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My Sunday school kids were preparing for a presentation at church. My plate was full, I wasn’t making Sunday services. My studies had taken another turn; more work load, more deadlines, more demands apart from family obligations. There were lots of ideas rolling in but implementing is another kettle of fish. “Lord, I feel, I am not doing enough. I wish I had time to do more for my kids.” My strained time was taking a toll on parents support, too. I was inadequately prepared for the presentation. To my surprise, the kids don’t see it this way. They were working hard on their memory verses and somehow my absence initiated a drive to impress me with their recitations when they got the chance. I am proud of my Sunday school kids – not only did they do well, they taught me a lesson. Many times we wonder if what we have is good enough or if we can actually…

Turning 30 or in your 30’s and have read a lot of ‘before 30 bucket list’? How does that feel? Mixed emotions? Interesting that it means a lot to us approaching 30 or in our 30’s. If you’re like me, you may have written a list you wish to accomplish before you reach this milestone. Pressure builds when friends and family remind you of the things in your life that aren’t working or unaccomplished. I don’t like that pressure. Do you? Don’t let others insist their dreams on you. Relax. Write your own checklist. Give yourself grace if they don’t go as planned. Here’s mine:    1.  Learn something new often. Make it count. Tweet       2.  Be serious in building your financial life.        3.  Move to somewhere new especially when you’ve been there too long. New places come with fresh ideas and new friends.    4.  Live simpler. Less whining, more grace. Tweet    5.  Get a…

Hey friends, I am glad to be a Guest host for Literacy Musings linkup hosted by these four awesome ladies,  Mary Hill, Ashley Hales, Leslie and Tami.  Literacy musings linkup party is a great way to meet new blogging friends, read exciting book reviews and find more books for your library. I invite you to join these ladies every Monday! **************************** There are many of us who would rather stick to the good old authors we enjoy. This is good in a way but limiting in the broader sense. As a blogger, I am privileged to read resources from upcoming and fantastic writers. Sincerely, I do not subscribe to the idea of “Away with the Old, bring on the New.” You know why? Very soon today’s new will become the classics and all those beautiful writings and ideas will take the back seat! As a writer, getting feedback from those who choose to read my book is very encouraging.  Every writer craves to etch a good legacy that will…

I have been overwhelmed with my recent travel. I went over to my homeland-Nigeria with my daughter. It has been over four years and I have not been home.  I understand that home can feel so far and so near a times but our excitement overrode all the hassles we faced at the checking and immigration points. We had fully packed suitcases, took lots of photos, waved goodbye to friends and family here and we more excited to rejoin friends and family here in Nigeria.    As I reclined my chair a bit, I took time to do some reflection just before the we ascended the air. I thought of how glorious it will be when we go to our home up there in heaven.  The distractions and delays we had faced at the airport can be likened to the pressures we face. We are often pulled in different directions and are likely to lose focus when we don’t remember…

I know your thoughts are running wild now and you are pretty much wondering what I mean… Relax friends!  I don’t mean ‘mad’ in the literary sense of it. It is an acronym for…  M- Make  A- Amazing D- Difference Aunt Hazel from A Joyful Noise is one dogged believer I love. Did you read the conclusion of her written interview? You can read about it >>HERE<< She said “I am approaching my mid 80’s but God is not through with me yet“. It was *madness*, in literary sense here to say to an old and childless man to leave the nation he has known all his life,  leave his family and follow a God he had never seen through unmarked waters, unknown paths. Genesis 12:1-5 But Abraham knew, more than anything else and believed he was on the glorious ride to a very sure, unquestionable and infallible future. Abraham followed God whom his fathers never knew. Abraham was in our own…

I have said it earlier, to have an unusual New Year you need to get prepared in an unusual way.  I suppose you have started planning, if not go over >>HERE<< to read and download your free planner too.  Tidying up the spiritual aspect of the New Year is super important, please go >>HERE<< read and download your “15 Declarations with Scriptures“. On to today’s business, get ready for the New Year by investing in books especially those that develop you. Here are latest and inspiring books in my opinion you should read.  Some books draw you in whether or not  they are from your favorite authors.  However, it is adventurous and a fun discovery to try new not so popular writers too. You never know what new inspiration you will find. Give and take, you may not find your favorite authors on my list..hold on but these are great books too. What do you think? Here is what my…

