Why You Love Me So - Ibitayo Jeje ft President Olusegun Obasanjo

                       IF WISHES WERE HORSES, BEGGARS WOULD RIDE!
       Today so many people want ready made success, ready made relationships, ready made friendships, they want everything ready made that they can lay their hands on. Well while a hand few may get lucky, most people don't. Some people waste so much time waiting, when they should be building. And some others spend the time wishing they would get that ready made thing instead of working hard to make that wish a reality.
     Nothing good comes easy is a very popular quote a lot of people are familiar with. But to so many, it is just a saying. The message behind it hardly ever hits home. While some people love to seat back and wish for everything they want or even cheat their way to get there, some very reasonable few have decided to work now so they can smile latter. Every one wants to seat at the table, but not everyone is willing to work hard and tirelessly to get there. To be lazy and just seat around wishing is so easy, and most likely than not many people prefer to take the easy way out or even look for a short cut. Growing up I remember my mum always telling me "short cuts will cut you short". So whatever you find yourself doing, do it to the best of your ability.
      While most people are comfortable watching movies, surfing the net and just whiling away precious time, some people are working hard trying to bring something relevant to the table thereby making reasonable contributions to their society or the little communites they find themselves in. chatting, pinging, sleeping, gossiping, e.t.c. will never get you to any relevant position. But hard work will.
      The truth is hard work takes a lot of discipline. And the human body always wants to just relax and be lazy so it takes a lot of discipline to do the right thing at the right time. The mind always wants to tell you to procrastinate but it takes a lot of self discipline to say I will work hard now and enjoy latter. If you spend your youthful years playing and relaxing, you will end up having to work hard when you should be resting. Hard work really does not kill. One thing I have realized in life is, people always respect and want to be associated with someone who has something to bring to the table. They tend to forget you or look down on you when all you do is practically nothing, or nothing that counts for anything.
      The time to act is now, the time to work hard is now. Tomorrow is a day short of what you would have achieved today. So wake up from your slumber and work hard now. In winter I always wish so hard that someone would just dash me a car and end my misery of having to stand in the cold waiting on the bus. But I still take the bus. That just goes to show that wishing so hard for something hardly ever delivers that thing to you. But working hard does. The best results can only be achieved through actions and not through wishing. So stop wishing your time away and act now!! My friends grandma used to tell my younger sister and I " NO SWEAT NO SWEET". Years have passed now, and I am beginning to understand that you must work hard. God has deposited all it takes to be great and to succeed in you, but you need to work hard to make it a reality in your life. STOP WISHING START WORKING!!!!

By Prize Abimbola Arowolo.

                         HOW TO BUILD UP YOUR SELF ESTEEM. 

      In a world like ours, it is not uncommon to find so many people especially youths and teenagers with very low self-esteem. Peer pressure and the need to fit in are on an all-time high. And in a bid to fit in, a lot of people loose themselves, develop very low self-esteems and some even end up in serious trouble. 

       Self esteem is something that should be very relevant to everyone. Just in case someone is wondering what self esteem means, it can be said to be " A feeling of being happy with your own character and abilities.  Confidence in one's own worth or abilities. i.e. self respect.  The moment, a person begins to feel like they are not good enough just being themselves or need to be like someone else to be perceived as relevant or important means ones self esteem is low. While low self esteem can be associated with both the male and female gender, it is mostly common or highly associated with the female gender. 

          I am not a very old person, but in the few years I have lived on this planet, I have observed a lot of female friends, friends of friends, and just ladies in general, and i have come to the conclusion that we battle with low self esteem more often than not. So many ladies walk and move around looking very confident, but deep down inside they are battling with low self esteem and insecurities. I can not categorically boast of being hundred percent confident, but it is something we all need to work on. The way you look on the outside is quite important. But the way you feel on the inside is way more important than the way you appear outwardly. Most women end up with low self esteems because they spend valuable time trying to look good for the public eye. Instead of working on their inner strength. If women, could focus or redirect the same energy they spend trying to loose weight, and having the perfect figure into building up their inner strengths, low self esteem will not be such a problem. I am not against loosing weight or looking good just to be clear. I am just saying feeling good on the inside is also important and would even enhance how you look on the outside.  

        It is very easy for human beings generally to hold on to negative reviews  or remarks than positive ones. For instance, someone tells you, your legs are so fat, or why are you so short? And your mind just absorbs it, and then you begin to feel like you need to change it, or do something about it. Instead of maybe focusing on a strength you have.  There was a certain time in my life when I had to battle with that inner low self esteem and tell myself  that I am fearfully and wonderfully made. You do not have to be like, look like or act like everyone to be amazing. All you need to do is focus on your strengths and gradually turn your weaknesses to strengths as well.you need to learn to love yourself and get to know yourself and realize how amazing you are. Basically you need to sort of fall in love with yourself and who God has designed you to be. Below are some very important ways to build up your self esteem. weather male or female. 

