Failure is temporary

Monday, August 25th 2014

Isaiah 40:28-29

28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.

29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.

I am sure you have experienced failure. I have. But here is the thing, think of the last time you failed;then think of how you made it through that time; and then come back to the present second in which you are reading this...Aren't you past that previous failure? Aren't you alive right now, even when you thought you could have lost it all?

Failure is temporary. Failure is God's way to help you grow.

I have experienced so much failure even in this Christian walk. It's inevitable. The Lord tells us we will go through test and trials,even in faith. 

I remember a recent conversation I was having with a girlfriend; how.. now that I am in Christ, the same vices I had in the world were still causing me great pain. I felt, when I gave my life to Christ, I could pray and wait in God's timing, follow Him and feel no pain or tribulation from men in their pursuit of me. In the world actually, I was very ok with being by myself in terms of traveling and exploring and men were attracted to my independence.. I did meet many faithful men in the world; but they ultimately weren't leading me to Christ. When I gave my life to Christ I relearned the kind of men I was to allow in my life to marry and raise my children with. Anyway, what a rude awakening it has been with men and my relations in Christ. I have now, experienced failure more than once in this area. I was sharing with my girlfriend why was the Lord choosing this particular, area to hit me so hard. But you see failure was always temporary in those situations, and is temporary now. I had to go through these experiences to gain more wisdom. In getting to know another person, it exposes your own flaws, and so I saw many areas I had to personally grow in, that will prepare me for the man that wants to grow with me despite trials.

In times where we feel most weak, rejected, and a total failure, God comes right in and gives us strength to push us through. It's not a one time ordeal that failure may come, life is a continuous cycle of ups and downs so it's bound to happen again.

But...

A perfect example we can look to in truly defeating and conquering times of failure is our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. He came to live in flesh, to show us how to handle and live with our human emotions. Throughout the bible, from being tempted by the devil in multiple locations, to being persecuted and killed by the Jews, Jesus faced failure and overcame them!!!

So Brother, Sister what about you? Children of God, made in His own image!? What makes you think that mountain of a situation or that intense heartache won't move! It will! It sure will. Pray through the hard times, stay grounded and fixed on our helper Jesus Christ.

If you have yet to come to know Jesus, accept and invite Him in. He is open, willing, warm and wants to comfort you and make you completely whole. Unravel to Him where you've wronged Him, so He can beautifully write your love story in every area of your life as He is doing so in mine.

I love you and I am praying for you <3

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Where have you experienced failure and risen up again?

From your Sister in Christ ,

Why Worry?

Monday June 21nd, 2014

  

The bible commands us to not worry. Jesus taught us that worry is one of the most ineffective pastimes that we acquire. Not one single hour is added to your life by worrying. Worry is the assassin of rest and of relationships. It steadily stalks us and hijacks the mind. While we may continue to function publicly, there is still a sinister force lurking within us. This enemy called a "sense of completion", which comes from within and which cannot be achieved by the mere acquisition of things.

Luke 12:34

 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

We often wrestle with things we cannot change. In going into the summer, I had goals on internships I wanted to acquire and wanted to make sure everything I would be doing would be pleasing unto the Lord. Often like many, from the time you put in your application you start to think and worry on the possibilities, whether you will get accepted or not. By God's grace these thoughts also came into my head but I used God's prescription to combat the worry.

God's prescription for worry is prayer.  

Philippians 4:6-7 

"Be careful for nothing: but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known unto God. And the pece of God which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hears and minds through Christ Jesus"

God took control of my situation this summer by allowing me to gain a meaningful volunteer experience I will be getting paid for and participating in a great leadership summer institute. It was all because I didn't let thoughts of worry, I prayed and leaned on him.

It was a blessing to attend one of the summer program I applied and got accepted to, NEW Leadership NJ. New Leadership is a program located at the Center for American Women and Politics within the Eagleton Institute of Politics. It is is a bi-partisan, residential program to educate college women about the political process and teach them to become effective leaders in their communities. I was apart of a national network of college woman from different socioeconomic backgrounds whom learnt from Women Leaders in the political sphere and addresses issues of diversity among many other topics.  I was also able to meet high ranking woman in public serve that I could build relationships with. It was an extra blessing to learn most were believers of God! It proves God truly reigns.

 I look forward to seeing where else God has for me. It won't involve worry,but sold out consecrated that God's got me. Do you believe he's got you?

Lets Connect on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram 

From your Sister in Christ ,

Janet Adeola Songonuga

Here is an excellent bible study on being free from worry and anxiety

 Some more pictures from the Program 

(Lieutenant Governor &Secretary of State for NJ)

(NJ Secretary of Higher Education)

Let this encourage you. God's got your life and love story. <3

 

 

Where does your strength come from?

