It is common to always have friends that become glued to us at childhood and end up being with us all the way to adulthood. While growing up in the Northern Area of the Country where I was born, I was so introverted and that affected me both positively and negatively. I had few friends who were like family to me. So when deeply hurt or betrayed by them, it deeply hurts. As I grew along the years to become a teenager, I came in contact with someone who was like me. We were in the same class, were drawn and attracted to same kind of things though she was a bit taller than I was and a year older too.

We were so fond of each other that anywhere you saw me, you saw her and vice versa. She was like my right hand. As things turned out, it came to a time when we were to move to another state. I was so heartbroken and oh how much I was going to miss my dear friend. Luckily for me, we got admission to same University and I was happy once again.

Seeing my friend who I left for a while again, I thought everything was going to be the same but alas it wasn’t. I didn’t know at first until some things began to happen. I discovered that people started talking and pointing fingers at me for what I had no idea about. I didn’t bother myself as I knew I had done nothing to offend anyone. Somewhere along the line, an older person confronted me and said, “You are a bad example. Is it the new state you moved to that turned you into this?” I was dumbfounded because I didn’t have a slight idea about what I was being accused of. Well that wasn’t the only thing. I one day bumped into this beautiful friend of mine. I didn’t recognize her at all as she started something I don’t have a descriptive word for. She would come to school and change her appearance to what was in vogue.

I confronted her about it and she picked a fight out of it instead. When I got to where I reside outside of school, I sat to think and put one and two together and everything made sense to me. The accusation I received earlier that week was clear now. I had reasons to confront her now. I did again and it became clear to me what was happening. She was asked where she got the outfits she wore from and she said, she got them from me. What!!! How can someone be this mean to include someone into what they have no idea of to cover up their tracks? The straw that broke the camel’s back was when her parents came to confront me. I ended the friendship that existed between us right there and then. I couldn’t take no more.

I thought ending it was going to be easy, but it was difficult as I became emotionally distraught for a long time. This one action made me grew, I made up my mind not to go back to that friendship but somehow somewhere I was still watching her and hoping for a change. When it grew from bad to worse, her parents came to me and were pleading with me to become her friend again. I tried and tried but I was getting myself worked up for nothing. Right there, right then, I made a decision that if I wanted to go the wrong way, let me do that on my own and not be accused of leading someone else astray when I have no intention of doing such.

When people started asking of her not knowing the current situation of things, they saw me as a bad friend at first but when they found out for themselves, they saluted my courage and my making such a hard decision.

There are some things or people that are so dear to us that at one point or the other, our association with them always put us in the wrong spotlight. For those of you who have boldly taken the step of cutting off from them, I salute your decision. If I may ask, I wouldn’t be surprised at how difficult it was for you to take that decision. To those of you who are still halting between two opinions, I encourage you to make the best decision for yourself.

If your right eye serves as a trap to ensnare you or is an occasion for you to stumble and sin, pluck it out and throw it away. It is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be cast into hell. And if your right hand serves as a trap to ensnare you or is an occasion for you to stumble and sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better that you lose one of your members than that your entire body should be cast into hell. Matthew 5:29,30 (AMP)

And if your hand puts a stumbling block before you and causes you to sin, cut it off! It is more profitable and wholesome for you to go into life [that is really worthwhile] maimed than with two hands to go to hell, into the fire that cannot be put out. And if your foot is a cause of stumbling and sin to you, cut it off! It is more profitable and wholesome for you to enter into life [that is really worthwhile] crippled than, having two feet, to be cast into hell. And if your eye causes you to stumble and sin, pluck it out! It is more profitable and wholesome for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell. Mark 9:43-47 (AMP)

These are verses of the scriptures that to some people is a cliché. The truth is that it is so real that it can be applied to everyday living to become someone better. What is it or who is it that is as dear as these important parts of your body that is causing you to stumble on your part to greatness? Who are those or what are those things that have trapped you and hindered you from becoming a better person. Look within and around you and make that decision to cut them off. You may say. “but I love it so much, that’s who I am, I can’t stop doing this or that, what will people say?” and a host of other things. As you journey in your life’s boat to success, there would be baggages (habits, attitudes, people, possessions, name it) that you need to throw out else they would cause your boat to sink.

