2012: Thankful...

2012 has been a great year. 
 I can look back at the year and say it has been God working everything out all along. 
Decisions were made, lessons were learnt, and a lot of changes recorded. 
God has been faithful to me. 
I thank Him for journey mercies. I  haven't traveled like I did in 2012. By air, land and over the waters
I have enjoyed sound health through 2012 and the few times I have been down God restored my strength.
I thank God for my family. God has kept us all
It has been a very challenging year as regards my job but God was faithful
Doors of opportunities were opened for me. I have enjoyed favour everywhere I go

If there was one thing I held on to all through the year, its the fact that God loves me and he has a great plan for my life and irregardless of what I'm going through, he is going to work it out for good.
Its been a very eventful year. Somethings didn't work out as planned but its all working our for good. 
Moving to a new location during the year wasn't easy but I'm adapting to the changes that came with it.
I thank God for provision, protection and sustenance.
I have learnt alot more about life and I hope I'll be able to apply them personally as it relates to relationships, career, business, etc
I thank God for the breath of life. Even in our unfaithfulness, God remains faithful. He never leaves us nor forsakes us. 
I thank God for the new skills I acquired in 2012 

I have not bee at my best in every area. But I thank God for His Grace and tender Mercies

Even though I'm not where I want to be, I'm not where I used to be. I remain thankful

Someone dear to me sent this to me this evening and its a Prayer that really speaks to me so I thought to share. Its a prayer Paul prayed in his letter to the Colosians

Colosians 1:9-12 Message Translation

Be assured that from the first day we heard of you, we haven't stopped praying for you, asking God to give you wise minds and spirits attuned to his will, and so acquire a thorough understanding of the ways in which God works. We pray that you'll live well for the Master, making him proud of you as you work hard in his orchard. As you learn more and more how God works, you will learn how to do your work. We pray that you'll have the strength to stick it out over the long haul—not the grim strength of gritting your teeth but the glory-strength God gives. It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy, thanking the Father who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that he has for us.

I pray in 2013, may you not find enjoyment in the 'absence of God' in your life
Have a great year ahead!

Adeoluwa

Lost Generation - Poem

I read this poem sometime ago and I thought to share...
This poem has a read-and- reverse  style and was written by Jonathan Reed. It is a  pessimistic monologue of how this generation looks. When read in the reverse, it paints a brighter future

I'm a part of Lost Generation

and I refuse to believe that

I can change the world

I realize this may be a shock but

"Happiness comes from within"

is a lie, and

"Money will make me happy"

So in thirty years I'll tell my children

They are not the most important thing in my life

My employer will know that

I have my priority straight because

Work

Is more important than

Family

I tell you this

Once upon a time

Families stay together

But this will not be true in my era

This is a quick fix society

Experts tell me

Thirty years from now I will be celebrating the 10th anniversary of my divorce

I do not concede that

I will live in a country of my own making

In the future

Environmental destruction will be the norm

No longer can it be said that

My peers and I care about this earth

It will be evident that

My generation is apathetic and lethargic

It is foolish to presume that

There is hope

*READ IN REVERSE*

Free...

Though injustice thrives

The poor crushed by people with opportunities

the weak denied their strength

It wont last forever

tts just for a while

The day of reckoning comes

when the mute will learn to speak

The silent will regain their voice

They will break out of their comfort zones

Out of their cocoons

Out of their hiding places

Out of their timid faces

Demanding what belongs to them

Their God-ordained right of freedom

more like their birth right

They dust themselves

They wash their faces

take a bath

change their robes

wear nicely scented fragrance

They head in the path of redemption

Where they can exercise their capabilities

and explore possibilities

Till they are strong enough to sing the victory song

Are We There Yet?

On a cold saturday morning in the City of aquatic splendour, all hearts were filled with high hopes and excitement. The long awaited freedom was just a few hours away and the people were ready to embrace it. They believed it was all they needed to be free, to live their lives and have the oppurtunity to run the affairs of their nation by them selves and practically have their own future in their hands. It was meant to be freedom from slavery, dictatorship and every form of neocolonialism.

They embarked on a journey to the land of freedom and they believed the abundance of resources in their land and their ability to till the God-given fertile soil to produce the best of crops will sustain them and fasttrack growth and development.

Through the years, they had problems of leadership. The elected and the military dictators.

The diversity of culture, religion and tribes among them posed a lot of

challenges especially in leadership.

Their boat has been rocked by many storms which would have rendered them a failed state.

Religious and civil crises were not far fetched.

After Five decades, they seem not to have arrived their promised land yet, are they making any progress? when will they get there? These are questions they will find difficult to answer. Not even their leaders can answer any of these questions.

This reminds me of the biblical story of the Israelites. They journeyed for 40 years. A journey that was supposed to be for 40 days.

Oh God of Creation.....
Direct Our Noble Cause....
Guide Our Leaders Right.....
Help Our Youths to Know the Truth....

