Can 2013 BE OVER already?

Can 2013 be over already? It's been one long challenging year and I really can't wait to scream 'Happy New Year' on the 1st of January 2014.  The year started really rough for me because towards the end of 2012, I went through some interesting "dramas" that actually led me to starting this blog.  I was confused about so many things and gradually getting myself depressed but one day I made up my mind to stay strong no matter what! I decided to (1) keep encouraging myself in the Lord (2) keep trusting God to do what's best in my life whenever and however He pleases (3) Start using my stories to encourage others

I must confess those were some of the toughest decisions I've ever made in life! You see, some years ago I had an idea of where I thought God was taking me to, I also had my dreams and aspirations but things just didn't  go as expected!  There were times I found it extremely difficult encouraging myself in the Lord talkless of encouraging others... I had no motivation whatsoever to chat, write or share blog posts.

The year is fast coming to an end and to be honest, even though things are not totally perfect yet, I see God at work in my life! Talk about 11th hour miracles! I look back at those times when I was panicking, crying, moaning, complaining and "keeping malice" with God and oh my days... (*covers face*)...I just feel like giving myself some good strokes of cane for stressing out so much and not trusting God well enough.  (If getting worried was part of the last Olympics I would have won a gold medal for it... I was that troubled).

Although my life hasn't gone the way I planned it  5yrs ago, I see God using every experience I had gone through over the years for His glory...He had a bigger and better plan in mind all this while. 

Over the years I made silly mistakes but I learnt good lessons from them (the hard way though because I got some good chastisement from the Holy spirit) . I'm not perfect yet but I'm not that sinner I used to be! I'm better, wiser, purer and stronger. I have had not so good experiences but I know all things are working together for my good because I trust God to make all things beautiful in his time.

Do you feel as though your life is at a standstill? Has 2013 gone a lot worse than you expected? Does it look like most of your plans and 'new year resolutions' for 2013 failed? Please don't be too hard on yourself, God can still do something unique in your life before the year runs out! The bible says nothing is too difficult for Him... It's never too late for God to bless you, He's always on time!

Also there's still room for improvement! You can spend the last days of the year planning, preparing and praying so that you can have a better 2014. Find out the things you did wrong this year, learn from your mistakes and make the necessary adjustments. In addition to these, find out exactly what God's plan for your life is and trust God to do things His own way, at His time. 

To drive the message home properly, I'll leave you with the pictures below to ponder on. Hopefully they'll minister to you. Remain blessed and try to enjoy the last few days in 2013! 

LadyMay

KEEP CALM AND RELAX, GOD IS IN CONTROL

My friends and I have pretty much gone through a lot this year! A lot of things have happened that took us off guard...we've heard cases of sudden death,heartbreaks, disappointments, family issues and other life 'dramas' but in all these, God has really been faithful to us!

I haven't blogged in a while because I've pretty much been all over the place...I travelled to Bradford city weeks ago to visit sister-friend of mine who lost her mum and as you can imagine the news was so painful... I was so close to questioning God! I had so many questions on my mind... How was she going to cope? What was I to say to assure her all was going to be well?... I was so hurt and confused, couldn't come to terms with the fact that my friend had suddenly become an orphan.

On my way to her house, I was all nervous and worried about how I was going to console her but God took control and used the same friend to minister to me during my stay there. She took us all to church for midweek Faith Clinic service and the message preached during that service really touched us all...It was indeed a word in season! This is the bit where I say "Thank God for STRONG friends" I'm so blessed and privileged to have strong sisters(friends) who just know draw strength from the word of God!

These past weeks have really been emotional but we've managed to stay happy! We've encouraged ourselves in the Lord, attended church services, watched interesting movies,made silly jokes, teased each other etc... Although these not so good things have happened to us, we've had more than enough reasons to smile and give God thanks.

Dear friend, I don't know what you are going through at the moment but I want you to know God has not brought you this far to leave you! If He watched it happen then be rest assured He will see you through it! The bible makes us understand that God won't give us more than we can handle... Encourage yourself in the Lord! Things may not look well at the moment but ALL will be well! Like my friends and I learnt at the Faith clinic we attended that Tuesday, the good, the bad and the ugly events will work together for your good if you are truly a child of God!