Some of you, you talk anything, everything, and you talk away your plans and dreams. You offend with your words, people can’t trust you with what bothers them because they will hear it from another. Keep quiet for some time and you would see how much you would achieve in silence. I learnt from my addictive corner – THYPRECIOUSJEWELS, that “A sealed lips is a sealed destiny”

Are you the one that is so covetous? You want to have everything by all means and this leads you to become a fraud. Be contented and see how beautiful life would be.

Maybe its that awesome friend of yours who tells you not to go that way not because he/she cares but for selfish reasons as he/ she sees how great and talented you are. The sooner you decide how he/she controls your boat, the faster you sail towards and attain greatness.

The list goes on and on but let me leave you with these words. “Find that trap and set yourself loose from it.”

God bless you.

 

Copyright© Plenitude 2015

 

Those who know me can tell how petite I am. My profession is one that puts me before all kinds of people. When I am at my job, I am more than a Goliath. I am more like David, not afraid of how giant the challenge may present itself. I remember working as the Project Architect for a particular client. That was like my biggest shot really. This client believed in my judgement of design, supervision of execution and undaunted attitude towards contractors during inspection. Not to forget my boss’ faith in me to handle it exceptionally.

Three things were at stake here. My reputation, my company’s and my client’s. Whatever the outcome would be is on three of us. I focused, worked hard, asked questions and baaaam!!! I was on top of my game.

In the course of this project, I happened to be a character in my own version of the “David and Goliath show”. I was downgraded by the contractor due to my petite stature. I’m sure somewhere in his heart, he was so happy thinking he would get away with somethings. Unfortunately for him, just like David, I wasn’t moved. The interesting thing was that my wonderful client trusted my judgement on everything about that project. Whatever I take, they took. What I reject, they rejected as well. Even when the contractor wanted to do some “backyard arrangements”, they always kept me in the know. They TRUSTED me more than I trusted myself. This pushed me beyond my comfort zone to harness the hidden leadership talents I had in me.

When the contractor wanted to get away with things, he went to the client directly. The client on the other hand sent him to me. It became so difficult for him. What he saw as a piece of fish soon became a piece of bone that he couldn’t break. At this point he became humble and started to see how he can win me. Unfortunately for him, it was at the time when I really needed to stand my ground and he lost in the end.

Most times, precious gifts come in little packages and the tendency to question its authenticity and originality is inevitable. Let me put your imagination to work. “Imagine two people who have been dating for quite a while now. All the while you have been dating, he has never given you any gift. On this beautiful sunny day, he comes for that dinner with two boxes, one small and one big. (the small one contains an engagement ring and the other a lovely dress) He drops them on the table and tells you to chose. Your human mind will tell you to pick the bigger as whatever is in it would be big, more so it’s the first time. But shamefully, you would pick the small one and get the proposal you didn’t see coming.

Right when David was speaking with them, Goliath, the Philistine champion from Gath, came forward from the Philistine ranks and said the same things he had said before. David listened. When the Israelites saw Goliath, every one of them ran away terrified of him. Now the Israelite soldiers had been saying to each other: “Do you see this man who keeps coming out? How he comes to insult Israel?… “You can’t go out and fight this Philistine,” Saul answered David. “You are still a boy. But he’s been a warrior since he was a boy!” “Go!” Saul replied to David. “And may the Lord be with you!” I Samuel 17:23-25,33,37 (CEB)

Just like I was trusted by my client and boss irrespective of my petite size, Saul trusted David and sent him to go kill the giant. I wasn’t moved by the proud lips of the contractor neither was David moved by the bragging attitude of the giant. The PACKAGE was SMALL, but the SUCCESS was HUGE. In our daily life, solutions to big mountainous problems may come in a small packages and the tendency to overlook it is there. Judging by the size of your problem, your head will tell you what will that do? Don’t worry, embrace that little package of solution and never let it slip out of your hand because its just what you need.

