Thank God my feet are off the ground.

I was watching a re-run of BET honours last week and was touched by something I had heard Tyler Perry say regarding a homeless women he had met.

Did a little google-ing, so here's the full story in his own words...

This morning I awoke and was so frustrated about all of the stuff that I'm dealing with in trying to get this studio open. I was about to open my mouth and start complaining when I remembered something that happened to me about a year ago. I was walking to my car when this woman who appeared to be homeless started walking towards me. I'm ashamed to say this but I thought, "I don't feel like being hustled today." Then I got quickly convicted. I felt guilty so I started digging in my pocket for some money. As she got closer I noticed that she had the kindest eyes that I had ever seen. As I was reaching into my pocket she started to speak. I thought, "Here goes the sales pitch". She said "Excuse me sir, I need some shoes.Can you help me?" My eyes filled with water because I remember being out on the streets and having only one pair of run over shoes. I was taken aback for a second.I took her inside the studio and had my wardrobe people find shoes in her size. As she put the shoes on she started crying, praising God and thanking Jesus, and saying, "My feet are off the ground! My feet are off the ground!" Several of the wardrobe people started crying. I was crying. But I never forgot those word."My feet are off the ground! "I thought, "Wow! All she wanted was some shoes." She quickly disappeared and never asked me for a dime. I realized that I still had the money in my hand so I went out looking for her. She was gone just that quick so I looked all around the neighborhood for her. I found her standing on a corner looking down at her shoes, still crying. I was so touched. I asked her how she had gotten homeless. She told me that she had AIDS and that she was waiting to get into a shelter. She said that her family had turned their backs on her and that she had no place to go, but she knew that God would make a way for her. I said to myself, "He just did." Her faith and her praise moved me.I took her to a nearby hotel and put her up until shewas able to get on her feet. I had someone that worked for me to check on her from time to time and to make sure that she had food and clothes. After about a month or so we lost touch, but I never forgot her. This past summer I was shooting "Daddy's Little Girls"and this woman walks up to me smiling. I didn't recognize her face, but her eyes were familiar. She had on a really nice dress and her hair was done. It was her! She told me that the little help that I had given her had changed her life. She was in a house now and doing very well.I said all of that to say this. After I met this woman, every time I think about complaining and mumbling I remember, "My feet are off the ground!"

This story really touched me because it made me realise that I have so much to be grateful for. In this present time its so easy to get sidetracked from what is really important in life. I have my health, my basic needs are being provided, my family and friends are safe and most importantly I have Jesus in my life. My feet are well and truly off the ground.

Be Blessed and have a wonderful weekend.

xYx

ACTION SPEAKS LOUDER THAN WORDS; SO LET US PRACTICE REAL LOVE

My dear children, let's not just talk about love; let's practice real love.
This is the only way we'll know we're living truly, living in God's reality.
It's also the way to shut down debilitating self-criticism, even when there is something to it.
For God is greater than our worried hearts and knows more about us than we do ourselves.
----1 John 3:18-20 (The Message)



Right now, therefore, every time we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of all, starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith.
----Galatians 6:10 (The Message)

Prayer:

LORD, I know the most subtle and dangerous deception is self-deception.
Help me have the courage to re-evaluate my life, not by the words that I say Or the image I create for myself in my mind, but by my actions.

I want to be real – please help me to see myself for what I really am, and not what I would like to think I am. Help me to show real love to others by my actions.

You know me better than I know myself, and I thank You for loving me unconditionally.
In Jesus' name, Amen.

Wise words from Warren Buffet.

THE WORDS OF OUR ELDERS ARE WORDS OF WISDOM SAYS AN ADAGE; ESPECIALLY THESE WORDS OF WISDOM FROM A RESPECTED ,SUCCESSFUL AND ACCOMPLISHED ELDER. BE BLESSED.

Warren Buffet's advice for 2009

We begin this New Year with dampened enthusiasm and dented optimism. Our happiness is diluted and our peace is threatened by the financial illness that has infected our families, organizations and nations. Everyone is desperate to find a remedy that will cure their financial illness and help them recover their financial health. They expect the financial experts to provide them with remedies, forgetting the fact that it is these experts who created this financial mess.Every New Year, I adopt a couple of old maxims as my beacons to guide my future. This self-prescribed therapy has ensured that with each passing year, I grow wiser and not older. This year, I invite you to tap into the financial wisdom of our elders along with me, and become financially wiser.

