Inspiring you to live a victorious life!
December 31, 2015
Inspiration 2015, annual report, end of the year, review, wordpress 3 Comments
The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2015 annual report for this blog.
Here’s an excerpt:
A New York City subway train holds 1,200 people. This blog was viewed about 4,800 times in 2015. If it were a NYC subway train, it would take about 4 trips to carry that many people.
Click here to see the complete report.
December 23, 2015
Inspiration Christmas, gifts, give, God, light, love 4 Comments
Yippee! It’s that time of the year! There is no doubt, Christmas is the best time of the year for all the right reasons; Holidays, family, food, gifts, decorations, carols and the best part; Christ, who came to save the world!
A friend of mine pointed out that Christmas is overrated. No one really pays attention to the reason for the season. All that matters is what we get ourselves, how much food we get to eat and how we get to spend the holidays and watch the year end. But is Christmas really overrated? Has it completely lost its meaning? Come on! The first six letters in the word say it all. Christ! Without Him, it’s just another mass.
I love Christmas! I love everything about it, including the weather! The harmattan seems to be all over the place, making the morning and nights really chilly. And I love it! Cozying up in the blanket at night watching a Christmas romcom, nibbling on some chocolate… that’s my idea of a perfect night!
I love the time I get to spend with my family. Right now, I’m writing this from the warm couch of my family home in Uyo, Southern Nigeria. It feels so good to be home! Not thinking of work or traffic but just basking in the euphoria of the season.
Then the gifts! Oh my! I just luuuv me some gifts. No doubt, that’s my love language. My grin while unwrapping gifts is out of this world! š
Oh yeah, the food! Lots of them! I once said my hometown is known for the amazing dishes and you bet all of them are usually on display then! #CalabarKitchen
I also love putting up the decorations and watching how they light up the house like a city on a hill. The Christmas spirit envelops me like a mail sent via post. It’s incredible!
But my friend’s words keep ringing in my ears. Is this all there is? How about those without food? Those without families? Those who don’t have a home to decorate or gifts to give and receive? It breaks my heart when I think about it.
So instead of sitting in despair, I believe we can open our hearts and hands to these people. Identify people around who don’t have what you do. Give out food, shelter, time, care, money, attention, warm blankets, and everything you can to make sure someone else is happy this Christmas. In so doing, you would be putting a smile on Jesus’ face.
The story of the rich man and Lazarus easily comes to mind (Luke 16:19-31) those who need help may just be at your gates. I pray we recognize them and we bless them as we have been blessed.
Thank you so much for the readership, the encouragement, the comments, criticisms, sharing of the link etc! You guys have been wonderful! God bless you massively this season and keep you to see a better 2016.
This is wishing you a pleasant Christmas and a super duper year ahead!!!
Love you muchos!
December 17, 2015
Inspiration, Poetry alone, depression, fear, God, help, lonely, love, me, pain, poem, sad 12 Comments
photo credit: ghosthuntingtheories.com
i
My thoughts are chasing me
Words bellowing
Iām calling.
Ā
Can you hear me?
Is there anyone here?
Or is it just me?
Ā
I guess its silent night again
I canāt see you
I canāt hear you
Ā
Please donāt leave me
Say something- anything!
Ā
I need to know you care
Or donāt you?
Please speakā¦
– Ā© Mfon Etuk, 2015
ii
M: Lately, I feel like youāre so far away. Or maybe more concerned with other pressing issues. I know itās the enemyās deception, but sometimes I canāt help it. Doubts crawl into my mind like bugs in an abandoned apartment. I want to believe youāre here, but sometimes itās so hard to see behind the fog. True though, itās really foggy outside my window.
G: Go on, Iām listening.
M: I know Iāve pulled back from you. Because I donāt feel you anymore.
G: But what ever happened to leaping in faith? Trusting me to catch you when you fall?
M: You donāt understand! Itās so freaking hard to believe youāre there when everything goes south. Like right now; Iām confused, Iām tired, Iām depressed, Iām lonely and I canāt help myself. Yes, Iāve called on you but I canāt see you reaching out to help me.
G: Are my hands too short that I canāt save you? Or my ears too dull that I canāt hear you? Do you think for a second, that I, who formed the eyes cannot see?
