God is not on the Hill

Hello People,

How are you doing? How is 2015 shaping out? I hope very well? 

My head is alil here and there this year but I hope to get a balance and get more connected here by the end of the Month. :) 

Psalm 121:1 has been my main 'Theme' for a while right after I changed from ''Rebirth of a Dramaqueen¨ well, only the people that have been here for a long while will know that name... Please, old things have passed away :p 

I got the name ''Foot of the Hill¨ from reading the Bible, it appealed to me but I didn't quiet find a Bible verse to anchor it to that made sense to what I was trying to portray, then I found ''I will lift up my eyes to the hill...¨ then I had an 'aha' moment at the time thinking, If David is lifiting up his eyes to the Hill then God is in the hill so guess who is at the foot of the hill? Yep, you got that right!! David then by extension now, me! Abi? Makes sense when you explain it like that, only God is NOT on the Hill atleast not in that way. 

A friend of mine said to me yesterday ¨When will you get up to the Hill¨ and my response was ¨Hopefully, Never¨ then I paused and remembered what was impressed on my heart about a month ago to go and revise this my ''Foot of the Hill¨ Thing and yes, I pushed back, I didn't want to admit that I was wrong so I brushed it over and in my mind 

¨Let me continue using it like that¨ 
¨It still makes perfect sense na¨
¨What will people think¨
¨Just change it quietly jor, you don't have to explain¨

These and more passed through my mind. So, yesterday I went back to studying it atleast to once again prove to myself that I wasn't wrong *Yimu* It was clear. Let's look at it together shall we? 

I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
    where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
    the Maker of heaven and earth¨ (NIV) 

¨I will lift up my eyes to the hills [around Jerusalem, to sacred Mount Zion and Mount Moriah]—From whence shall my help come?

My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth¨ (AMP) 

¨¨I look up to the hills,
    but where will my help really come from?
2 My help will come from the Lord,
    the Creator of heaven and earth¨ (ERV)

 ¨I look up to the mountains;
    does my strength come from mountains?
No, my strength comes from God,
    who made heaven, and earth, and mountains¨. (MSG) 

In the AMP version there is a reference to Jer 3:23 

¨It was foolish to worship idols on the hills.
    All the loud parties on the mountains were wrong.
Surely the salvation of Israel
    comes from the Lord our God¨

You now see what I mean? It simply means Shall I depend upon the powers of the earth, upon the strength of the hills, upon princes and great men, who, like hills, fill the earth, and hold up their heads towards heaven? No; in vain is salvation hoped for from hills and mountains. I never expect help to come from them; my confidence is in God only.

But like me, many of us have gotten it right side up. Well, I admit I was wrong and based on this you know I am going to change my blog name bah? Okay! I am very sure now that I will choose something that will be timeless and anchored on God's word! 

Have you made any mistake recently that you didn't want to admit? Care to share? Would love to hear from you! 

See, you soon. 

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I found a secret that saves

I saw the book in a corner as I was set to leave home after a long wedding weekend. It wasn't the green cover or petit-ness of the book that made me pick up or the fact that it was the same Author that wrote 'Prayer of Jabez' another book that rocked my world... I don't believe in coindicences and it is obvious that God did want me to read it at this particular point in time. 

And I am sooooo grateful for that. 

I started the book immediately in the car on my way back to my base and Initially I was just facinated at the retell of 

John 15 when Jesus was talking about the vine and us as the branches. Oh! the name of the book is 'Secrets of the vine' by Bruce Wilkinson its the second part to 'Prayer of Jabez' 

It's a book I recommend for anyone and it basically has every season of your christian walk. Everyone wondering why? Everyone in a dark place, you'd definitely find yourself in one of the categories of branches that was mentioned. 

The one that mostly stood out for me was 'Abiding' the state of Abiding in God. The frustration of having a stale walk with God and the dissatisfaction that also comes with it. The writer had a similar experience and the truth dawned on him

''God didn't want me to do more for him. He wanted me to be more with him" 

and this was my defining moment, we do so much for God that we forget to be more with him. I am forgetting to be more with him and this was a great reminder to turn things around and not lose sight of what is important. 

