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12/24/2024
My Jesus - the Gift that keeps on GivingMy Jesus - the Gift that keeps on Giving🎀 I'm spending Christmas in Ibadan this year. As I sat with my mom on the eve of Christmas in our parlor, I said, quite unironically, "Jesus is such a Gift."
We were reflecting on the events of 2024, so you know I really meant it. (T-Pain et al, lol) See, I'm not the most Christmas-y person. I can lie in my bed all day reading and have just as awesome a day as if I watched Christmas movies, ate Christmas chicken, or went to see Christmas lights. But in recent years, one thing I'm thankful this season brings out of me is a renewed appreciation for my Jesus, the Gift that keeps on giving. Words fail me to express how thankful I am for Jesus. I've never experienced a love so real, so pure, so true, so steadfast, so deep, so mindful. Oh my Jesus, so mindful. No one knows me so deeply, sees me so clearly, yet loves me so completely like my Jesus does. No one pursues me with such devotion and cradles my heart with such care like my Jesus does. Like my Jesus does. Jesus, I thank You for the gift of You, the gift of Your love, the gift of Your self, the gift of Your humility, the gift of Your sacrifice, the gift of Your heart. For the gift that keeps on Giving. This Christmas, I'm thankful for my Jesus.
6/2/2023
Finally, some good news! Celebration, Rest, Diligence, Patience, (took a break to travel), and now finally... Good news!
Happy new month, dear reader. Welcome to your month of good news. Hey, hey, I'm not just making grand proclamations here without backing. It's Biblical. Six months into the one of the most improbable pregnancies of all time, an angel appeared to Mary to announce the MOST improbable pregnancy of all time. You know how the rest of the story goes. I'm just saying, there's something special about the sixth month. About June. And honestly, doesn't it just feel like there's something great around the corner? Underneath all that fear and worry, isn't there just a little bit of hope that June won't suck? It's okay if your answer is no to both questions. That's why you're reading this. I'm telling you, there is reason to hope. And this is, in fact, a month of good news and divine visitation. Matter of fact, God is telling you. And His word carries way more weight than mine. Just believe. Seriously. Picture this. You're chilling in your house and Angel Gabriel pulls up in front of you, all like "wassup? I've got some good news for you." Or you literally have nothing left to eat and people start yelling on the streets that there is good food enough for everyone only a few blocks away. Or you've wanted a child for years and you have tried everything you can; then, a prophet tells you, "by this time next year, you'll be holding your baby in your arms." These things have actually happened to people**. So why not you? So, stay in God's will* and expect good news, people! *Love God. Let Him lead you, and love people. **Luke 1:26-31, 2 Kings 7:11-12, 2 Kings 4:15-17  Living the skyscraper life. Lmao Lesson #1: If you must travel solo, travel with Abba. 10/10. HIGHLY recommend. He knows all the best spots and all the right people. He knows the foods that would change your palate and the ones that would destroy the hotel toilet. Plus, your safety is always a hundred percent guaranteed, no matter what country you're in. Lesson #2: Never use Agoda unless there's a knife to your throat. And even then, ask the person holding the knife if you can book directly with the property instead. I have only used them twice and both times, the property could not find my reservation. It was costly and a waste of time. Lesson #3: Never choose the window seat on a flight longer than 10 hours. Your legs will thank you and so will your seatmates. Unless you're a first class/business class babe... then does it really matter where you sit? You're basically in a hotel that flies. Lesson #4: Always take pictures at recognizable landmarks. It's a silent flex. Like, "I was in this city but I don't even have to say where because everyone knows that is the Burj Al Arab 😉" Your Instagram account will thank you. And so will your globetrotter cred.  The secret to an unbothered travel pic: look away from the camera. "Do activities that make you happy and comfortable." Lesson #5: Always carry a neck pillow for flights longer than 6 hours. Again, refer to the caveat in Lesson 3. If you're in first class/business class, you can arrange your useless hot towels around your neck for all I care. And for my black queens with braids, for the love of God, include a bonnet or hairnet in your carry-on. What's the point of trying to be cute when your seatmate is about to see you drool and/or hear you snore in like 4 hours?  