HOW WE MET...TOLU & TOFFY

By Tolu and Toffy:
Story begins with Toffy, Continued by Tolu, (1 paragraph each)

Well, it all started with a Phone call, a mutual friend had used Tolu’s phone to try call me but I missed the call, much later in the evening I tried to call back to know whose call I missed and I heard a voice so welcoming and friendly, The harsh tone most girls use when they pick up such calls was absent (Girls be nice on phone to first time callers, You just might be speaking to your future husband) hehehehe.  Anyway, we were finally able to ascertain who had tried calling me, so I told her thanks and then requested permission to save her number so we could get to talk later and maybe become friends(As a sharp guy na).

Well, I just was being nice on phone, You know how it’s important to have good manners, and when I knew he was a friend of one of my padi’s,  I decided there was no harm in being friends and when he called subsequent times he sounded nice mannered.  We would talk for hours on phone and at some point even several midnight calls. Can you imagine he boasted that he could plait hair better than me? (I practically grew up in my mum’s hair dressing salon).  He didn’t stop there; he challenged me also saying he was a better cook (Baby, Get ready to be floored). 

Anyway She finally got Admission to UNIBEN .(Yes she wasn’t in school all this while) and I was so Glad, I was schooling in BIU, so omo I quickly booked a meeting with her. The first meeting was so so interesting, from the moment I set my eyes on her I was riveted by her beauty, she took me on a tour of her school, and finally excused herself to go to fellowship.

Mtscheew... Which Fellowship? My people make I yarn una tory, as I walked towards Ekc(Ekewuan Campus) gate to meet this guy I had come to like after countless phone calls, I couldn’t believe the assault on my eyes, behold I saw a scruffy looking young man, who had probably never heard of the invention off the pressing Iron, walking towards me, I wished the ground would open up and swallow me, whew... I would give anything to have been able to disappear right then, but Alas, the gods were not on my side, as I didn’t disappear. He walked up to me and attempted to hug me, I quickly gave him the side hug. At that moment I got an inspiration, why not show him pepper? That devious little voice whispered to me. Take him round and round the school till he gets so tired and his legs ache. And that’s exactly what I did. You should have seen him sweating... it was Epic. When I was finally pleased that I had done enough damage, I just told him I had to attend fellowship and excused myself.

Well after leaving UNIBEN I was so tired, the lovely stroll had taken its toll on me. I couldn’t even contemplate taking a bus to ring road then heading back to Ugbor GRA. I simply took a bike straight to school.

We saw about once or twice after that, I remember him taking me to Mat-ice on my birthday and trying to impress me by boasting of all he was doing, I was just looking at my time and wanted to be back in school where I knew I would have fun with my room mates... He offered me anything I wanted but I felt eating would make me spend more time there. I finally took an ice cream.

Wow what a decent girl, imagine having a babe in mat-ice and she no gree spend your money... (If I hear say that kind thing happen for BIU) anyway inevitably I began to have feelings for her.

DEVIL tiptoes in (I MADE THEM LOOSE TOUCH WITH EACH OTHER FOR 2YEARS)

ANGEL FLYS IN (I SENT ANOTHER MUTUAL FRIEND TO CONNECT THEM BACK IN 2010)

Well, I thank God for mutual friends, (keep your friends close, God can use them to connect you to your destiny) so we started talking and then I got posted to serve in Kaduna. As a corper(otondo) no much money to dey call na, so you can imagine how delighted I felt the day I saw her on 2go, a social network app...(MI 2 sound track)

It all started on 2go... the constant chatting, he soon became someone I would always look forward to chatting with, in the morning noon and night, he would flash me to come online (chai see me ooo) and we would chat till late into the night, then he began to ask me to introduce my close friends to him, and he started ‘bribing’ them, winning them over to his side. Then the visits started. There was one day I had just finished exams and was to go to Lagos the next day, after which I would start my IT. He said he just needed to see me before I travelled to Lagos and that afternoon he boarded a bus From Kaduna and came straight to Benin (I was like this guy is too impulsive).

