Ever watched a group of children play in a mud, all smiling and carefree about the debris or the stains – they are pleasantly intrigued, absorbed and captivated by the texture of the mud, through their little eyes nature is certainly a sensory element to reckon with. Their definition of mess: Total Innocent Bliss!

The problem is that for us Adults, Our “Mess” a lot of times is actually something we never want to acknowledge, discuss or even resolve. It could be our shambles from the past, an addiction, litter, disorder or clutter.

I told a close friend recently that I feel like a spinning top, all wobbly and going in circles. So much writing to do within a very limited time: my mess, she says was simply “time management”. The problem is not that my life is messy; Maybe It’s my calendar of events! But at that time of confusion, I needed a second mind, and I got the message! To reminisce, slow down, focus and keep writing!

A lot of us don’t realize that whatever err, mess, mistake, stray, blunder we’ve made in the past, automatically gives us a story of redemption and restitution.
It gives us a message of triumphant victory. We are now capable of helping others address their mess through our own victorious message when we relate our experiences to someone who’s going through similar issues.

It is not in our place to scold or castigate the ‘messer” or likewise ourselves: to dwell on it, beat ourselves up and wallow in self-pity. Our message after our mess should be a glimmer of HOPE and POWER, a guideline of survivalship, a bowl of warm soup carefully prepared with foresights for happy consumptions.

Our Message after a Mess should be an uproar of acquired sentiments of freedom from whatever it was that we’ve been struggling with or that’s been binding us.

So, YES – we are all eligible to be “Messengers”. To be a coach, guide, instructor, teacher, counselor – without any need for academic qualities – because we have the message right inside our hearts. We could be crushed or bruised, We stagger, stumble and sway in our mess. But then, we rise, come out of it – and we’re given a message to talk about it – So God can be glorified in our lives.

I know I am a messenger! Are you? So how do you relate to all the people in your life and all around you? Do they feel uplifted by coming in contact with you? What legacy are you creating?

Today, through your Mess, create a Message, and be a positive Messenger.

May God help us all.
Yinka

**Thanks Gregg!

Run far, run wide for some alone time!

Yes, God speaks through other people but he also needs space to be heard when he is speaking directly to you.
Constant dealings with other people, be it husbands, kids, coworkers, our parents or church members, not to mention their demands, expectations and agenda is on your you – ness and can sometimes make it difficult to distinguish what you really feel and think from what has been dumped into your subconscious.

Find some daily alone time to clear and De – clutter your mind, even if it is only for 20 mins.

The solitude itself is restorative and the revelation that comes from it is affirming.
It re charges your focus and ignites your creative abilities.

Written By Miggie Ediae: for #Moving Forward with Yinka.

I recently relocated to Georgia and my neighbor invited me to participate in a women’s Bible study group. Undoubtedly, it has blessed me tremendously so I wanted to share some things I learned (still trying to perfect in my life).

At Bible study, we use the book and study guide by Joanna Weaver titled “Having a Mary Spirit in a Martha World”. I recommend it to women trying to learn how to juggle the busyness of life with their relationship with God, our foremost relationship.

Joanna’s book is based on the story in Luke 10:38-42 in which Jesus visited the home of sisters- Martha and Mary. I have heard many sermons on the story but Joanna’s book gives fresh insight. Jesus was going on His way with His disciples and Martha welcomed Him into her house. Mary, rather than assisting Martha in preparations to host Jesus, decided to sit and listen to Jesus’ teaching. Martha was preoccupied with preparation and came to Jesus to complain about how her sister was not helping her, asking Him if He cared and telling Him to tell Mary to play her role. Jesus responded in Verse 42 “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. There is need of only one or but a few things.

Mary has chosen the good portion [that which is to her advantage], which shall not be taken away from her”. Joanna highlights in her book how Jesus did not rebuke Martha for what she was trying to do, which is to serve the Lord and be a good “host”, but that Jesus rebuked her attitude and wanted her to understand that a relationship with Him is far more beneficial (and what He also desires from us) than any service we can render. Often times, we think that taking on the weight of the world and serving God (either at the church, in our homes) will help us gain His approval.
However, not so. God wants us to nurture our relationship with Him first and then serve. Joanna went on to discuss how Jesus “diagnosed” Martha’s main problem. Jesus knew exactly what the problem was with Martha; she was worried! He knew she was worried about many things [vs. 42]…. perhaps worried about being too busy, about how she would please Jesus and feed Him and His disciples.

