This year’s blogmas should be the most unique done so far. You will understand if you have followed closely.
Regardless, let’s ride in as usual.
YOU’LL BE FINE
Yes, you will.
You will figure it out.
You will go through that situation.
You will survive.
You will be fine.
You will pull through
You will be okay.
The truth is that the feeling of giving up will linger at certain times of our lives and in these moments, giving up appears to be the best option and the thought of giving up is most often not voluntary, it is out of frustration.
However, most often than not, giving up is not the solution and when we give up out of frustration, we only end up more frustrated.
DON’T GIVE UP
Frustrated.
Even if you want to give up, come to terms with it and give up peacefully.
At least you can console yourself with the thought that you tried your best.
Isaiah 40: 31 But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him]
Will gain new strength and renew their power;
They will lift up their wings [and rise up close to God] like eagles [rising toward the sun];
They will run and not become weary,
They will walk and not grow tired.(AMP)
While we don’t give up we look up to God for strength not to.
This year has been unique for me and I have felt like giving up many times with reason I could defend sometimes as being valid but am grateful for God’s kindness and everyone who has remained a source of encouragement not to.
The truth is that sometimes giving up feels like the best option but at the end of the day, when we give up out of frustration we will sow seeds of regrets in our lives.
Therefore, when you want to give up, make sure you do it after you are ready to not because you are frustrated.
You are correct, this series has not been flowing like previous ones but I am trying as much as I can to make it work.
Let’s go…
YOU NEED A PUSH
To do certain things.
Sometimes, you need enough encouragement and inspiration to do certain things.
Sometimes, you need to be pushed outside your enclosure to achieve certain feats.
It happens
DOING IT
I promise you, I need the words I share with you
Sometimes you need encouragement to do it.
And reminders too.
If you are someone who chases life head on , then keeping your fire burning is one thing.
However, you need candle lights to keep your fire burning and many of them are people
You need need encouragement.
Me too
FACE IT
Sometimes, you need to face it for what it is.
And just do it
Sometimes, you need to stop holding back and go for it.
Go for it
Face it for what it and do it. I know it may take time and you may be slow but it is better than nothing.
Yes, baby it is
Ecclesiastes 9: 10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead) where you are going. (AMP)
The year has been challenging but I am grateful people in my life that have pushed me to do the things I need to do.
To breathe. To live. To love. To survive. To enjoy.
Stress is not a friend. It causes more harm than good.
From experience I speak. It has given me rashes that only leaves when stress factor is lifted
If we do not spare time to be alive, we will not have that opportunity after we die.
Spare some time
To dance. To be loved. To sing. To be alive
TIME
Is used to create memories.
Even though it waits for no one
I have come to learn very slowly, that it is my choice to create certain memories I want and that has meant going on adventures I would not have thought on going on.
Adventurous Dora
I have felt gradual fulfillment with my new trail. Not the usual pattern but it has not been bad trying.
Time is jealous but we determine what we do with it.
Spare time
To rest. To play. To create. To build
Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.(KJV)
WHILE WE LIVE
Let’s be alive.
Truth be told, it is getting difficult to be cheerful and optimistic. Sometimes, I intentionally black out current affairs from my thought, so I don’t dwell on it.
However, I am trying to chose life everyday even when it does not feel like it.
Ecclesiates 5:18- 20 Behold, here is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat and drink, and to find enjoyment in all the labor in which he labors under the sun during the few days of his life which God gives him—for this is his [allotted] reward. Also, every man to whom God has given riches and possessions, He has also given the power and ability to enjoy them and to receive [this as] his [allotted] portion and to rejoice in his labor—this is the gift of God [to him]. For he will not often consider the [troubled] days of his life, because God keeps him occupied and focused on the joy of his heart [and the tranquility of God indwells him].
Welcome to another preamble on another blogmas series.
I promise you, I don’t know how I will pull this through but I don’t want this year to pass without a blogmas series.
