While no relationship status is better than the other, there are certainly some benefits of being single. Being single can be quite fun and boring at times.

In my point of view when you’re single there’s alot to achieve like beating dead lines./ getting a job it’s up to you and you alone can handle all aspects of your life, money, doing chores, taking on responsibility for your actions. You’re more independent and resilient.

I remember of a good number of us were single at a certain point in our lives God. Friendship was fun and we had alots of sleep overs and time to ourselves as friends. Then one by one started to get married. This felt stranger for most of whose were still single because everything had to change. Our priorities became different from our married friends.

When people started getting married friendships became fizzle.

Single life and sleep might feel or sound better but deep inside our every singlelife we need that person we can run to for comfort, peace, love and support etc.

When you live a single life,you have more time to take care of yourself and most importantly focus on your priorities. This helps you grow as a  person.

One of my best friends got married a few weeks ago and it was awesome to see her walk into that direction.

I felt sad and all these weird things or thoughts started creeping out may be your to much, high standards, etc. So a friend of mine calls me yoo Sandie when are you getting married and my response was awesome $ when my time comes you will be the first to know.

Not to console myself and all just felt like l don’t need to be under pressure when people around get married. We all have different time zones and besides that God’s timing is always perfect. The world has its standards of how life should be moving for you but who has the final say?

Trust me as single people we feel the heat and pressure from family members, friends and society l personally l have chosen to work at bettering me and becoming great version of myself. Cheers to that while l still have some free time on me.

I love my life and being single for now. When that time comes for to say until death do us apart l will still be happy too.

Life is something precious and this means that patterns play a key role. I was with a friend and she was so excited about the miraculous package she had received. For some annoying reason l was not moved because l had stopped practicing  gratitude.

Then a sudden thought crossed my mind who has been providing and taking care of you? You haven’t fallen sick or lacked anything… I was so ashamed! I remember telling my older sister something has been wrong with me. I remember telling God that night l am sooo sorry for not looking out for the good things you have enabled me to be part of.

Embracing things like family, friends, my job, and above every thing else having the Father’s love. I stopped focusing on the things that don’t add value to life.

Rolling up my will of choosing the goodness of what the Lord has done, has been a life changer.

Embrace good life.

Love the way life unfolds, in every way it keeps unfolding. In that spirit of gratitude, love, resourcefulness and joy. You’ll create greatness no matter the cost.

Focus on the positive. Today is a beautiful and l feel grateful for all have.

Celebrate little victories.

I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.

If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude. There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.

Prejudice is a burden that confuses the past, threatens the future and renders the present inaccessible.

My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.

I have realized  the more time l spend with God l experience something new. Taking time to be thankful creates gratitude that brings happiness. Gratitude is the best attitude.

I don’t have to chase extraordinary moments to find happiness — it’s right in front of me if l’m paying attention and practice. Brene Brown

The word of God opens us up to our true identity.

5 spiritual disciplines you can practice to make time with God a daily habit.

Give thanks

“We give thanks to you, O God; we give thanks, for your name is near. We recount your wondrous deeds.” – Psalms 75:1

Have you experienced healing? Answered prayers? Breakthrough in the life of someone you love? Salvation? As you seek God’s heart for this new season, take a moment to thank Him for what He’s already done.

Spending time with God is refreshing and bounds your relationship with Him.

“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.” – John 15:4

Abiding in Jesus starts with stillness. Pause, take a deep breath, and give anything concerning you over to God. Spend 5 minutes centering your heart on the One who matters most.

Remember Whose you are

“You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” – 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

God loves you. (Let that sink in.) The price He paid for you cost Him everything. Remind yourself of Whose you are, and then confidently dream big with God for this new season.

Meditate on God’s Word

“Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day.” – Psalms 119:97

How does Jesus want you to live? One of the best ways to find out is to spend time in Scripture. As you do, ask God to speak to you through His Words about what your next right step should be. (Not sure how to start studying God’s Word? Read this.)

what is Excellent?

“…If there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” – Philippians 4:8

You have been given the mind of Christ. If you’re not sure of what you should do in your next season, try asking yourself: What is praiseworthy? What decisions would honor God?

Make a list of whatever comes to mind, and intentionally pursue those things.

Something we don’t often think about is how we treat others. On the other hand, we think rather a lot about how others treat us. That has to tell you something, right there. So, how do you treat others?

I don’t know how you get to work, but right around the world countless millions hop into their cars or onto a bus or train every morning and every afternoon – the big commute.

And whether you’re fighting traffic or squeezing into crammed public transport, there’s probably one word you simply wouldn’t use to describe that commute … gentle. It’s anything but. Try brutal, frustrating, infuriating, draining… anything BUT gentle!

