LADIES OF GRACE BLOG

Dream it & do it with aunty lanre

Elizabeth

Link Author

Title: Dream it & do it with aunty lanre
Author: Elizabeth
Rating 5 of 5 Des:

Speaker's profile: Lanre Onasanya, popularly known as AuntyLanre is a graduate of Lead Ciuty University Ibadan where she obt...

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Speaker's profile:</blockquote>
 Lanre Onasanya, popularly known as AuntyLanre is a graduate of Lead Ciuty University Ibadan where she obtained her first degree in Educational Management in 2012.</div>
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Her passion for supporting and impacting children (especially orphans, vulnerable & less privileged children), as well as young women has been  the major reason for her frequent attendance and participation at conferences and seminars where helping humanity is being discussed. This has assisted her professionally in her passion and zeal to help orphans, the less privileged and vulnerable children in Africa. </div>
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She is the founder of Aunty Lanre Initiative, a non-governmental organization through which she and her amazing volunteers have reached over 500 orphans & vulnerable children since its inception in 2015. Aunty Lanre Initiative evolved out of her enormous love for children and also,  her personal conviction that with support from the community, orphans and vulnerable children can live better and have more meaningful lives. With her passion for social service and child development especially in the area of social welfare,  for children and young people, she started *Auntylanreinitiative*.  </div>
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Her NGO, Auntylanreinitiative kicked off with the first tour of its kind in the city of Ibadan, a tour round Orphanage homes tagged, "The Ibadan Orphanage Tour". This tour took place within two months, August 8th - Sept 26, 2015. She and volunteers numbering their tens visited 8 Orphanages in 8 weeks (Saturdays) where they spent time, played, impacted lives and gave gifts. The items included food, school, household items and self care items. The second edition of the Ibadan Orphanage Tour is currently on and will end on the 24th of September 2016.</div>
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Aunty Lanre Initiative in partnership with the Litera Project, facilitated the scholarship project where 3 children from 2 orphanages in Ibadan were given full scholarships to a reputable high school in Ibadan. An idea of Miss Ajoke Nasir, which resonated with Aunty Lanre's vision.</div>
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She is the co-author of the books Blue Skies; Red Seas, Joyed Up Devotional and My Book of Psalms. She is also the cofounder of 'Joyed Up', a campaign against depression in Africa. The above named books are some of the products used to drive this campaign and the books can be purchased anywhere books are sold worldwide. The Products were launched on the 23rd of July, 2016.</div>
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Aunty Lanre has worked as teacher and a School Administrator at Citadel private school, Ibadan.  She currently runs a Saturday Club for Children, Aunty Lanre Kids Klub where she teaches, instructs and guides children between ages 4and 12. AuntyLanre finds absolute fulfillment in her career. In the year 2016, She was named one of the most influential people in Ibadan, Nigeria by ConnectIbadan. She collaborates with Orphanages, rendering support and teaching values as well as life skills to the children.</div>
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Aunty Lanre hails from Ejigbo in Osun state. She was born on the 24th of July and grew up in Ibadan. AuntyLanre is happily married to her Bestie, Bolu Onasanya.</div>
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Aunty lanre speaks:</div>
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I will be speaking on Purpose and Passion giving you practical experiences and helping you find purpose as God helps me do that.</div>
First, I would like you to know that you CAN NOT separate PASSION from PURPOSE. 
It's like Man and breath, like a child and her mother. 
One fuels the other, one drives the other 
We all know what purpose means, sometimes it can't be explained. To me, PURPOSE is an action word word, just like LOVE. 
 
Purpose in simple terms is why you are here and why you are still alive 
If there is a reason why you are still alive, its because you have not started or you have not finished what you have been called or created to do. 
 
So, our daily assignment is to live out God's breathe in us... I mean, live out the reason for which God breathed into our nostrils and gave us life. 
 
Passion on the other hand is what you do that makes you feel happy, fulfilled, satisfied. Something you don't get tired doing, something that has the ability to keep you awake for hours... Of course, not talking about your phone 😁 
You see why you can't separate the two? Passion fuels your purpose... It drives you to fulfilling purpose. Most of the time ,in your passion, is purpose. 
 
For example, I love children. 
Maybe it had always been there, but I didn't find it until I started involving myself in some deliberate activities. 
Truth is, We are all still on a journey, what differs is what length I have been able to cover. 
I started out by going with friends and family, visiting orphanages during christmas. Then, I just went casually, nothing attached. 
 
