Life: It Isn't Your's To Take.

Hi people. Hope you’ve all been well? Long time no post… ;)
Come to think of it, it has been quite some time since I’ve been active here hasn’t it? Well, I sincerely apologize for that; I let a lot of activities get in the way of my ‘blogging’ time. Lol.

A lot of things have been happening these past few months that have been weighing on my heart to a high degree, not just with me mind you, but on a larger scope. I mean, I’ve got loved ones who informed me that they’re yet denied a college education, all thanks to the exceedingly untrustworthy and, sad to say, highly decomposed state of the educational system in my beloved country and as if that hardly encouraging update on their affairs wasn’t bad enough, just yesterday I was hit with the very much unpleasant news that yet another two people known to me, from my high school this time, have passed away. To top these few, there are all the various goings-on around the globe; the unrest in this country, the natural disaster in that, the economic meltdown in so-so region, the rise in the crime rates in another…the troubles seem endless sometimes, don’t they?

Yes, they do.

To be honest, they tend to overwhelm a person----heck, I’d be overwhelmed myself if I didn’t have Christ! It’s the truth! Because there is just so much that we emotionally fragile human beings can deal with on our own and when the issues, which most certainly will arise, exceed our ‘i-can-handle-it’ meter, we break down. End of story.

But you see, our stories don’t all have to be tragedies; and neither do we all have to play the victim. Who was it that said; “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.”? See that there is very useful advice. Now anyone telling you it’ll be easy to turn that sour lemon into a nice, refreshing, tasty drink…is a massive liar. Of course it won’t be easy, but you can never say a task was challenging if you never made an attempt at it now can you? Yeah, I didn’t think so either.

You know what I’ve learned over time? No human being is to be praised nor blamed for my position or predicament. You heard me (or read me) correctly; no one. You want to know why? Because the conclusion of this journey I call my life, whether pleasant or disheartening will be resulting from my decisions. There will be people, factors, situations and experiences that will serve either as stepping stones or stumbling blocks along the way to boost or possibly break me, but where I end up is as a result of the critical choices I’d have made on the way. I simply must take responsibility for them. Of course, God is always faithful and gracious to reward they who completely rely on Him, seek His will and follow His leading. 

i.e The ‘right’ choices that prove profitable in the long run and we can take pride in must be the ones that obey, please and honor Him on every level and in every way. (Philippians 1:11// Galatians 6:14// 2Corinthians 10:17-18 and 1 Corinthians 10:31). Anything outside that is bound to flop…eventually.

Very often, I get to hear some very moving life stories. Either via the media, or someone repeating a story they’d heard or when an individual chooses to share a personal experience with me. You know sometimes it can feel like there are a lot of forces viciously working against you and the temptation to melt into a pool of pity arises, but then you hear of some really pathetic, almost unbelievable experiences of the next person which just totally break your heart and you wonder; “How did they hold it together this long?”, “What must they have felt?”, etc. It’s happened to me countless times, there I am feeling thoroughly sorry for myself for some mean hand fate’s dealt to me…till someone’s much more harrowing situation jerks me back to being thankful for whatever good thing I’ve got going in my life.

There’s ALWAYS something to be grateful for that should keep you going!!!

I’m sick and tired of the way ‘giving up’, ‘giving in’ and ‘getting beat’ by circumstances has become the new fad. 

Oh, and you want to know the ultra-modern, fast spreading ‘cheap exit’ we seem to have come up with when ‘we’ve just had enough and can’t take it anymore!’? Suicide.

Sure, hit me with all the ‘it’s MY life!’, ‘you just don’t understand’, ‘there’s nothing else one can do’, ‘it’s the only way’ or better yet, ‘you’ll do the same if you were in their shoes’ that you’ve got. You know what I say?

WRONG! WRONG!! WRONG!!!

You know why? Because it is wrong, that’s why.

First of all, it’s not your call. You did not create yourself nor give yourself life (Genesis 2:7); God did. Imagine if when the first Apple product was produced, it was configured to pack up after a stipulated period of time during which it ought to have performed a series of tasks for its owner, despite the fact that the device had the ‘ability’ to permanently shut itself down whenever it ‘chose’; only for many of the products in question to so ‘choose’ to shut down without accomplishing any of the tasks they were designed and produced to. Would you consider that fair to the producer, who would suffer staggering loss? Would the devices have added any value to their numerous owners who never got to take advantage of all they had to offer? Do you think the producer will be pleased that his prized creation would have to go to the junk heap, without fulfilling that for which it was made? No, I seriously doubt that.

