Diary of Ige

Hidden for a Purpose

2026-05-13T17:45:00.397-07:00

Hidden for a Purpose: The God Who Preserves Our Destiny

There are moments in Bible reading that stop you in your tracks; those 'how have I never seen this before' moments. After years of reading Scripture, a story suddenly shines with new light, and you wonder how it ever hid in plain sight or not in any sermon you remember. That was my experience recently.

I stumbled upon the story of Joash (also called Jehoash), the young king of Judah who was hidden for six years to protect him from his murderous grandmother, Queen Athaliah. Until that moment, I thought Jezebel stood alone as the Bible’s infamous evil queen. I wasn’t shocked, though, when I found out Jezebel was Athaliah’s mother. The apple doesn’t fall from the tree, they say!

To get a better understanding of my fascination with this story, let’s take a brief look at Jehoram, Athaliah, and the evil that preceded Joash’s hidden season story. It helps to briefly look at the spiritual climate that preceded him. His father, grandfather, and grandmother created a legacy of rebellion that set the stage for the crisis in Judah.

Jehoram was a king who walked in darkness

Jehoram, Joash’s grandfather, began his reign with violence. He killed all his brothers and every potential rival to secure the throne (2 Chronicles 21:4). Scripture says he “walked in the ways of the kings of Israel” and followed the idolatrous practices of the house of Ahab because he had married Ahab’s daughter, Athaliah (2 Kings 8:18). His leadership led Judah into a deep spiritual decline, provoking God’s judgment. (2 Kings 8:16–18; 2 Chronicles 21:4–6)

Athaliah was a queen who deepened the darkness

As the true child of her parents, Athaliah, daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, brought the same destructive influence into Judah. She encouraged idolatry and used her position to steer the nation away from God. Her heart was hardened, and her actions were ruthless. (2 Kings 11:1; 2 Chronicles 22:2–4)

Ahaziah acted under his mother’s evil influence

Ahaziah, Jehoram’s son and Athaliah’s son, followed in the same footsteps. Scripture says: “His mother encouraged him to act wickedly.” – 2 Chronicles 22:3

Under her influence, Ahaziah aligned himself with the wicked kings of Israel, just as his father, Jehoram, had. This alliance ultimately led to his death by the hands of Jehu (2 Chronicles 22:7–9).

This then set the stage for Athaliah’s final act of evil. Actions that were not just political; they were spiritual warfare against God’s covenant promise to David.

The Hidden King and the Prophet Who Protected Him

When Athaliah saw that her son, King Ahaziah, had died, she seized the throne by force. In a shocking act of cruelty, she killed all the royal heirs and anyone who could challenge her rule (2 Kings 11:1). But God, being God, had already woven a thread of preservation into the story.

Ahaziah’s sister, Jehosheba, rescued the infant Joash and hid him in the temple with his nurse. There, under the watchful care of Jehoiada the priest, the child king lived in secrecy for six years while Athaliah reigned in terror (2 Kings 11:2–3).

Six years of silence. Six years of obscurity. Six years of divine protection.

At the appointed time, Jehoiada brought Joash out of hiding, crowned him publicly, and restored the house of David just as God had promised (2 Samuel 7:12–16).

When I read this, I was intrigued. I shared it with my children immediately because whenever I discover these interesting stories in Scripture, they are always the first to hear them.

When God Hides You, It’s Never Without Purpose

Joash’s story stirred something deep in me. It reminded me that God always has a plan within a plan. For example, He sometimes hides us, not to diminish us, but to preserve us, to prepare us and position us for the fullness of His plan.

Just as Joash was hidden in the temple, we, too, have our seasons when we are hidden in Christ.

“For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.” – Colossians 3:3

These are seasons when God shields us from what we cannot yet see, understand, or withstand. Seasons where He keeps us tucked away from danger, distraction, or premature exposure. Seasons where He works in the quiet places of our hearts so that our emergence will be unmistakably His doing.

How Do You Know When God Is Hiding You?

You may wonder, “How do I know when God is hiding me?” Often, this is revealed in the season we find ourselves in. Sometimes it may look like a job opportunity that just won’t open no matter how qualified you are. It could be a relocation plan that keeps stalling, even though everything seemed aligned. Reconciliation with a loved one that seems not to be going as you want? What feels like delay is often God’s gentle whisper: “Wait. I am putting things in place for you.”

Scripture reminds us that God orders our steps (Psalm 37:23) and that His timing is perfect, even when it stretches our patience. A hidden season is not a denied season. It is a protected one.

Perhaps you’re carrying the weight of a long‑awaited promise like the desire for a child, a breakthrough, or a long‑prayed‑for testimony. Remember this: “He who promised is faithful.” – Hebrews 10:23

God never forgets what He has spoken over your life. Trust that when your testimony emerges, it will be unmistakable. All eyes will see. All ears will hear. And God alone will get the glory.

A life in Christ is, in itself, a life hidden, hidden from sin, shame, and every force that seeks to derail God’s purpose for us (Colossians 3:3). Just as Joash was kept out of sight until the appointed time, God knows how to bring you out of obscurity, out of reproach, and into the fullness of His promise. And when He does, it will be like the day Jehoiada brought Joash out of hiding.

Emerging Into the Life God Planned

When Joash finally emerged from hiding, it was dramatic, public, and powerful. Trumpets sounded. The people rejoiced. It was loud, undeniable, and filled with joy. Just as when God will put a new song in your mouth, a song of praise that testifies of His faithfulness (Psalm 40:3).

The covenant with David was restored. Darkness was overthrown (2 Kings 11:12–20).

In the same way, when we step into the life God has prepared for us, we finally recognise Christ for who He truly is, and something shifts. We break free from the grip of sin and shame. We rise into the glorious future God has been shaping all along.

“The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.”– Proverbs 4:18

There is no greater joy than awakening to the truth of who Jesus is and who we are in Him. Our emergence is not random. It is redemption in motion.

A Final Thought

For me, Joash’s story is a reminder that God is ever present. Even in the shadows, He is working. Even in silence, He is speaking. If you find yourself in a hidden season, know that God hides what He values. And when the time is right, He brings His children into the light–stronger, wiser, and ready for the life He always intended.

Love always

Ige

The Breath Behind Every Word

2026-04-16T03:48:00.000-07:00

Watching House of David on Prime Video, much like The Chosen, left me deeply blessed. These series bring Scripture to life in a way that stirs a fresh desire to read the Bible. Even though creative elements are added, they still honour key biblical truths I grew up learning (front‑row Sunday school seats finally paying off). I absolutely love reading the Bible!

For days afterwards, I found myself reflecting on David with renewed appreciation. His psalms feel even more vivid now that I can imagine the man behind them: the shepherd, the warrior, the worshipper and a true beloved of God. Only a boy when he defeated Goliath the Philistine giant, a story I learnt since I was a little child, and one I still find fascinating even to this day. During bedtime devotion the other night, we read Psalm 16:8: “I have set the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.” I ended up reading the entire psalm, titled 'A Miktam of David' (Psalm 16, ESV). It is such a beautiful declaration of trust, devotion, and confidence in God’s preserving power; no wonder David is remembered as a man after God’s heart. I pray to walk daily with that same steady trust, knowing that God “makes known to me the path of life” and surrounds me with His preserving presence (Psalm 16:11).

Before moving to the main theme of this post, I paused to look up the word Miktam, which appears in the headings of Psalms 16 and 56–60. Though its meaning is not defined in Scripture, scholars suggest it may refer to something engraved, something precious like gold, a musical instruction, or a hidden prayer–each interpretation highlighting the depth and value of these psalms. I thought I’d add that in for any of my readers who is also unfamiliar with the word.

Samuel and King Saul

Watching House of David also led me to reflect on the works of the prophets and the Holy Spirit. Old Testament prophets were God’s chosen messengers called to warn, guide, correct, and offer hope to Israel. Samuel stands out as the last of the judges and the first notable prophet of Israel’s monarchy, anointing both Saul and David.

My son asked me why God did not simply forgive Saul and spare him from the torment. I explained that our lives are shaped by our choices, and God, who knows the end from the beginning, knew the path Saul would continue to walk despite the warnings from Samuel. Saul repeatedly disobeyed God, and his heart drifted far from Him. Samuel grieved deeply over Saul’s downfall, yet he had to trust God’s wisdom. After all, God had warned Israel about the consequences of demanding a king (1 Samuel 8:1–22). Still, the people insisted, and God allowed them to experience the weight of their choice. God gave us free will; we make our own choices, but it takes wisdom to know that it can be either a blessing or a curse. Saul had all the necessary information to guide him towards making good choices, but at the end of the day, he did exactly what he wanted. An instance is the slaughter of the priests at Nob (1 Samuel 22:11–19). Saul could have chosen differently. It made me wonder whether only the prophets had the spirit of God within them at that time. Despite all that God did for them, they were all so far away from Him.

Isaiah and King Hezekiah

In contrast, we see God’s mercy displayed in the life of King Hezekiah. When Isaiah delivered the message, “Set your house in order, for you shall die and not live” (2 Kings 20:1), Hezekiah responded not with rebellion but with earnest prayer. He turned his face to the wall, wept bitterly, and reminded God of his faithful devotion (2 Kings 20:2–3).

Before Isaiah had even left the courtyard, God sent him back with a new word: He had heard Hezekiah’s prayer and seen his tears. God promised to heal him and add fifteen more years to his life (2 Kings 20:4–6). As a sign, the shadow on the sundial moved backwards, an unmistakable demonstration of God’s sovereignty over time (2 Kings 20:8–11).

Hezekiah later reflected on this mercy, acknowledging that God had delivered his soul from the pit and cast his sins behind His back (Isaiah 38:17). Yet 2 Chronicles 32:24–26 reminds us that even after such grace, Hezekiah had to humble himself to avoid God’s wrath. His story is both an encouragement and a warning: God responds to sincere prayer, but the heart must remain humble.

