A Love That Runs Deep
Love is a word I thought I knew A universe of warmth within my home. Dangling from my motherâs back Laughing at the tickles of my fatherâs touch. Love is a world I thought Iâd grasped, An awakening I hoped would never fade. Holding the hands of those I loved, Resting on the laps of those who loved me. I knew it, felt it; real and strong. It covered and shielded me, all day long Like a whirlwind, that swirled and twirled, It surrounded me like an impregnable fort. But soon I befell a tragic scene A painful hurt that shattered me It rent my heart and ripped my love. Leaving me lacerated, lean and alone. In my despair I longed for the Pale Rider; The Angel of Death to bring eternal sleep, Cause life was cruel and vile and spinning, No reason to be among the living. But one night, I heard a still, small voice, That whispered words to quiet my troubled soul, It said to me with firm assurance âCall to Me and I will answerâ. Not holding back, I screamed my pains, And told the fears that filled my heart, I unburdened my spirit, telling all, He listened attentively, patient with me. Done, I lifted my eyes to the Voice; Like an orphaned child without a home, A sheep that strayed and lost its way, Hoping for compassion to soothe my ache. But I found more than I had hoped for. Grace that shields my soul from despair, Mercy that erases my faults and flaws, Love thatâs pure and knows no bound. An unconditional sacrifice He made for me In spite of my folly, He gave me His only To bring me to a place of honour and glory Who am I that You are mindful of me? Oh, awake my soul from deep within And see the gifts He gives to you Rejoice and be glad and praise His name For the LORD GOD has enlightened my darkness. I will set the LORD always before me To show me the path of life I should go Cause His love runs deep and whispers to me âI am with you always, even to the end of the ageâ. Written by Amoma Awala
LovingItis: Tune in to love
Loving: Present continuous tense for love. Synonyms: affectionate, fond, devoted, adoring, amorous, doting, tender, caring⊠Itis: Medical term for inflammation. Synonyms: redness, hotness, burning, heat, stinging, soreness, pain⊠Sentence: Doctor, errmmmm⊠it looks like I have lovingitis. My heart is tickling me, there are butterflies in my stomach and I cannot explain how I feel or why I feel this way. (For the purpose of this article) I love love; it is really a safe and happy place when it is genuine. My nephew (3-year-old) has a friend (5-year-old girl); whenever she comes around, they spend the whole afternoon playing. One day, I saw her and informed her that he was going to come that afternoon. To my greatest surprise, she smiled, swirled and hid her face; she was obviously happy and shy at the same time. Habaaaa⊠simply because of a little boy? That day, I realized that anyone could contract the lovingitis disease; you just decide what/who you choose to love. Yes, Love. You can spell it L-O-V-E or even pronounce it like me LO-O-HOVE⊠ Love is beautiful, daunting, and stronger than any force you can think of. How else can you explain the loud laughter (especially at jokes that are not so funny) or the tears (when it is not you that is injured) that happens to us when we choose to share our heart? That is LOVE. How else can you explain the longing, when you have not seen or heard from someone for a while? That is LOVE. How else can you explain the actions of a mother? She endures the pain of childbirth, screaming and crying one moment; but after giving birth, she starts smiling and singing the next moment. Can this be what we call âsuffering and smilingâ in our local parlance? The answer is no, it is LOVE. How else can you explain the fact that some people who keep pets, allow them to sleep on the same bed with them? For the life of me, I cannot; I am so scared of dogs; like, how will I even sleep with a dog beside me? That is LOVE. How else can you explain, God sending his only begotten son, to die so I can be his friend? Wait did it just cross your mind that this is the most common Bible verse, nah! It is not common; it is the truth. It is LOVE. How else can you explain this, the creator of the universe who actually has everything; looking out for a little girl like me? Unworthy of his love, sometimes I wonder⊠âhow does God cope with a noncompliant child like me?