The Purpose Driven Lady Magazine Issue 5

The Purpose Driven Lady Magazine

March-July 2017

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In This Issue

The Purpose Driven Lady Magazine

Purpose Driven Lady is a movement in which busy working women are encouraged to take action to find their purpose, position and purpose so that they create their reality and live their best life.

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Hello Hello, I hope you are well. How are you doing; I choose to trust all is falling in pleasant places for you.

I have been busy with my new book that I coauthored with 19 courageous women – ‘Love Unboxed” that was released Feb 2017.

It made it to International Best seller in 5 countries.

Amazing right! Yes I know, I still giggle every time I think about it.

I am currently working on another book project.

This is the cover for my new book set to be published July 2017.

Is the cover intriguing, does it make you want to know more? Would you like to be part of the book project?

Send your interest to omotokin@ yahoo.com Thank you for your time.

Please let me know your thoughts.

Also if you know of anyone who is a busy working mom, living a purpose driven life and making a difference, who would like to be part of the book do send them my way.

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Loads of love Omowunmi aka Toks

The Purpose Driven Lady Magazine

March-July 2017

Please join us for

our Sunday (10am) & Friday (7.30pm) Service and experience Worship, Healing, Love, Word and Grace.

For more information please visit www.kingswordlondon.org Join us online at http://www.kinswordlondon.org/live-streaming/ http://www.kingswordlondon.org/audiolivestream/ Tel: 07502207605 Email: hello@kingwordlondon.org KingsWord International Church London raising a supernatural army

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Letter

from the

Editor Hi, everyone and welcome back to another amazing issue of The Purpose Driven Lady Magazine. We are kicking things off in this issue with an article from, Morenike Asaju on “Your Words Shape Your World”, which encourages you to consider what you are saying to yourself because you create your world by the words you speak. This reminds me of a quote I read recently that said “be careful what you say to yourself because you are listening”.

I am also very excited to announce the launch of my latest book “Love Unboxed “ that I co-authored with 19 courageous ladies. Love Unboxed was launched 2nd February 2017 and it quickly became an International Bestseller in 5 countries within 24hours on Amazon.

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Love Unboxed is an anthology by women for women; it contains 20 Real, Raw, Uncensored Stories Of Struggle And Recovery That Will Heal, Transform And Inspire You To Be The Real You. Click here to get a copy.

If you haven’t read Issue 4 of The Purpose Driven Lady Magazine yet, I encourage you to go and read it and check out Diary of a Purpose Driven Lady by Bukola Oragbade (p. 19).

This issue’s theme is on Purpose & Relationship and there are lots of articles digging deep in it. Deby Okoh’s articles on Maximizing Singlehood: Enjoying your life as a Spinster have been getting amazing feedback and she continues along the same style with a play titled “Beautiful in its time Ep. 1.

The Purpose Driven Lady Magazine

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n closing, I want to say a big thank you for reading our magazine. If you like what you read here, please help us share the link and spread the word. With your help we can get more ladies aware of the Purpose Driven Lady Magazine. If you have any ideas or suggestions you will like to see here as long as it is purpose related, feel free to send me an email at info@thepurposedrivenlady.com The journey continues in 2017 for The Purpose Driven Lady Magazine; here is to Clarity, Confidence, Colorful and Courage.

SO UNTIL NEXT ISSUE REMAIN AMAZING BOLD & COURAGEOUS, REMEMBER IT IS POSSIBLE AND YES YOU CAN, PRESS ON!

To living In Purpose, Omowunmi aka Toks

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26 10 Celebrating a one in A Million Mum Words are not enough to say exactly how I feel.

You have been my rock when I could not stand My cushion when I had no place to lay my head My wings when I could not fly anymore

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Lets talk PURPOSE Jeremiah 1:5

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“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”

HOW TO DISCOVER YOU PURPOSE

LET’S TALK ABOUT ROMANCE We recently celebrated Valentine’s Day across the world and while there is a HUGE misconception of what romance is and how it is to be celebrated, women are romance personified, oozing the fragrance of affection once it is fixated on something/one we liked, wanted, desired craved or cherished.

43 UNLOCKING YOUR PURPOSE In a recent conversation with a friend, she complained about how she’s been constantly feeling dissatisfied in life. And despite having a good career, she can’t help but still feel that there must be more to what she’s doing that would make her life more meaningful.

YOUR WORDS SHAPE YOUR WORLD - 11

MORE TO LIFE - 32

UNSUBSCRIBE TO BAD RELATIONSHIPS - 17

Living Fully - 36

FROM FAITH TO FAITH PART 2 - 18

QUIT PRAYING - 39

NO ONE LIKE YOU - 21

AVOIDING BURNOUT AT HOME - 41

Interview with a Purpose Driven Lady - 22

BEAUTIFUL IN ITS TIME - 46 Written by Deby Okoh

YOU ARE PACKAGED FOR GLORY - 25 MY BEAUTIFUL SCAR - 29

CONTENT PAGE In This Issue

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The Purpose Driven Lady Magazine

Featured Contributors

Esosa Ikolo

Magaret Akanni

Tomike Ogunleye

Oyekemi Akinlaja

Olabisi Oluyele Adebiyi

Deby Okoh

Tayo Olumakin

Jumoke Ekong

Jumoke Badmus

Aminat Alli

Morenike Asaju

Nike Duro- Ishola

Marcia Batten

Shola Ezeokoli

Tiwatope TundeOlowoAke

Jumoke Poku

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In This Issue

The Purpose Driven Lady Magazine

Celebrating a One in

A Million

Mom Words are not enough to say exactly how I feel.

You have been my rock when I could not stand My cushion when I had no place to lay my head My wings when I could not fly anymore My strength when I had none left in me My support when I had no place to turn to My bank when I had no money on me My food bank when I had nothing to eat My voice when I could speak no more My defender when I had no fight left in me I love you more than words can ever portray You mean so much to me Should I have to come through this road again I will choose you over and over and over again I love you very much mom.

Thank you for everything and much more I can’t even begin to list all the goodness you have shown Not just to me as a daughter but to and not limited to Your family, Our family, Your friends My friends, Your Cousins, Total strangers Your extended family at large Ma, words are not enough I bless you today with every thing I have in me You will live a long full healthy life You will reap the harvest of your hands You will enjoy the nighttime of your life Ma. I love you so much Happy Mother’s Day to My One in a Million Mom Francisca Fasheke Okin (Nee Cardoso)

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are s d e e n y

M

met

YOUR WORDS

SHAPE YOUR

WORLD

aid

re p a s l l i yb

M

read a book with this title “Your Words Shape Your World” a long time ago. I kept it for a very long time reading often as it had some truths that I needed to keep remembering. It is quite possible to hear or read something life changing and somehow forget all about it in a very short time even though you were so sure you could never forget it because it was so profound when you caught it. This reminds me of the story of the parable of the sower.

Matthew 13:3-8: Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the

sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.

I heard a message many years later and it awakened that revelation about words and till date, the only thing I remember is something the speaker said, that because we belong to God, we cannot be stranded.

I have repeated this statement so many times that it is like reflex to me. When a difficult situation arises that appears to put me in a tight corner, I just say I cannot be stranded, I do not care what has to happen but I cannot be stranded and I have seen doors open for me, buses arriving just in time, funds coming in miraculously and the list is endless.

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I have many of such statement I declare – I cannot be sick, my needs are met and my bills are paid, I have peacenothing missing, nothing broken and nothing lacking just to mention a few.

