P. Boye Motivations

A GLORIOUS MARRIAGE.

Welcome back, Kings and Queens!
I hope you are doing well today? Please, do take care of yourself.

I believe after our topic last week, there is a need to also address issues married people go through. One which I wanted to discuss was intercourse/relationship between single ladies/men with married men/women; Please, if you want to have a glorious marriage for yourself, don’t destroy another person’s own or limit yourself from having one with your marriage. Please!

Moving on, I believe these married people were once single and most likely went through some of the issues discussed last week and so it’s important to know how the transition has been for them.
I am currently not married, and so, may not be in the best place to address the issues in marriage. So, I decided to speak to a total of 6 married men/women.
I asked them questions related to marriage and what they believe are prime problems in marriage.
While all marriages differ, I believe their answers will help guide singles as they make decisions about marriage and also help married people maintain Godly and fruitful marriages.

At the end of this blog post, you will be glad you read it, though a little lengthy, it is worthwhile. Please, do take detailed notes.

Below, you will find attached questions/request asked (each will be boldened) and their respective answers will follow suit. Some of them preferred that their names were not disclosed and so, we will honor their decisions.

QUESTION 1: What is the most common problem faced in marriages today?

Sex, money and personality clash- Wunmi Izuagie, married for 19 years

2. Lack of proper Communication- married for 13 years

3.Understanding and tolerating each other- married for 31 years

4. Communication gap, mistrust, infidelity, lack of intimacy, lack of forgiveness, lack of commitment, and lack of the fear of God –Pastor Mrs. Deborah Kunuyi

5. Unfaithfulness, lack of communication, lack of sexual satisfaction, childbearing issues, financial problems, interference from In-laws Accommodation issues, medical issues e.t.c- Rose Buernorkie Nanor, married for 14 years

6. One’s expectations before marriage continues , with one party not considering age and probably health issues that may have crept in over the years- married for 31 years

@paulinaboye In summary, what I, have learned that are key problems in marriages today and should strive to avoid in my marriage by God’s grace focuses mainly on lack of effective communication, this may then lead to the spouses not being able to understand and tolerate each other over the years as they face other key issues such as lack of sexual satisfaction, lack of forgiveness, financial issues, health issues, in -law-related issues and so on.

How about you? What’s your take-home from what’s been shared on problems in marriages today?

QUESTION 2: What key solution would you offer to address the problem stated above?

Godly living and tolerance –Wunmi Izuagie, married for 19 years

2. Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and guide you on how to communicate with your spouse, spend time studying and learning each other love languages.– married for 13 years

3. Have sincere and truthful conversations devoid of fear with one another. – married for 31 years

4. Receiving salvation, you ought to seek/receive God’s will before marriage, have ceaseless prayers, apply the word of God in your marriage, be surrounded by an effective community to guide you, have sacrificial love, and total trust in each other.-Pastor Mrs. Deborah Kunuyi

5. Child birth can be addressed by seeking medical help early. Couples should plan for their own home to have privacy–Rose Buernorkie Nanor, married for 14 years

6. All activities and expectations should be fairly handled by both parties. One party should not feel shortchanged. When it comes to chores, both spouses should get involved and not one party left to handle all– married for 31 years

@paulinaboye Wow, as though I was reading a book, I had to highlight these key solutions so we do not ignore them. Wow, many at times, we singles or newly married people do not think these are important, I mean having truthful conversations devoid of fear, sacrificial love, and tolerance, being taught how to communicate by the Holy Spirit, planning for privacy in marriage, applying the word of God during marriage not only when praying for marriage, both parties getting involved in activities and so on? Coming from people married for this long and are still keeping it real, I would take key tips from here and hold firmly onto them.

Don’t forget to note down points.

REQUEST 1: Please, offer one major and practical advice you will give to single people dealing with pressing sexual desires.

Get an accountability partner who you can trust with the information and isn’t a predator-Wunmi Izuagie, married for 19 years
Ask the help of the Holy Spirit, make conscious efforts to avoid situations that stir up sexual desires like pornographic books, videos, being alone with the opposite sex, heavy petting, and physical activities- married for 13 years.
Studying and practicing the word of God deliberately –married for 31 years.
Marriage is not for spiritual/physical/emotional/financial babies, hold on and get matured, seek and hear well, then obey Christ by living to cleaving forever.-Pastor Mrs. Deborah Kunuyi.
1st Corinthians 7:2, 9,” 7 nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife and let every woman have her own husband. 9 but if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn”-Rose Buernorkie Nanor, married for 14 years
See that yielding to that desire is a big sin before God. Don’t give in to temptations of it and flee from the person causing/triggering it if there is another party involved- married for 31 years

REQUEST 2: Please, offer one major and practical advice you will give to married individual’s dealing with problems as a result of sexual decisions they made in their past.

1.Seek God’s help. Talk to professionals who can help you.-Wunmi Izuagie, married for 19 years

2.Ask God for healing and directions, remember there is absolutely nothing He cannot do- married for 13 years

3. God is ever merciful so you can grow from your past mistakes- married for 31 years

4.God is the Author of Marriage, He is also a merciful God. Forgive yourself and draw closer to God, he can sustain you through thick and thin – Keep calling and trusting in him, He can fix it.-Pastor Mrs. Deborah Kunuyi

5. They should have a fresh start and have regular sex. They can also have a sexual timetable –Rose Buernorkie Nanor married for 14 years

6. Own it, face it and deal with the problem. Don’t push or forcefully involve your spouse while solving the issue- married for 31 years

I particularly appreciate how open they were to involve God in the topic of sex, lol. Two major things you can also do after involving God are involving counselors and try having timetables or regular sex (for the married only)

But wait! Someone has something to add, She is the youngest in marriage amongst all the participants, however, she has some key tips for both singles and married.

Sprinkles of Wisdom by a 7-year-old married woman

To singles, effective communication is key, but it’s also important to marry your friend because honestly, butterflies and lovey-dovey feelings fly out the window fast when personality differences start rearing heads.
Friendship is what helps start the communication in the first place.
Before marriage, the couple should talk about expectations they have for each other and their marriage, that way you know what is a deal-breaker and what isn’t. You can’t change a person’s personality, only God and the Holy Spirit can, it is why you need to talk about these things during courtship. Talk about your likes, dislikes, how you both react when angry, and notice and observe as well because you don’t want to spend all the years after the wedding praying for God to change the other person
Also, before getting married, work on yourself, make sure, you yourself will like to be married to you. Ask God to make you the woman/man for your husband/wife. Most times we focus on,” God please change this person, instead of God change me and make me the best person I can be for myself and to my spouse.”

For the married, be friends, respect your differences, love, and be committed to doing your part, that’s the Agape Love. Focus on playing your part, that way, you don’t have time to see faults in your partner every day. We are obviously not perfect, but we strive for perfection through the help of Christ, and every day we get better. Speak life daily on how you want your home to be and to your partner in and outside their presence. Speak all these into existence and find ways to create laughter every day.

REQUEST 3: I humbly ask that you say a word of prayer over everyone, single/married who will read your comments.

Lord, I pray that everyone who will read these comments will align to your will for marriage in the name of Jesus. Dear Lord, help everyone struggling in their sexual lives or marriages in Jesus name-Wunmi Izuagie married for 19 years

2. Oh Lord I pray everyone going through one situation or the other, that you will meet them at the point of their needs, that you exchange their weaknesses for your strength and make them whole and complete in you in Jesus name.- married for 13 years

3. Lord, help us by the agency of the Holy Spirit to live a life worthy of your Name.- married for 31 years

4. As God lives, I decree your Marriage shall be heaven on earth in Jesus’ name.-Pastor Mrs. Deborah Kunuyi

5. It is my prayer that God will heal every home and help us all- Rose Buernorkie Nanor, married for 14 years.

6. May you find rest in your home- married for 31 years

7. Our Heavenly Father, we thank you for the lives of all readers and contributors here. We ask in your mercy, that wisdom be given to each of us (married & single) that we may pursue the marriage covenant according to your direction and guidance. May our relationships be fruitful and may we fulfill your kingdom purpose in Jesus’ name- married for 7 years.

Amen! Amen! Amen! Amen! Amen! Amen! And amen! Thank you, Jesus, marriages are being restored and singles are being settled appropriately!

Have you learned a thing or two? I hope you have.

I will be here by God’s grace rooting for you all through your journey to success regardless of the area of your life. If we shall succeed triumphantly in every aspect of our lives, we shall also have glorious marriages! Amen!

I honor every participant that made this article a success. Thank you for praying over every reader. May God dry every tear of sorrow if any and multiply you and your home with laughter, joy and His glory. Your marriages are fruitful in the name of Jesus. Thank you! I honor you.

Paulina Sharon Boye

8th December, 2020

CARRIER’S OF GRACE.

Song of the day: If not for you by Frank Edwards. Bible Text: 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NLT, “19 Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, 20 for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body”

Dear Reader,
I write this with the hope you come to an understanding of the High Calling you have in Jesus.
Please, stay with me as I paint a picture hopefully to pass the right message to you. I need to tell you something.

Growing up, some of us were taught never to have a boyfriend/girlfriend, some were told,” never have sex before marriage”, some were scolded for kissing a guy they had feelings for, punished for going out and staying late into the night, to cover up as a lady, sit well, close your laps, and so on, but why?

We may then ask ourselves,” Why can’t I have a boyfriend/girlfriend at a young age if I have feelings? Is it wrong to have feelings? Why can’t I have sex before marriage, I mean, I have desires. If I can’t have sex, before marriage, I can masturbate then, I can watch pornography. At least that solves the issue, right? I am not going to get pregnant or impregnate anyone, after all, I am obeying, but then, as if that’s not enough, you and i are told not to masturbate and watch porn, judged and made to look like demons, but are we? What really does the older generation want from me? You then ask. Finally, you conclude. Okay, fine! No boyfriend/girlfriend right? No sex with the opposite sex or masturbation? Fine, I have decided to like the same sex I.e. lesbianism/gay! And still, there is a problem. They are probably just old school.
I like to look good, showing a little skin would not hurt anyone, it’s my body.” After a while, we finally conclude the church is just judgemental, God is too picky, and so on and go ahead to still perform the acts regardless because honestly, you can’t live to please anyone. Your body is yours!

Well, let me tell you what I believe, I believe your desires to want to have sex are valid actually, the question is in what context and with whom?

Hold on now, don’t leave yet thinking you know what I have to say, just wait.

While all these are good pieces of advice they gave us, I believe the wrong message was passed as to why not to do these things. You and I were taught these things and somewhat fear was instilled in us, that’s where I believe a problem lies.

For a fact, sex is not bad, it is not, it was created by God. God created these desires in us.
So why then do they keep telling us not to follow our hearts and desires? To be honest, I can’t speak for them, but I have an answer for myself.

You see, you are not to have sex before marriage, masturbate, watch pornography, etc so that you don’t enjoy your life, no, it is because your body is a sanctuary! For God who is Holy to dwell and live in (please, do read the Bible scripture at the top again).

Again, wait! Don’t go, please, read to the end, stay with me.

You are of God, and Within you lies the breath of God, within you lies the power to break barriers and deliver nations for the kingdom of God.
The main idea to withdraw from these acts is because your body is the temple of God, not because you are young or old enough, white or black, rich or poor. It’s because you are a carrier of God! A carrier of generations! A carrier of divine transformation, that is why.

Don’t you see? We got the message wrong all along.

Let’s assume you wait till marriage to have sex (which you should by the way), you have sex, have you not had the sex they warned you against?! Does that mean you are now unholy for the Holy Spirit to dwell in? No, but even in marriage, your body is still the temple of God. That’s why you shouldn’t still perform certain acts like tell lies, steal, masturbate, watch pornography, practice lesbianism/gayness, etc, these things will cloud your mind, your spirit, and soul from remaining pure! Thereby you become defiled and God cannot dwell where He is not welcomed.
Just like you try to clean up your home when expecting a visitor, in this same way, you must constantly clean up and be purified for God to continuously dwell.

A temple is a holy place you can worship, praise, find safety, offer sacrifices, and be healed, you know, become whole, and so if you are a walking Temple, you need to remain pure.

Your desires are very valid! In what context though?
So, you want to have a boyfriend/girlfriend, for what exactly? Will the relationship still keep you as a temple holy enough to be lodged by God?

A truth for every beliver to know is, “WE ARE NOT INVOLVED IN SEXUAL IMMORALITY BECAUSE WE WERE TOLD NOT TO, THAT’S A WRONG REASON, ACTUALLY, THE WORST REASON BECAUSE IF GRANTED PERMISSION TO BE INVOLVED, OR THE GOVERNMENT LEGALIZES IT FOR ALL, A DIVINE AND KINGDOM LAW IS STILL BROKEN BY DOING IT. WE ARE NOT INVOLVED BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND THE CONCEPT OF BEING CARRIERS OF GRACE AND THE SPIRIT OF GOD, THE CONCEPT THAT OUR BODY IS FOR GOD AND NOT OURS, NOW THIS IS A VALID REASON. IF THIS IS OUR REASON, YOU AND I WILL STAND TALL TILL THE VERY END.”

Please note that this post is not to judge you if you are involved in these acts. Rather, it’s to reveal the truth to you thereby bringing you to genuine repentance and consecration. Jesus still loves you regardless and your body can still be a temple, a beautiful one for God.
Please, Surrender/ redirect your life to Jesus.

Please say this prayer aloud with me, if you want to surrender your life to Jesus Christ, “Heavenly Father, I completely surrender all my life to You! I adore You, for You are mighty and all-powerful, worthy of all my praise.I believe that Jesus, the son of God died on the cross for me and that He arose on the third day .Come into my life and make all things new. I ask for your forgiveness of sins and your grace to overcome the temptations I feel and keep my body as whole and pure by the working power of the Holy Spirit. I believe and know that all I need to do is call on name of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and I will be saved. Thank You for that privilege! I’m now born again “ . Amen!

Welcome to the body of Christ, I rejoice with you 🎉😊

To be continued……..

Boye Paulina Sharon
5th December 2020

Fear of the Unknown

Hello there,

Happy new month🎊, I pray that this month opens up doors of favor and causes you to rise above limitations.

Welcome back to P. Boye Motivations.
I am grateful to have you on here today.
A few months ago, we completed the second edition of the Brave Series, I must say, it’s been an interesting journey ever since.
As we come to the end of the year, I believe it is important that we become aware of certain key knowledge, hence, throughout this month as we go into the new year, I hope to provide you with back to back write-ups with the hope that it will stir you up to attain higher goals for the coming year.

Firstly, let’s talk about the fear of the Unknown, it’s no doubt that this year has brought us unprecedented events as many lives were lost in ways that brought alarm to us, many jobs lost, houses flooded or burned down, students forced to school from home and graduate virtually and so on. This year was just different. One may then think, if this year, which marks the beginning of a decade could be this way, how much more next year and years to come, thereby creating fear; the fear of not knowing what next to expect and the rise of concerns.

Well, while it is natural for you to be concerned. What are you going to do about this concern? I know you don’t have a superpower, you may not have the resources for what you think you will see in the coming year, friends may have left you, perhaps there is no hope left in you, hmm, but there is a solution, and it lies within you.

I want to remind you today who you are, created for greatness and so despite how things may seem to turn out, whatever seems to be coming your way, I want to suggest to you three (3) major things to do to bury this fear you may have and take charge of this month and months to come in the new year.

Pray; you must not allow fear to confuse your steps to achieving and walking in your destiny.
Don’t you know the power and authority you have in the secret place as a child of God? Have you forgotten that your words carry the power to change and alter circumstances? The word of God says, Son of man, prophesy! Ezekiel 37: 4-10 AMP, ” 4 Again He said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord.’ 5 Thus says the Lord God to these bones, ‘Behold, I will make breath enter you so that you may come to life. 6 I will put sinews on you, make flesh grow back on you, cover you with skin, and I will put breath in you so that you may come alive; and you will know that I am the Lord.’” 7 So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a [thundering] noise, and behold, a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to its bone. 8 And I looked, and behold, there were sinews on the bones, and flesh grew and skin covered them; but there was no breath in them. 9 Then He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, son of man, and say to the breath, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.”’” 10 So I prophesied as He commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they came to life and stood up on their feet, an exceedingly great army.

My dear Reader, prophesy! Job 38:36 NLT says, “Who gives intuition to the heart and instinct to the mind? “. It’s not a mistake that you may feel concerned as you have been given intuition and instinct by God for a reason, it will be a mistake on your path rather if you don’t channel your concerns to your upliftments. Do not allow the fear of tomorrow to subdue the strength you have to pray today! Speak what you want to see into reality! Do not stop praying until you see results! Uproot forces and let there be Light! For you and your family! It’s possible once you have faith! C’mon! Begin to pray, don’t stop till you encounter results, and please, write down your prayer request and pray it, testimonies shall spring forth for you and your loved ones. Amen.

PS: Please, if you have not surrendered your life to Jesus Christ yet, please do, do it, now is your time, Pray to God and ask Jesus to come into your life, declare that you believe in Him. 🔥🔥

Plan: Now, you have prayed and accepted Jesus into your life, you need to plan for the year ahead. What are your expectations for the upcoming year, and how do you plan to achieve them? You have decreed what you want to see right? Now, please plan to receive what you have prayed for in the coming months. Yes, this year, a major topic discussed on this blog is the power of planning. Get a paper, sit down, and plan how you will maintain the things you shall receive.

3. Prepare, do and achieve, as a human being, one thing you must understand about life is that situations will arise to make you disbelieve and fall into losing hope in your dreams and plans for life (this month and the months to come). If you set goals for yourself to be achieved this year, keep believing and work towards achieving them! The year is not over! Next year as well, as you expect things to work well, do not stop believing or doing what you ought to despite how things around you seem. Your consistent actions despite limitations are what make you stand out and differentiates you from others.

This is a charge for you my dear reader, step out and achieve! The fear of the unknown may arise, but, the reality of the unknown shall favor you as you pray, plan, prepare, act, and achieve.

God bless and channel you to greatness.

See you on Saturday, Amen🤗 ❤

Boye Paulina Sharon.
3rd December 2020

NO FEAR

THE TERMINATION OF FEAR

PLAN YOUR SUCCESS STORY

Beauty for Ashes – THE BRAVE SERIES

You are welcome in the Name of the Lord, you are welcome in the name of the Lord, I can see all over you, the glory of the Lord, you are welcome in than name of the Lord ( Feel free to sing along) 💯💯💯.

🙊 I know, I know, it’s the end of the Brave series Part 2😿😺. I have mixed feelings about this.. Hmm, well, 😀.. Lets get right into it, shall we?

Our final guest is a change agent, a fire-spitting woman of God, she is a great leader. She is called, ” Ogundeji Oluwadunsin Faith”. Find out more about her below.

“MY JOURNEY IS WHAT IS CALLED, “BEAUTY FOR ASHES”

“To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.” Isaiah 61:3 KJV

Sometimes it hurts, sometimes it’s hard, sometimes it’s dark, and it leaves its mark, like ashes of grief, in the deepest parts of our souls, where no one but God can really see.
That’s why he brings beauty out of it.
I’ve made quite a number of mistakes in life but one thing i never did was to regret any…
Oh! No, I don’t regret my mistakes….. I learn from it…. I snap out of it quickly and move on…
And even though i never regretted any mistake, there was one mistake i always wished i never made; that i went into a relationship at an early stage of life and experienced physical abuse, just because i was on campus and it didn’t sound or look okay for me to stay without a man.
My friends were in relationships and their stories sounded interesting.
Oh, my parents raised me better, they told me relationship was never a thing to take lightly that it had to be for Goodly and Godly reasons and it had to be for ME.
Oh… I didn’t listen, i went into the relationship and at an early stage of life, I experienced what an Abusive Relationship was.
I was stuck in for almost two years, beaten, battered, and shattered.
I stayed in there thinking he was the best for me, hoping to get married to him.
Oh! What ignorance.
I thought no one was better, he was the best.
Oh no, I wasn’t there because of the goodies, I was there because even though I didn’t have the Holy Spirit, I was and I’m still a very decent lady, I couldn’t afford to jump from one relationship to the other.
He would abuse me and still cheat.
It was more like I was trapped.
It was two years of torture.

But, one morning I woke up and I told myself I was done, it was a difficult situation but I was determined to leave.
It was extremely difficult gathering up the courage to leave , I knew I needed help.
I was grateful I spoke with someone, I just went online, searched for a Christian counselor who later became my mentor.
She helped me out, gave me books to read, prayed with me and made sure I opted out of the relationship.
And yes! I became depressed for a year , I never wanted a relationship neither did I want to get married or hear marriage stories.
All I wanted to do was enjoy my new journey in Christ and be the best in my career.
One day, while I was praying for my purpose, the veil was opened,
God gave me an assignment to raise a sexually pure generation that is spiritually, mentally and emotionally balanced for marital bliss.
He told me ,he was there all through the ashes but he had beauty planned out.
That was the beginning of my liberation and journey to beauty and for 6 years now, it has been beauty all round.

God never intends for us to stay stuck in our sin, pain, or deep sorrow. He heals and restores, He calls us onward, He reminds us that in Him, we have great purpose and hope.

There’s beauty and greatness behind every mark of darkness. The ashes will fall away, they don’t stay forever, but His greatness and glory shine forever through every broken place and flaw we’ve struggled through.

Even though GOD told me he was there in the midst of the ashes, I wished I knew GOD personally earlier.
I could have waited, waited to be treated right, waited to do it for God and for me, waited to do it until i was truly ready, waited to know there’s more to life.
I shouldn’t have been pressured.
I could have listened to to my inner self, She asked me many times, “What’s the hurry?”. Even though i never knew the Holy Spirit then, I had instincts ….

