🎂Birthday Shoutout to Blessing 🎂

Her name is Blessing. She is an amazing lady and it’s her birthday!

She is one of the blessings that I enjoy on this platform.

If there is one thing to be grateful for about the internet-wired world we now live in, it’s the ability to connect with people from far and wide – people you’ll never have dreamt to know let alone having anything to do with them. WordPress has availed me of the opportunity to come in touch with Blessing, connect with her and get to know her better.

Now that I think of it, I can’t specifically remember how I made the initial contact with her. I guess I must have stumbled on one of her blog posts, read through it and gotten intrigued enough by its content to make me visit her blog, follow it, read up on some more of her posts and engaged them. The rest should be history.

Even though I’m yet to see her physically, we’ve come to know and learn a lot from each other. For instance, I’ve gotten to discover how resilient and purposeful she can be. How that she is a go-getter and has zero tolerance for mediocrity.

So Blessing, because I know of your faith in the Lord and your love for all things goodly😊, I cease not to pray for you and to make mention of you in my prayers: That God will cause you to prosper in the center of his will for you. He’ll make you grow in grace and in His knowledge. God blesses the works of your hand and grants you your heart desires. He makes all favour and earthly blessings abound towards you and increases you on all sides.

Please friends, do help me wish her a happy birthday and give her a birthday present by visiting her blog @ timewithdanalyzt.com. She is a passionate and inspiring writer who gives practical/positive counsels concerning lifestyle and wholesome living. You won’t be disappointed.

A happy birthday to you Blessing!

Yet another season to swim in the fulness of God’s love and favour.

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P.S. Who knows, perhaps our paths will cross sooner than we could have imagined. There and then, I’ll be able to buy you a plate of nkwobi and fine wine to celebrate your birthday 😉.

VOGUE PARODY: 73 QUESTIONS ABOUT ME

I’ll have to say a big thanks to a wonderful/’merciful’ lady and fellow blogger – Mercy of Herry Chic Counsels for putting me on the hot seat. She must have woken up one fine morning and thought of what she could do to make me rack my brain this much. May the good Lord bless you for putting me up to the challenge.

Mercy is blessed with wisdom and wits. You’re sure to find sweet counsels on faith, daily living, and such profound subjects on her blog. Kindly visit her blog to benefit from the goodness it offers.

In case you don’t know, Vogue’s 73 Questions is a video series on YouTube whereby Vogue asks celebrities 73 questions under 10 minute. Bloggers and Vloggers have also started their own version of this method, which is a way of getting to know fellow bloggers better.

Personally, I think no ‘get-to-know-me’ scenario can be more exhaustive than this. Hence, reading this is synonymous to having a significant knowledge of my kind of person.

Okay. Enough with the preamble. Let’s get to know me already…

1. What’s your usual Starbucks order?

I wish we had Starbucks in my part of the world.

2. What does your work station look like?
Well-arranged most times

3. Favourite food?
Jollof rice or better still Nigerian Jollof

4. What do you think of open relationships?

➖ It’s a no no for me.

5. What is your favorite video game?

I don’t play video games.

6. Guilty pleasure treat?
Anything crisp and crunchy, like Pringles

7. Your favorite movie?
Hmm. 🤔Hard to tell…I’ll go for Shawshank Redemption

8. Favorite author?
Kenneth E. Hagin

9. Favourite book?
Fiction: Chinua Achebe’s Arrow of God; Non-fiction: The Bible

10. Twitter or Instagram?
You’ll find me more on Facebook

11. Desktop or laptop?
Laptop.

12. Best advice you’ve ever received?

Be the best of what God wants you to be.

13. What project are you working on right now?
📝 Working on a book

14. Favourite colour?
🔮Blue

15. Did you get good grades in school?

😎Depends on which school. Wasn’t much of a serious student in high school. I made up for it during my undergrad days though – came out with a fine grade.