1) First thing is to buy a mirror and take a very good look at yourself. without make up. And just admire yourself and what you see. 

2) Second thing is to tell yourself you were created perfectly. I.e God did not make any mistake when he created you. Tell yourself your eyes are perfect, your nose is perfect. And just soak in the beauty God has given to you. Basically just tell yourself you are the best. :) 

3) Tell yourself you do not need to look like anyone else to be perfect. Neither do you need to alter any body part. I strongly believe low self esteem is what drives people to try to alter their bodies because they do not feel good enough. Tell yourself you do not need to bend who you are to fit into the society, the society will have to bend to fit and accept you because you are perfect.

4) Do not, i repeat do not hang around people who only pay attention to your weaknesses. I believe everyone has that one friend who always notices the negative first before anything else. Avoid such people. Hang around people who see your strengths and potential. 

5) Never get too comfortable with yourself because there is always room for improvement. There is still so much about yourself you are yet to discover. Hidden potentials and strengths. And you will never discover these hidden treasures if you are always focused on just the outer shell. i.e the outward appearance. 

6) You need to tell yourself that your weaknesses and flaws is not all there is to you. In fact they are part of the components that make you human and they are the great opportunities for change. Don't see your weaknesses and flaws as just weaknesses, see them as a window to working on yourself and a challenge  to bring out the best you there can be.

      With that said. Looking good on the outside is very important. But it is also as important to feel good on the inside. And you should not depend on people's complements to determine how good or bad you feel. You should learn to appreciate yourself and tell yourself what you want to hear once in a while. You are fearfully and wonderfully made. Copying someone else or trying to be like someone else is really a crime and a waste of the potentials hidden in you. Be yourself and always have it in mind that, you are the best and only you there would ever be in this world. So you owe it to yourself to be the best you there can ever be!!

                   

         HOLDING ON TO GOD. 

       Once in a while in life, situations, circumstances and happenings around you just make you feel like God are you still there? Trials begin to come in from left right and center. And you may feel like why is everything just happening to me at once. Well the truth is at such delicate, stressful or even painful moments, the devil tries to get you to focus on everything that is going wrong around you and keep you focused on all the things you should worry about. He makes you hold on to the worries so much, you begin to loose hope and your words become negative. Like when people ask how is the situation instead of saying "God is in control", you begin to feel so sorry about yourself and helpless you say things like "We are just managing" or " I really don't know". When faced with such challenges, this is not the time to give in to the devil and all his schemes. This is neither a time to doubt God. This is neither a time to be led by the way you feel. The bible lets us know that faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. So even if you cannot see your miracle or break through yet, even if you cannot see a way out yet, even if you feel like the door has been shut towards you finally, never stop having faith and confessing the word of God. The word of God is life. There is power in what we speak. So i encourage you to speak life to every dead situation. Do not converse or relate with people who will only tell you "AIYA" "SORRY" "THIS LIFE IS NOT FAIR". Be around people who will remind you and speak the word of God to you. You only loose when you give in, when you throw in the towel and stop trying. Even if your faith is like a mustard seed, it will surely move mountains. When next you are asked about that difficult situation, tell them all is well and all will be well in Jesus name.   Don't cry because the battle is the lords. And if God fights for you, you are a winner. Keep your eyes on God. And remember all is well in Jesus name. AMEN!!!

Below are some bible passages to hold on to Psalms 46:1 "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble."  Isaiah 41:10

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (NIV) Philippians 4:6-7 
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (NIV)

LIFE IS A MIRACLE.......

                       

   After spending a night at the hospital, I have come to the conclusion that life and everything it entails is a gift. It is not a right or something that just happens by coincidence. Seeing so many people in pain and distress made me appreciate those things we consider little and normal or even a right. 
                         Recently I have been asking God if miracles really exist because I have been trusting him for a miracle for quite some time now. And in between all my mixed feelings of anger, sadness and confusion, a voice inside me told me waking up every morning is a miracle. Sleeping through the night in peace without pain or discomfort is a miracle. walking, talking, eating, and even reading comfortably is a miracle. Virtually everything is a miracle.
                         I was so bent on getting the big miracle that I could no longer realize the little miracles God gives to us on a daily basis. So I decided to write and encourage someone out there who is trusting God for a big miracle. Keep thanking him for the little miracles and trust him for the big one. Do not let the devil get in your head. God is God and he owes us no explanations for how things turn out, but he expects us to keep trusting him and believing in him. The truth is sometimes trusting God can be so hard when the situation at ground is so big and tedious, but I choose to believe and to trust in the power of God which is bigger than every situation. When difficulties arise and life's problems want to weigh you down, hold on steadfastly to God. And don't forget the fact that you are still breathing is a miracle! Where there is life there is hope. where there is life there is hope. So hold on just a little longer!! Our hope is built on nothing less than the solid rock!!!