But it all started during my NYSC year. 
I was posted to a private  secondary school in akure(that was after  i was rejected in 3 schools), 
I was employed to take special students(kids who had difficulty learning fast) ENGLISH LANGUAGE 3times a week. 
I noticed that I bonded well with the junior secondary students than the senior secondary students. 
I also noticed that they listen to me a lot. So I ceased the opportunity. I started talking to them, about God, truth, love, honesty etc, after our usual classes. 
They loved me. 
 
Fast forward to when I got back from NYSC, I didn't know what I was going to do, and I wasn't in a rush about it. 
I wasn't in a hurry to get a job... Not because I was lazy or didn't need money. I  just desired to listen for God's voice on where I should work. 
Eventually a job opening came easily one day while I was cooking in the kitchen. I still didn't rush to get it, I consulted my mentor. We talked about it and then he asked me whether I wanted to take it, and I eventually got the job. 
Getting the job was another testimony but that's another long story. 
It was a job as a teacher in a primary school in ibadan. 
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I loved it... It was then I started to discover my love and passion for children. 
I just wanted them to be excellent... Fully grounded... Asides from teaching them subjects, I started to teach them on about faith, truth, honesty, prayers, fasting. 
They were like my own children and we were like a family... I won their trust and they could share anything with me. 
That was where I started from... 
I started to have huge impacts in the lives of children. 
Parents would call me, give me gifts, pray for me.. 
And I loved the kids.... I did the same for another set of kids 
 
No 1 lesson: Find your place 
No 2:Find your own audience 
No3. Don't be in a hurry to discover purpose... God doesn't reveal everything to us at once, you need to walk with him.let him lead you. 
No4. Listen. For God's voice, about anything you want to do, listen to people you trust, to people you model your lives after. 
 
I'd  continue my purpose journey... 
How auntylanre initiative was discovered??? 
I met with a friend one day at the cinemas, and she asked me," Lanre, what can we do with this love for kids that we have? 
I wrote down five things we can do, and we settled for one. We started little drops organization. 
 
We started helping families that couldnt take care of their children. We would visit, support them with food, clothes, aometimes buy books, we even paid school fees and rented them an apartment because they lived in a 1room. 
We went on to do a christmas party for 100 children within their community(sango), later on set up a need centre in yemetu for 200 children... 
We continued to do the good we knew to do... 
Eventually, I discovered that its not anybody you should collaborate with... Our goals, objectives, our vision, werent alike... So we were having personal problems. Then we decided to go slow... 
Until we both went separate ways... The end of littledrops. 
Did I learn anything? I learnt a lot. 
Did i gather experience? Yes 
Did I gain exposure? 
Because we had supported a family, we were able to do 100kids, and because we did 100kids, we could reach out to more kids. 
Just 3weeks after we quit littledrops, God spoke to me one Monday morning, I was fasting on that day. I usually fast every Mondays. 
 
God said to me clearly, " THE IBADAN ORPHANAGE TOUR" 
 
He gave me clear directions. I followed to the letter. Resources?he sent help. 
I thought that was the end, till he gave me a scripture in James 1:27 
And that was what I needed... And that's what has been my anchor. 
 Limitations? Obstacles? Yes. 
My mind! Doubts! Faithlessness. My inability to see beyond the present sutuations... 
 
But that was then, now I know better. 
In your Purpose Journey, know that 
 
1. You are not on earth to just exist, LIVE. Find a need and meet it, find a problem and solve it, find a hurting heart and love it (I'm not saying those thin legged trouser guys 
2. You don't have to start an NGO like me, if you have not heard clearly from God, why not volunteer for causes you care about. Autism? Orphans? Street kids? Teachind truths ? Campaigning against premarital sex? Anything Good and positive, start from there.... 
 3. Listen.... God usually doesn't like to impose anything on us.... So, he won't force you....Listen for his instructions, for his leading. 
 4. Sit with yourself, find your core, find your message, mine is to children, I want them to be excellent children. I don't want them to turn out like our generation. I want them better. I preach love, commitment to charity, I preach giving, I preach right living.... Everywhere you see my *hand*, its about these things. 
Now I know that without Faith and patience, you can't get anything from God. 
If he did it before, he can do it again. 
If he said you should do it, you can go to bed...no need to worry how. 
But,You also have to take steps. 
5. Always remember,in everything you do, its not about you. God owns your life, he called you, he gave you those gifts you carry, the glory is his, not yours. 
6.In your journey of finding purpose, know that the key is doing the next right thing....  The clock is ticking.. some lives are tied to you...do the next right thing! 
God bless you as you put all these into practice, may God speak to you, the things I didn't mention here. From tonight, receive listening ears. Receive the grace to be sensitive at all times. 
Remember that God loves you. And he wants the best for you.