What is that problem?

How has it presented itself?

Sometimes, the solution to that problem may come from the lips of the young child who you think does not know anything. It may come from the newly employed colleague of yours or even your help. Employer, it may be your employee.

Watch out for the small boxes that would be delivered, the solution you’ve been waiting all this while might be one of it.

God bless you.

 

 

© Plenitude 2015

 

I have this attitude of logging-in to my addictive corner – ThyPreciousJewels to read the message for everyday whenever I get to the office in the morning. I do this after settling down before I begin any day’s work. The topic for yesterday was “Right Place; Right Time”. It was so expository and I was blessed. In the sixth paragraph, the last two sentences, the writer shared  “Lord, place me in the right place at the right time for a divine connection to the miraculous.” I’m highly expectant because I know that I’m bumping into my expected miracle in a short while…glory (claim it if you believe it)! I claimed it, because I believe it and continued with my day’s activity. It was a great day for me. I felt refreshed, happy and alive.

After the day’s work, I closed and into my car I went. Unusual as it may seem, the road I take home was free. I enjoyed the free road and decided to enjoy the ride by running faster than I would have normally because I was in a hurry to go get something. The shortest route was the only option I had.

While enjoying the ride with Jim Reeves’ song blaring from my car stereo, my phone began to ring. “Oh who could be calling?” I retorted as I don’t pick calls while driving. I picked this CALL against all odds. The information I got from the caller was straight and direct. Without thinking twice, I reversed and negotiated the next turn, away from my supposed short route such that the longer became the only option.

I remembered the article I wrote a week ago on “A Miracle?”. This clearly taught me another great lesson. Don’t be rigid. Be flexible at times. Yes!!! God saved me through that call and so many times, he allows us into situations where he wants us to change some things in us. Being flexible sometimes doesn’t mean you are not principled. Some of us have built so much of a barrier around ourselves ignorantly either by our behaviour, character or by our “so-called” principles that sometimes we may be heading to danger and not know it.

That short route was the wrong route and the time I was there was the wrong time as well. My believing and claiming that prayer worked for me. Oh yes it did because, that CALL was what I needed to take me to the right place at the right time and save my life from harm and my family from tragedy.

I decided to pick that CALL against my driving principles. That doesn’t mean my driving principles have changed. It just tells me that to continue to enjoy “safe-driving”, I should put my idle hands-free to use. Who knows how many more calls would come in to save a situation.

That CALL saved me and everyone connected to me in one way or the other.

What are those principles that you have like mine that can put you in harm’s way in the future?

You don’t have to change them, be flexible enough to reason and amend them.

I just did!

God bless you!

 

© Plenitude 2015

“Clear! Clear! What do you have there? Broken bones in upper right arm, fracture of the left leg and a punctured vein… What do you have there?” were all the words I kept hearing while different stretchers came rolling past me as I stood frozen at the entrance of the Hospital. “Hello Madam! Are you going in or are you waiting for someone? You have been here for a while and haven’t moved at all” A nurse called out to me, awakening me from my mild shock.

Giving her a forced smile and thanking her for the rude-awakening, I began my journey through the hall to access the stairs. As at then, I was partially blanked-out to remember that I just walked past the elevator due to the effect of the painful sights I had just beheld. I found myself walking through every hallway totally disoriented in my mind. As I walked down Hall 5, another stretcher came rolling towards me, bearing a body covered from head to toe. It was then I remembered I was on the theatre floor which was two floors above where I was going.

Settling in and trying hard to get my thoughts together, I discovered my mind kept replaying and replaying the event of the day. “Two stretchers, two bodies, two destinations. One to get a solution, the other to be done away it”. Who are my stretcher bearers?

