UPDATE NOTE

Blogmas series this year has been slow.

It has been a combo of many factors.

This is me being transparent.

I thought I would be able to meet up with the timings but I was unable to.

I did a lot to keep up with the days but I could not complete it as I planned.

This is me being transparent.

I will confess that I have been dragging so much these days and the struggle to keep up has been real.

I wanted to keep up with my tradition as I have faced similar times in the past where I still made sure I kept up the proposed plan plan but this year, I did not do as usual.

I will confess it made me floppy but I have decided to be honest with myself.

Personal transparency has to be one of the most difficult self reflective thing to do.

I did not write a Merry Christmas post even though I started a draft on Christmas day.

I am yet to share cards with you as well.

I will still share before the year runs out.

Thank you for being here and if you were part of the Blogmas series in anyway, I hope it blessed your heart.

Until next post, stay safe and God bless.

PREAMBLE

Welcome again.

Welcome to the 12th part of this series.

Let’s ride in.

SURVIVE

To exist.

To be in existence.

It takes a lot to exist.

It takes courage to choose life and exist.

However, in order to survive the decision and will to has to be sustained.

Keeping the will to thrive is strength and for every season that we are in our lives, we need look at growth.

Growth is key

THRIVE

Where you are

Blosssom and grow.

Grow and glow.

Psalms 1:3  And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.(KJV)

Thriving sometimes may mean continuing even when the desire to is not.

It may mean ignitting the passion even when the passion has weakened.

Those who continue to thrive will survive.

However, in order to thrive, patience play a key role.

In the process of thriving resilience is formed.

The man who stays in God will stay with God.

That is the person I want to be

I will confess, thriving has been difficult for on some days.

It has felt hard to continue when all I want to do is give up.

I have wanted to give up when I don’t seen evidence of growth or when it feels like I am going backward instead of forward but thankful that I am still here to share with you.

What of you?

Have you been surving and thriving?

How have you fared?

Share with me.

#daughterofabba

PREAMBLE

Hello there!

Thank you for being patient with me.

I am here again.

Welcome to this part.

Let’s ride in as usual.

PREPARATION

We prepare for important event.

We prepare for important people.

Preparation requires attention to details and even attention differs according top person and purpose, as long as it is important some level of preparation is done.

Success is a product of some level of preparation.

However, the truth is that sometimes our preparation may not be enough.

We may try our best but sometimes our best may not be enough and this can be disheartening.

Does this mean we should stop preparing?

YOUR PLANS

We have certain plans for our lives and sometimes it does not usually go the way we hope for.

Sometimes, we prepare and do all the necessary things but sometimes things the way we plan.

It is possible to set certain benchmarks for our lives and work towards them but still not reach them when we desire.

Just sometimes, it happens that way

As a Christian, making plans is not enough.

God is still the most important factor when preparing.

Proverbs 16:9 A man’s mind plans his way [as he journeys through life],
But the Lord directs his steps and establishes them. (AMP)

How important is God in the plans you are making?

Proverbs 16:3 Commit your works to the Lord [submit and trust them to Him],
And your plans will succeed [if you respond to His will and guidance]. (AMP)

GOD’S PLAN

God has a plan.

This verse was written at a difficult time, therefore its premise is not a jolly one. Therefore it speaks volumes of God’s plans for us even when things do not look the best.

How God’s plan look good even when there is no sign of hope that things will end good?

This has been a question that has been hard for me to answer.

However, it tests my trust in God.

How far am I willing to trust God?

God’s plans for me are good even when things are not good.

God’s plans are to bring an expected end.

To bring me into eternity with Him.

I will comfort myself with God’s promises at all times.

God is good because that is His nature.

Difficult situations can make us loose interest in making plans because it feels like “Why should I bother?” but I am learning to remain disciplined even when I don nit feel like making plans.

There should be a lot to say about plans but I’ll stop here.

You can share yours below.

Until next part, stay safe and God bless.

#daughterofabba

PREAMBLE

Welcome to the tenth part of this series.

It is still a ride and thank you for being here (again).

Let’s ride in..

CHANGES

Seasons change.

People change.

They say “Change is constant”

Change occurs, if not quickly, it happens gradually.

We are subject to change and preferences change over time.

Experiences change us over time, even when we do not notice it or willingly give ourselves to the changes that come.