All these prophets: Moses, Samuel, Isaiah, and many others, spoke directly on God’s behalf. They did not soften or filter His messages, even when it cost them personally. Their power and authority came from their devotion and from the Spirit of God resting upon them. As Scripture says, “For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:21).

But here is the remarkable truth that struck me:

We have the same power within us as the prophets had, through the same breath of God.

Through Christ’s sacrifice, we have been given the Holy Spirit, the Helper, the Spirit of truth who dwells within us permanently (John 14:15–17). What the prophets carried within them is the same as what we carry within us today–the breath of God. From the beginning of time, this same breath has always been present…And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. (Genesis 1:2)

In conclusion, when we read about Moses, Elijah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Samuel, or Isaiah, it is easy to admire their boldness without recognising the source of their strength. God empowered them through His Spirit, and that same Spirit now lives in every believer. God left no role vacant and no detail unfinished. His plan has always been perfect. If God could work so powerfully through the prophets, how much more can He work through us when we yield to His Spirit? Their stories are not just history; they are invitations. Invitations to trust God like David, obey Him like Samuel, pray like Hezekiah, and walk boldly in the power of the Holy Spirit who now dwells within us. John 4:24 states: “God is Spirit, and His worshipers must worship Him in spirit and in truth” (NIV).

If you haven’t yet seen House of David on Prime Video, I’d encourage you to give it a watch, definitely worth your time! Also, a lovely worship song I know will bless you is the gospel artist Dunsin Oyekan's Breathe!

Don't forget to pick up your copy of Heart Ready on Amazon and visit Voice of the Turtledove and House of Eniyan for lovely T-shirts, Mugs, Totes and many more fabulous items.

Love always!

Ige.xx

The Beauty of Marriage: Why God Calls Us To Prepare Our Hearts Before We Say "I Do"

2026-03-28T06:04:00.000-07:00

This past week, I have paid more attention to matters of the heart. I have smiled more while watching romantic movies and pondered when and how my Ezekiel will manifest - I will explain more about Ezekiel in a separate post. Marriage is one of the most intentional institutions God ever created, and I say that as a single, divorced Christian woman. You see, long before nations and governments existed, right at the beginning, God established the first union in Eden-a sacred covenant designed to reflect His love, His unity, and His heart for relationship. Scripture tells us, “It is not good for the man to be alone” (Genesis 2:18), and from that divine declaration came a union meant to bring companionship, purpose, and godly legacy. We all know how the devil attacked that union, just as he continues to do even today.

Why? He knows where there is unity, he is in big trouble. ‘And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him–a threefold cord is not quickly broken.’- (Ecclesiastes 4:12 ESV)

But as beautiful as marriage is, it is also weighty. It requires maturity, sacrifice, humility, and a heart that is open and willing to be shaped by God. The truth is this: many marriages don’t just fail because two people have ‘irreconcilable differences,’ but because two unprepared hearts tried to become one without healing, wisdom, or spiritual readiness. ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.’- (Ephesians 5:31)

Love isn’t just enough to make two become one; it takes a whole lot of preparation.

Marriage is an institution created by God, and His standard still applies.

Marriage is not merely a social contract, convenience or social media content; it is a sacred covenant. Despite what we now see play out in recent times, Scripture reminds us that marriage mirrors Christ and the Church. That means marriage is spiritual before it is emotional or physical. It is holy before romance finds its way in. It is shaped by purpose, not just pleasure.

When we understand marriage as God’s plan, we begin to appreciate why preparation matters. My personal life experiences and my understanding of God’s intention for marriage is that God never intended for two wounded, unexamined, unhealed hearts to carry the weight of covenant without His grace and guidance. A godly marriage is a war room where chains are broken and destinies are shaped. It remains a prime target for the devil because he knows what that means for him–a generation raised well and taught how to bruise his head and to protect themselves from his lies and attacks that would prevent them from fulfilling their purpose. (I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel - Genesis 3:15).

God calls us not to perfection but to wholeness, which requires intentionality.

Why Many Marriages Struggle: The Unprepared Heart

I will say it simply - either anger issues, adultery, deception, immaturity, dwindling affection, think of it and name any other issue found in marriage - they are all as a result of an unprepared and a spiritually unrefined heart. Differences don’t destroy marriages:

unaddressed wounds do
unspoken fears do
unhealed trauma does
unexamined patterns do
unrealistic expectations do
unacknowledged red flags do.

Jesus teaches us in Matthew 7:3–5 to examine our own hearts before trying to fix another. That principle applies profoundly to relationships. Before we join our lives with someone else, God invites us to look inward:

What beliefs about love have shaped me?
What wounds am I still carrying?
What habits or fears might sabotage intimacy?
Am I seeking marriage for companionship or, worse still, healing that only God can give?

When we skip this inner work, we enter marriage expecting our spouse to fix what only God can heal.

A common argument is that in marriage, what you see is what you get. This is based on the belief that a person’s character, habits, and emotional patterns are already fully formed long before the wedding day, and marriage simply reveals what was always there. According to this view, the success of a marriage depends largely on making wise choices by observing a partner’s behaviour, values, and lifestyle during courtship and accepting that these traits will not magically change after the vows. So, how do you choose wisely? What factors help us to do that? Marriages of a few years or even decades fizzle out, so the question to ask is ‘what went wrong?’ If we do marriage the way God intended, it does not fizzle out over time. Preparation is key to the work required for continued renewal to keep the fire burning over time, and to make the part of the wedding vows ‘for better or for worse’ actually mean something entirely different from what the world has coined it to mean.

Another contention that oversimplifies the complexity of human growth and the spiritual depth of marriage is that, while marriage exposes what lies within, it also reveals how unprepared many hearts are for covenant. What you experience at the start of a relationship, right into courtship, is often filtered through excitement, hope, and emotional desire, but what you get in marriage is the unedited version of two hearts, sometimes complete with unhealed wounds, unexamined patterns, and spiritual gaps. Without intentional preparation, self-reflection, and healing, partners' expectations of transformation will fill voids only God can heal. In this view, the issue is not that people change after marriage, but that they were never truly ready to become one in the first place.

Becoming ‘Heart Ready’ for Godly Love

This is the heartbeat of my new book, Heart Ready–a guide for anyone who desires a relationship built on truth, emotional maturity, and spiritual alignment.

Heart Ready helps readers:

heal emotional patterns that hinder connection
understand God’s design for love and covenant
break cycles rooted in past trauma
cultivate self-awareness and spiritual maturity
pursue relationships with godly intent, not desperation
deal with rejection with wisdom
build a foundation strong enough to sustain marriage

Whether you’re single, dating, engaged, or already married, preparing your heart is not optional. It is essential.

Preparing the Next Generation Matters Too

I don’t know about you, but compared to my Mum, I think I had the conversation about relationships and marriage with my kids earlier than I thought I should have. I had a friend whose teenage son was stalked by his ex-girlfriend (also a teen), who was threatening self-harm if they didn’t get back together. What did they know about matters of the heart – they were only babies themselves! Thankfully, the adults were able to step in and safely manage the situation. We live in a world where culture teaches our children everything except how to value the true meaning of things like morality, self-preservation before marriage, and their value as individuals, even while married. As parents, guardians, and mentors, we have a responsibility to guide them back to what is right.

Let us teach them:

that marriage is honourable
that love is patient, kind, and selfless
that courtship is not a waste of time but a journey of discernment
that preparation is not old-fashioned, rather it is wisdom

Encourage them to seek God before seeking a partner. Encourage them to heal before they date. Encourage them to understand what a covenant is before they commit.

Even Married Hearts Need Renewal

Marriage doesn’t eliminate the need for heart work. In fact, it often reveals what we never knew was there. If you’re married and longing to reconnect with God, with yourself, or with your spouse, Heart Ready offers a gentle, Scripture-rooted path back to emotional and spiritual alignment.

Get Heart Ready on Amazon

If this message resonates with you or with someone you love, I invite you to get a copy of Heart Ready on Amazon. It is more than a book; it is a companion for your journey toward wholeness, wisdom, and godly love.

Buy Heart Ready on Amazon today and begin preparing your heart for the love God designed for you.

#ChristianMarriageWisdom #HeartReadyBook #GodlyRelationships #MarriagePreparation

Love always

Ige

Take Up Your Cross Daily

2026-03-22T13:02:00.000-07:00

A Devotional Reflection on Luke 9:23

One of the Scriptures highlighted in church today was Luke 9:23: "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me." I’ve read and heard this verse many times, yet today a single word rose from the page with unusual clarity–daily. It felt as though the Holy Spirit placed a gentle finger on that word, inviting me to pause, reflect, and truly consider its weight.

When I was growing up, my mum often talked to us about Grace and Responsibility. She reminded us that although God is merciful, His grace is not a licence to live carelessly. She would quote Paul’s piercing question in Romans 6:1, "Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?" That question shaped my early understanding of discipleship. Being a follower of Christ was never meant to be a passive identity; it is an active, intentional walk. It means choosing, again and again, to align our lives with the values of the Kingdom rather than the impulses of the flesh.

The use of the word daily in this verse is deliberate. The call to ‘take up your cross’ is not a one‑time event or spiritual milestone but a continual posture. It is not something we do when we get saved and then forget. The weight of a daily calling from Jesus is because He knew the human heart. He knew that our desires, emotions, and temptations fluctuate. He knew that the world would constantly tug at our attention. Jesus knew this, and so He invites us into a rhythm: a daily surrender, a daily choosing, a daily following.

Temptation is not a sign of weakness; it is part of the human experience. Even Jesus, the sinless Son of God, was tempted in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1–11). His temptation was not merely a test; it was a demonstration. By resisting the enemy with the Word, He showed us what victory looks like. When He declared, "Get thee behind me, Satan" (Luke 4:8), He modelled the authority available to every believer. Jesus showed us that victory over temptation is not only possible but accessible to those who walk with God.

