Ambiguity Simplified (Psalm 32:8)

Objective: That we may understand the simplest way by which we can hear God and begin to enjoy Him fully by putting it into practice.

I learnt that a great man of God was speaking with God sometime ago and at a point, God said to him "I'm presently speaking with my son (bro Gbile Akani), I will get back to you". The rumour has it that he left what he was doing and began to look for who that man was that made God postpone His talk with him. Since then, I've been wanting to know how God speaks to this man.

God bless that friend of mine who recommended his message on "Practical steps in the choice of a life partner" to me. I found the video and another one titled "Christian courtship" on YouTube. I recommend them to everyone.

The essence of that intro is because some of the things I want to mention here are things that I learnt from those videos.

Let me continue by sharing the following scenario:
Dad gives Debby a book which contains a map that describes everywhere that she would like to go since she is new in Lagos. He decided to do that because he wanted to travel out.

Debby wants to go to Ibadan from Lagos, she then decided to call her dad for description but the network was bad, instead of trying to reach him again or checking the map, she decided to take any available bus that she sees at the bus stop. After some minutes, she met herself in Badagry. That was when she asked people around where she could find a bus going to Ibadan, they told her to go back to Mile 2 or Oshodi that she was coming from. What a stress!

As Christians, we have the map which is our Bible, whatever God tells us must not contradict His word.

Friend, there is a word for each time (coming back to that).

As many as are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God. He knows His sheep and His sheep hears His voice.

Picking cogent words randomly from 4 different translations of our text, Psalm 32:8. It says,
The Lord says, "I will guide you along the best pathway of your life, instruct you, advise you, teach you about how you should live, guide you, give you understanding....." (NLT + KJV + NET Bible + Douay-Rheims Bible).

Youngs Literal Translation says:
I cause thee to act wisely, And direct thee in the way that thou goest, I cause mine eye to take counsel concerning thee.

It shows that God has taken it upon Himself to advise, teach, instruct, counsel, give us understanding, cause us to act wisely and even guide us. That is, He's not going to stop at saying "do this" but will continue with us to the very end by showing us "how" to do what He has instructed us to do.

But there is a clause. He has given every man a will power, He is therefore not going to force anyone to do His will (which is always the best). Even if you obey at the beginning and you later decide not to follow as He guides you, He won't still force you. He would rather advise.

God speaks to us in diverse ways. He speaks through
- The still voice
- Dream/ revelation/ trance
- His word
- His servant(s)
- The inner peace

The last two are majorly for confirmation.

God speaks quietly to us but most of the time, we have so many 'noise' around us that we can't hear Him. Noise such as thought, people's voices..... We sometimes hear but ignore because we are not sure, but something happens. God so much loves us that He sometimes repeats the same thing by sealing our instructions or coming to us when we are unconscious. Job 33:14-18.

That is when we say God speaks through dream, vision or trance. According to the man of God, this method is a remedia of what God has said to you before but at the same time, dream/ vision/ trance needs to be interpreted and we are not ignorant of the fact that not all dreams/ revelations comes from God.

What then do we need to do? Search the scriptures. Any message that contradicts the word of God is not from God. You can also go to the servant of God for confirmation of what God has told you or what you think God has told you. Finally, there is an inner peace that follows the will of God. This of all means by which we know God's will can not be manipulated by the devil.

The word for each time that I was trying to say is, you are praying to God about choosing an employee for instance and God said with the still voice "choose the one whose result isn't the best" and you're like "what!?" God then drops 1 Sam 17:50 on your mind where David prevailed against Goliath. It is a confirmation that God wants to promote your company with that man that appears not too good.

At another time, probably praying for a future partner and God leads you to Matthew 3:3. It is crystal clear that that person on your mind is only preparing the way for Mr or Mrs right like John did for Jesus.

Caution
Don't let the devil discourage you from hearing from God by reminding you of those times you thought you heard from God but it was something else.

Search the scriptures daily. Joshua 1:8

Men of God are to confirm what God has told you not to choose for you. You can't always depend on second hand messages.

Involve God in everything you do. Test hearing Him and knowing His will on little matters, be consistent with Him so that when the time comes to hear Him speak on crucial matters He won't seem to be on leave.

The Lord says, "I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you."
Trust you are blessed.

- Deborah Ajala, 2017.

Praisers and Pushers!

The dictionary defines a leader as a person who leads a group, organization or country. He creates an inspiring vision of the future, motivates and inspires people to engage in that vision.

Praisers are also known as Valuators; they estimate the worth/ quality of leaders, they express approval/ admiration of leaders and commend them for a job well done.

Pushers on the other hand uses a vigorous effort to do something, they move leaders forward by using force which could be in form of criticism/ corrections/ suggestions.

Many leaders prefer praisers to pushers but the truth is that both of them are needed for a successful leadership. Pushers reveal the mistakes of leaders in a bid to talk them down but wise leaders leverage on it for improvement and this makes them better.

Are you a leader? Praisers will appreciate your efforts and make you feel accepted while pushers will criticize/ correct you. Accommodate both of them; just be careful not to get overwhelmed. Always remember that research and self evaluation is also very important. When caregivers do this, it will be easy for them to pass good leadership qualities on to juveniles. I celebrate every leader out there and I pray for more wisdom, strength and success🤗🙏

~ Deborah Ajala.

