Happy 2015!

KINGDOM STRATEGY THINKING-PLAYING THE LONG GAME

Matthew 6:19-24 | NIV says,
19 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.

20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 

21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

22 "The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. 

23 But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

24 "No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.


This passage prompts me to ask the following questions.
-Who is my master?
-Which master am I really serving?
-Self?
-The pride of life?
-My ..this, my...that?
-What exactly is in my heart?
-What am I dwelling on consciously or subconsciously?


This red letter word in Matthew 6:19-24 is saying, I have to choose who to serve, and that what I choose may not be serving God as I ought to. The one who created me, expects me to make choices that serve His purpose. My choices may find me in direct conflict with the will of God for me.
I am to store up eternal treasures that are imperishable as opposed to earthly, physical treasures that are subject to destruction . It is important what kind of treasures I store up, because that will determine where my heart will be focussed.
My 'eye' as a lamp to my body determines whether or not my perceptions and belief system will lead me to the inflowing of God's light, or the absence of it, which is darkness.
In meditating on this word, my thoughts are that God's light seeks to illuminate the darkness of my inner man, and this process is ushered in by the choices I make.
Therefore, I must be intentional and deliberate about what I seek, what I allow my eye to see. i.e the 'eyes' of my understanding. I must guard jealously, what I expose myself to in thought , word and deed, as these actions lead me along particular paths. Which paths am I on as evidenced by my thoughts , my words and my deeds?

Later on in this chapter, there is a powerfully compelling command.
33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Matthew 6:33 | NIV

This is an instruction that implores me to seek the things with a heavenly kingdom oriented mind. This may appear to be counter intuitive and may not come naturally, due to the power of the flesh and its desires. I need to self check so that I am not motivated by all sorts of internal pressures, promptings and things that are limited by the here and now. This is the kind of sight that will not usher in the light of God.
Seeking His kingdom first requires dying to self, this is an often painful process that demands

submission of my self will. 

God is saying that I should not be satisfied with plucking the low hanging fruit because I must invest in Kingdom currency which is His will for me, it pleases God, and is my purpose here on earth.

This is consistent with other words of Jesus which speak to His desire that we 'die to self' and that we live for the benefit of others. In summary, I am to yield myself to the things of God that He has predestined for me .
Then and only then will ' the other things be added unto me as well'


Micah 6:8 says
He has shown you, O mortal , what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

Prayer for myself and the readers of this blog:
May we listen to Our God the awesome teacher!
He shows, He speaks, He demonstrates, He encourages, He commands, He instructs.
As we move towards the close of the year, I pray that we will listen to what God is teaching us in this passage. May Kingdom oriented thinking be our portion in Jesus name!
Amen!

Jesus the reason for the season, Happy Christmas to all!

Abide under the shadow of His wings

Stay put, hang in there, dwell, spend time, just be.

Isaiah 61:1- PURPOSE

Time magazine person of the year- Vote for Doctors & nurses battling the Ebola virus

Dr Ameyo Adadevoh- professional to the core and a heroine

It is time for the editors at Time magazine to select who they will pick for their person of the year and Doctors who are battling the Ebola virus are listed as one of them and are currently in 5th position. Please vote for them in the link below especially in honour of the late Dr Ameyo Adadevoh.

http://time.com/3562179/time-person-of-the-year-poll/vote/45/

Thank you,

MOTIVES- a brief study based on Proverbs 16: 1-3 and Romans 10:13

Proverbs 16:1-3 | NIV

1 To humans belong the plans of the heart,but from the Lord comes the proper answer of the tongue. 2 All a person's ways seem pure to them,but motives are weighed by the Lord. 3 Commit to the Lord whatever you do,and he will establish your plans.

Romans 10:13 | NIV

13 for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

What these scriptures say to me is that as a human being, my decisions and motives are driven by flesh. I am told that the proper answer comes from the Lord. I hear that it is all about my perspective and I am blinkered by my own perceptions. However, God is more interested in my motives, and He weighs them ( judges them)

Motive:

I looked up what words the thesaurus classifies under the word motive, and it is quite instructional. These are a few that jumped out at me: 

-springs of action 

-wellsprings of action 

-reason  

-by purpose 

-keystone 

-the why and the wherefore

These words together powerfully express the root meaning of the word 'motive'.

They further expand my thoughts and understanding of how motives are activated in my life, and therefore how I can be more aware of them.

The why and wherefore that drive my wellsprings of action, are the reason and purpose for which I do , say, or think things. It is by purpose that I do , say and think these things and this is the keystone of my actions. 

Motive is strongly driven by thoughts, some of which are triggered by a complex combination of inherent attitudes and my self will. These thoughts can often be hidden from my conscious knowledge because our flesh man is tricky like that. At war within is always the flesh man masquerading as the real deal, and convincing us that we are justified in our thoughts and actions. Whereas the real deal is what God is saying about a particular situation. 

That is why it is so important to: ' Commit to the Lord whatever you do,and he will establish your plans' as in Proverbs 10:13

This our God has our backs covered , for he says : "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." In Romans 10:13

Prayer:

This morning, I commit my thoughts , ideas and motives into the Lord's hands, I call on the name of the Lord to save me from motives driven by flesh and ask that my mind be transformed with renewal and an opening of my eyes to my motives. I call on the Lord to save me.

