, how has that helped you? Are you on the straight and narrow? We fall everyday.

Ok, so…how has your being accountable to God or to You helped? Our daily walk is fraught with mistakes and errors and regrets, we never get it right, that’s why that song say ‘to be like Jesus…’ it is a work in progress. So, at this retreat, our thoughts and study brought us to the point where we knew that we needed some kind of ‘mentor’ or someone who can hold our hands in times of trouble, someone who can set you straight when needed, a (for want of a better word) physical ‘Jesus’ who would be there exactly how you need him/her! Holding the rod, the staff, a shoulder to cry on, a listening ear, whatever and however you need him/her to be.…many crosses, of different sizes and weight, it’s impossible to do it alone! Who encourages you? Helps you? Pats you on the back? Corrects you? Pushes you to believe in yourself? Stops you? We need help, we need SOMEONE. But your motive for needing help has to be pure. People we look up to are falling around us, publicly being embarrassed. Can you imagine what it would take for them to come back up? If ever? But think about it for a moment: the things that led to this fall started long before now and in very little ways, and I know, just as surely as the sun rises and goes down, that God had warned, in many ways and through people as These Thing grew but stubbornness, and the refusal to accept the existence of the problem have resulted in the terrible results we now see happen. We must nip it in the budo. As in, NOW. What is The Sin that doth so easily beset you? I refuse to believe that everything is the devil’s fault, no. The Bible says to ‘lay aside every weight, and The Sin. Everyone has one, don’t shake your head. Money? Sex? Booze? Gossip? What? There is something.

So, I see that I need someone, accountability to but, can I trust you? Yes YOU.
However easy it is to say we need someone, it is not easy! Hey, I don’t want to tell my business to anyone! Why? Because we judge one naother. It is the honest and bitter truth that you cannot trust your neighbor, especially that one that is inside the Church with you.  

But for me to really get this help, because I need it, I am tempted to find someone who I think, or know suffers, or has suffered the same thing that I am suffering, in other words, looking for someone who would be ‘lenient’ and condone what I (have) am doing. No.
We cannot drift through life without someone to hold our hands. Despite the challenges of getting this someone, how deep is your desire or need to ‘walk the straight and narrow?’ Ok, you don’t need anyone but God, how has being accountable to Him helped you? 

Also, you don’t necessarily need a friend with whom you can swap stories! I tell you mine, you tell me yours. Hey, my need for help may not be on the same level as yours, I may be at my 38th year at the Pool of Bethesda, you may be at your 1st year, but I trust you to help me. The emphasis is on ME. I am being selfish here without apologies. 


Since there seem to be no sure way of getting it right, of getting the right person to be accountable to, the right person to mentor, the most obvious (or not, otherwise it won’t be a problem now) is to pray and ask God to lead the way to the right person, who is also dependent on God to ‘have a word in season for him that is weary’. And if it is God Himself you want to be your 'mentor' all the better, but, really, be serious about it.

Be free oh!