1 Corinthians 10:13; John 14:27; 2 Corinthians 9:10; 1 Peter 2:24.

Fact vs. Faith Sometimes our words are just a reflection of what we see as facts. My husband use to say fact is not a denial of faith whenever I confess I am healed when my body is feeling down. I told him fact is not the same as truth and faith comes by hearing the word of God, which is the Truth.

Let me explain with a recent example. I enjoy watching crime drama and I was catching an episode of Special Victim Unit (SVU) where a girl was assaulted, she was asked to identify her attackers when she got to the hospital. She identified a few men and one of them was a security guard at the rave where the incident occurred.

He was arrested. To cut the story short, he initially appeared confused but a detective discovered he had Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and that changed everything. With help, he remembered what actually happened - Just before the girl was assaulted, the flares at the rave

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went off and he suddenly blanked out. He was back at war, seeing the girl hurt, he jumped on her to protect her thinking she was his female colleague who had been wounded in the war.

In his mind, the female colleague was this girl being assaulted but to the girl already assaulted; this guy was one of the assaulter. He was the key to the entire case and helped the investigating officer with his keen army eyes to fish out the real perpetrators and justice prevailed in this particular episode.

This story shows that some times, facts are not the truth. I choose truth over fact any day because ‘Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life… John 14:6.’

We need to rediscover what the truth is.

Truths like: 1. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the adversary, Psalm 107:2.

2. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. John 8:36 3. Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. 1 Peter 2:24

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4. Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. 3 John 2 5. For he has made him, who knew no sin, to be sin for us; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

2 Corinthians 5:21.

Let us revisit books like Kenneth Hagin (Senior) “I am”. Let us write out our confession of God’s word ‘For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. Romans 10:10’ and declare it day and night. Joshua 1:8 - This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

Let us revisit books like Kenneth Hagin (Senior) “I am”. Let us write out our confession of God’s word - ‘For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

Romans 10:10’ and declare it day and night. Joshua 1:8 - This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

If you are not seeing the future you want, change what you are saying. You can do this by changing what you are hearing - ‘So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17’ and what you are seeing because believing is seeing but seeing is not believing - ‘the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; Ephesians 1:18a. ’Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 1 Peter 5:8’, “For the Lord God does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets. Amos 3:7. But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9.

So I ask you, what are you saying to yourself and the world at large because this is what God is saying about you: I know the plans I have for you, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Jeremiah 29:11.

To shaping your world by your words,

Morenike Asaju

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March-July 2017

HOW TO

DISCOVER YOUR PURPOSE Do you want to walk in your purpose and calling?

How do you know what it is?

I follow Michael Hyatt and I listened to one of his podcasts, which revolutionized my thinking as far as calling is concerned. I am one of those few people who discovered my calling early in life and I have consistently worked towards it. Little did I know that there are practical steps that you can take, questions that you can ask yourself that can guide you towards finding your calling.

The word “calling” comes from the Latin word Vocare from where we get the word vocation.

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My calling is to teach people to live a balanced life. I do that through my work as a doctor, a life coach, a writer and a speaker.

No one can discover your calling for you only you can and you will need time to sit down, pray and meditate. Your calling will feel as though it comes from outside of you but calls to something on the inside of you. It will have an appeal on many levels and it will be hard to ignore. It is your service to humanity. You have a choice to show up or refuse to answer the call. Your world will however be better if you answer your calling and live fully. Your calling will be of benefit to others and not just you. If it only benefits you , it is not a calling.

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I believe your calling can be found at the intersection of these three things: Passion, Natural Competency & Value.

These three do not stand-alone and can be likened to the three legs of an old fashioned bar stool. Without all three legs, you don’t have a reliable stool.

Let’s dig deeper into these three key factors:

Passion:

Ask yourself these questions: What did you like to do when you were a child? What are you naturally drawn to? What books do you find yourself reading over and over again?

What blogs do you follow? What excites you? If money was not an excuse what would you do tirelessly for free? If you do not have passion for it, you will quickly fizzle out when you come to any small obstacle. For example, I am passionate about speaking and writing to inform and teach people. I will write for pay, I will write for free. I publish on my blog weekly and it doesn’t matter whether traffic is up or down. That is passion.

Competency:

What are you good at? Where do your natural talents lie? Are you good at math, organizing, writing, coming up with business plans; getting people to talk about themselves; counseling; solving specific problems; diplomacy. As I said before, you may have to do a lot of praying, meditating and soul searching especially if you have never

given thought to this before. For example I am very good at analytical reasoning and it has helped me a lot as a doctor. I also speak very well. My intonation is a bit strange to most people being a hybrid of Nigerian, Guyanese, English and American accents but in spite of this (or maybe because of?), people listen when I speak. I have also joined various speaking organizations such as toastmasters and the national speakers association to improve my speaking competency. If you are good at something, do more of it to get better at it. If you are not good at something but you have passion for it, it will not yield fruit, passion alone is not enough. Develop your skills and grow.

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Value:

What do people need? What do they want? What are they willing to pay for? If it benefits only you it is not a calling, it is hobby. Your gifts, talents, passions, purpose and callings are meant to be of help to your world. Even if you are called to start a charity (whose beneficiaries cannot pay), if you are passionate about it and good at what you do, benefactors will line up behind the cause! My clients have told me how much they have benefited from my program – “A Balanced Life�

Everyone is seeking balance in some way or the other and my clients pay me to help them find balance in their lives so that they too can pursue their purpose with passion.

Some concluding thoughts: If you have passion with no competency and value, you will give up easily as people will turn away from whatever you are offering. For example, I love stand up comedy, but I am not able to be funny on cue that is passion, no competency. If you have competency with no value to anyone, you just have a hobby. If you have competency and market value but have no passion, you will sooner or later get bored and retire. This for me was one of the point I reached when I was practicing medicine in modern USA. I got bored with the healthcare industry and even though I was very good at what I do, passionate about for treating patients, informing and helping them live healthier lives it was choked out by increasing arcane bureaucratic demands.

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What if you feel you can do a lot of many different things like a jack of all trade, you are multi talented? I can tell you that it is for different phases of your life that you will experience. Take a look with me at Will Smith he started as a rapper, then a comedy actor, then a movie star, and now he is a movie director. If he had sat back and said, well I really want to be a movie director and not got involved in opportunities that presented itself who knows what might have happened or where he would be now.

Start where you are on your way to where you want to be.

I use to sing, my speaking was very minimal, then poetry...Now I speak, all the other activities were preparing me to be a speaker. If I had not taken the opportunities in front of me, I may not be here today.

So in closing ladies, find your place, position and purpose so hat you can live your best life ever.

Shola Ezeokoli Follow me on facebook: facebook.com/ shola.shade Instagram: sholashade1 Twitter: @sholashade1

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The Purpose Driven Lady Magazine

Unsubscribe TO BAD RELATIONSHIPS

W

e sometimes subscribe knowingly or unknowingly to some things in our life that may eventually create confusion and make our lives cloudy.

If you are like me, I sometimes get alarmed

who walks with wise men will be wise, But

with the amount of messages that bombard my

the companion of fools will suffer harm”. 1

e-mail and I wonder how the sender got my

Corinthians 15:33 “ Do not be deceived: “Bad

email address, I ask myself how they manage

company corrupts good morals.”

to creep into my email system unaware. Did I give them my address? How long have I been

I want to encourage you to unsubscribe from

receiving this messages without noticing? Why

habits that you have held onto for years that

is my inbox overcrowded? Why is it difficult to

is preventing you from moving forward and

separate the relevant messages in my email

progressing. Unsubscribe from all groups that

from the junk mails? These and many more

is ungodly and is preventing you fulfilling God’s

thoughts flooded my mind.

purpose for your life, Unsubscribe from that relationship that has been holding you back

This is how it is in so many people’s lives and

and affecting your every area of your life. If you

their relationships, allowing little things to

are honest with yourself, you will list them and

creep into your life and gradually you give

make plans to unsubscribe from all of them.

access to other things or people that are not

I pray that you will make the right decision

necessary for the fulfillment of your destinies.

and unsubscribe once and for all from all bad

You allow people that are not going in the

relationships.

same direction as you into your lives. Like the emails senders, you subscribe to relationships that are not healthy for your marriage, ministry,

Tayo Olumakin

work and life. Relationships that involve gossip, hatred, anger, lust and dishonesty should not be entertained. If you get familiar and comfortable with it, it attracts many more that will mounts up like junk email creating confusion in your lives, ministry, work, career and marriages.