In that moment, there was hope and I know that this is the way out of this rut, going back to being with him as against running around for him. 

I also encourage you to look through and if you're going through something similar just remember that God loves you and more than ever HE wants to fellowship with you. He is bidding you 'come' 

Abide in Jesus...

If you find the book, please do get it or just look for it!!! It's worth every bit of it. 

Abide in Jesus...

John 15 1-5 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing

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I walked the dog this morning and learnt a lesson

Hello people,

How have you been? Remember chi-chi? chi-chi is 'our' dog and I took her for a walk this morning. I regularly don't do this but I am around and my younger sister started complaining when she started barking in the morning as an indication for us to take her out.

I walked her round our close and when we got back, some chickens had invaded her 'space' and she almost ran out of my hands to defend her 'territory' to chase the chickens away from her food and water and a light bulb came on in my head.

Do you defend your territory like this?

The Bible clearly says in Proverbs 4:23 Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.

I know right now that I don't. 
I also love the analogy I heard recently, about having a field and how weed doesn't struggle to grow but it takes extra planning and effort to grow a seed deliberately. You want to plant maize, you have to plan, water it etc. to make sure it grows, but for the weed? You don't have to 'do' anything. 

God has given us this life - HIS life - we are stewards and we have the responsibility to 'defend' and God has equipped us, given us authority, given us dominion and he will ask us what we did with our life. 

I have been giving this serious thought since morning - when I wasn't sleeping - and I want to ask you what I also ask myself and hoping I understand and get better at. 

Is my life - and the lives connected to mine - precious enough to me to want to defend it like how God expects?

Have a great week!!! :) 

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I am tempted to quit blogging

A wise man once said to me ¨If you don't know what to write about, then write about the fact that you don't know what to write about¨  

I am taking that piece of Advice today. 

I am tempted to quit on this blog.
I am tempted to just stop writing.
I am tempted to let go and stop being deliberate.
I am tempted to 'Let life just happen'.
I am tempted to just quit.
I am tempted.

I put it out on all my social media accounts about the thought that has been in my head about this online space and the response was overwhelming. I think that it was selfish of me to just want to quit after meeting and making amazing friends via this platform.

The past few weeks have been different in the sense that I didn't take anything slow at all. Everything was fast paced, time was barely enough, life changing decisions to make or not make. Let's just say alot was happening but My God & I kept this space 'busy' for a while.

Although this is not the first time I have nursed the thought, but this is the first time I voiced it out to the public and I didn't know what to expect but the response was really encouraging...

But then one person said to me

¨If that is what you want then go for it¨ 

Which brings me to why I wanted to quit;

* I am using present tense because its an on-going process

I am looking at me; I am looking at me. Looking at what I am not doing right, looking at how my life is busy and how I can't keep up, thinking of how I need to make time to write, thinking of what I want to write. Notice the constant thing? ¨I¨

I am looking at you; Asking questions like ''Who even reads this?'' ''Is this adding value to anyone?'' ''Will anyone notice if I don't continue?'' etc

I am looking at others; ¨Oh my! see how pretty her blog is... Jeez my doesn't even cut it'' ''She's got alot to say everyday, you what are you doing?¨ ¨What? > 20 comments and counting on one... ONE post... Chai¨ These are some of the things I have said to myself.

I was doing all the looking when I should have been looking at/to HIM.

Then I was reminded today;

 But the Lord said, “My grace is all you need. Only when you are weak can everything be done completely by my power.” So I will gladly boast about my weaknesses. Then Christ’s power can stay in me. [2 Cor 12:9 ERV]

So, when I hear things like ''If that is what you want go for it¨ I interpret it as this ¨If that is what you want remember that its not about you'' 

Because 'I' will always want it. I will always want to quit. I will always want to be lazy. I will always want to be uninspired. I will always not want to make the extra effort. I will always..... (fill in the blank for other excuses we make) and if you are also being honest you also want to quit sometimes.