Amen 

  

A lesson for all Nigerians

A friend sent me this compelling article below. Please share as you see fit.

                         

  

A LESSON FOR ALL NIGERIANS

Mubi, the biggest commercial town in Adamawa state, was thrown into chaos the day Boko Haram descended on them and the people found themselves running for their lives. The terrorists shot sporadically, killing a lot of people while those who could escape jumped into any available car to run to safety. Christians, Muslims, Igbos, Yorubas, Tivs, Hausas and any tribe or religion, jumped onto any vehicle that was headed outside the town. 

Soldiers scampered onto trucks with civilians, begging to be saved, hundreds of people who could not get a vehicle ran into the hills. In their frantic effort to stay alive, no one paid attention to anybody's religion or ethnicity before asking them for help or helping them to stay alive. 

It was a community of people, united by their desire to escape the common enemy that hunted them all without discrimination. Ethnicity and religion vanished, all they were left with was their humanity. Those climbing the hills stayed together, helping one another stay on their feet as they all tried to survive. 

The most interesting part of the narrative is that the Chief of Defense Staff, is from the same town of Mubi. It has been reported that few hours before the attack, helicopters flew in and evacuated his family members from the town. The chief of Defense staff by the way, is the most senior military officer in Nigeria and he controls the army, navy and air force. Before that sad day, someone from Mubi would have boasted that the Chief of Defense Staff is from their home town. But on the day that it mattered the most, he evacuated only his family members and abandoned everyone else to their fate. It means he had information of the impending attack and as the most senior military commander, he did not fly into the town to lead his men to battle to defend his community. He quietly saved only his family and left even the soldiers without an inspiring commander to motivate them to engage the terrorists and defend his community.

One lesson all Nigerians must learn from this story is that as a people, all we have is our neighbor. When you need some help at home, you knock on the door of your neighbor. The president, governor, senator or minister is not there to help you. Why then should you continue to fight your neighbor because of a man or woman who cares only about his own family? Our elites may deceive us about sharing the same religion or ethnicity with us, but time and again, they have proven that they do not care. We have been fools, killing one another on the basis of religion and ethnicity while they stay united across all the divides and plunder our wealth. 
The time has come for us to rise, educate one another and unite to fight our biggest common enemy. The politicians are our enemies and not the poor struggling men and women in our neighborhoods. 

What now will the people of Mubi boast about as the gain of having their son as the chief of Defense Staff? If you go to Otueke , there are many people who live in excruciating poverty! There is still a lot of poverty and suffering in the home towns of all our governors, ministers, parliamentarians and former presidents, while they and their families live in scandalous affluence. 

The minister of petroleum spent over 10 billion Naira on a private jet. That money can end the poverty of several communities in her state. Another Minister  bought two cars with 120 million Naira while there are people in her home town who can't afford 500 Naira to feed their family in a day. 

The time to throw away the sentiments is now! Support only a man or woman who has a just heart and will serve everyone and every community regardless of if they come from there or not. The moment anyone begins to talk to you about religion or ethnicity, reject him summarily! We need leaders who will unite us because our shared humanity is greater than any differences between us. And if someone does something wrong or fails in governance, do not support them simply because they're your own.

Run for a cure 2014- another year, another reason for gratitude!

Team Lara

I just felt a sense of gratitude in my heart as I was looking for ways to let heaven take note of how much I appreciate the opportunity to remain in His service. Every year, as I mark one more year of survival, I have feelings that run deep, some of which I cannot articulate or identify. I do not usually bother too much with those feelings, and choose to identify and acknowledge all the great things that have happened.This year, all my arrangements were so last minute and I was not sure I would be able to pull it off. However, with such a wonderful team the day came off so well.

Team Lara logo and slogan

Owanari Duke through CSDON ( Child Survival & Development Organisation of Nigeria) is the promoter of this event, and I am thankful to her and all that she does to bring awareness for childhood, breast and cervical cancer.
As usual, it was a fun filled event, starting with warm up exercises. Team Lara did their best to follow all the instructions being loudly issued over giant loud speakers. Our approximations of what we were asked to do made us all crack up uncontrollably.










In the last two years, I have supported this event by speaking and sharing my experience with breast cancer with the audience, and I posted my notes from last year on this blog. This year, I was an actual participant in the walk! I did about half of the walk, and was very pleased with myself.
The day was more special because it was our son's birthday and he is the designer of our 'Team Lara! ' logo.

Team Lara was created and put together literally in two days. T- shirts were purchased and printing was completed at about seven thirty the evening before the event. Some deliveries were made to 'Team Lara!' participants as late as midnight. We met up bright and early, all sixteen of us and just enjoyed each other's company. Lots of joking and laughing all round, and whipping up heady camaraderie that put us in the perfect spirits to do the walk.









On the walk, we came accross a phrase stencilled on a wall that triggered my thoughts on what I was doing exactly three years ago at the precise time, we walked past the sign. I remember, I was sending our son a birthday greeting from my hospital bed, having had surgery the day before. This year, everything is indeed so different.

Please remember to do regular self examinations , yes, men as well! Seek professional treatment if you find anything irregular. On that note, I will sign off and leave you with  some photos from the day. Cant you just catch the fun?

     

Our logo designer and The birthday boy!

Enter the NMDB Naija Mega Diva Babe !

