Who said It?

‘Who Said It’

As you go through life, as you go about on your daily business you are bound to come across various pieces of information from all walks of life. It could be directions, news passed on to you or it might just be random stuff you pick up along the day.
As human beings, we absorb a lot of information but the question is this - Can we trust the source?

If you’re like me, you might have several social media accounts i.e. twitter, facebook, instagram and a lot of information is put out there. At a time, you could take this for face value but it is always best to get the truth from the person who said it or shared that piece of information.

                                              

Many relationships and friendships are often destroyed because we often choose to believe 3rd party gossip rather than listening to the person that made that statement. At times, someone may tell you something about a particular individual and just like that, a rumour or a lie has been created and if you don’t verify what the person has said then that is how trust is broken. I have seen many instances where people have believed a lie rather than seek the truth of the situation, its rather unfortunate to see but that i reality. 

Let’s address a passage which encompasses this... John 21:22 is a perfect example of this. When Jesus and Peter are having a heart to heart, Peter sees John and enquires about him so Jesus tells him that it’s not any of his business and that he should concentrate on following him. The disciples heard this and the rumour started all because they thought they heard Jesus say something where he didn’t. It can be so hard but it is wise to get the truth from the real source, the person who said it. 

Let’s endeavour to find the truth. Let’s endeavour not to listen to gossip or third party information. At all times, seek the truth and speak the truth. 

Be blessed

Who cares for you?

Around 3 years ago, I went for a routine visit to my GP so I can have my annual check up. My GP asked me how I was feeling so we had a discussion and then he said this - “You care for so many people but who cares for you”

At first, I didn’t really want to answer the question but after I left, I had time ponder on it and I really struggled at answering the question until I came to this conclusion which was If I don’t care for and look after myself, no one else will. It sounds selfish but in reality, it is the truth.
When I was studying and also teaching at the same time, I only had like one day to myself and even then I was always on call, I rarely had time for myself. When I did have time for myself, I always found myself looking after other people before myself. When my body broke down in August last year, that was when I learnt the harsh reality that I really need to be caring for myself more.

There will be times where you will need to be there for other people and if caring is your nature then it will be something that you do naturally however you can’t do care for other people if you are not in the best of conditions. Don’t wait until your body breaks down in order to start looking after yourself, Don’t wait until you become ill in order to start looking after yourself.
I have’t been the best in looking after myself because I had wanted to care for everybody else but 3 years later, I’ve taken a huge leap in finally caring for myself.

Recently, I saw a post via social media and there was a carer who devoted himself to care for other people but eventually it got too much and he took his own life. He cared for so many people but who was caring for him?

Below are a few tips at which you can care for and look after yourself
- Have regular check ups
- Eat healthily / have a healthy diet
- Have time for yourself
- Regular exercise (this could be going for walks or even going to the gym)
- Have a regular sleep pattern
- Set Boundaries

There are more tips I could provide but maybe you could write yourself a list and put them into practice......

Now i’m On the road to recovery, i’ll Be sharing a lot more of story with you all. Be intentional about yourself, be intentional about how you care and look after yourself.

See you all soon.

Being Strong when I am Weak

Hey everyone, it’s been a long while since i’ve Updated the blog. I’ve been recovering and regaining my strength. Over this time, I have had some personal revelations and I have one to share with you all.

Before I was struck down my leg infection, I was of the impression that I was strong in all areas and that nothing could bring me down, it was like I was an immovable force. Oh how wrong was I, when I had the infection, my life came to a halt, for the first time I was down, I was weak. I had to admit to myself that yes indeed, I was weak and I needed help from the people around me whether that was through prayer or through physical support.

During that time, I devoted my time to studying and I looked at a particular passage which I had looked at before but this time it had added importance. Isaiah 38:2-8 tells us of King Hezekiah, he was told by the Prophet, Isaiah, that he was going to die and he should put his house in order. Just imagine and what he was thinking at that point, it must have been shocking to hear this but nevertheless, King Hezekiah showed his strength when he turned his face to the wall and prayed to God. It was then that he broke down and the bible tells us that he ‘wept bitterly’

In the midst, God came through and strengthen him by adding 15 more years to his life. After taking encouragement from it, it was then I realised that in order for me to become strong again, I must first admit my weakness. Admitting you have a weakness and that you need help takes a lot of strength and courage

2 Corinthians 12:9-11 
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

I am now reminded that in my weakness is when I am at my strongest. I pray that you can take encouragement from this. Remember that when you are weak, that is when you become strong......... 

Be blessed always

U2 - Blackout

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U2 have dropped a new video entitled Blackout which comes as part of their new album 'Songs of Experience'

Come and listen to this awesome video. U2 are back with a bang

Your environment #growth

Growth takes place in stages. You can't go from being a small boy into being a man overnight, it doesn't work like that. If something is to grow, it has to be given time and also the right environment to grow in. 

On the church bus home, I was in conversation with a fellow brother about potential and why certain footballers don't progress from being just a 'potential talent'. If we are to look at the state of the footballing world, there are many footballers who no doubt have a lot of quality and the potential to become great. The only problem is that they will never go past potential if they don't manifest themselves and grow into who they can become. 

It is considered to be one of the greatest moments of someone's life when they are given a great opportunity but in front of you, there is a lot of people in the way who are pretty much more advanced that you and henceforth you can't grow at the expected rate. 

Now, I believe that as much into lies with the person alone to want to grow, to want to move past potential, it also lies with their environment. The reason why I say this is because there are some environments that will be not conducive to their growth, in fact it will stagnate their growth. It will grow but just not as it's expected rate. 

Having potential is not enough to live on, you need to be who you were created to be. There's no doubt that we all have a lot of potential but we must go from potential to manifesting who we really are. 

Be strong, go from 'You could be great' to 'I am great'

The testing phase

For a while, I hated doing tests in school. If anything I was scared of them.
The first time I took a test, I got the results back and  it showed me what I was good at and what I needed to work on. It was a blessing to me, I saw what I needed to work on and gave me targets.
Moving forward, I'm longer of tests or exams because I know it will highlight what I'm good at and what I need to work on. 'Everybody is strong until they get tested'
Consider a joy when you go through tests. Tests are there to make you stronger............. This morning, test yourself and check the results.
#tests #examseason #testyourself #strength #weakness #checkup #education #life

Tests also reveal what you need to work on and what you need to improve on. It may also detect how strong something is. Being tested is often seen as a bad thing and can sometimes feel like you are not liked but that really isn't true. It's so they can assess where you are and what you need to do going forward.

Because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
James 1:3‭-‬4 NIV
http://bible.com/111/jas.1.3-4.NIV

When will it stop?

A mother cries out in pain
As the funeral procession goes the lane
A line of people dressed in black
Grieving over the latest attack
In the distance you can hear sirens
Sirens of help
Sirens of danger
Sirens of trouble
And then.........Bang............

When will it stop?
When will the pain end?
When will I see you again?
You've left a hole in my heart?

Love is better than hate
Life is better than death
Obedience is better than sacrifice

As I stand there
Looking on in despair
I hear a voice crying out
I hear the cry of a mother
A cry of a mother, a cry of pain
As the funeral procession goes down the lane

When will it stop?
When will the pain end?
When will I see you again?
You've left a hole in my heart?

When will it stop?

Sirens of help
Sirens of danger
Sirens of trouble
And then............Bang............
A life Screams as it takes its last breath
'I love you, mum' as silence fills the air

When will it stop?
When will it end?
When will I see you again?

When will it stop
When will it end?