16. Dream job?
Having a social media outfit/Publishing firm of my own.

17. Play any sports?
Unless strolling is one…I think not😆

18. Do you have a degree?
I sure do…a degree in English

19. Nationality?
Nigerian 🇳🇬 .

20. What is your favourite kind of blog post?
➕ If it’s healthy, instructive and informative, I’ll go for it.

22. Describe yourself in three words?
Man-in-Christ, principled, perceptive

23. If you were a rapper what would your stage name be?
Gotham…don’t ask 😁

24. Who was the last person you DM?
A friend you don’t know😉

25: What’s on top of your wish list right now?
Getting a book published asap

26. Favorite part of the day
Evening

27. How many tattoos do you have?
😒Not one

28. What are you most grateful for this year?
A lot.

29. What’s the best thing that’s happened to you this month?
It’s still a new one. But then, with a purposeful life and sound health, what can ever go wrong?

30. What’s the best thing that’s happened to you today?
Waking up hale and hearty

31. What’s the best thing ever?
God

32. Favourite season?
☔ Rainy…as long as I’m indoor when it’s pouring down

33. Favourite holiday?
🤶 That should be Christmas.

34. What fictional character do you relate to most?
One that plays the role of a detective

35. Do you like surprises?
If it’s a good one and won’t make me pass out…yes.

36. Best gift you’ve ever gotten?

The gift of a great mother and wholesome friends.

37. Which surprise made you cry?Can’t remember

38. What’s the best surprise you’ve given somebody else?
I sometimes get the urge to talk to folks who happen to be at lowest point of their lives at the time. When I follow that urge and minister to the need, you can tell how overwhelmed they are about the gesture.

39. Do you like muffins?
Sure. I don’t get to eat them often though

40. Do you cook often?
I should think so.

41. What’s your favorite dessert?
Anything chips

42. Is there a dessert you don’t like?
I’m yet to come across it

43. Cake or pie?
Cake 🎂

44. What’s your least favourite food?
pasta products 🍝

45. What’s your favourite condiment?
Not sure I have one

46. It’s 4 am on a random Saturday. What are you eating?
😴 I’m sleeping…unless eating in the dream is part of it 😂

47. If you could teach a college class what would it be called?
Language as a tool for social engineering.

48. Best animated film?
The Lion King 🦁

49. What has a lady done or said to impress you?
Warning:Don’t laugh!

Back in the day, I used to find hugging awkward. Then one day, during my undergrad days, I ran into a good female friend and classmate of mine who hugged me instinctively. As usual, mine was awkward. She then looked me in the eye and said to me: “learn to be hugged” then showed me how to do it well. Of course, I felt moderately embarrassed. But then, her action created a good/lasting impression on me.

50. The best thing to do on a first date?
Just be you and get to know each other. No pressures

51. The worst thing to do on a first date?
Being insincere with yourself and the other party

53. Best comic book character?
I hardly read comics

54. Name three things which can always be found in your backpack.
My bible, note-pad, laptop

55. Favourite drink?
Yogurt, if it counts as a drink

56. If you could play a historical character in a movie who would it be?
Private Trip (Denzel Washington) in the movie Glory

57. Kittens or puppies?
🚶 🚶 Not a fan of either. I still try to avoid been in close proximity with dogs.

58. Favourite sushi roll?
Local man like me…never taken any kind of sushi😏

59. What song do you currently use as your ringtone?
🎶 Sweet Praise by Bethel Music

60. What Kind of movies do you watch?
detective, crime-scene investigation, power-play, intrigue, epics/historicals, science fiction, adventure

61. Who’s your favorite televangelist?
Joseph Prince

62. Early bird or night owl?
Both

63. Favorite Disney Character?
I rarely see Disney movies

64. What are you doing tomorrow?
Working on a little but equally important project

65. Movie you laughed the hardest through?
Not sure I can even single out one…but if I have to, I’ll go for the Rush Hour episodes

66. Movie that made you cry?
Quite a number of them but Glory should do.

67. If you could sing a duet with anybody, who would you choose?
Asa

68. If your life was a song what would the title be?
Every Shade of Grace

69. What’s your favourite animal?
Giraffe 🦒

70. Favourite illustrator?
I don’t have one

71. The person you want to have coffee with?
Dan Brown

72. What country would you like to visit?
Italy 🇮🇹

73. Best way to decompress?
Watch a movie and go on a visit.

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Phew! If you’ve read up to this point, then I must commend you for your forbearance. I sincerely hope I didn’t bore you with the ‘me-oriented’ epistle.