When she walks in to a party, fashionably late, there is no mistaking her importance at the event. You see, there is a way those who matter and know what's what with the latest head tie ,lace and all the attendant paraphernalia, carry themselves. It is an unspoken club and a statement as bold as the preening alpha females in a colony of primates. Every detail must be just so, and as I have said to various friends who have responded to my phrase with great mirth 'the kpim must match the kpam' .

This is a sample of the non- stop entertainment being played out in our lives minute by minute and so effortlessly, that we don't often pay attention to it.
Everything about the outfit speaks volumes, and the body language is unmistakably the same as a peacock strutting and fanning out it's tail feathers to display a stunning array of beautiful colours. 
Head held high, chest out, back exaggeratedly arched to extend butt out. The simple harmonic motion of the posterior cheeks gently swaying, eyes staring down everyone else from a high vantage point. Sight lines taking a quick scan, cursory look around the place to search out the lie of the land.
The eye brows are arched and raised so high as to give the appearance of being astonished. Or that may just be the outcome of last week's visit to the beauty parlour and the threading,waxing or tweezer artistry of her favourite beautician. With every considered step, she appears to take in a slow, deep breath, whilst simultaneously curling up the edges of her nostrils-eyes looking sharply from side to side. This looks like mild disgust or disdain, but it isn't, and is directed at no one in particular. It is just part of the body language required to make an impact. It is delivered very subtly indeed and accompanied by eyes that are glazed over to be totally inscrutable. Mouth pursed with sucked in cheeks together with a very gentle tilting of the head and a sort of slow-mo wagging of the chin, all accentuated and amped up to deliver 'the message'.

You better notice me jor , I AM all that!

If any one deigns to enter the shield and tries to offer a warm greeting within touching distance, God help them! And if they try to shake hands! A blunt 'How-wiryou' erupts! This curt and crisply delivered answer together with mouth movements that mirror that which you would get if you have been sucking lemons for a week. Her hand is extended for the briefest moment and rapidly withdrawn to resume it's particular place in one of her set body arrays. From the jewelry to the shoes and bag not to talk of the nail extensions, the aura and subliminal impressions push forth..
'Can't you see that I am among the glittering array of inter planetary stars?
I believe this is the very same spirit that inspired 'Lagbaja' to sing 'Oni gele yi skentele,.... oni gele yi skontolo' in which all accolades are directed at the head tie (gele) as a dazzling expression of pizzaz and elegance.

Once her high stepping Prada, Jimmy Choo or whatever designer clad feet set forth, with encrusted designs to match the elegant clutch, a series of automated events is set in motion. First of all the attendant paparazzi will leap forward to take the winning photos that will ensure bumper sales of their glossy magazines. Then the gorgeously dressed ushers of the event in order to show their recognition of Naija Mega Diva Babe (NMDB) will swoop in en mass and feign earnest servitude and show her to her seat.

The greeting-:
There will be lots of teeth on display, kowtowing, twisting, arms swung coyly backwards, lots of titles and accolades preferred forth as well. Fanning the blazing flames of her self aggrandizement to a roaring flame that consumes lesser mortals in it's path. Shamelessly ingratiating, the event ushers, pilot her to her seat and silence falls as she is seated.
Yes! The party is a success already, her place in the hierarchy of NMDB's is secure again as others outside the shield look on with the combined power of admiration, resentment and disgust.

Lara Cookey
Fly on the wall
At one high profile event in Lagos

Nigeria rising

Nigeria:-can we still save her ?

Through the Valley of the Shadow of Death…Dr. Ada Igonoh survived Ebola – This is her Story

http://www.bellanaija.com/2014/09/15/must-read-through-the-valley-of-the-shadow-of-death-dr-ada-igonoh-survived-ebola-this-is-her-story/

Courtesy of Bella Naija. Here is the link to the story of a junior colleague of Dr Adadevoh who survived the Ebola virus. It is quite long, but worth a read.

At the evening of tributes for Dr. Ameyo Adadevoh

At the evening of tributes for Dr. Ameyo Adadevoh, I looked around the room packed to capacity, and the various people who had come to honour her as I did. The tributes were drawn  from various constituencies; childhood friends, university friends, family members and professional colleagues. There was an air of expectancy. The sum total of what everyone said was the same; that Ameyo was consistent through her whole life in displaying the strength of character that was evident in her handling the Ebola index case . 

The following morning, in my devotion I read two scriptures which brought Ameyo to mind, in the context of how her life has been a true example of the messages contained in them. 

(1) John 15:16 | NIV
16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.
(2) Genesis 1:28 NLT
Then God blessed them and said, "Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground."

John15:16 says to me that God chose Ameyo first and that His choice is centred on purpose. The purpose is to bear fruit. An expression of the divine mandate given to Adam and Eve at the origin of human history, and also He said in Genesis 1:28 ' be fruitful and multiply'

Fruitfulness
What is the evidence of fruitfulness? There is scripture that says 'by their fruits you will know them'. That is, whatever fruits we bear will be self evident.

