BEHIND THE NAME

I can’t bless God enough for yet another year. Words are truly inadequate to express myself. One thing I am so excited about is the new year because it has lots in store for me. Today I am led to write about something I wanted to write a while ago but had to wait for the right time.

For a long time I didn’t know the meaning of my name aside the fact that I was named after a bible character. Due to the wrong pronunciation and spellings I have severally, in the past wanted to change it. As I got ready for my wedding, my dad challenged me that I never asked him what the meaning of my name was; then he said, the character in the Bible should give me a clue.

I checked for the meaning of my name and I found two strong words – “PURE”, “SHINING”. Wow… how beautiful. Something that is pure shines and something that shines is pure. Either way I was surprised as I looked at the meaning on my computer for a very long time. Looking back at creation when God created man in His image. I could only mutter to myself these words; “Phebe you are made in God’s image, let your life shine forth purely showing forth the beauty of your maker.”

Then coming to Romans 16:1-2 (ERV) – “I want you to know that you can trust our sister in Christ, Phoebe (Phebe). She is a special servant of the church in Cenchrea. I ask you to accept her in the Lord. Accept her the way God’s people should. Help her with anything she needs from you. She has helped me very much, and she has helped many others too.” I can only pray that God helps me to live up to my name.

Now enough of me. Let me talk to somebody. What’s your name? Have you been named based on circumstances? Are you like the old me who didn’t like her name? Let me tell you the story of the man Jabez. I’m sure you know about him. ‭‭1 Chronicles‬ ‭4:9-10‬ ‭(ERV‬‬) “Jabez was a very good man, who was better than his brothers. His mother said, “I have named him Jabez because I was in much pain when I had him.” Jabez prayed to the God of Israel and said, “I pray that you would bless me and give me more land! Be near me and don’t let anyone hurt me! Then I will not have any pain.” God gave Jabez what he asked for.”

It wasn’t his fault his mother was in pain, but he didn’t say it wasn’t his fault he was named Jabez and surround himself with a pity party; instead, one thing he took was the responsibility to change his life. It is recorded in scriptures that his life truly changed. I’ve seen people who are limited by their names because they have attached so much to it and it has corrupted their belief system badly. Funny enough, some do have beautiful names which can be limiting and hence are limited. My message to you is, don’t live in pity over situations that you didn’t create but can re-create. Take charge of your life and determine that your name (good or bad name) would not define or limit you.

In addition, dear parents, that the name sounds good or spells funky and you love it doesn’t make it good to be one for your child. Don’t be in a rush to get a name or be so superstitious as to give that name. (There is no rule that says you must name your child immediately or on the seventh day) There is power behind every name. What kind of power do you want to be behind the one you give your child? This includes names in the Bible. That it is in the Bible doesn’t mean it is good to be borne by your child. Take time to pray over the name(s) and most importantly, do your research. NAMES are powerful. Even Jesus Christ was not given just any name.

Same applies for nicknames, be careful what kind of power you release upon yourself in the name of having a nickname.

“Nicknames stick to people, and the most ridiculous are the most adhesive.” ~ Thomas Chandler Haliburton

I am Phebe (REJU) Olaniran and I am A BEAUTIFUL Wife, Mom and Friend! Happy Birthday to me!!! A big congratulations to my parents on the occasion of my birth today some years ago. Thanks for giving me sweet, beautiful and prophetic names.

What’s your name?

“Words have meaning and names have power.” ~Author unknown

Feel free to name your princess Phebe. I love namesakes. Hahaha.

God bless you.

WHAT COMMUNITY DO YOU BELONG?

Hello Beautiful and a warm welcome to my new readers. As you may know, my motto for 2018 is “BE INTENTIONAL!” Today we are going to be talking on something about this.

I have never been one with many friends. Pretty much one with lots of acquaintances. My friends were mainly my sisters and those I grew up with and went to school with. As we all moved up and forward, even though we (except my sisters) are hardly in touch, I still call them friends. Fast forward to when I became dependably independent, I unconsciously set rules for myself on who I would say, “that’s my friend” and “I know that person.“

Over the years I’ve seen the effect friends have on each other and while some are very great, a higher percentage are not so great. I’ve been blessed to have older and younger friends, hence building a community of beautiful people around me. For those who are my friends, many of them had to make the first move. I am not one to usually make the first move (still learning to) as those I have made have either turned out sour or great. I’m sure we’ve heard the phrase – “Show me your friend and I would tell you who you are.” As much as it may sound as a cliché, it’s so very true. I would say, “show me the community you belong to and I will see you for what the community stands for.”

