The Blog

Striving for Perfection

Bible Study: Galatians 5:25

If we live by the Spirit [if the Spirit of God is our source of life, having already given our lives to Him], let us also walk by the Spirit [let the Spirit help us navigate our lives].

This essentially means let Him dictate every area of our lives no matter how 'unspiritual' the area may seem e.g. an upcoming performance discussion with your boss at work or a day out with your girlfriends.

Obviously He cannot do this without our co-operation, we need to invite Him to lead. Thus in doing anything, we must already be under the influence - not of alcohol but by His Spirit. This means we are exhibiting His fruits in everything we do.

Recall the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22) are:
*Love
*Joy

*Peace
*Patience
*Kindness
*Goodness
*Meekness
*Faithfulness
*Self Control

Being a Nigerian, in a crazy city like Lagos, it is very easy to throw all of these fruits out the window within minutes - either in traffic or at the bank! While I can perhaps 'try' with most of the other fruits on some days, personally I struggle with the 4 highlighted every single day.

But the scripture admonishes us not to dictate or navigate our lives and then invite the Spirit afterwards. It should be the other way round. So you can indeed commit that performance discussion or girls day out to the Holy Spirit and allow Him to lead. And if a challenge or trying situation may come in those instances, you will by His grace, live by His fruits.

The scriptures also tell us to be Christ-like [Phil 2:5] . This also means, since Jesus Christ is perfect, then you and I can also be perfect with the help of the Spirit. If we keep our mentality in the "no one is perfect" mindset, we will never strive to live by all those fruits listed above each day.

That being said, Christianity is not about beating yourself down when you fail or fall, God's grace is abundant and because Jesus Christ died on the cross, our sins are already forgiven, if we come to Him in true repentance, confess our sins and ask for forgiveness.

Listen to this awesome song when you get a chance: Background by Lecrae

Reflection: If your life were a stage play with you as the lead actor, however the only person in your audience was God, what would you do differently?

Burdens & Breaking Through With A Statement

Bible study: Exodus 12:32

Also take your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and be gone; and bless me also.”

Remember the ten plagues of Egypt? Well, the verse above is the conversation which took place between Pharoah and Moses when the Israelites were enslaved in Egypt and after what some might call the very last straw - the death of all the Egyptian firstborns (animals included!)

Now imagine a burden you have had for some time [slavery in Egypt] and the enemy [Pharoah] has refused to let you have your breakthrough [leaving Egypt]

Let's break up this verse in our own interpretation, the enemy after experiencing God's wrath is saying:

"Also take/do what you want, I agree to ALL your terms (including the ones I said no to before) and I release you to the other side but also pray for me [pray for spiritual enemies]"

The enemy is so uncomfortable that he demands you to have the breakthrough almost as though he/it is now praying for you. What a turn of events! You are no longer begging or yearning to crossover, you are now commanded to.

What this means to me is that God's word will indeed stand albeit in His time and through His method (His ways are not our ways).

I always wondered why He couldn't just release the Israelites on Day 1, did he really need to kill half a nation to do this? However God being God needed to show the magnitude of His glory to the Egyptians [unbelievers] and even to the Israelites [other believers waiting on Him for a similar burden].

God wants you and me to breakthrough but many times, when we experience delay in a particular thing, it is really to show His glory. It means He needs to make a bold statement with that testimony unless He is not God.

And then finally, the thing you thought had enslaved you, now becomes your own slave (asking you to bless/pray for it). That is God!

So hand your burdens over to Him and live joyfully today for soon your breakthrough will surely come, in a grandiose way!

Restoration

BibleStudy: Psalm 126

The lay-man/woman's interpretation:

Part 1 (Verses 1-3)

- When God brought back His people (you and me) to Zion i.e. where they should have been all along! It was like a dream, we LAUGHED from the inside out (shouts of laughter), there was no room for any other expression in our mouths, just laughter. We (His people) sang for JOY. Others (naysayers and unbelievers) looked and marveled that God has done great things for them (you and I) and through that they bore witness to the glory and authenticity of God.

Part 2 (Verses 4-6)
- Do it again oh Lord. This time not as a dream but in reality, restore my (our) good fortune to me (us). [Restore me to whom I was designed to be]
Like water emerging in a desert
Like spending my few pennies while crying but returning with wads and wads while laughing

Really like a dream but it can happen if I trust God.

Trusting God is like trusting Google to never delete my documents in the cloud. Why? Because I know Google, I use at least one of its resources everyday. Using at least one of God's resources (the bible) everyday would mean you and I would be so used to Him, we would know Him more and trust Him.

Knowing God cannot happen overnight, in two weeks or in a month. It is a CONSTANT walk, continual, gradual, daily, progressive.

Restoration comes when you accept Jesus and it is fully manifested when you follow Him.

The more I know God, the more I will be restored to whom I was meant to be. There is no formula.

Trust --> Restoration --> Joy

God bless!

Brand new magazine launches into Nigerian fashion space

Mannequin Magazine, the novel editorial fashion magazine for women has hit the streets of Lagos bringing with it an edge – one of style, fashion, entertainment and exposure.

Having a strong fashion background from working with reputable fashion giants, the likes of GAP, Topshop, Bank and Republic, in organizing fashion shows as well as its vast experience with stylists and photographers in the industry, Mannequin aims to set a different kind of standard in Nigerian fashion editorials.

With its slogan – ‘Dream It. Change It. Work It’, Mannequin believes in the empowerment and perfection of women with fashion being a major part. The magazine’s intention is to guide readers accordingly, updating them with the latest trends and news, offering inspiration and encouraging growth in almost all spheres of their lives. Mannequin’s belief is that fashion is not just in the clothes a woman wears but how they are worn, how she carries herself and how she lives.

Mannequin Magazine boasts of being Nigeria's first real fashion magazine and aims to be the ultimate African fashion bible. In order to do this, the magazine comes in a handy size, which fits right into a handbag and comes out monthly.

Having been present in the Nigerian online blogging and web space for over a year, the magazine’s website has a daily traffic of over 230,000 hits.

The first, “Nouveau” issue launched on October 1st, 2010 with Miss Nigeria, Cynthia Omorodion, Studio 53 Extra’s Eku Edewor and female rap artist Mo'Cheddah on the cover. These women are the new power figures in their various fields, modeling, fashion and television and music respectively. The official launch is billed to take place on the October 10, 2010, (10.10.10) at an exclusive venue in the high-brow area of Victoria Island, Lagos.

Mannequin Magazine costs N700 and is available throughout Lagos with plans of reaching other states in Nigeria within a few months. The web address is www.mannequin-magazine.com

Project Desiree III Countdown!!

This year's edition of Project Desiree, a major annual fund raising event has been scheduled for Friday, September 24 2010. The program which features comedy, play and fashion aims at raising N1.8m to expand a full scholarship program beyond the 8 kids currently sponsored. Event details below:

Venue: Coral Hall, Mothercare. Building 21b, Idowu Martins Street, VI

Time: 6pm – 8pm

Comedians: Senior Advocate of Comedy (SACO), AK 47, Firstbon

Fashion: James Johnson, Charles Anthony, 28 The Bag Company, El-karis Clothing Accessories, D’Lamila couture.

It will be an interactive, entertaining, fun-filled and meaningful event in impacting the lives of students under the Project Desiree programme.

RSVP: Ayo on 07035131187 and ayoolowo@yahoo.com

Don't Miss It!!

The BBG Store

Here are pictures from the official BBG opening. Join the group on facebook and visit the store at 1, Adeola Hopewell Street (Sanusi Fafunwa junction), Victoria Island. Lagos