So with whatever energy I have stored in, let’s ride in.
TRIGGERS
Triggers are our body response to trauma that happened on the past. They are like the warning signs that are elicited when a similar situation is about to happen.
They remind you that that you have has such experience before
Triggers cannot be without a previous history of trauma and where there is a trigger, they a story to share.
Triggers can elicit responses depending on the effect and depth the trauma experience was.
N.B Trauma varies and also it’s extent of influence on our lives.
Do you have triggers?
REALITY CHECK
Life happens to everyone
You are not that special in that aspect
It depends on what life does to you and how you allow it do something to you.
Facing reality has to be one of the toughest thing to do.
To look reality in the face and say, I face you for what you are
Facing reality has to be one of the things I have had to slowly accept as a person still living on earth.
Ignoring reality only means accepting fantasy and fantasy is only escaping from what will still be.
It does not solve anything only postpones it
REMEDY?
Psalm 61:1-4 Hear my cry, O God;Listen to my prayer.2 From the end of the earth I call to You, when my heart is overwhelmed and weak;Lead me to the rock that is higher than I [a rock that is too high to reach without Your help].3 For You have been a shelter and a refuge for me,A strong tower against the enemy.4 Let me dwell in Your tent forever;Let me take refuge in the shelter of Your wings. Selah.(AMP)
Triggers humble us.
They show us where we are healing and where we are bleeding.
Knowing this helps us realise that we can depend on God as our healer.
Even for things we never shared with anyone
I am learning in the easy and hard way, that I am not too much for God to handle.
He is well aware of my struggles as much as I am aware of them.
With this, I can always lean into Him. I can find comfort where comfort always resides.
His everlasting arms full of love and comfort
This does not take away the relaity I face but gives me strength to face it for what it is.
I have shared mine on this, what would you like to add in return?
Share in the comment section below.
A session on ABBA’S COURT today. Even if you see this late, you can still join the conversation afterwards. Click on image to be redirected.
BlogMas series this year will not be up to 25 days due to situations beyond my power. Enjoy the days as they come. I hope to still have you here.
I am tired. The past few days have been hectic. Less sleep and good work done.
Cooking and cleaning
I woke up an hour ago to help with cooking. The ingredients needed had been prepared yesterday.
I am also trying to find a suitable dress to wear as I could not prepare anything special.
I thought I would make a dress before today.
Or dresses
I need a suitable dress for the church service.
I also thought I would make my hair before today.
I also thought that…..
Okay, summary is: I don’t have Christmas cloth and shoes and hair.
I am still trying to find a suitable dress, I have seen one but I am looking for an alternative.
I am yet to make Christmas cards and I hope to do that for today.
I hope to do a podcast as well. All, I have been unable to do.
15:08
A lot has happened in between these hours.
Alot
I did the podcast. I did a DIY hair. I got a dress.
There was a morning food prep before the service after having a family devotion.
Service was by 8:45am and we had completed the preparation before 8am which included a 45 minutes devotion
We arrived church and had a wonderful service.
The preacher compared the season surrounding the birth of Jesus to current happenings. The lessons of humility, simplicity and contentment. The preacher also encouraged us to reflect the life of Jesus and to trust God concerning any word He has spoken to us.
Numbers 23:19 God is not a man, that He should lie; neither the son of man, that He should repent: hath He said, and shall He not do it? or hath He spoken, and shall He not make it good? (KJV)
The preacher encouraged us to know history as it solidifies our knowledge about events and their repitition even in our time.
After service was eating. We had food and drink in the church and merried together.
I stayed behind with some of my siblings to have a choir practice then we stayed to have personal singing practice.
I took pictures with loved ones and returned home.
I shared personal conversations with a loved one.
Opened my phone to recieve messages from friends and those on my contact list.
My favourite movie house released the third episode of their current series and I am pumped to watch it.
I will share all the goodies at the end of this post.
Meanwhile, I return to continue creating cards.
