Dear AB readers, it's Christmas season again.
I'd like to say a huge thank you to all readers and well wishers, I appreciate you all, God bless.
I wrote this list to show my little appreciation to those who have made twitter Nigeria 2013 a bliss, in one form or the other, I say a big God bless you once again.
The Most Creative handle I follow - @That_Ijebubadoo God bless you for the humour and expertise level of creativity.. More grease to your elbow in the new year.
The most influential handles I follow - @TweetOracle @Wiilkilz @EbukaAkara @TheEtnies_jags These set of people will tweet 'A' and get replies.
The humour Merchants - @Eche_David @That_ijebubadoo @itsKonani @Its_Hush_ @Omodonconiyon I don't have much to say, their favs speak for them.
Most Educative handles I follow - @EngineChux (professor Bookworm ) and @TweetQuizzer (I actually own that account )
Most Intelligent Ladies (Judged on the basis of their grammar and tweets) - @TheBlackorean_ @Lytanye_ @Haleema00 @tchyomar @SimplySimi
The Liverpudlians - @Kish_baba @TaymeYMCMB @kodohLFC @LFCvalde @Daverints_Lfc @Tboy00 #YNWA
AB constant and regular readers - @deabie_ @pweetychiQ @mywaynee @bubble_minakie @yungest_j @Tesminaj God bless Y'all for the love shown.
The Best behaved lady - @debbietayo There was never a time she tweeted sexual or was rude (none I can remember )
Best behaved male - @SirAlfredson
All the fine girls and boys on my TL - @SirPyrexx @Eche_David @haywenzo @TherealDaveuno @AmakaA_ @_Remmmy_ @Shyygirl_ @Yvonneee_ma etc
And last but never the least, my humble self -@MistaAntoine for initiating the best TTs of 2013.
#9JamovieTitlesBeLike
#9jaSchoolsBeLike
#9JaBlogsBeLike
#IzzNothing and so on.
That all hope is lost feeling, the What is the need? question.
A time when nothing seems to be sailing in the expected direction, we seem to have put in so much effort but no results to show for it.
The raging anger in us waiting to be unleashed at the slightest provocation.
A period when we think everyone is faring better than we are giving rise to unnecessary envy.
Our envy does more harm than good as more anger and temporary hatred gradually sprout from it. (I call it temporary cause we regain our proper senses the moment we begin to think we're doing better than he/she whom we're jealous of).
Be it in relationships, businesses, academics etc, Quote me- It is a lot easier to put in a lot more effort than to put in a little more effort.
At this stage, without a mentality of positivity and the right companionship, so many would give up on what was a lifelong dream and opt for the eaiest and quickest means of getting there
Talking about the right kind of companionship, a bad friend would grant you your heart's desires by telling you what you want to hear rather than what you need to hear. I'll give an example...
A lady once asked for my assistance, she had no where to spend the night and didn't mind passing it in my room, I sought a friend's advice and the first thing he said was 'Ah, free blow.. Oshey' This, however was what I actually wanted to hear.
- Develop a 'NEVER SAY NEVER' attitude towards Life. No matter how many times you fall, be determined to pick yourself back up. (Develop a hunger to accomplish your goals).
-Avoid keeping the wrong company, brethren, it might alter your life's vision.
-Pick out those who add some form of value to your life and hold firm unto them. If they try to leave, stop them! (Never let your pride get the better of you. Never let your pride cost you a true friend)
-Self Discipline and hardwork. NO FOOD FOR LAZY MAN. Steve Jobs did not become the founder & CEO of Apple Inc by "Chilling at ICM" everyday of the week.
-Self Discovery. Usain Bolt did not become the world's fastest runner by playing ludo or scrabble, he found his calling - athletics and he pursued it. Above all, you need The EVER sufficient Grace of God which is already made available to all who're willing to receive.
Be strong, live positively, strive to make an impact no matter how little like I'd always say. My Bishop said and I quote "You're either remembered for the trouble you caused or the problem you solved."
Once again, I really appreciate all my readers and well wishers, keep reading, commenting, sharing your own views etc.
God loves you and so do I.
MERRY CHRISTMAS IN ADVANCE
Who sat and watched my infant head when sleeping on my cradle bed and tears of sweet affection shed? My Mother.
All through nine months of the pain that comes with childbirth, a mother never for a second stops loving her foetus, her love for her child can be compared to none other. Indeed, mother's do play a very vital role in the lives of every individual, afterall, there can be no us without them.