And even in places where we expect to find gentleness, it’s so often missing; in aged care facilities, hospitals, schools, even in homes.

concept in this chaotic world, wouldn’t you agree? I mean, how many gentle people do you run into at work? And yet, ask anyone how they’d like to be treated – Would you like to be treated with gentleness? – and the answer’s obvious!

Proverbs 15:1 This is one of the most quoted proverbs from the Bible :A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. It spells out exactly how we should speak to others.

Gentleness is almost a lost!

I’m not naturally a gentle person. It’s something I’ve had to learn; something that I’m still learning. The Apostle Paul, a couple of thousand years ago, hit the nail on the head when he wrote this from his prison cell on death row:

“Let gentleness be seen in every relationship, for our Lord is ever near.”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:5‬ ‭TPT‬‬

Tomorrow morning, when you get ready for the day ahead – the commute, your busy, pressured day, doing whatever it is that you do – how much will gentleness and kindness be on your mind?

Just think of the incredible power to touch someone, to brighten someone’s day – even to save their life – with gentleness and kindness.

Let everyone see that you are gentle and kind.

DO NOT WORRY
Matthew 6:25-34

Ever since the pandemic hit the world, there has been a significant increase of worry in people’s lives. Worry about what to eat, worry about the fate of their jobs, worry about their relatives stuck abroad, worry about having a dead year from school, worry about not having that lavish 100+ wedding, worry about getting COVID 19 etc.

Jesus knew all these things would happen and he told us;
“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; or what you will wear.
Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothing?

Jesus continues to tell us about the birds in the air that don’t do much but the Lord feeds them. How about the lilies of the field that the Lord clothes in the most splendour of glory. How much more will he provide for us who are created in his own image?

Oh you of little faith! Your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness,and all these things shall be added to you.
Because worrying cannot add a single day in your life.

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Value your relationship with your creator. He holds the keys to your tomorrow.

Those who follow Jesus’ commandment entirely, who let Jesus’ yoke rest on them without resistance, will find the burden they must bear to be light. In the gentle pressure of this yoke they will receive the strength to walk the right path without becoming weary.…Where will the call to discipleship lead those who follow it? What decisions and painful separations will it entail? We must take this question to him who alone knows the answer. Only Jesus Christ, who bids us follow him, knows where the path will lead. But we know that it will be a path full of mercy beyond measure. Discipleship is joy.

Biblical Wisdom
Come to me, all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble of heart, and you will find rest for your soul. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28–30

Questions to Ponder
What is Jesus’ “commandment” that we are to follow? (See John 15:12)
If this commandment is Jesus’ “yoke,” how might we be changed if we bear it without resistance?
Why might following Jesus’ commandment lead to tough “decisions and painful separations”?

Psalm Fragment
Make me to know your ways, O Lord;
teach me your paths.
Lead me in your truth, and teach me,
for you are the God of my salvation;
for you I wait all day long. Psalm 25:4–5

Journal Reflections
To be a disciple is not just to believe in Jesus, it is to follow Jesus. In your journal, reflect on the ways in which you are presently following Jesus.
Do you experience your discipleship as “joy”? Is the “burden” of your discipleship “light”?
Do you sense there are places Jesus might want to lead you where you would rather not go? If so, where are they and what is holding you back?

Intercessions
Pray specifically for family, friends, and colleagues that they might clearly hear the call to discipleship (which is the call to love and justice), and that they might experience following Jesus’ commandment as joy in the concrete realities of their lives.

Prayer
Lord Jesus, only you know where my path will lead, but I trust that, even if I do not know either the way or the destination, you are with me and before me, and I follow you with joy.

“It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”

Genesis 2:18

God created the first couple so that they could have companionship. It was the reason why God gave man his partner. This is why, when most couples know each other and share time together, they feel an attraction that then leads to them to get married. They want to spend the rest of their life next to the person with whom they feel such a close connection.

Genuine love is total surrender, where a person is willing to give everything for the one they love. When there is true love in us, we will strive to make the other person happy, because love gives all. Here are some principles to help you to enjoy love:

1. Allow God to choose your spouse.

“Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.” (Genesis 2:22). Jehovah himself replied to Samuel: “…people look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7).

Giving the Lord the right to choose your partner, instead of doing it ourselves, is one of the greatest blessings.

2. Marriage is the extension of divine character.

‘Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky…”’ (Genesis 1:26).

The purpose of marriage is that God’s character is reproduced through family. God is a three-in-one being, (Father, Son and Holy Spirit). Within the Trinity all three always live in perfect harmony. When family was established, God placed His character in each one of the members of that family. He did this so that there would always be complete harmony amongst the man, the woman and the children.

3. God wants to bless us through marriage.

‘God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number…”’ (Genesis 1:28).