The day I knew I was in Love was when I woke up and told myself I would see Tolu today, I waited till she came online and told her, she sounded indifferent(I think she thought I was joking) so I took the next bus to Benin. Of course I saw her that night and mutual friend 2, and that night was pure bliss, (we didn’t see for more than 40mins o) but I felt fulfilled. The next morning she left for Lagos, while I headed back to “Croc city”.

A lot of things went on via 2go, but I insisted that I could never take any guy who asks me out online or via calls serious, as the Yoruba’s would say “Oju loro wa”. But let me tell you all a secret... whispers (Toffy became shy anytime he was with me, the word master became wordless, that’s how I roll)

I made up my mind to ask her out in August of 2011, I remember the lunch dates, the cinema outings, the letters(yes letters) but every time I wanted to ask her out, it was as if there was something restraining me from talking.(how dare you all believe I was speechless, I wasn’t. I was just....)

Well Eventually, December 25th 2011, he finally told me he needed to see me urgently and he showed up on my street in the evening.  We took a long long walk round Ejigbo, after an hour he was still battling with words to say,

Dec 25th 2011, I was almost frustrated, the day didn’t have meaning to me, I wanted Tolu to be part of my life, another mutual friend(Mutual friend 3) sat me down and encouraged me to at least ask her out and that the worst I would get was a no. So I put on my shirt (my best shirt ooo) and headed to her place.

I eventually decided to spur him on, and I asked him, did you just come to gist or you have something you really want to say? If you do you better talk before it’s too late.

Till Today, I cannot remember the words that came out of my mouth; all I know is that it was none of the 7 (yes seven) well rehearsed speeches I had saved up in my head... I don’t know what made her say yes, but that day I went home with a spring in my step like never before

Whew... Finally he says something... Well, I told him I would date him, but I wasn’t sure if I wanted anything more than that, we agreed that we would give it a trial and take it slowly,

Both: Four years later, slowly but steadily, through the ups and downs, the good and the bad, through thick and thin, we have defied the odds and are ready to begin forever after....
N.B: For those who think it would have been romantic to wait and get wed on Dec 25th ... we couldn’t bear to be apart any longer...

10 SECRETS TO LONGIEVITY

10 THINGS YOU MUST DO TO LIVE LONG

1. YOU MUST AVOID LIES AND EVIL SPEAKING
Psalm 34:12-13 Who is the man who desires life And loves length of days that he may see good? Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking guile.

2. YOU MUST NOT USE WRONG WEIGHT/MEASURE OR SELL FAKE FOR ORIGINAL
Deuteronomy 25:15 "You shall have a full and just weight; you shall have a full and just measure, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the LORD your God gives you.

3. YOU MUST KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD
1 Kings 3:14 "If you walk in My ways, keeping My statutes and commandments, as your father David walked, then I will prolong your days

4. YOU MUST FEAR THE LORD
Deuteronomy 6:2 so that you and your son and your grandson might fear the LORD your God, to keep all His statutes and His commandments which I command you, all the days of your life, and that your days may be prolonged.

5. YOU MUST HONOUR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER
Exodus 20:12 "Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the LORD your God gives you.

6. YOU MUST LISTEN TO ELDERLY INSTRUCTIONS
Proverbs 4:10 Hear, my son, and accept my sayings And the years of your life will be many.

7. YOU MUST HAVE WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING
Proverb 3:13, 16 Happy is the man that finds wisdom and the man that get understanding. For length of days and years of life And peace they will add to you

8. YOU MUST DESIST FROM COVETOUSNESS
Proverbs 28:16 A leader who is a great oppressor lacks understanding, But he who hates unjust gain will prolong his days

9. EAT RIGHT.
Genesis  2.16-17 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat 17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

10. DONT SHED BLOOD OR BE A PARTY TO BLOOD SHED.
Genesis 9.6 Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.

#DEARFUTUREWIFE/#DEARFUTUREHUSBAND POETRY COMPETITION

The competition goes live in a bit...
These are the Details again....