This means that we, too, possess the Holy Spirit‑empowered ability to say no to sin because Jesus overcame; we, too, can overcome. Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 10:13 that God always provides a way of escape. The cross we carry is not a symbol of defeat but a symbol of the authority to crucify the flesh, to silence the enemy, and to choose righteousness even when it costs us something.

The Daily Battle We Are Equipped to Win.

Taking up our cross daily is a battle, yes, but it is a battle already tilted in our favour. Jesus never pretended that following Him would be easy. In fact, He said plainly that the road is narrow and few find it (Matthew 7:14). Yet He also promised that His grace is sufficient and His strength is made perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). The word "daily" becomes a comfort when we realise that Jesus understands the struggle. He knows that some days will feel heavier than others, and He invites us to bring even those days to Him.

To deny ourselves is not to deprive ourselves of joy; it is to refuse the counterfeit pleasures that lead to emptiness. It is to trust that what God offers is better, richer, and more lasting than anything the world can give. When we deny ourselves, we are not losing; rather, we are choosing life, purpose, and eternal significance over temporary satisfaction. Jesus said, “Whoever loses his life for my sake will save it” (Luke 9:24). The paradox of the cross is that surrender leads to freedom.

A Choice We Make Daily.

Each new day presents a fresh crossroads: follow our feelings or follow Christ. To pick up the cross or to put it down. Walk in the Spirit or gratify the flesh (Galatians 5:16). The beauty of discipleship is that God does not ask us to walk alone. His Spirit strengthens us, His Word guides us, and His grace sustains us. Daily obedience becomes not a burden but a rhythm of love. Ultimately, Jesus’ call to take up our cross daily is an invitation for us to walk with him daily, to trust him daily, and to choose him daily. Do this and His mercies will be new again for each day (Lamentations 3:22–23). The cross is not a weight meant to crush us but a pathway that draws us closer to God.

Reflections.

What does carrying your cross look like in this moment, and which act of obedience is Jesus gently leading you toward today?

If this resonates with you, I invite you to pray with me:

Dear Jesus, I come to You today with a grateful heart. Thank You for being my help, my strength, and my guide. Today, I choose to take up my cross and follow You gladly, intentionally, and daily. Give me the grace to deny myself, resist temptation, and walk in Your righteousness. There is no turning back until You return or call me home. In Your precious name, amen.

A Firm Line

2026-03-07T19:03:00.000-08:00

Flipping through the different news headlines on YouTube, I came upon the speech given by James Talarico after winning the Texas senate democratic primary. I came to know about him from his famous interview on the Stephen Colbert show. I knew nothing about him so didn’t know what exactly had gone on but listening to him out of curiosity, I acknowledged that we had a few things in common – we both love Jesus, we are educators, and we were raised by a single mother. So in his speech after winning the primary, he referenced the story of Jesus flipping the tables on social injustice and my mind immediately went to that scene in The Chosen and the emotions that surged through my body as it unfolded that I cannot even begin to explain! It reminded me that there were moments in Scripture when Jesus’ actions spoke louder than any parable, any miracle, or any gentle word of compassion. One of those moments was when He walked into the Temple courts during Passover and overturned the tables. It was a holy disruption, an act of righteous anger that revealed the heart of God toward injustice, oppression, and the misuse of power.

In the days of Jesus, the people lived under layers of burden. Rome taxed them heavily, and on top of that, the religious elite i.e., the Pharisees and Sadducees added their own weight. The Pharisees enforced strict interpretations of the Law, often binding people with rules they themselves did not keep. The Sadducees, many of whom were wealthy priests, controlled the Temple system and benefitted from the commerce that took place there. Ordinary Jewish families, already struggling to survive under Roman taxation, were required to pay Temple dues, buy sacrificial animals at inflated prices, and exchange their coins at unfair rates. What God intended as a place of prayer had become a place of profit.

So when Jesus entered the Temple courts and saw the exploitation of the poor happening in the name of worship, He acted. He overturned the tables of the money changers and drove out those selling animals, declaring, “My house shall be called a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of robbers” (Matthew 21:13). This was not a moment of uncontrolled emotion; it was a prophetic stand against a system that oppressed the very people God loved. (Read Jeremiah 7: 1–11)

Jesus came to save us, yes, but His salvation was never limited to the soul alone. He came to break chains, lift burdens, and confront injustice wherever it hid. He healed bodies, restored dignity, defended the vulnerable, and challenged leaders who used religion to elevate themselves while crushing others. His mission was holistic: spiritual, social, emotional, and physical. He came for all and not some. His mercy is wide enough to cover every tribe, every background, every story.

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favour” (Luke 4:18-19).

Throughout His ministry, Jesus exposed the hypocrisy of leaders who “tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders” (Matthew 23:4). He welcomed the outcast, ate with sinners, touched the unclean, and uplifted the poor. He taught that the greatest commandments were to love God and love our neighbour. Jesus showed us that loving our neighbour means standing with them, speaking for them, and defending them when systems fail them. Same things we would hope and expect others to do for us too when we are facing oppression. Love is the gateway to salvation.

We are followers of Jesus Christ who flipped tables, not out of rage, but out of love for justice. We are disciples of Jesus Christ who refused to stay silent when people were being exploited. We are children of the One who came to set captives free. So where and when we see injustice, let’s pray for God to intervene and let us speak up with love, drawing a firm line and standing up for what is right. Everyone is concerned about all the horrors going on in the world but how many of us are praying for world peace right now? I am not saying we can’t be critics, but criticism should not replace prayers. There is nothing happening now that hasn’t happened in the past, it just shows you the frailty and limitation of the human mind that has been left unrenewed. The path of the wise leads towards peace not war.

We must speak up and speak out with love in our families, communities, workplaces, institutions, and even in our own hearts. We must love one another as Jesus commanded, not with words alone but with action, courage, and compassion. The world is longing for believers who will carry the heart of Christ into every corner of society and one crucial way to do that is by honouring God’s commandment to love one another.

I will encourage you to say this prayer for Salvation and Peace:

"Lord Jesus, thank You for coming to save us completely, our souls, our lives, and our communities. Thank You for Your mercy that reaches every person without exception. Today, I open my heart to You. Forgive my sins, renew my spirit, and make me whole. Fill me with Your courage to stand for justice, Your compassion to love my neighbour, and Your peace to bring healing to a broken world. Let Your kingdom come and let Your will be done in us. Amen."

I pray that the peace of God that surpasses all human understanding will abide with us today and always.

Love always

Ige

Healed Wounds

2025-10-31T15:17:00.000-07:00

Hey! It’s been a minute, so much has been going on that has kept me busy. I’ve been busy writing but as usual, I overthink things and decide my pieces are not coherent or worth sharing. I remain my own worst critic, God help me! I must remind myself that the purpose of my blog is to encourage others by sharing words to deepen faith and to encourage us all to hang in there. God’s not done with us yet!

But I’ve also been busy with other things, parenting teens is no easy feat – muddling my way through that and just asking God to do what only He does best! But really, I'm full of gratitude to God, GCSEs are on the horizon, not sure why I am more stressed about it than the kids! I recently adopted a little adorable rescue dog as well! I can say my whole free time has been taken up by this bundle of joy. A whole story behind this dog but I’ll say this - as soon as I saw her, something deep within me came up to the surface. I looked into her eye (yes, sadly she’s got one eye as she lost the other before I got her) and I knew her latter years will be greater than her former even if I had no idea what her former life was like, but if it was comparing to her days spent wandering around as a stray, then I was sure her best days were just ready for her to step into. Again, a whole story but for another day! So that’s just a little update on where my head and heart has been these past few months.

As I sat working this morning designing items for my shops and thinking of Christmas 2025 and ideas of what to design, I remembered something my pastor referenced during his sermon last Sunday – “Healed wounds can become channels of grace” – Henri Nouwen

I thought about it and the word ‘healed’ stood out to me and I realised it can only be healed wounds that can become that channel of grace. Unhealed physical wounds fester, they hurt, and can lead into other terrible situations, complications, loss or even death. That is exactly what happens when our soul feels crushed with hurt and we have been wounded. We must allow God to bind us with His love to allow those wounds to heal, otherwise, we open ourselves to more hurt and damage. We must acknowledge the pain and let healing take place. When we have a serious physical injury, not talking of a scratch (even a scratch can sometimes turn serious) it’s silly if we just cover it up and pretend it’s not there or wish it away. No! We tend to it and get it seen by medical professionals till it heals, so also, we must when it comes to things unseen like loss, heartbreak, betrayal or just anything that has broken us.

“Henri Nouwen's teachings emphasise that healed wounds can become channels of grace when individuals embrace their own suffering and share it with others. He suggests that by acknowledging and accepting our wounds, we can transform them into sources of strength and healing for others. This concept is central to Nouwen's philosophy of ministry, where ministers are seen as wounded healers who serve others in Jesus' name. By sharing in the sufferings of Christ and others, ministers can become compassionate and empathetic figures, offering comfort and support to those in need.” Live Your Wounds - Henri Nouwen

Healed wounds commands the attention of others and it carries a weight of authority that is needed for people to listen to what you have to say. A healed wound can turn out to become a shield or a weapon, both used interchangeably and for different purposes and in different seasons. I am not referring to the common saying of ‘hurt people hurt others’ and for the record I have always despised that saying. A past traumatic experience can help you become a protective shield for others and protect them from going through the same experience. It can also become a weapon against the same devil who thought the thing he sent your way to break and shame you would kill you, but instead, God emerged and helped you turn it into a mighty weapon to crush the devil and all his plans, and now your healed wound fuels your praise engine and you just can’t keep silent so you are out there sharing your testimony and lives are being changed for good. The thief, murderer and destroyer known as the devil is in perpetual shame every single time you open your mouth. You weaponised your healed wound against the kingdom of darkness. Praise God!