Meanwhile, I’m supposed to nominate a couple of bloggers for this challenge but I think I’ll pass on that.

Thanks for patiently reading through. Grateful.

Regards,
Ibukun

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©ayansolaibukun

“About Changing Lanes” – Fiez

Couple of days ago, I came across this brilliant piece by a fellow blogger Fiez of Artistic Words and it resonates with me.

It’s such an apt allegorical representation of the concept/ideal of kindness. What’s more, the manner in which she communicates the message, (using the struggle for thoroughfare between drivers in traffic) is ingenious.

I thought to share it with you. Trust me, you’ll find it a great read.

Fiez

Photo by Kevin Lee, Unsplash.com.

He signalled and slowed down, trafficator blinking.

Some things are facile, changing course inclusive.

One gives a space in front, another pulls his car into it.

But with time he realised, that no one was kind enough.

Soon his turning point got close, he shouldn’t pass that point.

He vowed to take a space, by hook and crook.

A feeble man couldn’t survive, in a world full of struggle.

He must prove his strength and their space take by force.

He tried once, twice, thrice, again, again and again.

Behold, every bumper kept kissing  another.

“Join from behind,” they screamed

“Maintain your lane, ” went the angry shouts.

Everywhere he tried, was all tight and closed.

He’s nothing but stuck, in between two lanes.

He looked back in shock, endless traffic behind.

His wait long…

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🎂🍷HAPPY BIRTHDAY KAREN! 🎁🍫

One of the perks of being on this platform is the opportunity to connect with amazing people from all over the world. People of substance and value. One of those people is Queen Karen from danceinmyshoes. Karen is blessed with a sound mind and profound words. Of course, her blog is a reflection of who she is: Laden with thoughtful, inspiring and informative posts. (Kindly visit her blog to avail yourself of the awesome bounties it offers). Today is her birthday! Because she has been a blessing to me on this platform, I choose to celebrate her.

I wrote this few lines for you Karen:

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As fine wine, never losing its savor
As Eagle, soaring to the greatest height
As light, putting an end to darkness
As pillar, upholding godly virtues
As a spring, never running dry!

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Your best moments can never be in the past. Just like fine wine, you get better by the day. No mountain is too high for you to surmount. Neither is there any ocean you can’t swim across.

Your feet are planted on the rock. You soar with wings as eagles. Your ways are prosperous and your dreams come true. God’s got you.

Happy Birthday Karen!

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The Believers’ Authority!

There is something about the traffic warden at the intersection!

By merely beckoning at drivers with his hand, he makes them go in a direction. Alternatively, by holding up his hand, he stops them from moving further. I’ll like to think that the sometimes frail-looking traffic warden was able to wield so much control over those car users and their vehicles because of some magical or brute power he possessed. But no, he didn’t have the power to hold those car back but has the authority to do so. The men behind the wheels simply obey him because they recognise and honour that authority.

Authority is delegated power!

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Did you know that the only language the devil understands his authority?

Did you know that God has invested you with so great power/authority?

Did you now that there is nothing more that God will do for you than he already did?

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A lot of problems hold sway in our lives today because we simply permit them to; because we don’t do anything about them. In fact, we unconsciously give permission for the oppression of the devil over our lives/things when we keep quiet about them and refuse to speak against them.

Eph 1:18 By having the eyes of your heart flooded with light, so that you can know and understand the hope to which He has called you, and how rich is His glorious inheritance in the saints (His set-apart ones),

Eph 1:19 And [so that you can know and understand] what is the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His power in and for us who believe, as demonstrated in the working of His mighty strength,

Eph 1:20 Which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His [own] right hand in the heavenly [places],

GOD’S GREATEST DISPLAY OF POWER

I’ve always thought God’s greatest power was put on display in the beginning, at creation. Think about the minutest details that went into the making of our earth. Imagine how vast and indiscernible it is. And just to think that this huge earth is just a tiny fraction of the entire universe God created. It must have taken Him a lot to make that happen. But alas, it’s not so! The bible tells us that God demonstrated the height of his power when he raised Jesus from the dead. I mean it took God to exert all of his power to resurrect him! What an unprecedented display of force!?