Queen Esther, when she was to take an action towards saving her people, it was recorded in Esther 4:15-16 (ERV);

“Then Esther sent this answer to Mordecai: “Mordecai, go and get all the Jews in Susa together, and fast for me. Don’t eat or drink for three days and nights. I and my women servants will fast too. After we fast, I will go to the king. I know it is against the law to go to the king if he didn’t call me, but I will do it anyway. If I die, I die.”

“…I and my Women Servants…” That was the community she had. A community who was ready to fast and pray with her. A community who knew the risk she was taking but didn’t discourage her. A community that believed in her leadership. Uncle Mordecai despite older than her obeyed because age is but a number – Verse 17 of same chapter,

“So Mordecai went away and did everything Esther told him to do.”

This year;

  • What community do you have or belong to?
  • What community do you intend to build or join?
  • Is it the same one from 2017 which didn’t make you any better?
  • Is it that same one you want to maintain and stick to the status quo?
  • Are you afraid to come out so you don’t end up alone or hated?

Well, let me tell you this, there are so many communities of beautiful people around you, you cannot see them because you have not stepped out.

Like Esther, belong to a community of people:

  • Who seeks God first.
  • Whose mission is to make you better than you joined them.
  • Who encourages and pushes you to do the right even if it’s risky and would cost you something.
  • Whose leadership, Heaven can attest to it.
  • Who makes you a force to reckon with and an agent of change not of discord.
  • Who tells you the truth about a matter from a place of utmost love.
  • And the list goes on.

Make 2018 your year where you are intentional about everything. Behind everything we do as humans, an intent can be traced, when we trace yours, let us be lead to the beautiful Life.

Until you read from me again. Remain in God’s Love and stay beautiful!

I post here atleast weekly but stay inspired all week by following us on Instagram and liking our Facebook page.

The First Weekend

Yes, we were all so excited for the new year. We called, sent messages and even visited people for the new year.

Happy New Year! Flying all over and all around. Now the weekend is upon us. Are you off to the party or you are home to sort out the family or do some cleaning (I don’t know who said weekends are only for cleaning) or cook for the week? Anyone you are doing, make sure it’s beautiful and it will count.

To the main reason for this post. If you have been procrastinating putting your family on the healthy path, 2018 is another year to do it right. Research has made us understand that you are what you eat. A flawless skin is a function of what you eat. A sound mind, mood swings and many more. Just imagine our ancestors who didn’t have all the technology we now have but many lived to a good old age healthily, all by enjoying of nature’s best. Now we have every utensil and equipment available to assist us get those healthy meals prepared. What’s your excuse?

This year be intentional about the eating habit of you and your family. Intentionally eat vegetables, fruits and drink plenty of water. Build yours and your family’s immune system with the vitamins and nutrients God has blessed us with. Do you want to loose weight? Start today. Do you know that if you intentionally walk every day for 365 days, you will loose over 24pounds (10kg).

I discovered something new sometime ago. I watched Dr Oz show and it was on exercise. It centered on fat burn when you do HIIT exercises. So busy people, you do not have excuse for not logging in your exercise. Do a high intensity workout for few minutes and have your body burn fat while bathing and preparing for work.

[HIIT workout you can do is https://www.fitnessblender.com/videos/15-minute-hiit-workout-no-equipment-hiit-cardio-at-home%5D

The choice to live a healthy life is in your hands. All I can do is encourage you and cheer you up. Well, I also need someone to encourage me and cheer me up. (Hehehe) So while you go about your weekend, make healthy choices and changes to your lifestyle.

As Christians, you should know your body is God’s temple, he doesn’t want junk in it. He doesn’t want sickness in it. He doesn’t want anything that would harm in it. While we pray to God for healing this year, make sure you aren’t the one making yourself sick.

Happy Weekend and Live beautiful.

God bless you. Amen.

P.S. Please sign up and follow my blog. Invite your friends too. If you read a post you like, feel free to share. Also do follow on Instagram and like my page on Facebook.

2018: BE INTENTIONAL!

Happy New Year Beautiful!

Wow. When was it that we said Happy New Year? Now it’s another New year again.

We are thankful to God for Life and for his Love that keeps us. If you are reading this, I invite you to be thankful through January. As you write down those resolutions, resolve to thank too.

Okay. Today’s post isn’t about the “Give Thanks” challenge, it’s about how you should go about this year. God has given you a new book and it’s titled 2018. You determine the chapters and the contents. How many pages you want to appear there is all in your power. Let me tell you that you do not have to have 365 pages or 12 chapters. Even if it one chapter you have, let it be one that blows our mind.

The motto, we at Beautiful Life Corner are working with this year is: “BE INTENTIONAL…” Now you may say, how do I go about this. Read on beautiful.