They go on to breastfeed after childbirth and are almost utterly in charge of the baby's well being. Whilst fathers run around trying to put the home in order, the mothers are actually left to accomplish the task of upbringing and care (in most cases) and in the end, get a much lesser credit than deserved.
Who is like a mother? Truly, I say NO ONE!
Mothers go out of their way to ensure that their children are happy, embarking on a marathon of sleepless nights is never a problem for them provided their own are comfortable. Little wonder why most male children are drawn to their mothers.
When pain and sickness makes me cry, who gazes upon my heavy eye and weeps for fear that I should die? My mother.
Many fail to realize that the prayers of our mothers keep us going. They interceed for the family even in their absence.
How can I ever cease to be affectionate and kind to thee who was so very kind to me? My Mother
A mother desires the progress of her children, she gives them advice and would weep at any gone astray. She is like none other, not even the father is a match for her.
Ah! No! The thought I cannot bear but if God pleases my life to spare, I hope I shall reward thy care... My Mother.
MOTHERS ARE INDEED A TRULY SPECIAL GIFT TO US ALL. GOD BLESS OUR MOTHERS.
Learn to appreciate your mother for she is a very special and rare gift.
When thou art feeble, old and grey, my healthy arms shall be your stay and I will soothe your pains away.... My Mother.
"Maybe i'm not talking clearly?, i speak another language so they can't feel me??
I know God says not to go weary, but tell me WHY CANT THEY HEAR ME ???"
A young man walks up to a lady about to step in "a client's" car (prostitution) and requests for a minute of her time, she doesn't have so much but grants his request anyway. He says to her "You're just a little girl, i can see it in your eyes, you think you'd find happiness & wealth with all these little guys, your value is in your heart but you think it's in your thighs & Jesus sees you every time you cry, He wants to help you out if you'd just give him a try. They're selling you these dreams and you're dumb enough to buy, in the end... You get a baby & HIV (or both) and then begin to ask 'how?' or 'why?' We've said that sex is for later..." she replies instantly "You all are just a bunch of haters" , she hops into her client's escalade and he drives off. WHY?
A young man walks up to a guy (x) seated with his girlfriendand tries to share a word of truth with him, before he even begins, x's eyes read "Mind your business" The young man ignores and goes ahead with what he has to say.. "Hey homeboy, do you know the Lord, do you know why He came & do you know what He died for ?" x replied- "Yeah, yeah, yeah... on the third day He rose, I hear this every year" (Preacher) - "Yeah? and you still haven't received Him? You still don't believe? There's a hell, don't you see?" X pushes him to the side and walks away with the lady. WHY??
I've been involved in countless scenarios where people walk up to me to either share the gospel with or speak some truth to me and i blatantly refuse. Why? No reason at all, I don't just want to hear it. I mean, I go to church on sunday, I'm pretty much a good guy, I don't need some guy walking out of nowhere keeping me for minutes/hours ranting in my ears things i already know.
I'm no preacher, however, I've come to realize that young people of the present day have drifted very far and don't even want to be told the truth (especially by peers), they tend to look down on people who would have, if allowed, made a difference in their lives.
NOTE- When I say "The truth" I do not necessarily imply "preaching the gospel"
I'd give an example just to clarify.
A young lady in a relationship is beaten by her boyfriend because she refuses to have sex with him, she cries to the shoulders of a friend seeking advice on what she should do about it (meanwhile her mind is made up- she believes he loves her and will change; she only needs to hear this from the girl/guy she's seeking advice from). Unfortunately, she's not getting what she wants to hear, the truth begins to provoke her and BANG! she's had enough... Thank you very much! We wrap it up here, she doesn't want to hear what you think anymore.
We've all had that one time or the other where the truth was either too bitter or too much to handle and then we choose to ignore and proceed on a wrong path. Thing is, the truth is not always what we "want" to hear, but surely is what we "need."
I've been called gay countless times because i keep advising ladies who expose their bodies to stop (now these same girls i try to reach out to are the ones who tag me 'Gay'). They seem to forget that on the long run, some of these things would eventually come into play.
Ladies, YOU CAN BE ATTRACTIVE WITHOUT EXPOSING YOUR BODY... even more attractive than a lady who does. Some of you say you're just being real, well... better start searching for women to marry... No responsible right thinking guy would marry a lady whose colour of panties and even "Nipple genre" is known to all of the world. Finally, live right, responsible, fear God and be less concerned about the things that move the world, they actually hinder you from and not aid you in accomplishing your dreams.