No matter what you are going through or may have gone through, remember your shame and pain is for the Lord to carry, just give it over to Him, only Jesus knows how to turn it to a channel of grace.

Here are some useful bible verses to strengthen yourselves with:

Isaiah 61:7 ESV - Instead of your shame there shall be a double portion; instead of dishonour they shall rejoice in their lot; therefore, in their land they shall possess a double portion; they shall have everlasting joy.
Romans 10:11 ESV - For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in Him will not be put to shame.”
Romans 8:1 ESV - There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Psalm 69:6 ESV - Let not those who hope in You be put to shame through me, O Lord God of hosts; let not those who seek You be brought to dishonour through me, O God of Israel.
1 Corinthians 1:27-30 ESV - But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption.
1 Peter 5:7 ESV - Casting all your anxieties on him, because He cares for you.
Psalm 55:22 ESV - Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will sustain you; He will never permit the righteous to be moved.
Isaiah 43:2 ESV - When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.

Love always,

Ige

The voice of the Turtledove

2025-05-18T16:17:00.000-07:00

I had a lot of time to engage in some self-reflection today while enjoying a walk on the grounds of the lovely Cragside House and Gardens, a historic country house in Northumberland, England, which is a part of the National Trust. If you are in this part of England, especially at this time of the year, you'd want to visit and see the flowers in bloom. It is also considered Britain's original smart home, and I found this fact thoroughly fascinating. I'll link the website here in case you want to have a look - About Cragside

As I walked around this beautiful garden, I wondered at how we take so many things we should count as joy for granted because we are waiting for the 'big miracles', or focused on the things that are seemingly not working out the way we want them to, and ignoring the ones that worked. We get frustrated and completely forget the journey that led to where we are now. We forget the storms we've weathered and the battles fought and won. I was reminded in the bible text we read tonight in our nightly devotion, a prayer of King David from Psalm 51:12 NIV - 'Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.'

The reminder was that it is important to 'resolve to recapture that joy'. The joy of seeing the beauty in creation and appreciating the wondrous works of God that surround us always. Even we are part of the wonder. We must throw off everything that hinders us from appreciating little things like the beauty in nature and the colours that burst forth from flowers that bloom in due season. Walking down the paths of Cragside, it was as if the fields were singing, which led to the titling of this post. Song of Solomon 2:12 ESV says - 'The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.'

I'm sharing some of the pictures I took from Cragside, hoping they'll inspire you to look around and find things that help you recapture the joy that is rightfully yours, just as the beauty of nature helped to recapture mine.

You Got This!

2025-02-09T17:25:00.000-08:00

It wouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone who knows me that designing and writing are two of my favourite things to do. It is what brings me absolute pleasure, and my go-to when I feel stressed and need to unwind. I didn’t always consider them my pastimes even though I sketched cartoon characters as a young girl, and I wrote out short stories on the back of my notebooks as a schoolgirl, hoping they’d be good enough to get published someday. Childhood fantasy/madness?

Anyways, fast forward to 2020, my love for graphic design took root, I think it was the cure to the anxiety that the first COVID-19 lockdown tried to bring my way. I explored and experimented on every design app I could find. I started taking pictures of random things (lots of zoomed in shots of flowers and butterflies in my garden!) and tried redesigning them. Looking at those old ridiculous pictures make me super grateful for how far I have come and grateful to those folks on YouTube who ensure you will always find a video that will encourage you or show you how to unlock hidden talents when you find yourself stuck. I absolutely enjoy what I do now, and I also owe it to Canva as I think it is the best design app you can find. Yes, I said what I said!

Now as one who is constantly held spellbound by the wondrous creativity of God, I wondered what the bible had recorded about the gift of creativity that some of us must have been gifted by God. Talents are different even when it comes to designing so I never rate any one higher than the other. I am one of one and so are you. It is just like music, voices sound different and whilst a song will fill your heart with absolute joy, that same song might just put someone else off. Beauty, also they say, is in the eye of the beholder. So if what you design bring joy to just one person, then be rest assured in your soul that your creativity is valid and valued.

So, I wanted to share some bible verses that I hope will assure you of your gift and will encourage you to keep going and to keep getting better:

1. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10 ESV)

2. In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1:1 ESV)

3. Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men. (Proverbs 22:29 ESV)

4. He has filled them with skill to do every sort of work done by an engraver or by a designer or by an embroiderer in blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, or by a weaver—by any sort of workman or skilled designer. (Exodus 35:35 ESV)

5. And He has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, with intelligence, with knowledge, and with all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold and silver and bronze, (Exodus 35:31-32 ESV)

6. Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. (Psalm 104:24 ESV)

7. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; (Romans 12:6 ESV)

8. The Lord said to Moses, “See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, to work in every craft.... (Exodus 31:1-6 ESV)

9. In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. An
d God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.... (Genesis 1:1-31 ESV)

10. But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand. (Isaiah 64:8 ESV)

11. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. (Psalm 139:14 ESV)

12. For behold, He who forms the mountains and creates the wind, and declares to man what is His thought, who makes the morning darkness, and treads on the heights of the earth— the Lord, the God of hosts, is His name! (Amos 4:13 ESV)

13. Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” (Genesis 1:26 ESV)

14. All things were made through Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made. (John 1:3 ESV)

15. You have an abundance of workmen: stonecutters, masons, carpenters, and all kinds of craftsmen without number, skilled in working gold, silver, bronze, and iron. Arise and work! The Lord be with you!” (1 Chronicles 22:15-16 ESV)

16. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. (Colossians 3:23-24 ESV)

17. For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. (Psalm 139:13 ESV)

18. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. (Hebrews 11:3 ESV)

19. So, God created the great sea creatures and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarm, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. (Genesis 1:21 ESV)

20. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13 ESV)

Yes, we can. So keep learning, keep getting better. You got this!

All my love

Ige.x

The Prophet called Eli.

2025-01-30T14:34:00.000-08:00

I was looking for an easy watch last night, something I had seen before and that was not going to task my brain too much. So, I settled on The Book of Eli. Please, can we appreciate this legend called Denzel Washington! I doff my hat to you sir!

What character can this man not play? From the movie, Man on Fire to the new Gladiator II, and a host of other great films, I'm just in awe of this humble, well-loved human. I watched The Book of Eli a long while back (it was released in 2010) but apparently, I was not concentrating when I did, because last night, it was like I was watching it for the very first time.

Knowing the story of the high-priest Eli in the bible, I began to wonder why they would name Denzel's character after him. A character who crammed the whole bible into his brain to produce the one and only copy after a catastrophic event had destroyed America and all other copies of the bible.

If you want to know more about the high-priest Eli in the bible, this article does his story justice: Eli in the Bible: High Priest, Family, and Legacy - Divine Narratives

The story I remember most about Eli in the bible, was about his wayward sons, and growing up in a Nigerian household, you never want your character compared to that of the ‘sons of Eli’! It was easy to forget that Eli was one of the greatest mentors in the Old Testament. Without Eli, Samuel’s story would not be as we know it today.

So, to me, it was just so profound that the writers of this movie decided to go with the name ‘Eli’, and with such a storyline (no offence intended for anyone bearing the name Eli). I have not just been able to stop thinking about it since last night. It is only God that can help us in our spiritual service to Him, and to raise good natured, lovely children and loved ones that will continue to uphold our legacy.

If you want a nice Friday movie to usher in the weekend tomorrow, check out The Book of Eli on Amazon Prime Video. I fully recommend it!

Don't forget to check out my Etsy shop - Eniyan Creations for your T-Shirts, Mugs and other lovely items. I'll soon be adding some new stuff for your Valentine gifting! Stay tuned!

Love always,

Ige.x

Glad to see them back in action!

2025-01-19T18:01:00.000-08:00

Enough with the comments about whether this is what she came out of retirement for or if this movie serves as atonement for 'Annie.' Let's focus on the fun of "Back in Action" featuring Jamie Foxx and Cameron Diaz! They both still look fantastic! After the scare with Jamie during filming, it was such a relief to watch this movie knowing he is safe and well! While the film may be predictable in some spots, it remains an enjoyable watch, especially for those of us who love family-friendly espionage films.

The movie addresses some real issues that parents face today, like managing kids and their devices, and the feeling that teenagers are becoming more distant. Just yesterday, I found myself wondering if my teenage daughter disliked me! I know it sounds silly and isn't true, but their quest for independence often feels like a challenge to our role as parents. I'm struggling with the bittersweet reality of my baby girl growing up!
For parents out there who feel pushed away, how do you cope?
I sometimes want to throw a tantrum myself, but then I remind myself that I am the adult and expected to handle things maturely. It's a common experience for many of us I'm sure!
Without giving anything away, there’s a scene with Glenn Close that I had to rewind and turn up the volume to ensure my daughter, who was in the kitchen, could hear. Yes, a bit of emotional manipulation, but it worked—she came into the living room and ended up watching the rest of the movie with me. Perhaps it was her way of showing she didn't hate me after all!
Honestly, the amount of time our teens spend on their devices robs us of quality moments together, and managing that can be exhausting. Thank God my mother never had to face these challenges! Thankfully, I have Family Link to help manage their screen time. I’m not easily swayed by glares or empty promises, so I can stand firm when it's time to hand in the phones. If anyone knows of similar apps that work even better than Family Link, please share your recommendations in the comments or reach out to me on social media!
Now, back to the enjoyable movie that’s currently streaming on Netflix. Jamie Foxx can truly embody any role with such finesse. And speaking of the queen, Cameron Diaz hasn’t aged a day—she looks just as stunning as she did in "Knight and Day" which she starred in alongside Tom Cruise! I watched that again last week, and this new film reminded me of it. If you haven’t yet seen "Back in Action," make sure to check it out; it’s definitely worth your time!

Now we wait patiently for the sequel!