This year can either be the same as other years for you or it can be exceptional. It all depends on what you intentionally do or steps that you intentionally take or prayers that you intentionally make. God will bring opportunities your way, he won’t push you to take them. You will make that decision yourself. God will make available great and beautiful networks, it’s up to you to decide either to join or stay where you are. God will bring people your way, it’s your choice how you treat them.

This year, people who intentionally walk with God, take the opportunities he sends their way, intentionally spread their tents and open their doors are not people who are comfortable with the status quo. They are ready to challenge protocols, make a change and live beautifully.

That dream, make it a reality. That skill, go learn it. That job, prepare for it. That move, make it. That race, run it. What is it that you have been procrastinating to do all these years. Pray about and determine to do it this year if that is the will of God. Intentionally break out and break forth. Leave your print(s) in the sands of time.

2018 is here. What are we going to read by year end?

God bless you all.

N.B. Please sign up and follow my blog. Invite your friends too. If you read a post you like, feel free to share. Also do follow on Instagram and like my page on Facebook.

Day 14 – My beautiful Home

Praise the Lord. We have come to the last day of this prayer challenge. I can’t tell you how excited I am. The devil thought he could win but by the help of God, he didnt have a chance. Let the prayers for your spouses and for your marriage not end, even though the challenge comes to an end today. The power of prayer cannot be over-emphasized but one thing I can boldly tell you is that it works wonders. Marriage is God’s design and he is particularly interested in your marriage and home and he wants you to flourish. Don’t be the stumbling block to God’s blessings in your home.

Scriptural Thoughts: Proverbs 15:6, Psalm 127:1-2, Proverbs 24:3-4, I chronicles 13:14, Joshua 24:15

Prayers

  • Dear Lord, I thank you for these past days that we have sought your face concerning our husbands and ourselves. I bless you Lord because it is your desire that every home prosper. I thank you for the strength to begin this challenge and see the end of it. Do accept our thanksgiving in Jesus Name.
  • I lift up every wife here who has raised her voice to heaven, I pray that our answers come speedily and lord our confessions are yes and Amen in our lives in Jesus Name.
  • For every woman who has cried to you during this challenge for one thing or the other as regards her husband and her home, I decree that she has everything she has asked for.
  • We release your unlimited blessings upon our husbands and we decree in the unity of faith that he is fruitful in his body, in his mind, in the work of his hands and all that he lays his hand to do bring forth great yield in Jesus name.
  • There are many husbands Lord who are struggling to provide, I pray today that you breathe life into their finances, ideas they need that will catapult them to greatness, give to them and the wisdom to spend wisely and invest properly you give to them also in Jesus name.
  • For every woman here who desires to be in her rightful position of assistance, you know what exactly they can do and what they have asked you, from their mouth to you ears dear Lord and you give them their heart desires in Jesus name.
  • Lord if we keep going, we would not run out of requests; so Lord at this juncture, we thank you for every needs met, every blessings received and every changes made. We cover all of our prayers with the blood of Jesus and we believe you have heard us and we declare that our marriages are beautiful, and our husbands enjoy the favor of the Lord. It is in Jesus name we have prayed. Amen.

Thanks for joining in and God bless you.

Feel free to share the prayer points with family and friends and do always read inspiring articles from us.

Feel free to like our page on Facebook and follow us on Instagram and twitter.

Day 13 – Understanding to flourish in the beautiful life

Welcome to Day 13. Thank you for praying for yourselves these past days. Thus far the Lord has brought us in this challenge. I want us today to position ourselves at our gates too. No matter how much our husbands guard our gates, we need to be alert, up and running too when they need to sleep or take a nap or even eat. At that few seconds of break, we do not want our gates unattended to because the devil is very tricky. He would sneak in if no one is there. How many times have we heard of insignificant things sparking flames in the home. Today we take our position and security guards at our own gates (heart, mouth and character) as well.

Scriptural Thoughts: Genesis 2:18-24

Prayer Points

  • Prayer of thanksgiving
  • I pray for you [your name] that you will be strong in your spirit, in your mind and in your soul to stand at the gates when it’s time for you to take your shift.
  • Many women have beautiful homes because they have been securing their borders in prayers since they got to that home. For you who have been doing this, you will pray for continuous strength and an alert spirit.
  • The reason you have some home not running beautifully is because some women don’t know when to be quiet and when to speak. Today I pray for you [your name] that you will remain in sync with the Holy Spirit and know when to talk in a matter and when to keep quiet. You will not fan the flames that are slowly burning by your words spoken out of season but instead you will quench every one of them by your words spoken in season.
  • Many women begin to have issues when they are joined to wrong people who tell them that Everyman does this or that. Gradually you begin to see what was not there because you are walking by what you heard. I pray for you [your name] that the spirit of trust and perfect love overwhelms you. You will not be influenced by companies of wives who see no good in their husbands.
  • Most men complain of how their wives suddenly changed after joining a group. I pray for you [your name] that you will only join groups that would motivate you, build you up and push you to become a better you, wife and mom.
  • Many women take decisions without their husband’s permission and then land the whole family in situations they didn’t bargain for just like Adam and Eve. Today I pray for you [your name], decisions that involves the family that should be taken by [husband’s name], you will not be in a haste to take it. You will always check with your head. And come to a beautiful conclusion.
  • Pray as led as the prayer points are inexhaustible.