A man is shaped by the experiences he goes through.

However, it is still within man’s power of choice to determine how experiences shape his life.

Experiences shape us according to how we let it do so.

How have you changed over the years?

CONSTANT GOD

God does not change.

It is the proof of His faithfulness.

Faithful God

God is faithful and His character is ever consistent.

Psalms 33:4 For the word of the Lord is right;
And all His work is done in faithfulness.(AMP)

Everything that God does is rooted in His ability to remain faithful.

This means that we can trust God with our lives and future.

Hebrews 10: 23 Let us seize and hold tightly the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is reliable and trustworthy and faithful [to His word] (AMP)

The question is: Are we willing to trust God with our lives?

We all go through different experiences that shape us over the years and affect our outlook on life.

The experiences are both good and and ones and of course the bad potential of damaging us in ways that that may take time to heal and even if we heal, we heal with scars.

We don’t always have control of some experiences we have, but we do have a control over the extent of response we have.

God helping us

I have been having humbling experiences that keeps making me to depend on God for grace to be conformed into what God is shaping me into.

God shaping me is my desire

Thank you for being here.

It has been a journey and please do not forget to share this with someone.

Until next part, stay safe and God bless.

#daughterofabba

PREAMBLE

Welcome to day 8 of the blogmas of 2022 which happens to be the fourth series.

It has been a long ride and I have hope I will conclude this series in appropriate time.

Let’s ride in as usual..

MAKE A CHOICE

Life is full of choices and even when we refuse to make a choice we stull make choices because the act of not making a choice is still choice itself.

Therefore life is full of choices and it is one of God’s gift to mankind. God gave us the power to make choices and this includes the choice to choose Him as well.

That brings me to say that salvation though a free gift from God can only be received when a man makes a choice to receive it.

We make choices everyday and the end product of these choices affect the quality of our lives and destinies.

You cannot help but make choices

WHAT CHOICES ARE YOU MAKING?

This question is one I need to be reflecting on as often as possible for our choices shape us.

The choices we make for the day starts from the moment we wake up and from then on, our lives are shaped until we go to bed for the day.

The choices we make are first conscious and as they continue routinely, they become subconscious. Let us not forget that we are shaped by the choices we make. Therefore if that is the case, we need to be wise with our choices even in the possible insignificant decisions.

We need to review our choices as often as possible for the choices we make today may not be good enough for tomorrow. Therefore, choices can change and we should be ready to accept this as part of life.

THE CHOICE OF GOD

Okay, God gives us the power to make choices, however we won’t make great choices outside God,

Great here refers to all within God’s will.

There is God’s purpose for each and every one of us and the method we will use to arrive at our destines differ and is tailored by God.

In all, this when we chose God we choose life.

Because God is life

Deuteronomy 30: 19-20 “I call heaven and earth to witness against you that today I have set before you life or death, blessing or curse. Oh, that you would choose life; that you and your children might live! 20 Choose to love the Lord your God and to obey him and to cling to him, for he is your life and the length of your days. You will then be able to live safely in the land the Lord promised your ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” (TLB)

I need to reflect on my choices as often as possible for to make good choices needs wisdom and discipline to follow through.

Discipline is key

God gives us the power to make choices, we receive wisdom to make them and we implement discipline tp pull through and over time, we develop consistentency and enjoy growth.

Kindly share this to others.

Until next part, continue to stay safe and God bless.

#daughterofabba

BLOGMAS 4: DAY 7

PREAMBLE

Welcome to day 7 of this series.

Still taking you on this unique blogmas series that is not going according to plan yet still finding a away to be put up.

Let’s ride in as usual.

SOLACE

We should all have a place we can rest and relax.

We should all have place we can be.

That place can be something we do, a person, a place, or fellowship with brethren.

We need a safe place.

A place to be.

We need to find that safe place and cherish it for what it is.

A safe place is a place where our vulnerability is treated with respect and comfort is provided.

It is a place we can loose guard and be comforted that we will not experience harm.

SAFE PLACE

What is your safe place?

Where do you most comfortable to be?

Have you found people who make you feel safe?

Do you make it safe for others to be?

Do you move with peace?

I have found safe places in certain people. I have experienced what it feels like to be with people who made me feel peaceful and I can say that it is a beautiful experience.

