My office is in a plaza with several other businesses, and we have a security man who looks after the entire place.
This morning, he came to me and asked if he could use my bank account because someone wanted to send him money. His phone had fallen into water days ago and he hadn’t been able to repair it, so he couldn’t access his account. He explained that someone wanted to bless him because today is his 65th birthday.
I shouted in excitement, “Papa, today na your birthday?” Then I gave him my account number.
When I got into the office, I told everyone it was Papa’s 65th birthday and suggested we appreciate him because he’s always looking out for us. He washes some people’s cars, helps us drain floodwater from the plaza after heavy rain so we don’t have to step into it, and he’s friendly to everyone. He never fails to hail people with a smile.
We called him into the office, sang “Happy Birthday” to him, and then the donations started. 10k from this person, 20m from another, 5k here, 5k there. The office opposite ours joined in too.
By the end of it all, we had raised 214k
Happiness nearly overwhelmed the old man.
He borrowed my phone to call his wife. I didn’t hear their conversation, but shortly after, she sent me a message with four account numbers. Papa told me to send 60k to the first account, then 40k 40k and ₦ 20k to the remaining three. I sent the balance to a POS agent and she gave Papa cash.
Less than two hours later, he came back to show me two pairs of rainboots he had bought. He smiled and said they were for his wife and his last child because the road they take to the market is always flooded, and he didn’t want them stepping into dirty water every day.
I asked him, “Papa, you never repair your phone that fell inside water oh?”
He smiled and said, “Once I collect my salary by month end, I will do that one.”
As I was leaving the office this evening, you needed to see him moving around with so much joy.
That moment reminded me of something… Fatherhood is a lifetime of putting everyone else first. Even when he finally had money in his hands, his first thoughts were his wife and children, not himself.
If your father is still alive, don’t ever forget to appreciate him.
Ije nwoke siri ike makachukwu!
Actually, cutting Oha leaves with a knife is a big no-no. It causes the edges to oxidize and makes the whole soup turn bitter. To keep that authentic, sweet taste, you have to shred them with your fingers!
I’ve been drinking heavy Zobo + Ginger + 15 Cloves + Cinnamon + pineapple and sugar mixture boiled together for 3wks straight thinking I’m being healthy and avoiding soda.
Fast forward to today, I went to do a personal shopping for 2 of my clients in Balogun Market and I had a total blackout right in the middle of the market. My Vision went dark, chest tight, felt like a spiritual attack…knowing that I have never had any of those symptoms all at ones; I thought I was legit dying and called my mum while at it and she told me to go to the nearest clinic and I did🥹
Turns out, I was just overdosing on natural medicine. Zobo & cloves are powerful, they lower blood pressure and thin the blood. If you already have low BP or don't eat enough iron, it will CRASH you.
Moral of the story: Don’t abuse nature. Even too much apple or pineapple has its side effects. Balance is key. Stay hydrated and don’t turn your kitchen into a pharmacy🙏🏼🥹
NEVER DO THESE THINGS TO YOUR HEART
WARNING:
1. Salt – Don't add extra to every meal
2. Stress – Don't carry it to bed at night
3. Smoking – Don't think light smoking is safe
4. Sleep – Don't sleep less than 6 hours
5. Exercise – Don't live a completely still life
6. Chest Pain – Don't ever ignore it
7. Blood Pressure – Don't skip checking it
8. Junk Food – Don't eat it every single day
9. Alcohol – Don't drink heavily regularly
10. Sugar – Don't consume in excess daily
11. Anger – Don't let it build up inside
12. Sitting – Don't sit for hours without moving
13. Weight – Don't ignore being very overweight
14. Fried Food – Don't eat it too often
15. Symptoms – Don't ignore fatigue and dizziness
16. Checkups – Don't skip your annual heart tests
Your heart never stops working for you. Never stop caring for it.
Can we normalize the fact that your relationship with God
doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s?
Some people journal.
Some people pace and pray out loud.
Some people worship through music.
Some people sit in silence.
Some people talk to Him like He’s sitting across the table.
There’s no wrong method.
There’s just connection.
And He honors all of it.
How do you connect with God in a way that’s uniquely yours?
Having a fully functioning body is such an underrated privilege. Legs that work, eyes that can see, hands that can move.. it’s all a blessing. Take care of it.
Me: Dad I want to make my hair
Him : Go and make it now
Me: Money
Him: How much?
Me 3500 ( in my head; attachment x2=800, stylist=1000, transport and miscellaneous =1000. Pocket the rest)
Him: Ha! Isn’t it better if you barb it? My barber takes 100, it is when I want to dash him money that I pay 200
Me: OK goes back to my room
30 minutes later
Him: Aren’t you making your hair again?
Me: But you said I should go and cut it now
Him: you better do quick. I will not wait for you o. I’m going to town now.
Me : Rushed to the bathroom to take a bath and get ready
He drops me at the saloon
Him: Call me him when you’re done and gives me 3500
2hrs later he calls, are you done? I’m going home o
Me: We’re not even half done. I’ll just meet you at home
Him: aren’t you hungry
Me: I am very hungry, but I’ll just buy mineral and biscuits.
Him: OK don’t stay out too late.
Me: OK sir
A few moments later he calls again to ask how many of us were in the saloon? My dad brought food for all 3 of us. The woman making my hair asked if he was my boyfriend and I said my Dad, the other lady said maybe she is his only child. This man has 9 of us and he is like that with every single one
He went ahead to wait 2 extra hours just to take me home, so I don’t have to go home by myself at night.
Also the first to compliment my hair even though he complained about it being too much and too long.
That man has loved me my entire life, being actively present and I would give him the entire universe if I could.
I bank with Zenith Bank. When I slot in my ATM card, the machine will welcome me and say “Arome, welcome”. The machine is dealing with me as a personalised customer. If I give my friend, Gideon Odoma my ATM to help me make some withdrawals, when he slots in the card, the machine will still say “Arome, welcome”, it won't recognise Gideon. It accepts the transaction because it takes for granted that it is Arome.
When you give your life to Christ, the Christ that is in you is the one that has the passcode to the throne of Grace. So when you come before the throne of Grace, you're not admitted into activities or transactions with that throne because you're ‘Samuel’ or ‘Philip’ by name. Christ in you becomes the basis of your right standing with God, He doesn't see you, He sees Christ; just like the ATM machine didn't recognise my friend Gideon and thought it was dealing with Arome.
So, Christ in you becomes the reason of your acceptance. Not you in yourself, but Christ in you. As long as you have Christ in you, when you stand before God, you're Right from the perspective of the Justice system of Heaven.
It is this RIGHTNESS that gives you the platform for Prayer. It is this RIGHTNESS that makes you to be able to engage God without inferiority, guilt and condemnation.
And the proof that this RIGHTNESS is in place is that there's an inner PEACE. PEACE means you're accepted. Peace means welcomed. Peace means you're free to do transactions in the courts of Heaven.
•••
And that's an arrangement that was put in place not because you had anything to contribute to it. Salvation is not a reward for good behavior; it is a gift released by the grace of God. We access this grace by putting our faith in Jesus Christ.
Because it is entirely God’s doing and not our achievement, no man has grounds to boast.
Therefore, every believer must live in humility, knowing that redemption is purely the mercy of God.
(—Ephesians 2:8 & 9)
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Sermon By Apostle Arome Osayi and transferred by Kingdom Channel ✍🏼
Humble because I know what’s like to be lost , broken &have absolutely nothing . Grateful, because I truly believe that every single day is a gift . Confident because I have seen his miracles & I know what he can do . And hopeful because I know I haven’t seen the best of my story