I’m bearing my heart to you today as you read this blog post because you think that relationship/marriage will make you fit in since everyone is in one or everyone is getting married or in a relationship.
It’s not true, you never have to fit in, not into any box nor into any norm.
It’s not a crime to be single and to get it right.
You must live your life according to God’s terms and your standards, and i promise you, the world will adjust.
Yeees, all your friends are married, you have been jilted quite a number of times, your pillow has soaked a lot of tears.
I know you are worried about your age. Yes, you are close to being 30 years of age, I love you for staying strong, i admire you for choosing your convictions over flippant men. I salute you for knowing you deserve better and not settling for less or settling with an unworthy partner.
I know you have a checklist, I hope you concentrate on completing other things on your checklist and wait for the Awemazing (awesome+amazing)Man/woman that you deserve, and this would happen at the right time.
When pressure sets in and you are about to bury your convictions, remember how much i respect you, remember how much standards you set for yourself has inspired me, remember this blog post.”

I love you,
DUNSIN.O

What a way to end the brave series. Whew! And just like that, 9 strong people in the space of 9 weeks have set the record and are heading on to making the world a better place. Oh, Miss. Ogundeji, you are a rare gem, you are a queen. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Oh, thank you! You are blessed and uplifted. I pray you achieve your purpose and have an heaven on earth marriage. Amen💓

I personally thought this post was, ” necessary and needed”. How about you? Please leave your comments below, like, share and please follow.

I appreciate you all deeply. Words fail me. Thank you to Mr. Peter Medzi, Mr. Kalio Sotonye, Mrs. Grace Olowu, Mr. Kingsley Charles, Mr. Acolatse Mac-Abel, Miss. Ireoluwatomiwa Agbe-Davies, Miss. Elizabeth Maame Esi Ewudiwa, Mr. Emmanuel Ladzekpo, and Miss. Ogundeji Oluwadunsin. I honor you all. Thank you for making this a success and for joining me on this journey💓💯. If you would love to read any of their stories, please just clock on their names and you’d be able to view their brave stories.

God bless you all, see you in December by God’s Grace, as we go on a break.

Boye Paulina Sharon

3rd August, 2020

The Mindset that breaks Barriers – THE BRAVE SERIES

Hey there! Welcome back to the Brave series 😀. We are almost through with this season🎉. Today, we meet our second to the last guest😀(We are featuring 9 guests this season) Wow! How amazing! Thank you to everyone who has participated in the success of this. I am most grateful.

Let’s meet our guest for today, shall we? (I believe you said yes! Please, tell me you did😀, haha.) Well, his name is,” Emmanuel Ladzekpo”. A man who is determined to make a difference in his generation. Kindly find a brief bio about him in the image below.

“Emmanuel, born on the 5th of June 1984 Was set out to be a great person. Life, however, started being challenging at secondary school, as the results came out for exams and they were not encouraging…… I now spend time helping others understand, that there is hope. My story has been heard in many youth talks, and I some times help people learn to be successful, self-confident, and happy, no matter what comes their way.
If we look at my pictures, you can’t see my struggles. Sometimes it can appear that I had a lot of advantages. I imagine if you saw my upbringing, you might think that I had it easy.

Those who work without complaining do the holy will of God. After the death of my Grandma who was my rock, things became difficult and I was just out of secondary school. I felt life was coming down on me, all though I had some family members who were helping, I still saw I had to do more for my self.
Around 2005, I joined some friends who introduced me to a man who was into event planning. He was so interested in me and taught me a lot about the business but at some point, I got to realize he was gay and wanted me, so, I stopped going there.
I never wasted the knowledge I got from the business, however, as I applied them with some friends as we started planning events for people.
I remember one day at an event, the MC did not show up and it was one of our first big hit event which had ministers of state and even the former president John Mahama. We did not know what to do. The oldest guy amongst us then suggested to save the day and so, I had to try to do it.
To my surprise, lots of people loved what I did and asked for my contacts so I can MC when they have events.
As young men, when we began making money however, pride entered our mist and we resulted in breaking up.
I had to look for other opportunities.
I then got a job to sell a brand of spaghetti to shops and was to be paid on commission. I had to walk miles because I was not offered transportation and at a point, I could not sell anymore because it was a new product and Ghanaians were not buying it.
I still did not give up. I had another job at the Central Market in Accra where I was a loader and helped in doing accounts.
I was called sometimes around 1 A.M to go and receive goods…after that, you expect to come home to sleep, but time will not permit, so, I will stay back until 5 P.M when work is done.
This went on for about 3 years and then I realized I had developed low blood pressure and I couldn’t work there anymore.
Still pressing on, I got another job as a receptionist at a health center. There was a point where customers come and my boss was not around and so, I will use my primary physical education skills to speak to them and when my boss returned, the customers give feedback saying,” your instructor was good.”
But I had to leave there as well as I was not receiving a salary. I decided to stick to my MC work, I got to MC Events of family and friends, but I wasn’t getting paid at all… I still didn’t give up as i saw it as a way of marketing my self.
To the glory of God, a family came to my aid with a new job. We are into making and selling a new brand of detergent but again the Ghanaian market was not receiving us well at the start, but, we did our best to push it and we are still hopeful to sell more.

My happiness in the business is that as part of sharping my marketing and communication skills,
I also have the training and healthy talks from my Uncle and boss who always advised me to multi-task and that has helped me to do other things. Now, by the grace of God, I can say that I have so many in my hands to do to make life better for me.
I often think of people like Bill Gates who could have given up and not become who he is today and at some point saw a river and thought he could not cross. I think we need to look at life like that river. It might seem intimidating and overwhelming, and we might create a dialogue in our heads that tell us we can’t do it, or it is too hard. However, that is just our perception. We have all either met or read about people who manage to get out of tough situations. What makes them any different? It is their mindset.

They believe in themselves. It is their desire for something better. We could all sit home and feel sorry for ourselves when we are sick or have lost a job or experienced anything bad. It is normal to feel sad at times or to feel overwhelmed. However, successful people, pull themselves up and work on developing that inner monologue in their minds. They create a goal and a measurable way to achieve that goal. They look at failure as an opportunity to learn. Our negative experiences allow us to appreciate the positive ones even more.

If you have a voice in your head telling you that you can’t do something, then you can’t if you listen. If you let that voice tell you that you can, I believe you can. I remember after my failures, l spent a lot of time working with people who had similar issues in developing their curiosity. We became a team, borrowed an Uncle’s office and called our selves,” event planners”, we went round to some regions making people’s events successful at the cost of sleeping in garages, event halls and under tents.

There are four things that can hold you back from being exceptional, which I believe will hold you back from success. Those four things are fear, assumptions, technology, and the environment.

If you can recognize the things you fear, adjust the voice in your head that makes incorrect assumptions, embrace technology, and realize the impact that your experiences in life have had on your decisions. I believe you can truly embrace interest which will lead to motivation and ultimately success. The real trick is that you must start today. Every day that you put off striving for the next goal is a day wasted.

I got married in 2017 and i am blessed with a child. I then realized i needed to run much faster and stronger to make my home a better place. Marriage is a school on its own but you have to be a fast student. Find your self an older or another couple to be your role model because things will happen and you might not know how to handle it, especially when children come in.

But in all, I give thanks to God and family for shaping me to be who I am today. But to mention a few, I thank my late Grandma who introduced me to Christ, my parents for allowing me to be born, Mr & Mrs. Dr.Yeboah, Mr & Mrs. Alfred Boye, Mr & Mrs. Amoonaquah and also my lovely Delia.

God bless all who have helped make life easier and better for me.”

Those concluding words. Wow! Such keynotes, I must say. Thank you so much for this, sir! Thank you. I pray that you achieve all that you want to. I pray that Detergent sells big time! I pray closed doors shall open and for you, God will perfect all that concerns you and hold your hand.

Thank you, my dear reader, for tuning in. Please, share, leave your comments below, like and follow this page for more inspiring words.

Boye Paulina Sharon

27th July, 2020.

The Sower who Reaped Plenty – THE BRAVE SERIES

Dear reader,

I feel to worship! Join me for a moment to thank God. Oh, He is a good God! He’s been faithful💯. Just say Thank you to God, for all He’s done, for who He is. A God who is majestic in all His ways. Glory to Jesus! Hosanna is He.

Welcome back to the brave series! Today, we have a special guest in our midst! I call her, “Elizabeth 4.0” (you will soon know why😸). I remember the first day I met her, her humility humbled me. Kai! I walked up to her after attending a program at which she gave a spoken word, we got talking, she was very relatable and friendly… and so, the journey began from there.

Elizabeth is a woman of valor, someone I deeply admire and I am grateful to know. Today, she shares her story. One, that speaks life, one I am blessed to share with you. I present to you, ” Elizabeth Maame Esi Ewudiwa”. An Alumni of Central University, Ghana, and a joy to behold.

She writes……

“As a little child, I had heard so much about planting a tree and keeping a garden. My teacher successfully made it seem the only justifiable act of an earth citizen. So, one day I decided to make my own garden. “I will plant something I love!” I told myself. Guess what I planted?
RICE!
About 3 to 4 grains buried into the soil. I was careful not to make it excessive because I had just learned about “thinning”; the removal of some plants, or parts of plants, to make room for the growth of others. Meticulously, I planted my rice. Every morning eager to go to school, I sprinkled some water and prayed for the sun to shine its beautiful face because I LOVED RICE. I told my mum about my rice 3 days later when I saw the physical evidence, the germination of my grains. As an African woman full of power and valor, she said, “You better get that thing off the ground”. Looking back, I understand better. Mum was concerned with the process of harvest and not the product itself.

At age 13 I had my first major achievement as a member of the Lagos state children’s parliament where I represented the capital city, Ikeja, the constituency for 3 years. On this platform was my first trip outside the country to South Africa on a government fully sponsored leadership training. Young, but this was the beginning of leadership and personal development. At age 16, I had my first job as a home tutor. I taught English and mathematics to 4 Asian kids at the British Deputy High Commission. They employed me for this because they thought the kids would relate better to a younger person like myself. On 2 occasions, I acted as a babysitter for Huda and Zaki to earn more money. My parents were temporarily unemployed in that period and at age 16, I had my little contribution to keep us through a tough time.
I had graduated from secondary and my parents did not have enough money to further my education. I was a very bright student; my awards and report cards would have told you. I won the highest achievement award for my district, 3-time spelling bee champion, a former parliamentarian, the best speaker of Junior Achiever project, runner up of the BRF essay competition, winner of Vision 2020 essay competition sponsored by Chevron & Shell, Youth panelist at the 3-day road to Rio-De-Janeiro, winner of Student of the decade award eventually. All these achievements highlight to tell you that anyone who met me would have told me I had a promising future. But as you know, life does not respect awards or grades, it gives value to those who stretch beyond their reach. As you know again, nobody has it all figured out.

I graduated in 2012 with a glimpse of hope of continuing my education. I searched for scholarships abroad to a futile end. I did not like the Nigerian education system and so I wanted to return to the home I left since I was 2 years – Ghana. But you know another thing about life, you do not get what you want but what you demand. After trying the UK and receiving 2 admissions with no financial capacity to honor, I tried another local scheme before I gave up. I applied for a scholarship program and I got it. This program gave me a full scholarship to study Journalism, Psychology & English in India for 3 years.
I was extremely excited, but only initially. After about 3 months of a family of 4 trying to survive with little income, my father got a job as a driver for a diplomat in the Canadian High Commission. Fast forward the story, I declined the offer for the scholarship. After sharing the news with my father’s boss who had come to like me so much, the couple advised my parents to not let me go. India is very far from Nigeria (where I was at that time), I was just 17 years (below the legal age to do somethings on my own), we had no relative in India, we have no money to probably sponsor frequent visits and finally, India was rocking the news that year with a lot of rape cases. They told me not to go and rather offered to sponsor me to any university of my choice in Ghana as they suggested I’ll get a good education there and I would be safer because I would be home (where Dad comes from).

Lesson number 1, God works in mysterious ways; Total strangers, Canadians (not Africans) sponsored a young girl through school with no strings attached. After their repatriation in my second year, I was scared they would not remember me but God did not forget to always supply to them and supply through them.
I had grown to be an emotionally strong girl. I had suffered lack and abundance. I had dined with the Whites and enjoyed their fantasy and go back home to my little African girl’s life. God exposed me to different worlds and today I am still unraveling this mystery.

In 2017, my mother left me. It was the darkest night of my life. She had been sick for months and maybe even a year. I saw my mum grow lean suddenly. I returned from school after vacations to see my jovial mother who loved me so much and had sacrificed everything for my survival, I saw her dying. But faith told me she would be fine. There were nights I stood next to her and shed tears till my eyes got swollen. I prayed to God in the darkest nights begging that He should heal her. She was just not well, and we could not tell what was wrong. After several months, my mom did not look like whom I knew physically. She became slim, dark (she was a super fair and pretty lady), you have no idea the pains that hit me at the thought of writing this. We visited the hospital and she was told she needed an x-ray scan. She was scared of everything. She feared to leave me alone. I heard her those nights when watched the TV together and she suddenly turned her face aside during our laughter, she was in tears. I saw them, I pretended sometimes, and I reacted later at night when she was not there. I heard them, those words that came out of a woman who was telling her kids to take care of the house because she is going out. I spoke hope, I promised her God is alive and He would heal.

When she died, I was disappointed. I grew cold to hope, I hated the thought of hope. I was angry. I was broken. She passed on 2 weeks to my 20th birthday. I still remember the battles in my closed-door prayers. 2 weeks of seclusion and God completed transformed my anger to compassion and my hatred to love. I loved God. I knew something I never knew about this Great God. I got to know that thing we hear everything which we may not fully understand – GOD IS GREAT. GOD IS SOVEREIGN. GOD IS GOOD. HE LOVES YOU! I was in the second semester of my 3rd year. My little brother and father were entangled living with friends because our house was taken, and my Dad was scammed twice in an attempt to rent a new place. In my final year, I had to combine school and work to earn some money for my upkeep and thesis.

Lesson two, God is in control. Lesson three, life is a journey so never think your present state will be your future. Lesson 4, God, you, and your purpose in life are the 3 most important things that exist.
I am not the girl I was. I have had 23 years of twists and turns. I had sorrow and I had joy. I had disappointments and I had a favor. I had failures and I had success. When I was 16, I told my mum that I would write her story one day, I would call it ‘LIVE TO TELL THE STORY’. She didn’t live to tell her story, but I’ll do that for her, so I add her in every triumph tale I share because it is important to me that she LIVED all 19years, 320 days of my life to see me grow. Mother, she is a part of my story which cannot be skipped. She died but she lives
This story is dedicated to appreciating the great works of God in the lives of His children, especially those of us who lost hope and felt cheated by life. This piece is to the “cheers” of those people on whose backs we traveled this long road of success, but they left along the way because fate did not permit them to continue. May their memories alive, and may their impact thrive.

My closing remark to you is that whilst you are tempted to feel cheated or compare yourself to another, remember that we are on the same race but we run different tracks.
In December 2018, I graduated from Central University with a final GPA of 4.0/4.0 in BSc Business Administration (Human Resource Management major). A record-breaking achievement! I was awarded the Chancellor’s Award for overall best student, best female student award, and best Human Resource student award. I was admitted by the Institute of Human Resource Management Practitioners to take my professional program under a full scholarship. A year later, I represented Ghana in the global model united nations, Thailand, where I won the most outstanding delegate award on the panel for SDGoal 4 -quality education. 2 years later (in 2020), I was sponsored on a full scholarship to Harvard University for the HPAIR program. I was the only African scholar and one of the few delegates in Global Markets and the Economy. I met the Head of Policy, Panel, Management team from Deloitte, worked on the Indonesian energy sector for the Asian Bureau, the Sahel region crisis for the United Nation case.

Model United Nations, Thailand most outstanding delegate award

Receiving the chancellor award for overall best graduating student.

In the end, be inspired. You cannot be BOLD or BRAVE if you do not know that life is a circle that revolves around your faith. God is the only constant we can hold on to in this changing world. So let change happen in your life but whilst it’s changing, hold on to the true you (a wonderfully and fearfully crafted child of God) – THE PURPOSE YOU CARRY IS GREATER THAN THE CHALLENGES YOU MEET.
I am Elizabeth, the girl saved by grace and love by the greatest King. Let us catch up at the top! That is where survivors live.
Shalom!”

Well, there you have it! The one and only Elizabeth Ewudiwa. Thank you so much, Elizabeth. I honor you, I am grateful for the gift of you. God grant you peace and strength to keep on going higher and higher always!

My dear reader never give up on your dreams, never stop going at what you love. Never stop believing. Trials may come, in those times, I want you to be stronger. You are able to achieve whatever you set your mind to. Please! Remain focused and know, that God is for you 💯.

I speak into your weekend, favor, goodness, and joy shall locate you. I pray for a financial increase, that you will meet your destiny helpers. I pray, that your faith will be made strong, this week, fear won’t succeed over you. Death passes over you and your household! Sickness runs from you! Salvation is yours, I pray you to receive the gift of salvation! In Jesus’ name, amen. You are loved dearly.

Yours Truly,

Boye Paulina Sharon

20th July, 2020

God is good, why?- THE BRAVE SERIES

Hey, hey, hey, 💯💯💯. Welcome back! Ouu, honestly, this brave series is one thing I am totally grateful to have begun. The testimonies? I can’t begin to emphasize. Hmm… Today, today is different, as much as every day is unique, on this episode of the brave series, it’s quite unusual.

This young girl,” IreOluwatomiwa Agbe Davies”, shares a very short but key story.

Here are some things you should know about her.

Please read, read and re-read 💯💯. God bless you and Enjoy 💥

“I’ve always agreed with the statement, “God is good” for no particular reason but I guess I was being influenced and I did not fully understand it. Sometime in April, I began to question God’s goodness, because of a lot of things but mostly because of the death of 3 of my friends who died in January, February, and March! The first three months of the year.
I usually get bothered about people’s death, even the ones I have never met before or random posters I see on the road but this time the burden was a lot more. I reached out to my mentors, friends and even went as far as posting on social media, “Convince me that God is good” so that someone could explain the goodness that they were seeing, cause I clearly wasn’t seeing it and I felt like if I had ignored the burden and refused to find my way to believe God’s goodness, I would probably be on my way to being an atheist.

I did this because I was really bothered about it, I couldn’t go 10 minutes without thinking of people’s death. They all gave answers like, “he gave you life”, “He saved me from an accident” and all that but I wasn’t satisfied, that wasn’t really what I wanted to hear. I needed a plain answer as to why bad things happened to people, why newly born babies die after all the struggle, why people have accidents, why people fail after reading so hard, why the poor would always be amongst us, I didn’t accept the, “everything happens for a reason” statement anymore. I really felt like God could just vanish all the bad elements on earth because he is almighty!
Guess what?
I didn’t get a literal answer but days after I reached out to people it sort of just came to me that, “regardless of if good things happen all the time or not it does not change or underestimate the quality of God’s goodness”.
It’s like saying, “I’m a girl” and someone is trying to argue that I’m not.
Good things happen, yes!
Bad things happen too, yes!
But God is actually really good and nothing that happens is enough to counter it.
I learned that some situations would question your belief in something and help you figure out why you really should believe it, if not you’d just keep following the crowd and I also learned that there is ALWAYS a reason for everything whether we like it not!
To be honest, I’m really glad I encountered this phase because I’d probably still be following the crowd and not understanding it for myself.”

What do you think? God is good despite what we experience. It’s no doubt, many people have died, in these few months that have passed, it’s almost like death is the norm, and it’s unfortunate, genuinely, questions will flow through the mind questioning this God. So many unfortunate things have taken place. I am sorry to all those who have lost a loved one 💓, I really am. It is well. Faithful is He, always 💯.

Ire dear, thank you for sharing this, God bless you and strengthen your faith. Thank you 💓

Boye Paulina Sharon

13th, June 2020

Finding Grace in Grass- THE BRAVE SERIES

Dear reader, I love and appreciate you dearly. From my heart to you, I say thank you for sticking with this blog and for sharing as well. I do not take the gift of you for granted. To my honorable guests who have shared and are yet to share their stories, I honor you. A happy new month to you all🍾💓

Many of you are aware the brave series began in the year 2018. As I began publicity that year, the young man I am about to introduce to you was the very first person to message me, He said, “I have a story”. I was excited, I asked Him to send me His story and He did. I read it and my God, I shook, I began editing the work and for some reason, I just couldn’t finish no matter how hard I tried to. The story inspired me beyond words, however, I didn’t feel it was time to share it, a part of me said, God isn’t done yet. There’s more. I immediately messaged Him and told him to wait, perhaps to publicize this in a magazine or something 😺. I had no idea I would have a part 2 of the brave series like many of you know, but here we are today. The day I decided to launch it, I immediately sent him a message letting Him know, we are ready for you, the world is ready😸.

So, please, sit back, relax, and read the story of a legend in the maning. He is called,” Acolatse Mac-Abel”, a final year Accounting student at Central University, Ghana. Enjoy reading his bio as displayed below👍

” ‘Life’, they say, is not fair.
Is that really the case, here?
I would live you to judge that assertion.

This is a true-life story.
Follow me, as I take you through the journey of my life.
The main reason I share this is to motivate anyone who would read this piece. Note that name of certain locations would be withheld for personal and or security reasons. This is also a summary. I assure you, however, none of the stories is fabricated.

I was born in one of the most typical villages in the coastal areas of the Volta region in Ghana. My mum had 13 other siblings from the same mum. She herself has been a victim of child labor. My dad schooled in a francophone country and upon the demise of his dad when he was young, had to migrate to Ghana to join his grandmother.
I spent my childhood fishing and selling buffloafs which my mum used to make. Life in the village was nice until my dad said he does not want us to grow there and so, we should move to the big city so as to have a better education.
I started school and my dad, with only technical education in a francophone country could not secure a job here in Ghana. He then entered into jobs of masonry which is a hand to mouth job. With accommodation being so expensive, we resorted to staying in uncompleted buildings and wherever we could sleep.

