Through my lens || Love is Impossible

I am taking my photography alot more seriously this year and I have been going through a 52 weeks challenge (More on this soon) with a group of photographers this has made me just want to take pictures of everything and I am one of those people that cleans her ears every second (if possible) and I got this inspiration from my earbud container (obviously -_-) as it was the season of love, I took to Instagram to share some Lovey-dovey message, If you follow me there you'd have seen this. I must say, I am proud of myself for this idea. I think its rather creative (if I can say so myself)

This is my best shot

 It's the season of Love and the world will once again want to shove Its definition of LOVE down our throats... But we are not going to be defined by that anymore. 
Away from what the world thinks, I will be sharing about what I have learnt of Love from a Biblical standpoint.

What is Love?
How to Love?
Why to Love? 

God's view > World's view. lets dance ;) 

There are alot of definitions to the word Love. Today we would explore what Love is from a Biblical Standpoint. Love is not a tingling sensation or whatever it is defined as these days... Love is sacrificial... Love if giving...
Love puts the other before self - Meets needs.
Love does not discriminate...
Love gives ALL...
Love Forgives in advance...
Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have.
Doesn’t have a swelled head,
Doesn’t force itself on others,
Isn’t always “me first,”
Doesn’t fly off the handle,
Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn’t revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.

Long and short, Love is Impossible in our human nature, we have to rely on God. God is Love, his very nature is LOVE and guess what happens when we take on God's nature? 
We also flow in Love and express it as our nature... Love then becomes our way of life! [ 1Corinthians 13, John 15:13, John 3:16, 1John3:16, Matt 22:37, John 13:35, Romans 13:10, 1John4:7-10, 19-20]

How and why do we love?

By looking at the way God loves us we are getting a glimpse into how we should love. 
God first loved us. We should make the first move, do a good deed to someone, make the call, forgive first whatever it is you're doing do it first. 

We didn't deserve the Love given us, in that light we should love before 'they' deserve it. Your loved ones do some annoying things? Love anyways... Love serves, be willing to serve people. 
And remember, NOTHING ABSOLUTELY, NOTHING CAN SEPARATE US FROM THAT LOVE. 
Why do we Love? 
One of the reasons God loves us is because it's HIS nature to express love and HE is glorified in expressing Love. 
If we don't have God's nature inside, we can't give what we don't have, we can only express this kind of Love if we have accepted it.

At the end of the day, Its YOU. ME & GOD

What does love mean to you? What difference does it make with the way you relate with people?

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#KidneyTrustFund Your 1000 can save a life

OJB Jezreel was once diagnosed of a kidney failure; a health condition that 1 in every 7 Nigerians is a victim of. Almost every one has a family member or friend or knows someone who is suffering from kidney disease. Using social media, Nigerians rose to the occasion via donations and he was given a second chance at life.

As a way of giving back to society, The OJB foundation is working in collaboration with The Bow Tie Club has launched The Kidney Trust Fund with support from FCMB Plc, Paga, AIICO insurance, Fotolight house, CSL trustees and Vikram Hospital, India to help more Nigerians in the same condition he once was get a second chance at life.

All you have to do is
1. Share this message
2. Follow The Kidney Trust Fund on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
3. Visit www.kidneytrustfund.org and make a donation of N1000.

Donations can be made via the website, paga or direct payments to
CSL TRUSTEES LIMITED/ OJB Foundation
0678691109
FCMB

Your N1000 could save a life!

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Dear 18-year-old-me

Hey Girl,

I see you just turned 18 and I know you are uber-excited. Mummy Bankole will call you today and tell you these words ''You're 18 now, you've become responsible'' and she means it but something she missed out is  responsibility is not imputed to you because of your age, you have to learn to be it. Don't brush it off, own it and learn to be responsible.

Look at you all innocent, Its cute and all but I need you to quit being innocent this has gotten you in trouble and from the look of things will get you into more trouble. I'm not trying to be hard on you, let me explain what I mean. I know you are intelligent, but I need you to be sharp and stop being oblivious and really take responsibilty for your life. Not everyone has your best intentions at heart. Stop assuming everyone does.

In the same light(but may sound contradictory) do not lose your trust in people, balance is key. Balance it out. Wisdom is profitable to direct.
I know right now you are battling with low self esteem because nobody exactly believes in you but let me tell you one thing you are smart and in about a year from now you will have every reason to doubt what you've believed about yourself for most of your teenage years. Its not going to be an easy phase for you but you need to start believing in yourself for yourself. Get ready.

