Set deadlines and sub-deadlines on every task and activity.

Create your forcing system.

Raise the bar on yourself and don’t let yourself off the hook.

Once you’ve set a deadline, stick to it and even try to beat it.

May your week be beautiful.

Don’t forget to speak life through the deepest, darkest night!

IPA

Sometimes, I wonder if Jesus experienced some challenges, like not wanting to go do evangelism, not wanting to pray for the sick, raise the dead, and even cast out a demon.

Sometimes, I dare to imagine what a typical day was like for Jesus.

“Hey master, what’s up with today’s meeting in Galilee? Oh, I almost forgot, there’s a blind folk outside; he’s been dying to meet you. One more thing, the brethren at Samaria and Judea, too, are expecting you for the revival hour.” Peter must have reported to Jesus and this became the regular morning anthem.

Jesus would then sigh and heave in a deep breath.

“I didn’t know it would all go down this way, I’d never have agreed to come. I mean, heaven has no stress – the angels and elders would always feed me with the worship of their lips, but you humans down here, it’s all miracles you want and is only bread you desire.” Jesus must have thought and then shortly afterwards…
He would find a place to hide – a region of solitude, where each passing breeze was like a healing balm, soothing his aching heart as He teared up before God the father.

“This cup is bitter, Father; I miss heaven – the throne that’s always flooded with blinding light, the serene and solemn ambiance that fogs the heavens when the elders worship, the joyous, melodious tone of the angels, resounding, vibrating and launching us into the state of tranquility…” Jesus must have said.

He felt the pain of betrayal when Judas kissed him away.

He rolled alone in the dirty mud of rejection when his disciples fled – each one of them running for his dear life.

His heart was pierced, rippled into two with a dagger of denial when peter said they’ve never met.

Jesus felt it all. But despite all of these, He knew why He came. He was bent on fulfilling purpose and that was all that mattered to Him.

You may wish to know why He would always get up early and go to converse with the father. It’s because of how heavy His heart felt. He would sometimes wish to return immediately, but the Father would remind Him of the entire plan of redemption, and He would wipe the beads of tears forming and getting ready to snake down his cheeks. He felt it all.

When you’re down and it suddenly feels like the weight of the world is on your shoulder. Never you forget to talk to Him about it. He’s been there before.

The bible describes Him as that high priest who’s touched by the feelings of our infirmities(Heb 4:15). He’s touched because He has been touched by those things and now He wants to touch you – to give you a reassuring hug that you are not alone.

When you don’t feel like doing anything – reading that book, pursuing your goals, saying that prayer, learning that skill, loving that heady neighbor, talk to Jesus the high priest. He’s got the cure for every lethargy.

Like Jesus, your heart must be fixed on the end goal and not on the pain and processes. There’s a glory coming, so bright and beautiful. If only you can dare to see.

Hey, don’t think you’re alone, Jesus felt it all and He feels it even now because He’s with you on your journey to greatness.

So, don’t make the voyage bored, talk to Him cos He feels it too.

©IPA_writes
May your week be beautiful

I got up that morning; announced my victory over the night battles with a deafening yawn, whispered thank you Jesus, and curled out of my warmth-giving blanket. I should hurry to the restroom so nature’s call would be obeyed I thought.

I got set to leave when I heard without guessing, Your will, not by wheel.

Interesting, what does this mean?
This must be God trying to teach me something; peace get set for an unveiling, I whispered and gave a nod.

I pondered over this for almost a week, if not more, and till now, the journey wears on, but I felt you should also be drawn in, so permit me to invite you to join this voyage of discovery – willingly without cajole to understand what total surrender looks like.

Your will, not my wheel is a weighty phrase of surrender. It paints a picture of some human in some place trying to forcefully get on his or her way, follow his or her plan regardless…but then finally get interrupted… and realizes that there’s a mightier than he and He’s called the controller, the one who coordinates life and commands every blessing.

Your will, not my wheel, is a dear earnest confession of an individual who’s giving up a religion. A religion of control, a religion of worry, a religion of self-will, and a religion of losing the old and pressing on to finding something new.

Your will, not my wheel, reiterates the deep, forlorn thoughts of Father Abraham when he decided to travel down the long, lonely road into the unknown, the thick, gigantic walls of uncertainties, and the constant reminder of aging that shows up in wrinkles on his feeble skin…

Albeit, he left behind all he ever knew, giving up his rights to even ask questions about what lies ahead. Our father of faith jumped into a big blue sea with an overwhelming fear but wrapped up in the wings of love for a safe landing by the one who had called him.