As for hunger, it was our daily bread. We only eat once ⅞ days if we were lucky. After school, after walking long distance home, my little brother and I would walk around looking for money on the floor if someone had mistakenly dropped money and also look for anything edible. We sometimes go to eateries normally known as, “chop bar” in Ghana to take leftovers. This continued throughout my life in primary school and at a point, we stopped school completely. This was mainly because we were not stable at one location and my mum got extremely sick. She was hospitalized for over 2 years and during those years, my little brother and I would sleep under trees close to the hospital in the morning and then, go round to beg for food.

Each time we went to visit our mum in the hospital she would encourage us not to abandon Jesus Christ and believe that one day he would make everything great.
I didn’t really buy into that because if He really cared we wouldn’t be in that situation. I remember vividly, at a point, we slept under a tree that was close to the mortuary. That night I couldn’t feel comfortable, It was like people were walking around me and talking to me.
I kept hearing voices saying, ‘live a good life, live a good life, don’t envy, some others said: I wish I could come back but it’s too late’
I was so worried, I woke my junior brother up and reasoned to move somewhere else to sleep. I didn’t even realize it was almost morning as families were coming for their relatives who had passed on.
Hmm, the method they used to remove the ice from the corpse shows that humans are really ‘nothing’.

After two years of staying at the hospital, my mum was almost fine but the bills had run into thousands of cedis. My dad had no idea where to get that kind of money. So, we devised a plan and my mum had to run away from the hospital with her things still there.
We moved from one family member to another to help with accommodation.
One of them who was a pastor and had built his own house threw us out even when it was raining.
My dad was frustrated. He asked himself,’ What has he done to deserve all these ?’ And lamented over the early demise of his father.

I got back to basic school and was promoted as My father said the only way out of this life was education. So, I learned with all my strength. I would learn very hard that I would be ahead of the class and so I was jumped over (promoted) two classes.
My classmates laughed at me because on some occasions I slept in school till the next day even without bathing or brushing my teeth. Waking up to a bath for school was not a norm for me as we were not stable. We don’t carry a bucket around and we had only a few clothes.
There were instances I contemplated suicide. My Dad would tell my mum, ” let’s go kill ourselves so that our children would be in an orphanage home where they would be treated better”.

Primary school was really tough.
We heard good news then as the government had introduced a free meal policy. What great news. My mum would tell me, ” take the food, bring it home and share it with your junior brother”. My mum then started hawking doughnuts and after a while, we could at least buy food. However, we were sleeping at a bus station. So things got better, I wrote my Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and when the results came, I did well. We had got a wooden structure (kiosk) to rent, so life was getting better per our standards.

I didn’t really know what to do in life or what career to pursue; One day I was going to buy bread and I overhead the vendor asking someone for suggestions on what course her son should do at High school as He wanted to be an accountant.. and the person said, “business”. In my mind, I was like I would also do business hence why I studied accounting at the university.

My dad went to a local pastor, showed my result to him and he offered to pay my admission fee. That was one of the happiest days of my life. I went to school and the first day was rather not what I expected. We were all introducing ourselves and the teacher said that those from my area are not proper people. The teacher told the whole class to be careful of me as I would become recalcitrant in life; I am not going to go anywhere or achieve anything but smoke and rob. I was very sad and demoralized. Some teachers also said I looked like a monkey so I should go join my family in the forest.

Nevertheless, things started going a bit well and better as results from my school exams came and I did well. This made some teachers result in liking me while others chose to believe I was cheating in exams mainly because “I lived at a location where everyone there is deemed a bad person”. After a few mates got to know I didn’t live in a reputable house they started laughing at me and making jest of Me.

**Behind this smile are many experiences that can’t be displaced**

I slowly began to fall in love with music as it helped me forget all my troubles. The music teacher recognized my passion and offered to teach me how to play the piano.

One teacher in particular changed my life and mindset. She said to me, ” don’t mind them, put them to shame”. The words, “put them to shame”, motivated me. She also taught me to pray and as I prayed over and over with time, I felt God around me. Constantly, I would hear a voice saying, “I have not left you, I am with you”.

Things really changed in my third year of high school as my dad through some unusual way got a job; it’s a very long story but time wouldn’t permit me to write about it.

Moving on, We relocated into a single room and for the first time, we had electricity and could afford a television. Wow, I was like God you are wonderful. I thanked God all day and I still do. In school, I became popular because each time there was an award ceremony per term, I swoop lots of the awards.
Little did I know my popularity would let me become the head prefect of the school. Yes, I had a friend who bought the forms for me, filled it for me, and submitted it without my knowledge. I went for vetting very nervous. I even got sick because I was over scared. And yes, I won the head perfect position with a huge margin. I had 413 votes, the second had 369 votes and the third had 48 votes. That day the joy overwhelmed me so much, I cried all day. At some point, I thought it was a dream I would wake up from to realize everything was over.

Life was getting better and I began believing in myself and realizing my value.

One day my dad asked me to take some cement to a cite. On our way, the clouds began forming to rain and it had started drizzling. We were not even halfway into the journey. I don’t know what came over me, I just said, “Lord, please stop this rain. It’s going to bring financial loss to my house” and almost immediately, the sun was up. The truck driver was in disbelief but in my mind, I thanked God. This is when I started believing that there is God and Jesus is real. Prior to this, I used to pray without faith, I just prayed because I was instructed to.

I continued to grow spiritually in God and my Dad’s work grew In quantity and quality.

Now, I have moved from sleeping on cartons to sleeping on a bed so big, I don’t even know which side to lay on. I have enough clothes, I don’t know which one’s to wear.

I finally wrote Nov/Dec exams before writing WASSCE which is the final year exam for high school students. While printing my results the vendor commended my results and suggested I go to school as early as possible. As at the time I was printing the results, only Central University had its forms on the internet to download and fill. So I filled the form and I was admitted.

During my first few months at the university, I was star-struck. I couldn’t believe I had made it here. On the other hand of things, I had to be fasting and praying because I was fighting spiritual battles. Anytime, I got to the school, ” it gets dark and voices keep telling me our family doesn’t make it here, I am going too far”. But! I won all by the grace of God! I one day dreamt that my Aunties and Uncles said, “it’s okay, we can’t tie your destiny anymore, because it always brings fire to our kingdom, take it and leave us alone”.

I am telling you reading this that no matter your situation. Don’t think God has left you. Even when everything is against you, God is for you.

Now, I am not just about to graduate from any University but one of the most expensive and best in Ghana. I never dreamt I would be here one day. Now, the teachers who insulted me by saying I would be nothing in life are all ashamed, when I meet them in town, they dodge me. They can’t even look at me. I am now the CEO at Gemanbuilders, a company that operates in the informal sector providing Architectural and civil engineering services with plans of incorporation in a few years. Geman builders have taken up and completed several projects in Ghana including some high rise buildings in the capital.
I sit back, look back, and say if it hadn’t been God where would I have been.
God knows why we go through everything. Trust me, if I hadn’t gone through those experiences, I wouldn’t believe in God and, I wouldn’t be as wise as I am today”.

My God🙊.. Who read what I just read? I had goose bumps all over, my eyes filled with tears, oh, at a point, the level of my faith increased. What a good God we serve, what a good God you are. Thank you Jesus!! We have come back to say thank you. My heart is full.

Mac-Abel, your story isn’t over, May the Lord plant you on higher grounds. This is only the beginning. God elevate and establish you. Thank you for being here, we are grateful. My people, why don’t you show your appreciation and thoughts in the comment section. I am sure he would love to read them. Please don’t forget to like, share, and follow this blog for more.

God bless you for tuning in. See you next week by God’s Grace💓

Boye Paulina Sharon

6th July, 2020

The Aspiring Basketballer- THE BRAVE SERIES

Hey there! Welcome Back😁. I missed you so much, and I must say, last week was, “AWESOME!”. I mean, the comments, the views? Wow, I am yet to recover from the feeling. God bless you all for Tuning in. All the posts so far, have received great turnouts. I am glad y’all are enjoying this series. I am as well.

Today, I have another great one for you; unique and very relatable to some. So sit back, read and enjoy the story, of a young man who studied to be a Doctor but derives passion from basketball 🏀.

Enjoy the story of Kingsley Ubong Akpan😁

“I can say for a fact that it has not been an easy journey for me since I started my life in the university. I have struggled with myself for quite some time, trying to figure out my true purpose in life.

I pursued the field of medicine because I felt I could save the lives of people in the wards and consulting room physically and spiritually (through prayer). However, my father always wished that I’d become a medical doctor but it wasn’t really him that influenced my decision into the medical field but because I had a point to prove to people who questioned my ability with questions like, “are you sure you can handle it?”. It always kept ringing in my head, so I wanted to prove to everyone that,” I could do it”.

However, in the face of all these, I also struggled with high functioning anxiety. At first, I didn’t realize what exactly it was, but, after everything I had been through; the manner in which I related and spoke to people, the kind of friends I mingled with, the decisions I made, the number of times I had procrastinated, the number of times I didn’t feel like leaving the confines of my room or safe space, the many unfinished milestones or promises I haven’t been able to hold up to, and most especially the fact I never related very well with my family at my younger age… I finally realized it.

I come from a family of 9 from my mother with myself being the 5th born of six boys and a half elder sister who wasn’t always around. I never felt I could speak up for myself when I was younger. I felt me being one of the babies of the house, my words or opinions didn’t really matter because of that, I didn’t relate very well with my brothers and my parents, to be more specific my mother. My father wasn’t always around, he was always at work and most of my brothers were away at school so I was by myself.

I wasn’t really allowed to have friends come over and I wasn’t also allowed to visit friends as well.
I had myself and my mother and still, we would get into fights, we’d argue and sometimes I’d say things I would feel bad about later.

As a result of not feeling at home, I stopped going to the same church my parents attended at around the ages of 16 or 15. I decided to attend a church much closer to home, where I was welcomed and felt like a part of the family. I felt so much at home there, that I would never miss a day of church, Bible studies, and church practices. In fact, everyone at church was my friend, including the pastor. It was during this period I started playing basketball which has become a very important part of who I am today.
I was cleaning my elder brother’s room one day, when I came across his old basketball shoes which were still in a good state and so, I cleaned it up and went to the only basketball court in town and started playing, and ever since, I have never stopped. It became part of my weekly activity as well as going to church. In fact, If I wasn’t at church then, I’d be at the basketball court. Although I wasn’t very consistent with it, I played quite often that my parents began to take notice of my act. They didn’t agree with it at first, but that didn’t stop me.
Whilst in the university, I took a break off basketball so as to focus on school but as I did, I began to struggle with my academics and as I tried my hardest to always stay in line with my academics, I always felt it would all be in vain. At times, I’d just be in my room with the lights out but with a form of light in it, not feeling motivated to go out, as I feel like I should just stay indoors forever and not have to go out. Whenever I was faced with a challenge, I’d do everything possible to find one excuse or the other to avoid facing it upfront and because of that in my 300 level going to the final year, I was repeated.
Telling my parents about it was the scariest moment of my life because I didn’t know how to handle what they would say out of disappointment but to my greatest surprise, all I heard were words of encouragement to do it the right way and correct all my mistakes which gave me the motivation to continue. By the grace of God, I never had the thought of dropping out, I thank God for that every day because I’ve seen and met a lot of people who take that road for good and bad reasons, but, it wasn’t a road I was planning on taking as i always said to myself, “this will be the biggest hurdle and highlight of my life, I must get past for the sake of my future” and so, for that reason I refused to give up because my family did not give up on me as well.

I’ve had my ups and downs in the university as when I finally made it to final year, I was unable to graduate with my peers which also served as a big blow to me but I refused to stop there, I made up my mind that I’d finish and be done with school once and for all.
Whilst I was in school, I would say for a fact that I wasn’t very enthusiastic about church until my 200 level when my cousin invited me to RCCG Heavens Gate Parish, after a while, I volunteered to teach and look after the children in church and I’ve been doing that till now, it has been a source of happiness, relief, duty, and purpose for me ever since. I am a child of God but I’m not perfect as I’ve succumbed to sin so many times without count but God has never given up on me so I won’t give up on myself. The pastor of the church, PST. Samson Kunuyi and his family have been a very important part of my life in school even till now and they’ve always been the parents sent by God to watch over me in school, always there to encourage and prompt me when I’m going down the wrong path.

I realized my passion for basketball began to grow even stronger in my school days. Basketball became a very important part of my life, it became my source of therapy too whenever I felt anxious, depressed, sad or angry, I would go to the basketball court to calm down and relieve myself.

As the days went by, I decided to try out for the school team but I was never given the opportunity to grow in basketball or test my skills and that made me very sad. I remember on two occasions we went for tournaments and I couldn’t play a single game, that made me so upset and disconnected from the rest of the team but I didn’t give up, I started watching tutorials, practicing to get better every day and I also visited other basketball courts to practice my new skills.

I struggled with the idea of continuing with basketball and so one night at church, I made a request to God saying; “if basketball is not the right path for me then take away the passion I have for it”. As time went on, the passion grew even more and so I knew for a fact that God was on my side and so ever since I’ve trained and grew in skill and experience that I always give thanks to God whenever I look back at how far I’ve come. I spoke to my family about going into professional basketball and they didn’t oppose but requested I ensure I keep watch on my academics which I agreed on.

This year may have had many global events that have shocked the whole world but it has been a year of great accomplishments for me in basketball. I keep getting words of encouragement and advice on the way forward so I know and believe God is on my side because if He wasn’t I wouldn’t have come this far. I thank God for that every day.

I’ve come a really long way in life, I’ve made friends both good (like Sis. Sharon who works with me in the children’s department, made me understand that no matter what I am facing as long as I bring God in it everything will be okay and I am grateful for that. I also made a friend, a barber who is now a pastor, PST. Andrews Dosunmu he has been someone that has always been there to remind to always have God in mind for everything around me and to follow the will of God no matter what) and bad but I forever thank God for being a vital part of my life, I still struggle with anxiety from time to time but God has forever kept me sane and at peace, and I am grateful for that”.

What do you think of this story? Do you want to give up on your dreams? I hope his story serves as a motivation for you to keep going. Please keep going, I believe in you. Get your priorities right and be sure to plan well.

Thank you, Mr. Kingsley, for sharing your story, God grant you the stamina to achieve all He has in store for you.

Don’t forget to like, leave a comment and please share with friends. See you next week by God’s grace. Bye💓

Boye Paulina Sharon

29th June, 2020

Being a single Mother for 15 years – THE BRAVE SERIES

He’s done so much for me
I can not tell it all
Narakele Mo
If I Had ten thousand tongues
It won’t still be enough
Narakele mo- a song by Tim Godfrey &Travis Greene

Hey Hey Hey 🔥. Welcome back to the blog, eii🥂. I am elated to have you on here! This week, hmm, this week, I pray for you, I pray that the Lord Himself will uphold you. In your business, may you prosper. May sorrow be far from you! I will hear good news concerning you, always. As a result of being a reader on my blog, I pray, you will laugh all through this year and the years ahead. I appreciate you. Welcome to the Brave Series 😁. I am Sharon Boye and I am your host💓.

Guys! We finally have a lady, a woman 💓, in the house, yo🎉🎉. Can I hear a shout for joy, somebody?😀. I am thrilled! My next guest is a woman I hold dear to my heart. I bless the day I met her. Her names are Mrs. Grace Oluwabukunmi Olowu.

Mrs. Grace Oluwabukunmi Olowu is a Journalist, Educator, and passionate businesswoman. Presently into Fish business, she loves to cook and has over the years developed personal recipes. She is also a great designer as she derives joy in sewing and writing which she says has helped her survive several phases of life.
Mrs. Olowu believes in using her experience to guide many who have strayed from purpose back on track and to also become that Ray of Hope for everyone that crosses her path most especially the female child who doesn’t feel Beautiful enough or those who feel they have to behave or look a particular way before they can fit in.

” It is very important to make God number one in every area of our lives. That is the only way we can guarantee a Happy, Peaceful, and Fulfilled life.
I am not saying the journey will be smooth, it wasn’t for me, and many like me will have stories to tell.
One thing you can be confident of, however, is that there is a Prince of Peace who gets even the storms to obey Him.

I am happily married today to the glory of God.
You might wonder what the big deal is but you will understand better when you read my story.

I grew up with the fairy tale mindset,” my Prince Charming will one day come and sweep me off my feet”.

Indeed, in my 2nd year in the University, the Prince Charming came and I was carried away by the romance, and before I knew it one-time sex lead to me becoming, pregnant. The details are for some other time but I pointed out this phase to let you know a bit of the halt I faced. I made a mistake, I had premarital sex and don’t tell me we didn’t use a condom, because, we did. We cannot deceive God. Some people get away with sin but not me, every time I tried to do what everyone else did and got away with, I got caught.

So, I ended up pregnant at the age of 21, a mother at 22, and I had the option to drop out of school but I was lucky to have a supportive family, so, I didn’t. It was a tough journey to raise a child alone but I live today without any regrets. Glory to God.

Friends abandoned me and I developed low self-esteem. I lost confidence in myself and it felt like I merely existed for about a few years until I met Jesus.
I grew up in a Christian home and was very consistent in church attendance but I didn’t know Jesus for myself.
My encounter with Jesus changed my thought pattern but guess what? It didn’t take away the struggle as soon enough it was time to get married. I was a graduate, and all the brothers that were showing up disappeared the minute they heard I am a single mother. Some even pretend by waiting for a while, thinking they could get sex before they run away but they also got tired and left.
At this point, I had made a covenant with God not to defy myself anymore.
It was hard but the Holy Spirit helped me.

Don’t ever think you can never be what God wants you to be no matter the errors on the way.
God can rewrite your story if you let Him.
I didn’t remain in my state of Sin, Beloved you need to stand up from that Mess and let God make a Message out of you.

The pressures came to be married. I was already in my mid-30s.
There was now advice here and there.
Hmmm…
It is important to hear God for yourself. If you are the type that depends on Men of God and Not the God of Men, you may be led astray.
I have been there, I had one tell me to get anyone, God will sanction. So it now became me looking out for anyone who likes me enough, it didn’t matter whether I did in return or it was the will of God.
Another even advised I got a divorcee or someone who can keep me as a mistress so I can have more children as time is going and he doesn’t think any single man will want me so I better not waste time.

We should be careful who we take counsel from or listen to.
It was as that Time I got angry in my spirit. I will call it my turning point. I was almost 37 here but I decided I was going to serve God no matter what.
I didn’t care about having a husband anymore as before.
I told God since not having a husband cannot stop me from making heaven, I would rather just focus on making heaven and serving Him.

Before long, the men started trooping in ooo. Just like Magic.
Now the confusion set in. I didn’t want marriage again.
What are they coming for?
How come they are many?
How will I even choose?

God is humorous in His ways. He uses the foolish things of this world to confound the wise.
I began the prayer marathon. I also got some brethren to pray with me. Hmm, and then! Just like a vapor, all the brothers disappeared. And just as they disappeared my husband came into the scene. Funny, he is a brother to my friend of 15 years, and we had both shared the pastor’s message for digging deep that February and that was where the journey began.

Please, I urge you, no matter what, never give in to pressures around you.
Learn the art of hearing God for yourself.
Watch and Pray always. My password scripture is 1 Thess 5: 17, “Pray Without Ceasing, pray continually “

God makes things beautiful in His time.
I have been married to my best friend two years plus now, I have had my share of the storm, I have had challenges but Jesus has been in my boat and so I smile at the storm.
I am at a place I never thought possible. And I know God is not done with me.

Are you in that place of despair?
Are you feeling lonely?
Do you think nothing good can come out of you?
Have you given up?
Are you discouraged?
Do you think you are too old?
Are you burdened with a load of care?
Turn it all to Jesus, He is all the satisfaction you need”

Like Apostle Paul, she presses forward daily looking out for where and how she can better influence others as the Holy Spirit keeps helping her bring out Treasures from what was termed waste.
Isaiah 62:4

Oh, Glorious Father, thank you for redeeming the times! We have come back to say thank you! I found myself jumping at a point as I read this story, what a word, what a testimony. One thing she said that stands out for me is, “instead of focusing on men of God, we should focus on the God of men”. Wow, how about you? What stood out for you?

I would love to know in the comment section. Please, don’t forget to like this post, share with friends, singles, married, the young, the old, with everyone.

Thank you Mrs. Olowu for being here. I appreciate you, ma’am. I love you dearly. God bless you ma.

See you next week Monday at 6 pm. You are loved by Love HIMSELF💓

Boye Paulina Sharon

22nd June,2020

FORMER CULTIST AND DRUG ADDICT FOR 10 YEARS SHARES HIS STORY- THE BRAVE SERIES

A voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, the one I love. I am very pleased with him.”
Matthew 3:17 ERV

In the blink of an eye, I, Sharon Boye, experienced a change in my reasoning, as this young man shared his story with me. On a hot afternoon, as I stood with Him, listening to his story, I knew, without a shadow of a doubt, there is a transformative power that comes, with knowing God.

For years, I struggled with the idea of the topic being discussed. It took one man (Kalio Sotonye), however, to stand firm and stand tall, saying to Himself, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”, to test my knowledge.

Welcome back to the Brave series! I am glad to have you here with me today. Thank you for Tuning in🎉.

It feels as though we have more males this season👀… Oops.. Did I just give a tip as to whom we have next? Haha😄

Today’s guest was born in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. He derives passion and joy from his Job. Infact, He doesn’t see it as a job, but, as him pursuing after His purpose. He works as a Treatment officer at CHRIST AGAINST DRUG ABUSE MINISTRY (C.A.D.A.M)- a Christian ministry formed primarily to help those dealing with drug addictions.
This young man spent the early days of His childhood schooling at Montessori International school Port Harcourt, Igbinedion Education center, Benin city, and Went to various universities but graduated from Redeemer’s University Ede, Osun state. He is set to get married to the love of his life, very soon🥰🥰.