Friday May 16, 2014

In the summer of  2011, I hit rock bottom in my own personal life. This one sin I had kept hidden from the world finally caught up to me. If that wasn't worse enough, it seemed the devil wasn't done with his attacks and hit me again even stronger, leaving me in a state of confusion, and making me wonder if my life was really over. The plans I had set were completely wiped away. So..to cope with these events I went to who I had always used to cope since the age of 14; my boyfriends, boo things, whatever guy I was talking to or dating. They were my god, my idols.

These "friendships" were my drugs.

Naturally as we grow older we find different things to latch onto and to help us cope in life. Once it was your parents, then you out grow them and it may have been a stuffed animal, neighbor etc. The key point is as you grow up you found DIFFERENT things to help you cope. It's never just ONE constant thing. You see, as you mature you acquire different needs and so different coping personalities are needed to speak into these changes you continue to experience as you grow older. 

(Where does your strength come from?)

For me when I became off age to date by society standards, my strength came from my boyfriends. That was my escape, my drug, my oasis. They were in and out of my life, no one bf stayed too long. The reason why these men were constantly being overturned and going through a revolving door was because they didn't give me permanent satisfaction.  In making them my coping mechanism I received TEMPORARY relief, TEMPORARY comfort, nothing they gave me ever lasted.

So, as I look at society, people in my age group, older and younger, I hear things like, "I can't wait to get off work, I am going to hit up happy hour then I gotta go, sleep and the cycle starts again tomorrow", or "Gosh, we ain't married yet but sis that sex is all I need right now", or "If I don't hit this blunt I don't know how else I will survive." Many of my sister and brothers are receiving their strength from temporary pleasures in this world. 

It's evident they are temporary because one, with alcohol, you drink it, you feel a buzz, it passes through your system and your problems still remain. 

When you engulf any type of substance and or drug you get a high, it passes through your system and your problems still remain. 

When you put your hope, trust, and all you have in humans, your unsaved boyfriend, girlfriend, wife or husband,the day they hurt you, cheat on you, abuse you, or even leave this earth you see the frail manner in their existence. You become aware ones life can be taken away at any moment.

The Lord tells us, humans in general and even thinking of ourselves, we are frail, to not put our trust in our strength that will one day cease and fail.  God tells us to not lean on our own thoughts that continuously think evil things:

1 Peter 1:24

King James Version (KJV)

24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:

Isaiah 2:22

Don’t put your trust in mere humans.
    They are as frail as breath.
    What good are they?

finally...

Jeremiah 17:9

“The human heart is the most deceitful of all things,
    and desperately wicked.
    Who really knows how bad it is?

So no human being can be an effective coping mechanism as many of us choose to think.

You see for many years I took my strength and had my fix from things of this world. Then a a little under two years I encountered the greatest love of all. A person, God that truly when I run to him, trust in him, ask questions to him, and cry out to him he answers, holds, and comforts me. That strength, I found in Jesus. Jesus became and is truly a constant. A friend, lover, redeemer that has never changed and will never fail.

Then one would ask "Janet! How does God comfort and hold you, he is not even real!"Well sis, brother, God is real. Although not physically in front of me,  when you accept him he inputs the holy spirit in you to help you feel his presence and understand him. Spiritually he is all around too, his beauty and grace is all around us in his creations of this world.

1 John 4:12

12 No one has ever seen God. God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.

If you've said ok, my current coping mechanism isn't really working and I think I want to try something different.  In  Isaiah 64:6 it lets us know:

For all of us have become like one who is unclean, And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment; And all of us wither like a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. SO you aren't the only one who has dabbled in the worlds ways of things. I have, all Christians have. 

I am inviting you to try Jesus. He is real, he still saves, and he is still in the business of transforming and saving lives today. With God you don't have to worry about gossip from humans, failing health/organs due to substance abuse, overdose, and heartbreak. His words when read and believed will assure you and will comfort you. Jesus is ready to truly take you by the hand and guide you once you say Yes to him, and no to everything in this world.

Psalm 23:1-6

A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

It works for me and I know it will work for you! I love you and I am praying for you.

Lets Connect on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram 

From your Sister in Christ ,

Janet Adeola Songonuga

WOMEN IN THE AFRICAN SOCIETY & WOMAN IN AMERICA

Another Government & Public Service Post..YAY

   Wednesday August 7th, 2013

I pray whom ever is reading this is having a blessed day today! 

This will be a two part blog:

I made a personal goal to not only read the entire bible this summer but to also go to more political centered events I would be interested in. I have been wanting to blog about a phenomenal program I attended by US-Africa Synergy a little whiles ago, June 25th,2013 to be exact. The event was entitled Women in the African Society- Challenges & Perspectives. So I will endeavor to tell you all about the happenings of this program and the great people and one person I met that's really helping me grow in faith which was held at the Nigerian Mission in New York City.

