Our journey may seem tedious when we attempt to map it all out in one day, and we start to doubt, but to doubt is not a sin, but living in doubt will send a soul down a never ending vortex that sucks out it's hope and vitality; However when we tune into our inner sensors and take each 'day' full on as it comes the veil is taken away. We then can fight, prevail, then rest, to fight yet again, another day's battle; being assured daily that WE WILL PREVAIL from one degree of glory to another!

 

◄ 2 Corinthians 3:16-18 ►
Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.
Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

"I am She"...

My first foray into the spoken word arena in honor of a beautiful woman... Mettabel reading "I am She"...

http://www.startribune.com/entertainment/blogs/204046821.html

Mettabel. The native of Nigeria said that Matthews helped her tune her inner voice. After singing a cappella in Yoruba, she offered the powerful spoken-word “I Am She.” The Twin Cities needs to hear more from this internal medicine physician who is an author and poet in her spare time.

Jon Bream, Star Tribune.
Reporter | Pop Music

L’image est tout…

'They' say 'Image' is everything and they may be right, but I say Image has led many a woman into a fatal trap, by falling for a pretty face, and made many a man pass up a great woman.

Image has deceived a girl into disdaining the man of her dreams because at first sight, he looked more like a nightmare than a dream.

It was all good By Mettabel Okulaja

In the beginning You created,

And it was all good.

Saw it through to the end -

You did not give up. 

Dead fly in the apothecary,

Stinking savor in Eden sweet,

But you had drawn another plan,

Determined to restore,

You did not give up. 

The waters salted for the healing of the nations,

For man would not be discarded,

Bound that we all be saved,

Constrained by love, 

You did not give up. 

 Prophets came, sons were born;

For one purpose, though yet to be unveiled,

Pressing on, goal in sight

What say ye?

Matthew 16:13-17

¹³ When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
¹⁴ They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
¹⁵ “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
¹⁶ Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
¹⁷ Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.

This scene opens with Jesus asking his disciples the following question “who do men say that I am?” The disciples answered variously “some say you are–––, others say you are–––“, and so on and so forth. Jesus, however, asked again “who do YOU say that I am?” To which Peter gave the landmark answer “you are The Christ the Son of the living God!”

I am not going to focus on Peter’s revelation that Jesus was the son of God, but on the phrases ‘who do men say that I am, and who do YOU say that I am?’

MVP... Most Valuable Person... Emm that's you I'm talking about!

You are that important!

Since you were precious in My sight,
You have been honored,
And I have loved you;
Therefore I will give men for you,
And people for your life.
Isaiah 43:4

I am that important...

So today, Walk tall and walk strong because God has given you the VIP of Eternity award!

I choose joy!

I'll show up with a smile even when I don't feel like smiling, cos I know that pretty soon things will start to look brighter, and as I keep on smiling even those who don't want to smile with me will find themselves becoming unwitting dispensers of pockets of happiness...

You can't look down when you're looking up...

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.

Psalm 121:1-2

 

 

A poem from my book - The Voice of One Woman... We are wonderfully and fearfully created! Please share to inspire someone today!

ˌMedəˈtāSHən/

  

I am a stupid one who was tuned in to meditation by the greatest of all meditators… the God of Heaven Himself who created the world; its' systems, and all that we see, through meditation.

Meditation is defined as:

med·i·ta·tion

ˌmedəˈtāSHən/

noun

The action or practice of meditating.

Synonyms:

Contemplation, thought, thinking, musing, pondering, consideration, reflection, deliberation, rumination, brooding, reverie, brown study, concentration.

 

The Eastern religionists believe that they invented it; the hedonists eschew it; the realists think it   mystical and kooky, but The Word of God tells me that meditation is the most effective way to conduit into the greatest of all minds and greatest channel of creation ever undiscovered.

What is meditation?  I inserted the definition above, but what is it?

 I define *meditation as the art of being able to tune in to inspired conversations between the soul and the spirit…

Meditation is the nidus of creation. The Bible itself opens it's grand epic with a meditative quote: ‘In the beginning God created…’

I determine to know nothing...

I once said to a friend of mine “there is nothing that you ever could do to offend me”. My friend answered me with this statement ‘wow! That’s a very dangerous statement. How can you be so sure of this?’ I said to him “it is because I have made the decision never to be offended by you”. I made the statement many years ago to this person, and I can truthfully say that he has never offended me. Now in all this time, have I been hurt or disappointed by my friend? Of course, I have, but I have never, ever been offended.

This may be difficult to believe, but Just before I made the statement I had come to the realization of a profound truth, and that is, that the decision to be offended or not offended is just that –it’s a decision. This truth is borne out by Scripture in 1 Corinthians 2:2 which states:

"For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified."