KEEP CALM AND RELAX, GOD IS IN CONTROL! Your tomorrow will be alright! All will be well! Everything is going to be just fine if only you'll keep on trusting God!

Enjoy the rest of your week
With love,

LadyMay

PLEASE HELP!!! HOW DOES THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IN NIGERIA WORK?

Hello, trust you are doing well by God's grace?  Don't bother trying to find out how I am doing because I don't think I'm fine at all!!! It's 5.18am here and I haven't slept at all ... just here all night, shinning my eyes and trying to work on my final MSc project/dissertation but I'M STUCK!!! 

Somebody please help me oooo! Can you kindly tell me in simple terms how the criminal justice system in Nigeria works? Is the federal law and Criminal Code Acts applicable in all states? Where does that Sharia law thingy come in? Is Sharia the same as the penal code? And which one is criminal procedure code/law/acts  again? *confused look*  

While I was researching, I came across this "The criminal justice system in Nigeria starts to run with the commission of a crime and straddles subsequent interventions by agencies of the system such as arrest, arraignment, trial, sentencing and punishment of the offender. Given that the country operates under a federal arrangement, the processes are governed by an array of federal and state legislations. The Criminal Code Act and the Criminal Procedure Act (CPA) as well as the Criminal Code Laws and Criminal Procedure Laws (CPLs) apply in the Southern States of Nigeria except Lagos State while the Penal Code (Federal Provisions) Act and the Criminal  Procedure Code apply as federal legislation in the Federal Capital Territory of Abuja and the Penal Code Laws of the State and Criminal Procedure Codes apply as state legislation the Northern states of the country." -Anyebe, 1990       CAN ANY YOU PLEASE EXPLAIN THIS PARAGRAPH OR BETTER STILL JUST HELP ME RE-WRITE THE PARAGRAPH IN A WAY ANY 10 YEARS OLD WHO HAS NEVER BEEN TO NIGERIA WILL UNDERSTAND?.  Ese/Daalu/Na gode/Thank you  

Finally my research topic is "Effect of sexual Abuse on Nigerian Women's health". If you know any Nigeria laws/acts against sexual violence, sexual abuse, harassment or rape etc please kindly state them below or direct me to where I can find them. 

*Thinking out loud*  I know I didn't make a mistake using Nigeria as a case study and I'm very confident it isn't a crime to carry out a research that could help me make impacts in my home country someday !!! As much as I love this research topic, finding necessary information and relevant data on serious issues affecting Nigeria is really FRUSTRATING! It's either nobody responds to your emails or the silly numbers they put on those official websites just never go through... Omo I don tire but I no say one day one day Naija go better! AMEN.

Thanks in advance for your help,

God bless you. 

THE ANCHOR HOLDS, I'LL STAND

I've been so bipolar for about 2 months now! One minute I'm excited and the next minute I feel so sad, hurt, disappointed, pained and totally confused. I could be having a fun convo with a friend via bb/facebook/whatsapp and totally sending all the 'LOL' 'LMHO' but at the same time sobbing about random things I've had to deal with lately. How did I get here? How did things get this bad?

I do miss me, I miss the normal jumpy, friendly and happy May! These days I've become so isolated and churchophobic... it is like I've developed a sudden and weird kind of phobia for people, especially fellow Christians. For some weeksssss I've had to attend both mid-week and Sunday church services via the internet in order to keep sane and also re-examine my walk with God.

I miss having dad around too. Sometimes I think my life would have been so much easier if he was here with me. There are a lot of things on mind, so many questions, so many issues I wish to sort out, things I wish I could change and dramas I wish I never saw, heard or experienced.

Through these all, I've learnt to handle friendships with care because sometimes in life, a friendly face can be your enemy's mask. For someone like me who can be very open, straight-forward and non-secretive with close friends, I've had to learn the difference between love and trust and this was a very very very hard lesson to learn. I've learnt to give room for humans to be humans irrespective of how close they are to me or God... Even though I sometimes like to deceive myself, I know not everyone will treat me the way I would treat them given the same circumstance.