It takes time for fruit to grow and ripen. Before fruit comes, there has been a process leading up to this. In the first place, a seed is sown. The seed goes into the ground and dies before the new life bursts forth from it in the form of a seedling. The seedling goes through many growth stages before it reaches maturity as a bush or a tree. Many unseen things go on while the seed is underground, before it's shoots come up through the soil.
In the same way, God uses the seed of our life's choices in an unseen manner until an appointed time when our character shows through, and exactly what kind of plant we are becomes evident. Once the shoot comes through, the new plant must undergo a lot of necessary stages in order to grow into a healthy tree. There will be dew and rain, sometimes with storms and flood, there will be the sun, sometimes with scorching heat, there will be cool breezes, and sometimes punishing strong winds. And then there is the mystical element of life itself which God had already put in the seed, which carries the DNA of the particular plant.
All these elemental effects are absolutely necessary for a plant to survive and grow into a strong tree. In the same way, the vicissitudes of our lives train us up in character and strength so that we will grow into a tree who's DNA is the character of God. That is what I believe God is about when we read about man being created in His own image.

Once the tree is established with firm roots in the soil, the leaves multiply and in due season it yields fruit. The identification of the tree is made clear from both the fruit, the leaves, and the configuration of the stem and branches. The characteristics of these can be related to the environment in which the tree is planted. Some trees have deep tap roots, some a shallow but widespread root system, while some have aerial roots and so on. Some plants survive through the most hostile environments, and in the same way some human beings pull through in a victorious , fruitful manner despite the odds stacked against them. This is the core evidence of fruitfulness. In the eye of adversity, the mettle of each of us is tested and the hard knocks of life become opportunities to display the power of Godly character.

When the news of the Ebola outbreak in Nigeria first hit our ears, I am sure many people were praying that the tide of destruction that it brings will be stopped. That it will be removed from our environment. We had no idea that our prayers aligned with God's will and purpose for Ameyo's life, and that the answer to that prayer would bring about the clear evidence of the 'fruit' of her life and a fulfilment of it. Her mandate as a Christian which I've extracted from Genesis1:28, was to :
- be fruitful
- to multiply
- to have dominion
- to be a good steward

These traits are clearly seen in full measure in her life, and that is why I rejoice for her life, and join millions of people who honour and celebrate her. There is no doubt whatsoever that she is with The Lord. These are the things that I have learnt from Ameyo's life.

Ameyo's fruitfulness:
-Kindness
-Sacrificial giving
-Generosity
-Bringing her sparkle to any where she is

Ameyo multiplied:
- healing to so many
- goodwill
- gave of herself personally and professionally

Ameyo had dominion:
- excellence in academics and medical practice
- keeping firmly to her resolve not to allow the index case to leave her charge
- positive influence in her sphere

Ameyo was a good steward:
- she used her talent and skill sets to serve others
Her family
Her friends
Her profession
Her nation

Bright is the light of Ameyo's life. She has borne fruit that will last for years to come. She is truly legendary and a beacon of light in her generation, and definitely a heroine.

10 steps to God centred living

Philippians 1:6 

Philippians 4:8 
Philippians 4:13 
Romans 12:2 

Above are some scriptures that I studied and drew some ideas and important directions from. I ended up with a ten point list 

Furthermore I believe they speak to the truth about who we can be in Christ Jesus. Essentially that we are blue printed for flight, and not earth bound to 'circumstances' and how we can use inherent tools to work out our purpose. We are each unique; with peculiar characteristics that align with what we are here on earth to be and do.

And here is the ten point power list


1. Godly Potential: Ability to access what you need to move forward.
2. Mind of Christ
3. Power of the holy spirit.
4.Strengths and talents that need to be appropriately applied e.g
4.1 Lateral thinking
4.2 Creativity
4.3 Analytical and Critical thinking
4.4 Self awareness
5. Application of results of analysis ie Action oriented
6. Promptness and timeliness in taking action
7. Risk taking
8. Trancendence, ie appreciation of beauty, expression of gratitude, ability of hope, capacity for joy.
9. Faith- KNOWING that the battle is the Lord's and the outcome is always WINNING. Trusting God to do his part while you do yours
10. (PPL) Patience, Perseverance, and Long suffering aka 'grace to endure'

This list is not exhaustive, do you have any further ideas that you would like to share?

May the power of His word be revealed to you in Jesus name.

Comfort from heaven

Like a warm blanket on a cold morning
Is comfort from heaven
Sent through those around
The grieving soul
Their words, their deeds
Speak the Father's heart
Which sees and knows all
Gratitude for lives
Now departed here
Being in a place of shadow
Grief overtaken and making sad
The spirit down
Questions asked with no answer coming
Sense of loss and despondency
Until the healing comes
From heaven, like a warm blanket

Devastating psychological effects in our society

I write these opinions which have been drawn from observing people, life and myself. Some are ideas that I have mulled over for many years, and share now. My long standing ideas have been brought to the fore because of the recent outbreak of Ebola in Nigeria. 

Apart from the obvious devastating effects of the Ebola virus on humankind, I wonder if there is an unseen upsurge in anxiety issues expressed in OCD ( Obsessive Compulsive Disorder). This may become a problem for these individuals in the long term. Everything we must do to protect ourselves and contain this deadly virus may corroborate existing deep rooted feelings of anxiety. Perhaps we may have to look at strategies to provide psychological support especially, for people dealing with this sometimes debilitating mental health state.