The apostle Paul said, “For I determined to know nothing among you but...” that’s right he determined to know nothing but… So from this Scripture, the Holy Spirit helped me to come to the understanding that if beforehand in a relationship, in any relationship, I determine to know nothing but, that is exactly what I will know.  The reason for this decision that Paul made in this context was this – that the faith of the Corinthians would not rest in man's ability but in God’s power.

Extrapolating this principle into my life brought me to the conclusion that when I decide to love, and not be offended I release the power of God rather than the wisdom of man into that, and any such relationship.

The pearl of principle in these Scriptures is this - determine not to know anything but what you want to know according to his will and in so doing you will release the power of God into that and any situation that you may be facing, or will ever face.

Be blessed y'all and have a wonderfully happy weekend.

Peace.

© AdePero Mettabel, 110913.

Zoe: Of the absolute fulness of life, which belongs to God, and to Christ...

Have your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace... Ephesians 6:15

Throw it down! By Adepero Mettabel

Exodus 4:1-3

Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)
1 Then Moses said to God, “But the Israelites will not believe me when I tell them that you sent me. They will say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you.’”
2 But the Lord said to Moses, “What is that you have in your hand?”
Moses answered, “It is my walking stick.”
3 Then God said, “Throw your walking stick on the ground.”




The dilemma we all face when The Lord asks us to perform a task is the uncertainty that comes from us wondering how we feel our actions are, or will be perceived. Many of us recognize the fact that it is God who has called us to do a particular work, but then are often afraid of how we will be received by the very people that we believe that we have been sent to minister to. I find myself in this situation many a time, and it is something that sometimes draws me back from giving my all to what the Lord has sent me to do.

Here in these verses, we find Moses in much the same situation as he states that the Israelites, whom he had been sent to deliver would not receive him.

Had he heard the Lord correctly? Of course, he had! But his absolute surrender was being moderated by his sense knowledge of the situation rather than the truth of what God had stated.  God then asked him a question– ‘what do you have in your hand?’ To which he answered ‘a rod’. God then said to him  ‘throw your rod on the ground’ Moses may have said in his heart  "now what does this rod have to do with the issue at hand" but when Moses did as he was commanded, he received the shock of his life - a dead rod became a living creature!

Now what lesson can we glean from these passages?

Keep Things Simple...

Zoe...

And They crossed The Red Sea...

That which was a mighty deliverance for God's people, 

was also that which utterly destroyed God's enemies!

Just saying...

People have said that Peter sacrificed a lot to follow Jesus; I say he would have sacrificed a lot not to have followed Jesus...

Picture this: A poor fisherman toiling all day and all night and I daresay most of his life, catching, not a thing, meeting a man who at his command, caused him to haul in a boat sinking, net breaking catch of fish, (enough not only to feed his family but lay up provision for the future AND pay off all his debt) who also said "This is nothing; not only will you catch fish, but you will catch men"... He now said to have made a sacrifice to follow Jesus?

It's like saying you met Jesus today, you who had been dabbling in the stock market with nothing but losses, and he says to you invest in so and so stock, you do and the next day that particular stock went up to the point that you made millions and millions of dollars... Would not this constitute a similar scenario? And would it be a sacrifice to follow Jesus in such a situation? No, I think not... Nooooo it would be a privilege, And an amazing opportunity not to be passed up, right?

Picture it... ... and follow Jesus... Your life will be transformed beyond all that you have, and could ever imagine!

Just saying…

Before complexity was, Simplicity 'is'...

Faith may appear simplistic in this seemingly complex world, but let us always remember that according to The Laws of differentiation, The complex always arises from the simple, and the simple always demystifies the complex...

Before complexity was, Simplicity 'is'...

One of the laws of differentiation:

 The derivative of the product of two functions is equal to the first function times the derivative of the second, plus the second function times the derivative of the first

Complex innit? So let's start at the very beginning:

John 1:1-3

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

Testify!

I went into a store the other day to purchase a portable laptop stand. The item was not on sale and because I really needed it, I decided to purchase it anyway. On my way to the checkout counter, I saw the manager walking towards me and the Holy Ghost whispered in my ear "Ask him for a discount". In the past I would've questioned what He said, but I have learned to instantly obey, i.e. IO the Holy Spirit. So I said to the manager "hello I'd like to buy this item, and I'd like a discount". When he did not immediately laugh at me, I knew that the Holy Ghost was at work. He went over to where the item was, scanned it, looked at me and said "okay how about 20% off". I said very quickly "I'll take it!” So I ended up with an item At 'Holy Ghost' sale price even when there was absolutely no sale going on in the store!

Jesus said In Matthew 7:7 and also in Luke 11:9, "ask and you shall be given seek and you shall find knock and the door shall be opened unto you" I asked at the prompting of the Holy Ghost, and it was given on to me! Thank you Lord!