I know you hold alot of resentment against your parents right now for not believing in you, for sending you to that school without their proper research about it and the other little things that lead you here but I promise it will get better, you will get better. Forgive. Really Forgive, because you are just hurting yourself by holding that much toxic stuff inside and its beginning to make you bitter. Let it go because when you finally do some years from now, you will wonder why you didn't earlier.

Do.not.date.boys. DONT! and shun those ones that don't even what to define what they want from you, really. This piece of advice is not for now, keep it in your left palm you will need it in a few years. Trust me.

I know you go to church on Sunday and you believe in Jesus but I need you to stop being lukwarm about it, its more that what mummy says or what you should do to not go to hell, God wants a relationship with you. God shouldn't be a part of your life, your life should be centred around him and your life will be better for it, contrary to what you think right now the 'SU' is not an extreme, its the life. little hint, You will live like one soon! oh yes, without earring and trousers.

I see you forbidding it. Lol. best believe girl!

Finally, I love you very much. These are some of the things I wish you knew about in this phase of your life but I am grateful. Grateful for you, grateful to you for who I am now. Thank you for being too innocent to a fault, Thank you for all your flaws, thank you for the ignorant mistakes you made and thank you for being focused and firm with your dreams.

Every step, every misstep, every decision you made and the ones you didn't make led me here. Exactly where God has me today. Thank you.

Thank God.
Cheers to the future!

24!

Ever think of writing a letter to your old self? What advice will you give your younger self?
***

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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!!


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BIG on the little details

The irony right. HE is unconventional like that.

Exodus 25-30

¨You must build this Tabernacle and its furnishings exactly according to the pattern I will show you¨ Ex 25:9

I was reading exodus and boy was I tripped, I’ve heard pastor talk about the verse a number of times but was just I was just reading it myself. It was amazing.

For 5 chapters (each with 20-40+ verses) God gave instructions in height, cubit, colour, candle wax, wood type, cloth material EVERYTHING about the temple. Nothing was left to ‘chance’ or ‘Man’s intelligence’

Looking back at noah and the ark ¨This is how you are to build it… ¨ Gen 6:15 God gave him detailed instructions.

What this says to me is this, God is big on details, he doesn’t leave anything to chance and HE sure doesn’t do half measures.

God is BIG on the details of the world.

God is BIG on the details of his church.

God is BIG on the details of your Life.

He was involved in the times of Moses, He is involved today. He is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8)

1 Peter 2:5 (NIV)

¨you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house[a] to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ¨

God is BIG on the ‘house’ that he’s building and he has given us a pattern… Jesus.

More than giving us the pattern, he showed us how to live and more than showing us, He documented for us (Bible)

Let us endevour to…

Live like him (Gal 2:20)

Love like him

Be his repesentatives on the earth.

God has gone all out for us; Jesus and HE doesn’t do half measures, Its time for us to get with the program.

We can’t keep claiming to be believers yet our lives signify otherwise.

¨The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of right standing/right doing. Any right standing with GOD that doesn't culminate into right Doing is false¨ - Kenny Kore

As believers, we should BE HIM, LIVE HIM! (Gal 2:20)

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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Dear Future Husband

Hello Everyone,

How has your week been? So, randomly when i'm looking for something around my room I find old journals. This weekend, I found an old prayer journal and found this written at the back and sometimes I wonder the things that was going through my mind at the time. Anyways, Too much talk. Enjoy!

*Face palm*

7/3/2014

Dear Future husband,

I envy you alot because you are getting the best deal from God as a wife at the same time, I dont because sometimes, I cant live with myself I wonder how you will be able to cope inm those times. Gods grace is sufficient right?

No Pressure -__-

Why do I find myself thinking about you lately? Do I know you yet? or will you just  show up and everything will fall into place?

Know I Love you already! And I pray for you - alot.

I told God that I wanted to look at my side everyday for the rest of my life and go ¨Thank you, I got more than I asked¨ Like I would know I don’t deserve you but he blessed me anyways, you know just like Gods grace… 

So Yes, I envy me for the super-awesome person you are or God is moulding you to be.

