Dancing Got Me Sprung

I remember growing up as a boy, I always had a heart for God but never had a relationship with Him. Sometimes when I went to visit my grandmother, as she gathered with her friends at night since she was a widow and they all came to keep her company, I would tie a scarf on my head and ask everyone to gather together for us to pray. (I even thought tying a scarf as a male figure was normal. Ignorant me…lol). My family were church-goers and so I was brought up in that way but I still felt a void in my soul which yearned for more; its rightful occupant. AW Tozer in his book “Pursuit of God’ mentioned that when God made man, there was a rightful place in the heart of man where only God and God alone could occupy but often times men try to occupy them with ephemeral things such as money, cars, houses etc and yet the void still remains.

So I went on living my life doing everything a teenager would do - both the good and the not so good…lol (No details pls). But my turnaround started when I was forcefully made to attend a Christian University where attending godly events such as fellowships, week of spiritual emphasis etc was somewhat compulsory. (Isn’t if funny how God can deny us our present desire with the aim of ensuring that we are aligned to His will?) At the time, I had all my focus channelled towards moving to the United States for further academic pursuit but God had better plans for this His boy. So while I was in Uni and attended these events out of compulsion, I was oblivious to the fact that I was being exposed to the teachings of Christ in ways which I never knew, not even realising that seeds of salvation were being sown in my heart.

Fast forward my life to Dec 2009, my Aunty invited me to her Church stating that the praise and worship session was amazing as she knew that I enjoyed this since I loved dancing even if I wasn’t accustomed to such in my family church where I was raised. So I gladly attended and boy did I enjoy it, I boogied beyond imaginations…lol and for the first time it felt like home. As the sermon came to a close, an altar call was made and I knew in my heart that this was "it" and there was no going back bearing in mind that I had responded to approximately about 6 altar calls in various places I attended prior to this time. After the prayers, the counselling team took us to a room for follow up and this amazing woman whom I would never forget “Mrs Segun Adegbeye” took me to a corner and spoke to me, telling me of how much I was loved by God, His willingness to forgive my sins and how I did not have to keep coming out each time an altar call was made thinking that my sins would only be forgiven at altar calls, but that the moment I came out the first time and declared Jesus Christ as my Lord and personal Saviour, my sins were forgiven and all I needed was to confess to Him my sins and genuinely repent of them whenever I erred.

When I went back to visit the Church last year (2013) to tell her how I was doing and how I had joined the workforce in serving God at the church where I was, I was informed that the lovely Mrs Segun had passed on. However, I was happy such an angel added to my foundation as a Christian.

After this experience, I decided to join my Aunty’s church and this decision was faced with great opposition and mockery from family and friends, especially family, which I sometimes still face till this day but I was so resolute in my decision. I remember when I used to send 'Open Heavens' daily devotionals to everyone on my contact list via email and my Dad happened to be one of them, he called me one day and expressed his distaste for my decision which was also echoed by my mum, but at that time, there was no going back.

In this journey, there have been ups and downs. Times when I have let God down and times when I felt that I was on His “A” list…lol. But through it all, I am glad the rightful person has occupied His place in my heart and what He will do through me in the near future is sure to be a wonder to my generation.

I write this to encourage you who may be sitting on the fence as to whether or not to will your life to Jesus Christ and also to you who may be thinking “Have I made the right choice?" No other choice can satisfy than a choice to live for the “One” who laid it ALL for His friends. You see, one of my greatest joys in life is when I see those who I thought while growing up were the “Celebrity boys and girls” whose way of life I wanted to earnestly emulate in the quest for being celebrated by my peers, publicly declare their love for Jesus Christ and their decision to forsake their former ways (of which I saw one on Facebook yesterday and I was gladdened). It only confirms to me that I made the right choice in choosing Jesus Christ and perhaps, had I opted to live like the 'Celebrity boys and girls' back in the day, I may never have had the chance to return to Jesus Christ before taking my last breath, which I know is a long while from now because my PURPOSE on earth MUST be fulfilled.