Dream it & do it with aunty lanre

Speaker's profile: Lanre Onasanya, popularly known as AuntyLanre is a graduate of Lead Ciuty University Ibadan where she obt...

FAR ABOVE RUBIES

Elizabeth

Link Author

Title: FAR ABOVE RUBIES
Author: Elizabeth
Rating 5 of 5 Des:

So who is a Lady? A lady is a woman who is polite,well educated, posses excellent manners and behaves well. Now, who is a virtuous...

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<h4>
So who is a Lady?</h4>
 
A lady is a woman who is polite,well educated, posses excellent manners and behaves well. 
 
Now, who is a virtuous lady? 
 
 
<ul>
<li>She has the qualities of a Queen or a Princess.</li>
<li>She is a predetermined being in history.</li>
<li>She is pure in heart Spends time in God's presence.</li>
<li> She Controls her tongue (There is a connection between your mouth and your destiny.)</li>
<li>She has skills and always seeks to improve on them.</li>
<li>She Posses fearless courage.</li>
<li>She has Compassion for needy.</li>
<li>She is a pace setter not a pace keeper...</li>
</ul>
 
 
 
On becoming a virtuous lady, you have to: 
 
~ Be hardworking and prayerful -Moving up in life is by grace and prayer not struggling. (Zechariah 4:6-7.) 
 
~ Show love to everyone -loving people is a command, relationship is not by force...Flee from youthful lust,she purges herself 2Tim 20:21...She lives by conviction and not consessor. 
 
Note that: 
 
-Until you have a mind of your own, you don't have the life of your own.. 
 
-When you don't know your value as a LADY, your sense of responsibility and authority keeps draining. 
 
 -When a guy tells you 'to be lady like'.....don't just smile over it and form "tomboy".... 
 
-You cannot hope for a man to complete you when you do not have a sense of belonging. The man and the woman completes each other. The man gets better and grows stronger because of the woman and the woman because of the man. 
You pray for one hour and talk to bae for two or more hours..... Please work on it. 
 
So now to the qualities of a virtuous lady 
 
A virtuous lady has these 7Ps 
 
 
<ul>
<li>Purity</li>
<li>Potential</li>
<li>Purpose</li>
<li>Pursuit of vision</li>
<li>Partnership with God</li>
<li>Patience</li>
<li>Power of God</li>
</ul>
 
 
1. Purity- Purity means your body, soul, thoughts, ways, talks, mind, heart is pure..... A Virtuous Lady should be purified in all areas. 
Be informed that Your virginity does not tag you as a PURE person. 
Mind you, you can be a virgin and Still masturbate. 
 
2. Potential- Ability to do wonderful things 
"I am a woman of potentials and I don't know what I can do",madam you need help 
The gift of man will pave way for him that's what my Bible says. 
 
3. Purpose- A Life without purpose is a wasted life of potentials and opportunities 
A purposeful man is a fulfilled man. Know why you are living. 
 
4. Pursuit of Vision - Where are you going to be in the next 5years? Are you saying 'M gonna be married with six kids and would be enjoying my life?'...... 
 Are you aware of the fact that a word you decree will be established in heaven? So why don't you start to decree words of life into your situation today? 
 
5. Partnership with God- (Proverbs 31:30) How far is your partnership with God?. Can You pray in tongues? If no, do you desire to pray in tongues? Then ask. Can you worship for hours? If not, are you working towards having undisturbed hours of worship in the presence of God? Ask for grace to do so. Are there other things you desire which will mae your relationship with God better? Ask.(Matthew 7:7) 
 
6.Patience- Patience is a virtue every Christian should have. 
For example, a person who can't wait to get married, would not wait to jump out of it. 
Patience sometimes can be painful and it sometimes looks like God has forgotten you, but the fact is that at the end of the day, patience pays. (He who laughs last, laughs best). 
 
7. Power of God- What power has God given to you that you are misusing? Can you can sing to win souls? Can you pray and stand in gap for others? Do you have the grace to encourage others when they are down? Ensure you begin to use the grace of God upon you. 
 
 
 Think about this: 
 
* When, you think you not  being a virgin doesn't make u a virtuous lady, do not forget that the state of your hymen does not determine your purity. 
If i hear say,you have aborted countless times, God is still using many people who have passed through what you are passing through. Christ died for you too 
 
* You think Cos you are a porn addict,you are worthless. I am happy to tell you that He's ready to accept you....Christ appreciate the rugged ones that's why he gave us the rugged cross to cling to... 
 
* Hypo is used because stains refuses to remove from white right?...The blood of Christ is more than enough to make us clean. 
 