Your will, not my wheel, was the battle anthem that many young folks of old sang, Daniel, Joseph, Esther, and even Mary. Can it become your anthem too?

Dear reader, when you say you will not my wheel, then it happens…He comes in asap because you cannot submit to his will when you are still in charge of the wheel. The wheel here is your plan, life, decisions, choices, worries, goals, ambitions, and lots more.

Your will, not my wheel is a daily reality you must seek to walk in.

If His will must be done then you must also give him the wheel. Tell Him to come take control, tell Him to come drive and you’ll only be home when He says so.

Giving Him this space cannot be possible unless you believe in His love for you.
His goodness, the infallibility of His word, the assuredness of His presence, and the peace His promises offer.

I can see how hard you have tried to run and walk away from His offering to guide and guard your path. I can imagine how vehemently you have sailed through the turbulent tide of life, but on the other end, your reward was meager. Things are about to change, but it will only happen when you say, ‘Your will, not my wheel.’

Hey, I know it’s hard, but can you try it out today? I need you to trust God too much to give up. I need you to give up every control. I need you to lose your religion and focus on finding something new in Him. I need you to let those tears stream down your cheeks, I need you to mean every word, I need you to do it even with your staggering faith, and right now I need you to scream at the top of your lungs… Your will, not my wheel…

He hears, He sees, He knows you are scared but nothing can be more beautiful than giving Him the wheel and resting in His will.

Here’s the guarantee, you won’t regret it!

©IPA_writes
Have a great week ahead

Hey, let’s talk about your thoughts today.

How healthy is your thought life?

Did you know that you are what you think?

Will Jesus be proud if he stopped by your thought parlor? Can he sit comfortably and have a drink?

What fills your thoughts, is it the flying rumor in your environment or the truth of God’s word concerning you?

Guess what? The truth about you can only be found in the world’s biggest book ever – the BIBLE!

I’ll tell you about two colleagues, Ehi and Ebo.

Ehi is a very beautiful girl who was the talk of the town when she checked in at BB Company LTD.

She is a likable personality, and wherever she went, every searching eye would want to have a look-see, at least till she vanished from their sight.

Ehi indeed is wonderfully made, she moves with grace having a beautiful smile that charmingly settles on the edge of her lips, her well-rounded backside artistically packaged forming a perfect figure of eight, and her light skin complexion could brighten any man’s world, her oval face, and her pencil pink lips could teleport to paradise the lucky man who finds it.

Ebo resumed work that fateful day to discover there was a new babe who was seemingly becoming a distraction.

She noticed how the Director was bereft of words all of a sudden because Ehi walked in 15 mins late into the general Monday meeting.

Almost immediately, Ebo developed a hatred for Ehi.

Who is this girl, and why has she taken everybody’s attention. She fumed in rage because of her insecurities and this continued daily until she fell into depression and was hospitalized.

---

Ebo fell into that big deep pit of depression because of her thoughts. She thought that Ehi was more beautiful, intelligent, and attention-grabbing. She felt bad, and she quickly forgot that she was created in the image and likeness of God.

Sometimes, like Ebo, you shift your attention from what is true and pure and you give the devil the rare privilege of sowing lies into your heart and choking your thoughts with his deceits.

As a child of God, your thoughts have already been programmed by the scriptures, and by modeling your life on it, you will find peace.

Here’s what the scriptures have said concerning your thoughts.

Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

Anything outside this already provided template will surely affect your peace. If it’s not pure don’t let it settle on the plate of your heart. If it’s not just, honest, and lovely, don’t let it stay; kick it out.

If it’s not true and in congruence with the principles of scriptures, if it’s not birthing praise, and if it’s not of a good report, then open wide your door and show it out.

It’s time to guard the gate of your heart by choosing what comes in and goes out.

The truth about your personality can only be found in the word of God and nowhere else.

You are who God says you are never forget!

He bought you with a price and His spirit lives within you!

It’s high time you reframe your thoughts!

It’s high time you speak the truth until it crushes every lie that’s stuck in your head!

Jesus needs a quiet heart to rest in and I hope you will save Him the search by making your heart His home.

But hey, He can only spend the night in your heart when your thought parlor is squeaky clean.

Herald, reframe your thoughts!

©IPA
Have a great week ahead!

Hey, it’s been a while since I showed up here, and I’ve missed you all. I’m happy to get back to my weekly postings too.

So let’s do this!

How has life been treating you lately?
I want to believe that you are doing just fine.