The bible says in Proverbs 27 verse 6 “Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But deceitful are the kisses of an enemy”. Proverbs 13:20 “ He

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From Faith

to

Faith P a r t

A greater ‘word’ produces a greater level of faith and a greater ability to believe for more. Romans 10:17.

Romans 10:17.

‘Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God’. KJV So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ. (NRSV) ‘Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ’ Romans 10:17. NIV Faith is produced in the heart when I hear the message about Christ. It is Christ that is placed in the heart and through the preached word placing faith in the heart –

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I ‘see’ and now I can believe, I believe and now I take action. Belief in the heart is understanding and understanding is experience.

This kind of faith determines your perception - what you see in the human or spiritual arena, perception is everything; as what you ‘see’ determines your thinking, beliefs and therefore action. In Joshua 6:1-2 Even though there was a physical wall around the walls of Jericho, Joshua’s faith allowed him to ‘see the land’ and not the barrier of the wall. Faith sees into the realm of Spirit.

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Taking what you believe to another level Faith must therefore grow and expand in your Christian journey. Each level of growth in God requires faith. Faith increases. It grows and the more you live by faith the better it becomes for you.

How much do you believe?

How much you believe will determine what you can achieve. In Matthew’s gospel, chapter 8 Jesus rebukes the disciples during a storm when they believed that they were about to die. Jesus said ‘O ye of little faith’ It sounded like Jesus was expecting them to have enough faith to rebuke the storms like He did.

Jesus tells us again in, Matthew’s gospel, Chapter 6 ‘not to worry about what we should eat and what we should wear, your Father knows that you have need of these things ‘ and then he said again ‘Oh ye of little faith’. But to the Centurion servant Matthew 8:5-13 He said I’ve not seen so great a faith, not even in Israel’ Faith therefore is quantifiable.

Unstoppable Faith Faith can be unstoppable if we believe and feed it with the word, meditation and prayer. But it ‘grows’ even more if it is exercised during testing and trials.

James 1:2-4 My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance; and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing. (NRSV)

Faith is often tested and how you deal with it shows the level of faith you have.

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Some of the trials of faith include: Difficulties: When you find yourself in difficult situations, what do you do, how do you handle it Demands: The word God gives to you through the prompting of the Holy Spirit, how do you respond Dollars: (Money) With your possessions and money, how faithful are you with it Delays: The time waiting, how patient are you, how is your attitude

Remember Joshua was told that if he meditated on the word day and night he would be prosperous and have good success Joshua 1:8.

Rest of Faith

Again…. there is a faith that rises up out of the Life of the resurrected Lord, living and being in us. His faith as He is ‘the author and finisher of our faith’. It is a faith that doesn’t struggle, but a faith that rests, and from that place of rests He works through us in the true ‘Sabbath Day’ where we cease from our labours.

Marcia Batten There is another level of Faith. The faith of the Son of God working in us. Paul in Galatians 2: 20 says ‘I live by the Faith of the Son of God’ not in God. But as Christ is living in me, Paul further states ‘I travail that Christ be formed in you’. There is a faith that rises out of the resurrected life of Christ that is being manifested in the lives of the believer.

In the new covenant of grace God has provided a level of faith that goes beyond ‘striving and labouring’.

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NO ONE LIKE YOU Who is like Him? This God of mine No sleeping No slumbering Ever there To keep me going I bow in worship He’s not just a man He’s d water walking man He’s not just anyone He’s d peace commanding one He walked on water He addressed turbulence Commanding stillness Water became a dual carriage way Storm silenced never to raise her voice again....

I’m just wondering what manner of man is this?

Mightier than my world Yet tabernacled inside of me

Tomike Ogunleye

JESUS MY SAVIOUR

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Interview with a

Purpose Driven Lady Jumoke Poku

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1.

Please tell us a bit about yourself?

Who are you? What do you do?

My name is Olajumoke Poku preferably called Jummy by families and friend. I am married with two beautiful children. I am a social worker in the adult services.

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2.

What is one thing people would be surprised to know about you?

Oh how I love to dance to contemporary music in traditional African dance style… oops!

3.

per time. For instance I am a child of God, daughter to my parents, sisters to my siblings, friend that stick closer to my friends, wife to my husband, mother to my children, minister in the body of Christ as a whole and so much more. In each role and with each responsibility I fulfill purpose for which I will give an account for in the end.

What is a typical day like for you?

5.

I’m an early riser, I am usually out of bed about 5am to spend quality time with God. I am a mother of two school age children, so I get them ready and drop off to school. As a full time working professional, I’m at work for the whole working day, and back home in the evening for family time.

4.

What does purpose mean to you? Do you know your purpose?

What is your purpose?

Purpose for me is what I‘m on earth for. Primarily, I am here as God‘s creation to enjoy his creation. I know who I am in Christ and I know I‘m set within his will. My purpose is multifaceted, however one thing is clear; I am here as an ambassador of Christ to be who and what HE would have me be and do what HE would have me do

Could you please share how you are using your purpose?

Do you have any regrets?

Oh no! I don‘t do regrets; even when I fail, I learn from it and pick myself back up. I fulfil God‘s purpose daily for everyone I come in contact with I ensure I make a positive impression on them. In the “church sense” of using purpose I am a teacher of God‘s word, I am passionate about God‘s word, inspiring women to stand strong as pillars in their home and hold on to God‘s word for all things.

At present, God gave me a mission to intercede for the body of Christ and proclaim the return of the Lord Jesus Christ our King. My prayer is that there will be an awakening in the body of Christ and the church of God will become eternally focused.

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6.

How has your relationship with God played a role in your success so far?

I am nothing without God and He alone has kept me this far. My success is Christ Himself and He alone owns the credit to how far I have come in life.

7.

What quote do you live by?

Who are your heroes?

Unfortunately I don‘t live by quotes…

LOL; I live by God‘s word alone. So many ministers have inspired me over the years, starting with Kenneth E Hagin, Myles Munroe, Joyce Meyer, John MacArthur, Max Lucado and lots more.

8.

What is the ultimate dream/goal for you?

To be ready and make it back home to Jesus empty! Having fulfilled all He has called me to do.

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9.

In closing what 3 things would you encourage women to do more than of?

1. You can‘t love enough, love God with all your heart, soul and spirit.

2. And love anyone God brings across your way; only through love can the gospel and truth of Christ be revealed.

3. Pray like nothing else matters and depend on God‘s word more than anything else; know God all by yourself.

10.

Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?

I will be making appearance on the Kent Christian radio on the Mindset Makeover Mission for an episode of ‘Eternity Mindset’ on Friday 24th March 2017 at 7.00pm prompt. God bless you.

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YOU ARE

D E G A K C PA .

Y OR L G FOR Nothing catches our Father by surprise. It’s all in the plan.

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 KJV As a child of God, we need to believe one truth and that is nothing happens to us by accident. I am saying that God has a perfect blueprint attached to each of us and there is always a way in God. Always!