And so this week I'd like to encourage you keep your ears and your eyes open for the direction of the Holy Spirit. He just might have a MAJOR discount out there for you, He just might have a HUGE blessing out there for you, He just have might have ABUNDANT rain waiting to shower its blessings on you!!!

BE BOLD TO ASK, YOU JUST NEVER KNOW...

Happy Monday y'all and God bless you!!!

'BEAUTY-FULL' by Mo Sweetness Rita Akuagwu

I woke up this morning contemplating the grace of God that helps me get through each day. On many days like this, I say a prayer and conclude that I am going to overcome EVERYTHING and EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE that comes my way during the day in the most gracious way possible.

But somewhere between when my feet hits the ground and when I take my first step, I realize that my best intentions for the day will be challenged, as it is daily, and that “Godzilla” may emerge from the recesses of my flesh, sometimes, before I am even aware. I do not know about you but this is my natural inclination BUT for the grace of God.

So this morning I looked at myself in the mirror and concluded:


I am NOT naturally “beauty-full”!

I need the grace of God every day, every minute and in every way possible to be presentable to the world.

It is my prayer that this realization will help me catch myself throughout the day to hold on to God’s grace rather than my personal effort which only feeds my natural state even more.


BEAUTY-FULL
Me in my natural state?
That’s quite a sight!
I am not naturally pleasant or kind
In fact at my best, I can be downright cruel
I am not naturally loving or forgiving
In fact, I can be vengeful so impressively
I do not naturally think the best of others
In fact, consider yourself guilty, why play nice?
I am not naturally loving or gentle,
I’ll take a good fight any day, you name the time...
And as for hoping for the best?
Leave me to my own devices and I expect the worst
I am not naturally patient or trusting or endearing
Me,
In my natural state?
I am quite a sight!

Me,
Fully made up?
Now that’s a sight!
My speech is seasoned with grace
like lipstick in fuchsia’s gloss
my eyes glitter with kindness
like silver and blue shadows
those wrinkles of un-forgiveness
are faded beneath my powdered foundation
My eyes are outlined to see only beauty in others
My cheeks blush rosy red
In a subtle hue
like the grace He shed
I must confess,
Me,
Fully made up?
I AM BEAUTY-FULL!

May this be our third day!

I was sitting at home just ruminating one day, when this question came to me: why did Jesus Christ rise from the dead on the third day. Why not the first, why not on the second, why third day? The Spirit of God spoke this answer to my heart, and I immediately got what He was saying - He said to me, “Go to the third day”. So I opened up my Bible to the book of Genesis chapter 1 and went to the third day, and what I read excited me so much, I couldn’t sit still!

Genesis 1:11-13

And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth:, and it was so. And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good. And the evening and the morning were the third day.

He said to me: “In the process of creation, on the first day I caused light to be, on the second, I created the heavens, and on the third I created the earth. The third day was when I made what was created in heaven, to come up from the earth”.

“The third day was when I caused every plant that was in the ground to come up as grass, herb producing seed, and fruit, yielding fruit after it’s kind and whose seed is in itself!”

'Agaperosfilia'

This picture speaks so much... It speaks the language of 'Agaperosfilia'... It says:

I love you
I trust you
I depend on you
I partner with you
I'm committed to you
I choose you above all other
I choose to be with you
I cherish you
I cover you
I am covered by you

You are my partner
You are my friend
You are my lover
You are the only one for me
You are the only one I see
You are my inspiration
You are my support
You compliment me
You complete me

This picture says:
I am as much yours, as you are mine...
Together we are strong
Together we prosper
Together we grow
Together we flourish
Together we love and are loved
Together as ONE; Forever


So as much as it lies in your power, jealously protect, tenderly cherish and highly esteem your 'Together'... Because it is ultimately all you have, all you really need...
#Agaperosfilia

Straight from The Word... When a man loves a woman

Proverbs 30:18-19

There be three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not:
 The way of an eagle in the air; the way of a serpent upon a rock; the way of a ship in the midst of the sea; and the way of a man with a maid...


 When a man loves his woman, he should leave no cleaving fingerprints or landmarks on her body, soul and or spirit, visible or invisible; His hands should only gracefully glide, silently slither over, and weightlessly float on... That's straight from The Word...

Satan - the god of this world... Really???

My friends and I were having fellowship one day and one of us said: "But we know that Satan is the god of this world", implying that he owns the rights to the world, and and all that is within it... Immediately she said this,The Holy Spirit contradicted that statement in my heart and I was quite puzzled that He did, because it was said as it is in scripture... He said to me: Satan is not the god of this world by right, he is the god of this world because the rightful gods of this world have given control of the world to him, through the submission of their MINDS to his rulership...

Psalm 82:6
I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.