Today’s post is a reminder…

A reminder that God loves you and cares so much about you.

A reminder about how He’s tirelessly working things out for your good.

Hey, you know what, you haven’t seen it because He’s not done yet.

Yesterday, while studying my Bible, I learned from Jesus’ example how He prayed for every single thing while He was here on earth.

Here’s the catch: He didn’t just mumble words, neither did He pray out loud for the whole world to turn, have a look-see and be impressed. Rather, He prayed with focus; He went to a secret place, a recess void of every distraction, so He could connect with the Father.

He was real; He poured out His fears and his hurts, his whole heart was emptied before the Father He believed in the Father’s word.

Hey, I know a lot is going on today and your heart is so heavy, it feels like the weight of the world is on your shoulder.

You are dealing with so many uncertainties, difficulties, and unanswered prayers…

But like Jesus, can you pray again today?

Can you find a recess, a place, a space to pour out your heart to Him?

Tell Him everything!

He reads your sigh. He remembers you are frail, and if only you can look beyond your circumstances, you will find Him.

He’s standing close, waving at you.
He’s saying, my dear, come get a quick warm hug. Wouldn’t you want to go and get lost in His embrace?

Get real with Him today, He’s still standing and waiting for you to call.

I can imagine what it’s like but please just pray. Just believe and stand on His word.

He will not leave you comfortless!

Faithful is He who has called you and He will make it good!

Have a beautiful week ahead.
See you again, next Monday!

©IPA

Precious was done with her final senior secondary school exams and decided to take a break – a long, uninterrupted, self-indulging days of sleep and traveling to a new environment too. A trip to finding solace away from life’s unending turmoil she thought.

Her plans were well plotted out, bags packed, holiday destination fixed, and she couldn’t wait to find solace in her new environment. It felt like getting ready to be eloped and flying away with a newfound lover and hiding from the ugly, unfriendly glare of haters.

Precious couldn’t wait for dawn to blink its eyes open. She anticipated the gentle passing breeze, which would feel soft on her skin. She eagerly rolled up her blanket and hurried out of bed, but it was just 2:15 am. She dragged herself back to bed, annoyed. After hours of struggle, she managed to catch some sleep.

“Ermm…you may have to change your plans, my dear. Aunty Jane called asking if you could come over to help around the house.” Her mum said in a confident tone wearing a straight face.

It was morning, and that was all Precious’s mum could say when they met in the kitchen. But we planned this holiday together Precious thought, her face puzzled at the new development.

“Are you asking or informing me?” Precious asked, politely arching her left brow.

“I’m informing or better still declaring…” Her mum said, and this time she sent all her smiles away, and her face was buried in the dishes she was doing.
She was caught in mid-sentence when a call came in, and Precious was left with no response except for the slamming of the door.

She obeyed despite the change of plans and traveled to Aunty Jane’s place in Lokoja.

Precious merely survived the first few weeks of her stay. She wasn’t happy, and her racing thoughts always suggest that happiness could have been in the planned holiday location and not where she was.

But soon, Aunty Jane began doing things that Precious never imagined. Aunty Jane took her shopping, to the cinema; she wasn’t overworking and had ample time to rest. She also got a new phone and a personal computer which she never saw coming.

“Hey mum, thanks for the change of plans,” Precious said to her mum over the phone when she called after a few weeks of not calling.

This is divine she said in whispers.

---

So many times, your plans go awry and you beat yourself over it but there’s always a divine agenda, an invisible hand that leads you.

It’s high time you see beyond your plans, efforts, resources, and even your limitations. God’s ways are higher, my dear, and His thoughts are better. You just walk with him and soon you will see the beautiful plans He has for you unfolding.

©IPA_writes

fiction

.
.
.
.
Kindly share what you learned with me in the comment session and share with a friend too if this blessed you.

Have a great day today.

Under high heaven, I stood that fateful day and my skin burned from the effect of the scorching sun. I went to attend to something at Terminus and when I was done I headed back to school.

I stood beside the road and stopped several tricycles asking if any were going to P.site but none was going my way and after some time I felt frustrated.

“P.site, p.site.” I’d say… My hand gestured for them to stop.

The only response I got was the sound of their tricycle moving away at the speed of light and it greeted my frustrated face with a dust of farewell.

But soon, one was going my way and finally, my heart was delighted and my lips parted with a wide smile. We veered off and I got a savior from the scorching sun.

I understood while in transit that I didn’t need to get angry with the tricycle owners who didn’t stop to fetch me. They were simply not going my way.

