BE A SALT, MAKE IMPACT !

Matthew 5:13 is one of my favourite verses in the bible, it gets me thinking about my life and areas I need to work on. The bible verse reads "Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt has lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men."

What exactly does the bible mean when it says "Ye are the salt of the earth...”?

How can we Christians be the salt of the earth?

Salt is a form of flavour that gives taste to meals. If God says we are the salt of the earth I think what He means is that He has placed us on this planet to add some flavour to the world. We can't just live and die without making impact! Just as a tiny portion of salt adds flavour to meals, we must make positive impact everywhere we go no matter how little.

Salt sweetens food, therefore our lives should sweeten the life of those around us. When things are going sour/tough for them, our words, attitude, actions and way of life should be able to sweeten and brighten up their world.

Salt preserves and prevents decay, God has placed we Christians on earth as a preservative to stop people from rotting in their sin. Every Christian has a responsibility to evangelise (Mark 16:15-16), it's our duty to go out there and call sinners to repentance. Have I really been a salt? When last did I win a soul for Christ? Hmmm, God help me.

Salt is actually one of the cheapest and probably the smallest ingredient needed to make a nice pot of stew, yet it makes all the difference. Imagine how tasteless and horrible a pot of stew will taste without salt...no amount of seasonings can do the work of tiny salt. You are the salt of the earth! No matter how irrelevant, tiny, financially unstable or cheap you think you are, no other person on earth can impact the world like you would. God has placed something special in you and the whole world is waiting to see it (Romans 8:19)

BE A SALT; MAKE AN IMPACT IN YOUR WORLD.

WHAT WAS SHE THINKING? Lessons from the Book of Ruth.

     After studying my Open Heavens devotional this morning with lil sis, I decided to read my ‘Bible in one year’ bit alone so I could have my personal time with God.  Trust me, quiet time today was really fun and I’m so excited to share what I learnt with you. I read through Book of Ruth, learnt a few lessons from the main characters and also had my day dreaming moments, creating the perfect picture of my ideal mother-in-law (LOL! I pray she turns out to be as great as she looks in my dreams. Amen.  LOL! )

Anyway, here is the summary of my quiet time today. Hope it encourages/blesses/inspires you.

Ruth was a Moabite who was married to one of Naomi’s son.  However the marriage only lasted for about 10 years due to the death of her husband.  With nothing else to live for in a strange land after losing both husband and sons, Naomi made up her mind to go back to Israel her homeland but her daughter- in- laws wanted to go with her. On their way, she pleaded with them to go back but Ruth insisted on continuing with the journey while Orpah, the second daughter-in-law returned to her father’s house.

In Ruth 1:16, bible records Ruth saying to her mother-in-law “…wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God will be my God.”  What on earth made Ruth make that kind of decision? There was nothing exciting about going with Naomi to Israel, well maybe a change of environment was needed but on a serious note the journey seemed like a hopeless one.  Ruth was a young widow, there was no man waiting for her in  Bethlehem , no hope for shelter, riches or a better tomorrow but she insisted on relocating with Naomi. What exactly was she thinking? Who follows someone to an unknown place and decides to serve their God knowing fully well that this same God allowed the death of the woman’s husband and sons for reasons best known to Him?

… Hmmmm… While pondering on what her reasons were, it dawned on me that Naomi's life must have really inspired her daughter- in-laws. I think there was something sweet about her that made the ladies willing to leave their homeland for hers.  Ruth’s marriage to Naomi’s son only lasted 10 years but in those years she probably had an encounter with the God of Israel.  She must have watched her mother-in-law closely and noticed there was something great about her God. Hence the reason she said 'your God will be my God'. Despite the terrible things that befell Naomi, Ruth (a Moabite) was willing to serve the God she served.  This was a challenge to me… Does my lifestyle draw unbelievers to Christ or away from Him? Without opening my mouth to preach the gospel, will an unbeliever around me be able to say “Dear friend, your God will be my God”?    Naomi’s story is a practical and classic example of “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”-Matthew 5:16

Even though things had gone totally wrong for Naomi, Ruth followed her nevertheless. Ruth’s decision to serve Naomi’s God no matter the circumstance was the beginning of her greatness. On getting to Bethlehem, what they never bargained for happened!  Ruth found favour in the sight of a wealthy man named Boaz, he married her and together they had a son called Obed, who was the grandfather to King David. That physically hopeless journey Ruth took in faith despite all odds made her one of the greatest women who ever lived. From being a ‘nobody’, she became the great-grandmother of King David and an ancestor to Jesus.