                                              How I FEEL.........

     So I really don't know what title to give to this write up because I just want to pour out my mind and how I really feel right now. I know a lot of people read my write ups and i get really great feed backs and all of that. But today I don't want to preach or advice any one. Cause really Most of the things i write are things I have learnt, or still in the process of learning.
          Sometimes life looks so complicated and I begin to have so many questions that frankly no one has the answers to. Like why do people fall sick, or why are some people so poor and why do people get divorced? hurt each other? Why do people fight in wars? Why can't we just live a simple happy life. Why does life have to get complicated once in a while. I know I am not a kid any more. But sometimes I just want to ask somebody and get the perfect answer.
         So at times like this, I find it very easy to write because I get to pretend i'm having a conversation with God. And I know he hears everything even the things I cannot tell anyone about. Sometimes I just get tired of everything. Praying, hoping, working, but I know you are there and you care even when I disappoint you and ignore you. So God this is another letter from me to you. Asking you to never give up on me and to keep working on me and in this very complicated world. So to all those who are confused or sad, or just feel like giving up, I believe no one has it so easy. But when you have God it is bearable and better. So let him hold your hand through whatever it is. As i encourage myself I certainly hope you are encouraged as well.
                     

                                     WHO TO TRUST????

                                                                                                                                                 

            I just felt like writing something before i go to bed, because I know a lot of people can relate to this. When we were kids, we were all so eager to grow up. Little did we know that growing up has a lot of challenges and obstacles you need to confront and defeat as time goes on. A friend of mine wrote on his Facebook status “Growing up is just a setup" I laughed when I saw it because I was kind of feeling that way sort of. And I am sure many youths out there and maybe a few adults feel the same way.

            Sometimes I wish life would be so easy and void of sorrows, struggles, fears and all the many confusions. But I guess that's just part of what sin brought into the world. There are days when I just feel like being alone and just enjoying the silence and the beauty of what God has created. But there is just so much noise, distraction, and confusion around the world. Everything is happening so fast. Every day you wake up is another day to make either a right or wrong choice. And sometimes, it is really difficult to know what right or wrong is in a world such as ours. And it even becomes more confusing when you realize people who have told you to do right are capable of being wrong and doing wrong.

           I had my heart broken once. Yeah i know right? It was nothing serious you may say but a huge deal to me. lol. That was when I began to realize how complicated life could be. I can lol(laugh out loud) about it now cause God helped me through it and thought me a lot. A part of me wanted to hurt and just be really mean to all the guys in the world. But something inside kept telling me to trust  "God" before any man. This was really hard to do. Cause I was so mad and I kept all the anger inside. It took time learning to trust God. And the best thing came out of it. I learnt how to be in a relationship with God. Tell him how i feel about every little thing. How it hurt, who made it hurt, where it hurt. And all the things one would share with a friend,

           Fast forward a couple of years later. Am good, things are going great, and I fall in love again finally. And there is the part of me who is really scared to commit so I put "one leg in one leg out", and the moment I see a challenge, I get ready to run for my life or should I say "heart". I even make up reasons in my head why this whole love and trust thing is a scam. So the safest bet is, never get too serious. And leave before you get hurt. Then God reminded me of what trust is and how he is the only person I can really trust. So I made up my mind to entrust my life and the lives of those I love and the person I love and everything to him. Since the only person I could really trust was God at that time. It’s so easy trusting God when everything is going smoothly. But the minute I see a storm I panic and begin to trust in my own strength which always fails. When you trust God enough to give him the things and people you love, and not place them above him, he takes care of them and you!

           I remember sometime last year when I was so confused and uncertain about so many things and I could not sleep, I decided to have a conversation with God. And peter walking on water came to my heart. And I heard a voice in me say, “you always sink when you take your eyes off of me”. And I realized how Its always so easy to forget God when things are going great till we meet another stumbling block, storm or confusion. To be honest keeping my eyes on God is not always so easy. But I keep doing the best I can daily. Having God with me makes living in this world bearable. It gives me hope and courage to go through life.  Are you confused, heartbroken, disappointed, angry, depressed or worried? Well I don't have all the answers to be honest. But I know someone who does. He knows how you feel even without you saying a word. He understands every tear drop, he knows where it hurts, how its hurts and when it hurts. He knows when you are confused and just feel like giving up. He is the reason I wake up every morning and want to try again. His name is Jesus. Try talking to him, leaning on him and trusting in him. He is 100% guaranteed. Have a relationship with him and keep trusting. 

       Here is something to keep you going. Jeremiah 29;11. There is hope in your future so keep trusting him to bring it to light!!