Jesus Rocks!!!! and so will you when you live your life for Him.

God bless you.

Jeffrey Nsofor

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Were you blessed by Jeffrey's personal experience? Do you also have, or feel a void deep inside and you yearn for more? Would you like to also have this wonderful encounter and relationship too? Just say this simple prayer with me - 

'Jesus, thank You for dying for my sins on the cross. I appreciate and acknowledge your sacrifice. I want to invite you into my life today, come and fill this void Jesus, I believe in my heart that You are Lord and I want You to be my Lord. Please forgive me for my sins and make me brand new today in Jesus name. Thank You for a new start Lord, I give You praise. Amen'

Wow! Congratulations, your life just became amazing! Welcome to a new life, a new relationship :-) xxxx

Ps If you prayed that prayer or want to know a bit more about all that has been said above, please send me an email at oneplustheone@gmail.com. I would love to hear from you!

Also, if you would like to share your own experience too, please send me an email.

Have a wonderful weekend people! Lots of loveeee xxxxx

Dear Daddy (2) - Ireti Adebayo Oladapo

‎Sitting on the porch, You and I - that's what friends do.
... until life happened...


But one friend stayed true
One friend remained glued
One friend continued, faithful
One friend looked on and loved in-spite.


That's what true friends do - love in-spite - despite. Deeper. Still.


How resplendent to have you, Dear Daddy, as my friend.


May Your love flow through me
May I embrace You like You embrace me.
Humans are fickle, but You my eternal friend have never left, never forsaken, never judged. Oh, and You never gossip.


Your blood, washes away my diseases, my inadequacies, infirmities and blemishes.

Down on my knees by the porch, You bare me up, hold me tight, light feathery touches that kisses all the tears, fears, doubts. You say "FEAR NOT, I REMAIN WITH YOU." You know, Dear Daddy, only sometimes, I don't.


My heart says yes. Yes to your friendship, your softness, your touch. Yes Daddy, Daddy, Yes. Now and always, Yes. I do not want to fear, ever again.


Thank you, Daddy.


If there wasn't me and my likes, You wouldn't have come. You are here for a sinner like me, a lover like me. How noble is that? A more faithful friend, none can find.


Thanks for reminding me that there's
... No better lover than you,
Not one friend more faithful,
None greater,
No touch as soothing and feathery,
Not a Father who cares more ...


When tired, arms of grace lift me.
When hopes suggest they fade, I stare into the eyes of love.
Even when tears flow - Your words a safe stead - my assurance.
I may not understand and erm... I may erm... You know, I sometimes may doubt those words that harbour me. At such times, Daddy, help me remember our porch experiences, my sole assurance.

'Hope differed makes the heart sick' Please, Daddy please, Jehovah el'myDaddy, bind my heart, glue with love and do not seem far from me.


So like a home to a sparrow, I take our porch with me on my life's journey. My secret place, sacred. Domain of truth, of warmth, of wholeness. That niche where I find grace, redemption, and my scars mean no shame. Our shared place. My friend and I. Dear Daddy.

***************************

You can read the first part of Ireti's Dear Daddy HERE

Conversations with One - Men and Communication!

I read this truly brilliant post about 'Men and their Feelings' by Cornelius Lindsey and I found it really interesting and informative.

http://thebookofcornelius.blogspot.com/2014/07/men-and-their-feelings.html

It's amazing how so differently wired men and women are, and it's really important to be able to understand this and work with this knowledge to avoid a lot of 'heart-aches' lol.. 

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Usually when I read enlightening articles like this, I send it by email to a group of my friends (male and female). Now, this one sparked a very interesting email conversation that I share below...

Mr Biishop

Finally, women can begin to read about guys and truly understand how guys work!!!!

Eh! Surely theris God O!!!!

Thanksgiving tinz on Sunday

One

Lol, serious thanksgiving tinz on Sunday.. Getting my praise on.. Infact including testimony too!