â He must really love me, I believe. Sometimes it can be difficult for me to put up with me. Hey, you too! Nevertheless, He does not give up, He never will. That is LOVE. 1 Corinthians 13:4-6 (Message translation) says: Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love does not want what it does not have. Love doesnât strut, Doesnât have a swelled head, Doesnât force itself on others, Isnât always âme first,â Doesnât fly off the handle, Doesnât keep score of the sins of others. I want to emphasize on âLOVE NEVER GIVES UPâ another translation puts it as âLOVE IS PATIENTâ. Recently, I learned that patience is a key ingredient if you want to tune your love up. If you think you were patient, put it to test by embracing love. You may be shocked that you are not as patient as you think. However, patience is a virtue (asset) that can be acquired. Here are some steps to groom your patience: Talk Less: Do not be quick to talk or draw conclusions. Sometimes, silence is key. It is better to listen and hear the next person out before drawing conclusions. Tolerate: Make room and excuses for people. Personally, I would recommend learning and understanding that everyone is flawed, agreed that some flaws are more prominent. Critic: Do not be too quick to judge: Let he who has no sin be the first to cast a stone. Therefore, do not close out on people because of their mistakes and until you wear their shoes do not judge them. Easy-Going- Do not be set in your ways. Set standards but be teachable and allow people to have access to your heart. Be kind: Kindness sweeps away impatience. You cannot practice kindness without patience. Forgive: Yes, the hurt has been done. It is better to let go, learn all the lessons but do not bear the burden of unforgiveness. Finally, mirror Godâs character; there is no better example of love and patience than God who is love personified. So, in this season of love, choose to love and show it. Do not be intimidated by the societyâs interpretation of love. Go ahead and show love to ANYBODY today.  âWahala for who no get loveâ. Written by Udochi Anokwu
Lessons of 2020
If you are asked how your 2020 went, your reply would probably go like this: January, February, March âŠâŠ. BLANKâŠâŠâŠâŠ., December. If your 2020 was anything like mine, March â December wasnât blank. It was full of lessons! Letâs start with how 2020 was argued to be the start/end of a new decade. I double-checked too to confirm the meaning of âwhen a decade was meant to start or endâ. Considering the events of 2020, it definitely was the start of a new decade for me. As usual, every January sees the start of newly written dreams and goals; 2020 was no exception despite the COVID-19 pandemic.  I personally stopped writing resolutions two years ago but simply improved on my lifeâs resolutions, year after year. Dare I mention that some of these resolutions required physical presence/activities (Gym membership, traveling, meeting new people, etc.) which were subdued and remodeled to fit into our lives remotely? By March 2020, there were conversations about an intending lockdown due to the viral spread of COVID-19, and I personally liked the idea because of my introverted-nature, what was more soothing? My organization immediately made plans to switch to remote work and I wanted nothing more than to spend this time with my family. On the home front, we quickly arranged to converge in March in preparation for the lockdown and enjoy the moment for however long it would last. What happened next was mind-blowing. Our personality differences began to set in after a few months spent together in Isolation and this birthed some friction. We hadnât been together for that long in years and didnât realize how much things had changed individually, and how farther apart we had grown within the previous years. This taught me my first lessons of 2020: 1. RELATIONSHIPS ARE A CONSTANT WORK âIN-PROGRESS: It isnât enough to be content with the excitement of new relationships. Youâve got to explore the possibility of opening-up to new experiences, good and bad. Great relationships require âhard workâ. For some people, 2020 deepened their relationship with Christ as the economy took a downward turn. I remember asking myself if the pandemic was passing a very important message about âslowing downâ and moving with God rather than on my own. It is necessary that your relationship with God doesnât exist for the mere purpose of existing, but through constant fellowship and dedication to the things of God. You can trust that this will bring a truckload of benefits into your life. If you didnât do this last year, make it a priority to SET apart-time for God every day. This doesnât mean that when you set aside 1 hour for Him, 23 hours go to other things; God can also be involved in your other activities. As a matter of fact, He loves being involved. GET UNCOMFORTABLE â This may be a sore subject for introverts like me who like being confined to a place and are pleased with the results that they achieve, be it meagre or abundant. It