“You didn’t just mess up, you are messed up!”
That was the line I heard from a stage play some months back titled ‘NightFood’ as written by Kelvinmary. It was the story of a disabled man and his wife who were torn at the loss of their child. The story went on to show that both of them had committed adultery the same night the child had a convulsion and died. The man was in the next room with his side chic, while the wife was away on a journey with another man. Read more
Yaaaaaay!!!!! We did it. This is the same excitement I shared at the FMCG games when my team won. There’s nothing as satisfying as completing a project you’ve been on. Sometimes, people don’t even remember how great the start was if you end poorly or don’t end at all.
I’m really grateful to God that we could finish this challenge.
If my life were a game, it’d probably be ‘Need for Speed’. I like being on the fast lane. I absolutely hate being stuck in traffic (who doesn’t?). I like fast food. I hate having to wait for stuffs to be done. I always ask, ‘Can we speed up this process?’ I walk fast. I have a feeling my wedding song will be upbeat so I quickly march to the altar and get it over with (LOL). I believe slow internet connection is worse than a zombie take over! And having a slow system almost gets me nuts!
The world is on a fast lane. People are hurrying. Books are getting smaller (get to the point already). Technology changes every day! New trends emerge. Fashion is on a runway. We’re all moving so fast and it’s getting harder to catch up!
Is this limited to millennials who didn’t have to use a pen to patiently rewind a cassette tape or wait for the cable TV to come on at a particular time in black and white? Not really. Even the older ones who saw those things have joined the fast lane. Tryna keep up with trends as if they were the Kardashians.
When was the last time you allowed a photographer take your picture at a studio and wait for the printed copy? (Why do that when you can just take a selfie in a split second?)
Everything God made has its times and seasons. The earth isn’t rotating faster than it should. We do not have less than 365 days in a year or less than 24 hours a day. A woman still stays pregnant for 9 months. Nature isn’t in a hurry, so why the rush? We rush through different seasons of our lives. We rush through childhood, anxious for teenage hood. We rush through that as well to adulthood. We rush through school-years to get jobs and we also rush from one job to the next. Where are we rushing to?
Truth is, the fast lane will keep going on but you don’t always have to be on it. Sometimes you just need to pause. Rewind. Reflect. Notice the butterfly as it pollinates flowers. Notice the fly trying to escape from a spider’s web. Notice your wife’s new hairstyle and your husband’s new interest. Notice your children’s new friends. Notice the poor in need of your help. Notice the hurt behind your friend’s smiles.
Slow down and enjoy every moment. You’ll never have the lost time so make the best use of it. Reduce the regrets of not doing the things that really matter. Make a proper three course home meal and enjoy with your loved ones. Take photographs and have them printed. Travel and explore the vast world. Hold up on the instant messages and have long conversations. Write handwritten notes. Be kind to people you meet. Spend time with God. Smile genuinely and be fully present in every moment!
We’re all gonna die someday, so why hurry to the grave?
©Mfon Etuk, 2016.
I’ve been praying about one thing in particular from the beginning of the year. My faith got pumped up and I even had works to show that I believed in what would happen. Well, my faith dwindled, especially when it got to the waiting part; where it’s as though I’m waiting for eternity to know if it would happen or not. Kinda like a woman waiting for the results of a pregnancy test or a prospective student anxiously waiting for the admission list. You get the picture, waiting is painful at times. Of course doubt broke through my not so thick faith defence. Questions ran through my mind: Can He do it? Will He do it? What if it isn’t His plan? Will I be angry with Him? Why hope when I may just end up being disappointed? Now remember I was waiting, but the last question became my main stay. Why hope? Why stay expectant when you may just end up disappointed. There’s this saying “expectations lead to disappointment”. That’s a phrase for the hopeless and faithless.
God wants you to be expectant. He’s a loving Father who gives good gifts to His children i.e. us!