Here's the deal. To be a part of this; like my facebook page Minister Effizey then Send your entries to tgbamila@gmail.com.

I Will then post each poem/entry on my page and blog, and at the end will total the number of likes and comments. The entry with the highest points win.

1 Facebook Like = (1 point)
1 Facebook comment = (2 points)
1 Blog comment= (3 points)

The winner gets (An autographed copy of my book, a feature in a special magazine, November Edition, plus free consultation on publishing deals and a movie ticket)


 N.B I will also be writing my own and I'll post that first.
Entries open by midnight and close by 6pm Wednesday 23rd Sept. Voting starts immediately your post comes in so the earlier you send in your post the better your chances and voting closes by midnight on sunday.

Good luck pals..
Remember to have fun while writing.
Remember the theme:
#Dearfuturewife or #Dearfuturehusband
You can pick either of the themes.

Let the games begin...

A SAD TALE PART 1

 HELLO FOLKS... for today i will post a story that will no doubt touch you. picked it up from a friend and was told it's a true life story. (The Story is told from a woman's perspective)

N.B though the original source of the story cannot be assertained, I AM NOT THE WRITER of this particular story. i am just sharing because of the valuable life lessons in the story.

However i have broken it into 6 parts, for easy reading, would post them at intervals within the next few days

Here we go:

Just two years after our marriage, hubby brought up the idea of asking Mother to move from the rural hometown and spend her remaining years with us. Hubby's father passed away while he was still very young. Mother endured much hardship and struggled all on her own to provide for him, see him through to a university degree. You could say that she suffered a great deal and did everything you could expect of a woman to bring hubby to where he is today. I immediately agreed and started packing the spare room, which has a balcony facing the South to let her enjoy the sunshine and plant greenery. Hubby stood in the bright room, and suddenly just picked me up and started spinning round and round. As I begged him to put me down, he said: "Lets go fetch mother".

Hubby is tall and big sized and I love to test on his chest and enjoy the feeling that he could pick me up at any moment put the tiny me into his pockets. Whenever we have an argument and both refuses to back down, he would pick me up and spin me over his head continuously until I surrender and beg for mercy. I became addicted to this kind of panic-joy feeling. 

Mother brought along her countryside habits and lifestyle with her. For example; I am so used to buying flowers to decorate the living room, she could not stand it and would comment: "I do not know how you young people spend your money, why do you buy flowers for? You also can't eat flowers!" I smiled and said: "Mum, with flowers in the house, our mood will also become better." Mother continues to grumble away, and hubby smiled: "Mum, this is a city-people’s habit; slowly you will get use to it". Mother stopped saying anything. 

But every time thereafter, whenever came home with flowers, she would ask me how much it costs. I told her and she would shake her head and express displeasure. Sometimes, when I come home with lots of shopping bags, she would ask each and every item how much they cost, I would tell her honestly and she would get even more upset about it.. Hubby playfully pinched my nose and said: "You little fool, just don't tell her the full price of everything would solve it." 

There begins the friction to our otherwise happy lifestyle. 

Watch out for part 2... to get updates instantly, you can scroll to the bottom of this page and subscribe to email alerts...

Inspiration is the Gateway to Transformation,

#GetInspired

THE BELIEVER'S PLIGHT 1

I Don come again with my usual weird titles... Well weird but important.

 

Today's discuss is simple,  and if you disagree with me feel free to voice your comments.
I grew up hearing this statement, let the weak say I am strong, let the poor say I am rich. In fact I heard it as a song and as a recitation, even before I found out it was in the bible it had been sunk into my head.(take note). 

Thus for as far back as I can remember whenever I fall sick I would run to my parents and say I am strong, they would then monitor me and take me to the hospital.

Fast forward to when I started working, I woke up one morning and was so weak. Decided to go to the office and ask for a day or two off. And so I marched to my boss' office confidently and said to her, "ma please I would like to take today and tomorrow off," "why?" She asked? 'I'm feeling strong' . she looked at me, smiled knowingly and said, only the sick need rest. Since you are strong. Go back to work.

