The Last Lap of My Birthday Reflections

14. You can add value to someone's life without riches!
13. Your worth is not determined by how others treat you. Your worth remains constant regardless of your current circumstances.
12. It's going to be okay when you least expect it. Just know things are going to get better. Keep pushing till you reach that point where you can say, "I've given it my all."
11. How others treat you doesn't determine who you are; but your response or reaction does
10. Elderly folks & young children are lovely. Surround yourself with them once in a while.
9. God is able to do exceedingly abundantly ABOVE all you think and will use you mightily as you surrender to Him. (I'll share testimonies some other time)
8.Before you give your affections to outsiders (boyfriend, friends, etc.) : make sure your immediate family know and can testify that you love them.
7. You can do it IN Christ- that degree, that dream and whatever you put your mind on.
6. Be careful of what you do in front of children-they learn more by observing.
5. Be to someone what you wished others were to you! Upon reflection, I've wished to have someone to counsel me about career paths, spirituality and various aspects in my life and just be real. So, with God's grace I hope I can be that person to someone else.
4. Documentaries are a must!!!
3. There's no loss in supporting and celebrating others (so I'm learning)
2. You are not better---lest we forget!
1. Rather  lose everything that's tangible and temporal; rather than jeopardizing your relationship with God. Also detach from anyone or anything that lessens your commitment to God or cultivates love for sin.

Birthday Reflections

16. It's really worth the wait

Waiting isn't really a nice process. It barely is.You keep wondering about the 'when' and the 'how' it will finally happen. Sometimes waiting can make you distracted and end up missing out on enjoying the present. But waiting on the Lord makes all the difference in the world. It's really worth it. I've tested it & proven it!

1. Around mid-year, I was praying about something I really needed. I could see it would really make a big difference in my life & even concluded that it'd really help me towards future plans. I even made promises to God about how I'd do A,B, & C! How naive of me! After all, 'our promises are like ropes of sand'. Anyway I didn't get what I wanted.

But I got something way better. It's good for my growth as a person & it's given me a chance to pursue what I really love - writing. It's given me the opportunity to interact with different people too. I really enjoy what I do.

My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him. ~Psalm 62:5

 Wait upon God. Lean upon Him in entire dependence; for His everlasting arms will sustain you. He who says that not a sparrow falls to the ground without the notice of the heavenly Father will care for those who love and trust Him. Jesus knows every throb of pain, every throe of anguish and distress, and He will give His children grace to endure the afflictions that He permits to come upon them. His heart beats in sympathy with suffering humanity and those who suffer most have most of His pity and sympathy.~Published in Signs of the Times, February 28, 1906.

15. A NO from God is better than a 'yes' from the enemy

2. I desperately wanted to attend something. I was so confident that I'd have money then. But when the time  came, money wasn't there. I wasn't disappointed but I just wondered how everything would've turned out. Let's just say my heavenly Father who foresees things from afar was protecting me. How can I repay Him?

20. Choose friends wisely through prayer

I am thankful to God regarding the gift of friendship. I have come to value friendships immensely. But I realize the importance of choosing wisely because friends play such a huge role in one's life. I have come to realize that, if  a friendship leads me to a closer relationship to God and I do not find myself having to compromise principles, then it's good. I also appreciate honest friends who tell me when I err. I have such an one in Sharon's mom (whoop whoop). Haha!

I am also thankful for Thami's friendship. Each experience with her has made realize how much I need God. Man, I'm just thankful to have someone I can share my experiences with without feeling ashamed. She is the kind of a friend who literally takes your hand and tells you to not be afraid. And she does this with so much affection and genuineness. God bless her soul. I am thankful for every other friendship because it challenges me to become a better person.

19. Life makes sense when you serve others.

My best days are  the ones when I am a better daughter, sister, friend & server to those I come into contact with. Misery really comes when there's no purpose in my life.

18. Appreciate and Invest in your youth!!!

Man, I look back and feel like I haven't lived at all. Where did the time go?! I want my youth back. I think I spent a great portion of my youth self-conscious and closed in. I then started to think about marriage at 20 LOL. Why???? Now, I'm out here thinking, thank God you saved from getting married from such a young age. There's so much I still need to do. But my advice to those younger than me would be: to not be fearful and closed in such that you miss out on great opportunities. No need to rush. Just enjoy each stage because it does get real. And once in a while you wish you can be a baby with no cares.

17. Have a personal relationship with God

You really need one and it's awesome too. I've realized that sometimes we can be friends with those who have a deeper relationship with God and be deceived into having a sense of security; while we do not even know God. We each need to pursue God individually and we must never fall into the trap of comparing our own relationship with God with what others have with Him. OWN IT. BE OBSESSED WITH HIM. So worth it.

BIRTHDAY MONTH~GOODBYE 24!

I don't know what is it that makes me excited about birthdays.Particularly mine. But I really think they afford one an opportunity to reflect on life's journey and really get to appreciate life. But above all, you get to reflect on God's grace and really count your blessings. I really don't believe it helps to dwell on the past. I don't think it adds any value. You can just take what you can and learn from your mistakes.

I'm thankful that I've learnt a lot of invaluable lessons in the past 24 years of life.

24. Center your affections on God- let Him be your sole source of love, significance and everything else.

I learnt this the hard way. But I am really thankful for the experience because it made me realize that God wasn't my all. And unfortunately when He isn't, we are likely to lose ourselves.

And this doesn't need to happen in the context of a relationship only; it also happens in friendships. When you start getting your sense of meaning from friends you really only harm yourself. I remember I had this experience earlier this year. I was no longer on whatsApp and I was quite disappointed that my friends didn't make an effort to get my other contacts. And then when we reconnected it was a bit one-sided at times. I was a bit hurt. But as God reached out to me, I realized I had misplaced my affections. And in return, I was feeling disappointed. The whole experience led me to conclude that no love that mortal gives can satisfy the deepest longings and the void that fills us when we do not have a deep, intimate relationship with God.

23. IF you're a Christian: Do you love God Himself or His Things? I'll explain this when I can express it clearly.

23. Cherish your family!