The scenario of the paralyzed man getting his miracle because his stretcher-bearers would not settle for less throws a radiant light on who should be our stretcher-bearers. Another scenario is that of the man who was being carried to his resting place by what I call pallbearers. This one throws a much brighter light on the part we often overlook. Your stretcher bearers can never be your pallbearers.

According to Oxford dictionary, A Stretcher-bearer is person who helps to carry the sick or injured on stretchers, especially in time of war or at the scene of an accident. Meanwhile on the other hand, A pallbearer is a person helping to carry or officially escorting a coffin at a funeral. Many-a-times we mistaken these two to mean the same thing.

The world around you can be divided into these two categories. There are people who would do anything to make sure you don’t get to the top or even be better than them. They are in competition with every area of your life. Looking for every possible opportunity or loop-hole to tie a rope that would pull you off your goal. Many-a-times, they disguise as your stretcher bearers. Just like on the 5th floor that very day in the hospital, the fellow was wheeled out on a stretcher to be transferred to the pallbearers.

“Not long after that, Jesus went to the village Nain. His disciples were with him, along with quite a large crowd. As they approached the village gate, they met a funeral procession—a woman’s only son was being carried out for burial. And the mother was a widow. When Jesus saw her, his heart broke. He said to her, “Don’t cry.” Then he went over and touched the coffin. The pallbearers stopped. He said, “Young man, I tell you: Get up.” The dead son sat up and began talking. Jesus presented him to his mother.” Luke 7:11-15 (MSG)

While reading these verses, I ask myself; didn’t the pallbearers see Jesus coming? Why did they have to wait for him to touch the coffin before they stopped? This is to tell you that these pallbearers would intentionally deviate from the part that would lead you to the top of your mountain. They would gradually tell you how many people had tried getting to where you want to go to and failed.

Are you a student? They would tell you how no one has ever passed that course.

Are you of age and still single? They would tell you of how many people your age are not married.

Are you expecting your children? They would tell you of people who are old and well stricken in age and don’t have children to call their own.

Are you aspiring to be great? They would manufacture all sorts of stories to tell you how lost you are in dreamland.

PALLBEARERS!!! is what they are called. Open your eyes, they are all around you. It would surprise you that its even that person you call FRIEND that is the pallbearer. The irony of it all is that they are very very easy to fish out. Scrutinize all your bearers… Not all have “stretcher” in front of them.

Oh how I love the military environment. Immediately a fellow soldier is down by a bullet or something else. He is immediately carried on a stretcher to a place where he can be attended to. If for any reason in the war a soldier is injured, you would see how he would be dragged by another soldier to the place of safety; even if they running for their lives. He would never leave him behind, even if he delays him. He keeps assuring him that he would be fine. They paint the best physical picture of who your stretcher-bearers should be.

Take time, sit and think about your bearers. You tell these people your dreams, your weakness, your strength and a host of other things. Are they bearing you to your place of breakthrough or defeat? If it’s the Former, they are your stretcher bearers, never fall off that stretcher. If it’s the latter, they are pallbearers. JUMP OFF that stretcher NOW!!!

Who are your STRETCHER BEARERS?

God bless you.

© Plenitude 2015

 

Overwhelmed with the bustling life of an average college student, Sisi was so clueless as to how to balance the scale of social life, spiritual life and academic life. Barely rounding off her very first semester in college, Sisi found herself caught up in the wind of the youthful exuberance that overcomes an average naive college girl.

As fate would have it, she found herself with room-mates who had her best interest at heart. Even at that, Sisi could not still make a decision neither could she set the boundaries. This led to many mistakes and regrettable experiences. Inspite of all these, her roommates remained her solace when the going went bad. These room-mates never turned away from been there for her.

Many-a-times, messed up and drunk, Sisi returned to the room. These friends never abandoned her and didn’t hesitate to clean her up and make her look good. This didn’t make her withdraw from the bad influence which had resulted to her careless lifestyle. Unfortunately for Sisi, with no idea of what went on at a party she attended some months back discovered she was with child. Thrown into a state of confusion, Sisi began to come off her frivolous lifestyle. She began staying back at the hostel more often. This made her room-mates curious to find out what had happened to warrant the sudden change of behavior.