I have gleaned the information, and God will help me to apply.. But mehn, sometimes I wonder why men and women are so different.. If we thought the same way, it would make life so much easier ... And possibly very boring too! lol

God definitely knows what He was (and is) doing!

Ms Hope

In recent times, I have really come to know, understand, respect and then appreciate these variant wiring.

Baba God you do well oooo. Lol.

One

We need a post as well describing the importance of men understanding the need for them to compromise once in a while and just talk!

Mr Biishop

I think all women should read this post and have as devotion sha, that way there will be more world peace. #JustSaying.

Guys should also learn about women and all, but you girls are complicated sha.

Ms Hope

But what's so complicated in 'open your mouth, heart all and talk?' Lol. ‎Talking is good, talking is therapeutic, talking is beautiful, blissful, *rme* (rolling my eyes). I don't know why they don't want to talk. 

Btw (By the way), I've learnt to develop an interest in sports, politics, science and all those other very dry sturvs. Lol.

This is what they teach them in 'Men School' lol

Mr Biishop

Well if men talked as much as women did... Hmmmmm
I can't imagine it, even some guys who are gifted with the art of talking frustrate women.
Guys are very chatty at the early stages and then...

"Enough already!" Source

One

I think it would be quite a 'disaster' if men talked as much as women!  (who will do the listening?!) lol. BUT it's still good for them to express themselves to their partners. Love is a risk, which includes being vulnerable! Therefore, if you have made that choice to love then you have to take the responsibility that comes with it too - the good, bad and ugly (including talking lol).

Erhmm, by the way, is that not double standards (being chatty at the earlier stages).. Later they will say women pretend during courtship!

Ms Hope

Thank you.

Then what happens?

Mr Biishop

.. Then I think the guy has gathered whether or not to allow some intimate parts to be shared, in my own opinion, I say guys are like onions, layered and you don’t rush to peel otherwise two things happen - either you cry (eyes get watery) or you mess up a layer or other aspects of the layers yet exposed, a true revelation of a guy's mind and girls is in the book 'Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus'. A must read for both guys and girls.

One

Hmm.. That's very deep - I like the onion analogy.. But gosh, that's some longgggg sturves.. I think the key is patience/long-suffering - Not in the time I think it should happen but when he is ready to open up (Lord please make it quick!! lol).

I have heard a lot about that book and I hear it's a worthwhile read, just like 'The 5 Love Languages'.

Ms Hope

Yes, the best way for a woman to deal with it is to be at peace with the situation, don't pressurize, let your actions and inactions show him his secrets are safe with you and ultimately place the situation in prayer.

*End of Conversation*

So what's your take on it? Should men be more expressive? How do you work with a chatty or non-chatty partner?

Waiting on a Dream

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He could feel the biting cold through his skin as he tried to use the small scrap of cloth to cover some parts of his body. The cell stank and the lunch he had just endured threatened to pour out from his gut. No matter how long he ate the food, he could never get used to how terrible it was. At least he had a better portion than the rest of his mates, he thought as he chuckled to himself, thanking God for small mercies that make a big difference. Being the leader even in this forlorn place had its advantages, he smiled.

He sighed "But Abba, it is getting more difficult to smile or keep my head up. How long would it take? How long Elohim? I tell the other boys the story of the God of my youth and they laugh with mirth at how ridiculous I sound. I tell them the stories that my beloved Papa regaled us with night after night - true stories, some of which he saw himself and some which even happened to him! And sometimes I do think that they believe I may have lost it!" 

He pushed the cloth away from his skin as he rose to walk the small length of his 'home' soliloquising "How do I explain angelic visitations, stairways to heaven, Papa wrestling with you?! It all sounds so mad, completely FOOLISH!! Am I running mad? Is it folly to still hold on to the dreams of years gone past? Did I not see it? Was it not you? Why did I open my big mouth! Oh why Abba, why have all these terrible things happened to me?! I have tried.. tried so hard to love you - the unseen God. I have tried, tried so much to obey you like Papa admonished us day and night. I have striven, striven to honour you even when I had so many ways out... So many easier options which I rejected because I would rather honour you." As he thought aloud, he couldn't help the tears that escaped his lashes as his voice broke with every word.