But, please, be quick. Can’t wait to shower this plenty love on you.

errrmm....

Your wife in waiting,

The Best deal in God's Vineyard

'Tomilola

Are you like me and you've had conversation about your future husband to God? Care to share? I want to listen

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... Of gratitude, Birthdays and coming out

...From under the rock -_-

Disclaimer: This post is filled with pictures :) and the word "Amazing" will be overused 

I've been MIA on purpose. I NEEDED a break. The original plan was to to just go somewhere for a week (As my budget allowed) and just get away from everything without internet and just have fun, evaluate my life and come back to reality but... Nothing went as planned except the scheduled time I took off work.

I resumed today.
This is also going to be a random post, very random.

My Twin brother is around and was waiting for my vacation to come to Lagos and he did! Oh, I have a twin brother :) The Luke of my Lukina :)

Power twins :) 

My Birthday was on Saturday, 26th, I turned 24. (Mans are getting old x_x)

This was the morning of my Birthday, I bought the dress a while ago and locked it in a nylon (because I couldn't afford a stain on it) but during the wait, between when I bought it and my birthday I took out the dress and wore it, it fit me sooo well... Couldn't resist. In those times I must have stained it and on that morning I brought the dress out from its 'secured' place and there were stains on it, imagine the horror... contemplated not wearing it again... another horror, then another option was wash the stained part and wait for it to dry because I wasn't scheduled to go out till like 2 pm... I went with the wash option. Hung it in the centre of the room where the ceiling fan is supposed to be, don't ask how my hands reached there -_- Luke was just laughing his head off while I was at it. 

You guessed right, The dress didn't dry dry but nothing body heat couldn't fix ;) Don't lie you've done it before. 

My half dried dress 

By the time we finished taking pictures my lovely brother knew he would comment and say 

"You can't go out like this or go to a mans house like this, there will be no room for the holy spirit"    -________- 

I decided to change quickly and head out, I got to my friends place and apparently he had planned to take pictures of me, I had no clue. I would've brought a make-up purse or mentally prepared to be standing in front of the camera but He is an amazing photographer and good looking, it was very easy to smile back at him, I had no need to worry ;) Here are some of the images we got;

In my mind "Hope I don't look ridiculous in this pose" 

My Fav! 

Girls gotta make a funny face

I look like a minion

I promise you, I wasn't bored

Executive somebori!

Shying Thinz 

"Give me any pose"and this is the best I could come up with x_x 

Ps: I am still receiving birthday gifts ;)

For more reasons than one, This was my Best Birthday! And when Tomiwa asked me to say 24 things I am grateful for and I started cracking my head at about number 10, I realised I had categorised all the little blessings into ''Family" "Life" "Love" Then I realised that I needed to count them one after another, Its the little things that summed this up to be my best birthday :) and since its #ThankFulThursday! let me go ahead with it, 24 things I am grateful for in the last year although this is not exactly what i told him but at the end of the day, it sums up to this;

1. Family (Dad, mum, Sisters)
2. Luke
3. Following through with decisions made
4. The ones that left
5. Sope
6. Kovie
7. The Bible
8. Understanding of the word
9. Church community
10. Plans that didn't work out
11. Growth
12. Friends (Lamide, Tomiwa, Ayomiku, Sammy, Ibukun, Tinu, Adeoti, Esther)
13. Toyosi
14. Peace
15. Leading of the Holy Spirit
16. Personal Space
17. Gospel of Jesus
18. Privilege to be used by God
19. Deji
20. Love in my heart
21. Provision
22. Coffee -_-
23. Being able to write what people can relate with
24. YOU!!!!!

I am thinking of changing up a few things on this space so I can be more consistent. Yes, take this as my welcome back note :)

Speaking of Birthdays, Its Kovie's today! A truly Amazing woman, Gotta Love her :) God bless you darl :*

Now, life has pretty much gone back to what it used to be like except for a few changes which I am excited about and my heart is full, very grateful for the HUGE blessings disguised as ''little things"

Can you see the resemblance? 

From Luke and Lukina: Cheers to July and Lets have an A-amazing August!

God Bless you!