is great to be part of a team that contributes to the front-end success, but have you considered that you may be created for more? As trying as 2020 was, did it cross your mind that you form a great part of this world and that you have a role to play? A role not determined by you. Ask God to open the eyes of your understanding today and give you the boldness to step out of your comfort zone. Getting uncomfortable is a great recipe for spiritual growth and there are several ways to do it. SPREAD LOVE: Love up on people â yes, people. Regardless of your personality differences, God is love and so is His creation – You and me. We have been called to Love God and Godâs creation; this means learning to tolerate others and even accommodate their excesses where necessary. Unfortunately, some of us tear down others with our words when their actions do not please us, this does not mean that you should not point out or correct errors, yes you may, but do it in love. Check out what the bible says in Matthew 12:36 and Zechariah 8:16-17. HOLD ON TO GODâS PROMISES â God has given us promises of peace, well-being and victory. Allow the word of God to give you a deep perspective as you head into 2021. It is easy to confuse this perspective when we choose to focus on our own plans for the year, but that will only have you running round in circles. As mentioned earlier, when things look less rosy, it is important to slow down and focus on the one who is the author and finisher of our faith. We live in tough times but we need to keep moving forward while holding on to Godâs promises (His Word). And always remember that, though sorrows last for a night, joy surely comes in the morning. It is my prayer that you will trust God in this season and all the seasons of your life. Amen! Written by Tofola Beckley
My Body, His Temple
Do you know you are a temple of God and that the spirit of God dwells in you? – 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 It was a Sunday morning. At about 6am, JĂkeâs phone rang, and she could not ignore it because she had one of those very loud ringtones, she rolled over and stretched to pick the phone from her nightstand. It was Jane, her friend of over 30 years and she wondered why Jane was calling this early on a Sunday morning when sheâs still struggling to get out of bed to take a shower, as she was ushering in the first service that morning. Jane: Babes whatâs up? Please can you come and drive me to the hospital? I feel so sick and thereâs no one in the house to take me âŠthe frail calm voice of Jane on the other side of the phone. JĂke tactfully suggested another friend and wiggled her way out of going over to Janeâs house JĂke: Sorry dear, I’m sure itâs just malaria, have you taken any medication? I’m ushering in first service today and would only be available after service, Iâll call Efe to take you, I’m sure sheâs probably home doing nothing. Iâll be at yours after service. Jane: Okay âŠand both ladies ended the call. At some point in our life, we must have been a JĂke (the western Nigerian name not the English word Joke), maybe not in this exact scenario, but in fixing our focus more on the physical temple (church building) rather than the moving breathing, feeling temple (humans) that need us more. I can imagine how diligent we will be if put in charge of a church building, we would ensure it is cleaned, well-lit and arranged before and after every service, while ignoring the parts that form the body of Christ which is you and I, and everyone around us. Every believer must have used this statement âmy body is the temple of Godâ at some point; but how well do you know this temple? How much do you care for it? I’m not just talking physical care (which should also be taken seriously) but spiritually; do you lean on Christ your maker, structural engineer and foundation? Ever seen an unstable foundation that keeps going down and the building keeps sinking until it disappears, don’t be that building. Itâs time to come into a full understanding of how important it is to be Godâs temple, clothed in majesty and strength. When this happens, there will be a shift in how you conduct and care for yourself and other living temples around you. Love will be visible in all your actions, hatred washed away, and health of mind and body restored. As the world goes through the Covid-19 pandemic; this is a time to reflect the love of God; a time to build up other living temples whose foundation may be shaking; a time to encourage, support and care for one another. Itâs time to renew our minds and live our lives as the temple of God; itâs time to shine as Godâs masterpiece. Written by Vera Okobi
Whatâs Love Got To Do With It?