* When next you have the opportunity to visit a blacksmith, ask him how he came about the gold he wants to sell for 10million....He kept beating and burning. The rod was rusted and dirty,smelling and looking wasted but the blacksmith knew it's worth and brought out the best in its worst..Don't be too tired. Let's step down to the porters house and ask him why he so much appreciated the vessel in the show glass tagged 5million, i am so sure he doesn't like dirty things, imagine the smell coming out of of that stinky clay, but here is the vessel, looking very beautiful and attractive... We have RAW MATERIALS and FINISHED GOODS.. Your past was dirty so that your future can sparkle.. 
The capacity of a man is dependent on how virtuous the woman is.Tell your man. 
 
* Different virtuous ladies are mentioned in the bible. E.g. Dorcas...Elizabeth, Ruth,Mary,countless number of them...Can I mention your name too when I list the Virtuous Ladies??.. 
 
* God loves you more than you love yourself....He can add virtue to you... His grace is deep... You have those bitter stories so that you can have a sweet history. (If you will let him use you for his glory) 
 
* Great women of God you are hearing about and seeing today started like you. 
 
Now, always remember that: 
No one can be you except you. 
You are special and distinct. 
You are unique in your ways. 
You are the epitome of beauty and success. 
You are the best mom your kids could ever pray for. 
You are the source of joy and motivation to your husband. 
You are the Best. 
 
 
LADIES OF GRACE Bible study tutored by MISS MOJOLA BOREWA 
Bible text: proverb 31:10-31

FAR ABOVE RUBIES

So who is a Lady? A lady is a woman who is polite,well educated, posses excellent manners and behaves well. Now, who is a virtuous...

BECOMING A VERSATILE WOMAN

Elizabeth

Link Author

Title: BECOMING A VERSATILE WOMAN
Author: Elizabeth
Rating 5 of 5 Des:

About the speaker I'm Oluwo Adedunmola, from Ogun state Nigeria and a family of four, two brothers and my mum. I'm a Christi...

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<h4>
 About the speaker</h4>
I'm Oluwo Adedunmola, from Ogun state Nigeria and a family of four, two brothers and my mum. I'm a Christian, a Medical Doctor and Entrepreneur aka Doctorpreneur. I live in Hungary where I finished medical school at the University of Debrecen. My hobbies are traveling, creating and learning. Maybe I should include sleeping (ahaha I enjoy sleeping!) 
 
My number one dream was to be a Cardiac Surgeon but Medical School changed my mind on that specialty. I see myself living a bigger and better dream. I dream to be a major change agent in the Health Sector of Nigeria. If I can change a whole sector, my dream will become a reality but the dream is still bigger, to be a great example that one can do everything, successfully. 
 
My businesses… 
I have four businesses: Hair by Dedun (six years), Dedun's Cakes (four years), Dedun Cooks (six years) and Belle Artistry by Dedun (six months). I started all except Dedun Cooks by chance. I didn't have any passion for them prior, I didn't know how to bake or do makeup before leaving Nigeria. I already knew how to cook and weave hair but never planned to make the most out of them. Thankfully, people saw my potential and were willing to give me a try but not before I made the choice to learn those skills and improve on the ones I already had. After I started getting referrals and return clients, I started to see the potential everyone saw and from there, passion for business developed. From passion came the decision to stick to the businesses and in return birth discipline and commitment, I didn't learn business from anywhere, I had no idea what business was about but I chose to take risks and learn for myself. I did everything on my own but 2 months ago, I hired two ladies to work with me on Hair by Dedun. 
 
Join me as I welcome doctor Dedun to the podium. You are welcome ma 🙌🙌🙌 
<h4>
 Doctorprenuer speaks :</h4>
 
What does it mean to possess versatility?  
 
It means to have the  ability to adapt to any condition or function. 
 
I know you all described me as a versatile woman because of the things I joggle but versatility is way beyond doing different things at the same time. 
 
How do you become versatile? 
 
By training and mind control. 
 
You have to train yourself and your mind to avoid restricting yourself to only one condition. 
 
We've all been conditioned to make money as a means to live.. but you need to live (be alive) to make money right? Do you get my drift?  This is one condition we cannot live by. 
 
If you can control your mind to be able to handle things as they are being thrown at you, you have become successful in your own right. 
 
 So let me put this straight... it all begins with the mindset. 
I was thrown in a "go to school, get good grades and graduate" condition... in fact that's what most of us were told at the start of Uni right? 
 
But I pulled myself out of that condition and created a whole new one I can be versatile in. The ones we've been placed in are strict and that is why most people are restricted and can't be productive at the best potential. 
 