With a standing ovation and a round of applause, join me as I welcome, the Honourable, ” Kalio Sotonye”.

(Crowd cheering)👏👏👏👏👏

“I once knew a young man who had the best things life could offer, this young man was born into a decent and comfortable home and family, he had a good primary education and was taken to a wonderful secondary school and it was in this school he began to develop some very terrible habits that almost cost him, his life.

This young man out of curiosity, influenced by the friends he kept, began smoking marijuana when he was in SS2 and was just 15 years old in the year 2002. He hung out with boys who always smoked, talked about how good they felt when they did it, and how bold it made them feel.

So, one day he decided to give it a try, and that was the beginning of a dangerous journey for him. He was fortunate enough to get admitted into the university immediately he graduated from secondary school in 2003 and because he thought he had finally found the freedom he had long been looking for, he began to explore carelessly and lost focus of the purpose for which he was in the university even from his first year; he was naive and silly.

He started trying out all kinds of drugs and substances and even joined a cult in his supposed 200 level. This young man became addicted to drugs and eventually dropped out of that university. He went back home, but, instead of him to cool his heels and think of a way forward he took to the streets and began living like a hoodlum. Addiction and cultism got the better of him and although he had a home and house, he stayed and slept anywhere and everywhere he could find (in not yet completed buildings, even in the ghettos).

This young man began to lose hope in life and thought he couldn’t become useful to himself, his family, and society. But God had other plans. Sometime in 2008, he was forcefully taken to a rehab center. Although he was upset about it, he was there for 6 months, but, one week after he was released, he hit the streets again and suffered a major relapse.

He gained admission back into another university in the year 2009 and he thought to himself that things would be different; he would focus on the purpose of which he was at school. But, things took a turn for the worse as he got deeper into drugs and cultism. He did all he could possibly do to, “feed the addictions“, as his family had seized giving him allowance a long time ago.

He stole, he robbed, he engaged in all manner of crime just to feed his addiction. He was also fully active in cult activities. Slowly but surely, he began to get tired of being an addict and began to ask God to help him as he no longer had a reason to live anymore but for drugs.

In February of 2012, he was taken back to the rehab center, but, this time, willing to give it a try. He was there for 6 months and a week. On the 4th of September, 2012, he was released and was immediately taken to Lagos the very next day as he lived with his family in Port Harcourt. On the 9th of September 2012, 5 days after his second release, he began another rehabilitation program at a center called,” CHRIST AGAINST DRUG ABUSE MINISTRY (CADAM) “, and that was where the transformation began.

On the 10th of December, 2012, he accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior and began to live for him alone. While still at the rehab, life began to make sense to him again as he finally discovered purpose and realized that he had the very life of God within him. The scourge of addiction was finally lifted and he was finally free, even from cultism. His family fully accepted him back after his one-year rehabilitation program and were so delighted that God had restored him.

He eventually went to a bible college and gained admission back into the university in October 2014 where he obtained his first degree 15 years after he first gained admission. He graduated from the university in 2018 and he now works as a drug abuse and addiction treatment officer in CHRIST AGAINST DRUG ABUSE MINISTRY, where he helps others who find themselves in the situation he was once in. He’s also a die-hard lover of God and loves to tell people about Christ.

If God could help this young man get out of this, He can help you too. My name is Kalio Sotonye and this is my story.”

Wow! What did I just read? Who did it? JESUS! THIS IS ONE LIFE STORY, THAT DEFINES TRANSFORMATION, SO WELL. To God be the Glory.

Thank you so much Mr. Kalio for sharing your story. I can not express my gratitude enough. May you move from glory to glory. There are no limitations in your life. God will perfect what He is doing in your life and in the end, He will receive the praise and adoration, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

If you were blessed by this story, please leave a comment below, share it with friends, family, and everyone you can, like, and follow this page as well.

Feel free to always visit and follow my Instagram page for more. See you next week, with another Monday motivation, God willing😁😘.

Remember; you are loved by love Himself.

Boye Paulina Sharon

15th June 2020

From a Bus Conductor to an Entrepreneur- THE BRAVE SERIES

“I’m on a roller coaster that only goes up,” he said. “And it is my privilege and my responsibility to ride all the way up with you,” I said.”- John Green

Hey there! Welcome to the launch of the brave series, I am pleased to have you here with me today😄.
Why don’t you get your glass of juice ready and some popcorn (something chew-able, eba if you like, 😂) as we get ready to introduce our very first guest? Common, go ahead💯.

Peter Medzi, well known as Petroy (@mr.petroy on Instagram), was born in Togo but raised in Ghana. He is a Ghanaian gospel saxophonist. Petroy has a passion for adventures, loves to travel, swim, shoot videos, and capture natural photos all the time. He is also a lover of Internet surfing. But wait, there’s more to this young man than these🤔.

As I introduce this young man, I remain short of words. Knowing who he is now and knowing where he came from, has challenged me beyond a reasonable doubt, I hope it does for you as well.

“Around 1998 in Togo, I was tortured; I was forced to eat what they knew I couldn’t finish. It was so bad, I had (hot water) burnt around my neck to my chest. Things were not easy for me at all and that made my grandmother come to my rescue thereby bringing me to Ghana.
I was living with my grandmother at “Nkotompo”, a suburb Region of Ghana, together with my two young brothers and yet again, life wasn’t easy for us. We were all living together in a small room of which there was no television nor furniture not to talk of even a bed to sleep on at night.
Life was very difficult for us to the extent that, “Daavi”, my grandma, needed to go round, looking for people with dirty clothes so she could wash; just to feed us, her grandchildren. She sometimes had to go to the Takoradi market in order to braid some of the market women’s hair so she could get some money to buy some foodstuffs for us. She sacrificed a lot, just for us.

I schooled at Gethsemane primary and J.H.S (Junior High School). I was an excellent student, always among the best in the class, however, I always lacked funds to support my education and that was pulling me backward in my studies.
My dressing alone back then would let you know how difficult life was for me and my family.
I was always wearing a torn uniform to school almost every day and because my uniform was torn, I would put on a jacket to cover my uniform, even on a hot sunny morning. In fact, I wear the jacket from Monday till Friday (I mean from January to December). Because of my,” life-saving jacket”, I was always having a problem with my social studies teacher who was always on my neck about me always wearing that jacket.
I remember one day at assembly, his anger drove him to the brink as he took off my jacket and went to throw it in a dustbin, warning me not to go back for it. Of course, I didn’t listen, I came back after, took my jacket from the dustbin, and wore it back again, all because I couldn’t bear the thought of wearing a torn Uniform to school. Students never have pity or compassion, they definitely laughed at me because not all of them had gone through what I went through.
Thanks to God, I was able to finish my junior high level of schooling and was waiting for my results, but everyone kept asking,” how would YOU, be able to enter Senior High even if you passed with flying colors?” But for me.

I was determined to go to school, so immediately after J.H.S, I took the job of a trotro mate (bus conductor). I worked with the driver for about five months until my results were out and God did it again; I had admission at Bompeh senior high as a visual art student. It was GREAT news for everyone in the family and myself since I was the first in the family to be going to S.H.S. But, this was the time I needed some amount of money and so I gathered up the courage, took the money I had saved during my work as a “trotro mate” and used that in paying my admission fees, and for every other thing needed to start schooling.
Knowing very well there was no money in the house, I continued working as a” trotro mate (bus conductor)”, every weekend, so I could get some money to feed myself throughout the coming week as I went to school.

I was shocked myself because I was the shy type and I had no option than to continue the mate job.

In my final year as the studies perfect, I was privileged to have had a little support from some guardians, although still struggling. Alas! Gradually and gracefully, I graduated from high school.
Like a dream, God showed up immediately I was done writing my final paper. Guess what? One of my lecturers got me a job as a salesperson at “Car Mu Phones Spare Parts.”
I worked there from 2014 – 2017 (for 3 years). Working there, I saved enough money to fulfill my dreams of going to school abroad. I started working on the necessary documents, and I got admission into,” Beijing Institute Of Technology” in China, in the year 2016. BUT YET AGAIN, another setback, “I was refused at the Chinese Embassy!” That got me depressed, confused, and at some point, I wanted to harm myself. I didn’t know why I was refused, so I kept calling the school and I was told over and over again, my name was part of the admission list. To cut the story short, I lost all my money saved in the process because I got scammed, not by the school but the” agency used”
I continued the job as a salesperson for another year (2017).

I received advice from well-wishers to school in Ghana and I resolved to do so.
In 2017, I applied for Radford University College here in Accra and I got it, yes, I did get it.
My first semester was okay and a beautiful one, I must say. My 2nd and 3rd semester were, however, difficult. I had to sell some of my personal items to pay fees, I was also perching at Legon campus, moving from one hostel to another, “I became a stranger”, bed bugs here and there, sometimes eating gari soaking throughout the week and, you can just imagine. Prior to this, I had invested a lot of money in an online peer to peer group and I got defrauded, AGAIN. I became broke, weak, I was down and had nothing, but depression.

While all this was going on,“Victoria Michaels”,Ghana’s supermodel and entrepreneur, who I was blessed to have met on the 1st of May, 2016, saw to it , to help me rise from my weakness. She changed my life entirely.

Now, I am the CEO of petroyfitness, petroystudios, petroypixels, an entrepreneur, Production Assistant at Digital Creative Media Live, and a Multimedia Analyst for Fashion Connect Africa, Goldcard Resources and CrystalWhite Water.

The story continues, but as you take that breath of knowing everything is going okay, gently with me, just know that determination and hard work can take you places, but most importantly, humility.

My dream is to work in Hollywood/Cinema of Spain. I believe very much in this and i know it shall become a reality someday. I believe in #GENESIS

“Life is a journey of steps, those little steps would help you climb the bigger mountains you are yet to face” – Peprah Asare.”

Well well well, how did that go? We would love to know what you think, so please leave a comment below, follow this page, like and share with friends.

Thank you so much @mr.petroy , I am beyond grateful to have you here. More wins In Jesus Name. Amen💯

Please, visit and follow my Instagram page for more.

God bless you. See you next week, if the Lord tarries!

Boye Paulina Sharon
8th June 2020.

Previously on the Brave series🕊

Hey guys! Welcome back 💯💯.

I’ve a great one for you this month.

If you remember 🤔, a few years back (lol, like 2 years ago), I began the brave series. A platform for people to share their stories. Now, when I mean stories, I mean the not so happy stories. Life gets pretty tough at times and along the line, it may not be as rosy as we would have wanted it to be. Hence, the idea of this series.

Today, we would be looking back at our guest from the Brave series Part 1 and you know, see how life has been since the last time they were here. It’s been such a great honor knowing them. Can’t wait for y’all to hear from them again. Before you do though, please watch this video below 😁

🙋‍♀️.. Would love to know what you think of the video in the comment section 🙏🏿🙏🏿

Our hall of fame🎉🎉

These set of people have inspired me beyond words and working with them has been one of my most memorable experiences. I honor you all today. Thank you for believing in me and above all, for giving your selves to serving others.

Wait! They have something to say, let’s hear them out😁

She loves to read books and this inspired her to start a YouTube channel🎉

She is now happily married with a baby boy🎉🎉🎉

He makes amazing beats for songs . The best there is🎉🎉

She learned to play the Guitar and is now into ministry 🎉🎉🎉

To check out their stories please click on the links below:

THE BRAVE SERIES PART 1- WITH OLARINMOYE MAYOWA

THE BRAVE SERIES PART 2- WITH LAWAL DAMILOLA

T HE BRAVE SERIES PART 3- WITH BENEDICTA WALLACE

THE BRAVE SERIES PART 4 – WITH EBUNOLUWA ADEYEMO

Follow me on Instagram

Boye Paulina Sharon

5th June 2020

THE BRAVE SERIES IS BACK!

Boye Paulina Sharon

29th May 2020

PLAN YOUR SUCCESS STORY

“Look up ‘a life without goals’ and you may quickly find yourself surrounded by disheartening clichés like “going nowhere” and “race with no finish line”. But while there are real benefits to goal-setting, is the absence of goals really so terrible?”- Catherine Moore

There’s an adage in Nigeria that says, ” wetin old woman siddon for ground see, pikin wey stand on top tree no go ever fit see am”.

It simply means that which an old person can see when sitting down, a child, even if he/she stands on a tree, can’t see it.
It doesn’t necessarily speak of geography now or a location. Cause in all reality, an old woman may be too old to even see that far and so, if we are talking of somewhere far, the child will most likely see it best.

This proverb instead, is talking about insight and experience. There is one thing that is key in life, and one quote I have heard a thousand times and that is, “experience is the best teacher”. I am sure you’ve heard it as well.

See, this particular post, make u siddon, read, and undastan am well well… U need am. No, be because I get plenti experience o, na because I don learn from person wey don experience am, well well.
You sabi dis tin dem dey call life, well well? U for make sharp.

Dear reader,
Plan your dealings very well. Make sure you set goals. I once had a friend tell me, “I don’t plan” and honestly, that statement reset my mind. I know you want to be a billionaire, but please, what is your plan? I am not saying plan your life and ignore God o. I am saying plan your life in order to avoid disappointments.
Hmm, goal setting.
Are you a student looking forward to having a first-class? Then, you can say you have a goal you want to achieve.
Are you a young person with high hopes of getting married to the right person? You have a goal.
Are you a young woman or man, hoping to work in a top organization one day? You have a goal, great. You have something you want to achieve.

But my question now is, how can you have a goal and not have a plan to achieve that goal? Masa, how?
Don’t play sharp with yourself and say I know it all. Brethren and sistren, sit down and plan strategically.
You don’t build a house and not have an architectural design, do you?
So how can you aspire to get An A, or get married right, and not plan your way there?
See, I know your life is in God’s hands but this same God says we should plan.
How do I know? It’s right there in the Bible. Should I show you? 🤔
The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty- Proverbs 21:5

God himself even has a plan for your life according to Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope“.
How much more you?
There are so many scriptures that talk about planning, here’s one more
Luke 14:28 “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? “

I want you to know that every term, every word be it good or bad, came about out of necessity. So also, the word plan.
You can’t say you are planning in your head all the time; write it down, you need to be strategic about it and very detailed.
Planning. Another very good reason you should plan is that, life happens, and you may forget certain things along the line. How can you have an Exam and not have an exam time table? The school just says, we have exams, you don’t know the subject you have first, nothing, you just know you have exams. Is that good planning for you? Of course not. This is the power of planning and planning right.

When the word, “market” came about for instance, it wasn’t just to beautify the dictionary, it’s to explain certain things to us so we can gain understanding and know-how to manage situations well, when it comes to “a market.”
Imagine going to the market and you don’t go with money, you don’t know what you want to buy, you don’t plan ahead, what will the end be like?

It’s the same way, you can’t have a vision, you can’t have a goal and not have a plan or goal-setting put in place.
So, today, we are going to be talking about how to make a plan so that all these dreams you have for your life, won’t be a mere talk but will emerge into something real.
Goal setting involves the development of an action plan designed to motivate and guide a person or group towards a goal. Goal setting can be guided by goal-setting criteria such as SMART criteria.
SMART is an acronym, giving criteria to guide in the setting of objectives. It means your goals must be Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-Bound.

I would end by sharing these tips by Tony Robbins on Goal setting

GOAL SETTING TIPS
Goal setting step 1: Give yourself six minutes to brainstorm a list of anything you’d like to achieve, create, do, have, give, and/or experience in the next 20 years. Write as many things down as fast as you can at this time.

Goal setting step 2: Now go back through your list and write one, three, five, 10, or 20 years next to each goal to indicate how long it will take to achieve them. Be realistic when assigning time estimates. You have a minute and a half to get this done, so be quick and go with your gut.

Goal setting step 3: Review your list. Choose your top four one-year goals. These are goals that make you really excited. Write a paragraph for each goal explaining why you will absolutely achieve this goal within the next 12 months. This should take you about 15-20 minutes in total.

Now, here is my extra tip, after you have written these down, write down how you plan to achieve the goal set beside them. What strategies would you use? How would it be done? Does someone need to help you achieve it? Time frame?

Also, seek counsel. Not that everything you are doing you share with the whole world o. Have mentors, have guidance, have people around that can help you in planning toward your success. It’s not being loud, it’s being wise. Tell a selected trusted few. Proverbs 15:22 in CEV Translation, says,”
Without good advice everything goes wrong–it takes careful planning for things to go right” TPT Translation says, “Your plans will fall apart right in front of you if you fail to get good advice. But if you first seek out multiple counselors, you’ll watch your plans succeed”. Finally, ERV Translation says, “If you don’t ask for advice, your plans will fail. With many advisors, they will succeed”

Have a plan alongside your Goals and visions, and I can assure you, you are good to go👍

Yours truly,
Boye Paulina Sharon
23rd May, 2020

Keys to understanding Vision and Goals

My people 💯
How una dey? (How are you?)

Please stay healthy and stay safe; you matter 💚

Today, I get correct message wey I wan take share with una, shey you don ready? (PIGIN)

😂alright guys, let’s get right into today’s message.

We would be talking about your vision and goals.
For the past few weeks, I’ve realized how ambitious and alert people have been in regards to their time, business, family, etc.
This period of the coronavirus has revealed and awakened a drive in many of us to do much more with our lives, and so, as you go on with chasing after your dreams and reaching for the stars, I thought to myself, “what information can I provide, that is necessary and timely in order to help you achieve that success you envision?”, hence the subject matter of the day.

As said by Pia Robson, ” Goals and visions guide your focus. Your energy flows to where your focus is”

Students, Parents, employees, business owners, and startup entrepreneurs often spend a lot of time defining their vision, values, goals, and strategy to achieve success, but, these concepts are most times mixed up with one another.

These concepts are all separate and distinct things that, if used correctly, can catapult your business or activities into a success. When confused, however, you’re less likely to reap the benefits of each- Bridget Weston.

Your Vision and Goal

Vision Statement:

(Desired End-State) A one-sentence statement that describes your aspirations upon achieving your mission. This statement reveals the “where” of a business, family etc. Remember as I said last week, once you have your why and your vision, your foundation has been properly set. A vision statement is a well written document that states your current and future objectives. It is intended as a guide to help you/ the organization make decisions that align with your/its philosophy and declared set of goals. It can be thought of as a roadmap to where you/ the company wants to be within a certain timeframe.

For example; Microsoft (at its founding): A computer on every desk and in every home.

How to come up with a vision statement by Stephanie Ray

Be Concise: This is not the time to stuff your vision with fluff statements. It should be simple, easy to read and cut to the essentials, so that it can be set to memory and be repeated accurately.They should be short – two sentences at an absolute maximum. It’s fine to expand on your vision statement with more detail, but you need a version that is punchy and easily memorable.

I remember growing up, my dad would entreat my siblings and I to read out our vision statement every morning before heading out to school. So it’s important to keep it short and easily understood.

Be Clear: A good tip for clarity is to focus on one primary goal, rather than trying to fill the document with a lot of ideas. One clear objective is also easier to focus on and achieve. In order to be clear, try to focus on what it’s you actually do or the organization does. Be output focused rather than input focused.

For example, you are a photographer or videographer, you takes loads of pictures and edit etc. Your output can be to satisfy your customer in a creative way, so be clear on that.

Have a Time Horizon: A time horizon is simply a fixed point in the future when you will achieve and evaluate your vision statement. It’s like a target or a deadline sort of. Define that time.
Make it Future-Oriented: Again, the vision statement is not what you/ the company is presently engaged in but rather a future objective where you/ the company plans to be.
Be Stable: The vision statement is a long-term goal that should, ideally, not be affected by the market or technological changes. Again, if you are confused about this, visit my previous post to gain understanding.
Be Challenging: That said, you don’t want to be timid in setting your goals. Your vision shouldn’t be too easy to achieve, but also it shouldn’t be so unrealistic as to be discarded. What makes you stand out amongst many others? Write it down. Think big, think great.

• Be Inspiring: Live up to the title of the document, and create something that will rally the troops and be desirable as a goal for all those involved in the organization. Or those you would be working with.
It shouldn’t be too, “stressful” to read, talking less of actually doing. Add some spice to it, use words that can be easily understood as well.

Work the goal, keep the vision

Now that we have outlined how to write a vision statement down, you must understand that you ought to have a goal written down as well to help achieve your vision..

To access the previous post on y https://sharonboyewordpress.wordpress.com/2020/05/08/your-why-and-your-vision-re-explained/

Your goals are the steps you take in order to achieve your vision.
We would be discussing this next week.. But first, get your books, journal, and begin writing down your vision. Prepare it very well to suit your desired success .
C’mon, get to it💯😁

Boye Paulina Sharon
15th May, 2020.

References ;

A Guide to Writing the Perfect Vision Statement (with Examples)

https://medium.com/thrive-global/goals-and-visions-8ebd067f51d5

https://www.score.org/resource/keys-understanding-vision-values-goals-and-strategy

Your why and your vision re-explained

Last week, we discussed the difference between your why and your vision. I got some comments from a few of you that the content wasn’t really understood.
Thank you for your feedback, I really appreciate them.
I apologize, however, for lack of clarity💚

Welcome back🤗.
I do not take your presence here lightly.

Before we move on to the message meant for today, I would just like to take a brief moment to re-explain and expand on the difference between your why and your vision, the best, I can.

Your why and your vision is in relation to where you are going.
Everyone has a dream.
There is something in you of which you desire to birth or fulfill- that is, your purpose.
It’s within you.
You have a destiny, you want to fulfill. You have a passion, within you. You may have begun going in pursuit of it or you’re still preparing for it, either way, you need to birth something.