I donât know what you think about when you think of love. Personally, I think of Westlife (aging myself here), and how a greater boy band may never exist. Westlife sang a LOT about love. Love they had lost; love they could not live without; love they were scared of losing. But one song stands out to me; that song is Flying Without Wings – an unmatched melody ideal for belting out in the shower or on a solo car ride. In the face of such perfection, one reaches an obvious conclusion that a better love ballad has not since been written. We are ushered into the song with these words: Everybody’s looking for something One thing that makes it all complete You’ll find it in the strangest places Places you never knew it could be From the beginning of the song, it may feel like an attack; we know they are singing about love, so is Westlife implying that every loveless soul is wandering around with missing holes, like the cartoon cheese that Tom lays out for Jerry? However, they immediately redeem themselves with the next line, âSome find it in the face of their children.â The first love they talk about is a familiar love or Storge (in ancient Greek). For most of us, this is the first love we experience. The natural, instinctive love of a parent to a child and vice versa; the love of siblings to each other. This love is so innate to our human experience that even when we are mistreated by family members, we still struggle to detach from them emotionally. âSome find it in their lover’s eyes.â Eros or erotic love is what most people jump to when we talk of love, particularly in connection with the month of February. âSome (find it) in the solitary nightâ – Is it even possible to find love alone? Philautia or self-love is often defined as the love found within oneself. While some see it as a basic human necessity, others see it as having the potential to become a moral flaw leading to vanity. The thin line between self-love and selfishness is sometimes difficult to navigate. âYou find it in the deepest friendships. The kind you cherish all your life.â C.S. Lewis says of Philia or brotherly love, âI have no duty to be anyone’s friend and no man in the world has a duty to be mine. No claims, no shadow of necessity. Friendship is unnecessary⊠it has no survival value; rather it is one of those things which give value to survival.â Now we know that what Westlife think constitutes love. But what does the Bible have to say about love? Well, each one has the capacity to bring us closer or drive us farther from the image of Christ. This is where we need wisdom to discern the right kind of love. In the first book of Samuel, Hannah doubtlessly loved Samuel; whom she had prayed and cried for, with a deep, maternal Storge love. Yet, she still gave him up to the temple of God as she had promised. This is the same way Mary would lay aside her maternal instinct to protect Jesus and allow Him to fulfil what he had been sent to do. Songs of Solomon has lots to say on the pleasure that can be found within Eros and still warns in Chapter 8 not to awaken passion before its time. In Psalm 139, we find Philautia; the psalmist praises God because he is wonderfully made. Yet in Romans 12, we are admonished not to think of ourselves too highly but to consider ourselves with sober judgement. Proverbs talks about the benefits of Philia, saying that iron sharpens iron and a friend loves for life. But Chapter 13 also warns that a companion of fools suffers harm. The Bible talks of a last love, the one that Westlife missed out (proof that no one is perfect). Agape is a selfless, sacrificial and unconditional love. Where the other types of love may expect something in return – affection, pleasure, companionship; agape gives unconditionally, simply because it has the capacity. In Romans 5:7, Paul breaks it down – it is rare to find someone who would die for a good person; but Christ died for the unrighteous, knowing fully well that many might, and in fact would, reject Him. This is also the love He calls His disciples to. Loving everyone, even the people who would despise you for it. So, let us love. But love with wisdom and love as we were created to love, putting everything in its right place and time. Finally, in Ephesians 3, Paul prays that we find the love of Christ so that we may be filled (or made complete) to the fullness of God. In the end, it is love that completes us.  Written by Ugonna Iheme
From Lagos with Love
While this is a story about Valentine, itâs quite different from the popular one you know. And although the fourteenth has come and gone; if you stay with me, youâll see that it fits this simple note of mine. First, I didnât have an all-that-great valentine. From the days leading up to the fourteenth, to the actual day itself; and it all started from social media â as everything else that happens these days. I had stumbled on a comparison post about Lagos and Abuja earlier in the week. Someone had called out Lagos on its mega-city status, and expressed total disapproval for how its residents go through hardship in the name of hustle. Now because I do not know this guy, one would expect that Iâd just scroll past without being bothered. And I did scroll past; but a few hours later, I realized the post had struck a nerve. Wonder why? Well, I happen to be a perfect representation of the people living this ânot-so-dreamâ Lagos life that this person succinctly described. I didnât know this person; but I already knew I that donât like him/her based on my perception of the writer of the tweet (donât judge me). That Tuesday morning, I left home as usual and arrived at the bus stop where I would usually stand for a few minutes before I found a cab that would take me halfway to work. Itâs usually an easy process, but that day was different. Asides being irritated by that tweet from the previous day, I also felt a bit off as a result of an episode I had with my neighbor just before leaving home â something about water and the pumping machine. #LagosDrama Hard as I tried, I couldnât stop thinking about the fact that, the situation that led to my little squabble with Sophie could have been avoided; how she didnât see it, or how she preferred to fight over something that neither of us could fix at that particular time. âBreathe, PresleyâŠ. BreatheâŠâ I took a deep breath, retraced my thoughts and reminded myself that none of us is perfect; and in our respective imperfections, we are required to love one another anyway. Besides, itâs the season of love. I was doing fine until two minutes into the trip, a visibly angry man joins the cab. Great! Another âangryâ Lagosian who believes that taking up more space than he needs, is a means to regain his power – the power which Lagos had taken from him. My mind drifts for a bit and I adjust myself to act, but Iâm held back⊠Is this what the scriptures mean when it says we might live in this world, but we are not and should not act like we are of the world? Cos this guy ehn, itâs doing me like I should just slap his leg in place o. I brave the ride to work, all the while muttering under my breath – âI wonât let you steal my peace, you and I are different.