That loyal friend That disloyal friend That difficult husband.

That loss of job That challenge That wrong judgment.

It’s all in THE PLAN.

Our Lord Jesus even in death was heading towards glory.

Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

1 Corinthians 2:8 KJV We are in God’s larger blueprint for the kingdom.

Just relax and trust Him and it will surprise you how beautifully it will all turn out.

For He makes ALL THINGS beautiful in His own time.

Oh yes He does.

Jumoke Ekong

There is a way of escape.

The cumulative result is GLORY. Please note that the sickness, betrayal, job loss might have been orchestrated by Satan but ALL AND EVERYTHING will work together for your good.

All, Nothing missing, Nothing broken, Nothing lacking.

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URPOSE G

od spoke to Jeremiah; He told him that before He formed him (Jeremiah), He had ordained him to be a prophet to the nation. Looking closely at that scripture, we can infer the following things 1. God formed Jeremiah in the womb.

Jeremiah was not a mistake; he might not have been planned for by his parent but God knew him before he was formed in his mother’s womb. (Psalm 139:13) Can I tell you today that you are not a mistake, before your parents ever thought of having sex, God knew you would be a result of that union and He

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formed you Himself, knitted your flesh to your bones and He put His Spirit in your body.

2. God knew Jeremiah. God foreknew Jeremiah before he was ever born. God experienced Jeremiah before He ever came to the world. Eph 1:11 talks about us being predestined according to God’s purpose. God had seen Jeremiah’s end before he was even born 3.

God ordained (appoint, anoint, consecrate) him as a prophet before he was born. God had a plan for Jeremiah to fulfil when he got to the earth.

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That plan was to be a prophet. God consecrated (set him apart) to be a prophet. God has a plan for you and He has ordained, appointed, anointed you to be all that He wants you to be.

Purpose?

What then is

Purpose is the intent to which something was created, you can call it the reason for somethings existence.

When God made the world and everything in it, He made all things for a reason.

Nothing just exists for existing sake. To everything there is an intent. You are not just existing to make a perfect number for your family, to fill up space on the earth, to make your family happy or proud, to go to school, get a degree, get a job, get married, raise kids, give them out in marriage and live the cycle of life.

No, God had a plan in mind when He made you, He had a reason for forming you in your mother’s womb and has made you for an assignment.

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Let’s take a look at Jesus, there had been a prophecy about his birth and death thousands of years before He was born (In the garden of Eden Genesis 3). When Jesus eventually showed up on the earth, He made a profound statement, ‘’ I have come in the volume of the books written about me to do your will’’

And He said a couple of times in the bible that,’’ I only do what I see my Father do.

He lived on earth doing His Father’s will till the very end’’ You might not know what exactly God’s purpose for your life is at the moment but you can live your life with a purpose. What does that mean? It means making your life count.

How can you make my life count?

1. By accepting Jesus into your heart as your Lord and Saviour. Life will never have any meaning if you have not accepted Jesus into your life. I remember a song I use to sing as a little child which says, ‘’Life without Jesus is like a donut with a hole in the middle of your heart’’

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Make Jesus the centre of your lives and let your whole world revolves around Him 1 John 5:12, 2. You can make your life count by giving glory to God in everything you do. Glorify God in your daily life, ask yourself before you do anything; is what I’m about to do going to glorify God? Ok so literally, you might not have the time to stop and ask yourself this question but this can be an underlying thought in everything that you do. Will people give God glory by my words, actions and the things I’m about to do? A popular question comes to mind, WWJD = What Would Jesus Do? When Jesus was on the earth He always did the will of His Father; He did and said things that gave glory to God. John 17:4, 1 Corinthians 10:31, John 11: 1-44 You can also give glory to God by making use of the gifts and talents He has placed in you.

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3. By being a blessing to your world (sphere of influence) – make your life count by helping people with your gifts, with your time, energy, and resources.

It starts by asking yourself, how can I make a difference today? How can I be of help to my world? When you start with one person at a time, you’ll start seeing how you can be a blessing to more people, at your place of work, at home, in your community and the world at large.

To living in purpose,

Nike Duro-Ishola

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March-July 2017

ost often in life, you allow circumstances beyond your scope to define you which really is not the best considering the negativity that results from it especially when a scar is involved.

Depending on the book or website you check, the definition of a scar varies but points to the same meaning.

According to dictionary.com, a scar is a mark left by a healed wound, sore or burn (I refer to this as an a physical scar) or a lasting effect of trouble or psychological injury as a result of suffering (I refer to this as an emotional scar). So that means a scar can be physical or emotional.

Emotional scar tends to control us the most because only the individual knows that it’s there. It’s like a bomb on a timer, it ticks and tocks every second and would lead to an explosion, it’s only a matter of time especially if not handled properly. It is like a curtain hiding a whole lot of insecurity, behind it a whole lot of untold stories, layers of bottled up feelings and an injury to the soul. Some deep other shallow. Some heal overtime and could be filed under bittersweet memories while others become the baggage that wrecks future joy. Today I want to talk about physical scar, the one seen and talked about by others.

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doctor must have been annoyed with me. I became very self-conscious for a long time I hated exposing the scar; it was an additional flaw to a long list of flaws I had mentally put together as a teenager. Over a period of time, as I was growing up, maturity set in I finally realised the symbolism of the scar. My matured self realized that the scar was preparing me for the future. eparing me for the future.

Let me explain‌ I am married to the sweetest man ever and was blessed with the fruit of the womb within the first year of our marriage and it was really a beautiful experience. My pregnancy was crisis free thank God. My husband was an angel. My family (immediate, in-laws and friends) were my rock. I had all the support a first time mom could ask for.

I remember having an appendectomy when I was in my teen, there were complications that resulted in me staying at the hospital over a month and when I was discharged, it was with a very funny scar on my stomach. I call it funny because of the comment I get when people see it.

The kindest comment I got was that the

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On the D-Day, my water broke very early in the morning, I was happy at first because I was really looking forward to being a mom, then reality sets in, to be a biological mom means a visit to the delivery room. Being a first time mom I have listened, googled, watched, read and almost overdosed on any information about delivery and newborns and to be honest, I was scared of what goes on in the

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delivery room especially all what could go wrong. I was filled with fear that grew as I approached the hospital. My mind became a movie set with a background running commentary about all that could go wrong (not a good thing at all). Fear was taking over; I had to put a stop to it quickly by reminding myself of God’s favour during the pregnancy. With that thought I entered the delivery room.

After about 36hrs I was taken to the theater for a caesarian section. I had a great team that attended to me; they were doing their job very well. For me it was an honor to be taken care of by them especially in a professional and efficient manner. After delivery lo and behold another scar to contend with but this time I embraced it wholeheartedly.

The first scar I had prepared me for the second scar. It made me realise whatever happens in life, a purpose is attached even if I don’t know it yet. Now there is always this deep and complete gratitude to God on a daily basis for my beautiful scar. It is a symbol of strength, of motherhood, of a battle won on my behalf by the Almighty, of prayers answered.

My approach to my second scar “My Beautiful Scar” as I cal it now has made me acknowledge God’s Grace on my life. I want to encourage you to approach your scar from a positive angle; different from the way you have been doing and watch your transformation as God’s love supercedes all principalities.

Thank you

Alli Aminat

I called it “My Beautiful Scar”, a badge of honor, whenever I feel it; I am overwhelmed with emotions. I feel this sense of pride rise up within me. I came. I saw. I conquered.

My beautiful scar became a daily reminder of God’s favour upon me. When I look at the gift bestowed on me through this process, my daughter (a diamond that will sparkle forever by God’s Grace) my conviction is definite. I will gladly do this all over again. Scars comes in different ways and circumstances, how you handle it is what makes the difference.