Can He do it? Yes! Eph 3:20 
Will He do it? Yes! He said ask…Matt 7:7-8
Lemme paint a scenario for you: So I’m a super rich diplomat whose son’s 10th birthday is in a few weeks. Of course I love him so much to give him anything he asks for. And he comes and says; ‘Mom, I want a sports car as my birthday gift’ I’d lovingly tell him ‘not until you’re 18. Ask for something else’. Now I’m not withholding the car because I hate him. It’s rather the opposite; I love him too much to see him get hurt by a car he isn’t mature enough to have! So even though I have any car he would ever ask for, I just wouldn’t give him for a 10th birthday!
God has everything at His disposal and He can give you anything as long as you ask for the right things.
If my son should ask for a summer tour of Europe, I would most likely oblige because I know there is so much for him to learn and such exposure to new cultures would help him in the long run. The tour of all the European cities may be more expensive than the car but I wouldn’t mind because I know it’s for his good.
**Besides, what’s a sports car when he is 18- I would most likely get Mercedes Benz to customize a car for him 😉
Likewise God will give us what we ask for as long as they align with His plans. And when He doesn’t give us just yet, it’s because He’s got something better up His sleeves.
Now the puzzling part is how do you know God’s will? How do you ask for things He is willing to give you? By the Holy Spirit!
Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. –Rom 8:26-27 (emphasis by me)
He lives in you as long as you’re born again. He helps with your prayers and prays according to God’s will.
Whenever in doubt, know He can and He will do it as long as you pray according to His will through His Spirit. So if you’re like me who has been struggling with a dwindling faith, remember that God is a loving Father and there’s no good thing He will withhold from you. Cheers to faith living!
Have a good news-filled week ahead!
©Mfon Etuk, 2016
A letter to my parents
Hi guys!
I hope you had a beautiful Sunday.
Well, I really like Sundays cause I get to go praise God with others and listen to empowering sermons.Then of course, eat the special Sunday rice afterwards and spend time with family. It’s just a restful day and a perfect day to recoup for the week ahead.
Parents have played major roles in our lives. They’ve been the guardian angels for us on earth. It’s important to take some time out and appreciate their efforts over the years. So here is the challenge for today;
Dear Parents,
Thank you for everything you’ve been doing for me. You’ve trained me in the way that I should go and I can’t depart from it. You’ve also given me all the vital tools to survive in life. Of course the training process wasn’t always fun. There were times when I just couldn’t get why you were so hard on me but I got to learn mediocrity was never an option. I had to be the best there was, even if this meant staying at home studying when my friends were out playing (it sucked at the time).
Mom, you’ve always paid attention to every detail about my life. You even listened to words I never said out. Thank you for the love you showered on us. Thank you for teaching me how to stay strong and be who I am without excuses. The values and good manners you impacted in our lives go a long way in defining who we are today.
Dad, you’re my hero! As my only male model, you’ve set a standard so high, anyone that would break it would need to receive special grace from God 😉 . You always cheered me on even when I felt I couldn’t measure up to your expectations. Thanks for believing in me.
Thank you for teaching me the beauty in love, marriage and family. Most importantly, thank you for teaching me about God. Mom, I’ll never forget all the Bible stories you often shared with us. Thank you so much for being such a blessing.
Words are inadequate to express my deep gratitude to God for keeping you and to you, for loving us and molding us to be the best we can. Every single day I think about you, I bless God for sending me to the right family. We’ve had our highs and lows; few lows where I even thought of running away- childish foolishness. But through it all, I realize that family remains even when everyone else disappears.
Thank you for being my parents; I couldn’t wish for any better. You are the best for me and I love you! 🙂
God bless you!
Yours truly,
~Mfon
Close with this word;
Children, do what your parents tell you. This is only right.
“Honor your father and mother” is the first commandment that has a promise attached to it, namely,
So you will live well and have a long life.”
Fathers, don’t exasperate your children by coming down hard on them. Take them by the hand and lead them in the way of the Master- Eph 6:1-4 (MSG)
Your turn…
Why not write a letter to your parents? It may seem silly at first but I’m sure they would really appreciate it. 🙂
Have a blessed week ahead!
Day 23 down, 9 more to go.
Dainty M. 