This song has been recurring on and off in my mind for the better part of the year after I heard it at the Forward Conference. When I forget what my purpose is, when things are just all over the place, this song reminds me that at the end of the day....all that matters is my Jesus.
It's all about Jesus, folks. Plain and Simple.
Be blessed and encouraged today knowing that ALL that you need is in that name. It's at that name that every knee and need will bow.
Much love!
"It is no longer I who live...but Christ that lives in me..."
So I'm sure you guys have been expecting a Roger post... It has been a while since I gushed about my man, so it's long overdue especially since he's been playing like the demi-god that he is!! While I was searching for new information about him (not long, I promise! I just like to be up to date on his life..stalkeration) I stumbled across this "ode" to Roger by way of his kids, really...Here it is:
“Dear Youngest Federer, by the time you are old enough to understand this, your father won’t be the player he once was. So this is for you, from those of us who were there, just to tell you who he was.
He was a champion like tennis had never seen. He was like a page out of an Abercrombie & Fitch catalogue. He was so graceful, he made ballet dancers want to burn their shoes. He was fast, but not so you’d notice. He was powerful, but, like a Ferrari not a forklift. They all came at him, and they all fell to him, major after major, year after year.
Your father dominated his sport the way avalanches dominate trees. And yet he was so humble and decent that it became no shame to lose to him. In fact, it became a kind of honor. To lose to Roger Federer meant you were woven into the fabric of sports history. And what a history he wrote.
You will read about it someday and it will shock you. But his finest moment might have been a sun-splashed sunday at Wimbledon, when he passed Pete Sampras record for majors with 15. Some thought we might not ever see that day. Thought he’d be past by younger bulkier models. But they were wrong. Gods do not get passed.
This August, you will come along and tennis will be less important, majors will become minor, trophies will become teething rings, and your father’s perfect life, will, somehow, get even better.”
My home will be filled with its people again
She will be cherished and courted and praised as the jewel that she really is
Her people will cease to rape, pillage and drain her; they will take from her with reverence and return to her a hundred fold.
Her children who left, who are in the diaspora will return and increase the fruit she bears
She will no longer be mocked and scoffed at for basic amenities that she (or those in charge of her) is (or are) unable to provide
She will rise from the ashes like a phoenix at rebirth
The world will know and hear about the restoration power of a God over her
She will celebrate her birthday, knowing that she's not being graded for where she is and/or where she's supposed to be
The people in power will not care only about their pockets and stomachs; they will remember that there are over 150 million people relying on their honesty and transparency and in so doing, make a change.
We will not lose family members to minor accidents because of deplorable roads and non-existent healthcare; people die just because they don't have the money to pay hospitals for their service and they are not treated.
One day, Nigeria will become the glorious nation she was destined to be.
There is no denying that Nigeria is filled with talent, brilliant minds and untapped resources. Nigeria is beautiful - she's filled with a diverse people who despite their conditions, they always find a way to smile. I am seriously deviating from my blog post today...can't seem to help myself.
But back to the topic of the day -
Nigeria's music scene right now is seriously impressing me! Ask my friends, although Nollywood holds no particular interest for me, I am an avid 9ja music follower! Thanks to www.lasgiditunes.com, I stay up to date on the new songs out there. But for today, I would like to feature the artists who are currently making my days at work run really smoothly -
1. P-Square - Peter and Paul have an uncanny ability to re-invent their songs in a way that doesn't change who they are but it not stale either - Their new album, The Invasion (listen HERE), is on point! I don't think there's a song on there I don't like. It's been that way for me with these Igbo boys since 2002 when I bought their first album. "Igbedu" is still one of my all-time favorites! They have more artists featuring in a lot of the songs on this album, mixing reggae-ish beats with techno that I think they pulled off really well. But then, I'm biased. Take a listen. Judge for yourself.
2. Ice Prince Zamani - This is my new favorite guy! His first ever album (he's known for Oleku, a single he released a while ago), Everybody Loves IcePrince (ELI) has songs like Superstar, Olofofo and Wassup Wassup that, in my opinion, are correct! Again, I go to www.lasgiditunes.com and just play the whole thing over and over again. Before I decided to take a chance and listen to the album, I went online to look at reviews...never again! EVER! Some people were just describing what the songs were about; who needs that! Others were just yarning dust! I should have learned my lesson when I refused to watch the movie 300 because the critics panned it, then ended up loving the movie so much, I went to the theater twice to watch it and I bought the DVD when it came out. Reviews ko, reviews ni! Well, anyway, I really like this album. I like it a whole lot. If I had to pick a favorite (hard choice..ack) I'd pick "Wassup Wassup", featuring Tuface, who just takes all the songs he's in to another level. Listen to the whole album HERE.
3. WizKid - Or to be precise, WizPapi (he's a baby daddy now, so he should consider the name change). I like the guy - he's a cutie; I just want to pinch his cheeks! I haven't met a WizKid song I didn't like. He (or Banky W) was smart to release a few songs first and feature in people's songs to get his name out there then hit us all upside the head with his Album that had a lot of surprises (Wiz Party, No Lele, Love my Baby...too madt). He's my go to guy when I have a headache at work (as well as Josh Groban) and the regular dose of Ibuprofen doesn't work. Listen to his album, Superstar HERE.