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to RE MO

LIFE I

start this article by remembering a conversation I had with a friend a couple of years back

as a teenager. I remember saying “I’m sure there is more to life than just getting a job, getting married and having children”. Of course I couldn’t place a finger on what the ‘more’ was but I knew there was more. Looking back now, I realise that was the starting point of understanding that everyone is made special and gifted with a special assignment.

Understanding this has helped me appreciate myself, my uniqueness, passion and strengths. This has constantly helped me channel my energy to those things that are most important. Not all good things are necessarily important; there are 24 hours in a day, why not maximise the day and focus your energy on decisions, activities, events that will make a difference.

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By extension, I have also come to appreciate the diverse people I’m surrounded with. I appreciate and celebrate their uniqueness and this has made me free. Everyone does not need to do things the same way as I do and I don’t have to do things like them. If you have tried following the crowd and you will realise that what others are able to achieve effortlessly can be a struggle when done alone.

I have also come to understand that the relationships around you play an important role. Some people are placed in your life to motivate you, some to support you, others to bring out the best in you even if it looks like they are annoying.

The right relationships and the information you know to do makes a world of difference.

Start with this understanding and discover the next steps.

The logical questions to follow would be along the lines of - what is this ‘more’, how do I know it? Or perhaps you are thinking

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I’m just a regular lady, what is unique about me? I wish I could provide you with the answers to these questions and more but hang in there while I direct you to the person who has got all the answers you are seeking.

I’ll like to introduce you to your creator, God. The creator of an app is the brain behind the app and knows the function and capacity of the app; so is your creator.

He is so big and busy with everyone but still has more than enough time for you. I like to call Him my Father. He is the brain behind your existence so feel free to ask Him all the questions. Someone might ask, does He speak? Sure He does. He speaks to me and spoke to me this morning. His words to me to check my pocket saved me from going off to work with the car key in my pocket.

That would have affected my husband with dropping our children to school and getting to his place of work.

If you have enough faith to believe that the message you sent on your phone will be delivered to another phone then you have more than enough faith to believe that the God, which you cannot see, is real. God is eager to hear you ask all your questions and He will provide all the answers. He knows all about you and His desire is that you discover your purpose in Him so you can live fully after all He formed you.

This was the exciting or perhaps not too exciting phase for someone like me who does not like adventures. Like every adventure, there will most likely be a map or a plan. You might even know the final destination but between where you are and the destination, there is a journey to explore. Take God with you, He will not only direct you, He will guide you and ensure you get to your destination on time. Even if you make mistakes, He will find ways to get you back on track. This is a phase where absolute trust in the love and power of God (among other things) is key. Know that He loves you so much to bear you up when things are going well or otherwise and He is willing and able to sustain you and keep you till you reach your destination.

Walk with your Maker & Father and He will lead you to the place He had in mind when he created you!

All the best,

Oyekemi Akinlaja

I will like to encourage you to step out and do what you have discovered in God and If you have not fully discovered your purpose; make use of your gifts, time and energy to make life/systems better for someone while you spend time discovering your God given purpose.

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We recently celebrated Valentine’s Day across the world and while there is a HUGE misconception of what romance is and how it is to be celebrated, women are romance personified, oozing the fragrance of affection once fixated on something/someone liked, wanted, desired craved or cherished.

Romance according to Google is defined as a feeling of excitement and mystery associated with love. It could also be defined as a quality or feeling of mystery, excitement, and remoteness from everyday life.

Romance to ladies isn’t just the gooey feeling felt towards someone. It is in how you react to situations. The way you response to everything from when our kids look at us for no reason and say “Mummy, I love you” to the way you read a blog post, a novel or In This Issue

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feel really attached to a scenario in a movie that moves you deeply.

Romance for women is in the DNA. So why would the beautiful experience of romance be restricted to just your husband/fiancée/ boyfriend? Don’t you know you are robbing yourself of a wonderful opportunity to encounter emotions on a grander level that is also as satisfying as sexual emotions/ feeling? This is all about understanding the strength within you and the power available to change lives and be a better you.

Let’s talk about the benefits of exploring your romantic personality, which are endless by the way, and it has nothing to do with your personality traits. Romance adds to some personalities than it does to others, so it does not mean that some women are romantic and some are not.

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to It’s a notion learnt that needs unlearned quickly.

1.

2.

3.

YOU WOULD ALWAYS HAVE A SMILE ON YOUR FACE.. AT LEAST MOST OF THE TIME… women who explore their romantic personalities have a reason to smile almost all the time. They have a much nicer disposition to life. Be romantic for 24 hours and see what happens. It works trust me.

YOU WILL BE A MAGNET TO PEOPLE WHO HAS ROMANCE OR WHO NEEDS WHAT YOU HAVE. People are naturally drawn to people who are romantic or people who have a romantic personality oozing into every part of their lives. Your smile, your walk, your talk exudes the joy of romance. And if you are going through a bad day, heart break or a sad time, it would be contagious.

YOUR RESPONSE TO LIFE WILL DEFINITELY BE DIFFERENT. You will discover that you won’t life so seriously. You will discover that you laugh more and don’t beat yourself over mistakes and a lot of other issues that life plagues us with.

2.

BREATHE. The air. Not for survival but for sheer goodness and pleasure.

3.

SPEAK. Be more vocal about what you feel about things. Don’t think you wil be silly. You will never know if your words are what someone else needs to hear to have a great day.

4.

SHOW. Show yourself how much you care for you and things around you.

How do you feel when you open the door to the fridge and the air hits your sweaty body? Show that emotions to yourself and be expressive about things that are normal to people around you.

So enjoy your romance. It is a gift not just for sex or in relationships or with your children but with all!

Explore the opportunities that lie within and enjoy a beautiful life.

Shalom

Olabisi Oluyele Adebiyi

So, how do you become more romantic?

1.

TOUCH. Yes. I mean it touch and not shove or move stuff but touch. Feel the essence in things around you.

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LIVING

FULLY Desires varies‌ while some are fulfilled by getting a dream job, others want to travel to a special place, get married and have children, most women look forward to getting their first car and buying a house.

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However societal expectations bring up questions in our minds and get us bothered. The society makes us belief that success equals fame; and we have settled to accept that what is important is to be seen only on television or newspaper.

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W

e no longer find value in women that stay at home to raise the children.

Housewives or Stay at home mothers (as they have been labeled) are not considered to ever accomplish anything praiseworthy and they continue to waste their talents on daily routine of housework, cooking, child training, diaper changing and the list goes on when much more can be achieved.

Now, let’s be objective about this. Who gets to define what is important or significant in life? It’s clear enough that we have so long allowed the community/world to define the terms.

Lets think about it, when did folding laundry become less important than filling a pile of paperwork stacked in an office in-box, and why is it believed that it takes no brains to raise intelligent, honorable children and that it requires tactical brilliance to manage employees in the corporate world?

Being a woman is priceless and being a housewife is an admirable profession and there is no reason to be apologetic about it.

Questions that arises doesn’t always end with the societal expectations, in fact, it is closer than you think. The past failures of friends, family members or even your very self has brought huge fear to your minds and has affected your ways of taking decisions. Some have been filled with boredom and loneliness as a result and can’t make meaning of their singleness,

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and the “matured” singles have lost hope.

Let me say this, no circumstance has the right to steal your joy! You decide what you make out of it…and how you can boldly deal with it depends on how strong and grounded you are on the inside. Your days should always be filled with a joy that’s indescribable, that which radiates from the inside out. My dearest, spend time well.