Peep the guy behind me. Dead to the world! Lesson #6: Take videos. Lots and lots of videos. Not just for the 'gram. Though that doesn't hurt, either. 😉 But trust me, months later, when you're stuck in a place for one reason or the other, seeing yourself gallivanting in a foreign city will do wonders for your endorphins. Lesson #7: There is always more. More to see, more to experience, just more. Particularly, especially when you travel with Abba. By extension, this is how it is when you do life with Abba. Yes, there's nothing new under the sun, yet when you do life with Abba, every day is an adventure. There is always more to know, more to learn, more to experience. "Just when you think you've seen all that a place has to offer, there is more." Other unsolicited tips (because why not?) - Pick a TV show to binge while you're traveling. It's handy when you're waiting. And you'll be waiting a lot. - Bring your study bible along. It helps keep you grounded in case air pockets decide to insert themselves along your flight path and your plane responds with a TikTok dance routine. - Stay in the moment. Unless the moment sucks, then you have my permission to check out. - Do activities that make you happy and comfortable. Nothing wrong with stepping out of your comfort zone, but don't make yourself miserable. - A pack of chewing gum is the most important item in your bag. Yes, even more important than your passport. - If you can, locate a travel bae*. You don't even need to interact with them. Invent a dramatic backstory for your imaginary relationship and interpret everything they actions through the lens of the story. It's fun. A little crazy, but still...fun. Travel bae: someone you think is cute (or kinda cute) and you'll probably see for an extended period of time.
4/27/2023
An Heavenly PR Team I am completely convinced there is a whole PR team dedicated to the words that come out of my mouth. Heavenly angels flying around to mitigate the damage from the nonsense I just said. Yesterday, I was in the shower (an inauspicious beginning, I know) and I remembered a story my mum told me about an older couple. A hilarious but somewhat sensitive story. Then I remembered that I repeated this story to just about everyone who would listen (not really, but you know how things get amplified in the shower). And two things occurred to me: 1) God must really love me (because I just be running my mouth sometimes) 2) I must have an heavenly PR team, and if so, they were working overtime for real, for real. Y'all, sometimes, I even included the couple's name when telling the story. (Believe me, I am sufficiently ashamed of myself.) The fact that I had to remember that story shows just how effective the desk is, mmkay? You know when you leave a conversation feeling like the wrong things were said? And three hours later, you're still replaying the whole conversation in your head with a permanent cringe on your face. As someone who feels embarrassment very keenly, those situations are absolute torture.
So I started asking the Holy Spirit to help me do some after-the-fact-perception-adjustment (Listen, He can do ALL THINGS, okay?!) I can just imagine the Holy Spirit reminding my sister that I have period cramps, "and that's why she snapped at you." Then, later that hour, He's calming my auntie down: "yes, she made a face when she ate your food, but remember she doesn't like fish." So, of course, I am convinced the whole thing has snowballed into a PR desk assigned to my big mouth and expressive face. Yet, I know I'm not the only child of God with (recovering) foot-in-mouth disease. That's a LOT of heavenly damage control. Thank God He's up to it. So, let this be your friendly reminder to take it (whatever IT is) to Abba. Pretty sure He already has a solution for you. 4/5/2023 Patience & me Patience.
Patience, Abba whispers to my anxious soul. If January was about celebration, February about rest, March diligence, then April is about patience. Often-excruciating-seemingly-unnecessary-yet-character-building patience. Yeah, that kind. During my short stint at a Catholic secondary school (RMGSS, IYKYK), we once had a Holy Spirit-themed mass. I'm sure there's an official Catholic-sounding name for this, but it is buried in the recesses of my mind. At this mass, we had to randomly select two pieces of paper--one with a gift of the Spirit and the other a part of the fruit of the Spirit--out of a basket or something. (My memory of that time is so fuzzy😬). But guess which (part of the) fruit of the Spirit your girl got? Yep, that's right. Long-suffering. (My fuzzy memory remembers that one clear as crystal). In hindsight, it's like even then, when I was so decidedly not thinking about God and His plan for my life, He knew me. He so knew me (and very impatient self). So, patience, it's you and me this April. Let's do this thing.