What are you grateful for? Share with us

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#ThankfulThursdays: My unsung Heros

Hello Everyone,

Its ThankfulThursday! Whoop. I'm going to do something rather different today. On a faithful day, I sat back and thought through the process of my life, what it had taken me to get to where I was today. There are people that their names are on the forefront that will readily spill out of my mouth when i'm asked... My Dad, My Mum, My sisters, Mosope, Debo... I also noticed at different points/phases there were people that although didn't know what they did at the time but were placed strategically at those times to help me move forward or be a catalyst of change for me and prepare me for who God wants me to be.

Today, I am thankful for my unsung Heroes.

1. Grandma - I called her ''Mama" I wrote about her here  She took care of my from when I was a baby (My mum was shuttling school and home) and she died when I was 11. She fell really ill that year and I was taking care of her, watching her use her walker, cleaning up after her, bathing for her, feeding her all before I carried my bags and went to school. Although some of those times I grumbled before I did it, but the time taught me things I couldn't learn in the four walls of a school. I learnt to be responsible and to love through the ''mess''. After she died, I don't think anyone understood why the small grandchild was crying at the loss of her grandmother, she is no more but the lessons remain! Sun re o! Marian Olayoonu Ayoka Olojede!

Burial Invitation

Deyosola:
I was always a tiny kid and going into my 2nd secondary school a "Spoilt Lagos Child" I got bullied, then I met Deyosola. She became my bestfriend with alot of drama and she also became the only one that had licence to 'bully' me, unlike me, she was alot bigger for our age and class and she stood up for me. Her bullying class involved her teaching me to wash myself, having a better  walking posture and standing up for myself; Safe to say, I got to mayflower a sharp mouthed "Can't touch this" girl.

 Tobiloba: Getting into the university without so much family support (I don't mean school fees). She would make time out, leave her school and come to check, console, Advice, support and bring her shoulder when i cried, It mean the world to me.

Bottom Right!

Joseph Ewumi: I had no clue about how the university system worked and no one sent me the memo. 100L I so did not do well. Chai! but.... one faithful day Joseph calls me and gives me a talk that changed me approach to my books - He didn't say anything magical or out of the ordinary - but it changed me. I read away my social life (The small I had) everyone always either saw me in the class or in the library. My 2+ GPA sky rocketed to a 4 in the next year. I learnt that I could do anything as long as I set my heart to it.

Madam Salt of The Salt Chronicles : I have not physically met her before but she came into my life at a time that I really needed guidance, She opened up to me and taught me and was there for me, although she might not know the extent to which the 'little' she did meant alot. In that period I was finding my feet in my walk with the Lord and she came as a perfect example I could look up to, I was also feeling lonely although with so much people around her facebook inbox was 'home' where I could go and pour out. It taught me to be that to someone else too and one huge lesson I also learnt from her is to take my eyes off me and reach out to the next person. I never forget!

I stole this beauriful pisure from her facebook x_x 

Kontagora Heroine: I don't know her name, She was the cleaner where I worked during NYSC. I see her everyday work her work with so much Joy just to send her kids to school. I saw her bring her kids to work during their holidays to help out. The seemingly little things we hold on to is a big deal to someone else and although the language barrier didn't let us communicate so well, with her I saw what real tears of Joy looked like. I also learnt that the universal languages are Love and a smile.


Today, I am taking time out to bless the Lord for their lives and the impact they made through their 'little things' Yes! Its in the little things.

Who are your unsung heroes? Think about it, pray for them, send a Thank you text, note, blog, email, phone call.. Whatever works, Just don't leave them unsung.


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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#DearGodLoveLetters: Opeyemi

Writing a love letter to my Lord seems like the most difficult task. Not because I doubt my love for Him or His love for me; but thinking of how great His love His to me makes me lack proper adjective to quantify or qualify Him. Because His love for me this unprofitable dust is limitless. 

My entire life has been founded on this indescribable love. His love is greater far than tongues of men can tell, it goes beyond the highest stars, and reaches to the lowest hell. If the entire ocean in the world be filled with ink and the skies become writing pads; to write the love of God, will drain the ocean dry and the writing pad won't contain, though stretched from sky to sky.

In my foolishness, He sought me.

In my hopelessness, He gave me hope.

In my shame, He gave me fame. 

I cant express with words the extent to which He loves me, but in simple terms I want to pledge my love to Him and say that He is the bestest being I ever met or knew. I know with such a great love, He will take me to heaven one day, where I'll boldly show Him the extent to which I love Him.

~ Opeyemi

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