I kept looking at her as a devil in disguise and I worked under splitting headaches all day, finally closed and by the second day I couldn't get out of bed. I had to call in sick(so my salary would not be deducted for absence)

Shockingly as soon as I called her and in my shaky voice told her I was too ill to come to the office, she chuckled and said to myself, rest, take medications and also take the next day off to revocer properly. I was stunned... Was this not the same woman who refused me permission to get some rest the day before?

I resolved to talk to her candidly once i was fit and back in the office... I had several questions for her.

When i said i was strong(Professing my faith) she refused me leave

when i admitted being sick, i got an extra day off work

Was she trying to kill my faith? but she is supposedly a believer also?

watch out for the concluding episode.....

Inspiration is the Gateway to Transformation

#Getinspired

SPEAKING PROPS... THE INSIDE SCOOP

Have you ever felt public speaking was something meant for men called gods like Martin Luther King?

Did you know that a public speaker's message is woven into his personality; a good blend is a great combination that is powerful?

Have you been speaking for free and you loathe the fact that phenomenal speakers are lugging home outrageous amounts for speaking?

Are you considering going into public speaking full time?

Do you feel the pangs of fear that make your knees buckle and your speech slurred whenever you stand before people to speak?

Are you often confused on how to properly pronounce some English words and that makes you look like as a wanna-be?

If you have considered the questions above and found yourself fitting into one of these questions above, then keep calm and read on.

SPEAKING PROPS is a Masterclass for public speakers, thought leaders,business leaders and TV/radio presenters.

The first edition held in Port Harcourt on the 30th of May, 2014. Abuja edition held on the 15th of November, 2014. Lagos edition is scheduled to hold on the 20th of June, 2015.

There will be five sessions facilitated by awesome speakers:

1. PSYCHOLOGY OF PUBLIC SPEAKING.

Public Speaking is not rhetoric. It is meant to be a persona. You shouldcarry your message from inside you. The original power in public speakingis derived from being a walking, living version of your message.

There is a psychology to public speaking. Your first few words, yourfacial countenance, your gait and salutation can make or mar your speechpresentation.

How do you grip this psychology and use it to your advantage?

During this session, BANKOLE WILLIAMS @iambankole will teach participantswhat the psychology is and how to use it to their advantage.

2. OVERCOMING FEAR OF PUBLIC SPEAKING.

Many individuals have messages within them, yearning to be shared to theworld. But, standing in a room of just five persons, they tremble, sweat, or even piss in their pants. The fear of public speaking is one of theworst fears in human history. However, this can be overcome, not by usingdrugs or narcotics, but by effective strategies that work.

CHINONSO OGBOGU @chinonsowrites will share with participants on how toovercome this fear.

3. BUSINESS OF PUBLIC SPEAKING.

Many speakers speak for free, and that’s fine. But you can earn a fee bydoing something you usually do for free. That’s where the business aspectsets in. Speaking is a value-adding enterprise. How do you fashion yourproduct? How do you structure your offering to be valuable and profitable?

STEVE HARRIS @iamsteveharris will share with participants on how to do thebusiness of their speaking.

4. PHONETICS, ELOCUTION AND SPEECH PRESENTATION STRATEGIES.

Phonetics isn’t just to speak like oyinbo people. Keeping your wordssimple so you don’t lose your audience is key. Sounding your wordsproperly is paramount. Modulations, using a key example like Martin Lutheris essential to a fantastic speech delivery.

EKUNDAYO ODELE @ekundayoodele will share these strategies participants.

5. PROPPING YOUR SPEAKING ANTICS

What do you do when you are invited to speak? What’s the place of

PowerPoint slides in your presentation? How do you start preparations?

What do you do if you are running late to an event? Should you stay behindwhen you are done speaking at an event? What is the use of feedbacksheets? What has time got to do with your delivery?

EMEKA NOBIS @iamemekanobis will share effective strategies that can propyour speaking antics and position you to be invited again and again byclients.