Raising Leaders by Raising Readers

"If you only read the books that everyone else is reading, you can only think what everyone is thinking".

Vikki's friends had gotten used to this quote by Harukin Murakami because that's always her response each time they complain about the number of hours she spend in the library. Her aunt had told her earlier that she needed to study hard, even outside the school syllabus because having a unique thought was the major thing that got her the lucrative job that she's currently doing and Vikki was determined to do just that.

Precious; one of Vikki's friends on the other hand was a dependent student who almost lost her friends because they hated the shame of relating with someone who has been caught cheating in the exam hall times without number.

Her friends decided to make her do her homework on her own on a fateful day and apparently she didn't do it since there was nobody to copy, she therefore decided to feign sickness and rest at the sick bay throughout Mr. Kolapo's class.

...........................

"I sent for you ma" said the school counsellor to Mrs. Gorge; Precious' mum.

She asked her about Precious' academic performance and how they have been assisting her with her homework. Mrs Gorge was dumbfounded and the counsellor told her that she was at the sick bay the previous day eavesdropping Precious as she was soliloquising on how she would have been a better student if her mum had not indulged her to play while her elder brother writes her homework for her.

Mrs Gorge felt bad because she has tried to correct that since her daughter got admitted to the high school but she just seem to have lost interest in studying. Everyone knows Mrs Kome as a blunt counsellor.... Mrs Gorge therefore had to accept the bitter truth since it's for the betterment of her daughter.

Mrs Kome added that if we don't want to breed uneducated graduates in our society, children are to be guided, not otherwise.

"Readers are leaders and vice versa". Independent studying has to start from childhood so that they won't be lazy to read whenever they have the opportunity to read books that will add value to their lives outside school.

Mrs. Gorge thanked her and promised to change and not to repeat the same mistake on her younger children.

If you don't study now that you have exams to write, will you be able to study books that will add value to you when there are no grades attached?

Yesterday was world book day and I just wish to show you the importance of studying. Read good books, read your Bible and become a better person.

Happy belated world book day.
~ Deborah Ajala.

IWD; The Woman in a Small Body

Mrs. Pat; Tania's lesson teacher got to the Smart's by 04:00pm with the hope of commencing her tutorial immediately after saying "Hi" but she was surprised to meet her crying.

"Tanny dear, what's wrong?" She inquired as she tried to tickle her, but Tania didn't laugh, which is so much unlike her. She rather cried at the top of her voice that she wanted to be a boy at all cost. Her mum who has tried to comfort her had to leave her to quickly check what she was cooking shortly after Mrs. Pat came.

"My mum's younger sister just left here and she is the only woman doing well in our family" Tania said when she finally pulled herself together. Mrs Pat sobs as she paid attention to Tania. Tania mentioned that Aunty Rachael; her mum's sister probably has that opportunity because she is not yet married, the best thing she had ever seen her mum do is house chores while her dad has won several awards for himself and his company. Girls are also are the most vulnerable to child abuse.

Calm down Tania; Mrs. Pat finally said when Tanny was done lamenting. You know that I am married with children right? Tanny nodded affirmatively as her teacher continues. I am working and some other women are doing great things too. Besides, my pastor is a woman and the minister of education is a woman as well. Recently, many people, organizations and the government have started protecting the girl child by advocating for their safety and enforcing laws against abuse.

Things are changing, just endeavour to be the best version of yourself. No sane person will put an incompetent man in a position that a competent and courageous woman should be.

Even though your mum is a full-house-wife, she has greatness on the inside of her and I believe that your dad will permit her to explore one day just as Lapidoth did not hinder prophetess Deborah in the Bible.

"Women are the largest untapped reservoir of talent in the world"
~ Hillary Clinton

We are unique, we are great, we are strong and can multitask easily. We are created to support and complement men, not to compete with them, okay?

Tania was relieved and Mrs. Pat decided to end the conversation by saying "Hi five great woman" but before their hands could meet, a masculine voice responded from behind saying; "Thanks Pat, my wife will begin to work henceforth so that she can unleash the greatest in her..... Tania is just ten, she is not yet a woman ooo", he teased. "No dad, I am a woman in a small body" Tania responded and they all laughed as he ended the conversation by telling her that she was too smart for her age.

Tania was fired up and resolute not to be intimidated and she became the first female governor thirty years later.

Dear reader, gender is not a barrier. Our girls are women in small bodies, do not kill the giant in them. Just like men, every woman has to be fulfilled. Gone are the days when she will only be useful in the house and useless to herself and the society. I celebrate every woman out there because it is our day. We are multipliers and Nation builders. God has given us the ability to strike the balance between family and work.

Happy International Women's Day  Queens of the Most High.

~ Deborah Ajala.

RELATING WITH YOUR CHILDREN AT BAD TIMES.

Bad times! There are times parents do not have enough resources to meet the needs of their children, times when things are just unpleasant and quite difficult to figure out.

Lack of sufficient funds causes some changes in people's character, but is it a time to speak harshly to the children when they present their request?