Everyone is brilliant but there's always that one person that is at the bottom of the class right? Why? 
 
If we switch the conditions and permit that person to operate at their own will, believe you me that the story will be turned around. We don't function the same way and that is exactly why one condition doesn't fit all 
So back to being versatile.. you can learn how to control your mind by reading books, subscribing to mentorships, getting good and motivational people around you as friends that have similar goals as you and of course,  by taking notes of your highs and lows in life (this will let you know, explicitly well the condition you can function best in) 
 
For my first two years in Uni, I was just going with the flow. Making friends, going to school and those boring stuff you know.. but one particular month, I put on my soul and mellow songs and just reflected on life. 
 
I concluded that things were too boring. I was bored of the usual just go to school, make a client's hair (if there's one to make) and just regular stuff. 
 
So I brought out a random book and turned it to my journal. I still have it with me as I type. I split a page into two and used these arrows ⬆ & ⬇ to indicate my good and bad sides.Turned out I had more good than bad sides 😂😂 who knew? 😉 
 
 From that day henceforth, I started working on my bad sides while making sure the good sides are being maintained too. After taking this time to adjust myself (that's the first condition you have to work on,YOU!), I now had to create the condition I could work best in. 
That condition was "I can't have a boring life and I have to always be productive" 
 
So I turned to Google and started watching videos (about hair and cake) to while away time. Instead of making new friends,  I started making new client relationships. Became more free with the new students and just in general,mingled with anyone that could become potential client. 
 
At the same time, I started to examine my friendships and took a long people with like minds with me as I knew I will need them for support since family is so far away. 
Did anyone notice that the condition I created for myself gave me the versatility I wanted? 
 
 But also remember that I was still nicely dealing with the strict condition to finishing school? 
 This is why I said you can't restrict yourself to one condition. 
 Because think of it this way, what if all my plans for the "not boring" condition turned out on the wrong side? It means I've failed right? And I will have to start thinking of how to settle right back into the "graduate" condition.. 
So to summarise all I've written, in the process of growth, always take it one step at a time and create an environment  you can thrive best in. Nobody else will create it for you. 
 
If you want to stick to the graduate and get a day job plan, it works for some people so of course all you have to do again, is create a condition for yourself that will boost your productivity to the maximum. 
The condition in that case will be to maximise your Uni time. Make lasting connections and don't just let the time pass and suddenly it's time to enter labour market and your clueless. 
<div>
Be Be versatile with your mind</div>
Anticipate for the question and answer segment....

BECOMING A VERSATILE WOMAN

About the speaker I'm Oluwo Adedunmola, from Ogun state Nigeria and a family of four, two brothers and my mum. I'm a Christi...

UNFAILING LOVE -GRAND FINALE

Elizabeth

Link Author

Title: UNFAILING LOVE -GRAND FINALE
Author: Elizabeth
Rating 5 of 5 Des:

"MPT, please wait for me. Let me just finish up with Iremide. He is not cooperating. I have been trying to get to feed him but he w...

UNFAILING LOVE -GRAND FINALE

"MPT, please wait for me. Let me just finish up with Iremide. He is not cooperating. I have been trying to get to feed him but he w...

UNFAILING LOVE 9

Elizabeth

Link Author

Title: UNFAILING LOVE 9
Author: Elizabeth
Rating 5 of 5 Des:

"Many are the plans in a man's heart but it is God's purpose that prevails" (Proverbs 19:21) I didn't go to chur...

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"Many are the plans in a man's heart but it is God's purpose that prevails" (Proverbs 19:21) 
 
I didn't go to church today, which is a Sunday. I feel so guilty for slapping Yimika but maybe if you were in my shoes, you would be able to relate. I decide to do my service in the confines of my room. I begin to worship God and then I begin to speak in tongues. 
 
"OluwaF'irefunmi, can God be mocked?" 
I hear the calm voice of my friend speak to me. 
"No Lord," I reply. 
"You try to mock me by ignoring me. By not listening to me but listening to your flesh" 
"Oh God of the universe, I am so sorry, who am I to mock you?  You have shown me nothing but love. Your love is everlasting. God please forgive me. What would you have me do?" 
"Be still and know that i am God". 
 
I don't say anything. I just listen. 
 
God goes on to explain everything to me. "I knew you before you were formed in your mother's womb," He tells me. And I begin to sob. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth so are my plans higher than your plans and my ways than your ways". 
 
"Oh God....." I clutch my heart as I weep before God 
"I know the plans i have for you, the plans of good and not of evil to give you a hope and a bright future." 
"Dear God, I am so sorry. What would you have me do? What do you want me to do? 
 