M: Itās overwhelming, Lord.
G: Have the storms killed you? Have the waters drowned you?
M: Honestly, I feel like Iām 6 ft. under the ground everyday- just a walking dead.
G: I would never give you more than you can handle. And you need to remember feelings are but smoke, they fizzle out. You canāt hold on to them for long.
M: I know, Lord. But Iām only human and itās not my fault that youāve given me the ability to feel.
G: Now she blames me. Classic human!
M: Please forgive me. Iām just so frustrated. I donāt know what to believe anymore.
G: Youāre forgiven. But I have some questions you need to answer.
M: Iām listening, Lord.
G: Have I promised never to leave nor forsake you?
M: Yes you have.
G: Then why do you think Iāve left you for more pressing issues? Iām slightly offended by how little you think of me. Do you really think I need to leave one place to be in another place? Whatās your definition of omnipresence?
M: Sighs. I canāt get past my mind trying to figure you the way I figure humans. Please forgive me.
G: I am not a man that I should lie, nor a son of man, that I should change my mind. Do I speak and then not act? Do I promise and not fulfill? Havenāt I said my strength is made perfect in your weakness?
M: Iām despaired, Lord. I was afraid that you had turned your back on me, so I resolved to go my way. Waddling in depression and seeking satisfaction from things that couldnāt satisfy.
G: My thoughts are not your thoughts; your ways are not my ways. As the Heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than yours. What would be the difference between you and I if I have to do things the way you want them to be done?
M: I want your ways, Lord and I repent of my evil ways.
G: Then trust in me with all your heart. Donāt lean on your understanding! The moment you think youāve got me all figured out is the moment Iāll surprise you. Just believe that I will bring you to that expected end, you donāt need to know how.
M: Yes Lord, I believe. But help my unbelief.
G: Why do you doubt? If I gave you the one thing I cherished the most- my son, what else will I withhold from you?
M: Silence.
G: Need I remind you that NOTHING can separate you from my love?
M: Thank you for loving me.
G: So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
M: Thank you Father.
G: I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.
M: I adore you for you are the God of all comfort who comforts me in my troubles; so that I can comfort others in trouble with the comfort Iāve received from You.
Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.- Isaiah 1:18
Bible References:
Isaiah 59:1, Psalm 94:9, Isaiah 55:8-9, Numbers 23:19, Proverbs 3:5, Deut 31:8, John 16:33, Romans 8:38-39, 2 Cor 1:3-4, Isaiah 41:10, Mark 9:24.
Song for the day: Can you hold me by NF ft Britt Nicole.
December 1, 2015
Awards and Challenges, Inspiration God, gratitude, life, thanksgiving, thanksliving, thinkthankchallenge2015 4 Comments
Happy new month! š
Wow! Itās already the last month of the year. This morning on the radio, Christmas carols were playing and it got me so excited! Christmas is already here!Ā Thank God!
I canāt believe 2015 is already rolling out, though. I still feel like I havenāt achieved all I planned for and the year shouldnāt just end like that. But the truth is, I may not be where I want to be, but I am not where I used to be. Thereās so much to be thankful for, both good and bad.
Life will always have its ups and downs, highs and lows, sunshine and stormsā¦.all in a bid to shape and form us into the best āusā we can be. I know itās pretty easy to be thankful when everything is working out fine. But we canāt ignore the ābadā stuffs which have actually made us stronger, wiser, and more empathetic to those who are going through what weāve gone through. Stop and think about the year so far. Youāll find out there is so much to thank God for.
Be thankful for what you have. Your life, no matter how bad you think it is, is somebody elseās fairy tale- Wale Ayeni
We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude- Cynthia Ozick
The Think-Thank challenge is here again! This time it promises to be more exciting as we are going to do this together for 26 days,(2nd-27th Dec), using all the letters of the English alphabet. Thanks to my friend, Emily from fearfullywonderfullyme, for this fun way of making a thanksgiving list. God bless you!
So here are the rules of the game;
This promises to be fun! Invite your friends to join in! š
Feel free to ask any questions!
Ā© Mfon Etuk, 2015