Date: 20th June, 2015

Time: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Fee: N25, 000 (covers light breakfast & lunch, free e-books and all theslides of the sessions).

There is a special discounted fee of N20, 000 for participants who paybefore June 15th, 2015.

To register, pay into GTBank, 0120774989, Profound Impacts International.

Send details to info@profoundimpacts.org

For interaction via phone with the organizers or for inquiries, please call 08037997884.

DANCE OR DIE???

Afternoon my people... I hope you are having a fabulous day? This post is dedicated to the courageous christians being killed by boko haram in the north and those slaughtered by isis and all facing persecution all around the world.

I remember several years ago... precisely in august 2005 on Solid Foundation camp in Ipaja. The theme was AWESOME GOD(if I remember correctly) and I had an encounter that changed my life forever.

A certain pastor had been invited to preach and he titled his message
DANCE OR DIE... TAKE YOUR STAND
that day as he jocularly recited the title in a singsong manner periodically all through the message and we chanted alongside him never did I know that what he was talking about would have long lasting impact for me and even set the course for the rest of my life.

His lesson centered on 3 hebrew children who had come to be known as Shedrach, Meshach and Abednego who refused to dance before or bow to the graven image the king had constructed. They were told in clear terms DANCE OR DIE! 

Their choice is still being celebrated today... Same question the christians in the north are facing... Dance or Die... not to talk of the several mass killings of christians by islamic militant group ISIS.

This is a wake up call to christians all over the world... If you were presented with the same option would your faith stand strong in the dace of sure death?

Enough of lip service... Let's dig in our feet and root for christ till the end... come what may...
Many of us are comfortable with our current situations and we think it's not necessary to make our stand known. Christians at the peak of Entertainment, etc...
NEYMAR broke that jinx and made his stand known during one of the most keenly watched matched in football history. Will you take your stand?

I TAKE MY STAND...
I'm 100%  for JESUS

Inspiration is the gateway to transformation
#GetInspired
Minister Effizey

IN THE HOLLOW OF HIS HANDS(HYMN)

With my Saviour ever near to guide me,
I am safe, whatever may betide me;
From the storm and tempest He will hide me
In the hollow of His hand!

In the hollow of His hand!In the hollow of His hand!I am safe, whatever may betide me,In the hollow of His hand!

In His arms of love He doth enfold me;
Words of peace His voice Divine hath told me;I am safe, for God Himself doth hold me 
In the hollow of His hand!

In the hollow of His hand!
In the hollow of His hand!
I am safe, whatever may betide me,
In the hollow of His hand!

He will guard my soul, and leave me never;
From His love no power on earth shall sever;
And I know He’ll keep me now and ever
In the hollow of His hand! 

In the hollow of His hand!
In the hollow of His hand!
I am safe, whatever may betide me,
In the hollow of His hand!

FIRST MISTAKE???

Hello everyone... taking a short break from the Death Series to give you this inspirational story...

Many years ago There was a king that had 10 wild dogs. He used them to torture and eat any of his chiefs who made mistakes. One of the chiefs once gave an opinion which was wrong, and which the king didn’t like at all. So the king ordered that the chief be thrown to the dogs. The chief said, “I served you 10 years, and you do this to me? Please give me 10 days before throwing me to those dogs!” The king agreed.

Immediately his request was granted, the chief went to the guard that looks after the dogs and told him he would like to serve the dogs for the next 10 days. The guard was baffled but he agreed, and the chief started feeding the dogs, cleaning for them, washing them, and providing all sorts of comfort for them. When the 10 days were over, the king ordered that the chief be thrown to the dogs for his punishment. When he was thrown in, everyone was amazed to see the ravenous dogs only licking the feet of the chief!

The king, baffled at what he saw, said: ”What has happened to my dogs?” The chief replied: ”I served the dogs for 10 days, and they didn’t forget my service. Yet I served you for 10 years and you forgot all, at the first mistake!" The king realised his mistake and ordered the chief to be set free. This message is a gift to all those who forget the good in others as soon as a problem arises. Don’t wipe out the history that is filled with good because of a small incident you didn’t like. Think, reflect, act, change. Do not needlessly hurt ur friend or your family!