Enjoy every bit of it. Allow yourself to learn “the rhythm of the season”

Oh yes! Most women are lost finding answers to the big question – Is there a way I can get fulfilled? But the main challenge is not the question but where the answers are sought from.

Stop running to the bookstore each time a book is released about women.

The truth is every time you don’t make the word of God your starting point; we are just launching another movement doomed to failure because it is based on human “wisdom”. You need to spend time with the word, for it is the source of our marching orders.

Finding Identity Who you really are can be found only in Christ. Our identity doesn’t hide in our gender, ethnicity, socio- economic background, education level or career status!

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Not all answers to feminism, womanhood, and self-esteem can be treated at seminars, or found in books by great or best-selling authors. You can even go a step further to ask friends… the truth is the real you can only be found in God. What you would become, how you would go about it, can all be taken to him in prayers, a heart-toheart discussion. He hears, and he actually speaks too, minute by minute, only if you would totally hand over to Him. 1 Peter 5:7 ERV “Give all your worries to him, because he cares for you”, Jeremiah 33:3 ERV “Judah (insert your name), pray to me, and I will answer you. I will tell you important secrets. You have never heard these things before.”

God truly wants to get involved in your daily activities, He wants to help you get clarity about life and expand your capacity.

Find your Unique Purpose Everyone has got a life-print and until you find yours, you would continue living lesser than what you can exhibit. God definitely has a road map for you and only you can perfectly fit in it! Enough of living your life and taking decisions based on culture stereotype.

In conclusion, success is in your purpose and God’s will for your life. The society cannot decide that for you, neither will it be spelt out in mere motivational books.

You can only get guidelines even from your mentors. Go back to where your identity lies, remember your true identity lies and can only exist in God and engage in the

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power of what your daddy says about you.

You can be an excellent wife or mother when you know the perfect plan of God for your family, confusion will be out of the way. As a single woman you can actively make impact to other single ladies by living your best life. For the career woman, you have a clear understanding that you are sent to the career world, colleagues look up to you for answers and you know you couldn’t have found this easy without God. Whether you find your life as a woman stifling or freeing is your choice. You can die to self, to your dreams and to our own desires, yet find that you are vibrantly alive and free to pursue the high calling of womanhood with intelligence, joy and zest, that is living.

When you allow the word of God to define you as a woman, you will find the greatest freedom and fulfillment you can ever know.

Tiwatope Tunde-OlowoAke

Sometimes, we do not need to pray.

Yes, the Bible says never to stop praying (1 Thess 5:17), but the same Bible said ‘Wisdom is profitable to direct Eccl 10:10.

- The widow of Zarephath did not pray before feeding Prophet Elijah.

She obeyed with the next-to-nothing resources she had left, and that was her family’s lifesaver till the drought was over.

- The boy with the 5 loaves and 2 fishes, I would like to think he wanted to feed Jesus with his meal when he gave it to the disciples. Little did he know it would feed 5,000 men with several women and children, with 12 baskets leftover.

Both incidences recorded in the bible demonstrate that sharing what you have with another needy one(s) does not impoverish your life, but greatly enriches it.

So, should we still ask God for answers, when the prayer request is within our ability/ resources to provide? Food for thought!

Christianity IS an action verb. The Book of Acts (not the book of Ideas or Words) tells us how it was done then: pray like it depends on God; and work like it depends on us.

Enough of procrastinating by hiding under the guise of praying and waiting for God to answer, when the answer is within your reach.

Your input might not seem like everything the other party needs, but it is always a seed that will not fail.

It is time Christians just like you and I are known for who we are: SALT & LIGHT in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation.

If you will say less and do more, I believe

you would have the same kind of impact the first-century church had.

Don’t get me wrong, PRAY ABOUT EVERYTHING but know when to start acting.

Pray for things that are outside the realm of human possibility. After all, He said in: - Jeremiah 33:3 (AMP): ‘Call to Me and I will answer you, and TELL YOU [AND EVEN SHOW YOU] GREAT AND MIGHTY THINGS, [things which have been confined and hidden], which you do not know and understand and cannot distinguish.’

- Psalm 81:10: “I am the Lord your God, Who brought you up from the land of Egypt. OPEN YOUR MOUTH WIDE AND I WILL FILL IT. In closing, remember God won’t say, “Well said/Well thought/Well planned,” or even “well prayed, good and faithful servant.” The only one commendation He will give is: “Well DONE, good and faithful servant.”

So let us get DOING.

Olajumoke Badmus

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When I get home after a long busy day that involves work, church service and visitations, all I want to do is take a hot bath and go to bed, however my husband & children have been waiting for me. They all want to talk and spend time with me,

have to sort out everyone for the next day as well make some phone calls, texts /email to respond to, study and prepare for next day’s work, read my bible and pray. That wasn’t going to happen if I was snoring away in bed! I had no energy left. I felt worn out—and it wasn’t the first time I had felt this way.

I’m guessing you’re a lot like me. You’ve said “yes” too many times to planning a

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wedding, baking for the birthday party, organizing the trips at the nursing home, taking on a new project at work, to leading a devotion at work, being a leader in church and avoiding guilt by attending every church meeting that was called… and that’s just in one day Whoa!

There is literally always something that needs to be done or someone who needs our attention. Two of my girlfriends have laughingly admitted that they actually eat

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breakfast in the shower each morning simply because their lives are so packed!

Yet when we let our personal lives get overwhelmed, it often overflows in hurtful words, angry actions, frustration, resentment, and bitterness.

Interestingly enough, the same things that lead to burnout in ministry can cause pain at home.

Women have high expectations, and will generally set the bar high, and wont be able to live up to those expectations, Whether at home, in ministry, or at work, we long not just for balance, but for actual “down time” to do absolutely nothing but rest. Of course that rarely happens!

Instead overload and burning the candle at both ends. How can you stay ignited and have a bright flame without getting burned or burning out?

“

Families need time to simply talk without distractions. The ideal time for most is dinner.

I will share reasons you might be burning out at home and what to do:

Lack of Communication Families need time to simply talk without distractions. The ideal time for most is dinner. It must be a time with no phones, electronics, and television. This will keep you abreast of what’s going on in your family. Even a meal shared two times a week is better than none as your family will spend time together.

Not enough delegation And yes, some of the family might have washed some darks and lights clothing together and the end results - lots of grayish looking clothes. But you know what? It’s a learning curve, give your family opportunity to grow. Delegate and then let go. Don’t force everyone to live up to your perfect standards.

Unclear Vision What is your vision for your life, every aspect of it? Take time to write your goals for yourself, for your ministry, and for your family. Be realistic—not overly optimistic.

Mixed up priorities Once you know your vision, it’s a lot easier to set priorities. When I finally decided that spending time with my family; playing

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Lack of Encouragement Humans need encouragement and your family is not an exception. Encourage them with notes, words, hugs, prayers, or whatever else you can.

And make sure you stop for at least five minutes of reflection each day (even if this has to be when you’re driving in the car) and remind yourself, “Hey! You’re doing pretty well! Hang in there!”

Go on a me time break

games, going for walks, and just hanging out was a top priority (based on the vision of having a strong and healthy family), it became clear that a clean kitchen (bedroom, living room, and so on) was not my top priority. My floor might go un-mopped for weeks. But when we’re all laughing together, who cares what the floor looks like? However, keep a clean house and encourage your family to clean up and assign chores to all in you household that is one of the qualities of a virtuous woman.

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I enjoy traveling with my husband anniversary time is a me time for me. Short weekends will do you good and refresh you. Your family will gain a refreshed lady who is rejuvenated and well rested and will be full of life. When on your break DO NOT TAKE YOUR LAPTOP, PAPERS AND ANY PROJECT RELATED ASSIGNMENTS. Enjoy yourself, you are worth it.