The bible actually says love your neighbour as yourself not trust your neighbour as yourself. Since LadyMay will continue be LadyMay and I can't change the way God made me, I have come to a conclusion to keep on loving people and increasing the number of sugarpies, honeypies, brothers and sisters I have BUT to trust God in them instead. That way it won't hurt so much when they display their human tendencies.   ***Thinking out loud*** Talking about brothers and sisters, trust me when I say I have loads of them in different parts of the world, interestingly I have never met some of them before but they've been a HUGE blessing to me.

So back to the main gist, life has been very dramatic and traumatic lately. The devil has really tried using people I love and care about so much to break me but mercy said no...Thank God for Jesus! I'm actually beginning to see more clearly by the day that there is something quite unique and special about me. If I was very ordinary, the devil won't bother trying to frustrate me at every given opportunity but it's not over until God says it's over. My light will shine no matter the darkness around me! No matter the number of rocks life throws at me, I'll keep standing on Christ the solid rock and after these tests, I'll be back to share my testimonies!

Dear friends, life isn't always going to be easy but when our faith seems to be getting weak we have to make effort to keep standing! Bible says in Ephesians 6:10-13  “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age,^[a] against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand”

When life upsets you, stand! When you feel disappointed and betrayed, stand! When you feel weary and tired, stand! Keep standing, encourage yourself in the Lord, pray, read the word, sing hymns and keep saying to yourself "The anchor holds", "No power of hell, no scheme of man will ever pluck me from his hand, till He returns or calls me home, here in the power of Christ I'll stand"

When you don't even get what God is up to and why you are still standing, just stand! Your big tests are bringing you big testimonies in due time, keep standing and all will be well.

With love,

 LadyMay.

Do I have to kill myself just to follow peace?

Hmmmmm...life and its never ending drama!

Ok, so weeks ago I put up a post about knowing your God, being strong and all that, only for me to get all weak a few days later.  Ever gotten so upset to the point of wanting to use needle and thread to do some running stitches right through someone's mouth? I was that upset! Even though I tried to be calm, the level of anger deep within made me realise how much I needed Jesus in my life!

Anyways, the whole drama got me thinking about Hebrews 12:14 which says "Follow peace with all men and holiness without which no man shall see God"

In a world filled with people with different beliefs, behaviour and temperament, is it really possible to follow peace with all men? What exactly does God mean when He says we should follow peace with all men?

Is following peace about making sure you don't step on anybody's toes or is it about making sure you are in everyone's good books?

How does one really follow peace in an environment where drama just never ends?  Is it by keeping quiet irrespective of what people do to you or by addressing issues in a godly, fair and open manner?

Is it by turning the other cheek when you've just been given a dirty hot resounding slap or by taking to your heels after the first slap in order to avoid getting slapped again?

In my quest to follow peace with people, I tried doing all sorts in the past but sadly enough nothing seems to have worked 100%. In many cases it was more like I got into bigger trouble after each peace-making strategy!  

At some point I started thinking "Do I have to kill myself just to follow peace or please people?"

The question is how far do we have to go in inconveniencing ourselves just to follow peace? Following peace with everyone isn't always easy, I think it's one of the hardest thing God requires of us. People will get on your nerves, frustrate and disappoint you from time to time but you have to aggressively pursue peace because contrary to popular believe, the christian race isn't just about our relationship with God, our relationship with others matter a lot! For example, the bible says in Matthew 5:23-24 "Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you,  leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift." 

Like me, I'm sure at some point in your life you've read that bible text murmuring something close to " why can't I give my nicely packaged offering just because somebody somewhere is upset with me for no good reason? or why should I be the one to go say sorry first?".  

Following peace with others can be difficult . There will be times  you have to apologise to people not because you are wrong but because you just want peace to reign. Sometimes following peace with others will hurt you terribly, you might have to do things your natural self won't like but you see, it's really not about what you feel, it's more about what God thinks.   It's impossible to pursue holiness without pursuing peace  and without holiness you can't see God. In other words, if you cannot follow peace with all men you cannot make it to heaven!

On this issue "follow peace with all men", I really can do with some grace and more of those fruits of the spirit listed in Galatians 5:22-23...It is my prayer that God will give us the grace to follow peace with all in Jesus name. Amen.