Inspiration is the gateway to transformation
#GetInspired

THE DEATH SERIES: EPISODE 2: WHY LONG LIFE?

I hope you enjoyed Episode 1 and i hope you got blessed? if you want me to expantiate more on how you can prepare for death like i suggested in episode 1 stay tuned and i'm sure by the end of the series you will be better educated.

Today's episode is titled Why Long Life?

First of all please don't get me wrong i am not against people having a full and long life, what i am against is having a long life void of impact. i feel like of what use is it living till 120 years of age as a liability being carried about, what use is it being 75years old and you are a security man on a street earning less than 5,000 a month and you are still praying for long life? i feel somehow when you see 80years old men living under the bridge or on the streets(you think i'm exagerrating? you need to visit Lagos) and still praying for long life. Long life is good, but why not make it worth it?

Many times i thank God that he doesn't think like man, because if he did i'm quite sure many who have failed to discover purpose would have been withdrawn from the earth long ago... however that's a conversation for another day.

Why long life? when next you decide to pray for long life, imagine God asking you why do you want to live long? and watch out for your answers

i came across a post by a Pastor Friend of mine that asked a factual question that i throw to you today...
Which is the better prayer: TO DIE OLD
                                              or
                                      TO DIE EMPTY

in other words it is possible for one to live to very old age and yet not use up to 30percent of the potentials deposited in him. to me that is a wasted life; however one can  die at a relatively young age and yet have lived life to it's fullest capacity, emptying all his/her God given ability into the world in the time spent here on earth.

Jesus Died at the age of 33 and yet you would agree with me that  he had fulfilled purpose on earth
Archbishop Idahosa died at the age of 60 and you would agree with me that he had lived life to capacity.
Myles Munroe also died at the age of 60 and if you think he didn't fulfill purpose then think again

Now while i would personally have loved that these people had lived longer(so i could get to meet them personally and get impacted more) yet their minisrty proves they left lasting legacies behind.

hence, a long life does not automatically mean a fulfilled life. neither does the fact that a person doesn't live to be 80, 90 or 100 years old mean that he didn't fulfil destiny.

My conclusion on the matter is this, longlife is good, but make sure it's purpose driven, in the words of Myles Munroe(1954-2014) " the greatest tragedy in life is not death, but life without purpose"
so when next you open your mouth to pray ask yourself, Do i pray to to die old or to die empty?
God Bless You.  have a great weekend

Inspiration is the Gateway to Transformation
#GetInspired

THE DEATH SERIES: EPISODE 1: PREPARE FOR DEATH

Calvary greetings to my very lovely friends, family, well wishers and fans, and even first time readers,

I know the topic seems kinda scary but I must say it is a topic that needs to be talked about.

I'll be talking from several perspectives during these episodes and I hope you all flow along with me as I attempt to look at things from an angle that defies the status quo. The articles will also not be lengthy but just enough to spark up new patterns of reasoning

Disclaimer: Please I know I might offend the Religious sensibilities of some people, please pardon me, it is not a religious post and I am simply committed to viewing things as they are:
Finally my aim is to Demystify Death and thus making death lose it's power on the child of God. Join me on this series
EPISODE 1 is titled: PREPARE FOR DEATH

What exactly is death? the Dictionary defines death as- the action or fact of dying or being killed; the end of the life of a person or organism.
 and truly for all intent and purposes this definition serves

Now the truth is this: even from primary school days or was it early secondary school days when we were taught attributes of living things (MR NIGER D) we have all known that death is the final end of man. however, although intellectually we all know that one day we shall die, generally we are so reluctant to think of our death that this knowledge does not touch our hearts, and we live our life as if we were going to be in this world forever.

As a result the things of this world – such as material possessions, reputation, popularity, and the pleasures of the senses – become of paramount importance, so we devote almost all our time and energy to obtaining them and engage in many negative actions for their sake. We are so preoccupied with the concerns of this life that there is little room in our mind for genuine spiritual practice. When the time of death actually arrives we discover that by having ignored death all our life we are completely unprepared.