God, you see, took the time and love to make you and give you life. He made you in His image, gave you His breath, sacrificed His ONLY son (John 3:16) and then provided the manual by which He wanted you to operate on this earth, so that you would add value to the numerous people who’d need to take advantage of the truth and knowledge of Him that you’d have to offer. He owns all that you are…how then can it be ‘right’ for you to deny Him of what is His right? 

Think about it...please.

xxx, Kwiksie~

To Be Continued On Next Post…

Too Comfortable.

I really thought I had it covered,

Like it were right in the palm of my hand.

Making the right speeches, announcing the right doings;

With the scolding, head-shaking and correcting

I temporarily impersonated perfection.

But the solution to the unformed riddle,

Is that I’ve become too comfortable.

The less noticeable but constant errs trivialized

While activities void of substance are my consolation.

Convicting with looks and convincing with words;

My performance gets better, the performer turns worse.

Recounting exaggerated tales with the appropriate diction and metaphors

Yet I’ve become the outsider looking in at the better person that I was

And what the reason for this switch is…I’m at a loss.

So with the best and the mediocre and me stuck in the middle

It’s become very obvious that I’ve been way too comfortable.

A wane in my formerly intense passion,

Mortalizing my divinity aimed devotion.

Separating my ALL from you and replacing it with ‘some’,

More ashamed at my lack of doing over what I’ve actually done.

Too convinced that me attaining a few parts meant wholly complete,

Over confident in my knowledge of you, I let the times we communicated replete.

I was firm till I became unstable,

I love you but have become too comfortable.

You need actions, less words.

You seek Constance not once.

I tried but hoarded my best,

Completely giving you less.

I put you second in line

The second I auctioned our time.

And so let me make this vow, not for the future but now;

The moment I start to relax or put my pride in mere acts,

I’ll freeze right in my tracks and in humility seek you.

Because I can’t love you as I should when I’m too comfortable.

...................................................................................................................................................................

Stay blessed you all.

xxx, kwiksie~

Story So Far...

Hiiiiiiii everyone! I'd just like you all to know that i have been having a most wonderful time LIVING and i've got so much joy just straining to get out. :)
Now although today was quite intenseley hectic and i felt really drained and frustrated a couple times, God strengthened (and is still strengthening) me. Yippee!!! ^_^

Anyway, i just thought it would be nice if i made today's post more like a picture story of the various highlights there've been in my time in year one...with maybe a few throwbacks. Enjoy!

1st Few Days of Omega Semester:

@the library (just taking a break) :p

CU'S GOT TALENT:

Prior semi-finals :) <Make up by ~Kofo>

The trainers

The judges: Tobi, Davina and Bikas.

After finals (at least i made it there): Tobi n i

Alpha Semester Throwbacks:

First day of school. ^_^

Tomiwa and i

Olivia and I

My birthday!!! (Nov 1)

Founders day: Idara n i

Me and Michelle

#Matriculated.

 Omega Semester Ending:

Old school hairdo.

Ruthie!!! on trad Sunday

Aina n me in class (5mins before oh)

1st time @the beach

bella n i

Mercy, Bella and Me.

Me n Lil' miss make-up artist>>@T_ainy. ;)

College Dinners (My floormates):

Manmak: our mentor-ship ;)

Olivia

A.K

Idara

PSY Carwash:

Miriam

Nedu and Hauwa

Dera and Bimbo

Funto and i.

Manmak

Ebun and Joy

That's it for year one. :D I give God all the glory for the wonderful ppl i've come to meet and for the good times and fab memories...but now we're #offthis matter. ON TO THE NEXT LEVEL! ;)

Have an amazing week people!
xxx, Kwiksie~  :)

So what's new?

Hi you! How's it been? (life that is, lolz).