This is our Golden Jubilee...

We might not be there yet, but were are definitely on the path.

We are not yet where we want but we are not where we used to be

The progress might be slow and discouraging.

The good news is if we don't give up we will get to the promised land very soon.

God Bless Nigeria

Happy Independence Anniversary

Happy Golden Jubilee

Carry Me!

She crawls toward me

with a wide smile on her face

moving briskly with her hands on the floor

She stops at my feet, looks up at me and smiles again

Then she throws her hands open wide

Her expresssions and actions saying it all Carry Me!

Knowing what she wanted

I reached out

lifting her off the ground

I felt the satisfaction, the joy of being lifted.

Much more for the cuddle that comes with carring her

the warmth of the embrace

and the sense of safety that comes from being held

Throw all your worry on him, because he cares for you. - 1Pe 5:7

Have you ever faced any situation where you felt the need to be carried, embraced or held?

We all have cares and worries.

Just like a little child, throw your hands open

God's hands are open wide always ready for us

We only need to make that effort of releasing ourself

...Dump site to Fame

I'm always inspired by stories of change. I watched a feature story on this particular guy who a few weeks back would not believe  he would be seen all over the world (BBC, YouTube, etc)and even have the opportunity to travel or even shoot his music video in  London.

Eric Obuh had been a scavenger and all he did was to source for scraps and sell them at the dump yard just to make a living. Along side he was a musician and also used the little money he got from the dump yard to support his music.

 ...every bit of scrap he finds brings him one step closer to his dream of launching his music career- BBC

His life had a new turn when he was featured on the controversial BBC documentary,  "Welcome to Lagos" in the first episode he was one of the major characters and he shared his experience on the dump yard. He also had the opportunity to share his music with  millions of people around the world. A rare opportunity many artists who have been in music for years do not have.

I  would be right if I say his story can be tagged "the dump site to fame". Its a story of change.

The documentary brought him to limelight and he is no more a scavenger. Although he was denied a UK visa for a concert on the 31st of May he still has hope of traveling sometimes in June.

PS:  I was not a fan of the Welcome to Lagos documentary. I believe there are better stories of Lagos which could be told, not just the slums, the dump sites or the shanties. This documentary could just be the single story of Lagos that would be told to people around the world.

If you have a story of change to share please foward it to naijaboyb@gmail.com i'll be glad to feature it on this blog. 

Voting for the Nigerian Blog awards is on till 6th of June. This blog was nominated for the Best New Blog category. Pls click here to vote. Thanks

-NBB

The Will to CHANGE....

Your Story taught me a lesson
Never to give in
On hope, my dreams, faith, or life in general
Your will to change inspires me
You sought to have a better life
Tired of living the mediocre life.

Late last year I met this young guy who had a story in which I saw the will of a person to change.

He was born and he also grew up in the UK. He grew up thinking nobody liked him coupled with the fact that his parents were separated so he knew little of a fatherly and motherly care. All they provided him was the money he needed to do the things he wanted The only love he seemed to find is amongst his friend who engaged in a lot of unwholesome activities. He had joined a gang. Gangs are not just meant for fun. He was exposed to gang fights, violence, drugs and other social vices. The marks on his body can tell a lot of stories

At a particular point in his life, he got to a point where he did not find satisfaction in the things he did, he wanted a change but knew nowhere to find it. He wanted to commit suicide but I believe it was God that made this impossible. The change actually started when one of his gang mate was killed and some went to jail for other offences. I really don't know how he escaped that. 

He then realised that his association with this gang would not change anything in him. He craved for a change but he did not know how. His environment was not helping either. All the influences were putting pressure on him to return to his ways. 

During summer in the particular yeah he came to Nigeria with his mum and since then has been around. It was an escape from the influence and his old ways.

Now starting a new life is not easy. Habit are not just things that we can easily drop. But with the help of God this guy got back to school in Nigeria. now he should be studying law in one of the universities.

He is doing very well now. He has his priorities right. He has the oppurtunity to live a life of affluence now but he has chosen not to. He now knows his boundaries and things that can influence him.

Things can change, change is inevitable

But note that change can be for better or worse.

The willingness to change, to life a better life is what moves me in this story. You need to hear him speak. He has been through a lot.

His story taught me a lot. For a person to say "I want to change", This  is a major step but dont stop at saying you must believe in the change. Can you remember the "Change We Believe in"  campaign of President Obama in the last American presidential election campaign? That was a great change in the history of American politics

I have not been involved in social vices. I don't have any habits I'm dealing with. So does that make having some things change about me easier? I don t think so.

The will to change is key. But the natural man resists change. He is used to having things work the way they are. He is used to the status quo.  Tell him its going to change you might just create more problems for him.

There are changes we can control and there are changes that we cannot influence the outcome.

We live in an ever changing world.

Only those with the will to change and are prepared for the change will weather the storm a change might bring.

.

Change is coming, Be prepared

What is your Perception of Change?