21:42
I had meaningful conversations with a close friend after promising to give a video call, which I did.
Had more chunks of fried meat, chin-chin, cake, drinks and soup in-between creating the cards.
Had more conversations with friends. Sent messages and connected with friends.
I published the podcast for today after creating a cover for it.
I created an email for those on my email listing with a different card made for them.
Click to subscribe
Had more chunks of meat
Had meaningful conversations with a loved one.
I will share an indirect summary of what we shared.
Ecclesiastes 3:10-11 I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.He hath made every thing beautiful in His time: also He hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.(KJV)
Did you spend the celebration with family, friends or alone?
Who is Jesus to you?
What package are you still expecting from God?
CONCLUSION
Today was interesting.
I was initially moody today but I thank God I shook it off and allowed myself to enjoy the moment.
I have tons of things to still do and I am trusting God to complete them before the year is over.
I really want to do them before the year runs out.
I do not want to miss anything needed to be in this post. However, I won’t pressure myself.
I am grateful to finally conclude this series.
I shared with you so many goodies to munch on. I could not not pictures of the meals I made with family as a way of beautifying today’s post but you can enjoy the extra contents shared today.
So, this year’s Christmas is special for me because it is the first I have had with my family in the last 7 years.
It came with responsibilities as well.
Pots to fill with raw meat to cook and fry.
In the course of preparation, I have had burns, bruises and blisters.
I will focus on the blisters.
On day 17, I experienced them after a long time of not having them (like many years) and today I experienced another round. They are quite painful to touch and when I move my fingers.
The reason I got these blisters?
I got them because the knife I had used was blunt and the handle had no protective case.
As I struggled with the bluntness of the knife, my palm suffered under the pressure.
After moments of cutting, I released the knife to see the blisters.
If the knife was sharp and had a protective case over the handle, I would have prevented the blisters.
This brings me to say that unless we are well equipped with the word of God we will be ineffective (poorly effective) and also hurt our walk with God.
2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.(KJV)
Blisters can be used to represent shame as used in the above passage.
It is the knowledge and understanding of the word of God that has become internalised and practiced that keeps us from shame.
The shame of sin and ignorance
No one who has experienced the truth in God’s word will live in sin because the word of God has the power to transform our lives.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. (KJV)
Only those who know the truth can use it.
And use it well
NOW TO YOU
Have you had blisters before?
Do you study the bible?
How much of the Bible have you internalised?
CONCLUSION
Today was quite hectic.
II love cooking and cleaning at the same time. I love keeping my environment as clean as possible and it makes me very happy and confident.
This brings brings to share an experience I had recently.
I misplaced my earphones and had to spend about two weeks without one. I finally decided to get another and made my way to the kiosk where I could find a replacement.
I asked the young man for the available earphones and their price ranges.
He informed me and presented me with their packages to select my preferred one.
I was discontent with what I was seeing and asked for a brand I had used before.
He presented it to me and with confidence told me that the previous one he had given me was better.
“Better? How?” I asked.
“The sound is better. I have tested all the earphones in my shop and this one is better”
“I have used this one before so I am more comfortable with it” I said referring to the earphones I had specially requested for.
He smiled and shrugged his shoulders “I am sure that this one is better than that one” he continued.
Our conversation was light and hearty and I did not feel pressured by him.
To let me know he was quite confident of his review, he offered to reduce price of the one I was holding and maintained the price of the one he had specially advertised.
Both of them were the same price.
I was getting convinced but I was not willing to take the risk.
After debating with myself, I requested to test them.
The issue was that the one he had given recommendation on could only be opened once. Therefore opening it meant I was willing to buy it.
I tested the one I was holding and became skeptical of the sound. All the while he was looking at my facial expressions and smiling.
“Okay, give me the one you are talking of, and if I open it that is it”
He handed me the packet and I took the risk to open it.
To my surprise, it was exactly what he had described. I happily expressed my satisfaction to his delight.