I'd like to end by leaving you with these -
1. My friend, AyoJay, just released a song with CapB, "She Like It" - Listen HERE
2. Another Boo, Lekan aka MM, released his music video for his song, BB Pin. Watch Below -
3. I can't talk about the Nigerian Music Scene without touching on Tuface (although I did in #2 above). I've only heard 3 songs off of his new album, Unstoppable, and what I've heard so far, I love. Listen HERE. He also has music videos out for 2 out of the 3; this one's my favorite -
It's hard to pick just these, because I love a lot of these artists (like Eldee, 9ice, ID Cabasa, Banky W,oh gosh!) but that's the koko - I LOVE 9JA MUSIC!!!
I am incredibly loved - by my family and friends and most importantly, by God
My tomorrow will be better than my today because my today was better than yesterday
As long as the earth remains and the sun rises in the east and sets in the west every day, the Word of the Lord concerning me will not fall to the ground until it has accomplished that which it was sent. (Isaiah 55 vs 11)
Roger Federer is the awesomest, greatest tennis player that has ever lived (I had to put him in somewhere). Lionel Messi too actually. In fact, the whole Barcelona team!
The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared to the glory that shall be revealed in me....sooner or later, that glory will break forth and the world that has been groaning in eager anticipation for the manifestation and the revelation of the Sons of God will groan less (Romans 8 vs 18-19; one of my favorite scriptures)
My life is great!
God is good and His mercies and grace endures forever; it doesn't matter if things are not working out the way I want; the bottom line is that my life is going exactly the way God planned it and ALL things will work together for my good - the good, bad, ugly, despicable... you get my meaning.
Planning without action and diligence is not only useless, it's a failure. Trying in and of itself is success enough.
I can hardly wait to go to Nigeria in December!!! So much fun to be had...so little time!
Being a senior is NOT a walk in the park! Jesus help me! I miss my sleep; my bed misses me..womp!
I can do ALL things through Christ who gives me strength! Through Christ alone.
First, tennis isn't really on anymore since all the Slams in the year have been played. I mean, yeah, there are a few ATP1000 tournaments going on right now but those are not televised! So what is a girl to do other than following online while trudging along with work?!
At least soccer is back on after a slight La Liga hiccup in the beginning of the season. Speaking of which, Barcelona, the best football soccer team in the whole world galaxy is seriously swelling my head with 13 consecutive wins since the beginning of the season. But I digress..
Then we've got this NBA lockout situation that doesn't look like it's about to let up! I mean, I am not as obsessed with basketball as I am with tennis and soccer but it's another thing to look forward to - I love the trash talking and the friendly (not!) banter I have with the people who call themselves Lakers fans. But right now, that's moot! Pre-season games have been cancelled! I'm sure I'm not alone in this -first of all, big shot players like Garnet and Stoudemire are losing huge vats of bi-weekly cash because of the lack of play; I'm talking millions of dollars! Which is nothing compared to what the league will lose for cancelling the preseason!
The most current thing on TV right now is the NFL and God knows I can't bring myself to watch that one. I lose interest in less than 10 minutes! It's basically a bunch of guys in tight leggings and shoulder pads chasing around a rugby ball and calling the sport football! But those who like it really like it. But one thing though, before I move on to a much more interesting topic: What in the world is it about the Redskins that people love so much? They lose. That's what they do! And their games are packed with people wearing their jerseys and colors who seem to derive a lot of pleasure watching their team lose! And those tickets are not cheap!! People actually are on a WAITING LIST to get in!! What the HECK! The most annoying part for me is that these fans crowd the beltway on Sundays around the time I leave Church for a relaxing session with my bed and clog up the roads!
I'm done...I promise.
Well, anyway, the point I was trying to make is that I miss my favorite sport teams or Roger Federer for tennis. Speaking of the RF, he's slipped to #4 now cos he hasn't played since the U.S Open and that moody, talent-less Scott has moved up to #3 and Rog is trailing by 45 points!! No Bueno!
It has been a MINUTE, my people! I hope this post finds you well!
A lot has been going on...good ones and "could be betters" but I'm still standing and therein lies the testimony!
I got officially promoted to Senior Auditor (good one! lol) and I inherited three new clients (could be better!). All in all, God is good and His mercy and grace endures forever!
I really just want to share something with you really quick and then it's back to work for me!!
This might be dorky (whatevs) but I was researching about how our bodies fight germs and foreign bodies (I've been falling sick with alarming frequency these days! No bueno!) and I got something really helpful:
White blood cells help heal wounds not only by fighting infection, but also by ingesting matter such as dead cells, tissue debris, and old red blood cells. They do this by surrounding the foreign body (or antigen) and gradually break it down and destroy it or make anti-bodies for that particular infection so that the body will not be infected a second time.
So this got me thinking -
Why is it that we don't do that with issues that we face? Why don't we surround that situation with the Living Word of God? I think it's because we expect that after a few prayer sessions and emergency fasting exercises, we expect results. But like the white blood cells, these things take time! That's why I still have a cold and cough even though I started getting symptoms last week. A pastor preached at my Church two weeks or so ago and he said that we should "enclose" our problems with the Word of God; the Word of God is Jesus so basically what you're doing is enclosing your problems with Jesus Christ.
So wherever that situation faces, thinking that you're going to be fazed again, all it sees is Jesus!
You need to take yourself out of the equation; it can't be you against a mountain 'cos you're no match for it without Jesus.
Let your problems see whose you are and watch them crumble, like my cold eventually will against my WBCs!
This encouraged me today; I hope it helps you too -
Isaiah 41 vs 11 - 13: All who rage against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced; those who oppose you will be as nothing and perish. Though you search for your enemies, you will not find them. Those who wage war against you will be as nothing at all. For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.
On that note, have a blessed, sneeze-free and God filled day ahead!