My dad's favourite saying on death is: "It is only a fool that does not prepare for what he cannot avoid"

he would at intervals call us and say, when I die, I want you to do this and do that... as at the time I was 15years old, I knew my father wanted to be buried anywhere he died, he didn't want any transporting of his body from one state to the other and most importantly he didn't want anyone to borrow even a kobo to bury him. by the way i'm in my late 20's now and my dad is still very much alive and well, but we all know what to do and what steps to take if he dies, or if his wife(of course my mum) dies or if they both die.

Another recent case is that handled by one of my Pastors(I won't say his name for confidential reasons) where by the time the man died, his family rushed in with a list of all the man's proiperties to make sure the wife didn't hide anything. they stripped this woman empty even before the burial, then proceded to put her through all sort of inhumane experiences in this age and time all in the name of culture.

There have been several other scenarios of people who die unexpectedly leaving their family with huge bills to settle in burial and other things, there have been cases of people who have numerous assets but die without disclosure hence their family live in poverty after their deaths.


Hence my first conclusion for today is simple: I won't in anyway stop anyone from praying for longlife  but While Praying For Long life and prosperity, start preparing for death... make physical plans to have your estate in order, to take care of family and children (if any) basically do all you can to make life easier for those you will leave behind...

Inspiration Is The Gateway To Transformation
#GetInspired

THE SALIENT POINT

Calvary greetings guys and i say happy sunday to you, i know or hope many of you are already heading to church or in church already so would see this after service... however i just wanna share something with you all and i hope it causes us to think deeply.

Nigeria is host to the largest church auditorium in the world

Nigeria is also host to One of the largest Congregation in the world.

Majority of Nigerians attend one church or the other on Sunday

Nigerians majorly are a very religious lot.

Nigeira has the largest number of Penticostal Pastors in the world

Nigeria hosts some of the richest pastors in the world.

Nigerians are London's biggest spenders

                    Yet

Nigeria is one of the most corrupt countries in the world

Nigeria is becoming home to some really mundane practices

Boko Haram has been having a field day

The Standard of living for most people doesn't seem to be improving

Nigerians are some of the poorest people in the world. 

Crime rates are on the rise in Nigeria daily

The Salient Point...
Of what use is our salvation if we can't impact our world?
We go to church religiously every sunday and yet it seems that is all there is to it.
how about if we decided to take a different approach? what is we stopped restricting ourselves to those sunday sunday gatherings in massive cathedrals, and also added some community development initiatives? personally i mean. what if we stopped dusting and bringing out our bibles only on service days and actually begin to show love to our neigbhours everyday?  What if we began to reach people not only with the written word of God but with the evidence of obedience to scriptures? 

don't get me wrong, i love going to church and fellowshipping with the brethren(i even work in church so i guess i pass on that point) but the salient point is, if we restrict ourselves to fellowshipping with believers, who will show love and minister to that area boy? Remember the area boy you did not reachout to with God's love becomes the potential armed robber or election thug tomorrow.
Let's not just play church, Let's become christians.(Christlike)

Inspiration is the gateway to transformation
#GETINSPIRED
Minister Effizey

I AM ADDICTED

Well sha... i know this title will get you all wondering...

but there it is...i have said it, i gradually became an addict.(it feels so ominous).
however i'm owning up to you all first for myself and then for you all. many people seem to think inspirational speakers, ministers and writers are above reproach and are probably one step away from heaven. well while i can't talk for all i can talk for myself. and maybe a few others in the Bible like Elijah etc who were men of like passion. even a pastor is first of all a christian and thus has his own battles to fight and overcome same as every other believer. yea back to my story.