Now, ‘your why’ is the most important thing you need, in order to begin anything you are doing.
Your why is the foundation to kick start anything you do. Your why is like the fire 🔥that is lit up to begin preparing the meal of your life or fulfillment of purpose.

When you have your why, it’s so strong a force, it can withstand the test of time. When people laugh at you or trials and stress set in, once you remember your why it keeps you going.
You may go to school to learn, but your why can be so that your children never have to go hungry. That is, your why; a foundation that drives you beyond limits.

So, even aside from school, your why cuts across other dimensions of your life. For this same reason of your children never going hungry, you labor in the place of prayer, you also labor at work; Your why!

Your why can be to start a movement because, for example, unfortunately, a friend of yours lost their lives to gang rape.
So, your why is to prevent others from going through a similar experience.
Still, it crosses across other areas of your life, even with how you relate with people.
Because of your experience with your friend, you may begin to love people more in general and feel drawn to help people in need not just even in the area of rape.

This is your why.
It’s what remains and still triggers you to move, when you are in a state of rest or tired. It is what would cause you not to give up when you feel most.
Your why is the foundation of your legacy, the home.

Keep your why. It doesn’t have to change except a better one comes.

Now, your vision.
Your vision is where you foresee yourself going.
It’s not where you ought to be, or what you are passionate about fulfilling.
It’s what you see yourself being.
So your vision is more like the way you see your house looking, or the way you imagine your business booming. This is your vision, it’s your dream.
Your vision is how you see the meal you prepare, coming out.

Now, your vision can also push you beyond limits.
Though your why is extremely strong. At times, we get most motivated by things that we can imagine and would bring us joy rather than why you are even doing it.

So, your vision is built on your why.
Once you have your why then you can have your vision.
Your vision comes from a place of looking at the future so as to fulfill your desires.

That is why you can have multiple or different visions in relation to different areas of your life.
Eg. For your marriage: your vision can be to never have an argument with your spouse and to have a peaceful home.
Meanwhile, for your business: your vision can be to be the best hairdresser (whatever your profession is ) in Africa (even, the world).

For your education: your vision can be to be the best graduating student.

You see, your vision varies and can be different for each area of your life.

Your why however is the same in most areas of your life, it can be, “I want to make my parents proud “
So, in your marriage, you do everything to make them proud ( but please, don’t let that mean you make your spouse suffer and sideline them).

For your business, you try not to get into corruption or you work extra hard because you want to make your parents proud.

For your education, the reason you would wake at night when others are sleeping is that you never want to see your parents disappointed in you.

Your why and your vision can vary or be interchanged, in motivating you to become the person you are to become.

God has divinely created you to fulfill something, however, how can you fulfill these things?

Start with your why
Have the vision to help fulfill it.

I do hope you understand this perfectly if you don’t, please send me a mail; paulinaboye045@gmail.com

Now, begin to go in pursuit of that which you have within you, to birth.

Please bear with me, next week we shall proceed unto discussing the difference between your goal and vision, but for now, please understand this principle on your why and vision well.

Thank you and God bless you.
You are fruitful in all you do.

Boye, Paulina Sharon
8th May, 020

YOUR WHY AND YOUR VISION CAN’T BE THE SAME!

Dear reader,
Ps: this is a very real post💯. So please don’t skip to the end, read through and you’d be blessed.

Welcome back to another blog post and Happy new month to you, Royalty.
I am glad to have you here😄.

A few days ago, I was speaking to a friend of mine who is a leadership expert, we spoke for a while just asking questions on how to grow personally, business-wise, and you know, never giving up on your dreams or goals. We shared quite a lot.

While we spoke, I asked him, “what keeps you going? What inspires you when you are tired and exhausted from pursuing your dreams? I mean it’s not every time you feel motivated to keep going. So how does one keep going on despite all discouragements?”

He said to me, ” find your ‘why?’ “
Let me not lie, we were on a call😹, and so, when he first said it, I heard, “find your, ‘wife’ “

In my head, I said ehen 🤨” mad o💯”
Is this how deep marriage works?
Let me go and find husband sharp🤣, no time to waste… 😜

So he kept explaining his point, and I was like wow, see what somebody’s wife is driving him to do, like Eii🔥🔥.

He legit then said again, apart from God, the next thing you need to find is your why, this time he spelled it out,” W H Y” as though he could read my mind.

Hmm, I thought to myself, that’s deep o.
Isn’t that like going back to your vision and Mission book? I asked,
He said no, they are completely different things.

In my head 🤔.. “My Vision and my why are completely different? How? Don’t they have any similarities?”
We continued talking, he explained the difference so well. After the conversation, I went out to research this difference ,and guys!! “Difference is there paa (🇬🇭 Ghanaian slang) “

Here’s what I learned from my friend and the research.

Difference between your vision and you’re why.
It’s important to first note that they are equally as important.

Your why is the Foundation of who you are, it gives everything above it, structure. Your why is not always good for public consumption, this is what drives you from within.
Your why is objective, it never changes. It’s from the past, an origin story as to where we come from. For you to find your why, you need to look back into the past; at your patterns, identify your patterns, then you can identify your why.
Your why is the reason behind what we give to the world. For example, Simon Sinek’s why is to inspire people to do the things that inspire them so each person can change the world for the better.

Before you continue reading, try writing down your why on a sheet of paper 📝 , and please keep it.

Your vision, on the other hand, is your future, it’s where you are going, it’s not objective, it’s subjective… (Not that it changes all the time, but it can be subject to change). Your vision is about imagination, your vision is looking forward as to what to build your foundation upon.

Simon Sinek put it this way, your why is like the Foundation of your house, it gives it structure, once the foundation is built that’s it, it doesn’t change.
Your vision, however, is built upon the foundation, which is your why. It is where you envision the house going eg, from a house to a home, your house being decorated, etc

You can only have one ‘why’, but, you can have multiple visions, you can have a vision for your family, your business, your education etc..but your why, stays the same.

Looking at the example of why by Simon.
His vision is to create a world where everyone wakes up inspired, feels safe at work, and come home feeling fulfilled.

See the difference? Your why comes from your past, your vision, comes from the future.

Now, go ahead and write down your vision as well and compare the two.
It would sure help shape your activities as you keep going on this journey to success.

This is one lesson I won’t be forgetting in a long time. You shouldn’t as well.

This post was inspired by Yomi Ojute and Simon Sinek.

Next week, we would be looking at the difference between your vision and your goal.
Yes, they are completely different as well.
Till next time, cheers😄

Boye Paulina Sharon
1st May 2020

Life & Death

Today, the 25th of April, I celebrate my birthday 🎉. I made this in honor of all those who’ve journeyed through life struggling, happy, etc. This is for you. I love you, dear reader.

Please listen, like, and share.

Shout out to my brother and Friend Ebunoluwa Adeyemo, for helping to put the audio together.

I honor you my G🔥.

Be blessed.

“Life happens to us all
Life! A gift to some, sorrow to others at different seasons. Life .

Some plants will be growing
Others will be dying and beginning to decay, or rot.
Have you been to a park or a garden, before?

One day we are celebrating being employed
Soon, we speak of retirement
Have you been to an office, before?

Some humans are celebrating wealth
Some are complaining of hunger and lack of shelter.
Have you been in the reality of life?

Some friendships are growing
Some friendships have turned to a battlefield
While others, just grow soar
Do you have a friend?

Yesterday, we celebrate success
The other day, we are drowning in failure
Life, oh life!

Some humans are living and celebrating
Others are mourning and are weak
Have you been on earth, before?

It hits us differently at every step of the way.

Did you get to congratulate that person?
Or were you so caught up with “life”, activities?

Did you tell him/her, ” I love you”?
Or has our “unselfish” pride, caught up with us?

Did you get to say goodbye to that person?
Life, life, oh life!

Did you ever think you would carry your own child?
Now you have been blessed, cherish these moments ❤.

Did you wish that friend a happy birthday?
I wish you did, I really do.

Life, one day, we crawl, the next, we walk, other days, our feet fail us.

It all happens, as we journey through life.
Life happens to us all
Life! A gift to some, sorrow to others at different seasons. Life.

Live, dear reader/Listener, just live; be happy, dance, jump, clap, scream, laugh, cry, just live! Live
Cause, life happens” 🎉

Boye Paulina Sharon,

25th April, 2020

DO YOU KNOW YOURSELF? WHO ARE YOU?

Lol, for real though, “Do you know yourself ?”

Hey there😁, Welcome back.
I hope your week has been good thus far?

I know you are perhaps waiting to know the inspiration behind this topic. I mean, how can I ask you if you know yourself.
” Of course! How won’t I know myself? “, you may say to yourself.
Lol, you probably think you know yourself more than people even know you… Well, that may, in fact, be correct.

Let’s get right into this message though, shall we?

Firstly, how do you know when you know someone? When can you confidently say, ” I know this person”?
The typical answer would be to say, ” err, I talk to them often, spend time with each other, we tell each other almost everything, I know their secrets, I know their family members, I have seen them in the good and bad times, we just connect, etc..”

That’s great, but permit me to say, that the fact you know someone’s habits/ disposition today, doesn’t mean you know the person.
Take note of the words, ” habit, dispositions and today”

Lol, have you ever been close to someone you think you know really well and then perhaps you aren’t so close anymore, “all of a sudden”, they are another person/ have a different “character”?

Do you remember how perplexed you were? Perhaps, your response to their new behavior is, “they changed or the person may have gone through a really tough time.” Lol, did they really change though or could that be who they’ve always been?
I don’t know but hold that thought ☝, Just saying 🤫.

The fact that someone is acting a certain way ‘now’ does not, I repeat, does not mean that’s who or how they are, please! Understand this.

Now, to you “gan gan” ( Nigerian slang for, “yourself”), how do you know you know yourself?
Hehe😂.

I’ve realized, the typical way to believe you know yourself is to say, “oh, I know what makes me happy, I know what makes me sad, I know what my interest is, I know my biggest fears, I know my purpose, I know my values, etc”
Well, alright😉

Understand, however, you are a composition of your past, present, and future.
The fact that cats are your biggest fears now doesn’t mean they are actually, “your” biggest fears, you haven’t just encountered your actual biggest fear, which may result in maybe crossing the road. You don’t know 🤷‍♀️.

So, we allow our experiences of the past and present define our knowledge of ourselves and as a result of that, we limit our future selves because of our fixed mindset of who we are.

Remember, your future self, is still, ” you”.

Let me explain this better. Let’s assume at the age of 14, you described yourself as not being easily angered…

Now, how is it that you are 23 and automatically, you get to a point in your life where you are now easily angered? Lol, was it juju?
Did the you of yesterday jump out of your body and a new you appear?

Another example, The you of yesterday used to describe yourself as happy, and now, the you of today defines yourself as indifferent, what will you of tomorrow define you as?

Do you really know yourself?

Some may say, “there’s no fixed you, you’re an accumulation of what you do with your time, who you spend your time with, etc. As a human being, you are made to adjust to situations and circumstances. You are not a permanent thing, you evolve, you upgrade with time, circumstances and your mindset.”

That’s true. However, I believe your values can shape you to not be easily swayed by situations and circumstances.
If you have the “evolving” mindset in every single thing, you would then say, because I evolve as a human being, as a boy, I didn’t steal, now I am grown, I can steal. Free will, right?

If however, you have, maintain and develop your values as you grow, no matter the situation, timings, etc, your values will shape your decision and choices thereby resulting in your character which one way or the other, defines you and helps you know yourself better.

That’s why a person before quarantine and a person during quarantine can be totally opposite.
Did the person switch bodies? No.
Situations reveal dimensions of people.
Good and bad, they both reveal the real you and what one really values.

It’s therefore important to ensure to develop the right mindset from the onset and not just go with the flow of things. Learn to build the right character, build the right values for your tomorrow as well and not just your today and stick to it through discipline.
This I believe will help in getting to know yourself and be that person that does not conform to situations anyhow and over time; There’s 5 different you for different things.

Learning this principle will help protect your integrity.

I’m not saying,”don’t grow/become better and improve” , I’m saying, “don’t be 5 different people”. That’s all.

Sharon Paulina Boye,
17th April 2020.

Exalting the Name of The Lord !

Psalm 24:7-10 King James Version (KJV)
7 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
8 Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.
9 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in
10 Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.

He is the King of Kings, He is the Lord of lords.

Thank you Jesus for who you are thank you Lord of host, we are here just to exalt your name. We decree that you are mighthy.

Many at times we get so lost in the things of the world, we feel the need to find pleasure and acceptance in the world, we forget the king of kings, we forget that there is a God who wants to have a relationship with us.

Many at times we yearn for the prophecies of men of God more than the presence of God, many at times we yearn for acceptance from others and we are indifferent to the acceptance from God, we look forward to the validation from others, we do not see the validation that God gives us.

The King of Glory reigns, He reigns supreme. Many at times we forget to refill by studying the word of God, we fail to refill by studying the life; Himself, studying the truth.

We want all things, we yearn for the things that do not matter compared to your salvation, vanity upon vanity, all is vanity. Jesus remains the king of the whole universe.

It’s not about receiving salvation only. It’s not about going to church. Do you have a relationship with Him? Is your relationship with him based on days of the week? Jesus asked, “Who do you say that I am?” , I ask you today who do you say that He is?

In this time of,’ lockdown’, everyone is so focused on perhaps catching up with old friends, doing something that brings one joy, developing new skills, sure, there’s nothing wrong in these but have you given God that time, does He have your time, your attention. Our excuse before the Corona Virus was that there was no time,” I am busy”, we say to ourselves. How busy can we really get? How about now, are you still busy?

I searched all over, couldn’t find anybody, I looked high and low, I still couldn’t find anybody, nobody greater than you (God).

We keep on searching and searching and searching and searching after the things of the world and fail to see, He’s right in front of us. All we need is right within our midst.

Lord Jesus, we decree and declare that there is none like you, there is none that can be compared on to you, you are the,” I am that I am”, you are the Omnipotent God, you are the Omniscient God, you are the Lion of The tribe of Judah, you are the Ancient of days, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. God, be praised, you are the Lily of the Valley, you are the Rose of Sharon, you are a friend in times of lack, in times of want, You remain our friend.

We serve a good God, you serve a great God, He’s the one who will never leave you nor forsake you, He is the one who fights your battles for you, at night while you sleep, He watches over you, he watches over you when you are out, He’s with you in the midst of the storms, He’s with you in your days of celebration, He is with you, He is the God who never gives up on you.

Today is dedicated to the King of Kings, oh! We exalt your name we decree that you are God above all, you are the God of Abraham, you are the God of Isaac, you are the God of Jacob, you are the God of Noah, you are the God of Moses, you are the God of Joseph, Lord, you are the God of Elijah you are the God of Enoch, you are the God of Daniel, the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. God, you reign supreme, God of Esther, God of Jesus, be praised, God of Hannah, you are my God.

Take out time to exalt God today, in your own language, just praise Him and have a personal experience with your father.

To me, He is my Atofarati – It means the God you can lean on. He is my Ataa-Naa Nyonmo’, meaning ‘God, who is both father and mother’.

Who is He to you?

Comment below and please share.

Boye, Paulina Sharon

10th April, 2020

Trust in Relationships- Part 2

Who can I run to when all hope is lost apart from Christ?

Hey hey, welcome back😄.

Talking on trust in relationships, have you ever been at a point in your life where everything seems to be crashing and at that point, you really realize how alone you’ve been all these while?
You don’t even know who to tell what to because you’re not sure if they are there to hear gist or to just be your friend, genuinely.

Who can you trust at the weakest of times in your life?
Who is your burden-bearer?
Do you have that one person, the one who stands by you no matter what?. When the world is laughing at you, mocking you, who’s that one person you can trust that will be there to hold you and say, here am I, cry on my shoulder?

Wait, before we think about Christ, who is, of course, the ultimate burden bearer, do you have a friend I mean, who has an actual body, that you can call on?
See ehn, the truth is, no matter how many times people break your trust and all, there’s a human part of everyone that wants just one friend/friends, to always fall back to. It doesn’t have to be 6 people, some people are really just looking for one person😿.

Now, that one friend may most likely be one’s spouse. “But what if I am not married yet or I married wrong?”, you may ask. My answer, ” Honestly, the best person to fill that role is your spouse that’s why you should pray well alongst that line BUT it’s very possible to have those people as your friends. Just like Jonathan and David, The one’s who are there even during the storms”

Please, let’s drop the mindset of, “I don’t need people, God has my back “. Yes, God does have your back, but He also put you on earth to fellowship with others. As much as you should be careful not to surround yourself with bad friends, don’t isolate yourself from the entire world.

Prayer point: God, please surround me with burden bearers; friends who will be there with me during the storms and even in good times. Genuine friends, that stick closer than relatives.

I want to share what I learned from the crucifixion of Jesus, with you.

Jesus had 12 disciples, 12. Out of those 12, he had 3 who were closest to Him; Peter, James, and John.
Out of those 3, only one was with him at His point of death or perhaps the most painful time of his human experience, John.
Where did the rest go?
Does that mean they were not his friends or that they were bad?
No, in fact, they all played significant roles in his life, during his lifetime and after his death.

However, there was one person there with him during the worst time, John.
He was there even to the point of one of Jesus’ last sentences before He died as told in the scripture, John 19:26-27,” When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Dear woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” (NIV).”

Many at times, we are quick to ask another, “are you trustworthy?”, we are quick to drop friends who may not seem trustworthy, etc. This is not wrong, I mean you need to be surrounded by the right people.
I believe however the first question to ask should not be directed outside but to oneself.
In all of this, I ask myself first,” who can run to me when times are hard? Am I a burden bearer to someone else? Am I trustworthy? “

Jesus was first a friend to all before John was found by His side at His worst time.
Matthew 14: 25-31 says, “Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

Jesus was there for Peter.
Now I know all these may just look like, “oh, okay, Bible story”, but look out for the word,” immediately” when Jesus saved Peter. His friendship stood alert even during fear. So I ask, what kind of friend am I? What kind of friend are you?

As much as we can pray to God to help us have burden bearers as friends. Let’s also pray, ” God, help me be a burden bearer to others”

If you want to have trustworthy friends, be a trustworthy friend.

Wait, I know there are times you have been trust worthy over and over again and still, people keep stabbing you at the back.
That hurts, I agree, but try not to let the actions of others change the reality of who you are.

Writing this to you may look easy also, reading it, the important thing is to ensure we do the things we ought to. In our schools we need friends, at work, we need friends, in the church, we need friends, in our families, we need friends, in our best times, we need firends, at our lowest, we need friends.

The person you can run to other than Christ is, “a friend”. Find someone today, pray someone into your life today that you can trust and will be there always and vice versa. They exist.

Boye Paulina Sharon
3rd April, 2020

Levels of Trust In Your Relationship

“To be trusted is a greater compliment than being loved.” – George MacDonald.

According to Merriam Webster, Trust is a firm belief in the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something, its the ability to place confidence in a person or thing.

“Huge misunderstandings can occur when we talk about “trust.” If you say you don’t trust someone, do you mean you don’t believe they are honest or do you mean you don’t believe you can depend on them to get the job done on time? If someone says they don’t trust you, what exactly don’t they trust?”- Jesse Lyn Stoner

One thing I’ve come to realize is, the younger we are, the easier it’s for us to trust others.
As we grew older, due to perhaps some experiences we have had, perhaps personal or from a distance, we are less prone to trusting people.

So to my question, “Have you ever trusted someone before? “
If yes, do you still trust the person today?

Frankly speaking, there are different levels to this thing called, “Trust”, and the levels also depend on the kind of relationship you have with that person.
For example, the trust relationship you may have with a family member is most likely going to be different from that which you have with a colleague at work. In fact, the information you share with the various parties is based on the kind of relationship, you have with them.

There are 4 main types of relationships we are considering today, they are; professional, personal, family and social.

Randy Conley, identified 3 levels of trust in every relationship. He says, “The first level of trust in every relationship is, “deterrence-based trust”, or what I like to call, “rules-based” trust. This is the most fundamental, base level of trust in all relationships. Deterrence-based trust means that there are rules in place that prevent one person from taking advantage of harming another person. In society, we have laws that govern our behavior in personal and business settings. When we engage in business we have contracts that ensure one party can trust another to hold up their end of the bargain. In organizations, we have policies and procedures that provide boundaries for how we interact and treat each other, and if we violate those rules, usually there are consequences involved.

The second level of trust is, “knowledge-based trust”. This level of trust means that I’ve had enough experience with you and knowledge of your behavior that I have a pretty good idea of how you will react and behave In a relationship with me. Because my experience with you has shown that you have my best interests in mind and will do what you say you’ll do (integrity), I feel safe enough to trust you in our everyday dealings. This is the level of trust that most of our day-to-day professional relationships experience.

The third and most intimate level of trust we experience in relationships is called,” identity-based trust”. This level of trust means that you know my hopes, dreams, goals, ambitions, fears, and doubts. I trust you at this level because over the course of time I have increased my level of transparency and vulnerability with you and you haven’t taken advantage of me. You’ve proven yourself to be loyal, understanding, and accepting.

Identity-based trust isn’t appropriate for every relationship. This level of trust is usually reserved for the most important people in our lives such as our spouse, children, family, and close friends. Yet with the proper boundaries in place, this level of trust can unlock higher levels of productivity, creativity, and performance in organizations. Imagine an organizational culture where we operated freely without concerns of being stabbed in the back by power-hungry colleagues looking to move higher on the corporate ladder. Imagine less gossiping, backbiting, or dirty politics being played because we knew each other’s hopes and dreams and worked to encourage their development rather than always having a me-first attitude.

Take a moment to examine the level of trust in your most important relationships. What level are you at with each one and how can you develop deeper levels of trust in your relationship ?”

Next week, we will be looking deeper into this topic called, “trust”.