The joyous Christmas celebration was indeed delightful. I couldn’t have imagined how pleasant it was spending the Grace Table with the church family. I was blessed cooking, serving and sharing the moments of the holiday with my family, friends and church. Thank God for His Great Grace. I hope yours was pleasant too? What do you say about 2016?  Are you seeing anything already for the New Year? These last few days is the set time to prepare for the upcoming year if you have not already.I employ you to make an unusual start through your planning and preparation.  Read about Planning Better >>HERE<< Are you spiritually ready for 2016? To be spiritually prepared for the new beginning, you have to see and declare what it is… Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways. When men are cast down, then thou shalt say, There is lifting…

My move to South Africa came with a lot of surprising and unexpected changes. I had a tough time readjusting almost everything. I badly missed my family and friends. That was bound to happen anyway. Now I have to make new friends and learn the mores of this new place. The first Christmas I spent was anything but fun. There were no friends coming over, no friends to visit needless to say who was I hoping to see anyway? I enjoy cooking–especially our local African dishes. And now, there is no platform to do so. My disappointment won’t go unnoticed. My husband tried hard to make the most of that Christmas. Well, there was something missing?   Not something, some things really were missing… The Grace table The family The meal Does this sound familiar? For me, Yes… If you closely observe, Jesus always did something unique. He always ate with the people (Luke 15:2). He always had a meal…

David had been reluctant to serve the other Sunday school kids. I asked him why but he murmured under his voice, “They won’t say thank you”. I smiled at him… He was expecting me to lash out on the smaller kids. But I simply responded with a smile. That puzzled him more. He couldn’t understand why I was smiling. Trust me, on other days, my reaction would have been different but this time, I even surprised myself. What David didn’t know was that I was in those same shoes! God was working in my heart. He was using David’s reaction to instruct me as well. Now you see why I was smiling! I was upset because I received an ill-treatment from people I had helped recently. Who wouldn’t be? Secretly, I had started to withdraw from service and rendering a helping hand. The Lord saw through my anger and withdrawals.He saw the foolishness of my decision and needed to open my…

I smiled as I recall all those years the Lord had brought me through. Every thought was lined with His ray of Hope. Strangely, I felt overjoyed in my heart yet; drops of tears fell through my face.  Here I was alone and busy in my kitchen and the Lord knocked at the door of my heart. He spoke to me in the midst of my activities and reminded me of how many lonely paths we had walked together. “Where is your heart, child?” I was overtaken by activities, holiday preparation, church things and coking here and there. Did I forget where my heart should be? I think I did! The song in my heart is of the Song of Hope. The music that should be in our spirits, The joy of the salvation He brings, The Hope of our waiting, That is the true advent song! I ask you again, Where is your heart this Christmas? What song does…

My face literally beamed with excitement. I’d shared about my planned activities for the upcoming holiday. Unaware that my sweet friend wrestled in her heart as I shared my plans. She was unavoidably going to do nothing but work and more work! I felt trapped by guilt. Had I not brought up the conversation, her mood would have been different, so I thought. She was feeling left out even before the holiday it began. As I write this, my heart goes out to all the moms and dads working hard this Christmas just to make your little ones smile. Whether your job is an essential duty or you are a shop attendant or you live far away from home whichever case it is, this is for you. If you are going to be alone this Christmas and you have no-one to share your this moment with, this is for you. My sweet friend had barely made it through the year. She is…

Hey Friend! I am glad you are reading this today.  You know why?  It is because deep down you are concerned about someone or you care about them or you are interested in knowing the one way to show kindness that is not necessarily tied to monetary value. Firstly, if you missed my post on one reason you should show kindness, I encourage you to please go over >>Here<< If you are a regular reader here you would have noticed some changes on the blog header? A sweet lady, Rachael wrote me a lovely note. But take a closer look at my old blog cover. Why am I sharing about Rachael’s note, you may wonder? Here is the thing…. I never noticed my “appreciating” had one more ‘C’ than needed.  And there it was sitting boldly on my blog header. Oh My! But this kind woman noticed it and let me know. Rachel, Thank You! That Sweet Little Note can…