GO MAY! IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY

Mum's cooking, Debbie is baking and I'm chilling because it's my birthday *Dancing on my bed* LOL! To be honest, today just seems like a normal day... I came back from uni all knackered, went straight to bed and now I've just woken up thinking about my life. 

Why has God kept me alive to see this day? What's my purpose here on earth? Have I found that purpose? Where do I wanna be this time next year? Where was I this time last year? Where am I at the moment? 

The last one year has been filled with so many silent battles, bipolar behaviours, spiritual stagnancy, betrayals, emotional numbness and so many dramas. This time last year, I had so many questions I needed answers to, I was worried about so many things, I had several nightmares warning me about things but I didn't know exactly what to do with them.

I prayed and prayed in my own little way! At apoint, I didn't know exactly what to pray about, all I could do was read Psalms 3(my favourite psalm these days) and Psalms 34(which someone told me to pray with). I knew God wasn't just listening, Christ was also praying for me :) It's really been a year of many stories, when I look back and see how far God's grace has brought me, I can't but give thanks. At those awkward moments when people expected me to breakdown or disappear into thin air, God strengthened me! He became the source of my strength, peace and joy, the kind that surpasses all understanding. You know that kind of peace, joy and strength that confuses both well-wishers and haters LOL!. Some couldn't tell whether I was really ok or not, some thought I was just faking it but I totally enjoyed it! I loved the look on some people's face each time they said hello or asked about my well being... it was Priceless!  I was doing very well and didn't need to proof my 'okness' to anyone.

Today, I'm thankful to God for making both the sweet and sour experiences in the past year work together for my good! When my heart was overwhelmed, he held me close! He has indeed been my shield, my glory and the lifter up of my head!It's been 23 full years of ups and downs, of plenty laughter and some moment of tears. What can I say but a big thank you to the Lord who orchestrated my life's journey! God has been so good to me, if all the hair on my head were tongues they won't be enough to sing his praise.

Over the year, I learnt a few lessons I would like to share a few with you.

1)     When you are in God’s good books, all things (the good, the bad, the beautiful and ugly) will work together for your good! Don’t let your disappointments weigh you down, God will make sure testimonies come out from the tests you are going true if only you’ll trust him.    “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose”- Romans 8:28.

2)     Wisdom is usually a better weapon than strength!  Sometimes people you respect so much will try to take you for a fool, you might have all it takes to put them in their place immediately but wisdom  is what will make you sort them out in a way that will please both God and man.    “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all your getting get understanding.”- Proverbs 4:7

3)     Silence is a very powerful tool, learn to keep quiet!   One of my favourite big brothers always says to me “BabyMay just keep quiet and watch, your silence cannot be quoted”.  I had moments when I really felt like screaming the roof off but I tried to shut my mouth up even when people were getting on my nerves.  It wasn't an easy thing to do but trust me guys, silence works!   It confuses and makes those whose hands are not clean nervous.   “Even a fool, when he holds his peace, is counted wise: and he that shuts his lips is esteemed a man of understanding”.-Proverbs 17:28

I didn't plan to do anything today but it seems like these girls are so up to something, I smell fooddddd !!!! Now let me go see what's cooking in the kitchen *Dancing* Go May, it's your birthday*.

I had a fun-filled day J Special thanks to my darling little sis Debbie for baking the yummy cupcakes A , to my adorable adopted sisters Wunmi and Ife for putting the b-day dinner together, and to  everyone who called and sent messages. May the Lord bless you all JJJ.

MY LETTER TO GOD, JEHOVAH EL-ROMANTIQUE ;)

 Dear Lord,

 I really want to thank you for everything you've been doing in my life. I thank you specially for all the guys that came into my life and disappeared without an explanation.  I  thank you because even though I don't think some of those experience were so good, I know all things are working  together for my good and you are preparing me for the greater things ahead.

My Precious Daddy, you know I'm such a hopeless romantic and I know you know me more than I know myself but you said I should ask, so I'm asking today.  I know I haven't spoken to you about my love life in a while so I thought I took time out to do so today. In this little head of mine are stories and sermons about building a successful relationship, marriage without tears, knowing the will of God in marriage, etc. All these theories get confusing sometimes but I really don't mind you choosing Mr Right, as a matter of fact I will only go with whoever you say yes to but can I please make some requests?