"Seek the Lord while He might be found. Call upon Him when He is near" 
 
And so I begin to seek God. Asking Him what He wants from me. Telling Him to change me from within. To give me a pure heart and hope for a better tomorrow. To give me a good husband and a happy home. When I say this, God speaks again; 
 
"I have already done it. Your Precious Treasure is Oluwaf'olayimika Johnson. He is the one i have chosen for you" 
 
I break down and cry profusely. So, Yimika wasn't joking. What was his smile now about? Fear and doubt begin to creep in. 
 
"God, I don't deserve this at all. I am not fit. Yimika needs a woman who loves God. Someone who will lead others to Christ and give him children after His own heart. A virgin, God...Yimika wants a virgin!" I cry out again and I feel my tears stick to my body making me shiver a little. 
 
"The BLOOD OF JESUS has cleansed you and you are clean and as white as snow. Whosoever the Son of Man has set free is free indeed. He is able to do exceedingly, abundantly more than you can ever think of or imagine" 
 
"Oh my God!" I say as I cry out again. This is too much for me. GodGod'ss love for me is immeasurable and unfailing. He is not a God that can lie. He was, He is and He is to come. He loved me first before I ever thought of loving Him at all. While I was a sinner, He sent His son to die for me. I weep for a long time before God speaks again. 
 
"Go to Him, beloved. For whatever God has joined together let no man put asunder" 
 
************************************************************************************************** 
 
FOLA 
 
I am already preparing to go home when my secretary notifies me that someone else wants to see me. Who is it again? I moan as I sink back into my chair exhausted. The door opens and I look up to see Ire; her eyes bloodshot like she has been crying. I stand up alerted, all tiredness flying out of the window. 
 
"F'irefunmi, what's the matter?" 
"I am so sorry...I am so sorry," she says sobbing before coming to hug me. 
"What exactly is the matter?" I ask again. 
She calms down before speaking... 
"The other day at the beach, you were not playing right?" she asks and I feel my heart beat faster than normal. I manage to shake my head. 
"Oh my God....," she says before she bursts into tears. 
"For how long have you known?" she asks staring at me. 
"Well, the major reason why I went on that trip was because of this," I explain to her and go on to explain the dream to her. 
 
"I just knew today. Yimika, temi nikan (my one and only), I am so sorry. Forgive me please. I just didn't understand. Seeing that smile on your face, I thought you were mocking me," she explains. 
"I am so sorry also. I shouldn't have been smiling. But I smile when I am nervous. It's a habit." 
 
She nods before a light comes into her eyes. "Did you say you don't know the meaning of MPT?" 
"Yes?" I reply not sure of why she's asking. 
"Well, I do. It means My Precious Treasure," she says, eyes glittering. 
"Oh! my God. How did you know?" I ask in awe. I love the name already. 
"God told me," she said smiling; the one that covers her whole face. 
 
"Okay, I guess I did it the wrong way the first time. Let me try again," I say, pulling a box out of my side pocket before kneeling on one knee. F'ire laughs softly, tears glistering in her eyes. 
 
"Oluwaf'irefunmi, God brought us together for a purpose. And part of His purpose, He has begun to unveil. He made the best decision when He decided to bring us together. He knew you are the right one and He allowed all that happened to happen so we can bring glory and praise to His name. OluwaF'irefunmi, will you let God use you continue to fufill His purpose and will you give me the honour of becoming a husband and a father by becoming my wife? Will you mind at all if you became My Precious Treasure?" 
 
"Oh! my God...Yes, OluwaF'olayimika! Yes, I will!! I will marry you and be your wife and the mother to your children. I will allow God to continue to use me to fufill His purpose..." 
 
A tear falls from my eyes as I put the ring on her finger. She uses her other hand to wipe them away. I hug her and hold her close breathing in her hair. She is really My Precious Treasure and no matter what, I will love her like Christ loves the church. 
.

UNFAILING LOVE 9

"Many are the plans in a man's heart but it is God's purpose that prevails" (Proverbs 19:21) I didn't go to chur...

UNFAILING LOVE 8

Elizabeth

Link Author

Title: UNFAILING LOVE 8
Author: Elizabeth
Rating 5 of 5 Des:

"Place me like a seal over your heart like a seal on your arm: for love is as strong as death... It burbs like blazing fire, like a...

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"Place me like a seal over your heart like a seal on your arm: for love is as strong as death... It burbs like blazing fire, like a mighty flame." (Song of songs 8:6) 
 
It's been five days since Yimika left for Abuja. It was his secretary that informed me. I wonder what he went to do there that was so urgent he couldn't wait to tell me. 
 