Love always,

Ige.x

Take courage

2025-01-16T18:16:00.000-08:00

LA will rise again, stronger and better!

When the Lord turns this around, for your good and His glory, you will be like those who dreamed. Your loss is devastating, but take courage and do not let your heart despair! The Lord will comfort you and surround you like a shield. The Lord will rebuke devourers for your sake. Devourers that will rise up to intimidate, oppress or take advantage of you as you go through this trying time. The Lord will turn His face towards you and all those that have risen up to help you, to pray for you and to comfort you.

It may seem hopeless at present, and difficult to see any joy past all the suffering and loss, but I pray that you will soon find every reason to look up to God and be radiant and full of joy.

This is my prayer for you.

The Lord will heal your land and your hearts and make it right with Him. The Lord will be a present help to all those who have, and who are still going through unimaginable suffering, all over the world. Amen.

Love always

Ige

Scan QR code or visit Eniyan Creation on Etsy and use the promo code ENIYAN30 to enjoy 30% discount off all items.

2025-01-16T15:28:00.000-08:00

The Author Called Pain

2022-11-09T22:24:00.000-08:00

I have listened to different life stories; heard stories of roaring victories after defeat; stories of stupendous gain after loss; stories of unimaginable strength after weakness. In the recount of these stories, there were varying degrees of pain and sadness, some were so overwhelming, especially if it had to do with dealing with the death of a loved one. There are some stories however that just had nothing but pain in it from start to finish, just as if pain was writing the story itself.

I'm attending the funeral of a dear friend today and theirs was also a heart-breaking story, one filled with lots of painful experiences.
We are the author of our life stories, just as Jesus is the author of our faith. We are not the maker but definitely the author. Now, I know reading this, you may wonder how that can be, when sometimes we are not in control of things that happen to us' whether good or bad.
Yes, there are things that happen to us that are outside our control but how they shape our lives is up to us; how we weave it into the theme of God's pre-ordained purpose for our lives is totally up to us.

[looking away from all that will distract us and] focusing our eyes on Jesus, who is the Author and Perfecter of faith [the first incentive for our belief and the One who brings our faith to maturity], who for the joy [of accomplishing the goal] set before Him endured the cross, disregarding the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God [revealing His deity, His authority, and the completion of His work].
Hebrews 12:2 AMP

I believe most things that happen to us in life, usually things that test us or try to break our spirits, are designed to put us outside the purpose of God, especially His purpose for our lives.
No matter what could have happened to us, that is in the past and now we have got to get back up again and keep it moving.

Yes, we need to deal with it but not dwell on it.
Don't let the pain define you, don't let it be the theme on which your story is written. Everything God made is good and you are good, your life is good no matter what you've had to face or presently facing.
I recently had to lift up a precious teen with words of encouragement and prayers, as they've had to deal with the diagnosis of a long-term condition which could disrupt life as they know it. In that situation, as I despaired and searched for how to understand and be there for them, I was opened up to stories of amazing people who have had to deal with unimaginable pain and yet you'd never know, because they kept on living life, smiling and bringing joy to others.
Then, I remembered that even Jesus, never forgetting the sacrifice He was to make on the cross, never hid away but was out there travelling, preaching the word of God and doing so much good while at it.

When you allow pain to define your story, you do yourself a great injustice because you'd have relinquished your victory to the very thing that challenged you into battle in the first place and then you'll realise you are still on the battlefield fighting for your life.
It never ceases to amaze me how pain can carry so much weight that can literally knock us to the ground. The weight can be crushing, overwhelming and more often than not impossible to bear. I have seen people bent, hunched over, due to the weight of this awful thing called pain. I have been there too.
Not allowing pain take hold of your existence doesn't mean you are denying the pain, in most cases the pain brings clarity and purpose when channelled correctly.

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger - Words famously sang by Kelly Clarkson.

Pain is pain and that is why we should never minimise someone else's pain but rather seek to bring comfort to them wherever we can.

'For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.' - Romans 8 vs 18

Hang in there and remember that you are bigger than the difficult situation you are currently in. It will surely pass and even with that, don't forget to look around you to see who could do with a smile or a helping hand from you.

Love always

Ige.x

Relationship With God - Goals

2022-09-06T18:41:00.001-07:00

Hi there! Summer holidays gone! Kudos to all Mums, Dads and Carers that survived these past tortuous six weeks! Yay, we made it! 🎺🥁💃

How hard was it trying to find ways to entertain kids for that long?! Maybe I was just lazy or I wasn't looking in the right places but then it's the same every year and I think it gets even trickier as they get older. As crazy as it sounds, work became a good excuse and a safe place for me to hide at times. Any parent feel me on this? Please let me know so I know I've not gone fully bonkers! 😭
Been singing my tune of 🎵 I'm still standing, though on wobbly legs now!🎵 and so looking forward to sending kids off on their first day back with my tambourine!
Really, I'm just so thankful they rested well, found things they loved to do and of course enjoyed lots and lots of snuggles and a crazy amount of treats while we binged on our comfort TV shows such as Master Chef on BBC iPlayer.

Ok, so I was washing up my Vax Dual Power Pet Advance Carpet Cleaner (no endorsement here) last night after using it for the second time since getting it from Argos a few weeks ago. I felt satisfied this time that it appeared to do the job of cleaning up a little accident from Roxy and I laughed at myself for earlier regretting buying this particular brand and not another one, even if it had cost more. I had struggled to understand how it worked the first time round but realised it was because I had not taken time to read the user manual, understand all the parts and their different functions.

I looked at all the cleaned up parts on the floor, ready to put it back in storage and felt proud of the work I had done to clean it that well for next use. Then, I began to think how good it'd be if this was my approach to every aspect of life even my faith journey. Always prepared and on the ready.
I felt proud and happy I was keeping my carpet cleaner in good working order to ensure its continued efficient use. How well do I keep my faith life in order to ensure I'm in line with God's plan for me?

Two questions came to my mind:
How many of us care to read the manual of a newly bought equipment or take time to learn a process before actually trying it?
How many of us really bother about maintenance and consider it important?

Before you answer, take a look at that favourite pair of Nike trainers you recently bought, if they are clean because you clean them up after every use then you are on the right side but if they look all marked and scruffy because you've not even bothered to clean them once since they were unboxed and worn, then join me on the other side! I think we may have the love for scruffy looking well-worn trainers in common - the scruffier, the better!😆

Seriously though, the thought I wanted to share relating to the two questions above especially when

thinking of our walk with God, is how much emphasis we place on nourishing and maintaining that relationship. Once we decide to pick up our cross and follow Him, do we carefully consider what happens next?
It is one thing to enter into the most amazing, loving relationship we'll ever have, with Jesus, by accepting Him as our Lord and Saviour and laying ALL at His feet. It is however, another thing to remain there at His feet, thriving and feeling connected, content with the life we have in Him and having the assurance that we are fulfilling His purpose for us.

We maintain our homes, maintain our cars, our prized possessions and even find ways to spice up our marriages and relationships but do we think of how we can maintain and spice up our relationship with God? Do we believe that by doing good, reading the bible and allowing the Holy Spirit guide us, we can make the most of that relationship?

Nowadays, you'd find a relationship coach everywhere you turn on social media spaces, talking about relationship goals. They list factors they consider vital to developing and maintaining a great relationship where there is love and mutual respect. How much more then learning things that can help us to develop and maintain the most important relationship we'll ever have in our lifetime, a relationship with God through our Lord Jesus.

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.

John 14:6 NLT

If relationship types were used to determine how invested we are in knowing God and doing this life with Him, which one of the three below would best describe yours?

a loving, faithful, trusting and enduring marriage;
a hidden affair;
or an every sunday church performance akin to a one-night stand (my definition here being: a single performance of a play or show in a particular place)?

The options above may sound crazy but in all truth, we need to think of how we treat God. Do we make Him the centre of everything, pouring our love on Him and trusting in Him through every season? Or do we put other things ahead of God and almost consider serving Him an inconvenience or worse still, check in only once in a while, especially when we are in need of something from Him?

We work hard and look forward to going off on amazing holidays for a well deserved rest or some personal time to seek out other pleasures, and rightly so. I'm looking forward to a trip to Belize sometime next year which I consider so well deserved especially since I haven't been on an overseas holiday in a long while and it will also give me an opportunity to support some fantastic mission work going on there.
I believe the point I'm trying to make is whether we plan for more time with God to allow us bask in His love, read and meditate on His word just the same way we will diligently plan that all inclusive holiday to Cancun? Time created just for an alone time in God's presence?

There is nothing more we need God to give us, He has already given us EVERYTHING, which includes His only Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. We are the ones that need to seek out His open and welcoming arms that are waiting for anyone who would run into them. His love is spread out for us, along with all that we need, we just need to key in and give Him our all.

We must nourish that relationship every second of our lives as long as there is breath within us. Make time for God, spend time with Him and you'll never feel disconnected, malnourished or lost and without purpose.

There is no benefit to being a one-night stand Christian or having a relationship on the DL with Jesus. We short-change ourselves when we do not make the most of the relationship we have with Him. Remember His words:

If anyone is ashamed of me and my message, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when He returns in His glory and in the glory of the Father and the holy angels.

Luke 9:26 NLT

Stay keyed in at all times, be proud of the faith you profess and may you continue to feel nothing but God's love and peace as you lean deeper into your relationship with Him.

Love always
Ige xx

The Ultimate Holiness is Love

2022-06-24T15:51:00.001-07:00

'The ultimate holiness is love.'

I heard someone say this recently and it hit me right in my spirit so much that I just had to share it here to inspire someone.

Love covers a multitude of sin and it is sin that make us unholy. I believe love is the antidote to sin which is why we must love one another to be able to present ourselves holy to God.

The God we serve is holy, there is none as holy as He.
In love He made us in His image.
In love He forgives us.
In love He shows us His mercies.