"I have been forgotten Lord, who remembers me? Who knows my name? Time and time again I have been forgotten. I have paid the price for crimes unknown. My heart has been broken in two by family and foes. Disappointments, I have to bear over and over again. Years and years have gone past and I ask again, would this ever change Lord? Would the dreams ever come through? Will you let me die a prisoner in a foreign land".

"JOSEPH! Come". The Chief Security Officer calls out loudly to him, and then turns to speak to the men hovering around the cell - "Guards take him, change him, the King wants him!"

*************************************************

During the season of waiting, one comes to almost fully appreciate the story of Joseph. A man who was given a dream years and years before, yet everything pointed contrary to it.

Can you imagine for a minute how he must have felt waiting all those years?! Waiting for a dream that started from teenage-hood and didn't get fulfilled until adulthood; with a lot of disappointments, betrayals, impossible situations and suffering in-between.

But he had a dream.. And only he would have been able to deprive himself of it; not his brothers, not his parents, not Potiphar or his wife, not the Baker or the Cupbearer.

The season of waiting for the fulfilment of a dream or a promise can be one of the most difficult periods in our lives. You may be waiting for God to bring you that dream spouse, that dream child, that dream job, that dream opportunity, that dream change..  You may have cried your fair share of tears, done your bit in fasting and praying, obeying God through it all yet it seems like nothing is happening right now.

You may be just ready to give up.

I want to encourage you today to please hold on to your dream, hold on to your promise.. Just as God came through for Joseph, He will come through for you.

It is difficult now, it looks bleak now BUT God never leaves you, He will never leave you nor forsake you (Deut 31:6). He is right there with you urging you to hold on, to keep going because He is not a man that should lie, neither the son of man that should repent of His word (Num 23:19). That dream of yours will come to pass, that promise will be fulfilled. Please don't give up yet. No matter how bad it is right now, your joy will come in the morning and when it does you won't stop dancing.

"... All the days of my appointed time, I will wait till my change comes" - Job 14:14b

"When the Lord brought back the captivity of Zion (insert your name here), we were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing, then they said among the nations, "the Lord has done great things for them". The Lord has done great things for us and we are glad." - Psalm 126:1-3

*************************************************

You can read the story of Joseph yourself in Genesis 37 - 46

New here? You're most welcome! 

Please follow on Twitter @1plustheone, on Facebook: www.facebook.com/1plustheone and if you want to, please send me an email too - oneplustheone@gmail.com - It's always lovely to hear from you :-) xx

Where are Your Manners?!

How was your weekend?! Mine was wonderful! It always is after the Holy Ghost Service at the Redemption camp on the first Friday of the month - Theme for the night was 'The Blessed of the Lord'.. I feel blessed :-) May this be an exceptionally blessed month for you too in Jesus name.

So, I learnt something important early Saturday morning. 

I was sitting with my beautiful Aunts, Uncles and much younger cousins after the Service, quite tired and ready to snooze while watching my cousin play a racing game on his Dad's tablet. As he played, another young boy who was walking past was so drawn to it that he lost himself and just stood over my cousin watching the game. My Aunt and I said to each other "Wow, games are so addictive, look at the boy, he hasn't even realised that he is peering over a stranger's shoulders and it almost seems like he is about to fall into it". We went on to imagine the level of punishment and abara (famous back-slap invented by Nigerian mothers in 1843, known to cure most forms of deviant behaviour with alarming speed) we would have had the 'pleasure' of, if it had been us. 

Oi! Where are your manners mate?

Like we thought to ourselves, no manners! I mean, how could you just wander off, happen to see another boy in the midst of people and just stand over his shoulders, absolutely engrossed in the game that he was playing! (You know how you get when someone is reading your newspaper over your shoulders without being invited lol). Good manners say that you control yourself and just keep walking right?