I hum as I prepare food. I just feel led to cook and to check his house today. I don't know why. Maybe I will find someone who is hungr. I reason as I put the piping hot jollof rice into a warmer. I check the chicken and ensure it has fried enough before putting it in another bowl. I also fry plantains before I switch the gas off and decide to freshen up before stepping out. I wear a t-shirt on a black skirt. 
 
I get to his house wondering what next to do. I hoot the car horn and the gate opens. I knock at his door and when I didn't get any answer, I enter. I have never been to his house before but I followed the descriptions on the bulletin. His house and cell numbers are at the back of the bulletin. I look around appreciating how neat and orderly things are. 
 
I follow the sounds of plates hitting each other and it leads to the kitchen. Yimika stands at the sink looking frustrated. He looks good in the top and trousers he's wearing though his hair is another story. 
 
He runs his hands through his hair and bows his head probably praying. He looks up again and I clear my throat before entering. He jumps at the sudden movement and he puts his hands on his chest obviously scared. 
 
"You scared me," he says narrowing his eyes to me. 
"Hello" I say, smiling as I enter further into the kitchen. "How was your trip?" I  place the black nylon I brought onto the worktop. He stares at me for a while before replying. 
 
"My trip was good...thank God," he says. His eyes shifts to the nylon and back to me. 
"What's that?" He asks looking at it suspiciously. 
I smile before saying "Food" 
"Oh my God!" He screams before coming to give me a surprise hug. I hug him back though I feel a little bit awkward.. 
 
"I'm sorry. It's just that I am so excited. I was actually looking for what to eat and I was getting angry at myself for not preparing anything to keep before I travelled. You are a life saver," he tells me as he carries the food to the table and opens it, dishing out two plates for the two of us. We start eating as we talk about all that has happened since he travelled... 
 
************************************************************************************************** 
 
A MONTH LATER. 
 
"Where are you taking me to?" I ask as Yimika pulls me forward. We decided to spend one Saturday at the Bar beach and presently, he's taking me to an unknown destination. Soon, he comes to a stop and then looks at me waiting for something. 
 
Later, he just gets down on one of his knees and I can swear that I am imagining things though as a Christian it's not good to swear. In movies, the next thing the guy usually says is "will you marry me?" Oh my God, if this is what is happening right now I'm gonna faint. He brings out a box and I can assure you that all this is true till he opens the box and I see the smile on his face. 
 
"Will you marry me?" He asks. I see the ring in the box. It's indeed beautiful. But that smile seemed to be mocking me. Tears stung in my eyes and I see his smile grow. He was enjoying the way he humiliated me. Before I know it, I land a slap on his face. He looks surprised and I am also surprised at myself too at the level of anger I still possess. 
 
"All I asked from you is that you be my friend. I don't need anybody to mock me or make jest of me and if you think because you know everything about me, you can humiliate me, then sorry for you. You have missed it greatly. I hate you and I hate me for thinking that maybe this was true anyway. Who would even want to marry a girl who isn't complete? Who would want to marry a girl like me. Paul was right after all." I say before storming off. Yimika tries to call me, standing and running after me. He catches up with me and he tries to touch me. I glare at him. 
 
"Don't try to touch me," I say. I can see hurt flicker on his face but he doesn't say anything. I pick my bag from where it lay and I walk away. 
 
"God, why would You have allowed him to do that to me?  I am still vulnerable; still trying to learn more about You. Why did he have to come up with this?  Why?"  I ask as I walk to my car. 
 
"Touch not my anointed and do my prophet no harm" 
 
"Is that all You will say?  Great, my life totally sucks." I think bitterly before driving away.

UNFAILING LOVE 8

"Place me like a seal over your heart like a seal on your arm: for love is as strong as death... It burbs like blazing fire, like a...

UNFAILING LOVE 7

Elizabeth

Link Author

Title: UNFAILING LOVE 7
Author: Elizabeth
Rating 5 of 5 Des:

"This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, he hears us" (1 John 5:14) ...

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"This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, he hears us" (1 John 5:14) 
 
"The voice spoke to him a second time, 'Do not call anything impure that God has made clean" (Acts 10:15) 
 
"Hey, where are you going? What are you doing? Do not go to that area. Hey! You will fall if you get to the end of that road. Sister, please stop going!!". 
 
My attempt to save the sister is almost in vain as I see that she has reached the end of the cliff and she is about falling but I feel a mighty hand push me and I grab her as she's about to fall into the canyon. 
 
"Don't you know that you almost killed yourself?" "Do you want to die now?" I ask turning the lady to look at me. Alas, F'irefunmi's eyes stare at me. She looks worn out and so tired, tears sticking down her face. 
 