Because of His love for us, God sent His only Son, Jesus, to die as an atonement for our sins.
Jesus Christ loved us so much that He sent the Holy Spirit to comfort us and continue to lead us in His truth when He ascended to heaven. He did that just so we may come to know the truth of how loved we all are.

We must never let go of that truth.

We are so loved by God and we must refuse to believe anything less or else.

Hebrews 12:14 encourages us to 'Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.' If we reflect on this verse alongside Mark 12:30-31 which says that we are to love the Lord our God with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our mind and with all our strength, and the second is this: Love your neighbour as yourself.; There is no commandment greater than these.' If we live according to these, we are holy because we live in love, the same love that brought Christ to us.

A lot may be going on around us at the moment to make us question if God truly loves us or if He wants us to really love one another? It is all over the scriptures, the message of love and reminders that it is the greatest thing of all. We must therefore be assured that the Father's love for us will see us through and teach us how to love one another with the highest love - Agape.

The two questions asked in Psalm 24:3 about the person who may ascend the mountain of the Lord and stand in His holy place were answered this way:

The one with clean hands and a pure heart

The one who has not lifted his soul to what is false and has not made oaths deceitfully.

My emphasis here will be on the 'pure heart', a heart that knows nothing but love for God and for everyone. EVERYONE.

If we can put a tick✅ against the pure heart, I assure you we are on our way towards working out the remaining conditions on that list because love will help us to keep our hands clean and make us honourable.

Without holiness no man can see God; We will love one another so that we may see God.

Love always

Ige.x

The Deafening Silence

2022-05-19T17:52:00.008-07:00

"Sometimes the sound of silence is the most deafening sound of all." - K.L Toth
I still think the mind is the greatest battlefield, a place where countless victories and defeats are continuously recorded. A place where the deadliest battles, though fought in silence can yet be the most deafening.
Have you ever found yourself sitting in a lonely place, thinking over a problem and it is as if you can literally hear your thoughts crashing onto each other? So stressed, you are hardly able to tell one thought from the other, it all becomes so chaotic and loud?

Do you sometime have people talking around you or even to you, yet you can't seem to hear them? You yell at people around you, for them to keep quiet because you think their voices are raised when in fact it's not. It is your mind playing tricks on you. Mine does that sometimes.

I recently decided to re-watch one of my best movies of all time - The Matrix with Keanu Reeves, and was so fascinated with the scene with the little boy and the bending spoon, I mean the part where the little boy told Neo not to try and bend the spoon as there was no spoon, even though Neo had it in his hands. As if that wasn't enough to bend my mind, he said it was not the spoon that bends, it is only yourself. I honestly lost the plot at that point and I admit I almost went for a spoon before I stopped myself! I can't become Ige - the last spoonbender! Lol!

It must have been told to you and I, one time or the other that worrying doesn't solve anything, instead it usually compounds whatever problem we are facing. A healthy, clutter-free mind is what is needed to think up solutions (not spoon bending!) to solve problems that may come our way. Remember the old, popular, saying that tough situations don't last but tough people do.
The mind is such a powerhouse and that is why it is always faced with so much, it's strength lies in it's fragility and vice versa.
I'm learning to be careful where I let my thoughts go, especially nowadays where there are more negative news than positives all around.

I liken the mind to a bookshelf and we are responsible for keeping the right books on it. We must be able to account for the kind of books that we allow on there: Are they tattered, old, books we can do away with to create space for newer and more interesting ones? Are they clean and free of dust and cobwebs? Are there inspiring, positive and soul enriching books on there that we may want to put within easy reach for those days we will desperately need them?

We must take the job of maintaining our emotional bookshelves seriously because that task solely falls on us. We own it, we keep it.
My friend reminded me today that it is OK to be cross at the world but not to forget there are lots more things to be happy and positive about. I believed every word and that gave me a boost out of whatever dark hole I felt myself crawling into as a result of some sad news I had heard.

If the world throws at me the word 'problem' I would throw back the word 'solution. If it throws at me 'obstacle' I'd knock it out with the word 'overcome'. The other day, I found myself worrying over yet to be achieved things on my 2022 to-do list but quickly caught myself and reminded myself of all the unexpected wins I have celebrated this year.
So, after a long day, and I'm sure most parents will relate to this; I usually look forward to my me-time, a quiet time usually only possible when the kids are settled in bed for the night. I usually take this time to 'gather my thoughts' and this is just me sitting quietly in a comfortable space, reflecting on the day. I consider this as some sort of mind exercise.
It cannot be over emphasised how important it is to maintain a healthy mind to help our mental well-being.

Find below link to my previous post on the importance of having a disciplined mind:

A Disciplined Mind

Sometimes, we could do with talking to someone and that is ok. I'm usually the type to say, "I'm OK, no need to chat and get things off my mind". Not anymore, I'm learning that it is ok to reach out and get things off my mind by talking to people. If you need to talk to loved ones or even health professionals, please do so, don't hesitate.

Other things I do during my me-time is to count off all the things I'm grateful for, such as:

being alive

having a small but lovely garden

being able to get up and get the kids ready for school in the mornings

make it through to the end of the day

So many other things. I'm even thankful that our little cat, Roxy is alive and well, especially after losing Bella in 2020.
I also find using one of my favourite devotionals very helpful: The Confident Woman Devotional- 365 Daily Inspiration by Joyce Meyer along with Battlefield of the Mind Bible by same author as a start to my day or a boost at any point in the day.

We all have different life experiences that has either sharpened or dulled how we see and deal with problems. Personally, my tough experiences has sharpened my outlook on certain aspects of my life but instead of chaos and noise, I find a way to tell my mind - 'peace, be still'
Despite these constant mind battles, I'm never doubtful of victory and it is because I choose to allow someone else lead the battle - Jesus.
I know where my strength ends so it's great to be able to trust that my faith will see me through to the end.

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 NIV

Stay well
Ige

Waiting Time - A Lesson in Perseverance, Character and Hope

2022-05-08T10:03:00.007-07:00

God's Pocket Watch Isn't Broken.

"God's time is the best" is a popular phrase that I'm sure a lot of us must have heard at one time or the other. If it has been said to us, it must have been during a time of waiting, to help us remain steadfast in trusting God to bring things to pass. Sometimes, it seems God's time is a very long time, and we have to wait, seemingly for forever for that time to come. Did God's pocket watch break and He's lost track of time or maybe He's forgot some of us are waiting on Him for some very pressing needs???!

No He hasn't. He is the God that never sleeps, neither does He slumber. His ears are ever attentive to our prayers. No, He never loses track of time.

The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their cry;

Psalms 34:15 NIV

Waiting time is an opportunity to learn some lessons, if we are willing. It is a time that God gives us to allow us to diligently seek Him and to prepare to receive what we've asked for in faith. It is a time meant to be used wisely.

God's Time Isn't Man's Time

We all are in so much of a hurry to get somewhere, acquire something or achieve something, that we often aren't willing to wait for it. Waiting is like punishment. We are the ones in such a haste, God isn't, He does everything in His own time.
I've shared my thoughts about Time in a slightly different context in an earlier post which I'll link below:

A Time for Everything.

We know there is a time for everything under the sun, but having a discerning mind helps us to know when we need to wait for something we desire and that we need grace to endure the waiting period.
It is not easy waiting for something we truly desire, we usually want it immediately. Anyone that has had to wait for a partner, a child, a job or any type of breakthrough, will tell you so.
In our eyes, if things do not happen at the exact time we want it to and it means having to wait and wait to have it, it can cause untold heartache and worry. Sometimes we give up, we stop trusting and then settle for an alternative or second best option. In our hearts we know we acted in haste and we have settled for what wasn't meant to be ours.
I guess this happens because we are limited in the knowledge of things to come, which can be very frustrating, then when we eventually figure out that all we had to do was wait, we begin to tell ourselves us for not waiting.

Delay Is Not Always Denial

God is the One who knows all things. He has seen the end from the beginning and knows when it's right for us to have what we desire. When are desires are also something that can cause us harm, delay might end up being denial and though it may be hard, down the line we'd eventually see it was all for our good and we'd thank God that He kept that door shut when we were at it banging with all our might for it to open.
I thank God for some doors He kept shut in my life because I eventually realized He kept them shut to save my life 💯

Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

Psalms 27:14 NIV

Promise To The Tired And Weary

It is important to remain steadfast and focus on God during our waiting time. We must avoid listening to negative talk or thoughts that, somehow we are at fault for the delay we are experiencing. No, that's not true.
Tick all the right boxes of preparedness and wait on God to do His thing. When it feels as if the wait is taking forever and we are getting tired, feed on the word of God such as this verse below:

Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Isaiah 40:30-31 NIV

Hope is Everything

One of the earliest bible text I memorised as a teenager was Hebrews chapter 11 verse 1-2. I particularly love the Message version which I've added below:

The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see. The act of faith is what distinguished our ancestors, set them above the crowd.

Hebrews 11:1-2 MSG
No matter what it is that we are waiting for, while we have still got breath, we still have hope.
There are so many things I see in the world today that breaks my heart, every news channel is filled with doom and gloom it seems, yet I dare to hope that it will get better and while doing that, I will continue to do my bit in putting positive messages out, making sure everyone I come in contact with feels valued and loved.

Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

Romans 5:3-5 NIV

My journey to where I am today was one of perseverance and hope. I kept hope alive and I still do as there are so many things I'm still trusting God for to happen, but only in their due season even though there are some I'm desperate to have RIGHT NOW.

Make Your Waiting Time Count

Make good use of your waiting time. Do not waste it fretting or being anxious, trust that God will come through. When He does come through and you look back, be able to take pride in what you did while you waited. There is no way we can tell how long we need to wait for some things and just as Romans 5:3-5 says above, it produces perseverance. Fill your time with charitable works and make the most of each day by being accountable for each thought, each word and each action even if any of them are in response to naysayers and those that will come to you with negativity and criticisms.