To avoiding burnout at home,

Margaret Akanni

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UNLOCKING YOUR

PURPOSE

I

n a recent conversation with a friend, she complained about how she’s been constantly feeling dissatisfied in life, despite having a good career, she can’t help but still feel that there must be more to what she’s doing that would make her life more meaningful.

She made it clear that she’s been feeling this way for quite a while but has been confused about what to do nextshould she get up and quit her job in pursuit of that unknown which may give her the fulfillment she so desires or perhaps she should remain in the job, be thankful for it and hope for the best?

I began to share my experience with her, I remembered how I had this constant turmoil inside me because I hated my job and where I was in life; I felt that the person I had become was not a true reflection of who I was meant to be to. I recall a time in my life when I was an ardent viewer of the UK talent show called ‘X-factor’, aside being entertained by its theatrics and watching the contestants especially the finalists, it created a bittersweet feeling in me. I was happy for them, seeing as they beamed with smiles and how they expressed how much they’ve lived for that moment but in all honesty, I reeked with envy wishing I could have what they had.

Although this was not a funny matter, I couldn’t help but smile a few times as she talked. This was because her story brought back memories of my past and in no time,

While it is very natural to experience the feelings described in the above scenarios, the common factor in both cases point to one thing: Purpose.

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P

Purpose can be defined as the original intent for existence or the original intent in the mind of the manufacturer or maker. For example, when a car manufacturer wants to make a new car serious consideration is given the purpose the car would serve; with that knowledge the car is made.

This illustration explains why the bible says that before you were formed in your mother’s womb God knew you; which means that whether you know it or not, you have a particular purpose to fulfill in life.

Even if you feel your life is so messed up or because you’ve failed in nearly everything you’ve tried your hands at, nothing good can ever come out of our life, I implore you to press on, know that failure is only a temporary event. Let me share the story of Abraham Lincoln who was America’s 16th president. History tells that he became insane after losing his fiancee. Who would have thought that years later, this same clinically depressed man would ‘find himself’ and run for not only congress but the senate and eventually become the president of the United State of America!

Late Dr Myles Munroe rightly put it, purpose is phasal and the older you get the bigger and more of a bloomer you will become. It is never too late to live and walk in one’s purpose. I have a friend who told me he only realised his purpose in his mid to late forties, so don’t for a second

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think that you’re too old to discover your purpose, better late than never.

The beautiful thing about the feeling of unhappiness and dissatisfaction in one’s life is that… it is good yes very healthy too! When you begin to feel frustrated with where you are in life, it is a sign for you to do something different. what you need to do to embrace your purpose.

I will like to share with you steps to understanding and unlocking your purpose, below is a guide list of what you can do.

For me, the very first thing I’d do is to go to God-my maker. As a Christian, nothing replaces the place of praying to God or studying the bible to unravel purpose. In addition, here are other some things you can do:

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i. Start journaling, Write, Write, Write ii. Revisit the past (all the way to when you were a child) to date, to see if there have been things you’ve always been naturally drawn to or had the opportunity to build on; like sewing, mending things, movie production, hospitality and writing just to mention a few. After listing them, analyse it iii.

Ask yourself the following questions: what are you very good at (things you love doing or find easy to do); what makes you truly proud of yourself; when have you been happiest in your life; what qualities do people admire and compliment in you; what things make you feel energised and alive; what do you truly enjoy doing that could make you lose track of timethese could relate to work, personal or home life. iv. By the end of this exercise, you should be able to categorise your answers into passion, ideas, challenge, strengths and dreams all of which guides in discovering your purpose. v. Set your purpose- this means listing actions you will take in the mid to long term so as to pursue and live your purpose. For instance if your current career is not fulfilling, you may write down find a new career in your list of actions and depending

on how bold you are, you may want to quit your current job, or choose to stay on until you actively find and get what you are after. vi. Keep your journal for regular reference and guide.

So now I have shared some tools to identify and live in purpose whether it is to become a singer, pilot, seamstress or doctor, know that it can only happen when you decide to take the first step. Do not let fear of the unknown or self-doubt stop you from stepping into your purpose because the benefits far outlive them.

Living in your purpose will make you flourish, opens up multiple opportunities and ultimately, will give full satisfaction!

Esosa Ikolo www.esosaikolo.wordpress.com

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Beautiful IN

ITS TIME

Written by

Deby Okoh

Episode 1

Introduction ‘Beautiful in its time’ is a story of love, hope, faith, patience and forgiveness.

It’s a story that resonates with your everyday life, from dark challenges to highs and lows, and though you live in this world, you are not of this world; your confidence is in the love of God your Father. That love works all things out for your good and makes it beautiful in its time.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NIV)

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

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“Why are you so irritable?”, Simi asked Mike as she looked at him with disdain.

Mike and Simi were ‘supposed’ to be on a date. They had both decided to rebuild their relationship, which seemed to be falling apart. Having been married for 4 years without being able to get a job, Simi had gradually become a shadow of her former self…not only in looks but in attitude as well. And after having a heart to heart conversation (for the umpteenth time), they had agreed to have a date night and see where it leads them to.

See where it is leading them…!

Mike sighed! His wife never ceases to amaze him. Even when he seems like he’s trying his best and needs a tiny bit of respite, she seldom offers any. I mean, why she can’t stop thinking about herself and her feelings for once is enough to get anyone irritable!

He sighed again.

“I think we should just go home Simi, this isn’t working”, Mike said Simi looked at him incredulously, opened her mouth to say something, shut it and just said a curt “fine”.

I can’t believe he’s giving up so soon. We got here barely 40 minutes ago and we haven’t had a decent conversation. Talk about igniting romance!

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Mike beckoned to the waiter, asked to settle the bill and they both sat in silence while the waiter prepared it.

“Tola, aren’t you ready for church yet?

We’re almost late!”, Izzy fumed!

She was pacing the sitting room and had looked up at the wall clock like 5 times now. She never understood why her husband is the one who makes them late for church almost every Sunday. She would be fully dressed and even done her makeup while he’ll either be polishing his shoes or just slowly doing anything!

She had even begun to think it was all a ploy for them not to go to church but she knew Tola loved God and wouldn’t deliberately prevent them from getting to church early. Or would he? No, he just does things slowly, she reasoned.

“I’ll be done in 2 minutes dear, please bear with me”, Tola shouted from the room Tola came down the stairs in exactly 2 minutes. He had a brown pair of khaki pants, white shirt and white flat moccasins. His two-toned wristwatch gleamed brightly and he smelt heavenly!

Simi’s anger dissolved as soon as she set eyes on him.

“Because you know you are a fine man, you just be taking advantage of me and mesmerising me anyhow”, she sulked.

Tola laughed heartily “You, my dear wife, are more than a beautiful angel”. He gave her a kiss and laughing at her blushing

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face, took her hand and led her out.

Service had begun when they got to church but they managed to get a good front seat as though it had been reserved for them. Even though Izzy hated being late, she could see that Tola was unperturbed as they were ushered to the front. As they sat down, she caught a glimpse of the pastor’s wife looking their way and she avoided her gaze. As she turned her head, she found herself looking straight into the most beautiful eyes she had ever seen and she froze. “…praise and worship….so sorry that we’re late”, Tola was whispering into her ears.

“I’m sorry, what was that?” Izzy asked as she tore her gaze from the disconcerting pair of eyes “I was saying we missed praise and worship and I’m so sorry we’re late”, Tola repeated “It’s okay, let’s concentrate on the sermon”, she said and settled in to listen as the pastor mounted the podium Simi was still fuming when they got home.