As I watched the news and read about the Ebola virus and it's deadly effects, I also thought about emotional and psychological traumas that may be up scaled as well. I think this not  just to the families of victims, but the fact that a psyche of fear on new levels has been unleashed into our society. Shouldn't we look at psychological support in our communities in the same way flu shots are recommended in certain seasons , and also anti histamines in hay fever season. In Nigeria, we already live with daily uncertainty with sporadic power and water supply, Boko Haram bombings, kidnaping and related crimes, armed robbery, stress inducing traffic congestion, corruption and inequity. The upshot of this list of pressures is that people react in various ways to protect themselves, and to bring comforting solutions to the deep rooted feelings of fear that this high octane environment generates. 

The attendant 'unseen' mental health issues can become compounded because they are not acknowledged, and therefore not recognised. It is particularly difficult to unearth the root cause of these stresses and traumas in Nigerian Christiandom, because we have popular 'Christianese' parlance that masks what is happening. While I am a big advocate of ' faking it until you make it' , I still think there should be room for the mental space required to take a hard look at how people are feeling and acknowledging what is actually going on. A friend who was suffering from a blinding migraine declared ' ori'nfo ota mi' which literally means ' my enemy has a headache' in Yoruba . Similar 'Naija Christianese'  brought about a bizzare situation in which a subordinate calls and says ' sorry I won't be at work today because I am strong'. What would be wrong with saying ' I am down with malaria and I am believing God for healing, I am on malaria therapy, and I pray that it works as it is designed to'. What would be wrong with that?

There is so much stigma attached to the idea of mental health problems in our culture, and this stigmatisation further compounds whatever problems an individual may have. When anyone declares they want to get married, the traditional thing is to ' go and find out about the family' , which is a euphemism for 'check if there is madness in the family'. The truth is, every family has someone who has one mental health challenge or other, the question is; to what degree.
There is almost no other ailment affecting mankind that is rampantly left untreated like mental illness.
I often think of mental health issues as a haemorrhaging of a healthy human being. If any individual was heamouraging from a wound, the natural reaction would be to rush them to get treatment and stop the bleeding. There would be no negative attention attached to that. However, mental illness is not treated with the same seriousness or immediacy. It is a serious issue in which the individual's essence is actually being eroded until they are incapacitated by the parts of themselves that have now become distorted, just like one would be incapacitated with reduced blood content from a haemorrhaging wound. The remnant person with untreated mental illness is a shadow of what they could be, and inter connections and bonds with others may become strained or difficult, or even cut off. To me, a psychological trauma can be a transient episode or event which can lead to mental illness if not addressed appropriately.

Everyone has experienced a cold or a cough, or some other common ailment like a headache at sometime in their lives. We accept that these are part of our lives and take cold remedies, cough mixtures and analgesics accordingly. Unfortunately, the same treatment is not given to mental illness or psychological trauma which ails every individual in some measure at some point in their lives. Some people get help and overcome it, while some others find ways through their belief system for example to combat it, a small percentage seek professional help. Then there are those who do not even know that they have a small touch of mental illness, which may start out mild, but left untreated, could become chronic, and ultimately lead to other problems. Sometimes, there is no obvious ill effect of this challenge, but I wager something is lying dormant in the deepest recesses of the mind. There are so many walking wounded! The results of hidden psychological traumas are thus played out in behaviours in which people 'act up' or display attitudes that profoundly upset others, especially their nearest and dearest. People carry on suffering in silence, and a litany of broken relationships, dreams and aspirations result.
Perhaps someone will develop a mental health check app, just like a blood pressure check device.

For me, my medicine against anxiety has been a combination of ;
-Recognition of my own attitudes
-Recognition of triggers
-Support from family and friends
-Dependence on the word of God.

In fact, I believe my support network have been enabled by God himself to deliver aspects of healing exactly as I need them. God works through people and circumstances around us to deliver His heart to His children. The bible is replete with phrases with words like 'do not be afraid' and ' do not be anxious' . I researched this and there are various claims about the number of times these phrases and related ones occur. There is a popular message making its rounds in social media which says 365 times; as in one for each day of the year. There are all sorts of statements which just point to the fact that it is a repeated theme.

  The important thing to note is that our creator knew how his creation would respond to life's pressures, and how those trigger inherent behaviours He himself sent us to this earth carrying. I have come to realise that the potent mix of life's pressures and my inherent attitudes and behaviours are meant to create a hunger to depend on God. It is a constant battle to keep coming back to the Father for strength, comfort, for healing, to be taught, or rebuked, and ultimately to calm my spirit down and embrace whatever directions He will have me obey. I believe emotions are God given , not just for self expression, but as a warning system for mental health. 

So my prayer today is for everyone suffering whether mildly, or acutely from anxiety or depression or mental health challenges triggered by fear of any kind. That they will first of all acknowledge that all is not well, that they will recognise their triggers, that they will become so self aware that their underlying psychological attitudes are revealed. I pray that if need be, they will immediately get professional help. I pray Romans 12:2 becomes a living reality. 
I also pray for those who have sudden traumatic events thrust on them, like those in war torn areas and recently , the families of Ebola victims. I pray for grace to endure this very difficult time. 
Amen

Tributes for Dr. Ameyo Adadevoh- Nigeria's heroine of our time

I give God praise and thanks for Ameyo. Ameyo was pint-sized but had a huge heart. Her bubbly, irrepressible personality was larger than life. The dimples, the big laughter and the rapid fire speech brought a lot of levity and hilarity to our medical school days. Ameyo was that rare friend that for 40 years, regardless of the miles that separated us and the sometimes infrequent contact, there wasn't a time I called with a need that she could meet that she didn't help out and give it her all. Her huge heart, leadership and commitment to her profession was reflected in her handling of the index Ebola case and may have saved millions of lives, not just in Nigeria but throughout the world. When thoughts of having lost her threaten to overwhelm, I focus on the indisputable fact that her life counted and made a difference for an untold number of people. I hope that it also brings some comfort to her family, friends and colleagues. My prayer is that her actions and her death will make for lasting change in the health system and her sacrifice will bring out the very best that is in all of us. 