At times in life, things may look rough and totally hopeless. We may not understand things happening around us and why God lets very terrible things happen but from Ruth’s story, we see that if we just learn to trust God and keep loving Him despite our challenges or past mistakes, we would realise that of a truth, ALL THINGS MAY NOT BE GOOD BUT ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD TO THEM THAT LOVE GOD.

3 lessons you must learn from the lives of Ruth and Naomi

1) Dedicating your live to God is the best decision you will ever make in life. No matter the challenges or trials you face, never let go of God! Trust, serve and love Him wholeheartedly. The decision to serve God despite all odds was the beginning of great things in the life of Ruth.  Her life turned around for good and she went from being a nobody to becoming the great-grand mother of famous king David.

2) Building a good and godly character will take you places.   Abigail Buren once said “The best index to a person's character is how he treats people who can't do him any good, and how he treats people who can't fight back.” Even though Ruth knew Naomi had nothing much to offer, she still treated her nicely.  Ruth’s kind, obedient, generous, committed and character made room for her at the top and she found favour in the eyes of Boaz.

3) Let your light shine wherever you go and let your life be a blessing to those around you! Don’t just be a Christian by words of mouth only, be a Christian in your works too. Let people see Jesus in you, like Naomi, show love!  Motivate others to good works, be nice to everyone you come across and make an impact in your world!

There are many more lessons from the Book of Ruth, do you mind sharing some? If yes, kindly leave a comment on the blog.

Remain Blessed,

LadyMay.

The Pains & Gains of Waiting on God

Waiting for something to happen isn't always an exciting experience. It is a lot easier to wait when you know that at a set period your wishes will be granted but things can get really stressful when waiting on God for something and it seems like nothing is happening for years. The bible says in Isaiah 40:31   "But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint".  According to this verse, waiting on the Lord when things are not fine should strengthen Christians but in my case I realised ‘waiting on God’ made me very restless a few times in the past.

 It was really a painful and annoying experience but after searching my heart, I discovered that those times I said I was waiting on God for something, what I really meant was “I'm waiting on time and chance for something to happen”. Instead of totally putting all my trust and hope in God who is capable of doing all things, I unconsciously consoled myself by assuming with time everything will be just fine with time...Big mistake! That mind-set made the waiting period very frustrating. 

Many of us have things we are waiting on God for, some need children of their own, good spouse, better job, good house etc. but when you say you are waiting on God, are you really waiting on Him? Do you trust and depend totally on Him to do exceedingly abundantly above all you think and desire?There is a huge difference between waiting and waiting on God. An online dictionary says to wait is to remain inactive until something expected happens but I think waiting on God is to stay active till something expected happens. Waiting on God doesn't mean you stay idle, it involves you actively trusting God and praying until something positive happens. Waiting on God means even when God seems quiet, you are at peace, relying fully on Him to step in and grant your heart desires right on time. Waiting on God means making efforts to strip yourself off your self-strength (I can handle it attitude) and depending totally on God for strength. It is only the strength from God that can keep you at peace in the midst of the storm and mount you up with wings as eagles so that you can soar far above your challenges. 

  Having said these, the waiting room isn't a bed of roses! While waiting on God, there will be diverse temptations both from the devil and loved ones who mean well. People will suggest so many alternatives and sometimes due to pressure it is very easy to start considering these options even when we know that is not the will of God for us. I have seen Christian youths who due to lack of jobs ended up doing all sort of crazy things just to make money. When you ask such people why they do these wrong things they come up with excuses like 'I was frustrated, I got tired of waiting'.  Dear friend, I know it is not easy when most of your classmates who were not as smart as you back in high school are driving Bentley's and you, with all your church activities are going around in a footwagon. I understand the feeling but you have to "Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth."- Psalm 37:7-9

I do not know exactly what you are going through and even if I did, I may not have the solutions but God does and I encourage you to wait on Him! We all have our waiting seasons! Joseph waited 13 years, Abraham waited for 25 years and even Jesus had to wait for 30 years so you are in good company if you are in a waiting season JJJ. I have had painful periods of waiting in the past when it seemed like God had turned his back on me, I waited, prayed, cried, grumbled, ranted and then prayed a little more but despite all my effort nothing was happening. Even as I type this blog post, some of my prayer requests are yet to be answered but then I'm still waiting!  I've given up being so anxious and surrendered everything into the hands of a Sovereign God who can do anything whenever, wherever and however!  Life is so much easier that way and it is my prayer that very soon, like the psalmist, we will share our testimonies saying "I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry"- Psalm 40:1. AMEN!

Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart: wait, I say, on the LORD -Psalm 27:14

Have a blessed week,

With love

LadyMay.

PARADOX OF HIS RESURRECTION: HIS PAIN, YOUR GAIN!

 Hi everyone, hope you are doing great and enjoying life? I am! Travelled to London during the Easter break and only just got back to Liverpool *SMILES* Going away for a few days was fabulous as usual, I got to spend quality time with my lovely sister-friends.  *sobs sobs* iMiss them already.

Anyways I'm back to reality and since I got back I've been analysing a particular hymn 'AT CALVARY' by William R. Newell. Guess I’m still in the Easter mood but here are my favourite bits from the hymn

"Oh, the love that drew salvation’s plan!

Oh, the grace that brought it down to man!

Oh, the mighty gulf that God did span at Calvary!

Mercy there was great, and grace was free;

Pardon there was multiplied to me;

There my burdened soul found liberty at Calvary."

                              

On Easter Sunday, I had the opportunity to read Mark 16 again. One of the interesting things that stood out about the resurrection story is the fact that after Jesus resurrected, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, a woman with a very horrible past! I began to wonder, of all the people who had an encounter with Jesus during his time on earth, why Mary M? Why didn't Christ appear first to one of his beloved disciples? And then the word came, It doesn't matter who you are, what you've done and where you've been, if you decide to just give your life to Jesus, He'll show you love and turn your life around for good.

               

All the way to Calvary Christ went, He tasted death for YOU! He went through all those sufferings so your life can have structure and meaning! He was abandoned by God on that cross so you can be accepted. By dying on the cross, He ended the issue of rejection in your life. He gave himself to be mistreated by men so that you and I may dominate our world. He descended to hell so we can rise and do exploits.

You have so much to gain from the pain Jesus went through at Calvary! What excuse do you have for still living in sin? To reject the gift of salvation NOW is to prepare for everlasting roasting in hell because you can't predict whether you'll be alive the next minute, day or year to ask God for forgiveness. If you are Christian and still toying with sin, you are taking the grace of God and gift of salvation for granted, repent and make your ways right with God before it is too late!

                                                       

Only Jesus can give you the hope to become somebody in life no matter your race, age, gender, background, social-class or past! Only Christ can turn the mess in your life into a beautiful message! He specialises in giving beauty for ashes! If you do not believe that, ask me and I will share a few personal stories with you. I am a product of God's love, grace and mercy...I do not regret ever giving my life to Jesus, the salvation experience is simply amazing and like the song writer I can boldly say "Oh, the love that drew salvation’s plan! Oh, the grace that brought it down to man! Oh, the mighty gulf that God did span at Calvary! Mercy there was great, and grace was free;Pardon there was multiplied to me;There my burdened soul found liberty at Calvary"

                                                                   

A life without Christ is crisis! Even if everything goes well for you here on earth, what happens after you die? Whether you believe it or not, there is life after death, you will spend eternity either in heaven or hell. At Calvary Jesus went through terrible pains so you can gain access to God!  Only Jesus can grant you eternal life so give yourself wholly to him now.

HAVE A BLESSED WEEK.

WITH LOVE,

LADYMAY.

A MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN: SEWA weds TUNDE

It’s about 3:45am and I can’t seem to sleep!  Just in bed singing and dancing (in my mind ) to this spontaneous  nice tune “Go Go Go Go Go  Sewa, it’s your wedding!  Go Princess it’s your big day!”. Today is Saturday 23^rd March 2013;  a very special and lovely PSF sister of mine is getting married to her heartbeat in a few hours. I am so happy for them but a little sad too L iReally wish I could make it to the wedding in Nigeria but unfortunately I’m stuck in this freezing cold country and to make matters worse it’s snowing so I can’t even go out to have fun today…  Well, I was in bed thinking, singing and moaning when I thought to myself “I should dedicate a blog post to TundeSewa” and here it is, YIPEEE!