On my part, everything's been just dandy! #britishaccent. I'm taking my final exams for this semester and i'm just so excited about what i already KNOW my results looking like. D'you ever get that feeling? Like you just know something you've only ever dreamed for has practically fallen right in your lap? Well, that's how i feel at present. ^_^

Second on my list of updates are my many online doings. I've got two blogs (as ya'll already know); this one and the wordpress one, i think i even shared a link to it on some previous post....or not??? Either way this is it: Loud Letters~ | Words from the heart…imitating Art.. It's just poetry...as is my account at Writer's cafe of which i'm very excited about! Kwiksie Ifediora | WritersCafe.org | The Online Writing Community. You could check them out whenever you MAKE time, and do tell me what you think ok? ^_^

On other matters/topics, i was reading my devotional today (my email one) and there was this lovely piece i thought i should share (again) with my wonderful blogspot fam. <3 It's basically on how we let current happenings trigger off some wierd reactions from previous crappy events that might've occurred in our lives and i think that sometimes happens to the best of us. Come to think of it, it's kinda associated with one or two principles i've learned in psychology (#showoff moment, hehe). Anyhow, hope it blesses you.

Is My Pain Talking?

We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. — 2 Corinthians 10:5

Thought for the Day: Our Lord doesn’t whisper shameful condemnations.

Have you ever been in a situation where something little felt really big? Maybe a look from someone that suddenly makes you feel they don’t like you at all. Or when someone doesn’t return your phone call and you feel like it’s an indication that you’re not important.

Usually these things aren’t true. The look was just a look with no hidden meaning. The missed phone call was just a slip on that person’s to-do list. But if we’re not careful, those misguided feelings can create issues that distract us, discourage us, and trigger past pain to start taunting us.

It happened to me on a certain Friday. My sister, Angee, and I got up at 3:00 a.m. and were in line at a certain retail establishment thirty minutes later. I know. I agree. That’s crazy. But like a hunter stalking prey, I was after something. In this case, the buy-one-get-one-free washer and dryer. Angee was after a half-priced computer.

When the store doors opened at 5:00 a.m., we both scored. Happiness abounded. Then we left to get some breakfast. This is the part of the story where the happiness faded.

In the drive-thru, my credit card was “not approved.”

Let me get this straight. It was used at the store just five minutes ago when I made a major purchase. But now for a little two-dollar bundle of egg, cheese, Canadian bacon, and English muffin, suddenly I’mnot approved?

Not approved.

Not approved.

Ouch.

My sister wasn’t fazed a bit. She whipped out cash, paid for my breakfast, and headed to the next store on our list. But those words “not approved” hung like a black cloud over my head. It bothered the stink out of me. I knew it was just some technical glitch, but that’s not what it felt like.

When that girl leaned out of the drive-thru window and in a hushed tone said, “I’m sorry, ma’am, but your card keeps coming back rejected,” it felt personal.

Really personal.

Suddenly, my past pain and current embarrassment started running its mouth inside my head. You’re nothing but a loser. You are unwanted. You are unloved. You are so disorganized. You are poor. You are not acceptable. And all that pent-up yuck came spewing out on my kids later that afternoon.

I wish I could tie up this story in a nice bow and give you a pretty ending, but I can’t. It was anything but pretty. I felt awful. And I went to bed wondering if the Lord Himself might come down and say, “Lysa TerKeurst, I have had enough of your immature reactions. You are no longer approved to be a Bible study teacher. Look at you!”

But that’s not the Lord’s voice. Our Lord doesn’t whisper shameful condemnations. Convictions, yes. Condemnations, no.

As I stared wide-eyed into the darkness that enveloped the room, I whispered, “Give me Your voice, Jesus. I need to hear You above all this mess. If I don’t hear You, I’m afraid this darkness is going to swallow me alive.” Nothing came. I couldn’t hear a thing.

So I had a choice. I could lie there in the dark replaying the awful events of the day, or I could turn the light on and read God’s Word — His truth — which is the best thing to do when lies are swarming and attacking like a bunch of bloodthirsty mosquitoes. Lies flee in the presence of truth. And while reading God’s truth that night didn’t change the fact that I needed to make things right with my kids the next day, it sure did give me the courage to do so.

Dear Lord, please drown out the other voices . . . please hush them . . . and speak. I want to hear You above all the noise. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Alright people, have an amazing friday and enjoy the rest of your weekend! :)

xxx, kwiksie~

Got it! :)

Hi people! I trust all is good with you all. Remember that video i told you i watched, about two posts ago? The one by a 'Jackie Hill'? Yeah, well it's titled Only the Good Die Young and you can just click on the title to watch it on youtube. Trust me, it's worth every second of your time...don't let bad network discourage you (for those of us that may apply to) lolz.