In addition I will center this blog about women and their role in the world, specifically as a Christian woman by discussing the 3 part PBS Documentary entitled the Makers (which you can click and watch before you read my responses about it)

Let's get into this, Part 1:

On June 25th, 2013, US-Africa Synergy, a non-profit which seeks to engage the African Diaspora in the sustainable transforming of Africa and empowering African youths, held a program in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the African Union. All guest speakers and invitees including me sought to examine our roles as daughters, sisters, wives and mothers and look back on the changes brought by the historical Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa adopted in July 2004. This Declaration was the African Leadership’s attempt to promote gender equality and to empower women in Africa. However a decade later, data shows very little has been made to improve the social and professional stature of women in African and the African Diaspora. That evening we all sought to  examine the reasons of a halt on change for women in Africa through factors such as gender role, culture and education. 

So basically I personally wanted to go to meet one particular speaker at the event Yetunde A. Odugbesan-Omede. God is so faithful because I actually met her on the train station in NJ, waiting for the train to NY and here she comes gracefully walking up. We ended up chatting the whole way there and now she is one of the best Mentors/friends I have ever had in my life. I'll express her contributions to the event in question further on. 

So the event's structure first included a panel of four speakers, who spoke about their suggested changes for woman in Africa through gender roles, culture, and education. The speakers were:

(Dr. Bola Omotosho-  Medical Doctor & 16th District City Council Candidate)

(Dr. Josephine Ojiambo, Former UN Deputy Ambassador of Kenya)

(Ms. Mpule kwelagobe- Miss Universe 1999)

(Mrs. Yetunde A. Odugbesan-Omede, CEO & Founder Yetunde Global Consulting, LLC)

Comments that resonated with me on seeing women improve in Africa and beyond is :

• For women to know their strength.
• For marriage to be an option when they are ready but not forced. 
• For domestic violence to addressed in countries in Africa that have yet to clearly discuss it in the political arena. 
• Women are strong holders of a community and home. If the women lack, the entire community and her home lacks.
• Yetunde especially mentioned each and every woman has a talent, must realize their talent, and start putting their talent to work!

After this first panel, there was another panel discussion with students. This was great because it opened up questions about the modern woman. How woman in this generation want to be taken seriously but dress scandalously, get drunk on weekends, and rudely talk among their own circles and outside. All this need to stop and we must do better. Comments were made about faith including the Christian faith whom say woman are weaker vessels. Yes the bible does state that in 1st Timothy but when it's used in the right context it explains woman are delicate beings, to be handled with care. God, did make woman in his image so woman are very strong as well! The event empowered us young woman to take control of our destiny and know we are strongly needed to make an impact in our world. 

Yetunde has a really great blog that encourages all, woman and men to put their best forward here: Putting your best forward . She also started a really great organization to help woman enter womanhood and realize their destiny, check it out here : Young Woman Guide 

Part 2:

In continuing to know about the happenings and improvements we need to make as women, I would like to share with you all an awesome Documentary PBS did. PBS created a 3 part series entitled Makers. It basically goes through woman's role in America from the 1960's where women went to college but were expected to remain homemakers up until the roles women play in present day. 

I will like to share my reaction after watching all 3: 

Part 3 in particular clearly shows my generation, that being a power woman holding a great career and being a great mom can be difficult. As a Christian woman it reaffirms that God is calling me to still be a great mother and a help meet to my husband, but as were great woman in the bible who made great change like Deborah and Easter, God will provide me with the education and income to also support my family during the times in my lifetime I am needed. But also in the 3rd part they explain the push for fathers to brake the role of not playing a bigger part in raising children within the home as per spending time. This is seen very highly in African homes, I am not excluded, anyway it's another reason why I love my faith because men are expected to do as much as the wife is to do in the relationship. 

Women I would love to hear your comments after you've watched Makers and about the first part of the blog. Let's start a dialogue and conversation here.

(At my Monday Night Youth Bible study:Occupy Earth)

BONUS: Amos Johnson an amazing man that encourages Kingdom Business to grow and prevail. He just did an amazing podcast on the question: Should the wife be the provider for the family?The  You can watch it here: Wives, it is not your responsibility to provide for the family 

Lets Connect on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram 

From your Sister in Christ with a Servants Heart,

Janet Adeola Songonuga

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Feeling Lonely, Frustrated, a lot on your mind?

This has been me these past couple of days. Feelings of loneliness, frustration, and  a lot of thoughts on my mind. I just want to remind you sis or brother that when you have the joy of the Lord, it's forever there and you must subject your flesh to the joy God has placed upon you. These are the times where you need to mediate on the word harder, pray harder and seclude yourself to be with just the Lord. I thank God I came out victorious. I didn't lose site of my purpose God has created for me, and the promises I desire, and look forward to receiving for serving him.
This message really helped me today. I pray it blesses you. Love you all <3

Lets Connect on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram 

From your Sister in Christ with a Servants Heart,

Janet Adeola Songonuga

P.S Yes this may be the shortest blog ever. But being transparent and real with my subscribers :)

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