Well, not too long afterwards, my Aunt whispers to me that "The woman sitting across us is his mum and can you believe that she has 5 young boys (2 sets of twins) and I happened to just make small talk with her about how she copes with all of them, when she starts to tell me with tears in her eyes that she does it alone, as their father was recently killed in Borno state by the terrorist group - Boko Haram".

I must have felt a douse of cold water on my face! I couldn't believe it! I looked again at the young boy peering over my cousin's shoulder and what I now saw was very different. I saw a boy who possibly needed to make new friends and probably escape from the hardness of life. My heart reached out to him as I couldn't imagine what life had dealt this young boy and his siblings. A life without a father.. A myriad of thoughts crossed my mind, "How does he feel?" "What did that sad loss mean to him?".. He was old enough to know what the loss of his father meant, but too young to have to deal with it.

I couldn't care less at that moment if he wanted to grab the game from my cousin's hands! It wouldn't have really mattered then. All I could see was a boy who needed all the love and understanding he could get. Far gone was my disapproving look and thoughts.

I asked God for mercy for being so hasty in judging his lack of good manners! And it dawned on me how quickly we sometimes stick our noses up at people for the way they are now or they behave, yet we do not understand the story behind that individual.

Judged until proven innocent

We want them to do 'the right thing' behave 'the right way', yet at that time, all they need is just to be.

It was a huge lesson for me - Always give people the benefit of your doubt. Be charitable always to others, you never know just what life has thrown at them or the enormity of what they have had to deal with. You never know what may be responsible for their actions - it doesn't excuse it all the time but it means that you empathise and just give them a break.

I will never forget a quote I read not too long ago - That individual who seems most difficult to love is probably most in need of love.

May God help us to be charitable in our thoughts and actions and to show love to all, at all times.

Have a wonderful and blessed week xx

Love - THE Risk

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Love is a risk..

When you read that statement, what comes to mind?

I heard this yesterday and I had to take a moment to really consider the import of that statement.

Is love a risk?

When you choose to love, you choose to be vulnerable with the other person. Not in a negative way, but the truth is that when you release yourself to love, you expose yourself to being hurt, to being more VERY tolerant and accommodating, to giving a very significant part of yourself to someone else without really knowing what they would do with it.

If love is a risk, then does it mean that in taking that 'risk', it's important to be wise about it? You see, when you choose to love someone, there's some measure of release of power that you give to that person over your emotions, your thoughts, your desires and so much more.

Because usually, it's the one that you love the most that has the power to hurt you the most. It could be child to a parent, spouse to each other, friends or relatives. It could even be an object!

I guess that's one of the reasons why some people would rather not love... hold back a little, not be vulnerable, not relinquish that great deal of power to someone else.

I dare say that unfortunately, that's a very poor choice..

Source                        

Yes, love is a risk, yes it makes you quite vulnerable, yes, it could open you to hurt sometimes but love is such a worth-while risk!

Imagine a world without butterflies in your stomach? (lol) Imagine a world without warm companionship? Imagine a world without sacrifice? Imagine a world without hearing the words 'I Love You' and knowing that those words come from a deep place? Imagine a world without the pride you feel when you hear them say 'Mummy/Daddy' for the first time or when they come to you with a problem that only you could make better?

*deep sigh*

Yes, love is a huge risk - It takes a lot of courage and trust to truly love but it's a risk definitely worth taking!

So go on, take that risk :-D

Have a love-filled evening people :-) xx

Source

What's your take on it?

Love Cakes, Learn Cakes, Make Dough!

Hiya everyone!!

Hope your weekend was good? Mine was greattttt! Many things to be grateful for and Abba Father is just absolutely trust-worthy and wonderful. If your weekend wasn't so great, I pray that you will end the month of June in grand-style and that your July would be full of pleasant surprises in Jesus name!

So, raise your hands if you love cake as much as I do!!! You see, if you want to make my day, just get me those soft scrumptious cakes with loads of soft icing (oh, I see the calories.. calories.. calories - Kill-joys!!)... But you can't steal this joy, calories aside, I.Love.Cake.. 