That's all i basically came to drop off, gotta get my head in them books now cus exam's just round the corner. Talk to you later folks.

Stay blessed okay? :)
xxx, Kwiksie~

Home IS the bEsT!!!

Hi people! What's been happening? Well, right now where i'm at, 'freeze'  is the code word. The rains have come with a vengeance i tell you!
Well, our exams will commence in about a week, the semester is winding down to a close and belieeeeeee me, aint nobody as eager as i am to get back home!!! Just the thought of it is given me goosebumps as i speak! Oh...wait, that's just the cold weather. lol You get my excitement either way.
Speaking of home, i read this great devotional today about how we can use even our homes to reach out to folks, meet them at their points of need  and stuff like that. Let me share it with you. :)
Ps: i made no contribution to it whatsoever, i got it in the mail! Just to clear any doubts. Hehe
Enjoy!

Your House is a Lifeboat
As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. — Joshua 24:15 For many years, Noah and his wife refused to buckle under the temptations of wickedness all around them. In fact, outside their immediate family, they did not have one friend who believed in God or was living a righteous life. Can you imagine what it must have been like to be so alone? The town — and the neighborhood — where Noah and his wife lived was soaking in sinfulness. According to the Bible, the world of their day was literally “full” of immorality. So reprehensible was the behavior of these people that God regretted having created them in the first place and decided to wash the slate clean. But on His way to starting over, God bumped into a faithful man named Noah, his wife, and their three sons and their wives. From the time their sons were small, Noah and his wife surely included them in conversations about God. They must have prayed together and spoken of the majesty of God’s creation. Deep inside this story is something very special. Noah and his wife opened their home to lost people. We know this because the women their sons married were counted among the righteous who came aboard the ark. This means that even though they came from homes where God was not worshiped, these women’s lives were changed by the influence of a believing family that welcomed them and loved them. For Noah and his wife, the choice was clear. In spite of temptations to conform to the culture around them, they — and their family — chose to serve the Lord. You and your family can do the same. It may not look like it, but your house is a lifeboat. Your storm-tossed friends and your children’s confused playmates need shelter. They need safety, instruction, and a display of love from a family that knows and worships the true God. Your family may be their only hope. A safe little boat the shape of your house is floating in your neighborhood. Prayer:  Our great and wonderful God, empower us to live lives that please You. Help us to be winsome messengers of Your Word and to show others the love of Jesus. Use us to lead people to Christ. Amen.

Hope it blessed you as it did me.

Stay blessed wonderful people, and keep them smiles out...please.

xxx, Kwiksie~

They come and they go...

Hiiiii people! Wow, it feels like it's been ages...well, i guess it actually has been.

Happy new month to you all, i hope you've been doing very well. There's soooo much to update you on and it's been really tough not being able to put anything on here, for reason of the many activities i've been occupied with of recent, and also the very untrustworthy internet access in my school. #yimu

Anyway, God has been faithful all the same. He's kept me (and all you amazing individuals reading) alive and well till this month and that's more than enough to be thankful for; because we tend to take for granted how often things happen and we could have easily ended up as victim whom that unfortunate thing happened to. For instance, just on Monday i got news of the death of this person i knew and the blow was so very heavy. You know how most times when we lose people, especially those known to some degree, we tend to get this reality flash on just how unpredictable this life could be. I mean, barely two weeks ago i was bugging this guy about my ipod and before that we had this juvenile argument about littering, and the next thing...he's gone.
The customary "I shoulda done", "if only i had", "i wish i knew" thoughts took residence in my head for about two days and it was really depressing, but it has also reminded me of the fact that life is waaaay too short to squander on things of a daft nature or to spend procrastinating. For example, times we argue, or hold grudges, or procrastine doing something nice and thoughtful for that one person, going on that diet, cleaning out your fridge, going to visit the family, proposing to that girl, spending time with your children, reaching out in love to that lost soul, whatever it is! Just do it NOW and do it well cus tomorrow might prove to be a cruel sly and nobody likes to be left with nothing but the question..."Why?" At least I know i don't....

God has been my comfort though and just today, i watched this beautiful video by a P4CM poet, 'Jackie Hill' that helped me put alot of things into perspective. Been trying to upload the video but it's semi-impossible so i'll try to put up the link on my next post or something.
Stay safe people...

xxx, Kwiksie.