God called them Adam and Eve, and blessed them both. For a long time Adam was alone. He was required to live in a time of singleness and God didn’t bless him during this time; only later when he had his partner. God’s blessing is complete as it covers the spiritual, economic and physical areas of your live. It is essential that God’s full blessing is there in any marriage.

4. God wants there to be transparency in marriage.

“Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame” (Genesis 2:25).

Men must have an open heart before their wives, and women must not keep any secrets from their husbands. Both spouses must conduct themselves with complete openness, doing nothing that is hidden from each other.

5. God wants each man to lead his home

That’s why Apostle Paul said, “For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior” (Ephesians 5:23).

6. God wants you to prepare an atmosphere that enables and promotes the spiritual development of your family.

An atmosphere is created by words, attitudes, thoughts and gestures. Let’s determine in our hearts to make our home a home a little piece of paradise on earth.

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As l read these beautiful affirmations about love l felted encouraged. Love is knowing the heart of God. His patient,kind, forgiving, gracious, etc.

If we learning how to love just like Christ did, this world can be a better place. It’s possible for us to enjoy our marriages as the Lord teaches us.

“God’s hand is with us, guiding us to build our families.

I heard of story about this beautiful lady. She had a great family, her children went to the best schools around town. She was so blessed with a lifestyle every woman would dream of. She hangout in the poshest places and hosted the coolest parties. Unfortunately she had never worked anywhere reason being her rich husband provided everything. To cut the long story short her rich husband found himself another younger woman. That’s where all hell broke loose and the hanging out stopped, the parties stopped and her friends run in different directions. Her husband stopped taking care of her and children. He left her in the apartment they were renting without so much as a word or financial survival. This poor woman had to start from scratch. Remember she had never worked anywhere before, because all she had never needed was always provided for.

Trying to adjust was not an easy thing to do but she had to work. This beautiful lady applied for a job as a cleaner in a certain company. She worked very hard to provide her family with the basic needs. Of course she missed her old life but she appreciated what it meant to work,manage,save and invest money.

She had to look for work and moved into a one bed roomed apartment with her children. The innocent children were used to the posh life and they had to leave their international schools.

After adjusting to a life that’s less than what she’d been used to she decided to work harder to improve on their living conditions.

Working as a cleaning lady doesn’t really pay much but she still did her best under the circumstances.

God is good as most people often say and surely he had never forgotten her. He did come to the rescue through a man who had been watching for a long time.

He’d found her beautiful and hard working and felt that she deserved to be in a much more dignified position.

And so he did set off to pursue her. This obviously wasn’t the easy task considering her traumatic past but he never did give up.

When a man is that persistent, it often causes one to pause and wonder and question his capacity to endure that rejection.

The woman did give him a chance thus causing a different turn from a difficult life to one she’d not expected to happen that soon.

He changed her life. Moved her from that one bed roomed apartment to the exact one she once used to know.

Gave her money to start up a new business and married her. She could not believe her luck and even thought about all those single mothers who will not be this fortunate.

Moral of the story,don’t take things for granted. Don’t wait to have to go through this to learn this lesson. God has given each one of us the ability to do something about and of our lives.

We only have to channel our energies into that gifting so we don’t live a wasteful life. So go out there and do life Big.

As l was seated on a Saturday evening thinking about being a woman and finding my bearing. I watched this movie based on a true story about an Indian lady called Neerja Bhanot. Her story brought me to tears and encouraged at the same time. She was once married to man who didn’t value her & he always belittled her with every chance he got.

Neerja coming from a loving family had experienced what it feels like being loved,cared for,pampered you name it.

Then getting into a space where she was supposed to receive and release it was far from her current situation. I kept watching and it was a twist of events happening to her and dealing with her profession Working as an air hostess. To make the long Short, Neerja didn’t know just how short her life would be lived.

One minute she’s welcoming passengers on the plane and giving them instructions on how to have a safe flight and the next she’s caught in between saving the passengers lives and trying to save her own from a terrorist attack but in the end she chose the former.

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In choosing to put others before herself, she became the ultimate sacrifice. Neerja lost her life saving others.

Was Neerja without any dreams to look forward to when she gave up her own life? On the contrary. While she had lost out on her first and sadly abusive relationship, she had been given a second chance to a loving relationship with a man who truly deserved her.

23 is way too young to be gone from family, friends and other loved ones.

I can’t begin to imagine the pain and loss her loved ones felt when she passed. But one thing is for sure live every moment loving,laughing and enjoying every moment God has given you to make the difference you want to see in this world because we are not guaranteed a full life but what is here and now.

The question is how purposeful are you living your life?

If God decided that today is your day, how would you be remembered?

It’s been over 30 plus years but who can really forget Neerja Bhanot from India and her ultimate sacrifice?