There are some things we will never get answers for on this side of eternity.....I will miss you dreadfully, dear friend.

Toju Chike- Obi

Oh Lord our God how excellent is Your Name in all the earth. With eyes full of tears for the loss of one I never got to know personally,  I am grateful to you for the privilege of knowing of Dr Adadevoh and for her selfless life to be an inspiration to me and to us all. We are also comforted that she is in peace everlasting with You for ever. I look forward to the time we would meet. RIP. Amen
Lola Sijuwade

May her soul rest in peace and may the good Lord comfort all especially her family and friends and colleagues IJMN

Mimi Morohundiya

We thank God for the life of Ameyo. We thank the Lord for the spirit of excellence she showed in being instrumental in curtailing the spread of the disease. I thank God for the gift of knowing her as a wonderful doctor and person. May God welcome her into His bosom and marvelous light. Rest in peace Ameyo.
Dupe Irele

In all situations we are called to give thanks so we must thank God for Ameyo's life. She was my classmate in both my primary and secondary schools and I have therefore known her for nearly fifty years. She was so clever in school, always on top of her class. Smart, witty and always with a smile. We gave her many nicknames as she was always ready to play with anyone, joke with anyone and in general her company was always a lot of fun. We lost touch after secondary school but in recent years I started seeing her once in a while and she remained as cheerful as ever. Her reputation was great and her patients always spoke highly of her. It was gratifying to see that she had bought her innate empathy and optimism to bear in her profession. She has done her bit which is why we are called to do. She touched lives and ultimately gave her own life. She is a role model and a heroine of our times. Most of all she knew and loved The Lord. May she rest in peace.
Folasade Adefisayo

Very sad indeed. RIP. May God comfort her family and loved ones and bring them peace, amen.
Morenike Adebusuyi

May Ameyo's legacy and memory be blessed. Like a lamb led to the slaughter she laid down her life. A consummate professional to the end. surely heaven stood up to welcome her. may God comfort her family and all who knew and loved her. Amen
Abby Olufeyimi

Ameyo fought a good fight and laid down her life that many may live. Heaven WON!
Alero Ayida Otobo

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for a friend. Goodbye Dr Adadevoh. An honourable soldier struck down in the line of duty.
Minjiba Cookey

Felt so sad about Dr. Adadevoh though I didn't know her. Scriptural parallels...the sacrifice of one saved many.....
But God knows best.. Who knows maybe this was her own for such a time as this , and if I perish I perish.
Taba Peterside

A great loss to Nigeria and to the health sector. Dr Adadevoh was a couple of years my senior in school and her sis Ama my classmate. When my dearest dad suddenly fell ill and was admitted in first consultant she was one of the last people with him when he drew his last breath. She then had the unenviable job of breaking the news to us which she did so well and with great compassion and really helped at the initial stage . Passionate and caring till the end. She would have been received with great fanfare In heaven ! 

Bolaji Osime 

AN ILLUSTRIOUS FAMILY OF NIGERIAN HEROES

The Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) struck at the heart of Nigeria, when Dr. Ameyo Stella Adadevoh, a consultant physician, and member of the illustrious Kwaku Adadevoh/Herbert Macaulay/Bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowder lineage succumbed to the scourge of the disease.
Dr. Adadevoh contracted the virus from the Liberian, Mr. Patrick Sawyer, who imported the disease into Nigeria.
Sources close to Dr. Adadevoh, 58, said she succumbed to the disease yesterday evening, having been in a coma for some days.
Dr. Adadevoh, who is survived by one son, had led the medical team at First Consultants Medical Centre, a Lagos-based hospital, which treated Sawyer on his arrival in Lagos.
As the head of operations at First Consultants, Dr. Adadevoh was praised for being the first to detect that Sawyer, who was admitted at First Consultants for five days before his death, was not being truthful when he denied that he was infected with the Ebola virus.
After he had tested negative for malaria and other diseases, she was said to have ordered that his blood be tested for Ebola. It was the positive result of the test that enabled the hospital to contact the Lagos State health authorities about the first Ebola patient in the country.
Her death brings to five, including the index case Sawyer, the total number of persons who have succumbed to the scourge of the disease in Nigeria.
Among those who have passed on, Dr. Adedavoh is the first doctor and the fourth Nigerian to have died from the virus. Others who died before her comprised two nurses and the ECOWAS protocol officer, Jatto Abdulqudir, who picked up an already infected Sawyer from the Murtala Muhammad International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.
However, five others who contracted the disease from Sawyer have been discharged while two others remain in the isolation ward at the Infectious Disease Hospital, Yaba, Lagos.
Prior to Dr. Adadevoh's death, her family and colleagues had held a press briefing in Lagos appealing to the US government to intervene to keep her from dying.
They felt that the medical care she was getting in the isolation ward was insufficient and had called on the US government to send the ZMapp trial drug to save her life.
Dr. Adadevoh comes from an illustrious family of physicians, politicians, statesmen and clerics.
Her father, the late Dr. Babatunde Kwaku Adadevoh, was a renowned Harvard University-trained physician and former vice-chancellor of the University of Lagos, while her grandmother was the daughter of Sir Herbert Samuel Macaulay, a foremost politician and founder of Nigerian nationalism in the early 1940s.
Macaulay himself was the grandson of Bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowther, who was ordained the first African Bishop of the Anglican Church in Nigeria in 1864, making Dr. Ameyo Adadevoh, his great-great-great-grand daughter.
The Adadevoh family can trace their roots to the Creoles in Sierra Leone, Ghana and South-west Nigeria.