In my younger days when folly was a more constant companion, I used to dream of having a fridge/freezer in my house exclusively for cakes and ice-cream! I thought that would be the dreammm! Alas, ice-cream kinda fell out of favour, but cake hung on tightly!..

My dream wedding cake? Tiers of cakes with a variety of types!! (Options of Red velvet, Carrot cake, Marble cake, Soft White Chocolate, Soft Brown Chocolate, Mixtures *sigh* #DreamofLife hahaha)... And no, guests are not sharing, we will make alternative arrangements for them + None of that 'family members distribution of cake things' like they do sometimes, there will also be alternative arrangements made too :-D

                                            

So, why all this talk about cake? Would you believe if I told you that as far as my love for cake goes, I have never actually indulged in the pleasure of learning how to bake one?! I have had several opportunities over the years that I haven't grabbed with both hands!! Imagine home-baked, fresh-from-the-oven delights of yumminess at will!!

Also, I would really like the pleasure of teaching my little munchkins how to bake too! (I've seen pictures! + buying little aprons with chef hats for them is just too attractive lol).

If your love for cake is not as great as mine, you may want to create some serious money-making avenue from it (those Bakers aren't 'smiling' with their prices!)...  You could learn from scratch or develop your skills in cake-making and cake-decoration..

Interested? Then the classes below will be perfect for you!!

!!! Cake Training Class !!!

Date: July 14th - 25th

Venue: Shop 3 Howson Wright Estate, Oregun, Ikeja (Lagos, Nigeria)

Time 11am- 3pm

Price: N50,000

Course Content: Sugar-craft, 3-tier Ruffled Wedding Cake, Iced and Piped Sugar-cookies, Cookies, Ballerina shoe (Cake-art), Birdcage Cake, Stenciled and Piped Cupcakes. 

Course Facilitator - Tobi Ugbene, Head Baker - Teespiration, Nottingham.

To register (quick!), please contact -   

Email: tobi@teespiration.com">tobi@teespiration.com
http://www.facebook.com/teespiration">www.facebook.com/teespiration
Call: Yewande -  +2348062124483 or Grace 08179600442

Confirmation of place would be on a first-come basis!

Go on, register quick!!!

PS, I shall be very happy to be used for all cake-tasting sessions/activities *sigh*, things we do for love ey? :-D xxxx

Yum!!

                       

Worship Got Me

I’ve always loved to sing, right from a young age. I remember attending a regular evening Christian event when I was about 7 or 8 years and I would plead with my Aunties to teach me a song every evening to be able to sing before a gathering of hundreds of people!

Well, fast forward to University days, I was still that girl who loved to sing, tried to live a good life, keep away from bad friends/company, went to morning masses very religiously (well it’s the upbringing eh!). I joined the choir, loved it for a bit but I soon got bored with it. I also joined the youth choir at home and soon again I was out.

Then I went for my National Youth Service (a compulsory 1year service to my country after University) in 2007 and one thing led to another, I was at this evening fellowship and there on the altar was this 'tiny' young lady, seemingly insignificant until she opened her mouth to sing…..I was dumb-founded for the first 5 minutes, I couldn't speak but just stare.

It wasn’t just the fact that she had the most beautiful voice I had heard, it was the humility and brokenness with which she worshipped. I sat there thinking, what could make a person sing from her soul? I ran to her after the worship and said "Please teach me how to sing…." Lol!

I soon learnt that most of the young people in that fellowship could sing… Wow! I wanted so bad to be part of them. Then again, I met another young man. He may never remember this day nor know how much he has impacted my life but I heard him worship God in his room. 

He was weeping like someone died and singing and when I asked him later why he was crying, he told me, "God overwhelms me so much I can’t help but cry." That day I told God I wanted to know Him so desperately... I needed to talk to him.

I knew I had stood up a ‘few’ times when they made an altar call for people who wanted to give their lives to Christ to raise their hands or come forward, but I knew then that I didn’t have Jesus yet.

Fast-forward again, 2009, I’m back home and my parents already learnt that I had changed church, but didn’t know how serious until I got back and was sneaking to Pentecostal churches (I was trying to find a bible believing church that I could connect with).