"Let me go, I want to die, i cant take it anymore," she says weakly as she tries to fight off. 
"No, you wouldn't die now. You shall live to declare the glory and praise of God in the land of the living." I reply. "Isn't it too late? My clothes are stained with blood and I am dirty. I am not worthy enough to stand before you," she says amidst tears. 
 
"MPT, please don't cry. Nothing is impossible for God. He would turn your ashes into beauty. He will make you into something beautiful. He isn't done with you yet. His plans are to give you a bright future." I reply, trying my best to calm her down. She does so at last, clinging to my cloth. 
 
"Do you think God would really turn me into something beautiful? She asks holding to my cloth. "Yes i strongly believe." I reply. "Okay then. Amos 3:3" is the last thing I hear before I fall into complete darkness. 
 
Darkness. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
"MPT, please wait for me. Let me just finish up with Iremide (my goodness has come). He is not cooperating. I have been trying to get to feed Him but he wouldn't bulge." I look to see F'irefunmi complaining. 
 
"Okay, bring the spoon let me feed him, you go and finish dressing up," I reply and as she gets up, I notice we are putting on similar attires. 
 
She arrives a while later looking beautiful in her flowing gown. "Are we set to go now?" She asks smiling at me. "Yeap, I reply lifting the already sleeping boy to my shoulders." She tries to collect him but I don't agree. She later gives up and we walk out together gisting. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
I open my first eye. Then my second eye. I sit up as I try to remember the dream. And then it comes back to me. Every detail. MPT?  Iremide?  F'irefunmi?  I ask myself and begin to calculate what the dream might mean. Surely, God was speaking to me. An idea pops in my head and I jump up looking for my bible. I begin to speak in tongues and pray, binding and casting out every lustful spirit and every desire coming from the devil. Of a truth, sister F'irefunmi was beautiful but I wouldn't let the devil play tricks on me. The verse from the dream comes to me and I open it. 
 
"Can two walk together except they agree?" 
 
I read the scriptures again trying to find the meaning. Then i begin to pray again. Asking God to please tell me what exactly is going on. After one hour, I sleep off again. 
 
By morning, I wake up; the feeling that I really need to seek God still on my mind. I call my secretary in church to inform him that I will not be around for the rest of the week. I need a personal retreat, I tell myself as I pack my bags and board the next available flight to Abuja. 
 
I check into the hotel I am used to and request for the key to my special room - the one I go for whenever I am in Abuja. I sleep a little before going on my knees in God's presence. The earlier I settle this, the better it is for me. 
 
Since that particular dream, I've found myself thinking of her constantly. The things I like about her, how her eyes sparkle when she smiles and all her hobbies...my mind keeps doing stuffs on its own and I scream out of frustrated. 
 
"Dear God, I cant do this. I feel it's my mind playing tricks on me. You cant possibly say that she's the one right?" I ask. 
 
"My grace is sufficient for you" 
 
"Throughout my life, I have always desired to honour and serve you. And I have always wanted a virgin, dear God.   I always wanted a complete lady. Not one who has given a piece of herself to another man. Someone who...Oh my God...someone who loves you with all her heart." 
 
"You know F'irefunmi loves me with all her heart. And don't you dare call what I have called clean unclean. The Holy Spirit will still be present to teach you all things. I have cleaned and cleansed her heart. She is one of those few people who is ready to be moulded into what I want her to be. Someone who is driven with pure passion and is determined to teach other girls out there that sex before marriage doesn't pay anyone. It only brings heart break and disappointments. I see a prayer warrior in her and I am ready to pour out My Spirit upon her. She will not only intercede for you but for people around the world; even those she doesn't even know by name. She will be used to bring healing to people's hearts through prayers. A vessel I am ready to use. Many are called but a few are chosen". 
 
I feel weak to my knees and I have to sit down. I am speechless and all I can do is weep. 
"Dear God, I can't do this on my own" 
 
"It's not by power nor by might, but by the Spirit of the living God." 
 
"I can't do this Lord. You are asking too much from me. What if she doesn't want me? What if she says 'no'?" 
 
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Lean not on your understanding." 
 
"How will I say all I need to say Lord?" 
 
"The counsellor, the Holy Spirit whom I will send in My name will teach you ALL things". 
 
"Dear Lord, Your will not mine be done. Forgive me dear God for sometimes I doubt you. It's just that there are times when I feel You are asking too much from me". 
 
"My grace is sufficient for you."

UNFAILING LOVE 7

"This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, he hears us" (1 John 5:14) ...

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