But.... IT'S. NOT. ABOUT. YOU.

Someone also said ¨If its just one person reading...¨ I also take comfort in that too but most importantly remember Gods strength is made perfect in your weakness.

I WAS tempted to quit on this blog.
I WAS tempted to just stop writing.
I WAS tempted to let go and stop being deliberate.
I WAS tempted to 'Let life just happen'.
I WAS tempted to just quit.
I WAS tempted.

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¨I gave my life to Christ when I was 9¨ God and I with Tolani

FH: Tell us about you

`My name is Ajala Tolani, i really don’t have a nickname. I am a graduate of physiology, a very sensitive person in nature that is why I don’t get close to people easily but when I do you’ll never regret it (never a dull moment with tOLaRr).

FH: When did you give your life to Christ?

I gave my life to Christ when I was 9 years old and I rededicated my life to Christ 2007.

FH: What were the events that led up to making the decision?

I was saved at a very tender age, joined the choir to the extent I sometimes share my bible class teachings with my friends. I didn’t know much then but I just wanted to serve God. After a while I backslided.

In 2007, a lot of things happened in my life that left me helpless, fearful, devastated, a lot of sleepless night which made thirsty for a change. I had no option but to retrace my steps back to the potter.

FH: What challenges have you experienced in your walk with God?

Whao, Challenges!!! Have had so many but there was just this one thing then, which was hearing and believing from the basis of God’s word. Concerning every issue of my life I wanted to hear from God through His word (fine, I listened to messages, read books). On every issue I just wanted to know the mind of God.

FH: What practical steps did you take?

Be anxious for nothing …….. (I’ll put my name here), but by prayer with thanksgiving allow your request (no matter how small it is, what to wear, what you need, how to go about something) be made known unto God. Ephesians 1:16-18 was also one of the scriptures I used.

FH: There are times in our walk where don’t exactly feel top notch, what keeps you going in those times?

What kept me going in times like that is fellowshipping with fellow brethren that is why church programs are called service just like the way we service our cars. I made sure I avail myself for paryer meetings and bible study, iron sharpens iron. It wasn’t that easy but it really helped.

FH: A lot of Christians out there have the major challenge of dealing with sin, what’s your take on this and how do you think we can overcome sin?

Sin is man's old nature and our perfection is in Christ. Therefore to overcome sin, one has to admit that something is wrong. Don’t ever appreciate sin instead focus more on the solution even when you’re still in the act. Put the sin aside and focus more on being a better person especially in that area. Focus on the price and not the problem.

FH: Can you share the most remarkable time or season in your walk with God?

The day I rededicated myself back to Christ, since then I have never experienced a better last year because He daily loaded me with benefits.

FH: What is your relationship with God like today?

Superawesome

FH: Words of encouragements

God is always speaking to us through the Holy Spirit. Concerning that situation, look unto God because His plan for your life is in His book. No matter what you are going through always give thanks, its not always that easy but just obey 1Timothy 4:4

PS: Happy Independence to Nigeria!!! I pray that the coming election will be according to the plans and dictates to the most high, His express will be done in this nation and we will grow in peace and unity!! In Jesus name! Amen!!!

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Dead men walking

Hello Everyone,

How is your weekend going? :) 

One thing i'm beginning to notice is the Irony that exists in following Jesus. 

I've been attending membership class for my not-so-new-church for the last 3 weeks and we treated salvation in one of the classes and it was a major paradigm shift for me. 

We keep saying ¨I gave my life to Christ¨ so much that it doesn't hold water anymore, but that isn't even what I'm dwelling on right now, but the fact that logically, spiritually, scientifically, materially, financially and every -ally. It is not possible. 

Why? 

We are dead! ¨But God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die¨ Genesis 3:3 

And God meant it. 

That day Adam died. and upon arrival on the earth, We die too. 