We both shared a laughter as I paid him before taking my leave.
This experience imprinted something on my heart. There are those who know and when they tell you what you need to know, you have to believe that they know.
Following ignorant people is equivalent to seeking disaster.
Matthew 15:14 Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. (KJV)
It is one thing to be ignorant, it is another to follow another ignorant person.
EVERY DAY IS A DAY TO LEARN
I have been learning so much in the last weeks. Even without expecting to learn something, I find myself discovering new things.
I love these experiences. They feel like solving puzzles. It gives me a great excitement knowing that I just learnt something new especially when I was not expecting to.
As a Christian, I believe in the Holy Spirit and His ability to teach me all things including the things I do not know.
My participation is needed to listen and obeyand do.
John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.(KJV)
NOW TO YOU
Are you a planner?
Are you most of the times confused of what to do with yourself?
Who are you following?
Do you learn quickly?
Is the Holy Spirit real to you?
What unique experiences have you had by listening and obeying the guidance of the Holy Spirit?
CONCLUSION
So…today was quite productive. I sent out an email to the subscribers on my mail listing. I shared with them details I am not sharing publicly and they will get to see more details I won’t share to everyone.
Also, today was quite interesting and filled with lots of work. Kitchen work in preparation for Christmas a part of the activity done.
I had to publish this post halfway because I did not want to miss the day. My hands were busy in the kitchen when I published it. Hours later, I am adding the remaining content.
I was also able to do some updates on my foodblog which I had stalled for months.
Okay…I stop here.
I am super grateful to God my ABBA for so many things. I am super grateful and thankful I get to call God ABBA.
3 days left and this series will be over for this year.
It has been a ride.
WHY?
So, I ask myself this question frequently.
Why am I doing this? Why do I love this person? Why am I making this effort? Why am I…?
I believe asking ourselves the question ‘Why?’ is important in revaluating certain decisions.
THERE IS A REASON
For the why….
I am discovering the reasons for my whys and I am learning to embrace what they signify.
I am learning to stop wrestling about certain things and instead appreciate the perspectives I am presented with even I do not find it as pleasant as I desire.
From some of these experiences, I am applying lessons learnt and getting relief as well.
There is a reason.
Find your why
Ecclesiastes 7:25 I applied mine heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason of things, and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness and madness: (KJV)
There are times that understanding the reason is not tangible because of the intricacy of the decision.
Let me call it a leap of faith
There are times like Peter, we walk on water only because Jesus asked us to come not because we understood why.
However, I have learnt even for times when the why was not clearly understood by me initially, the understanding came later.
SAFE BACK UP PLAN
So, my back up plan is to remain in God and allow His will be real in my life.
It is possible to stifle God’s will in our lives
For the times I understand why quickly for the times understanding takes a little bit more time, I choose to be willing.
It is a choice
Psalms 32:8 I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. (KJV)
NOW TO YOU
Are you logical with your decisions?
Do you seek for reasons?
What is the back up plan for your life?
What does God’s will mean to you?
CONCLUSION
I will confess…..
I sometimes want to skip some days. However, for this series I appreciate myself for reducing some of the pressure to write I often give myself.
So today I am determined not to be late in typing today’s post.
Let’s gooooo
NEGLIGENCE
This word is commonly used within the healthcare system, however it can be applied to any functioning system.
It is used to describe a careless attitude towards a specific duty. It is the failure to properly manage a designated responsibility.
Negligence can either be due to ignorance, carelessness, malice or irresponsibility.
You can say I am repeating myself
A negligent person spells incompetence and most times it could be a result of refusal to seek better help out of personal pride.
OVER ANXIOUS
Forgive me. I do not think there is an English work like the heading of this part but for creative purposes, I use it.
Unlike negligence, an overly anxious person is fragile.
A negligent person often needs more stimulus to understand the alarm the present situation which is often life threatening. Whereas, an overly anxious person has excess stimulus to keep as many people as possible awake.