"I cried out with no reply & i can't feel you by my side, So i hold tight to what i know- "You're here & I'm NEVER ALONE."
There comes a time in a man's life when he feels alone, regardless of who's standing next to him. A time when it feels like the whole world has forsaken him, a time when running to his God doesn't seem a good enough solution, a time when he feels he's drifted to far to turn around... A phase of life that knows no man.
This phase is no time to discuss on how much fame or fortune you have... It brutalizes and paralyzes you nevertheless. You're left depressed, surrounded by many but still feeling lonely... Nobody to reach out to or explain what is/ why it is happening. Many lose it here and go haywire, many lose their lives in this phase, addiction of all sorts is the case for some and the ones who remain sane never want a taste of such ever!
"Life is cruel" , "Life is Mean" , "I hate everyone & everything" , "What is there to live for ? " "God WHY?" , "Why me?" , "What have i ever done wrong ?." - A few of the many frequently asked questions/ frequently utterances in this traumatic stage.
Whilst some know that Life is not a "Bed of Roses" and are expectant of trails, a few others think once "they're mad, they're made." Even the ones who are obvious of the fact that it is never all so rosy still do not expect life to hit them as hard as it does.
"THERE IS NO PROMOTION WITHOUT AN EXAMINATION" - Life sometimes will make you feel miserable and abandoned, it'll hit you hard enough to take you down, all it wants from you is a response and in the end, how you respond is what counts. Everyone craves money thinking it is the "overall" , well... i can categorically tell you that this phase looks at no man's pocket.
"EVERYTHING THAT HAS A BEGINNING, HAS AN END" - Don't give up! Never give up! It might be difficult and harder than you ever thought, you might feel your whole world crashing down your feet, there might be no one to pull you up, the atmosphere from friends and relatives might have changed, it may seem so hopeless... Remember that "A LIVING DOG IS BETTER THAN A DEAD LION." Make it a priority to rise again and work towards it... Things WILL be a little harder than they ever had been, prophesy over your situation and take charge of it and when people mock you, give them a reason to be ashamed in the end of it all.
NEVER LOSE FOCUS, keep your eyes fixed on God, He never leaves nor fails and would never give you more than you care bear. He may bend you, but will NEVER break you.
STAY POSITIVE at all times, there is power in the word of mouth. Avoid all sorts of negativity and be ready for life whenever it brings anything across your way.
"You are more than what is hurting you inside" Situations are only there to test how ready you are for what is to come. It is never "too late" to right your wrongs, take a u turn, many might forsake you but there'll forever be that one person standing by your side all through the way. DO NOT give up on God... He turns everything into something that is beautiful in due season.
To succeed, it'll take a lot... But God has given you all that you'd require, use wisely and you'll come out of any sort of situation even stronger than you went in.
Be ready for everything life throws at you (Good or bad) , the workload WILL be heavy and might take a toll on you but never let your eyes off the trophy (Your vision), Hold on tight to it and remind God of his plans for you. His thoughts towards you are forever good.. to bring you to an expected end.
I had no intention to write this, i was about writing on an entirely different subject when something in me paused me and changed my direction. I really don't know who this is for but whoever understands what this is about, on the verge of falling off / giving up... God loves you and you're NEVER ALONE.
The 11th month of the year, the period when the ones who're conceived in the month of love are born. A month of Kings & Queens, Where humor at is gotten at its peak, the month of winners, glory and abundance, the period when we begin to look forward to the month of Christmas which follows immediately... I WELCOME YOU TO NOVEMBER!!! MY VERY OWN MONTH !!!
I've received an astonishing number of feedback from friends, readers, well-wishers, haters, etc and it would be very much ungrateful not to say a big thank you and God bless for all the comments and feedback... For even considering AB worth reading in the first place, God bless you all big time.
Some might be wondering why i did Davido's Rick Ross' job with the whole intro into November, well.. It's the month i was born, got my first and second admissions into the university and of course my favorite of the year and i'm glad and really thankful having seen this month once again.
Just a few words of adornment to all AB readers... I Love you all so much (Yes, you have no idea... Male and Female; Even if it makes me homo), you have no idea how grateful i am to y'all who read.... Even whilst i was away for about 50days, i still got feedback from you, my direct messages on twitter kept buzzing with people asking when my next post was gonna be.