They are so fragile and tender. What we fail to understand is that, no matter how young they are, they sometimes understand what their parents are going through, so they also feel the pain as much as you do.

The father of faith (Abraham)... There was nothing to use for the sacrifice, but when Isaac asked him about it... Abraham said, "God will provide" and God eventually did. That struck my heart in the middle of this right up.

Yes, we understand that things are not fine but in order not to aggravate their pains, parents should rather speak pleasant words to them.

It is a time to hide your tears and summon the courage to smile so that they can be fine.

It is a time to apologize for not calling them (cos we do not have airtime, especially when they're in distant places like school) instead of saying words like "must I call you all the time?"

It is a time to say to them... "Don't worry, I will make it up to you, just pray for God's blessings".... Remember that they are the heritage of the Lord and they must be treated as such.

Finally, we all have a wonderful parent, after making our children okay, we can then cast our burden unto God through Jesus & things will miraculously fall in place.

~ Deborah Ajala, 2016 (modified in 2019).

It's my life!

 Like I have always said; "The most delicate gift that God has given to man is 'the will power' which is otherwise known as 'choice'. Use it well."

He is not a cruel God that will force us to do things, we are therefore responsible for our actions. Yes, we know that it's your life and you can choose to live it as it pleases you but always remember that "what goes around comes around."

For every life that you choose, you have predecessors. Why not take your time to find out what their end was like and be sure that you want to end that way too before choosing to live like them.

Your way of life starts with your thoughts which is usually influenced by the things you expose yourself to on the television, social media, place of worship, prayer and study of the word of God, your environment, relationship with God and man...... They get into your subconscious and if you are not careful, they accumulate and become an addiction which in turn becomes your way of life.

You may not be responsible for what comes into your mind but you are responsible for what stays there.

A saying goes thus: "Watch your thoughts, they become words; watch your words, they become actions."

Picking words randomly from a number of bible versions; Proverbs 4:23 says: "Above all else, guard/ keep your heart/ thought with all diligence/ vigilance/ caution......"

Mind you, birds of a feather flocks together. In other words, you will always attract the kind of person that you are and this will determine your future partner, business partner and every kind of partner that life has to offer. You don't want to look back and bite your fingers in regret. I am pleased to announce to you that 'control z' doesn't work in real life.

Now that you are young, before today becomes yesterday, you can choose to live right and even if you have missed it, there is room for amendment. Why not do that now before it is too late because some aftermaths are irreversible once the deed is done.

Jesus makes the difference and He will not cast you away if you come to Him now. Just like Apostle Paul (Yes, a perfect example of a wayward person who was converted), we should be able to confess that ......it is no longer I that live, but Christ lives in me. Gal 2:20. I can assure you that it pays to serve Jesus because...... oh the list of the benefits is endless.
Shalom!

~Deborah Ajala.

Lessons from Creation; Welcome note to 2⃣0⃣1⃣9⃣

The first chapter of Genesis starts with "In the beginning, God created...." This shows that God Himself started His work in the beginning.

Although unpronounced, we can deduce from that chapter of the Bible that He had a plan, a realistic one at that. This explains how He was able to create different things on different days and rest on the 7th day.

If your life revolves around school or work alone, boredom will set in whenever you have a break. There are times you should be alone. What's the drive? Fulfilling purpose. This will help you not to be lonely even when you are alone. You are alone to seek God's face by praying and studying His Word. You are alone to strategize on how to execute your goals for the year.

I enjoin you to have a feasible and fulfilling plan for this year. There is more to life than making money and acquiring certificates.

What are your plans for this year, start now that we are in the beginning (January) so that you can have time to rest when you should.

With joy in my heart I welcome you once again to 2019.
~ Deborah Ajala

Looking good in less than one minute

Every woman wants to look good. As a matter fact, every man wants his woman to look good and tying a nice style of gele to occasions is one of the major things that enhances her beauty, but very few of them can sacrifice adequate time for this to be achieved. Besides, doing this is also an Herculean task for many women out there.

Imagine you having to tie your gele countless consecutive times and still end up with an awkward style! You'll sometimes have to resort to paying someone to do it for you.

At InDRESSpensable, we have realized that 

many people cannot afford wasting much time or paying a makeup artist to tie their gele for them each time they have an occasion, we have therefore come up with a lasting solution and we have the testimonies of a number of customers.

Different styles of auto gele (ready made gele) are available for sale in different shades. Some of them are:
~Plain fan auto gele
~Beaded fan auto gele
~Plain V shaped auto gele
~Beaded V shaped auto gele
~Plain zigzag auto gele
~Beaded zigzag auto gele
~Plain round auto gele
~Beaded round auto gele
~Plain almighty crown auto gele
~Beaded almighty crown auto gele
~Plain rose auto gele
~Beaded rose auto gele
~Plain bow auto gele
~Beaded rose auto gele

Guess what!? It will cost you less than a minute to fix any of those styles of auto gele on your head and they are very affordable.

Care to look good with ease? Call (+234)8187121552

Please note that customers will be attended to on first come, first serve basis.
At InDRESSpensable, your beauty is our delight!