Perhaps more pertinent to our daily lives, the “many things” are sickness, broken relationships, childlessness, miscarriage, feelings of betrayal or the things we have to do as women that vie for our time…work, cook, clean, take care of the family and so on. Jesus knew that if Martha was less worried by spending more time first fellowshipping with Him like Mary did, everything else would have been easier for Martha to handle. Matthew 11:28 says “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” When we seek God first like Mary did, our anxiety and worries fade away. Joanna states in her book:

” In one short sentence, Jesus diagnosed the problem that has plagued humankind since the beginning of time (garden of Eden)……. and the Fall of mankind.

It is the curse of anxiety. The ongoing burden of worry and fear.”

The Bible commands us to NOT worry. It is a waste of time and can affect us spiritually, emotionally and physically. Joanna suggests some tips to help us stop worrying because as she says “Jesus wasn’t asking us to live in denial, a sugar-coated fairy tale…because our world is filled with struggles and real pain”.

There is a place for “HEALTHY CONCERN”, which is very different from “toxic worry”. Concern draws us to God. Worry pulls us from Him”. A preacher once said, “Worrying is fear-based negative meditation. Faith is meditation on the word of God”. Below are some practical differences between concern and worry that Joanna noted in her book.

So anytime I find myself worrying, I try to switch my thoughts to the “concern” gear and then trust God that He will do what is best for me.

Concern:
• Involves legitimate threat
• Is specific (one thing)
• Addresses the problem
• Solves problems
• Looks to God for answer

Worry:
• Is often unfounded
• Is generalized (spreads to many things)
• Obsesses about the problem
• Creates more problems
• Looks to self or other people for answers

May God help us all.
Written by Bunmi Adeniji for ‘Movingforward with Yinka

Reference: Joanna Weaver’s – “Having a Mary Spirit in a Martha World”.

How do you manage your – Eagerness, Frenzy, Joy, Passion, Zeal, Craze, Glow,
Keenness and the way I fondly address it with my kids….My Oomph! My energy for life!
What Curbs Your Enthusiasm? ‘Your keen Interest? ‘Your Excitement and Passion for a Task?

Enthusiasm is the natural outgrowth of all your efforts toward success. What is important is that you now recognize that every appropriate move you make is building your enthusiasm as well.

Enthusiasm Changes Lives: it is the fuel that drives things forward, a way to control our mind. The same control can be used on our enthusiasm, so that it is continually fed into the cylinders of your mental engine, where it is ignited by the spark of our definite purpose and explodes, pushing the pistons of applied faith and personal initiative. Enthusiasm is power. With faith, it can transform adversity, failure, and temporary defeat into action.

Our mindset is Transmutation. It depends on the control of our thoughts, for they can just as easily be expressed negatively as positively. By controlling our enthusiasm, we can change any negative expressions and experiences into positive ones.

When your enthusiasm runs high, make a note of it in a notebook. Write down the circumstances that inspired you and the manifestations of that enthusiasm. Were you spurred to action? Did you solve a problem? Did you persuade someone of something? Also, keep a written copy of your definite major purpose and your plan for it inside your notebook. Then, whenever your enthusiasm is ebbing, pick up your valuable book. Not only will it remind you of the reason you should be enthusiastic, but it will also review for you the benefits of that enthusiasm. Enthusiasm is a spiral, turning inward or outward, rising or falling. To give your enthusiasm a push in the right direction, refer to your notebook when the spiral is collapsing in on itself.

Wow! What power enthusiasm has! Especially when we are able to help others around us! What fulfillment and accomplishment we receive! That power is released to support definiteness of purpose and is constantly renewed by faith. It becomes an irresistible force for which temporary defeat and failure are no match. You can communicate that power to anyone who needs it. This is probably the greatest work you can do with your enthusiasm. Excite the imaginations of others; inspire their creative vision; help them connect with Infinite Intelligence.

I hope someone reading this will grasp their dreams and twist the world’s agenda to fit their passion and share their enthusiasm. It’s infectious. Boredom is a killer, but the world will buy joy gladly. But, because you’ve got IT! Why not encourage someone who doesn’t have what it takes to build-up hope today – share your gift of Positive Influence!

May God help us all!

Yinka.