She felt Mike just wasted the evening and she was determined to go straight to bed. She got into the room and had just stripped off her clothes when she heard a

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loud clattering from the kitchen. Thinking Mike must have gone into the kitchen to prepare a snack and probably dropped a plate, she thought nothing of it. She went into the bathroom, had her bath, came out and realised that Mike had still not come upstairs.

That’s strange. He doesn’t usually stay that angry. I must have really upset him this time.

Feeling guilty, she decide to call out to him “Mike! Mike!”

Hearing no answer, she walked to the sitting room. He wasn’t there.

He must be in the kitchen, she thought.

She walked into the kitchen and the shock that met her caused her to let out a piercing scream “Noooooooooooooooooooo” Mike was sprawled on the kitchen floor, blood oozing out of a cut in his head. He seemed lifeless.

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Purpose Driven Lady

3Ms

Music Movie Meditation

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Movie

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March-July 2017

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90 Minutes in Heaven is a 2015 Christian drama film directed

by Michael Polish, based on the bestseller Don Piper biographic novel by the same name. It is the first film by Giving Films, a sister company to retail chain Family Christian Stores, and the company plans to donate all profits from the film to charitable organizations.

Synopsis Don Piper (Hayden Christensen), was involved in a horrific car crash and was pronounced dead at the scene and covered by a tarp. 90 minutes later he had been brought to the emergency room and returns to life, and claims to have seen Heaven and visited with deceased relatives while there.

Cast Hayden Christensen as Don Piper Kate Bosworth as Eva Piper Dwight Yoakam as Jon Fred Thompson as Jay B. Perkins Michael W. Smith as Cliff McArdle

Production The project was shot in Atlanta, Georgia, and the shooting finished in March 2015.

Since its publication, Don Piper’s book was twice on the New York Times Best Seller list, was listed as a USA Today bestseller, and has sold 7 million copies in 46 languages.

The producers chose to stay as true to the book which inspired the film as possible: “I think a lot of people read books, especially true stories, and then the movie is not even close to the real story and they make up things. I told Don that I thought the story stood for itself and my commitment to him was that it would be true to the book, and be true period.” Rick Jackson Actress Kate Bosworth stated she “was amazed how Piper’s story affects so many people” and that she felt blessed “to be a part of the movie’s cast.” Filming began in January 2015, and by March 8, 2015, filming has wrapped and the project went into post-production.

Michael Harding as Dick Onarecker Rhoda Griffis as Principal Mary Nell

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/90_ Minutes_in_Heaven_(film)

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Music

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March-July 2017

“Made A Way” Made a way Don’t know how but you did it Made a way Standing here not knowing how we’ll get through this test But holding onto faith you know best Nothing can catch you by surprise You’ve got this figured out and you’re watching us now But when it looks as if we can’t win You wrap us in your arm and step in And everything we need you supply You got this in control And now we know that You made a way When our backs were against the wall And it looked as if it was over You made a way And we’re standing here Only because you made a way You made a way Now we’re here Looking back on where we come from Because of you and nothing we’ve done To deserve the love and mercy you’ve shown But your grace was strong enough to pick us up

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And you made a way When our backs were against the wall And it looked as if it was over You made a way And we’re standing here Only because you made a way [x2] You move mountains You cause walls to fall With your power You perform miracles There is nothing that’s impossible And we’re standing here Only because you made a way You made a way [x4]

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You move mountain [x4] You cause walls to fall [x4] You cause chains to break [x4] Giants fall [x4] ‘Cause you move mountain You move mountain And everything is easy for you ‘Cause you move mountain Yes you move mountain Mountains are moving [x4] Strongholds are breaking [x4] ‘Cause you move mountain You cause walls to fall With your power [x4] You perform miracles [x4]

Don’t know how but you did it Made a way Don’t know how but you did it Made a way Don’t know how but you did it [x4] Don’t know why but I’m grateful [x4] Don’t know how but I’m grateful And we’re standing here Only because you made And we’re standing here Only because you made a way And we’re standing here Only because you made

Lyrics taken from http://www.azlyrics.com/ lyrics/travisgreene/madeaway.html

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Meditation

Making Biblical Meditation a Way of Life

I

n today’s culture, the new age idea of mindfulness has permeated the collective consciousness in a way that has disturbed some Christians. Due to the popularization of Buddhist or pagan ideals, many of those of us who worship the Lord find ourselves cringing away from words such as ‘meditation’ and ‘mindfulness,’ because to us, these words conjure images of non-Christian rituals or ideologies. This does not need to be the case: mindfulness, when you look at its components, is actually a very Christian practice.

Christian mindfulness is the practice of bringing Christian meditation into your daily life.

Those of us who practice Biblical meditation often do so in twenty-minute increments. We set aside a single part of

our day specifically to sit in God’s presence, reflect on a given piece of scripture, and reminding ourselves that the love of the Lord is the most important thing in our lives. Mindfulness is what occurs when you take the essence of meditation and practice it as a part of your life. When you practice Christian mindfulness, you are living Biblical meditation. Instead of isolating the benefits of meditation to a twenty-minute session on a daily basis, you can expand your practice so that you are living mindfully every minute of every day. Naturally, this will greatly increase the efficacy of your practice. The more time you spend actively basking in the Lord’s presence, the happier, more grounded, and more faithful you will feel.

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mindfulness in a way that is conducive to strengthening your relationship with God? In its simplest form, mindfulness is awareness. Awareness is pivotal to reducing stress, improving your life on all fronts, and fostering a deeper, more meaningful connection with God and everything that He has created. Perhaps the most obvious benefit of this practice is one that even non-Christians have touted for years: stress reduction. Stress, regardless of faith, is a devastating force when it comes to our thoughts, feelings, abilities, and every aspect of our lives. From a Christian perspective, stress often serves as an obstructive force which steps between us and God. When we are chronically stressed, our physical health suffers, our emotional capacities for love and worship dwindle, and we find that we are no longer in peak condition to work on our relationship with God.

By bringing mindfulness into our everyday lives, we can experience the simplification of thoughts that we relish during meditation. When the contents of our heads are simplified, we can think more clearly, and we find that we have far more room to nurture our relationship with God. Mindfulness brings us fully into the presence. Only when we are living fully in the present, once the distractions and superfluous noise in our heads has been cleared away, can we TRULY exist in the light of the Lord. When you are mindful, you experience everything more deeply. Prayer becomes all-consuming, and when you are

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in church, you are REALLY in church. By practicing mindfulness, you will be taking in the word of God, instead of running over your grocery list as you sit in church.

The Bible encourages us to be mindful!

Perhaps one of the most succinct pieces of scripture in stating this point is Hebrews 3:1, which states that all of us who follow God must, “set your minds on Jesus.”

Even Colossians 3:2 reminds us to, “set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” For us, this means clearing out the buzzing in our heads. The distracting thoughts that plague most of our attention are the ‘earthly things.’ By being mindful and aware, we can more easily fill our heads with thoughts of things above.

To start incorporating mindfulness into your life, it’s important to begin with small steps.

21st century life is often full of waiting: waiting in traffic, waiting in line, waiting for an appointment. Instead of mulling over your to-do list or checking your phone, stop, take a breath, and examine your surroundings. Look for evidence of God in everything around you. If your current circumstances remind you of a piece of scripture, meditate on that while you wait.

Examine your thoughts, look for things that are problematic, and gently redirect your consciousness in a more positive direction.

Keep God in your mind’s eye. Do not lose yourself in distraction.

Source: http://www.thechristianmeditator. com/making-biblical-meditation-a-wayof-life/

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