See you then😄

Boye Paulina Sharon
27th March 2020

PASSING THROUGH THE FIRE!

I’ve come to find that a time comes in a man’s/woman’s life when everything goes bad.
In those times, it looks really terrible.
Maybe even lonely.
Everything just goes, sour. It’s very humiliating in those times.

Things just don’t work out. These seasons come and go. It may happen once in a person’s life. It may happen multiple times, however, there will be a season.

This season one way or the other uncovers the heart of man and the extent to which one can go to get over that uncomfortable season.

My focus today is based on a question,” who do I/you result to become when I/you pass through the fire?”

Do hard times bring out the worst in you or do they bring out the best in you.

1 Peter 1:7, says “These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world”

A wise man once said, “pressure creates Diamonds. Fire refines gold”

Do you know the difference between yourself and gold/diamonds though?

You have a choice: based on research, most at times when we as humans go through painful situations, it brings out the worst in us, instead of the best. Why? Choice. We have a choice.
I do not disregard how painful some situations maybe, but for every bad outcome, there is a great outcome as well. It depends on the path you choose to take. Diamonds are non- living things, they go through the fire be it they want to or not, and they always come out well. It’s expected that they come out well.

Now, imagine, if I/you would just make that decision today, that no matter the pressure, no matter the fire, no matter the pain, ” I will stand firm, my faith won’t shake, I won’t fall”. Stop looking for easy ways to overcome unpleasant situations. I know it’s unpleasant, but try! During labor, you have to pass through the fire of pain to birth that beautiful baby, there are no short cuts. So why do you want to take a short cut on your own life?
It’s a conscious decision one ought to make.
Your circumstances shouldn’t define you, you define them. Define it, yes.

You are worth more Rubies and gold: apart from the verse we read earlier on about our faith being worth more than gold , Proverbs 31:10 also says you are worth more rubies and gold. I am talking to both males and females now, though the scripture was referring to females.

Now, why would you dare belittle your worth by allowing gold to come out finer than you when you are worth more than it’s? I ask again, why?

Hold on, I know your situation is different, I know you have gone through this and that. I know it’s not easy, but that’s the point, to get you to come out as gold.

The same way we humans place a demand on gold/diamond to come out well and pure. We even look away when we want to buy gold and it’s not real, this is the same way life places a demand on us!
As much as you have a choice to stay in the fire or find a short cut to come out of a fire. The end result of your pain should be good.

And, when you’re done, your life/outcome is meant to be a testimony, a beautiful one that others could benefit from.
Just as gold is, I mean real gold.

The problem with taking short cuts in your painful journey is you come out As steel, not gold!

You can easily rust! But gold, gold, Pure gold will neither rust nor tarnish. It is nearly inert.

Dear reader, don’t give any excuse, trust God to never allow you go through something too much for you to bear, but whiles you go through whatever it’s you do. Go through it! Don’t fight it, just allow God prune you so you can come out well, not just temporarily, but better than gold as you are, permanently.

Make that decision today!
Say to Yourself, ” I will come out refined, purified! “

Boye, Sharon Paulina
20th March, 2020.

Disorderly Organised!

Do you have a plan for the day or you just go along with it as the day comes by?

You may be in school pursuing your degree, but do you even know why you are pursuing the degree?

Why are you going to work today?
Do you know what you are doing and why you are doing, what you are doing? 😢

Dear reader,
A few days ago, like I always do, I looked back at my life, this time, to check my patterns.

My patterns; what I do daily, how I spend my time. How I live my life etc. “Is there consistency in my actions, in every area of my life or am I just living life as it comes?”, I asked myself.

I embarked on this meditation as a result of how busy things got for me.
You Know all those Hollywood films where there’s a character playing the role of someone, who has a lot on His/her table and then all of a sudden, flips the table?
Ehen, na me be that.
It’s not African magic guys.
😂, just that, I didn’t have a table to flip, so, I flipped myself 😂.

I mean, I just realized that ah, wait o,” I’m always doing something “, moving from one thing to the other, but still, I felt, “disorganized”
Hmm.
Lol, I seemed very organized to most people, even to myself, but honestly yeah, I was just doing things as they came; busy.

If this comes, I would do to clear my mind. I was doing it not because I knew why but,” just let me do and be going.”
Let’s clear the table and go home to rest 😄.

So yes, I was still praying, I was still attending classes, writing, taking care of myself, etc.
The problem, however, was, “I lost sight of my why.”

I write this today with a clear purpose, and that is to tell you,” focus on your vision; your why, your reason for doing what you do.
Don’t be so fixed on your mission you forget the vision or vice versa. They have to work together.”

I began to do things as a result of being responsible and not being purposeful, instead.
I always believed once you have a vision, it’s more important to have a mission and focus on it. Implementation matters, after all.

I’ve come to realize, however, it’s not more important to have a mission.
Instead, it’s most important to hold the two (vision and mission) in perspective, as equally as possible.

So, we are in the 3rd month of the year, are we still going after those goals and dreams we had at the beginning of the year? If yes 👍, that’s great .
I bet it’s going great. You are living fully, right?

Your vision is your Conception, your mission is the undertaking of the concept.

Now, please, as you are doing all these things, as you get busy and all of that, remember why you started it in the first place.
Go back and ask yourself, “why am I doing what I am doing?”

Don’t be busy and just be busy. Be careful not to occupy time, instead, maximize it. Utilize it.

An artist never forgets the image he tries to paint 🎨. Be it the image is in his mind or right in front of Him, he always has it in perspective while he draws.
If he loses sight of his image/ imagination, what happens? We get a painting not worthy of being called one. Or wait, what do you think will happen?

If you lose sight of your why today, it’s as good as working aimlessly. You will simply be disorderly organised , don’t be so busy, you forget the vision and hurt yourself in the process, thereby wasting time.

Today, as you go out, get to know your why, remember It and hold on to it.

Your vision and mission must work concurrently to create the best results.
Never detach them.

Best Regards,

Boye, Paulina Sharon.
13th March, 2020.

THE REAL WOMAN IN ME

A multiplier,
Fruitful is she
Strong and beautiful.
Bold and courageous
Delightful.

An incubator,
A woman, the one who gives the world life.
The one who makes a house a home.
She creates abundance with the little given to her.

Unique,
Not made to be like,
But made as

Her hair is as beautiful as the horizon
Her eyes, describe her vision
Her scars, her strength
Her hands, her capabilities

Limitless is she.

The real woman in me is inspired by – Rev Mrs. Charlotte Oduro.

A few years ago, I struggled with the idea of being a girl, soon to be, woman.

I am called, “Delight“. I come from a home of 4 men and 1 woman.
I grew up, not knowing why I had been placed in the body of a “female”.

Pictures by: https://instagram.com/_praiz_prah?igshid=hq6ceecapjnb

I know a man who lives as a Lion. An Emperor, who roars and rules the affairs of the home, so bravely, yet so lovingly. A man of great esteem and good character. This man taught me to be courageous, he taught me to respect, and carry myself with dignity and pride. A man, that defines love so deeply and yet, so softly. He is a leader. He is a protector. An ally, and a provider. Slow to anger, he chastises with love. I call him, “Daddy“. His chest, a safe place to lie. His words, are those you can trust. He is the head of the home. The best attribute of this man is that his Head is covered by the,”King of glory”.

I was born to know 3 Kings, I call them, “brothers.”
These 3 men, represent 3 key areas of my life.
Ever seen young men, so daring, humble and intelligent?
They correct me with one hand and bring me to close with the other. They rule the affairs of whatever is put in their hands with wisdom, knowledge, and understanding.
They are strong. They define the word, ” man ” so well.
The first one is called, “Beloved“; A man of few words but great wisdom. His love pierces through the storms.
The second, ” Sweetheart“; A friend to all. His words are as soothing as the gulp of water when thirsty.
The third, “Precious“; Disciplined. His smile captivates the heart in the toughest of times.

I know A woman.
Blessed is she.
She derives her strength from the spring of life ( God ).
She wakes up at night to prepare for the day while her children sleep.
Fearless is she.
Her correction is as the waves of the sea, it hits you in all directions. Yet, just when it calms, you could live your whole life in the presence of her love.
She disciplines, to bring out the best in you.
Never weak, always strong.
She makes all things beautiful.
Her smile is as the blossom in the garden.
Her wisdom, unmatchable.
Her home is filled with laughter.
The gatekeeper of her home, she is.
Her husband trust in her.
I call her, “Mummy“

As I grew up, struggling daily to understand why I’m made to be called, “she”. After all, I knew more men than women.
I got to experience life differently.
I saw how hard it’s to be a man, and yet, still, how hard it is to be a woman.
Times without number, I questioned the reason for my existence as a lady.

Which did God really create me to be?
If He created me to be a woman, why does it have to be so hard being one?

These men don’t have to take care of their hair as much as I do.
They don’t have to moisturize their skin all the time.
They could wear whatever they wanted to, so far it looked nice, why not?

Makeup?
For what? They don’t need that.

I, on the other hand, have to have my hair laid in a particular way.
Dress a particular way.
Walk a particular way.
Speak a particular way.
And yet, learn to keep the home for the days of the storms and the days so peaceful.
To be a woman, who sacrifices.
One day, soon to be called mother
But now, called daughter.
And oh yeah, let’s not forget the hormonal changes and mood swings that come with,” being a girl”.
For some weird reason, one day, you are just emotional, and you don’t even know why. The next day, the slightest of things seem irritating to look at. Other days, you are extremely happy.
How about the times, you are just immune to everything, like, no emotions, at all! You are not happy, not sad, not angry; just not feeling, anything, at all.

Each monthly cycle comes with its own mood.

🤦‍♀️
I just didn’t understand myself.

You ask me, ” what do you want “
My response, ” I don’t know “
Cause I want everything but not everything🤷‍♀️.
There are details to things, you know?

And with all of these, struggling to get my grades, be a good daughter/sister, and learn to know who I am, “Just be a girl!”, was what I was told by the society.

I saw how my brothers portrayed certain characters and I wanted to act the way they portrayed them.
After all, they walk, I walk, they talk, I talk, they speak, I speak. If they can, I can, right ?
The problem, however, is,” I am not male”
I can’t do things as they do.
We may do things alike, but never the same.
They way they greet was different from how I was to greet.
In Nigeria, where I grew up, the males would lie on the floor, to greet elders. I would have to kneel.

Why can’t I lie on the floor too? That seemed easier to me cause I had 4 other people doing it, compared to one (my mother).

Why can’t I dress like them? Why can’t I speak like them? Or, walk like them? I didn’t get why I couldn’t just be,” human” and enjoy it without being conscious of the body I live in.

After years and years of going back and forth with loving the few days, I get to be adored as a girl and hating the other days, I’ve to sacrifice and be overly conscious of my skin as a girl.

It took me time, to evolve into being the Lily that I am as a girl child.
Now, I know who I am and I must confess, It’s one of the best feelings, to know I’ve been placed in the body of a “female”.

I know now, and I say this with confidence.

Please, say this out loud

“I, (insert your name) wasn’t born just to exist.
I was born to fill a gap.
Born not because I was wanted, but because I am needed.
I take pride now, in knowing that I am trusted to act as the keeper of the home.
To know, my voice matters, my laughter matters.
That I, being in this body, matters.
My body is beautiful.
My scars; my beauty marks.
I am a multiplier. I have the ability to be fruitful and to dominate.
No matter what mood I am, God has given me the ability to handle them and help others as I do.
I am a helper, and I take pride in this.
I am a good thing.
I am capable.

I don’t need to pretend. I love my skin. My hormones don’t control me. I am a loving person either ways.
I am not disrespectful, just fearless.
Favor comes with knowing me!”

Although life may not always be fair to us, know, that in you, dear girl, lies the future of tomorrow.

To the girl out there, struggling with her identity,
asking herself, “am I beautiful enough?” Fully breastfed or not. Big behind or small. Short hair or long hair. Tall or short. Chubby or Thin. American Indian, Asian, Black, Native Hawaiian or White. Know, that you are beautiful, beautiful enough.

I am Boye, Paulina Sharon
And I am proud to be a woman
To be from Africa.
I’m proud to be a helper.
I’m proud to be, ME!

Are you ?

As we celebrate, international women’s day on the 8th of March, I wish you,”
Happy international women day”, 👸

Boye, Paulina Sharon
6th March, 2020

OVERCOMING TEMPTATIONS!😢

At that moment, your body, so eager to do something your soul disagrees with… a war springs up!…

Hello! Welcome back !😁
The past responses to the blog posts this month have been amazing, I must say. I am grateful for your time spent and the lessons learned. God bless you, always❤.

Today, I feel a pressing need to speak on temptations.
Guys, I am a work in progress in the vineyard of God and funny enough, as I write this, I have just faced a temptation😳. Does that make me a sinner?🙀

Hmm well, from very good studies, I’ve come to find that; if one is presently facing some sort of temptation, be it strong urges to do something or not so strong, you are not a sinner or a bad person. Yes, I repeat, you are not a sinner if you face temptations.
Jesus was tempted as well🌚, and we all know/ should know, Jesus never sinned. So🙅‍♀️, don’t let the devil make you feel your case is over, for being tempted.

The real focus, however, should be if you succumb to the temptation or overcome it 🙊.
Hmmm…….

For a second though😢, can we get a break off temptations?

According to Wikipedia, temptation can be defined as a desire to engage in short-term urges for enjoyment, that threatens long-term goals.
It is the intentional enticement of a person, by some bait —usually pride, always self-gratifying—to disobey God’s revealed Word ( Dr. Michael A. Milton, 2019).

Temptations can come in so many forms such as:

Lust of eyes (materialism)
Lust of body (hedonism)
Pride of life (egoism).

Examples of temptations are; having to deal with overcoming desires and the satisfaction that comes with drinking alcohol/ smoking, committing suicide so as to end the pain you feel, sexual urges that can lead to masturbation, cheating on spouse if married, or even having sex in your head, stealing to gain some money, etc, lying, being angry, cheating people or cheating during exams when you are blank, the need to always eat something, disobedience to those in authority over you when it’s inconvenient, fighting, disrespecting those under you cause of the “fear of you” feeling that comes with it, killing someone just for the satisfaction of not seeing them anymore and ending the pain they make you feel, procrastination and so many more!

Whew🤷‍♀️.. Wetin we no go see for this world? It’s almost like the moment you’re able to overcome one temptation, another one is standing at the door waiting for you. Sigh, why? 🤦‍♀️

Before we move on , I want to tell you something! Did you know, 1 Corinthians 10:13 says,
” No temptation [regardless of its source] has overtaken or enticed you that is not common to human experience [nor is any temptation unusual or beyond human resistance], but God is faithful [to His word—He is compassionate and trustworthy], and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability [to resist], but along with the temptation He [has in the past and is now and] will [always] provide the way out as well, so that you will be able to endure it [without yielding, and will overcome temptation with joy]”

Do you know it’s possible to endure without yielding to these temptations?

There’s so much I want to tell you, but there’s one point I want to get to (you can overcome temptations because God always provides a way out!)
I am not disregarding the satisfaction that yielding to this temptation comes with (whichever you are facing), after all, you are human and as a child of God, you can always ask for forgiveness and be forgiven. God will understand, right?

Romans 6:1-2,”What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?”

I mean, the fulfilling satisfaction that comes with taking in a drop of alcohol and forgetting all your worries, feeling the touch of someone else that satisfies your soul, feeling secure with having enough money to take care of pressing needs no matter the means of getting it, that temptation to just satisfy your current thirst and desire for revenge on that bully, that urge you feel to get angry and prove to people that you also have power, or, could it also be that urge to show people you are better than them spiritually, academically or financially? Feelings to urgently end your life?

1 Corinthians 10:12‭ says,
“Therefore let the one who thinks he stands firm [immune to temptation, being overconfident and self-righteous], take care that he does not fall [into sin and condemnation].”

Dear reader,
Believe me when I say, ” I understand you”. It’s not easy. Why should you be faced with something so pleasant after all?
The truth is, everyone has his or her cross to bear, how are you carrying yours though?
It may seem hard to overcome it or even easy, but the Bible says,” IT IS POSSIBLE TO OVERCOME IT”. GOD WILL NEVER LET YOU BE TEMPTED BEYOND YOUR CAPABILITIES. SO, HEY! HOLD ON, DON’T DO IT, FOR IN YOU LIES THE POWER TO OVERCOME THOSE SINS. No matter how hard/easy it gets, don’t yield. Ask the Holy spirit to help distract your focus and help you focus on the right things. He’s your helper, He will help. Believe this, He will help!

Please, be careful not to be overly confident however in your ability to overcome, you ignore the role of the Holy Spirit in helping prevent you from falling.

The truth that every Christian must learn is that, as the apostle says in his Corinthian letter, “you are not your own,” (1 Corinthians 6:19b RSV). You no longer belong to yourself. You must no longer let your own desires take first priority in life. Rather, submit your desires to God ( Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you- James 4:7).

Are you struggling with alcohol and drugs? Proverbs 31:4,” It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to crave strong drink”. Note! Royalty is exempted, you are royalty (be it you’re a girl /boy) once you become a child of The King of Kings by believing in Jesus Christ. Now, 👑 king / Queen , face that temptation not with pride but with confidence that with God you are more than a conqueror of all temptations.
Want to commit suicide?
Psalm 55:2,”Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken”
Psalm 34:18-19, “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.The righteous person may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all”.

You are valuable my dear, you are worthy. Please, don’t take your life, for you are precious. You may already know that, know also then, that no pain is permanent. You are loved! Yes, you!

Battling sexual urges? Married or unmarried?
1 Corinthians 6:18,” Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body”.
Your body is God’s temple, His dwelling place, let’s strive to keep it pure. When the right time comes, you will have God’s blessing.
How about those married but find it hard to stay with your spouse?Proverbs 5:15..
For both men and women, ” You should be faithful to your wife, just as you take water from your own well”. Trust God to help you feed from your own well only, and He will help you.
Struggle with anger, unforgiveness, revenge?
Ephesians 4:26-27,” BE ANGRY, AND yet DO NOT SIN; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity”
Psalm 37:8-9,” Cease from anger and forsake wrath; Do not fret; it leads only to evildoing. For evildoers will be cut off, But those who wait for the LORD, they will inherit the land”
God understands it’s possible for one to get you upset and hurt, but He says cease from it and wait on Him to help you through those times.
Feeling egoistic? Always fighting?
Philippians 2:3 ESV
“Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves”

James 3:14-16 ESV
“But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.”

6. Always feeling tempted to procrastinate or eat ? Hebrews 12:11,”No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it”. Discipline yourself today and you will rejoice tomorrow .

Finally, my reader, 1 John 1:9 says ,” If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

Jesus is the way. Today, surrender your life to him and let Him be the lord of your life. Let Him help you overcome those temptations.

Please say this prayer aloud with me, if you want to surrender your life to Jesus Christ,

“Heavenly Father, I completely surrender all my life to You! I adore You, for You are mighty and all-powerful, worthy of all my praise.I believe that Jesus, the son of God died on the cross for me and that He arose on the third day .Come into my life and make all things new. I ask for your forgiveness of sins and your grace to overcome the temptations I feel.By the working power of the Holy Spirit, I know that all I need to do is call on name of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and I will be saved. Thank You for that privilege! I’m now born again ” .

If you said this prayer, I rejoice with you!🎉 Welcome to the body of Christ and be rest assured that heaven rejoices with you. I will be praying for you by God’s grace.

Please send me an email; paulinaboye045@gmail.com

Thank you for reading and I look forward to your responses 😁.

See you next time!

Boye, Paulina Sharon

28th February, 2020.

“Trusting the authority of God in your relationship “- part 2

Hey guys! We are back with another Friday pepperoni Chicken !🎉🎈.

(crowd cheering in the background)

Ouuu😍, is it just me or did Valentine’s day come and not go? I mean till today, the love and gift sharing is still on going for some!
Hmm, for some others, their bank account has been laid to rest after that day 😂.

🎶Song of the day – Wholeness by Young Ecclesia worship.
Download here – (http://selar.co/wholeness)

Last week, the beautiful Anthonia Blessing shared her story on relationship , the responses were very well appreciated.
Today, she’s back to give you the full gist on the topic ” Trusting the authority of God in your relationship “.

Ladies and gentlemen, Miss Anthonia👑

“They are,

You have to be properly single before you can be properly married: For years, as I waited on God (I still am), I prepared for marriage; I would clean my house daily, learn to cook well, learn good morals, developed new skills; everything being a good wife. I was always listening to advice, sermons on marriage, wishing I had someone. I never appreciated the time I had to myself.
I never prepared myself and studied how to be single. I thought I was waiting on God, but really, I was waiting on love that matched all I wanted love to be. That’s why when he came, doing everything I had prayed for, I rushed in. Like guys, I dived into this pool.. I was a low-key despirado.
I realised I was never genuinely happy being with me, I wasn’t single by choice/ because I had understanding, it was just because I wasn’t approached by the kind of guys I like.

I didn’t enjoy my own company, I couldn’t spend 10 minutes with myself, I always wanted to be with a friend, or perhaps try to distract myself with a movie etc. As a matter of fact, I found myself boring. I couldn’t even treat myself to lunch( just me). I hated walking alone. I was never whole! In real terms, I depended on people to bring me joy.

So, guys, before you dive into marriage or relationship, ask yourself, am I properly single?
Are you single physically and emotionally or you have 7 boyfriends that you’ve married already in your head? I’m not saying it’s wrong to like, I am just asking, are you properly single? The truth is, once that person comes, you really never get this time anymore.

The second thing I wish I knew before I expressed my feelings to this guy is, “try not to take yourself too seriously or play smart like you know it all”
See ehn 😂, guys, there’s no book on marriage I didn’t read within my reach, no sermon I didn’t listen to. They were so helpful, I thought I was the,”OGA” of relationships. I was even giving advice to those in relationships while being single and my advice helped them.