May God grant y'all your heart desires in this new month and may you all in due time reap the fruits of your labour.
Once again, stay security conscious, stay humble, live your life to please no man, live responsibly and develop a habit of giving to the society and those in need generally. God loves y'all and so do I.
Oh... Yeah, for those wondering what i mean by "Davido's Rick Ross." He's the fat guy who's always raining praises on davido before his stage performances... Ask those who went for / watched #ColourfulWorldOfMore concert.
'Days will come when you don't have the strength, When all you'll hear is you're not worth anything, Wondering if you ever could be loved & if they truly saw your heart, they'd see too much'
GOD... The very same one we cannot live, love, sit, stand, breathe, eat, do without. Yet, we chose to abuse the privilege He gives unto us all. True HIS 'Grace' is ever - sufficient but do we continue to use and abuse it? (Food for thought).
I've come to realize that people now resort to God only when there's no hope left. He's now some kind of Last option. GOD FORBID that He decides to punish us for the manner of insults we bring upon his name.
Be you a Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, Whatever be your religion, I personally believe that there is but ONE God- Maker of the heavens and the earth.
For some, Staying is faith is so much of a problem as there as too many 'Distractions' here and there. Today, they're God lovers, Tomorrow they're sinning like they really don't care. (I'm a big Victim of this myself).
The truth remains we all need GOD.
Think of all the wrongs you do on a daily basis, the numerous lies you tell, the times you cheat, the times you lay false accusations to get yourself out of one situation or the other, Somehow, He manages to spare your life.
Some complain all day about how things are not going well/smooth for them, about how much money they should be making but aren't, about the kind of flashy rides they should be cruising in and all that... They tend to forget that 'ONLY THE LIVING HAVE DREAMS AND ASPIRATIONS.'
The only thing that separates a dead man from one who is alive is the gift of life (Which anyway we cannot give ourselves).
All forms & manners of wrongs have taken over today's generation. All everyone craves is Wealth... It's saddening that we do not thank God for the little we have but instead complain about the things we lack. There are several people on hospital beds that live with the aid of a life support machine, Some are kept in Intensive care unit and yet YOU are able to open this write-up yourself and even read it. I think that is more than enough reason to thank God.
Always remember that it is NEVER too late to turn to your maker, He is ever ready willing & Able to accept you. He remains your father no matter the circumstance.
I plead with all who read this... Take time out to thank God for the things you have, Even if you cannot think of anything he's given you, Thank Him for the life you live, For food on your table, Money in your pocket, The people around you, Shelter over your head.
People lose their lives everyday, this very short time you used in reading this, over a thousand people have dropped dead... But HE has kept you for a purpose and i pray we all never lose sight of this.
You're beautiful, You are made for so much more than all of this, You are treasured, You are sacred, You are HIS'. Remember - Of all the thousand stars above, YOU're the one HE madly loves.
Hello Readers, September is here and I wanna say a Happy New Month to everyone. May the new month produce for each and every one of us (AMEN).
I started off this blog with double thoughts... I had no idea it would make as much impact as it is doing today. It was just my way of expressing my concerns and worry on issues that affect young people. I'm glad that today i've gotten a good number of feedback from readers and well-wishers and i say thank you once again.
The 'Ember' months are here again and in this part of the world, it comes along with lots of rituals and blah blah blah (You know what i mean). Anyway, I wish you all the best in this month, stay safe, security conscious and also remember to make an impact in whatever you do. I tell people this all the time, it's never about us.. We're all here for the next person.
Anyways, I just thought i'd say i love you all readers, Thank You and God bless for considering the blog worthy of your time.
HAPPY NEW MONTH ONCE AGAIN. GOD BLESS. And oh... Liverpool FC Couldn't have given me a better new month's gift. They beat United. Ok bye.
'Kho na Jaaye Ye, Taare Zameen Par' - wish those stars don't get lost on this earth, EVERY child is special.
The gift of life is one which no man can give. Childhood is as a matter of fact one of the most fascinating things we go through in life. A period when everything is as simple as it gets, where there are no much worries, where some probably still have their best memories stashed away.
We all once were children and know how that stage of our lives felt. Without childhood, there can be no teenage and most certainly, no adulthood.