“Oh my, how did it happen? Who is responsible? Her roommates asked in unison. “I don’t know”, came the response. “You have to tell you parents, no matter their decision, we are here for you.” The other group of friends who seemed so important to Sisi had suddenly disappeared into thin air after discovering what had happened to their friend.

Rejected by her parents, Sisi felt as though she wouldn’t survive another day. Her roommates stood by her till her baby was brought forth and encouraged her to finish school. Sisi owe her success in Life to these awesome room-mates who carried her on their shoulders till she could stand on her feet again.

This reminds me of a similar scenario in scriptures:

“Some men arrived carrying a paraplegic (paralyzed man) on a stretcher. They were looking for a way to get into the house and set him before Jesus. When they couldn’t find a way in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof, removed some tiles, and let him down in the middle of everyone, right in front of Jesus. Impressed by their bold belief, he said, “Friend, I forgive your sins.” Luke 5:18-20 (MSG)

When we read these verses, most times we only see the act of Jesus healing the paralyzed man. Let us look at the other characters in the verses as well – The paralyzed man and the four men. I believe the Four men who carried him on the stretcher were his friends.

At that time, when Jesus was in the city, everyone ran to him to receive their miracle for themselves. But these four men decided to put their own problems aside and help their friend whose problem was more than theirs. When they saw that they couldn’t take him in, they could have as well left him at the door so that when Jesus was coming out, he would heal him. They didn’t do that. Instead, they took him to the roof, removed some tiles and set him right in front of Jesus. The help of these four friends gave this man the answer to his problem.

Who are your stretcher bearers? Do you have any stretcher bearers? Identify your stretcher-bearers. They would do whatever it takes them, no matter how inconvenient it is to make sure you are standing right on your feet. Not just anywhere, but at the top of your mountains.

Where are your STRETCHER-BEARERS?

***Stay tuned as tomorrow we would be discussing WHO ARE YOUR STRETCHER BEARERS?

God bless you.

 

© Plenitude 2015

 

“The Lord is set to do something for you today, all you need to do is ask him. Play your own part church and I promise you that the Lord will do his part. Most of the times, God keeps his side of the bargain but we are so unfaithful to keep ours. Go ahead church, Ask of him today.” The Pastor called out to his members during the prayer session.

“Oh Lord, I come to you today, give me … and Lord I will give it back to you.” “Oh Lord give me that Job…and I will… “. “Oh Lord give me the man for me…and I will…”. “Oh Lord give me that admission and I will…”.

Different people with different desires all asking of the Lord. Here and there, up and down. Some in tears, some on their knees, some face down to the ground. Tall, short, black, white, fat, thin, what have you.

I know of people who are in this category. I asked one one day, why aren’t you doing what you were doing before you got what you have now? This fellow said to me “I was looking for something then, now I have what I wanted”.

Oh wow!!! The mind-blowing thing is that some of us go as far as making vows. VOWS!!! Do you know what you are doing? A vow is “a solemn promise to do a specified thing.” Off course I understand that life situations can put us in a position that we no longer think before we act or even talk. We make very serious pledges and soon forget it when what we ask for has come.

“Be careful what you do when you enter the house of God. Some fools go there to offer sacrifices, even though they haven’t sinned. But it’s best just to listen when you go to worship. Don’t talk before you think or make promises to God without thinking them through. God is in heaven, and you are on earth, so don’t talk too much. If you keep thinking about something, you will dream about it. If you talk too much, you will say the wrong thing. God doesn’t like fools. So don’t be slow to keep your promises to God. It’s better not to make a promise at all than to make one and not keep it. Don’t let your mouth get you in trouble! And don’t say to the worship leader, “I didn’t mean what I said.” God can destroy everything you have worked for, so don’t say something that makes God angry. Respect and obey God! Daydreaming leads to a lot of senseless talk.” Ecclesiastes 5:1-7 (CEV)

I am not saying it’s bad to vow, think through before you vow. I remember a vow I made of a certain amount to pay for a particular period of time while I was in my parent’s house. When I got married and changed location, when it was time to redeem the vow, I went back to the place where I made it and redeemed it. Don’t let your situation take over your reasoning.