That we may not forget - Stella Adadevoh and Justina EjelonuYNaija l The Internet Newspaper for Young Nigerians

This is a beautiful article which a friend sent to me, which I am posting a link to for others to read.

Read on:

http://ynaija.com/site/may-forget-stella-adadevoh-justina-ejelonu/ 

I welcome tributes to this great heroine of our nation on this blog

Bright is the light of Ameyo's life

Bright is the light of Ameyo's life
We give God glory
For the beauty of her legacy
She has walked the path
Our Saviour did
Saving countless lives
Laying down her own
We seek comfort
We are cut at heart
We are confused and sad
And so Ameyo has finished her race
I am so grateful to have known her
To have been the recipient of her care
Boldly she stood for what is right
An angel of light assigned to Nigeria
A demonstration of the Father's might

Sword of the spirit prayers for Dr. Adadevoh & others

(1) Ephesians 6:10-17 | NIV

10 ...... we are standing strong in you Lord and in your mighty power. 11 We put on the full armor of God today,  we take our stand against the devil's schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore we put on the full armor of God, so that as this day of evil Ebola has come, we are able to stand our ground, and after we have done everything, to stand. 14 We stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around our waist,
( the truth is that at the name of Jesus Ebola shall bow)
with the breastplate of righteousness in place,
( we are the righteousness of Christ Jesus in God)
15 and with our feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, we take up the shield of faith, with which we can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
( by faith we declare that Dr Ameyo Adadevoh and all those in quarantine are saved from this deadly pestilence)
17 We take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
( because of our confidence in our God and our salvation in Christ Jesus, we use these words to pray as a sword. We cut down and totally route the enemy with these powerful words of God, knowing that they will not return void but accomplish that for which they have been spoken)
Amen

(2)1 Corinthians 15:58 | NIV

58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, we stand firm. We shall not let anything move us. We give ourselves fully to this work of The Lord;( to stand in the gap and pray) because we know that our labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Amen

(3)Psalms 91:1-16 | NIV

911 We who are standing in the gap dwell in the shelter of the Most High and we declare rest in the shadow of the Almighty for all Ebola victims . We say " Lord you are our refuge and our fortress, our God, in whom we trust." 3 Surely The Lord will save Dr Ameyo Adadevoh and others from the fowler's snare and from the deadly Ebola pestilence.4 He will cover them with his feathers,and under his wings they will find refuge;his faithfulness will be their shield and rampart.5 ( as The Lord strengthens them and their families, and banishes fear in their hearts) They will not fear the terror of night,nor the arrow that flies by day,6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,nor the plague that destroys at midday.7

Our Father, Lord, healer and great provider, command your angels concerning these for whom we pray and guard them in all their ways;12 lift them up in your hands Lord ,so that they will not strike ther feet against a stone( by no means come to any harm) 13 though they face the ravaging effects of this deadly virus, it will be as though they have tread on the lion and the cobra; that they will trample the great lion and the serpent. BUT 14 "Because he loves me," says the Lord, "I will rescue him;I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.15 He will call on me, and I will answer him;I will be with him in trouble,I will deliver him and honor him.16 With long life I will satisfy him.

With long life The Lord will satisfy Ameyo Adadevoh and others in Jesus mighty name.

MM1 blues- Arrival in Naija July 2014

Our chaotic exit out of MM1 ( Muritala Mohammed Airport, Lagos, Nigeria) immediately erased every stored notion of rest and calm that was acquired on our trip away. Being thrown together with our compatriots; NigerIans , male, female and children of all shapes and sizes and from a variety of ethnic groups, is a feat not meant for the feint hearted. Everyone was talking/shouting at the top of their lungs. Some were complaining and some were giving instructions, while some were patently irritated by having run away trolleys bump them in the ankles and calves.
A man in a luminous grey suit, which was so bright and reflective that it could pass as silver had on a chocolate coloured polo t shirt, and the shade of brown of his shoes were almost exactly the same shade. He had bold tribal marks on his cheeks and proffered his unsolicited opinions on how things could have been better organised. I could almost see sparks flying off his metallic suit, that is how much he churned out his irritation into the atmosphere.