â I get to work and drown myself in all the things I have to do. The hours pass slowly and after what seems like an eternity, the clock strikes 5:30 pm and itâs time to go home. On my way home, I couldnât help but notice the many display of red and white in anticipation of the celebrations on Valentineâs Day. I still wasnât thrilled until I got to the overhead bridge right at the junction to the house. Thatâs when I saw a young girl, she couldnât be more than fifteen years old; she had a small bag in her hand. Probably returning from an errand. I watched how she innocently bent and placed some money in the old beggarâs plastic plate. It was by far the most beautiful thing I had seen all day. And thatâs when it hit me! In that moment, I realized that all day I had blamed every other thing around me for why I felt dull and melancholic. It dawned on me that it wasnât the angry people, annoying neighbours or the Lagos roads; it was all me. I had made the decision to see only the negative things; and from doing that, I was indirectly projecting what my environment had shared with me to align with the negativity. I got home and made up my mind to change it all. Tomorrow, next week and every other day has to be better. It will be, and the journey starts now. Even though its twelve months from now before valentine comes again, Iâm practicing my love expression from now. Hopefully, Iâll have a better report for next Valentineâs day; but before I give you the updated report – I have to mend my relationship with Sophie. Maybe invite her to dinner or the movies. Iâll show a little more patience and kindness for the next angry man I meet at the bus stop or in a cab. Maybe if Iâm extra nice to him, heâll realize his mistake and treat other people better. And if he doesnât change, well, I wasnât doing it for him anyway. This week, I plan to stop by the store close to the office and purchase a pack of chocolates and sweets for my colleagues at the office. Something to ease the stress of transportation which just recently got worse due to the #Okadaban; something to make the work flow easier. Afterall, I am light, meant to be on a hilltop showing the world the way. I do everything differently because I have a kingdom-mindset. I am better than my environment, simply because I am not from here. But while I live here, I choose to LOVE & LIGHT UP my world.  With Love from A. A. Presley
Lessons from Kintsugi
We are all broken in one way or the other, arenât we? Of course, we are since we’re imperfect. Someone is having sleepless nights because of debt, some individuals are complaining of slow growth in business and unfavorable government policies. For some, it could be an unhappy marriage, unemployment or poor work conditions. The list is endless but here are two quick questions: What do you do when faced with every dayâs life problems? What are you doing to help others solve their problems? Kintsugi is a Japanese art of repairing broken pottery by mending the areas of breakage with lacquer dusted or mixed with powdered gold, silver or platinum. As a philosophy, it treats breakage and repair as part of history of an object, rather than something to disguise. Believe it or otherwise, this philosophy applies to our everyday life since we all encounter challenges. Here are lessons from this great Japanese art: Stop Worrying and Do Something Luke 12:25, 26 & 31 â âwho of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? But seek His kingdom, and these things will be given to you as wellâ. We achieve nothing by dwelling on our misfortunes, rather we overcome problems by taking actions. Putting broken pottery pieces back together requires action and not worries; stop complaining because success comes after excuses go. Be Patient Repairing broken pottery by mending the broken areas require a great deal of patience. Life’s problems can linger for a long time, some problems may reoccur while others can emanate from the current problem you’re solving. Whichever way it comes, you need to be patient; don’t be too quick to act and don’t be too slow either. Trust in God to see you through. Be in Love at all Times There are certain issues in life that can impair our ability to give and receive love. It could be abuses, injustice, painful experiences etc. People in this context can be very unhappy and hate themselves. No matter what life throws at you, love yourself first. This self-love will enhance your ability to take care of you by solving problems that’s affecting you. Be courageous, stable, reliable, strong and emotionally whole. Be Resilient When situations of life break us into pieces, Kintsugi encourages us to see the beauty of putting back together the broken pieces. Sometimes, in the process of picking and fixing these broken pieces, we put our lives in order by reconstructing something more stunning. This philosophy teaches us to be resilient irrespective of life challenges, so we can be better versions of ourselves with all of our golden cracks. Help Others Solve their Problems We all have problems to solve and others do too. Broken pottery is everywhere; what do you do when you see one? The Bible says Jesus didnât come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Jesus came to solve problems so should we. Let us endeavor to put smiles on other peopleâs faces. Remember, success is determined by the problems we solve for others. I hope this has inspired you to adopt the Kintsugi-attitude going forward. Written by Richard Agu
Is There One Person Made Just for Me?