Death, it was in the Genes. 

but then.... *Ghen ghen* 

Isaiah 53 New International Version (NIV)

53 Who has believed our message
    and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot,
    and like a root out of dry ground.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
    nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
3 He was despised and rejected by mankind,
    a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.
Like one from whom people hide their faces
    he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.

4 Surely he took up our pain
    and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
    stricken by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
    he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
    and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
    each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
    the iniquity of us all.

7 He was oppressed and afflicted,
    yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
    and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
    so he did not open his mouth.
8 By oppression[a] and judgment he was taken away.
    Yet who of his generation protested?
For he was cut off from the land of the living;
    for the transgression of my people he was punished.[b]
9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
    and with the rich in his death,
though he had done no violence,
    nor was any deceit in his mouth.

10 Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
    and though the Lord makes[c] his life an offering for sin,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
    and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.
11 After he has suffered,
    he will see the light of life[d] and be satisfied[e];
by his knowledge[f] my righteous servant will justify many,
    and he will bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,[g]
    and he will divide the spoils with the strong,[h]
because he poured out his life unto death,
    and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,
    and made intercession for the transgressors.

JESUS!! 

He gave his life for us. We don't give our life to him, technically, we had none. 

We accept HIS. 

Its the acceptance of salvation. 

We then go ahead and live our lives for HIM, the one who gave himself for us. 

Here is a poem I loved and is line with this by Preston and Jackie Hill Perry of P4cm ¨The Fall'' 

Enjoy! 

Have you come to an end of yourself? Have you come to a point where nothing else seems to be working out and you've tried all you could? Click to meet GRACE

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¨That is just how I am, Don't try to change me¨

-_-

Can I be brutally honest? Please, permit me.

I have heard alot of people say and I am sure i’ve said it also at some point.

¨That is just who I am, you either accept it or you don’t’’

‘’If you Love me, you will take me as I am and not try to change me¨

Even for the better? 

Or something along those lines, and for a while this was cool and normal to say. I particularly have a friend that says this but I am coming to an understanding that because ¨That’s how I am¨ shouldn't be an excuse for me to stay in a mess or an excuse to not change my bad behaviour.

Now, We have a sin nature. Should I now say ¨This is just who I am¨ everytime I sin? and that should be my excuse to stay sinning? or you have an anger issue and your excuse for everytime you lose it is ¨That’s just who I am¨ even to an average person it should sound ridiculous and the Bible says in [Romans 6:1-2 ¨What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?¨]

We are called to live the life of Christ [ Gal 2:20 ]. I repent from saying things like this, because we believers will keep saying things like this until it becomes only what we know and live by. How then can we be separate?

I am in no way saying that you should be perfect and that is exactly the point.

let me explain.

The Life that you now live is Christ and NO! this is not just how you are, incase you’ve forgotten let me remind you of who you are…

You are the daughter/son of a King...A joint heir with Christ...God’s representative...A royal priesthood...A peculiar nation...You’re Loved..You’re seated with Christ...Clothed with righteousness…

You’re all that and so much more. I mean YOU HAVE THE LIFE OF CHRIST IN YOU C’mon!

Its time we start living like that.

It’s not just who you are but who you are in Christ. And when a loved one sees you and sees that who you really are and your current reality doesn’t reflect that, they help to bring you up to that image of Christ. [Proverbs 27:17]

So, you won’t keep saying ¨If you Love me, you won’t try to change me¨ but understand that just as God loves us so much that he won’t leave us the way he met us, your loved ones are also trying to bring out the best in you.

 You don't want someone that genuinely loves you.

Stop playing defence.

Trust the God in them.

Trust God.

Be transformed into his image [ And our faces are not covered. We all show the Lord’s glory, and we are being changed to be like him. This change in us brings more and more glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Cor 3:18]

….and contrary to popular opinion That’s not just the way you are!!


Have you come to an end of yourself? Have you come to a point where nothing else seems to be working out and you've tried all you could? Click to meet GRACE

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