We were just grateful that it was not raining because the airport management of MM1 are plastic, waterproof people from another galaxy, so they cannot see any reason to get passengers to their cars via covered walkways. We were just thrust into the open and more or less left to fend for ourselves in order to reach the buses provided to ferry us to the car park!
Had it been raining, I shudder to think how things would have gone. It had rained earlier in the day, and this accounted for the whipped chocolate cream that I had to step into. I acquired a muddy hem on my maxi dress like a tribal right of passage. There was just no way of hoisting the garment and manoeuvring three different kinds of hand luggage through the teeming crowd at the same time.
Interspersed in the melee were touts holding up wads of crisp one thousand Naira notes, offering to sell foreign exchange or just break down notes into smaller denominations. They had the same effect as blue bottle flies buzzing around my ears. My first instinct was to reach for a fly swatter. Both official and 'kabu-kabu' drivers bent on attracting passengers to hire their vehicles tried to intercept our egress by running alongside or stepping in front of us to offer their servIces. If the money changers were flies, these were annoying pests of another kind which I can't quite find the adequate description for.

Soon, it was all over and we were in our car, and speedily being transported home. My head was reeling, I was utterly exhausted and I haven't been more pleased to cross the threshold into my home in a long time. For now, all is well and I can quickly forget the MM1 experience. That is; until the next time I travel out and return. 

But when will this avoidable chaos end?

Ebola prayer

2 Timothy 3:16-17 OBEDIENCE & THE GOD BREATHED WORD

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 

In order to serve my purpose on earth, I must be equipped to do it. 

In order to be equipped I must obey the word of God.

Obeying the God breathed word takes me to a place where I am taught. 

My teaching includes:

-rebuking bad behaviour

-correcting wrong decisions 

....so that I am empowered to do good works full on.

This scripture inspired me to draw the image below. In my mind I saw a 'pressure can' , heated by the God breathed word of God. The elements are heated and stressed (our life's struggles) and ultimately purified. The emerging strong element is the smiley face, all set up and empowered to do good works.

Prayer: May you be empowered by the word to do good works as you embrace and learn from your training, teaching and rebukes. No matter what your challenges are, I pray that you push through believing in your heart that the process is God ordained for your training and refinement. More grace to you!

Amen

Gratitude , Grace , Faith

I kicked off celebratIons for my birthday by being  in a place of deep gratitude for another year of life, by his grace. I was reflecting on so many things, mostly the power of grace that I have been privileged to receive. In my reflections I read three pieces of writing from my journals which centred on grace and gratitude. They were written at different times over the last year and a half, and come together for me now as one whole thing that I embrace.

01 January 2013
SAVED BY HIS GRACE
Saved by His grace
Steeped in His love
My only answer
Is that its from heaven above
Grateful beyond measure
For innumerable gifts
For privileges
Seen and unseen
What an amazing God!
What a Saviour!
I bend low my knee
My heart cries out
Why me! Why me!
And he answers...
Because I love you
Because I honour my word
Because I want you to be
An example of this love
Endless and free
From eternity to eternity
I have loved mankind
Be a temple for me
Be the bible people see
Be the catalyst for someone to take courage
Be bold, be different
Showcase my creativity
Let me be me

GRATEFUL IN LAGOS 29 August 2013

G - Gratitude
R - Reverence
A - Adoration
T - Thanksgiving
E - Eternal glory
F - Fellowship
U - Unending love
L - Loyalty

I am grateful Lord, because of who you are, your patience and love for me. I am grateful for the truth you have revealed to me about myself, and my behaviour that  makes me struggle within sometimes. I am sorry for my stubbornness , for my rebellion and going my own way, and doing things in my own strength.
Forgive me Lord. Have mercy on me for I am a very silly girl at times.

This is why I am so grateful, because you always rescue me, and I am so happy that there is room for forgiveness from you. That there is fullness of joy in your presence.  
Help me Lord to forgive myself.
Be glorified in my life Lord. I am grateful for my life, and what you are doing in it, and what you will have me do.
I bless your name and reverence you. In Jesus mighty name.  

Amen!   

SAVED BY GRACE 12/07/2014

Every human being has faults that are inherent that can be magnified or subdued by the environment in which they grow up and have been nurtured. We are each socialised in peculiar ways triggered by the innate forces within until we find ourselves in a new environment with different forces, reach an age of reason, or come to realisations. Realisations and recognition are the bedrock of self awareness. There are two kinds of self awareness- 

one which is completely in the natural-governed by self will

and 

another which is in the spiritual-governed by God's will. 

They can sometimes be in conflict because our life's experience may not corroborate our Christ given identity, and therefore how God sees us. This is where FAITH comes in.

Standing on our belief system is a powerful tool which keeps us focussed on where we are going and centred on the truth about who we are in God's eyes. To ignore this truth is to diminish GRACE. We have free access to this grace through the word of God which is available for us to eat of.

Yes I am flawed. Yes I have made mistakes and taken decisions that I know are wrong. Yes I have said a word that has wounded someone. Yes I have failed to take many opportunities that came my way. However, I know that , I know that,  I know that my spirit man must be in the driving seat.

I am grateful for grace. I am grateful that I always have new choices. That I am transformed by the renewal of my mind. It is grace that has made that provision for me. I must keep that uppermost in my mind. My mind is the most powerful weapon with which I can hold on to the truth in His word regardless of times, seasons, circumstances or what others say about me. In Christ, I am a work in progress, but also, I am:
-More than a conqueror
- Able to do all things through Christ who strengthens me
-able to move out of darkness into His marvellous light.