Sometimes you get angry because it seems as if you’re the only way traveling on a particular road, experiencing some misfortunes, or maybe feeling like you are the unlucky one.

But hey, destinies cannot be shared. Your road is only peculiar to you and so are your experiences. Only those going your way can be of help else you may be led to the wrong destination.

Don’t get frustrated when you look back and see that no one else is coming. They won’t because that’s not their road. Those tricycle owners would have felt for me under the scorching sun but they couldn’t help me because we had different destinations in view.

So, look unto Jesus and ask Him to lead you as you travel on your road.

Your road is different.
Your journey is peculiar.
Your destination is unique.

The sun may be scorching today but wait awhile, your tricycle is coming to get you and will take you HOME.

©IPA_writes

Kindly share the lesson you learned in the comment session and share this with a friend if you have been blessed.

I am rooting for you.

Have a great week ahead.

Sending Love.

The boisterous wind blew nonstop, the tress moved in every direction it commanded and the flowers danced to the rhythm of its unheard tune.

I shivered in the cold holding tight to the umbrella in my hand while the slant strokes of the rain drenched my dress on both sides as I struggled to find my way to church that evening.

I made baby steps until I got to church.
Walking under the rain that evening was an adventure of some sort.

What a downpour, I thought…
It should have at least waited for me to reach I added. But then I realized I didn’t have control over the season.

Soon I arrived and I got water from a running tap to clean up some tiny dirt that hung on my shoe like a parasite who got a host for the night. I went in for the program and it was awesome.

---

After the program, I journeyed home, and while on the course my thoughts raced.
I realized that the cloud changed its color all at once and gave the rain. It never distributed a circular before pouring. My savior was that I had an umbrella.

I find that’s the same principle with life – It happens unannounced.

I could survive and walk through the rain because I had an umbrella(a covering, a shield, and an anchor of some sort).

Hey, I can see you’re set, prepared to do life big. But hold on for a second, do you have an umbrella? Do you have an anchor? What’s your shield when the windows start to close in? What anchor do you have when the billows roll?

Hey, the rain of life will fall unannounced, the wind will blow violently, and the windows and walls will close in. Before your journey gets so far on the way, please stop and ensure you have an umbrella.

It’s gonna get cold out there. It’s gonna get hot. it’s gonna get crazy and ugly. But when you have a shield and an anchor you’ll smile at the storm.

You may be wondering how and where to start from but look no further, there’s a man who shields everyone that hides in Him. He’ll be glad to anchor your journey.

Don’t look too far He’s here.
I recommend Jesus to you. He’s more than enough. He knows and holds tomorrow. Hurry now, He’s at the door and He’s got a word for your journey.

©IPA_writes

A woman called Jane checked into her new apartment. She thought it good to have it cleaned during the weekend so she could bring her luggage and then settle in permanently.

Jane was overwhelmingly happy when her husband got her this apartment and she couldn’t wait to experience Campus life. Jane came in with her beautiful girl, Ruth. Her husband Job was one of the few who said they couldn’t wait so Jane had to tie the knots before furthering her education more so that she was in her mid-twenties.

Jane’s joy was pegged on the line when some of the guys in the compound hurried out and divulged some bitter truths to her.
Jane was wide-eyed and hot tears streamed down her face. She discovered that the caretaker exploited her and collected 3 times the normal amount. Jane also learned that everything in the room was messed up and nothing was working.

“Hey, ma’am, I’m sorry to say but I don’t think you can survive her. You have a baby to take care of and our experiences in this apartment so far have been a living hell.” Mariam one of the ladies said, politely.

Jane was stunningly shocked and she was lost for words, she walked out of the apartment and never returned. She was in a phase of life where she couldn’t put up with all this stress and she also had a baby.

---

Do you know that Jane would have stayed regardless? Of course, life is not a bed of roses but she was in a phase where she could no longer do certain things.

Catering for her baby, facing the oddities that have almost become the norm in the apartment, like not having a constant power supply, no assured water supply, and also her most priced possession, her education. The other occupants were young adults and could put up with the stress, but Jane couldn’t.

Life’s in phases dear reader. You will reach a point when you can’t do all the things you do now. A stage where all the formidables have become rock solid and the items of behavior and structure of life are thoroughly formed and can’t be amended.

Your strength is not permanent.
Your beauty is not everlasting.
Your intellect will pass away.
Time and chance will happen to us all.

Make the best of where you are now before the clock ticks.

Always remember, life’s in PHASES!

©IPA_writes