But wait for the real deal… Just when I thought that was all to it, I came to know that God didn’t use up that power on Jesus. However, he deposited that magnitude of power in you when you believed on Christ. In case you still don’t get it, I’m saying that there is an exceeding degree of wonder-working power at work in you – the very same that raised Jesus up from the dead! How then can/should you ever feel you are at a disadvantage as a believer?

You need to come to terms with the power/authority God has deposited in you and exercise it.

Luk 10:19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

Here is Jesus speaking to his disciples, and by extension to all believers. He has given us power! Of course, you won’t take the reference to serpent and scorpions entirely literally. Those things represent a spiritual reality, i.e. the power of the enemy. You are not just a mere Christian – thank God for salvation! Much more, you are one wired to exert power over contrary things.

Remember the story of the fig tree Jesus made to wither? It’s such an apt account to teach about authority. Jesus’ disciple marvelled when they saw that the tree had dried up just after a couple of hours that he cursed it. In response to their surprise, he tells them to have the God kind of faith! What’s the God kind of faith? It’s the faith that exercises authority by speaking. It’s the faith that speaks with authority and never doubts the efficacy of what is said. It’s the faith that authoritatively says, i.e. addresses/commands mountains to move. That faith that calls forth those things that be not.

LUKE 7:1-10 – THE CENTURION

I love that blessed centurion. He understood the concept of authority perfectly. Hear him speak:

Luk 7:8 As you know, I’m in a chain of command and have soldiers at my command. I tell one of them, ‘Go!’ and he goes, and another, ‘Come!’ and he comes. I tell my servant, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.”

What a man! He recognised that Jesus could only go about doing good and healing the sick because his actions were backed up with divine authority. Instead of stressing Christ by making him walk all the way to his house, he simply asked him to exercise the authority he had by speaking the word of healing concerning his servant. If a man who wasn’t born again (not at the time at least) could come to this understanding and make it work for him, what’s gonna be your excuse as a believer; one who God indwells today; one who is an embodiment of God’s power?

Merely having a tool doesn’t make it useful for you. As a believer, you need to know what belongs to you. You need to come acknowledge the extent of God’s power at work in you. However, beyond knowing, you need to act on that knowledge. Only knowledge acted upon brings result! What’s more, the efficacy of power is dependent on the one enforcing it.

Mat 18:18 “And so I tell all of you: what you prohibit on earth will be prohibited in heaven, and what you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.

How can you complain of thirst when you are surrounded by taps of clean and drinkable water?

The lingering troubling circumstance you’re going through is not the issue; neither is it the persistent sickness, lack or pain. The issue is your inactivity. Indeed, it’s your inability to exercise the authority you have by speaking to those situations instead of speaking about them. While on earth, Jesus did mighty works. However, he told us that, upon his glorification, we won’t just do the works he did but greater.

The authority you wield is in the saying/speaking, not the wishing and hoping. It’s in your constant/consistent confession of faith concerning the situation regardless of its prevailing presence. It’s your doggedness in the place of prayer…

Listen to the Apostle James:

…The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working]. James 5:16b

How about that? When you pray, you are not just passing time or fulfilling all righteousness. Rather, you are exercising authority and supplying tremendous power towards things and situations you want a change on.

Quit talking about the problem; talk to it. Quit complaining about the situation; address it with/in faith. Quit giving room for the oppression of the devil; exercise authority and tell him to get his hands off your things.

The power at work in you is able to do superabundantly, far over and above all that you dare ask or think. Take advantage of it.

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P.S: Much of the insight for this post was drawn from the teaching of papa Kenneth E. Hagin on The Believer’s Authority

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©ayansolaibukun

Obstacles Of Writing – Self-Doubt and Impostor Syndrome

One of the joys of being on this platform is the opportunity to glean from profound writers and writings. This article Obstacles to writing:Self-doubt and Impostor Syndrome was written by a fellow blogger Florence. I find it highly inciting and helpful for writers so I thought to reblog it. I’m sure you will too. Enjoy!

Fiez

When a writer has self-doubt, he lacks confidence in his writing and this interferes with the smooth progress of his writing.