All our prayers are answered in Jesus Name. Amen.

God bless you.

Day 12 – Taking my rightful position.

There is a belief that seems to settle well with many women, and it’s that it’s okay and absolutely fine for them to not work but keep spending. The original design of women before the fall of man was for us to assist our husbands. Yes man fell and that made God give man and woman defined roles. Every capable woman should be in a position to assist when there is a need for it. Assist in buying groceries, assist in doing the little expenses and leaving the bigger ones for the husbands. As women, we should be able to meet needs without waiting for weeks or months simply because our only means is by our husbands. As we pray for this, we will ask the Lord for a balance as we run our careers, home and the ministry God has committed to us.

Scriptural Reading: Genesis 2:18-24 – Key Scripture

Prayer Points

  • Prayer of thanksgiving
  • I pray for you [your name] that you will understand that you weren’t designed by God to just sit down and spend. You were given to [husband’s name] to assist him.
  • I pray for you [your name] that the Lord visits you with divine inspiration to see where and what it is that you can do to contribute to the financial purse of the family.
  • I pray for you [your name] that the gifts and talents the Lord has given to you will not waste away because of laziness or just been comfortable. I ask that the Lord gives you ideas that would take you from 0 to 100.
  • As you [your name] begin to make it and become great, I pray for you that you will learn to strike a balance, and one area wouldn’t suffer because of another.
  • I pray for you [your name] that as the Lord prospers the gifts and talents He’s given to you, you will remain humble and submissive to the man whose authority you are under, under God.
  • Pray for as long as you are led in this area.

All these we pray in Jesus Name. Amen.

God bless you.

Day 11 – God’s idea of marriage

Welcome to Day 11. How has been praying for your husband’s been? I enjoy it and most importantly, I always see results. I hope you are enjoying it and one thing is sure, you will see results.

We would be praying for ourselves as wives for the next three days and the last day for our family and our home. Last edition we prayed for ourselves first but why the Lord wants that we pray for our husbands first this time around, I don’t know. But be rest assured that he who knows all things, will always always give us his best.

I ask that where you are to say “I”, you mention your name in full.

Scriptural Thoughts: Genesis 2:18-24 – Key scripture.

Prayer Points

  • Prayers of thanksgiving
  • Lord I bring myself before you. I ask that whatever it is that would make my prayers null and void or bring about a self-imposed delay, let your mercy speak for me.
  • Just like I told some single ladies earlier this year that they are gods by virtue of their manufacturer’s details. So also are you. Lord where it is that I have drifted or even left my godlike position, do a factory reset on me. I want to be as you designed me to be – in your image. You are beautiful all over and all round and so I want to be.
  • Your husband came to your family to pick you. You knelt down before him somewhere before the whole witnesses and before heaven. Now are you standing so tall or even on him? Father Lord, where it is that I have disrespected my husband (whether he deserved it or not) I ask for mercy today and I pray that you put it in his heart to forgive me.
  • The idea of submission has been misconstrued from both sides. Many wives see submission as slavery and most husbands see it as a way to emotionally abuse their wives. Father I pray that as I submit to the authority of my husband, he would not use that as an opportunity to abuse me emotionally or in any way. I ask that the Love of a wife that makes her acknowledge the Authority of her husband without reading unnecessary meanings to it or looking for where there is a fault, plant it within me. Where it is that I am slowly or have grown out of Love for him in my heart or even physically, Lord arrest my heart with your love and help me see him with the eyes of Christ.
  • Father, Marriage was your idea and design, help me to live within your design. Let me not question your reason for it. My role in this journey of marriage, make clear to me and where it is I need to adjust, what it is that I need to do away with and what it is I need to introduce, help me to be open to embrace the changes. I will not be a rigid wife but a flexible one who knows when to respond to marital callings over self.
  • Father, as I take these days to pray for me, open my eyes to see where it is that I have to make good and not in anyway be a hindrance to answered prayers and your blessings in my home.

All these I have prayed in Jesus Name. Amen.

God bless you.