3/4/2023
March is an action word. If January was about celebration and February was about rest, March is about doing the work. During the World cup, I got so frustrated with teams that had the ball in the opponent's half, but didn't seem to be DOING anything to get the ball closer to the 18 yard box, much less the goal. So I would chant in frustration, "Do something with the ball. Do something with the ball..." It's not enough to have possession; it's the ball in the back of the net that matters (ManCity, I am looking at you. Love you though, Cityzen for life.) It's not enough to have plans and big dreams; you've gotta take action. With the joy and Godfidence in my 2023 arsenal courtesy of Abba, it's time to take what He has given me and DO. So, dear reader: Make that call. Invest that seed money. Start that online business. Sign up for that gym membership. Just DO that thing God has laid in your heart, that thing you have delayed and postponed. It's time. God's got you. So, you've got this. Move it, people! December 31st is almost here.
2/24/2023
Rahab is dead, right?So Joshua spared Rahab the prostitute and her relatives who were with her in the house, because she had hidden the spies Joshua sent to Jericho. And she lives among the Israelites to this day.  Rahab is dead.
Yet, the Bible says she "lives among the Israelites to this day." How obviously paradoxical! Yet thankfully - so, so true. Rahab died, yes, but because she joined God's people (physically, the Israelites; spiritually, those who obey God), she is alive. Through Christ, Rahab became a member of God's family. See, not only was she (literally) related to Christ as one of His ancestors, but because of Christ's work on the cross, spiritually, she is a member of Christ's body forever (or, as Joshua 6:25 puts is, to this day.) For more about Rahab, read Joshua 2 and Joshua 6. Photo credit: .istockphoto.com  I'm taking on a posture of rest this month.
If January was about celebration, February is about rest. Deliberate rest. For to rest is to trust. To know that Abba is working things out, that He's preparing a table for me. To rest is to expect. That when it's finally time, when the table is set and the food is ready, I will be thoroughly satisfied. So, "don't let your heart be troubled. Trust in God. Trust also in [Jesus]" (John 14:1)
1/11/2023
What's in your hand? What's in your hand?
All things come from God and He, obviously, can create something out of nothing. Yet, what is in your hand? The Holy Spirit quietly nudges. You want to start a business this year, but you have no capital to speak of. Yet, I ask, what is in your hand? What can Abba use? Moses had a shepherd staff. Abba used it to bring a nation out of captivity. A boy had 5 loaves and 2 fish. Abba used it to feed >5000 people. Elisha had a cloak. Abba used it to part rivers. Samson had a jawbone. David, a slingshot. The widow, borrowed jars. Jael, a tent peg. The Shunnamite woman, extra space. See... It wasn't about the items. It was about the wielder, willingly to surrender what they had, so that Abba can do His thing.
1/10/2023
That Lagos Beat There is something primal about Lagos.
Even a non-Lagosian like me can't deny the steady heartbeat of this seaport city. The beat thrums beneath the hustle and bustle of the city, keeping it alive and awake past the wee hours of the morning. That Lagos beat lures newcomers in like a siren calls to weary sailors, promising: Come, you'll find what you seek. That Lagos beat coaxes residents with the dream of a tomorrow draped in the finest aso-oke, riding in a G-wagon, ending in a mansion nestled in the affluence of Banana Island. That Lagos beat is jarring to the ears of suburban-minded folks who prefer a town that sleeps. Love it or hate it, Lagos pulses unashamedly, daring you to join its beat or quit the dance floor. |
AuthorAll posts by Ronke (unless otherwise indicated) Archives
June 2023
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