Impostor syndrome is an extended version of self-doubt and happens when a writer despite external proof of his competence, is not convinced that he deserves all he has achieved. In addition, when in the midst of other known writers he thinks he doesn’t belong there and therefore is a fraud.

We’re going to dwell more on self-doubt because being able to control self-doubt means one can be able to suppress impostor syndrome.

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Truth is, all writers, have this killer disease called self-doubt in them at one point of their writing or another and, it really takes a courageous writer to overcome it and forge ahead.

Self-doubt is all about the negative voices in your head flooding your thought with negativity, telling you what is really really bad…

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IN THE ABSENCE OF INSPIRATION…

Whoever says writing is always pleasurable is either downright insincere or miserly with the truth.

Let’s face it, writing can be a hell of a task at times, especially when you don’t have the motivation to do so. And the ‘good news’ is you won’t always have the inspiration to write.

Sometimes, in the absence of the right stimulus, each word that goes into a write-up feels like torture. The case is different when you have a muse to write. But then, you can’t always wait on that if you want to be a serious writer.

SPEAKING FROM EXPERIENCE

I once wrote a short story (just a short story) that took me about four months to finish up. (Well, it was a ‘pet work’ of mine so I didn’t have to commit to a deadline). I was at work one fine morning when the inspiration to write it came. There and then, I set to work on it. It was as though I was under a spell while at it at work as the idea flowed seamlessly.

However, the minute I got home and resumed the writing, inspiration bid me farewell! I didn’t even know the next word to write let alone how to develop the story further. Although I could have dropped it and move on to other important things, I decided to put the short-lived inspiration to shame by finishing up no matter how long it took.

So today, I write a sentence, cross it out and wait till another time my brain cooperates. Anyway, I finished the blasted story after 4 travailing months. It turned out to be one of my finest stories. Ever since, I’ve made it a point of duty never to give up on a write up I start but ensure I perfect it.

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Most of my works are products of a nudge or some kind of inspiration bug. I’ll like to think that the case is the same for the best of works written by the finest of writers. Unfortunately, even the best of wordsmiths don’t always have the luxury of a muse to write. If you intend to make a life/name off the writing profession, you won’t always wait for an inspiration before you put pen to paper.

I’ve written many write ups in fits and starts. I seem to get into the mood to right something, I start writing and at some point, I get the writer’s block and then abandon it. I however make it a rule to finish whatever I started, no matter how long it takes. Some articles/stories I wrote are products of weeks of efforts. When you keep making conscious effort at writing, with time, it becomes less irksome. Even though you are still going to need inspiration for many of your works, you won’t always have that luxury.

This art requires a great deal of passion, persistence and practice.

What do you do when the inspiration to write doesn’t come?

Be your own inspiration!

Sometimes, when the ‘spirit’ doesn’t ‘move’ you, you ‘move’ the spirit. Proactivity is the key. Don’t always wait for that exceptional idea to come at you. Instead, take the initiative and create something out of nothing.

Personally, in the bid to inspire myself, I explore diverse alternatives. Occasionally, I write in response to something I saw, heard, read or experienced that got me thinking. At times, I read voraciously and find inspiration to write from the works of others. From time to time, I get to assign myself topics in particular fields, research on it, read up similar works in that area, gather relevant facts and set a deadline for completion. Sometimes, I write based on some areas of interest. It’s much easier when you write on subjects you find intriguing. That way, you won’t have to labour excessively each time you pick up your pen to write.

Effectiveness is birthed in consistency and doggedness. Nothing good comes cheaply. Even the best of writers will be sincere to tell you that perfecting a piece isn’t always a walk in the park. Sometimes, they struggle to put pieces of ideas together coherently. At other times, they feel drained after a series of imaginative back and forths. However, what they don’t do is quit.

It takes determination, effort, proactivity, practice and interest to get the job done. Inspiration is needed and advantageous. However, it’s not always available. If you really want to write, you’ll have to go out of your way.

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PS: I owe the inspiration for this write up to Florence @ http://florenceezekafor.com

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Image Credits:

The at Home CEO Blog
The Writer’s Sherper Retreats

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©ayansolaibukun

@ https://ayansola.wordpress.com