... But oh oh! Not good! First my Dad says it will NEVER HAPPEN in his house!

We argued, we quarreled, we bore malice, we hated each other…and oh….so many nights of tears! In fact my dad couldn't wait to quickly shove me to the UK to obtain my Masters degree as he had earlier promised so that I won’t be influenced any further. 

I received counsels here and there and it almost seemed like I was a possessed person in need of deliverance. However, I couldn't shake the feeling of wanting more, knowing more about this God and being led by Him.

... Then I found a bible believing church with ‘The Amazing Choir’ and I was in, totally sold!

Long story short, one day, we had a worship program and an altar call was made for those who wanted to accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour. On that fateful February evening, the Holy Spirit was nudging me hard to get on my feet - it was my day! I knew it because I heard Him call out to me loud and clear. The overwhelming feeling was unexplainable and for the first time, I knew I was home!

Soon after, we started a series on ‘Spiritual Authority’ and there I began to learn how to love ‘the Jesus way’. I bore the pain of coldness at home, constant family meetings to discuss my ‘disobedience’, and many turned down requests because I wanted to go to ‘that church’. Whereas for me, it was finding Jesus and doing the one thing that gave me peace – worship!

Well I had to meet my family half way. Go to my family church in the morning and my new-found church straight after. 

I remember one of the many experiences I had in the earlier days, it was the day of my training exam to join the volunteer workforce of my church, I was excited because I had attended all classes and read for it. That afternoon my dad said we were going to a party and that’s final. I felt so disappointed and very sad. I called my Pastor to tell him but his response was a simple – "What are you going to do?" 

I was like what??? Is that all he had to say? Why I called?!! 

Well, I made the decision to honour my father and not go for the test. I got to church later that day where I met my Pastor and he said – you would have failed the test if you disobeyed your father and came….

I'm grateful to God that now I can look back with immense gratitude to Him. It has been a life-changing relationship with Him that I possibly couldn't fully recount, and it only gets better.

I thank God that my experience has become my story, and now, worshipping God is what I live for.

Isioma Ikediashi

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Were you blessed by Isioma's personal experience? Would you like to also experience this wonderful encounter and relationship too? Just say this simple prayer with me - 'Jesus, thank You for dying for my sins on the cross. I appreciate and acknowledge your sacrifice. I want to invite you into my life today Lord. I believe in my heart that You are Lord and I want You to be my Lord. Please forgive me for my sins and make me brand new today in Jesus name. Thank You for a new start, I give You praise. Amen'

Wow! Congratulations, your life just became amazing! Welcome to a new life, a new relationship :-) xxxx

Ps If you prayed that prayer or want to know a bit more about all that has been said above, please send me an email at oneplustheone@gmail.com. I would love to hear from you!

Also, if you would like to share your own experience too, please send me an email.

Have a wonderful weekend people! Lots of loveeee xxxxx

Dear Daddy

My Dearest Daddy,

Wonder-working Power! How I worship and adore You today!

Thank You so much for the past week and for the past month. Thank You Daddy for the month of June.

Thank You because it's not over so I know that there are still some 'last cards' to be revealed - I'm excited Lord.. Daddy, your little girl is very excited :-D

Thank You for the many testimonies - things that I can remember and some that I may not even remember right now. Thank You for the ones that I hear from others. When I listen to some mind-blowing acts of yours, I can't help but stand more in awe of You. You are simply magnifique Papa!

Thank You for some of the 'surprises'.. I'm not sure I really like this one but thank You anyway because I know that You always have something 'up' and I am learning to trust in Your good judgement (always GOOD judgement). I have to be honest though, this trust business is not as easy as it looks, but I am glad that experience has proven that the end result is worth it again and again. Thank You for being patient with me. For being patient and understanding when I doubt (again!) - I sometimes wonder how You could be so patient and loving through it all! For this, I am forever grateful.