When you go to ask before the Lord, think through before you vow. When he commanded to ask, he said “Continue to ask, and God will give to you. Continue to search, and you will find. Continue to knock, and the door will open for you.  Yes, whoever continues to ask will receive. Whoever continues to look will find. And whoever continues to knock will have the door opened for them” Matthew 7:7,8 (ERV). There was no condition for asking here. In fact I like the way The Message translation puts it. “Don’t bargain with God. Be direct. Ask for what you need. This isn’t a cat-and-mouse, hide-and-seek game we’re in.”

Don’t turn God to a market seller who you bargain with before getting what you want or that business man you want to have a deal with. If at all you want to vow, don’t do it because you want God to do a particular thing for you. Do it because you want his continuous blessings in all areas of your life. You will be alarmed that that pressing need of yours, he has fulfilled.

If you have made the VOW! PAY IT IN FULL!!!

God bless you.

© Plenitude 2015

“If every one sweeps the front of their own houses every morning, the community/country would be a clean place” – paraphrased. I remember listening to a similar comment in a movie I watched a long time ago.

It was International women’s day on Sunday. I have a lot of Women to be thankful to for the great difference they have made in one way or the other in my Life. As a woman, It was a day for me to reflect and think of how I can be a Woman that would leave her prints in the sands of time.

Every woman, lady or girl is an image of someone. I’ll let you in on a discussion a colleague of mine and I were having. A teenage girl was invited to grace a very well renowned women conference. She was going to be seated with dignitaries and rulers in a continent away from home. As i shared with my colleagues, i mentioned that the first question that would come to many lips would be; Who is her Father? No one will immediately ask who is her mother or brother or sister. This applies to every woman – old and young. When something bad happens, in a case of a man and wife; they ask, Who is her husband? When a good thing happens, same question as well. We are a complete representation of our husbands and fathers (as the case may be).

Many-a-times, we feel that since we are not in authority or in a public position, what we do as women don’t matter. You don’t have to be in a position of power to be influential or make an impact. In your secret place, where all eyes cannot see, do your quota and do it faithfully. You don’t always see the cleaners, but you see a clean seat or a clean road. Isn’t it?

As the quote goes above, it is traditional for a woman to be attributed with sweeping. If we can dutifully sweep whatever rubbish and make clean not just the front of our house but our mind, our mouths, our manners and most of all our character. Imagine how much of an impact you will have made wherever you are.

“When you are too lazy to repair your roof, it will leak, and the house will fall in.” Ecclesiastes 10:18 (GNT)

King Solomon was known for his proverbs which have deep meanings. So here i bring it to you and me. “Wake up Woman, repair that roof [attitude/character] so it wouldn’t fall in and leave the house exposed and messy [expose you and everyone connected to you badly]”. We don’t want to just celebrate International women’s day. We want to celebrate you on this day. Recognized or not, Let’s leave our prints so so deep in the sands of time.

Your time just started NOW!!!

***To all the Women (young, old, tall, short, fat, thin, white, black) all over the World. God bless you for your contributions (noticed and unnoticed) to humanity. The results are evident.

***To the men, A little thank-you or well-done would do. And to those who don’t see the need to appreciate their daughters, wife or mother. Please tell them, I do appreciate them big time.

© Plenitude 2015

For every breath I take
To see each new day,
My call still remains;
Bless me one more time.

For every drop of love
Pumping through me
To love just like you do,
Bless me one more time.

For every success I have
As I go out each day,
My call still remains;
Bless me one more time.

For every heights I’ve climbed
With little or no stress
To weary my feeble limbs,
Bless me one more time

You have blessed me I know,
You have blessed me even more
You still bless me so much more
Lord bless me still.

Composed & Written by Phebe Doyin-Olaniran