* Hard work: All hard work bring a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.

* Laziness: A sleeping lobster is carried away by the water current.

* Earnings: Never depend on a single source of income. [At least make your Investments get you second earning]

* Spending: If you buy things you don't need, you'll soon sell things you need.

* Savings: Don't save what is left after spending; Spend what is left after saving.

* Borrowings: The borrower becomes the lender's slave.

* Accounting: It's no use carrying an umbrella, if your shoes are leaking.

* Auditing: Beware of little expenses; A small leak can sink a large ship.

* Risk-taking: Never test the depth of the river with both feet. [ Have an alternate plan ready ]

* Investment: Don't put all your eggs in one basket.

I'm certain that those who have already been practicing these principles remain financially healthy. I'm equally confident that those who resolve to start practicing these principles will quickly regain their financial health.Let us become wiser and lead a happy, healthy, prosperous and peaceful life.

As white as snow...

If you live in south-east england, you would know we have had the worst weather conditions over the past few days. Monday was noted to be the worst snow fall in the last 18 years. Well having been a resident of this land for about thirteen years now, this is the worst I have seen it.

To the lucky two in five working population that didn't even attempt to make it to work, LUCKY you! another day added to your weekend, hope you all enjoyed yourselves (hint of jealousy). I unfortunately still had to drag my freezing self to work despite the treacherous conditions. The newscasters warned 'Do not travel unless you absolutely have to', but did my workplace care? NO! I called hoping to be pardorned to lazyabout at home with my sister, who was on leave from work anyway, I was sharpley told there were piles of prescriptions awaiting my attention so YES I did have to come to work.

After 20mins trying to locate my car .......

I have to say that the usual 45minutes drive, prolonged to 75mins that day, was no where near fun for me. Had to stick to 40mph in a 70mph zone and keep my two hands firmly on the steering wheel to gain some sense of control. As I drove along the A12 towards essex, I could see cars that had veered to the side of the road causing numerous accidents. I could see policemen in their wellies trying to control traffic as best as they could. I could see big trucks flashing their orange lights, spreading grit/salt in an attempt to ease the burden. An interesting sight indeed.

I thank God for taking the wheel, I'm thankful that I made it to and from my destination in one piece....

20th January 2009. A Historic day.

I woke up this morning thanking God for his blessings over my life. Today was the inauguration of the first african american president BARACK OBAMA. We should all feel so blessed that we have the opportunity to witness this historic day in our own lifetime.


President Obama is a living testimony of Gods grace. Its not where you start but where you finish. If your focus is clear, your destination is in sight and you are willing to put all you have to chase your dream. Anything is possible with God on your side.


BE INSPIRED....

First post

This is my first ever post or blog as you call it (will start getting used to that). I just decided I wanted a change, spent too much of my time on facebook doing amebo. I decided to suspend my facebook account yesterday, just a random decision I made, I don't know how long it's going to last. I decided to stop focusing on other peoples lives and what everyone else is doing and pay myself some attention.

I should probably start by introducing myself. I am a 25 years old lady currently living in london. I was born in Lagos, Nigeria and spent the first 12 years of my life living in Lagos and Ibadan. I am the eldest of three children, all girls, no brothers (well not biologically). I attended an american school in Ibadan (IITA) till I was 10yrs old, which I can honestly and humbly state is the best education a child could recieve. I then attended ISI in Ibadan for two interesting years till my family relocated to the UK in 1996.

Skip forward 13 years to 2009.

I am now working as pharmacist after completing my masters degree and necessary training. I live with one of my sisters in a house in east london, who ironically is a pharmacist too. My profession is challenging to say the least, boring at times, but interesting at the most.

I am a born-again christian, I have accepted the Lord as my saviour and I have a personal relationship with HIM. I relationship like many others, that has its ups and downs. Periods of strength and weak. Like a prodigal son, I have tried to walk away from this, under the illusion the world had something better to offer. But like the prodigal son, I have walked right back into HIS open arms. Im not even going to front about it, everyday is a struggle to live according to His word, but my daily prayer is to be drawn closer to HIM.

I'm coming around to the idea of an online diary, a place to vent my frustrations, share my happiness or just mumble incoherently as I find myself doing sometimes. A place to share or even streamline my thoughts.

The beginning of yet another journey.