I came to the realization that Satan is the god of this world, not because he has rightful rulership of the world, but because he, by cunning and deception, rules through the deception that he plants and breeds in the minds of those who have been given rulership of the world i.e. Created man! Satan is powerless, but for his workings and domination of the minds through which he exercises his own will to dominate...


Therefore (as The Word says) give no place to the devil... BE...As The Lord has created us to BE:fruitful, multiply, replenish the earth, subdue it, refuse to be dominated but have DOMINION, over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, and EVERY CREEPING THING THAT CREEPS UPON THE FACE OF THE EARTH i.e. Satan.

PS The Word says have dominion over creatures and Eco, and World systems NOT PEOPLE! The only ones who seek to subdue and dominate people, are those who like their father the devil, seek to usurp God from His rightful place in man's mind, for the sole of gaining control of those minds, through systematic ENFORCEMENT of their own will... The Lord gave us His Spirit to bring revelation, light and empowerment, Satan exerts his forceful will through his minions: principalities, powers,rulers of darkness of this age, spiritual wickedness in high places...


Genesis 3:1
Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made...

2 Corinthians 4:4
Whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. (We war by the outworking of the Word by the Spirit, in our minds). For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ...

Ephesians 6:12
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, againstthe rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in highplaces.

So how do we fulfill the will of our Father?

This is how we overcome!

Ephesians 6:10-18
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints...

Revelation12:11
And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death….


From my mind to yours…



©AdePero Mettabel,091813.

People often ask me if I experience, or have experienced the things and emotions that I write about.

More often than not I have, but some of the time the words come by inspiration, straight from the heart of the one who sees and knows every heart that needs to read what I have written... At such times, I just happily and gratefully submit myself as a willing conduit for the transmission of God's love and grace...

The spirit of man [is] the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly... But [there is] a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding...

Proverbs 20:27, Job 32:8

On a rainy day...

Love is like rain on a Saturday morning... Makes you wanna snuggle in and be warm, makes you sigh and close your eyes in repose, makes you think of sunny days, and balmy nights...
makes you grateful to be indoors, safe and protected...

I find, Everything...

I find, Everything...

Everything I need is in You

I know the very thing I'll find in You

So in everything I turn to You

All of my strength infused through You

To live my life as you have planned

Everything must be in You

Yes, You’re the very breath I take

I live, in You, I move in you

In You I truly have my being

You are the lover of my soul

The great desire of my life

Fill me with peace that never ends

With your whispered words inside my soul

In all my life journeys, my ups and downs

Through all of these come to realize

That never can I recognize

Much more less realize

All that I have to visualize

Except I see my world, my dreams

Through the silkscreen of your loving eyes

Everything I am is in You

My deepest depths I find in You

All my seeking, searching ways

Always bring me back You

So in everything I turn to You

With all my strength I run to you

‘Cause everything, Everything,  EVERYTHING I have is You

© AdePero Mettabel, 091513.

Thoughtful Thoughts...

Everything and every situation in life are alterable and changeable. The only things that are not alterable or changeable are those which determines the length of our days and hence our breath i.e. The breath, and the essence of God himself within us - The I AM that I AM who gives us life and our identity...

The Story of Jude...

I wrote this for a dear friend, but it has been resonating with me so much, that I decided to share it with my other friends too. Please feel free to share this note as you may be blessing them more than you could possibly know. This is a testament to the fact that that "With God NOTHING SHALL BE IMPOSSIBLE..."

Let me tell you the story of Jude: Jude (Judy) had stroke that affected the whole of her right side, her right arm was totally paralyzed And she had partial paralysis of her right leg. The attending neurologist told her that she would never regain use of her right arm. She, understandably was very distressed and when I came to see her as her primary care physician I found her crying, and visibly shaken by what she had heard. She said to me "Dr. Okulaja, the neurologist said I would never use my right hand again". As God is my witness this is what I said to her. It was not medically appropriate, neither was it based on any scientific evidence whatsoever, but I said to her: "rubbish, rubbish, rubbish! You can do whatever you want to do. You just focus on getting better, and keep believing". I don't know how it happened, but Jude took me completely at my word. She kept believing and worked really hard. As of today, it has been approximately seven years since I left the state in which I was practicing at that time, and I will tell you that Jude took me out to a farewell dinner, at the end of the evening she signed the check with her RIGHT HAND! And she had eaten her meal totally independently, using a knife and a fork! I looked at Jude and I was inspired!! God has sees you and has been watching over you. And so to you also today, and on your behalf, to all those who have written you off, those who cannot understand the miracle that you are, I say, "Rubbish, rubbish, rubbish! You can do whatever you want to do. You just focus on getting better, and keep believing!"


"With God NOTHING SHALL BE IMPOSSIBLE..."

My name is Mettabel, I am a medical doctor, and I approve this message!



PS This account is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. So help me God!