Sounds like God knew I would feel this way and so he wrote this scripture for me, “Therefore, whoever thinks he is standing securely should watch out so he doesn’t fall.” 1 Corinthians 10:12

I thought I knew it all, it made me think I was so ready for a relationship. I was so sure I had found the one, I didn’t realize I was slowly beginning to lose interest in God. Yes, we prayed and all, but the only time I prayed and served God was when I knew He (the guy) would be with me or when I am praying concerning him (the guy). Every other walk with God was not as important compared to my to be husband. He was my priority, hence I began to fall because I wasn’t careful enough to think twice or seek advice on things.

God had to step in Himself… He saw me falling, sent me people to help correct me , but I thought I knew it all, I kept ignoring, until that night 🌚. I heard Him directly.

Please, always seek counsel before you get into this thing called,”relationship or situationship”.

Don’t just seek, but be willing to listen to them that are good. I sought counsel, I did, I knew it was important to, but did I listen ?
Lol, cause at the end, I got broken due to ignorance.

3. Songs of Solomon 8:4,’ Oh, let me warn you, sisters in Jerusalem: Don’t excite love, don’t stir it up, until the time is ripe – and you’re ready”
Oh, I wish I knew this, it would have saved me from the heartbreak I felt after. I am still healing.
Guys, I knew I wasn’t ready, I knew and I told the guy, but I didn’t know not to excite love.. Or arouse it in the first place.
I wish I knew there was a right time for love and in that time I would/should be ready..

You may ask, how do I know when I am ready? You’ll know when the time is right. Yes, there is a time for love. God knows you have feelings and He will satisfy you in due time. However, please be patient.

Hmm….
As at that time, all I knew was, “I wasn’t ready”. I was sure of it but I didn’t see the harm in stirring up love. I was so attracted to this guy, I awakened love at the wrong time.

Songs of Solomon 8 continues, saying”
6 For love is as strong as death, its jealousy as enduring as the grave.
Love flashes like fire, the brightest kind of flame.
7 Many waters cannot quench love, nor can rivers drown it.
If a man tried to buy love with all his wealth, his offer would be utterly scorned.”

Do you now see why it’s key not to arouse love so strong, many waters can’t quench it? Do you see why it’s important to know the times and tag along?
My sisters and brothers, please do not arouse or awaken love before it’s time and you’re ready.
If you have already, like me, I can confidently tell you, take this situation to God, for He says, ” If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens, come to me and I will give you rest-Matthews 11:28″.
I did this, and it’s working for me.

Falls back to what was said last week and that is, “they may be Good to you, but not good for you “.
Seriously if I knew this, I would have been more careful before expressing my feelings. This guy was amazing, in Nigerian terms (He used to burst my brain ). He wasn’t perfect like I said, but the way he expressed himself, made me love his imperfections, him, even more.
He was great to me, good to me. He even introduced His whole family to me and I did to.
Unfortunately, He wasn’t for me, yes we clicked, we connected. However, it was a life time commitment we were about to jump into and honestly, I’ve just realised, we were not good enough for each other to spend forever . Maybe friends, but definitely not husband and wife.

Marriage is not for one week,4 months or 22 years.. It’s forever, till death. After we cut things off, I realised so many things about myself, and him from reading our previous conversations. One day, I literally said to myself while reading our chat again, ” this would have been a great mistake if I had continued with it”.
When we were texting and all in love, we were so perfect to each other, we most times, not always though, but we most times over looked our wrongs. He would say somethings I didn’t like, or perhaps vice versa and just cause we want to be understanding and accept each other for who we are, we were slowly spoiling each other.

So yes, I wish I knew him more enough to know that love was just not for us, we perhaps would have made perfect friends instead. I’m sure if we were friends first before diving fast into feelings, we would have been able to express ourselves better and know one another better.
Lol, this doesn’t mean you friend zone everyone oooo.

So yes, good to you, but is he / she good for you, not just for today, but forever ?

I wish I not only asked God but also waited on His confirmation before expressing my feelings.
I asked God, I prayed to Him concerning it, but I never really waited for His confirmation. Or should I say obeyed it, (perhaps He said no, but my feelings didn’t want to accept. I wanted a positive reply by all means ). I believed God loved me so much, He would never say no to my happiness.
Meanwhile, he was saying no all this while to avoid my unhappiness.

Brother/ sister, please don’t just say you’re waiting on God or looking for prophetic word. Open your eyes and ear to see/hear signs/words from the persons patterns and also.. If/when God gives replies, directly or through His people , please obey! It may not be convenient now, but it will save you from inconvenience tomorrow.

Don’t just ask for God’s leading, when he says, “no, wait or it’s not time”, we ignore or get upset. Why ask for His say then if you don’t want the best answer ?

6. Love/attraction is not enough to sustain marriage. Proverbs 24:3-4, says ,” 3 Through wisdom a house is built,
And by understanding it is established;
4 By knowledge the rooms are filled
With all precious and pleasant riches.

Let’s assume this guy was the right one. Do you know we would have still missed it , because we didn’t build our, ” house” with wisdom but based on physical attraction and what seemed to be love at first sight.

Our foundation was already shaking. We didn’t even understand ourselves, we didn’t know if our purpose were aligned. All we knew was, “I like you, you like me, we are both born again, and like the idea of spending forever with each other.. Let’s love on each other “. We rushed into arousing love, we never sought wisdom on how to even go about it well. Hmm, but for God. Perhaps, by now, we would have broken up or enter into marriage and be miserable because we lacked wisdom, knowledge and understanding on what God, the master of setting up relationships really wants.

I believe, it’s good we didn’t begin the relationship. Unfortunately, we aroused the love though.

7. Finally, I wish I knew that there was something called,” counterfeit”. It’s not just based on money, but even in relationships, counterfeits exit. This brother I loved so dearly acted very much like my prayer request.

Not to say, He came into my life to fake love or anything. I’m saying, even vice verse , I could just have been a look alike of what God really had for him but not the one.

They may look like the one, but hey, look again… They just might be a counterfeit.

The original is more valuable. The original one is on the way. Please, wait.

You may enter a supermarket with money, get everything you want, only for you to get to the counter and they say they can’t accept your money, because it’s fake. Would you like it ?

Dear Christian brother and sister, wait for your original so you are not disappointed in the end, thereby, wasting your time.”

I hope and believe you learnt something.

Please, if you have any questions, drop them in the comment section. Don’t forget to please like, comment, follow me, share, and please apply these lessons. I believe and pray, they would help prevent mistakes.

See you soon👑

Boye, Paulina Sharon

21st February, 2020.

Trusting the authority of God in your relationship

🎶🎷🎤
“You are my sunshine ❤
My darling (only) sunshine ❤
You make me happy when skies are gray🐵
You’ll never know dear, how much I love you🤗
Please don’t take my sunshine away🥰”-Johnny Cash

Hey there! Welcome back! Welcome back, welcome back!🥰

Dear Christian Brothers and Sisters,
I write this to you, to let you know the importance of submitting your relationship life to God.
Never think that because a guy/girl is good to you, that they are good for you. I’ve come to realize the importance of knowing this .

I know and understand you want to be loved and so , when your dream guy/girl arrives, it doesn’t mean you just jump on the bus of relationship and say,” I like you, you like me, let’s get into a relationship “.
My darling reader, relationship is an investment, and whoever you go into it with, determines the amount of yields you get in return.

Are you an asset in the first place? Or do you just want to have an asset and remain a liability .

Let me share a story with you of a young, industrious lady, who loved the lord with all her heart. Always wanting to please God, she finally met the man she had always prayed to God for after so many years of being single. God,” answered” her prayers. Did He?

P.S: THIS IS FOR BOTH BOYS AND GIRLS

” My name is Anthonia Blessing and this is my story .
Once upon a time 🐒, there was a fine young man with all the physical qualities every girl would dream of, his eyes were everything perfect, his height? Girl, don’t even go there. He had to be,” the one”.

Don’t rush in, for you may rush out faster than you rushed in.

For so long, I waited, I prayed, I fasted , I knew my worth and I wasn’t going to let just any man have me. I was laughed at, I mean, at the age of 24, I had never had a boyfriend.

One day, one day, I met my prince charming, about to sweep me off my feet. He was,” gorgeous”.
Our first conversation was a dream come true, I never saw myself speaking to such a fine guy.
Surprisingly, I managed to keep a straight face on 😐.

Not only was he fine, he was a gentle man. An answer to my everyday prayers .

Few months after, we got talking, and guys 😝, he tells me he likes me. 😅”I must have gotten a big Fish”, I said to myself. Guys hardly ever approached me, so for a fine young man to, gosh, I felt like a Queen, CINDERELLA!

But you know na, as a babe, you gats maintain balance 🤦‍♀️..
Meanwhile, in my head 👰🤵, we were on the alter already 😅.

Finally, I tell him I like him as well… I opened up to him though, and told him, I wasn’t ready for a relationship.

I was scared, I mean, he was going to be my first boyfriend. I had to make sure He was God sent and that He loved me truly as much as I was starting to love Him. As a gentle man he was, he said it’s fine, He would wait for me🤗

We prayed together, went to church together, did Bible study together. We even went on evangelism together. To mention, His voice when singing, was like the angels of heaven dwelt within him.

We continued with our,” situationship”

It was a dream, waking up every morning to hear his voice and going to bed everyday, knowing I’ve someone who adores me🤗.
We spoke about,”everything “. Even the not so fairy tale things to speak on. He told me about His past and the mistakes he made before meeting Christ, he opened up to me and I did to.

Something about his imperfections made me more attracted to him as we continued speaking.
Months past, getting to the 6 month, I was finally ready to say,” yes “. He had proven without any shadow of doubt, he was God sent, capable of leading me for the rest of our lives.

I went to God to thank Him for this gift and as I was praying, God told me to stop ⛔. “What? Why do you tell me to stop? , ” I asked. He said,” I never blessed this. “
I started praying again, this time, against every evil voice trying to stop my progress in this relationship.

How can God say such awful words ? I heard again, ” I’ve always told you not to go on with this “. In confusion, I started sweating profusely. He then reminded me of how on so many instances, He sent people to share their stories with me on failed relationships and why, How he spoke to me through dreams and visions. How He even spoke to the guy, but both of us were head over heels In love, we forgot about God being the centre of our relationship.
Yes, we prayed, we fasted, evangelized etc, but we never asked God if the relationship was His will.

To cut the long story short, I had to end things with the guy, I had to obey God, I knew it was His voice I heard.My relationship with God mattered more to me. But it was hard, this guy was my first love, he was the guy I wanted to spend the rest of my life with, I wanted him to be the father of my children. He was my crown, the reason for my joy. We had come so far together, I felt like his rib.. For 8 months, although we stopped speaking, I would replay all the voice notes he sent to me, look through our gallery together etc.

Then, after months dealing with depression and not being able to forget him..
I realized I learnt 7 things. 7 things I wish I knew before I told him how I felt.

They are,
(To be continued in next blog post )

For now, please, don’t make any hasty decision to enter into a relationship or sleep with that guy/girl ! Please, no matter how long you’ve known each other, if you’ve not gotten a confirmation message from God by yourself. Wait! Keep praying and please, seek counsel. “

Best Regards,
Sharon Paulina Boye
14th February, 2020

Is social media for me ?

Hey you! Welcome to another quality time with me. I really do hope you’re doing well today! Are you?

For those in Lagos state, 🇳🇬. I am super sorry on the ban of Okada (Bike) and keke (tricycle). I can’t imagine how tiring it must be to walk long distances.

😂i saw a tweet that suggested using horses instead and guess what? People literally started riding on horses to get to their various destinations. Hmm.. The power of social media. A platform to express yourself and be heard.. Indeed.

Guys! Can you imagine a world without social media though? No WhatsApp, no Facebook, no twitter, no Instagram etc. How fast do you think news would spread? Or should I say, slow? I mean, look at how fast we all got to know about coronavirus.

I am really grateful for the power of technology.

🤔 How about those who don’t just get the hype? They don’t see the use of the social media world.. And sadly, how about those who see the use and don’t just know how to fit in ?

Let’s get into the thoughts of some. Join me 🥴.

“I really don’t think I fit right into this thing called social media or the whole generation y ( generation x and z )stuff. This technology era is just not my thing.”

“I go to school/work from 7am to about 5pm. I’ve to get home and squeeze out time to spend with my family. What time do I have to be posting and telling people about my life ? Do I even have a life if no one but my co-workers and family members know I exist?”

Do you try to interact with others online and don’t fit in? How many followers do you have on Instagram? Not up to 100 ? Did you have to buy followers just to catch up with the trend? How about Twitter #️⃣ ? Do people even react to your tweets 🐦? Or are you just left in the shadows?
Have only 30 contacts on WhatsApp? How many friends do you have on Facebook? 600? Do all 600 speak with you or it’s just something to boast about ?

Oh boy! Not only do you have to post and post and get the followers and likes, you even have to have the right captions, know the right people and what not.
Seems like social media is much more stress than having an actual job these days.
Turns out being on social media is actually job to some.

Hey! If this has ever crossed your mind and you just don’t understand your situation anymore, this article is for you.

I’m going to make this as short and straight to the point as possible .

Highlighting 2 things.

If you don’t like the idea of posting about yourself and your life, don’t do it, no one will beat you for it (I hope) . If you have a successful business, and you are flourishing one way or the other without necessarily having to be on social media, don’t stress yourself. Do you! Do you. Do what makes you happy! Go places, have fun, make memories. You can live your life without people having a say and having to be a particular kind of person in order to be socially accepted. Kudos! Just make sure to be in touch constantly with those who love you and vice versa .They matter.
If you don’t mind putting your life out there but you just don’t know how to have the social media presence and what not, the first thing I would say, is, don’t try to fake it and don’t over do it!However, post as much as you can . If you have a business, or are involved in something the world would be blessed by, social media is most likely going to help with it. Take it one step at a time though, don’t spend your whole day trying to get 10 followers when you can spend it building your brand and self. Don’t be a people pleaser. Again, just do you. Try to upload as much as you can, the best quality you can (not unnecessary stuff). Simply, do your best to let your content/product get out there. Try to interact with others , without trying to be someone you are not.

Social media has a very funny way of affecting how one sees himself/herself. Some go the extra mile trying to be someone else. The best you can be is yourself and be the best version of you. Social media or no social media, you have to be the best version of yourself, for you !
You will find your kind of people or should I say they’d find you.
Take life one step at a time.

I know we are all meant to be somewhat technologically sound. What of those who aren’t? Are they/you useless? Of course not.
You are still very much valuable be it you’re an influencer online or just a casual person who loves life as it’s.

15 years from now, however, would you be proud of the decision you make today? Would you be happy you kept to yourself? Would you wish you were more social? Or for those who post, would you wish you were more deliberate and careful about the kinds of things you post?

Think on these things.

Live, online or offline, just live happily!

Boye, Paulina Sharon

7th February, 2020.

There’s more to you than your achievements !

Hey guys! Welcome back, welcome back, welcome back !🎉.
I’m really excited as I write this one. Why?
Guess what? I have a good news for you today and that is,” you can achieve better and greater!”Did you know that?
I bet you did, or ?😿

🎶Music of the day – Ancient one by Davidic Minstrels

Hey! Wait, don’t go just yet, I’ve something I need you to grasp before you get into the weekend and before we Welcome the Month of Greater things.

For a while now, I’ve been speaking on achieving things; going after your goals despite the pain and so on. Now, I want us to talk about, when you finally achieve those goals. What do you do when you get that thing you’ve always wanted? How do you react to success ?

I want you to understand one key thing!

Your past success, the cheers, the applauds, the standing ovation you perhaps got yesterday, that award you just received , is in the past! Now, I’m beyond excited for you. Gosh, congratulations 💖, Girl/boy, you got that project done , you just graduated, you got a promotion.. Woo, that’s huge. You started that business, awesome. I’m indeed happy for you.. And so today, I want to tell and encourage you, not to dwell on these things for too long , though great, it may be a testimony that only belongs in your memories.

You’ve not made it! Lol, I’m sorry to break the news to you, but there’s more to you, my darling.
I promise you, there is more. So far you are still breathing, there’s more for you to do!

It’s like a doctor who finds the cure to let’s say, Leukemia (A cancer of blood-forming tissues, hindering the body’s ability to fight infection). How awesome is that? Huge right? Now, imagine that doctor just finds the cure to 1 type of Leukemia (Many types exist such as acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, acute myeloid leukaemia and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia) and thinks that’s it. He doesn’t perhaps find new cures to other types or even test to improve his findings . He believes because of his current success, he doesn’t have to work anymore. For him, he’s done helping people. How long do you think he will be celebrated? Yeah, a while, but in the blink of an eye, one may even forget his name.

Dear reader,

I’m not writing for you to just achieve, and think you’re done. I want you to go beyond and above. Let your name outshine your days. A good name is better than riches after all 💯.

One day, as I sat back thinking about my life, of which I do a lot, something popped up in my head, and I asked myself, “If our failures shouldn’t dominate us, why do we allow our successes do? “

I mean, I find it funny when everyone tries to run away from failure. Who says failing is wrong? 🤕.
You can never learn to walk fully as a toddler without falling a few times, right? It’s your ability to keep going, that matters.

My point is this though , ” if you are of the mindset that one should not be defined by his failure; let’s say you get an F in a paper, and we are told we can do better, we just need to keep trying. How in the world, do we automatically think, when we get an A we’ve achieved everything, and there’s no better? There’s different scores to an A, you know?!”

So, don’t just sit and stare at your awards, recollect the applauds and standing ovations and remain in that place, whereas you fail to understand you need to keep reevaluating yourself.
Hey! They didn’t cheer for you or give you an A cause of you in particular, but what you can do and offer.
Now, you better get up and read those books or whatever it’s you need to do, and learn to improve yourself!

Just like the doctor, if he sits and says, “yes, I helped a cancer patient get healed” and fails to learn more of other diseases coming today, leaving other people to die, of which he could have helped if he improved, of what use is he really ?

It’s not wrong to be successful. What’s wrong is letting it rule your life thereby making you some what relaxed.

Your most current achievement is done! Hey! Get out there and keep placing value on yourself!

Boye, Paulina Sharon
31st January, 2020

EVERYTHING BUT ACCEPTANCE FROM OTHERS.

There’s some sort of emptiness that comes with the feeling of not being accepted. A place you get to in life, where the void you feel is so strong, it’s almost a dwelling place as you spend days and nights drowning in tears. It almost becomes an everyday routine. The endless head pains that come along with the thought that you are just, not enough.

The moments you feel it so deeply in the eyes of those around you that you are not wanted, slowly,you begin to feel rejection.
Why me? You may ask. Why do I always have to be the one spoken ill of or perhaps never even spoken of at all. Don’t I matter?

Waking up everyday, confident that the only messages you’d receive are messages from group chats, cause no one, just no one remembers you. No one remembers the times you gave up things for them, the times you helped them rise when they were down, the times you chose to be a friend and overlook their wrongs and so suddenly in the blink of an eye, you don’t speak anymore, just cause, “the vibe died down”. Just cause,” you aren’t cool enough “, just cause,” they found a replacement ” or perhaps, just cause “they never saw you as a friend”.
To think, that the one’s you held so dear to your heart are the ones who go round to shoot their shots just where they know it hurts. Tragic.

Where do I start from now? Who do I call? I have over 600 contacts and I’ve no one to call, no one to text, and even when I try, they all seem to busy.

Of what use is my existence if no one thinks of me as a good person?

You then think to yourself, “how about I post it out there and let them know I’m not fine or just post enough for them to notice me , perhaps someone would reach out to me”, and so you do and yes, finally you get the help you so much desire only for you to realise that your story is now trending just cause they couldn’t keep their mouth shut and they wanted to be carriers of the latest gist.

Finally you come to the conclusion, ” I am useless, I am a problem “

These words are from the thoughts of those I’ve come in contact with who were at the edge of giving up.. But not anymore.. Why ?

Darling, listen to me, read this and be sure that as I write this, I understand you, and I’m not saying it just because I’ve to, but because, I do.
Darling, know that you are worth everything, know that you are ENOUGH. I promise you, you are not a mistake. I know it’s lonely, I know it’s hard, I know how sad and hopeless it can be to taste your tears daily, but more than anything, I know, that you are.
Yes, you are loved, you are not alone, you are useful, you are needed, you are beautiful, your imperfections are the most beautiful there are and darling, you are a solution.

Oh yes, YOU ARE . You are everything but harmful, wicked, a liar and what not. You were created Good. It doesn’t make sense now, reading this won’t make them text you, but I sure hope it does help lift your head high.
Why do you walk with your head faced to the ground? Why do you cringe at the thought of being in a crowd? Do you know who you are? You are Royalty, carved in and with love! Understand this.
Know, oh, please know! That you are worth dying for, cause if Jesus could come one more time, just to die for you , He’d do it without question. That’s how valuable you are!

You need to rise up, wipe those tears and become the best version of yourself.
Yeah, they said you’re rude? Learn to be respectful. They said you lie, learn the truth. Oh, you are 25 and you can’t keep the house clean?
Your English isn’t good? Buy a dictionary and learn. You smell? Learn to take good care of yourself . Pick up yourself and learn to be better through the pain!
When next they see you, be everything but who they thought you were! Now, that’s what I call, “Jackpot!” . Cause Boy/Girlfriend, there’s no time, to sit and do nothing and wallow in your tears.
I know you are a good person, so be that, don’t go around proving to them that their words are true. I mean there are times you have to ignore them cause they are probably just being jealous.

My dear, if however, more than 3 people are telling you something along the same line, you should listen and improve .Turn their mockery into something you can learn from and become a better person.

I know it’s hard to forgive and let go of these things. Trust me when I say this, ” your life and peace of mind, matters more than their words, so point your finger back at you and focus on you. Ignore them and learn to love yourself”.