Tough question, right? But donât worry; I will simplify it to make you understand. The truth is, you canât know if someone is made for you if you do not know who you are; and how do you know who you are? It all begins with discovering your identity in Christ; you discover yourself through Godâs word and the help of the Holy Spirit. The bible is replete with stories of who God is, it helps us understand Godâs intentions for us. In Genesis 2:4-3:24, the bible helps us understand that from the beginning man was not created for isolation. God created Adam first, then formed Eve out of Adam because God did not want Adam to be alone. The same God that created Eve for Adam has not changed; if He gave Adam his own help mate then you should know that he has someone for you. As a Christian, you should have a different view when it comes to finding a mate or courtship. You canât see dating and courtship the way the rest of the world sees it which is usually to date on and off as much as possible. As a wise Christian, the important thing is to discover the character of a person before making any commitment to him or her. Why is character important? Proverbs 27:17 says âIron sharpens ironââ, you want a partner that knows and loves God just like you do, you want one who seeks Godâs kingdom above all else and you want someone that loves the Lord, himself and others (Luke 10:27-28). God desires that you be with a person of godly character. Whether dating or courting, following the biblical principles is the best way to have a secure foundation for marriage. The marriage decision is one of the most important decisions that a man or a woman will ever make. God created marriage to be permanent and unbreakable therefore choosing the right person is very important to the success of any marriage. Remember you become one flesh with whoever you choose (Gen 2:24). I am sure you donât want to be one flesh with a person that despises the ways of the Lord. The one person God created for you is that one person that would draw you closer to him; someone who will love God, love him/herself and love others. A person that would seek pleasing God above all else. The person for you is a person that is ready to follow Godâs word and seek Godâs kingdom. A person that puts pleasing God above pleasing you. If and when you find such a person, there would be peace in your heart when you pray and talk to God about your relationship. Remember, God wants only the best for you and has designed that perfect someone just for you. Written by Kelechi Abiri
WE ARE SOO LOVED!
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Sometimes, I ask my kids random questions just to hear what goes on in their minds, and what they say (as they are both toddlers) literally cracks me up. So today I pulled aside the “bigger sister” to ask a seemingly simple question. Hereâs how the conversation went: Me: Do you love your sister? Bigger sister: Yes mama, I love her sooooo much (with a big smile and arms spread wide) Me: Why do you love her soooo much? Bigger sister: I love her because Jesus healed me In our home, we talk about healing from the Lord for all the scratches and bruises that the kids get every now and then. A band aid there and a simple prayer of healing is how we do it, but we’ve never spoken of healing and love in the same sentence. Her response really got me thinking about how much we are loved by God. He loves us soooo much that He sent Jesus to die for our sins, our diseases, and our sicknesses. He did all of that just for us! If we really understand the depth of this love, a truly sacrificial love, oh my, what a difference it would make. The only other way I’ve experienced anything close to this love was when I first laid eyes on my new-born baby. The love and joy that filled my heart was so overwhelming and indescribable! Now imagine how great and deep the love of God is for us? I believe it would make it much easier for us to love others if we think about others the way God thinks about us – like His children. -EFE Efe is a talent of sorts with an insatiable appetite for knowledge. She loves listening to podcasts and creating unique works of art with her brilliant kids.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]