For years i have kidded myself, i have told myself i just like drinking, if i feel like i can stop, it's not harmful to me and all sorts, but truth be told, those were all excuses i was giving myself to cover up the face that i had become an addict.

once i tried to stay away from drinking for 3 days, i succeeded but at the end of the third day i walked briskly to a kiosk, bought a drink and gulped it all down, got a second and did same, then i finally got a third one that i took home and drank leisurely.  another time i went off drinking for two full weeks but the story remained same. immediately i got off my two week ban i relapsed.

guys normally i would average 8 bottles a day, but lately i have been able to cut down to roughtly 4 bottles a day. and i usually applaud myself that i have done well, but truth be told, even 4 bottles a day is just as harmful.

hence today i tell myself the truth i am addicted to soft drinks and it's time for me to kick it!!!
yea i know at this point some of you would laugh and say i'm a joker but be it soft drink, or alcoholic drinks, or food, or drugs, or cigarettes or anything at all, an addiction is an addiction and if it is not kicked in time it could destroy you.

So today is day one of my being 'clean', it's been a tussle so far, as i type this 3 empty bottle of water sit on my office table, and i have had about 2 more when i went out. it's not going to be easy i know but it is possible and it is worth it...
i know i'm still a work in progress but i enjoin you to come with me on this journey as we kick off negative addictions together. this is the process i intend using
1. Admit you are an addict
2. Make up your mind to kick the addiction
3. Ask God to help you overcome the addiction
4. become accounntable to someone or some people
5. Make conscious effort (as much as in your power stay away from triggers)
6. if you slip, don't beat yourself up or give up and slide back into your addiction pick yourself up and ask God for strength to continue
7.Build your spirit man (this will give you an edge over the flesh) Gal 5:16
i hope someone will join me on this train to put an end to addiction, in taking back our lives.

that's all for now, i'm Minister Effizey and i'm an addict

FAITHFULNESS-THE KEY TO INCREASE

I remember driving all the way from Lagos to Benin, and back to lagos just to attend a 2hour program with Pastor Sule Emmanuel about two years ago. truth be told, even i didn't fully understand then. but after the meeeting i stopped praying a prayer point.

i stopped praying for increase... and instead i started working towards it... How? keep reading.

He made a profound ststement i will never forget that day

 he said "You don't pray for increase; Increase is the natural reward for faithfulness"

truth be told when he first made the statement i felt somehow...i come from a background where it is believed you must pray for everything. but having driven that distance to listen to him i'm sure you know it means i respect him and the calling upon his life. so i went back to study scriptures.

i stumbled across the story of Abram who was asked to leave his homeland at 75years of age, an age where most of us are writing wills and getting ready to die, but the man packed his bags and relocated to where God said he would show him. God rewarded him with a son in his old age. feels like increase right? but God didn't stop there, God decided to test his faithfulness again and asked him to sacrifice isaac to him. once again Abram(now Abraham) made moves to sacrifice the only son through which God's promise of increase to him was to be fulfilled.  God stopped him in time and of course today everyone claims to be a descendant of Abraham.

The story of the talents butressed his points as the man who hid his talent got it taken from him, while the men who were faithful with theirs got additional cities to rule over. Does that sound like increase? it sure does to me.

 I remember the stories of some of our fathers in the faith, Pst E.A Adeboye, Rev PJA Olaiya, Apostle Johnson Sulemanand several others who have attained great heights and influence. their beginings were small but they remained steadfast, holding on to God's promise of increase, but remaining faithful to the call upon their heads.

as i look back now i discovered that God had enlarged my coasts and has increased me, because i made up my mind after that day to become faithful in whatever i find committed to my hands. all of a sudden i who used to be taken for granted have become an integral member of any committee being set up in church, i used to teach Jamb tutorials and i threw myself into it committedly, now i teach post graduate students. i used to write poetry and articles for magazine now i am writing books...

Folks, i am not preaching what i have not tried... many christians have been praying for increase over the years and it seems to be eluding them. many believers have resorted to blaming witches from their villages. Just before you look outside, first look inwards, have you been committed to the little God has placed in your hands?

You might not like the job; be faithful...

you might not like your boss; be faithful...

your salary might be too low; be faithful...

and before you know it, increase will locate you.

God Bless you