I hope I have provided that comfort to others.

GOD, OUR SAFE PLACE

The truth is that God is our safest place.

We can trust our lives in His hands.

With God, we find solace we won’t find in others. The solace God provides is wrapped in peace and is not conditioned by our feelings and it protects our faith in His word.

Our faith in God’s word is primary for it sustains our life

I have find solace in God’s word for it gives me hope for the future.

I pray you share this experience with me

As usual do not hesitate to share your feedbacks.

I pray you find saety in the right place and with the right people.

There are similar topics on this blog that share this post’s theme, if you have read them before you must have notice that already. If you haven’t, them n you will need to read older posts.

Until next part, stay safe and God bless.

#daughterofabba

BLOGMAS 4: DAY 6

PREAMBLE

Hello and welcome here.

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.

If you are not ready to give up then don’t

Don’t hesitate to share your feedback.

You can also share this others.

Until next part, stay safe and God bless.

#daughterofabba

BLOGMAS 4: DAY 5

PREAMBLE 1

Hello and welcome to day four of this series.

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.

I am grateful for those that have cheered me on.

I love you

Until next part, stay safe and God bless.

#daughterofabba

BLOGMAS 4: DAY 4

PREAMBLE

Hello and welcome here again.

How have you been doing?

Let’s ride into today’s part..

SPARE SOME TIME

To be

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].

I pray to continue choosing life.

I hope same for you.

Until next part, stay safe and God bless.

#daughterofabba

BLOGMAS 4: DAY 3

PREAMBLE

It is a period of many experiences and this year’s blogmas series is different and I am hopeful I will make it to the end.

How have you been in this season?

Making preparations to travel, be with family or staying alone.

Whatever, your plans are I pray they are going well.

With that being said, let’s ride in..

SAFETY ZONE

Is an area of safety.

Safety is a feeling of protection. It is the space away from danger.

A safe zone is a space away from danger.

VULNERABILITY

We express vulnerability in a place we feel safe.

We express vulnerability with the people we feel safe with.

Vulnerability is letting our guard down and opening up.

Vulnerability enable relationships grow.

When we are vulnerable, we express parts of ourselves that we kept in. We give others access to ourselves in a deeper way.

Vulnerability builds relationship on a platform of openness and honesty.

Where there is no safety, vulnerability cannot be well expressed.

ACCESSIBILITY

Vulnerability gives access

That is why when it is compromised, it can cause more havoc.

Whom we give access to, matters.

You cannot give access to everyone

I have had few experiences where my trial at being vulnerable became the reason I became more guarded but I am learning giving access to people is something I should not run away from.

I cannot run all my life

Psalm 27:1-10 The Lord is my light and my salvation—Whom shall I fear?The Lord is the refuge and fortress of my life—Whom shall I dread?2 When the wicked came against me to eat up my flesh,My adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell.3 Though an army encamp against me,My heart will not fear;Though war arise against me,Even in this I am confident.4 One thing I have asked of the Lord, and that I will seek:That I may dwell in the house of the Lord [in His presence] all the days of my life,To gaze upon the beauty [the delightful loveliness and majestic grandeur] of the LordAnd to meditate in His temple.5 For in the day of trouble He will hide me in His shelter;In the secret place of His tent He will hide me;He will lift me up on a rock.6 And now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me,In His tent I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy;I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud;Be gracious and compassionate to me and answer me.8 When You said, “Seek My face [in prayer, require My presence as your greatest need],” my heart said to You,“Your face, O Lord, I will seek [on the authority of Your word].”9 Do not hide Your face from me,Do not turn Your servant away in anger;You have been my help;Do not abandon me nor [a]leave me,O God of my salvation!10 Although my father and my mother have abandoned me,Yet the Lord will take me up [adopt me as His child].(AMP)

I have had to learn to be vulnerable with God and it is one of my favourite things to do.

I enjoy pouring my heart to God

I love to tell God details about my thoughts, and feelings.

I love to know that God is listening.

He listens

It is from some of these conversations that QUIET MEMOIRS:4 was birthed.

You should check it out

I pray to continue to maintain this openness.

Now to you, how vulnerable are you?

Do you have a high fence around you?

Who has a access to you?

Share in the comment section your comments.