"When true friends think the friendship is worth keeping for life, one becomes Adesewa and the other becomes Olatunde."--- The couple

Isn’t that quote really sweet?  Adesewa  and Tunde Banjo are really a match made in heaven! I love their love mehn!  To be honest I think I'm a little obsessed with love stories but who isn’t though?  I absolutely love young, sweet, romantic and godly couples. I've met a few cute couples but today, for the first time on my blog, I'll be celebrating a newlywed whose love iLove to bits.

Sewa is a darling PSF sister of mine, and Tunde her beau is a gentle man I'm yet to meet . Of course Sewa had given me nice gist about how they met, the relationship and all and I thought "Aww! How sweet" but little did I know until I stumbled on their blog online. I can't remember whether I had butterflies in my belly or goosebumps while reading their blog but I knew they made me feel like falling in love all over again. 

Sewa and Tunde met for the first time in 2009 at the RCCG Redemption Camp in Nigeria. Tunde somehow got princess' number off her and kept in touch. Communications went from text messages, phone calls,seeing each other a few times,emails and letters until Tunde moved to the UK. Sewa being very creative had used a fancy pencil work to thrill the young man and Tunde responded in kind by paying some random artist to do a pencil work of his new found love.

On and on and on they went, dude was madly in love with the girl, girl was crazy about him, love is in the air, God is involved and then the proposal!

Tunde's Proposal : I love you and I know that this love is from God. Because of this, I want to be with you so that we might serve Christ together. Through all of the uncertainties and trials of the present and future, I promise to be faithful to you and love you. I promise to guide and protect you as Christ does his church, as long as we both shall live. God’s Word gives us the perfect example of this love in Christ’s death for the Church. I shall try always, with God’s help, to show you this same kind of love, for I know that in His sight we will both be one. My goal will be to continuously be a more loving person to you for as long as I have breath. I love you and it’s a big deal.

Sewa's reply: You are the perfect verse over a tight beat. You are more wonderful than my dream. YES, I want to spend the rest of my life with you, in none and in plenty, serving Christ together. I promise to love and respect you. I promise to be submissive to you, and forever be a good thing in your life. Loving you Olatunde is a serious business for me, and i promise to do so with every breath in me. I love you my Sweetness.

COUGH! COUGH! I GO LOVE OOOO ! (If don't believe in love or if you think Christians are boring and not romantic, please visit TundeSewa's blog  tundesewa.wordpress.com )

                                                                                                  

On 23rd March 2013, Adesewa Obasa and Tunde Banjo celebrated their love in Lagos, Nigeria. I was so pained! Really wished I could witness the big day we anxiously waited for! You should have seen me rolling on my bed a night before! My body was in UK but my spirit had boarded the flight to Lagos. I had my home girls on the bridal train and they did a pretty good job filling me in on the events of the day.

To God's glory, the day was glorious and beautiful as expected. Princess Adesewa looked so beautiful in her lovely white ball gown while her Prince charming, Tunde, looked on point in his suit. I heard the Molebians rocked as usual too.

LadyMay's toast to the couple *Picks wine glass* Here is to a great, blessed, fruitful, happy, peaceful and fantabulous marriage *Cheers* Happy Married Life, may the Lord bless your new home in Jesus name. Amen.

P.S. If you are single and waiting on the Lord for the right person, please I want to encourage you to take time out to pray and seek God's face, open your eyes, work towards becoming the right person/ great spouse and keep trusting God. Be patient, don't settle for less, just wait for that special person God has for you. Remember the bible says "He makes all things beautiful in his time"

This is a surprise by the way, Sewa didn't see this coming. It is just my own little way of celebrating the gorgeous couple so please could you kindly help in celebrating them by dropping a comment congratulating these lovebirds. Thank you.

Traditional engagement

The Beautiful Bride

Bestman and Groom

Bride's brothers in Peach (Sewa is actually the only girl of a set of Triplets, how cute)

Marriage blessing.
Groom's look says  'Yes I did it! Now let the journey begin'
Wife's look says  'Yea me, I'm officially married.'

Cute couple, Mr and Mrs Tunde Banjo 

Love in air
Dance! Dance!! Dance!!!

And they lived happily ever after

CONGRATULATIONS MR AND MRS TUNDE BANJO !!! LadyMay hearts ya berry muchxx