Personally, I had what I could call the best times when i was much younger as I did not have to worry about where the next meal was going to come from, money for my school fees, accommodation... Who to talk to when I was lonely was never a problem, as a matter of fact I could talk to myself, respond and totally enjoy it. Death was not something of a worry for me as I barely understood what it meant (even though I used the word 'die' more times than I can remember whilst playing with peers). Above all, I didn't have to worry about my girlfriend getting pregnant (LOL). Just kidding, But surely, we all have an idea of what it means to be a child.
EVERY CHILD IS SPECIAL
Regardless of their race, nationality, religion, tribe or whatever world has put into place to force some sort of segregation amongst us (Bottom line- we're all human beings), each and every child is wonderfully made and has something to offer.
While some are privileged to a life of luxury, others unfortunately lack. (lack in this context doesn't necessarily imply the monetary aspect) Children need love, affection, someone to hold them close, make them feel like they can be the best at what they do. They need someone to look up to, someone to encourage them when they don't get it right and also discipline and correct them with Love.
Like I mentioned earlier, we don't own ourselves. Some children are unfortunate to lose their mother/father or in some cases both parents and thus need someone to play these roles in their life. A child will go astray if there's no one to correct him/her or give him/her a sense of belonging. Every child needs someone he can run to, jump on after school, kiss and cuddle; I speak from experience.
Life doesn't give everyone an equal or fair chance.
Ishan Ashwati was an 8year old who suffered from dyslexia. Unfortunately for him, his parents failed to realize this (his father never had the right kind of relationship with him and always tried to restrain his mother from what he considered "over-pampering"). He kept failing to do well in school as a result of this. On the other hand, his brother (Yohan) was an A student. His father kept making his life miserable with different manners of parental threats and never drew him close to actually find out what exactly was wrong. (Sometimes our parents also make mistakes, they're totally human and are not programmed to always get it spot-on).
I was brought up in a home where I considered my dad very harsh but, at the same time a companion. He never hesitated to scold me whenever I went out of line but on every occasion would call me into his room and talk to me like he was a big brother and friend. I have no regrets whatsoever today, when I look back at my childhood and everything my parents did to us (myself and my elder sister), I smile, thank God for their lives, ours and also pray for God's everlasting blessings upon them. My biggest prayer for them is that they live to reap the fruits of their labour.
Back to my story, Ishan's father finally sent him to a boarding school because he felt there he would be disciplined to a point where he would have no choice but to force himself to study and pass.
(He wasn't unwilling to study, he just couldn't understand anything owing to his dyslexic condition)
Ishan was mocked by peers, he cried every night and day, life was a misery for him.
Mr. Nikumbh who had become their new arts teacher was a friendly, loving man. He noticed Ishan's attitude towards school, drew closer to the young lad and made him a friend. Mr Nikumbh also suffered from dyslexia as a child and so understood clearly what Ishan went through. Ishan failed his first exams so bad that the school invited his parents over, they were told that should he not improve, he'd be asked to withdraw.
As usual, the lad's father was furious and scolded him much more than he did in the past. Ishan's mother loved her son so much, she couldn't bear the pain of watching her son fail in life, she spoke to him but he couldn't explain his condition to her.
Ishan always loved to draw, he had various paintings stashed in his room and his mother would everyday flip through his art books and weep. Clearly, this boy had a passion for arts, he could paint so well, but his skill was unnoticed because his father cared about him making it only through formal education.
To cut a long story short, Ishan began to excel when he found a companion and friend, Mr. Nikumbh began to teach him to read and write and took huge interest in his artwork. The school had a policy, at the end of every section there was an art contest in which all art students including the lecturer would present a painting, the best of all was selected and the winner announced and given an award.
Ishan began to excel in his studies to everyone's surprise. Thanks to Mr. Nikumbh, his grades began to climb up the ladder and at the end of it all, he won the art competition.
There are children out there with no parents, absolutely no one to cater for them or show them the love they require, they need us (You and I). It's not all about money, you can make an impact, a very huge impact in the life of a child even without giving him/her a dime.
There are children on the streets begging for food/money, some hawking all sort of items, children under the age of 10 and yet we ignore these things that matter and talk about meaningless things.
People trend on all sort of social media for posting nudes, leaking private chats and much more and we pay attention to them and care-less about these kids.
There's a child out there crying, calling out, reaching for someone to wipe his/her tears with no one responding.
Here in Nigeria, some say these children who beg have money in their pockets but i say to whosoever is reading this, for a child to go on the streets begging, he/she has a need.
I plead with you reading this, make an impact in the life of a child today. God loves the little ones, sow a seed into the life of a child, nothing is to small to give be it time, money, food, clothes...