Lord, I know you have all it takes to equip Mr Right with every atom of 'romanticness' ,  Father please let my finder be godly, lovely ,lively, honest, smart, sweet,caring and very very romantic. I refuse to be bored in my future marriage! I have seen so many boring and sad couples in churches, that will not be my portion in Jesus name! 

When the right time comes, let my courtship be a fairytale! I refuse to be involved in any random drama, let my Prince charming love and cherish me just like you do. God please let him be bold and man enough to stand up for me any day, anywhere and anytime!  I speak into my future and make a decree that all my in-laws, from the oldest to the youngest, would love and cherish me. My mother-in-law especially will accept me, treat me like her daughter and even love me more than her own son in Jesus name!

For the proposal, hmmmm sweet Jesus, let it be something that would be worth telling my children and their children's children! My Jehovah El-Romantique, the Lord who specialises in taking my breath away, I know what you are capable of, please equip your son, my future hubby with all he needs to sweep your darling daughter off her feet.

Let my wedding be simple yet sweet and above all let my marriage be as heaven on earth. Equip me with all I need to be a sweet wife, super mum and superb in-law! My home will be filled love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Yes! I want all the fruits of the spirit evident in my home. There will be no silly dramas, no fights, no 3rd party interference, no premature deaths, and no trouble in Jesus name!

God you know me too well, I will testify!  If you make this wish, dream and prayer come true, I surely would never stop talking about this day and your never ending faithfulness in my life. Thank you Lord because I know you will do abundantly above all I have asked or ever imagined, all these I ask through your son Jesus. Amen.

Love you so much Daddy,
your precious baby,

LadyMay.

P.S. The bible says in John 16: 23B -24 "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full."      Do you really spend time talking to God about every area of your life? When you do pray, how specific are your requests? Do you just say something like 'God bless me' or do you break it down and tell him exactly what you want e.g. ' God bless me with a new job, new car, new phone'?    God likes us to be specific in our prayers and He also wants us keep asking till we are satisfied J so make it a habit to talk to God about anything and everything!  

FYI: My letter to God today was inspired after reading these blogs.lol!  http://chipsonmarble.wordpress.com/2012/10/29/on-each-cake-was-a-letter/ and http://www.bellanaija.com/2013/02/20/we-just-love-%E2%9D%A4-read-ferdinand-adimefes-beautiful-piece-20-reasons-why-i-love-miss-cooper

LOL! I know I can be quite random but after reading those lovely stories, I just had to talk to DADDY. iGuess God loves me just the way I am and He's never bored of my rantings. Try writing a letter to God, it can be fun! A nice way to communicate with God too J  YES I KNOW you are used to talking to God but God doesn't just have ears, He has eyes too, if you write to Him, I'm sure He'll read them ;) ;)

It's past 9pm and I'm yet to break my fast, it's food o'clock!

Catch ya later guys JJJ
Your girl,
LadyMay.

May's Diaries: The journey from BabyMay to LadyMay.

 Yipeeeeee! Finally I get to start blogging. A few friends suggested this a while ago but I simply couldn't be bothered. For over a year now, I have pretty much been in my own world  jumping from one 'drama' to the other. Seriously speaking, how do atheists cope? The only thing that has kept me going is the fact that I know there is God who sees everything and makes things beautiful in his time. Trust me when I say life has been crazy and challenging but I've decided to have fun and ride however the tide.


So yes, welcome to my blog where I'll be sharing HOT gists! Lol! My stories, emotional dramas, spiritual struggles, life's challenges, health talks and the lessons God taught me during my various wilderness experiences.  I call this "The journey from BabyMay to LadyMay", you can call it "May's Diaries" if you wish but this is me, the other side of me.  



P.S.   If you are going through one challenge or the other, I just want to remind you that even though God may seem quiet, He is not dead! He is very much alive and very soon, He will make all things beautiful.  Do not give up on God yet, keep praying and  keep trusting!  "These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us." (2 Corinthians 4:17 MSG)