Thank You for reminding me about how special I am to you and unique in myself by the way You have made me.. Particlularly when I doubt myself. Thank You for countering every word of self-doubt with a greater assurance of what Your thoughts of me are. Thank You for making me complete in You and feeling that way too.

It's a privilege to know you Daddy and I am so so very very grateful for it. Thank You for loving me first and loving me altogether.

I love you too and You remain my no 1 now and always.

Forever your little girl who loves you very much,
One xx

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No need to make a fuss, this is IT!

I was reading the book of Luke recently and in the 2nd Chapter, it describes the birth of Jesus. Now what impressed me was the fact that even though it had been revealed to Mary and Joseph that their baby was the promised Messiah, in addition to all the amazing signs that followed, 8 days after He was born, he was circumcised and named. Also, after the days of Mary's purification, according to the Law of Moses, just like every other child, the boy Jesus was presented in the temple.

This was the One whose birth was revealed by an angelic visitation to both parents, whose conception was by the power of the Holy Spirit, whose status as Messiah had already been confirmed in many ways, by different witnesses to His parents, yet His parents deemed it fit for him to go through the 'process' of life at that stage of his life... His whole life in terms of his development stage was just like every normal child.

He didn't wake up an adult, he didn't start prophesying the moment he came out of his mother's womb (that would have been a tad scary! lol), he didn't spend 3 months in the womb and then become born, he didn't grow teeth from the womb nor was he baptised before birth!

                                 Nah ah! Lol  - Pic Source                                             

Now my point in stating the above is that it struck me that this was the Messiah! If anyone had the grace to 'bypass' some 'processes' in life, he had all the justification, and ability to do so! But no, just like you and me, he went through the process.

The BIG lesson for me as I read was that it is important to 'go through the process'...

I related what I read in Luke to relationships (figures, right? lol). You know, sometimes we meet that person that we 'click' with so well... or probably even see a vision, have a dream or have a clear idea that this is clearly the one for and we jump right in, bypassing a few things here and there because we 'know' that this is IT.

The 'process' could include actually getting to know this person well, asking questions, gauging reactions to different things, working out how you work out differences and handle conflicts or celebrations. Discussing dreams and aspirations and checking that they align, and where they do not, prayerfully considering where compromise needs to come in.

The process could also include allowing yourself to be properly 'courted'.. No 'rush rush' something like that (borrowing the words of Princess the Comedian lol). Going out on dates where possible and having very necessary conversations or just generally being with the person, to understand both spoken and unspoken modes of communication.

Some brothers have 'fallen my hand' a number of times when I hear stories of them 'receiving' for a sister (that is when the Lord has revealed to them that you are his wife) and expecting that from then on, 'sharp sharp', things just have to follow quick quick.. No wonder they say that 'brothers' could be the most unromantic of men lol.. How about having the privilege of that wonderful information (because it's a real privilege when God does reveal things to you), and then 'wooing' her properly. Pray brother pray, but in addition to that, buy her flowers, ask her out to dinner, think of creative ways to go the extra mile - after all, faith without works is dead right?

Also, sometimes, when the waiting period has been quite a while, it is great to meet someone wonderful and want to progress things fast, but it is also important to ensure that we are not carried away by the headiness of love and the experience of waiting for a while that we forget to get to know the person properly too. One of my favourite Preachers on relationships Pastor Bimbo Odukoya of blessed memory once used the analogy of a woman who experiences some delay in having children, she said even if she takes in at the age of 45 or so, would God say ok because I see that time has really passed, don't bother about 9months, in 3months have the baby! No, infact you would be very worried if it happened that way.

I guess I just wanted to remind you that yes you may have received the perfect confirmation, waited quite long, wanted it so bad, but don't be afraid of, or forget to go through the process. Don't bypass certain things or excuse certain things because of that.

Race to the altar? lol Pic Source

You deserve that time of courtship, you deserve the romance too (no matter how brief), most importantly, you deserve to get information. You would never know everything about the person you intend to marry during courtship but I dare say that it would probably make you better prepared for the significant journey ahead. xx