I also implore that you watch this short clip (OST) off the movie 'Taare Zameen Par' so you get to have an idea of how this topic came about.
I watched this movie in 2007 and afterwards wrote a book on the story. It had a real effect on me, The first piece of article I ever wrote was inspired by this movie, I hope it inspires you the way it did me.
Remember, Nothing is ever too small to give.
I hope to get feedback from all readers,
GOD BLESS YOU ALL. Till I come your way again.
For some time now, the issue of sagging has defied my personal understanding as it has become a sort of trend and is now considered as many to be 'cool.' Young boys and even a few females now indulge in the act of 'sagging.'
Many of these people who sag have no idea of the origin of sagging, others say it's a style associated with HIP-HOP.
Now, for those who do not know the origin of sagging, i'll tell you a little about it... Sagging is said to have originated/ been adopted from the united states prisons systems in which belts are sometimes prohibited to prevent prison inmates from using them as weapons or committing suicide by hanging themselves. It was then cultivated and popularized by Hip-Hop artistes in the 1990s and today is even been giving alternate names such as 'Low riding' in some countries of the world.
Now the question is, if sagging originated from the prison yards, How then is this a 'Cool' practice ? No one wants to know how flashy your 'underwear' is... I believe in the first place that it was called that for the reason of been worn underneath your pants and not been shown to everyone all in the name of 'Sagging.' We all need to go back to the drawing table & put on our thinking caps to seriously deliberate over the issue of sagging. - (MY OPINION)
Are you For/Against this trend? Have your say on sagging today... Post a comment or Send an email to Antoineotakpor@yahoo.co.uk
on what your personal view on sagging is.
Life was never a serious thing to me, I drank, smoked, partied, did everything i felt the urge to as i always said to myself 'Life's too short to dull.'
I had lost a couple of loved ones growing up but i never truly learnt any valuable lesson... It was more of a 'live and die' thing to me. The reality of life began to dawn on me as i grew older and by the passing of each day, i got to realize what it meant to breathe, now make no mistake, i knew i had someone to thank for this but i never truly bothered or cared about saying the least of thank you prayers.
I came close to quite a number of near-death experiences but none of these counted as anything, for me, it was more of a thing of pride and stupidity... After each experience, i would say to myself 'I no fit die now na, even God sef know.' I abused the privilege The Most High had given to me but yet he spared my life somehow... I was in no way worthy of his mercies but yet, they remained ever-sufficient in my life. My name (Ifeanyi) always spoke for me wherever i went and the overwhelming blessings i kept receiving were just far beyond the handwork of any human but, then again, I remained ungrateful to God for this.
The year 2010 was one in which was filled with ups and downs for myself as an individual and even more for my entire household. In the twinkle of an eye, the luxuries of life in which i felt was the true essence of life begun to vanish one after another. I lost virtually every material thing i had and had always made boast in. For me, i had lost it all, life wasn't worth living anymore... I remember crying in my room a couple of times saying all sorts of things like 'What's the need of living' and many more of that nature. I asked endless questions and no one could come to my rescue.
2011... I had an encounter with JESUS. Now this wasn't the first time i was surrendering all to Him, no, i was born and raised by not just Christians but God fearing parents who taught me to live by biblical standards and to walk in the way of the Lord.
I came to realize that all we've had, have and will ever have, He alone knows... I surrendered to His supremacy, but, in totality? No, I wasn't ready to give up the so-called 'Good Life' of partying, being a ladies' man and all that stuff. I tried, it seemed just too difficult for me, i just couldn't keep up.
Mid 2011 however was when i came to the actualization of the fact that walking with God is perhaps the easiest thing to do... provided you're willing to do so with all of your heart but then again the issue of putting all of your heart into something without having any negative thoughts seemed like hard-work.
I was very active in church, i probably took center stage of the young people's church activities as i was always here and there involving myself in every church activity.
2012 was different, school this time around was not giving me all the time in the world and so i withdrew from all church activities and tendered my resignations to all groups to which i belonged.
For me, 2012 was definitely gonna be my year as i believed i had served God the previous year well enough for him to grant all my heart desires. I lost a couple of old high school friends but the reality of the importance of Life never dawned on me... For me, it was all about fame and fortune. Waking up one day, i thought and told myself the long hidden truth... everything i did in church the previous year, i did because i wanted to be noticed, i wasn't actually glorifying God, everything was in my selfish interests and desire.