Anxious feelings can be transferred especially if receiving end is also fragile.
I have dealt with anxiety and I have been vulnerable with very few people. Sometimes, my vulnerability in some of those times were recieved with tiredness.
Passing your anxious feeling to another person can fickle them
Anxiety has waves which can be transmitted especially if there are relievers with reception.
I have been learning to keep my feelings of anxiety under check and meanwhile learning to use the word of God.
Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.(KJV)
Some translations use be ‘anxious’ for nothing
MORE THAN A DOUBTING THOMAS
Is one who doubts even in the presence of substantial evidence.
Thomas insisted on evidence and after seeing it, believed but one who doubts more than Thomas does not accept evidence.
John 20:29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.(KJV)
When it becomes a lifestyle to easily doubt, we make Interractions tedious than usual.
When do not give people a benefit of doubt, we easily lose before we get the chance to gain.
When we are even worse in the presence of evidence we send a message that interactions with us are tedious.
We can however choose Mary’s model
Luke 1:45 And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord. (KJV)
NOW TO YOU
Are you occasionally negligent?
Do you deal with anxiety?
Do you doubt easily?
Are you worse than Thomas?
CONCLUSION
I am grateful I got to type this out.
It has been interesting writing and keeping up and missing posts as well. All has been part of the process.
I keep learning something new everyday and I am grateful for that.
Today, finally made good progress and I am very grateful for that.
Some individuals are so good at lying that they make truth a joke.
Telling a lie can come in different forms. Either as a white, black or rainbow lie.
Okay. It is still a lie
Some people tell lies then admit before they are caught.
Some people lie and admit after they have been caught.
Some people lie and never admit, whether they are caught or not.
I”It was a lie. How can a truth be told to admit the lie. The lie has to remain a lie”(they convince themselves)
Sometimes, a lie leads to the suffering of an innocent person.
Sometimes, an innocent person suffers because of a lie.
Sometimes a lie is told because the liar wants to protect someone
A person who lies frequently and unashamedly without remorse is a pathological liar.
These kind of liars will never admit they lied even if a clean evidence is presented. They always have a way to ignore glaring evidence.
At this point, I checked the dictionary interpretation of a pathological liar
A pathological liar is one who lies compulsive including for unnecessary reasons. Meaning, they feel a sense to lie even when they do not need to.
Sometimes, people lie by pretending.
“I am not offended, it’s okay”
While they boil internally with rage and a fake smile pasted on their face.
Sometimes, people lie by talking too much.
Ephesians 4:25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.(KJV)
Telling a lie is harder to maintain than the truth.
TRYING HARD TO DO WAHT YOU FIND DIFFICULT TO DO
There is one chore I love doing but over the years I have not mastered.
It is arranging clothes.
I love neatly piled clothes but find it difficult to arrange mine the way I like it.
I have seen individuals who do it so well and accomplish the task of laying their clothes well onto each other.
I don’t want to say envy
I admire them greatly especially every time I try doing mine.
Bringing back the conversation on telling lies and truth. If you are a liar, telling the truth will become a herculean task. It is possible you admire those who find it easy to tell the truth but when it comes to you, you struggle.
Unlike my struggle with achieving a proper well laid clothes, telling lies bears heavier weights on the effects it causes.
First, identifying that telling lies is a problem is a good step to dealing with it.
secondly, telling lies is a habit.
How about unwinding a bad habit?
Telling the truth may not become sudden but it can be developed.
This depends on if you see lying as a problem
Thirdly, lying harms you in a way that becomes evident when you need help.
Remember the boy that cried wolf?
A liar when discovered cannot be trusted. That is a taint for life when it becomes a mark of identity.
Matthew 5:37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil. (KJV)
Yes be yes and No be no
However, if you remain a shameless liar, you either need psychological evaluation or deliverance.
There are consequences and aside temporarily physical ones which has been summarised already, an eternal one remains.
Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.((KJV)
Deeperlook 