Prayers are good, but it's not the quantity of prayers but the quality of prayers that count. As long as you are acting in faith, even before you utter a word, things are already being sorted out for your good, you just have to firmly hold on to that belief.

Things are going to work out for your good.

Love always

Ige

In the Spirit and in Truth

2022-04-19T04:17:00.005-07:00

What is the true meaning of worship?

I asked myself this question while listening to some lovely worship songs including one by the late gospel singer, Osinachi Nwachukwu. I was almost in tears listening to her and her twin sister sing in such deep and powerful worship.

I have wondered all through this past week about people within churches or other religious spaces, who hide their fears and pain behind worship? Was the depth of this late singer's worship a reflection of the pain she was in or did it just take her away from the fear of the reality she was living? I don't know but I can't help but wonder sadly.

"God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth."

John 4:24 NIV

Worship is so much more than the songs we sing or listen to. It is a place we go to in our spirit where there is no hiding from God. This is because we appear right before Him, in all the truth of our creation - perfection, just as Adam and Eve were before they disobeyed God and sin entered the world.

When Jesus chose these two conditions of worship - spirit and truth, as always, His words conveyed the exact message He wanted out there. Not only was the response to the woman he was talking to at that time but to everyone of us even as at today, especially those of us who may have questions about true worship. His words were meant to answer a query regarding the 'location' of worship but His answer included the 'nature' of worship and from all indication, that is even more important.
This means there is a possibility of not worshipping God the right way, or why else would Jesus feel the need to educate us on how we are to worship? The bible says all scripture is God-breathed and useful for a number of things including teaching. His words are full of the spirit and life.(ref John 6:63)

When what we have with God is a loving relationship, not one borne out of fear (a spirit God said clearly in His word that He has not given to us); duty or obligation to a professed religion (wanting to appear to have done what we say we conform to); our worship then becomes an intimate act of devotion.
It becomes a love language, a lifestyle, our mode of thinking and our whole expression.
It reflects on our daily living because the spirit, soul and body become one in this act.

Fear and worship can never be a good mix because it shows a lack of confidence in God and somehow, fear always finds a way to the fore. A life of worship to God is a life of power, one that comes with a clear understanding of God's will and purpose. I say this from a place of knowledge, as someone who has had a season of living in fear.

"The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?"

Psalms 27:1 NIV

I have said this a few times on here that we are not created to live in fear. Yes, life may have it's many unknowns and come with many uncertainties but we shouldn't be afraid of them. We must boldly face them and not cower in terror and say we are hiding under the shadow of the Almighty. Yes, that is a perfect place to hide and counter whatever is bringing terror into our lives. We must have the courage to face whatever or whoever it is that is allowing fear creep into our lives.

If it is a person that is allowing fear into our lives, they are working outside the will of God and we must not condone their actions, either with silence or by not allowing for consequences or accountability.

"Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you."

2 Corinthians 13:11 NIV

The advice in the bible verse above, encouraging us to live in peace is doable, we just have to be intentional about it and allow God help us through it.
My own little advice to go with this thought I'm sharing today is for us to pause and check that our worship is right. The hands raised up to God and the face streaming with tears from our eyes must be a passionate expression of worship to God (spirit & truth) and not as a result of the sadness of living below par to what we know God has intended for us through His word.
Also, let's make certain that those hands we are raising in worship to God are clean and holy. It is quite common during worship for hands to go up as an expression of honour and love to God, almost like a reflex action. So please, they must not be the hands that have abused a spouse, partner or anyone!

"Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully. He will receive blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation."

Psalm 24:3-5 ESV

We all have the power to make a positive change in our lives. We can start by identifying what we are doing wrong and then make a decision to stop and start making amends. This is the message behind the death and resurrection of Christ that we celebrate everyday not just during Easter. Jesus paid the price, we are ALL bought by His precious blood and salvation is free to anyone who chooses to believe in Him and make Him their Lord and Saviour.

In summary and in the spirit of the truth behind the Easter message, be a good person and be kind to others. Kindness on its own is an act of worship to God.

Love & Light
Ige

Worth far more than rubies

2022-04-12T17:51:00.000-07:00

Worth Far More Than Rubies

'She carries goodness in her hands

Strength woven quietly into her days

Her home rests in the shelter of her care

Early rising, wise in work

Faithful in every task

She gives freely to the poor

Wraps her household in warmth

Walks clothed in dignity

Wisdom shapes her words

Steadiness guides her steps

Her children bless her name

Her husband praises her worth

Charm may dazzle, beauty may fade

The woman who honours the Lord

She is worth far more than rubies.'

Honour her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

Proverbs 31:10-31 NIV'

The above bible text came into my mind earlier today and some bits of understanding grew a desire within me to craft a poem out of the verses.

Before I share my thoughts on the verses above, I’d want to use this medium to encourage anyone that may be reading this and going through any kind of abuse, to speak up and to seek help.
You will be heard; you will be comforted and you will be supported. You are not alone as you may have allowed yourself to believe. You carry visible and invisible scars but believe me when I say many wear the same scars; some may have their scars well-hidden, others may have it out there for the world to see but whichever way the scars are worn, the power and strength survivors wield is what they use to make a difference such as encouraging others to speak up cause they've got you.
Every survivor was saved by another survivor, you need to survive to be able to save another. Your experience domestic abuse is one that must have a purpose, what better purpose than being able to save another.
Every survivor of abuse in my humble opinion is a superhero 💪

I pray you’ll be able to find support and gather enough strength to seek help.

‘And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.

Luke 13:12 KJVAE’
There is help out there to understand what domestic abuse is, just in case you still have doubts on what you are going through and there is also support available to you should you seek it.

To give some context to my write up today and why I mentioned abuse - it's no longer hidden that the church, just as much as culture can be complicit or even a factor that continues to put individuals at a higher risk of domestic abuse.

Just this past week, there’s been one too many distressing news about victims of domestic abuse, and one that hit hard was that of a relatively well-known Nigerian gospel singer who had passed away allegedly after suffering abuse. Of course, everyone including myself had something to say. I wasn't shocked when it was reported that religion may have played a role in her staying with her alleged abuser probably due to the limited advice and support she probably sought and received.

I'm sure every church goer or anyone with some biblical knowledge, would be familiar with the story of the virtuous woman in Proverbs 31. "Who can find her?" Mothers teach their daughters to be 'her'; pastors tell their female congregation they must be 'her' - this virtuous woman is so scarce and hard to find that some men go off on a hunt for this virtuous woman who apparently is as mythical as a Unicorn.
As much as I hate to admit it, I personally find listening to anyone quoting these particular verses very irritating, not the bible verses themselves but different interpretation of it and how they have repeatedly used it to manipulate women to stay on in their abusive marriages.

There is no woman in my world that I don't consider spiritual, capable, intelligent or virtuous and I don't have to waste my time on a hunt to find her. I'm surrounded by them everywhere I turn.

Every woman is far more precious than rubies and I'd say well done 👏 to anyone who has the good sense of seeing those qualities in themselves and in the women around them.

We all want to be like the virtuous woman, we all are like her already.

One of the verses above reads - '...Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.'
Now, if the husband who obviously is seeking to be amongst respected elders (for example, pastors) is an abuser, does that not put a stain on the respected elders especially if they knew and turn a blind eye to the abuse they suspected or even knew was happening? If you turn a blind eye to abuse, you are just as guilty.

'Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers,

Psalms 1:1 NIV'

There are no different set of rules for religious leaders or pastors, we are all accountable to God for our deeds, either good or bad. If you see evil and refuse to speak against it, you are just as evil.

‘He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favour from the Lord.’

Proverbs 18:22 NIV

The good thing found here in the verse above is a virtuous, hardworking, loving, caring woman who wants nothing but the good of their family. Marriage didn't give her all these great qualities, she possessed them before the man came along with his marriage proposal.
A man who recognises and appreciates that woman, will then obtain favour from God. That appreciation is what was depicted in verses 28-29 of Proverbs 31, where the husband arose and called his wife ‘blessed’. A good man is respected amid his peers and elders for the simple reason that he honours his wife for all that she has done. I repeat a good man deserving of respect, honours his wife for all she has done. If men begin to call out each other for ill-treating their wives and are denied a seat amongst other respectable men, maybe then we can begin to see some silver lining in these dark clouds of domestic abuse.

I wondered why a Ruby was the gemstone of choice to compare to the strength of a woman in the text in Proverbs 31 so, I looked up the properties of a ruby and discovered that apart from this precious gemstone being well known for its physical characteristics such as it's vibrant red colour and exceptional hardness, it is also a symbol of power, protection and passion. It is therefore no wonder that it was the choice of comparison to the strength of a woman. A comparison made by a king (author of Proverbs 31) who had allowed his mother's teaching to touch his heart so much he had to praise women.

Call to action: Parents, raise kind-hearted, strong-minded and God-fearing children who will allow the continual renewal of their mind, so that they can test and always discern what the will of God is, what is good, acceptable and perfect.

Lots of love

Ige

Relationship or Religion?

2022-01-13T00:21:00.001-08:00

I have always tried to explain when asked, that what I believe matters most to God is a relationship with Him and not being bound and entangled in religion which I believe has been interpreted over time to suit various desires.

In a relationship, you seek to know more about your partner, the one whom you love and you try to mould and build your relationship based on that knowledge. Even God according to the bible relates with us as He made us, never forgetting our weaknesses and never holding out on His love for us.

'for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.'
Psalms 103:14 NIV

'But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children— with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.'
Psalms 103:17-18 NIV

God our creator knows how He made us; what He made us from and asking for nothing other than a life of love and service to one another and for us His creation to acknowledge and love Him back rather than set up false man-made gods and worship those instead.
Man-made gods doesn't necessarily have to be rocks, statues, ornaments or any physical objects, it could be delicately intangible things like trauma, loss, heartbreak, religion anything that we can use as a reason to separate us from God or stand as God in our lives. It could even be self.

'Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?'
Romans 8:35 NIV

Why hold a grudge against a God who would sacrifice His only son to redeem us to Himself and give us hope of eternal life in Him. A grudge could also stand in our way and unintendedly become a god we serve. We begin to worship it, feed it and give it a lot of attention even though we know it serves us no purpose and rather remains an obstacle to us deepening our relationship with God.

'No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.'
Romans 8:37-39 NIV

God loves us dearly and that is why He gave us the free will to choose to love Him back, not being forced but choosing to with all our heart, soul, mind and strength.

'Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.'
Revelation 3:20 ESV

'If you love me, keep my commands.' - John 14:15 NIV

Focus on the key word 'If' in both verses immediately above - If we choose to not accept God as our maker, and His only Son, Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, that doesn't mean He'll set us up to fail or turn our lives upside down. It only means we have put ourselves in a space where other things that are not of God can take priority and thus cause us to start making choices that may not be in accordance with His will for us.

A relationship with God helps to keep our eyes and attention on Him which guides the choices we make, gives us grace and strength to fight through battles that life will throw our way and give us a hope of eternal life when this journey called life is done. There is no guarantee in the bible or from our fathers and mothers who have come before us, that life will be smooth sailing, absolutely not, but with God, we can hold on to our faith that He will guide us through and give us purpose through any pain or suffering we may experience.

A religion on the other hand, in my opinion is a mandatory conformity to a prescribed way of life whether you understand it or not. It could be punitive especially when you break set rules and regulations (mostly created by a fellow man) or you are seen as having an opinion outside of what has been set.
It's a do as I say situation without questions being asked.
It could be restrictive.
It is largely centred on man-made philosophical concepts which is more often than not based on vanity and the things of the world.

In religion, focus of worship is quick to shift from God to worldly things and even ourselves.
I remember all the drama in some churches I attended back in Nigeria, especially where they have groups: it usually becomes a contest for the most affluent group, members more concerned about showing off expensive clothes and jewellery at any given opportunity. It even became a contest for who was able to throw the grandest wedding for their children. Woe and shame upon the member that is unable to afford this lifestyle. Some people have left churches because of this vain acts.

I believe that most people run away from these churches and from knowing God because they do not want to be bound by the shackles of religion. I've heard stories of people who stopped going to church because when they were kids, their parents were excommunicated because of some mistake that had been made.

Religion binds us with rules, relationship binds us with love.

Religion in my opinion is like a forced marriage, to someone you have no knowledge of. You may gradually grow to love them or totally detest them and want to break free. I remember some neighbours we had when I was younger who had nothing but a transistor radio in their living room as they were forbidden from owning a TV - a church rule. As if that wasn't bad enough, they couldn't wear any adornment except for a wristwatch and also nothing that could be considered fancy or make them look desirable. The kids in that home always looked so unkempt and unhappy!

One of my flatmates in my early years in university went to a similar church and within weeks she had swapped her baggy dresses for Jeans and T-shirts, and started wearing jewellery and make-up. Well, her fellow church members immediately summoned her parents to start an intervention. It was a real-life comedy!

My love for God comes from my understanding of who He is, and the sacrifice made at Calvary. I chose to love God, not forced to by anyone and that's how it should be in every relationship.

I had a good laugh today as I'd read a tweet from someone who said they were OK with Jesus Christ but had an axe to grind with God, His Father! I can't remember what they were accusing God of tbh! I honestly don't even know where to begin to address that – I hope the person remembers there is something called the Blessed Trinity? God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. So do we separate one from the other?! But really, the point here is that we are allowed the freedom to choose to feel that way with God, when we hurt God sees and cares, He welcomes us to challenge Him to prove He is God and according to His words, He remembers He made us this way.

Relationship not Religion.

Love always
Ige.x

Her Works Will Praise Her

2021-03-14T16:59:00.009-07:00

The first thing I remembered when I woke up this morning was a poem I had been taught in primary school: My Mother by Ann Taylor.

It was taught as a song and I kept singing it repeatedly in my head, couldn’t sing it out loud as I wanted my little munchkins to think I didn’t even remember it was Mother’s Day.

I’d been ignoring the huddling together, conversing in hushed tones, walking into a room and the frantic packing away of God knows what! Lol! Well, I found out they were making me bracelets.

They never fail to surprise me pleasantly any chance they get and all I wanted to do was carry on as if I did not know they were planning something.

I have read many amazing messages from people and comments on social media. One in particular, stuck with me: “a mother can play any role, but her role is one that no one else can play”

This made me pause and think of how important the relationship between a mother and a child is, and I include anyone that has stepped into that role: dads, aunts, grandparents, guardians, anyone who provides the tender nurturing that can soothe, heal and help develop a confident, strong, considerate but also a compassionate human.

I learn from my kids every day and I can say it took me a while to admit this especially to myself. My type of upbringing gave me that sense that I had to appear to always be in control to firmly keep them in line. I had to unlearn all that, I had to watch and listen and the first lesson I learnt was that each one of them was different, they possessed different strengths, abilities, temperaments and faced different challenges.

Understanding their individuality helped improve our relationship. Parents do not have to wait till kids are teenagers before they are allowed to have a voice, lay the groundwork early for those years that may, or may not, prove to be hard work.

I have heard many times from other mothers, “parenting does not come with a manual”, that's right, you must follow your instinct and do what you believe is right by your little ones. I tell myself that parents are all employed by the same boss, God.

He gave us charge over these ones to guide them through this journey called life and equip them with the necessary tools to navigate it successfully. So, to succeed requires team effort, parents who are patient and willing to listen while steering their kids right, as best as they can, not parents barking orders at their children and expecting no form of resistance. No follower likes a harsh team leader, success comes if you can learn to work together, i.e., parents listening to their kids and kids listening to their parents. Even the bible supports this:

“Children obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.”

Honour your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise),

“that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.”

“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” - Ephesians 6 1:4

I love hearing what my kids have to say, it does make me laugh a lot which I enjoy but I figured out if I wanted them to really listen to what I tell them, then I must be willing and ready to listen to them. This has benefitted all of us, just sitting together at the kitchen table and giving our views on different topics help us to listen, disagree intelligently, consider each other’s point of view and just enjoy each other’s company. In doing that, I know they are learning some important values.

I love listening to them pray as well, they pray for everyone! Lol! I wait patiently as they reel off the names of family, friends, teachers, school friends, neighbours, my work colleagues, my boss, everyone we know, even Boris Johnson and his crew are not missed out, that one cracks me up every time! Why does it have to be Boris Johnson and His crew? They make it sound like a music band!😂

I’ve learnt I don’t need to act so unnecessarily tough around them anymore because they know for a fact I am a warrior, a survivor of many battles (now, I believe everyone is a survivor of one battle or the other) and that knowledge, plus them knowing their warrior mum can also be vulnerable at times, gives them the true understanding of strength, strength they know they can always draw from.

I can go on and on, listing ways I am changed and a better person because I allowed myself to be taught by my kids. It’s humbling yet, utterly amazing. I am not like any other mother and I do not wish to be, because that places unnecessary pressures on you. Nothing wrong in taking a leaf out of other Mom’s life lessons but mould it to fit yourself and your kids. Do not force them to be someone they are not but rather, help them to be the best that they can be.

I love the kind of mom I have been fashioned myself to be because I understand the magnitude of the job at hand and I do not want to fail my boss, God. Motherhood journey requires continuous professional development so I'm looking forward to what the future will bring, without fear but with hope and trust in God's faithfulness.

To all the Mothers: Your works will praise you.

Love always

Ige

♫ What a friend I have in Writing!

2020-05-19T11:40:00.004-07:00

Writing has always been an emotional outlet for me. It captures ideas, intentions, and messages, and depending on your flair, it lets you shape them into something worth sharing. I never considered myself a skilled writer, yet my earliest memory of writing goes back to age eight, creating homemade comic magazines inspired by the ones I loved. Reading was my world then and still is.

Does this ring any bells?

As a child, I devoured Beano, Asterix, Dandy, Archie–usually borrowed from my big brother’s room when he wasn’t looking. Those comics were my first spark. For a moment, I even imagined becoming a children’s author. My reading then then moved on to Enid Blyton books, Pacesetter novels, Mills & Boon, literally anything with words I could get my hands on. My reading dipped because life of course had other priorities: school, university, children, everything in between but writing never left. Every essay became a creative piece, my thesis in university was published internationally, business proposals won awards, and love letters flowed easily. Writing has always been my steady companion.

I’m learning to stop saying “I have no writing skills.” I simply love writing, and that is enough. Maybe one day I’ll write a book; for now, a few honest lines are a good beginning. I tell my children to follow their passions and dream boldly though I’ve had to clarify that unlimited chocolate and all-day PS4 marathons don’t count as passions or dreams!

I’m grateful my children caught the reading bug. One of them is already showing some real writing talent, completely absorbed in Diary of a Wimpy Kid. He owns every book, rereads them endlessly, and once wrote a letter to Jeff Kinney that I, unfortunately, misplaced. Like me, he’s a ‘flash reader,’ and I couldn’t be prouder.

Writing has become one of my coping strategies in this season. It gives me a momentary escape from chores, home learning, and missing the outside world. What helps you cope?

Even in challenging times, our gifts shine. Creativity has flourished indoors such as online bingo, virtual quizzes, artists sharing their talents, volunteers stepping up, and inspiring fundraisers like Captain Sir Tom Moore. We truly are resourceful.

I encourage parents to pick up a book and read with their children at bedtime, sofa time, or any time that works. We’re currently enjoying Anne of Green Gables, one chapter at a time. Invite your children into the world of stories and let their imaginations take flight. If you’d like book recommendations, feel free to ask me.

As we mark Mental Health Awareness Week, let’s remember to be kind. Kindness costs nothing.

Thank you for reading.

Ige

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