To cut the long story short, i've come to realize that we do not own ourselves; male/female, Muslim/Christian, Big/small, young/old, we all should learn to be thankful for the life we have. It goes beyond material props, the fact that you can breathe in and out is something to be thankful for.
Now, things may be hard, there may be no money, clothes, you might not have everything you desire and so crave for but, there's one thing you have that a dead person doesn't and that's 'LIFE.'
Learn to live right, appreciate all that you see around you and spend quality time with your God and the ones you love, WE DON'T HAVE LIFE FOREVER. Someday, you'll depart this earth. What things would you want to be said about you? How exactly would you want to be remembered??
We need to sit up and begin to effect positive changes to move us in the right direction and make the world a better place. Learn to thank God for the life you have today for nobody knows tomorrow.
Today, i worry not about the clothes i wear, food on my table or shelter over my head and trust me, i'm a very happy person at peace with myself. I found joy like no other in JESUS and in His presence and all i have to do when things seem like they're beginning to go awry is to remind myself whose son i am and talk to Him.
Develop a habit of thanksgiving and constant fellowship with God regardless of your religion. There are no 2 Gods, there is but one. Salvation is a thing of choice, make yours today.
Waking up this morning to the bitter news of the demise of not just a follower but a friend who lit up my world with mere 'tweets'. Charming little Zainab was one of a very rare kind. Its not just the fact that she's gone today but the impact she's made in my life. May God grant her family, friends and loved ones the fortitude to bear this huge loss. God bless your soul little one... Till we meet again. Adieu.
With a heavy heart and with tears in my eyes, i say RIP Zainab Ayo Omolabi.
Talk about the level of corruption, bribery, injustice... It won't be absolutely wrong to say the world of today has taken a giant leap in the wrong direction as Sex, Money, Liquor, Marijuana (Cannabis/Weed) have all become the order of the day. Our 'future leaders' are being led into acts of immorality such as drug trafficking, internet fraud and other forms of unnecessary ritual rites all in a bid to make money. Some of these acts are even sugar-coated with names (yahoo yahoo, yahoo plus etc) and are no longer viewed by some as crime but rather as a means of 'Catching fun.' The rate of crime in our country today remains very alarming and cannot go unnoticed... The youth who're expected to be pace setters for the children have drifted far too much and what's even worse, they fail to realize this. The so-called 'Future leaders' would rather indulge in immoral & selfish acts than think of the country at large. Everybody exploring various illegal money making ventures for selfish interests.
The Issue of sex is perhaps the biggest of them all with seemingly no solution at all, teenagers now discuss sex like its some school subject...For ladies, Prostitution has taken center stage and is no longer even called prostitution but now 'Runs', the ladies would even go as far as telling you 'All na hustle' Really??? Selling your bodies for N3,000 is hustle? We seriously need to put back on our thinking caps as these issues are aggravating by the passing of each day and if nothing is done soonest, i fear for our young ones. Then again, the ladies aren't the only ones involved in this. The guys now... they'd go the extra mile, whatever the cost, provided they 'get laid' at the end of it all. I was speaking to a female friend of mine who narrated to me how a certain guy promised to sponsor her entire birthday celebrations (now i'm not talking buying ten bottles of coca-cola or sprite, I'm talking some 5-10 bottles of Rozay, which we all know to be one of the most expensive drinks in clubs) he also promised to take care of the transportation fares of the entire ladies that would grace the occasion, now, my friend was overwhelmed but make no mistake, it would last only but a short while as he'd demand to take her to bed at the end of the party. Then again, i ask myself... What is the need? (Vanity upon Vanity)
The issue of Drug Intake & Trafficking.
It's probably no headline new anymore, the rampant rate of involvement in drug intake such as cocaine, marijuana (kush), skunk and many others. This has become the new world order for the guys and even a couple of ladies too. The level of ignorance amongst individuals is my major concern as 80 in every 100 who indulge in this act are oblivious of the numerous effects these substances have on them. There's the issue of anxiety, increased heart rate, loss of memory and much more which are unknown to some addicts... You'd rather watch your life cut short?
It goes beyond just the intake now as the Drug Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and other DEAs of many other countries now nab individuals at airports, streets, homes... etc trafficking and hoarding different manners of drugs. Young individuals now waste away their time smoking, drinking, sniffing and indulging in all forms of illegal acts.
The Love of Money still remains the root of all evil...