Turn their negatives into your positives and remember, please remember, Jesus is your Friend .

“Come to me, all of you who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke and put it on you, and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in spirit; and you will find rest. For the yoke I will give you is easy, and the load I will put on you is light.”
Matthew 11:28‭-‬30 GNT

Sharon Paulina Boye
24th January, 2020

Pain or Success?

Have you ever had a muscle pull/strain ?
Ah! It’s the most painful thing I’ve personally gone through physically.

Welcome back guys! It’s Friyaay!! And Friday means it’s another weekend to restrategize and get ready for a fantastic week ahead.
As you restrategize, permit me to share this story with you, I’m sure it will help a lot.

Song of the day – New Wine by Hillsong
Alright! Let’s get right into it.

Year’s ago, as a young girl with many dreams, one of which was to be the fastest athlete at my age, ( trying to sound as though we are watching a movie 😅) I partook in a relay race competition and I was the 1st leg.
I was so geared up, ready to win the race.

However, as compared to other race tracks, ours wasn’t so advanced, so there was a bump that was there which I didn’t see. As i started the race, I ran with all of me, putting in effort, I was excited as i was winning, finally , few seconds to handing the baton over to the 2nd leg, my feet raced into the bump and I fell .
That was it guys, that was the moment🤕. I tried to ignore the pain, my team and I winning was what mattered most. As I was on the floor, trying to pass the baton over, doing my best to stretch.. Lol, I couldn’t move, i couldn’t bare the pain.
Alas, she got the baton and we ended in the 3rd position. It was a sad moment for me. I was so confident we were going to carry the trophy home. Well, that didn’t happen.

Heading home in pains, my mum and my aunt Theo (Her Banga soup is the best, by the way !! My taste buds always crave it ), had come to support me. Shout out to great women. They kept telling me to endure. As i got home, they helped massage my leg. First of all🤣, getting an African mother to massage your leg is a once in a life time opportunity🤫, i mean, who is meant to the do massaging? I was surprised she actually massaged my feet, my mum is not the whole mushy type. She will tell you sorry, and go😅. Love you mum 😆.

Back to my story, Guys! I thought i saw death before me, my God, I was in pains.
Hehe😅, you may find this funny, but 8 year old Sharon didn’t! .

My mum then started sharing her experience of a muscle pull/strain, and guys in a split second, the pain seized, her story was so unbelievable, I began to wonder if i was really in pains. Guess my mothers story ? 😯 While she was in labour giving birth to me, she had a muscle pull! Now, that’s pain!
How did she manage to still push me out, I asked?
She said one the nurses told her, “focus on the baby’s life and ignore the pain, the baby is more important right now “. As at that point, i was the most important thing that mattered to my mum as she pushed me out despite the pains of both labour and muscle pull.

Sigh, Mummy, thank you!. You are an excellent woman and great mother. I appreciate and hail you❤.

Why am i sharing this story?
I want you to understand 2 major things.
1.At times, you have to focus on the goal, not the pain! Looking at my story as compared to my mum’s, there’s a difference.
I focused on the pain I was going through more than handing over the baton and that resulted in my team and I becoming 3rd position. My mum, on the other hand focused on delivering the baby, rather than the pain.
Now, in life, you will go through obstacles and pain, there will be trying times, as you decide to live fully, it won’t always be roasy. I therefore encourage you today, focus on achieving, focus on attaining. Ignore the pain, ignore the setbacks and focus on finishing strong. If you work in an office and your boss is not so easy to get along with, focus on being your best rather than how your boss makes you feel. As a student, focus on getting better grades next semester, instead of pondering on your past failures.
I always say to myself, ” it’s Temporary pain for worthwhile success”.

I know it’s hard, but trust me, I’ve seen that this works.

While you’re in pain, you can still very much help other people in pain. Don’t see life as though it’s all about you, as there may be someone around you going through a worse situation than you are. At times, you’ve to ignore your pains, and focus on others. Help them. Message that friend you know is going through a trying time. This is called,”selflessness”.
It falls back to proverbs 37:3a, which says, ” trust in the lord and do good”. No matter your circumstance, always do good. While helping others, God will help you. If and when you focus on others, God will focus on you.
Again, I’m a testimony to this.

There’s always someone around you going through pain, maybe worse than you are. Choose today, to die to self and see the amazing things that will happen in your life .

Now, I’m not saying you’re not important or you should neglect yourself completely.
All I’m saying is, don’t be so focused on yourself, you ignore someone who needs, perhaps more help than you do. You are always capable of helping others.

Get it?
Thanks for reading. Have you been blessed?
Are you ready to head into the new week and year more focused? I hope you are .

Please, don’t forget to like, share and comment.

God bless you and remember,” Jesus is your friend.”

Sharon Paulina Boye
17th January, 2020

LIVE FULLY, DIE EMPTY

Hello 👋! Welcome to your year of grace and abundance. This year, I pray for excellence in all you do, may you be triumphant and may you sing for joy always.

At the beginning of each year, I would ask God, what’s next, what do I share this time? I have come to the realisation of one thing, I had an idea about it before, but I don’t believe I understood it indepthly and that is, “the fact that I am alive means there’s more of me and there’s more to me. Life is a never ending process of giving myself to be useful wherever I find myself “.

Before we move in to today’s message, I would love to announce, I will be posting every Friday. Yes! Not monthly this time around , but every Friday. So, get ready for a great year ahead with me, my darlings. We are about to dive into some deep and real stuff.

Let gets right into this weeks message. Oh, by the way, as I write this, I’ve on at the background a lovely song by Judikay, titled, ” Song of Angels”, to go with my mood. Feel free to try it out😉 .

Few days ago, I was thinking and looking back at my life, just few minutes before the new year, and guys, I was tensed. This may come out as weird, who in the world gets tensed when 2020 is finally here , we’ve been waiting for like ages for this year and it’s here and your reaction to it is, ” tensed?”. Sharon, really?

Unfortunately, yes, I was tensed, my mind was racing back and forth. I kept asking myself questions. 2020, how would I live, what more? Lol, this seems funny, like I am not in control of my life, God is, but then it was deeper than the word, “live”.
In my mind, I wondered, what am I offering to this year, to those around me? What part of me is left to give? What more? I just don’t want to wake up and just go on with the day. I felt an urge to release a part of me, at that point, a part of me was saying, ” yo, Sharon, calm down! One step at a time “. Another, was like, ” you have something in you, you need to let that out “.
At this point, as my mind is racing, I couldn’t help but speak to God, He’s my friend, I tell him everything. So, I go to Dad ( that’s what I call God, you should try this🤭) and I’m like, ” Dad, what’s up? What’s next?” And it almost felt like I was brought back to reality, as I hear Him telling me, ” live fully, die empty”

Live fully, Die empty? What does that even mean?
Hence, this article.

This year, in everything you do, remember these four words, ” Live fully, Die empty “.

Myles Munroe has been of major blessing to me.
I listened to a message of his few years back that focused on this.
While he spoke he said something that has never left me since i heard the message. He began His message by asking the audience, ” What’s the wealthiest place on earth ?”, think about it. Don’t search, just guess.

I’m sure you’ve guessed so many countries as at this point. So did I😰.
To my surprise, He responded and said, ” the wealthiest place on earth is the graveyard “. Yes, you just read that right. How, can that be?!

The thing is this, if we know how many people have died unfulfilled, the number of books left unwritten by those in the grave, the ideas buried that could have transformed the world… Indeed, you’d agree.
Can you imagine if Albert Einstein lived a life just casually? Or the Great Marthin Luther King? Imagine if they, amongst other great people, woke up every day and went with the flow of the day, not having any goals, dreams, plans they ought to achieve. Would we be here today?

Everything you know today is as a result of someone’s sacrifice. Everything you don’t know yet is something you can very much create so that others can benefit from or perhaps is lying in someone’s mind out there who hasn’t just come out to give their all yet. That probably got you upset right? The fact that you don’t know something today not because it’s entirely your fault but because someone out there who has that information is just not out with it yet. Now, you see why you need to go out there and live fully? Do you see why the graveyard is the wealthiest place on earth? Why don’t we change this, today?!

Today! I dare you Kings and Queens, this very week, I dare you to take risk, live fully, give all you’ve got everyday of your life, knowing fully well, you did your best at the end of each day.
2020, may not be the year you achieve all your dreams, but let it be the year, you gave all of you.

Success never comes comfortably.
Keep striving, keep going.

My father once told me this and well, he still does and it’s shaped my life since I was a child. I was about writing for my common entrance exams into secondary school, and while studying, i got tired.. I was discouraged.. I thought, ” oh well, i would continue studying tomorrow”. My father, sitting beside me, perhaps saw that my countenance had changed, and he said to me, ” do something that Sharon of tomorrow will say thank you to Sharon of today for “. To my father, i honor you for those words, thank you!

It simply means, every decision you take today will have effect on your tomorrow. So do something so well, that the you of tomorrow will look back and say, ” you did well, thank you ” not, ” I wish i put in more effort “.
Today, is the day to change, i charge you therefore, go out there and get that project done, sign that deal, draw, write, compose that song, invent that thing. Focus! And give your all.
One day, one day, you will look back and say to yourself, ” thank you ”

I charge you to live fully so that at the end of life, you will have nothing left to offer indeed, cause you gave it your all.
It doesn’t matter if they see you or not, if they applaud you or not. Just keep going.

You are ENOUGH.

See you next week and remember, Jesus is your friend.
Please; follow, like, comment on what spoke to you most and what you would love me to write on next and please SHARE.

Sharon Paulina Boye
10th January, 2020.

CHARACTER IS IMPORTANT!

2020 is in a day! Isn’t this exciting!?

I’ve been thinking deeply, however. I wonder and ask myself, “am I ready, i mean, equipped rightly for it?”. I’m truly anxious as to what it holds for you and I.

Well, before we welcome the new year, why don’t we have a look back at the year 2019…

In this post, I will be sharing my highlights for this year.

As I began this year, I placed my focus on a lot of things. One thing that stood out for me, of which i believe really helped me is, “Character”. My attitude towards self, towards others, and towards the things I did.

My character had to match my integrity. It was my integrity.
My character matched what I stood for.

My character defined my name.
My character was my discipline.

In all, I’m saying, your character is your identity. I was deliberate to live in a way in which i would look back and be grateful.

Guys! It wasn’t easy, i was tried, sometimes i wanted to do what i felt like doing. However, it would be going against something, something so key , people read you through it, “character “.

As a woman, i realized the great vitality I’ve within me, and I realized the strength I’ve can either be multiplied with good character or weakened with bad habits. Not to say that this post isn’t for the men, i just personalized it, so please, keep reading.

This year i achieved so much but more than anything, I learned more.

The first thing i learned to study that helped build my character is Respect: Respect for my time and others, respect for people. Let me just say before I move on, this wasn’t easy, in fact, at times, when you don’t feel you’ve disrespected someone, the person may think you’ve.

I had to study the art of giving honour to people be it i thought they deserved it or not. Now, not many people will agree with me, but in this, I found great testimonies. You never know who you are with, and who they will develop to be. Now, it was really never about others, it was really more about me. I desired to respect people, because i wouldn’t want anyone disrespecting me.

So the first thing i looked out for, was myself. I first decided to respect myself; this includes how i talk, walk, dress, what and how i eat and so much more.

It was only reasonable for me to give that out if i wanted it. How can i give out what i don’t have though ?

To me, everyone deserved to be respected, right from the little ones, to my age mates, and to my elders. No matter the time of the day, I would make efforts to greet you in a way befitting of a human . At times I even referred to my friends as sir / Ma , maybe a little much, as they wondered at times, but It adds up to how I see them.

I respect people’s privacy; the mere fact you are very close to someone doesn’t mean you ought to feed into their personal Iives if they don’t let you in.
This year i had the best fun I could, but one thing I focused on was to respect myself and those around me.

Another thing i believe builds character and helped me is, being someone who,” says and does”.
I focused on being a woman of my words and not be two-sided. Now this was even harder, as you know, it can get very easy to be in a state of inertia and Just not feel like doing something anymore or how things could pop up and distract you from doing what you ought to. So for this year, i was very deliberate to ensure my words matched my actions. If i couldn’t keep up to it, it had to be very urgent and i would apologize. This attribute helped me in ways you would know if you are already practicing it or would start soon .

Love and forgive: this year, I came across all manners of people, I met people that tried to get me on my last nerves( they tried, but did they succeed? Hehe, that’s a story for another day), I met people I loved but hurt me and so on. It was a process. But every time I got hurt by someone, I made a conscious decision to love, forgive and grow. I made mistakes and i was forgiven. I decided therefore, that because my character defines me one way or the other, the only me I’ve to offer is a Sharon of love and forgiveness. This is not to say you just keep quiet when people offend you, no, but there are ways to handle things, I decided to focus on building that side of me. Trust me, it wasn’t easy though .
This year, actually the past 4 months almost highlighted my entire year, I met someone that changed my thought process for the better. In a very short period, that person made me see things differently. I learned to have the character of honesty and openness, from one person. Lol, you see how your life can impact another ?
At times, one would think the best thing is to cover up pain and not open up so as to be seen as strong. But my friend taught me one of the greatest strength one may have, is the strength of being vulnerable or saying sorry. The strength in saying the truth when it wasn’t convenient. It wasn’t easy achieving this . At times, i fell my hand( typical Nigerian slang for i failed) , but God continuously helped me rise again.
This brings me to my next point, in 2019, I learned that my character is determined one way or the other by who I spend my time with and what I spend my time doing with them. Guy’s! I can’t tell you how much my circle has helped me grow.
This year, I achieved so much. I was given many recognitions including a citation of Honor, I’m currently heading few associations, I interned in one of the top Organizations in the world, I represented my school in a major competition, I met people that helped build me, build my character and how I saw things and this was majorly as a result of who i surrounded myself with. They helped tell a story of my character and life.

My final lesson I would say I learned that helped build my character, is to be ready for every opportunity that comes my way. In simple terms, “discipline”.
I have always loved public speaking. I remember growing up, I would act as though I was speaking in front of a crowd and today, that’s a reality. I learned in that , to not just sit and expect my dreams to come true, but to work at it continuously, so that when the opportunity comes my way, I’m able to deliver and well.

This year taught me that character matters, how I carry myself matters, my thoughts do matter and my actions matter.
Thank you 2019! You have been amazing.
Thank you 2020! You will be greater.

I will like to use this opportunity to say I’m grateful to all who supported my dreams thus far. Doing what I love is everything. ( lol, not to be dramatic but, I just took in a deep breath) And I just want to let you know, don’t you dare give up! Keep going! Not everyone will support you! Not everyone would love you! People may laugh at you and mock you, sometimes you may feel lonely; like no one’s there, just keep going, keep striving and i tell you, you will make it! And also, build character .

I pray for you, “God will open new doors for you and as you enter into the new year,you are stepping into grace and excellence!”. Get ready, it’s about to be big! It may not be easy, but just keep going and remember, Jesus is your friend.

From yours truly,

Sharon Paulina Boye
30th December, 2019

Gave the vote of Thanks after the lunch of an entrepreneurship club in my school

Participated in free Breast cancer awareness

MC’ed a program for upcoming entrepreneurs

With my Co-presenters representing Enactus Central University

Speaking on Behalf Of Enactus Central Univeristy to prospective members

Interviewed students during women’s week celebration in my school.

I spoke on mental Health at a program in my school

Honoured to be the children teacher in my Church

In 2019, Sharon lived! And, oh yeah, I became a Godmother to an amazing baby boy!

Let’s Talk On Money ; Part 2!

lead_720_405 Money is usually attracted , not pursued – Jim Rohn

I know I don’t know much about life , I genuinely have not experienced it all , but from what I’ve, I must tell you ;money makes up about 20% of what brings you genuine peace, happiness and satisfaction.

Like I said in the previous blog , it’s really hard to satisfy desires .

Trust me on this one , if you think having a million in your bank account would make you happy , I can confidently say it won’t . You will feel somewhat good but never satisfied . The simple reason is ; money never brings satisfaction, I doubt its purpose was ever to. It is only a step to satisfaction but most times we confuse it and spend our whole lives , chasing after money , forgetting that there’s a life out there that money can never buy you !

I know what does bring satisfaction however , a big contributor is God , Jesus Christ.

I was reading a very interesting article by Jesse Wisnewski and honestly , his words simplified a big deal of most I want to say in a few words.

Here’s a few things he said, “Even though money isn’t an essential thing in your life. A significant portion of your life will revolve around earning, saving, giving, and spending money. So your relationship with money isn’t something you can just brush aside as unspiritual or unnecessary.

Here’s one thing you need to know about money: It’s amoral.Money doesn’t have a life. It cannot act on its own. It cannot do good deeds, and it cannot commit crimes. Basically, it’s neither good or bad.Money can only do what you tell it to do.Money is not the root of all evil. But the love of money is the root of all evil (1 Tim. 6:10).

If the concept of money is so simple and it doesn’t have a power emanating from its core drawing us to it, then why do we sweat over money so much? Why does the Church talk so much about money?

There are two good reasons why the Church talks so often about money.

Firstly , because God talks about money

Consider these statistics:

16 out of 38 of Jesus’ parables deal with money and possessions
Nearly 25% of Jesus’ words in the New Testament deal with biblical stewardship
1 out of 10 verses in the Gospels deal with money
There are more than 2,000 scriptures on tithing in the Bible, money, and possessions in the Bible, which is twice as many as faith and prayer combined

Secondly, money is frequently discussed in the Bible because there’s a direct correlation between the way we handle our money and our faith.

When it comes to money, we will either worship wealth or worship with our wealth.

Read that again.

There’s a big difference between the two.

From the seduction of success to the lure of lust, many things in this world will vie for your affection and devotion. But the most significant idol you will face is money (Matt. 6:24).

God desires our devotion, and he knows you will come face-to-face with the temptation of money, which is why he speaks so often about it.

Money itself may be amoral. But it’s our attachment to and our worship of money that will lead us into sin and making poor financial decisions.”

My solution alongside this is contentment with one self . Being satisfied with your current state can change alot but not just being satisfied and being so relaxed that you don’t work. I mean be content to the point where no matter what happens, because you know who you are , you won’t use any means to make money , and be in such a haste for it , but you will patiently be persistent and honest about it .
For the past days , one thing has been very alarming and that is the hunger and thirst that people have for wealth , feelings of importance and social belonging.

I’ve never felt more disturbed . I mean , why thirst for something or go after something you are not prepared for or you can’t manage.

Hmm , have you ever realised that when you finally get that money you’ve always wanted , in the blink of an eye , you spend it on stuff and before you know it , you find yourself not having any money at all .
It’s funny , cause then , you say to yourself ,” next time will be better , I will manage it well ” . One way or the other , you get it again ,and lol , it’s almost like a church rat ate it all up this time around .

Dear reader , if you desire something, you might as well prepare for it , for when it comes , it may slip right through your hands cause you never deserved it as a result of lack of preparation.

Untill next time , your majesty!

Sharon Paulina Boye

31st October , 2019

Let’s talk on Money!

IMG-20190922-WA0001 Hey guys ! Are we back or what? I mean 6 months? That was more than a break , hmm, perhaps a vacation?

Guys ! I’ve missed you , I’ve missed writing ; the joy of expressing myself and sharing lessons is really one I cherish .

Before we move on though , I’d like to humbly say , ” I’m sorry.”

Right , let’s dive into an outpouring that’s never before been experienced , shall we ?

Over the period I was gone , I learnt a lot , let me fill you in a little. I learnt about love🌚, wait wait wait , don’t think too far , haha, I’d probably give you the full gist very soon , I learnt about dying to self , I learnt about the power of knowledge , wisdom and understanding , hmm , how about obsession, bet you didn’t see that coming, did you ? And many more ! So , stay glued to this blog !

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Well today , I really just want to motivate someone out there, in the area of finances ! Yes , finally I’m diving into this. Perhaps for a few weeks we’d look into it, i mean we need to talk about money issues . Gosh ! It’s really hard sometimes you know ?

Where do we begin from though ? Let’s rewind a little and not rush into this , let’s start from the root , yeah ?

Why do you want to make money ? I mean , why is money so necessary ? Basic answers would be to provide shelter , clothing , in case of contigencies etc. I mean, these are great reasons. However , I’m certain that there are people whose answers are perhaps to buy a new phone , impress that boy/ girl that makes us feel like we are on Mars …or just show it off in general . Some people may just want money to make others jealous and others feel like they have arrived .. hmm ..

There’s quite a lot to deal with when it comes to money.

Money is superb ! I mean , if I could have all the riches in the world , how amazing would that be, right ?

The first thing I want you to know, however, is this , ” never let your financial status be the drive for the critical decisions you make in life “. Yes ! I just said that .. In other words , money should never be the first or initial reason you make a decision.. It is necessary , but it’s not to be the major determinant of your actions .

Wait , please go back , read that again !

The moment you miss this lesson , that’s the moment you become enslaved to money and all the desires or requirements that come with achieving it .

Let me sight an example here , let’s assume you’re broke , you don’t have money – that’s a red flag ! There’s a problem . I agree.

Now , what do we do ? The best thing to do is get a job or borrow money . Right ? Yes. Afterall , we all have our humble beginnings.

However , do you intend to continue in this cycle for the rest of your life ?

Now , don’t get me wrong , I’m not against you working to make money . I’m writing this to help you understand the power of making money work for you, and that money is only a fickle resource, and should not be a determinant of what defines you .

The great Rick Warren put it this way, ” Self worth and net worth are not the same . Your value is not determined by your valuables”.

It’s one thing to achieve success , it’s another thing to maintain success. I write this then, to inspire you on envisioning long lasting success not temporary fulfillment. For, ” if we command our wealth , we shall be rich and free. If our wealth commands us , we are poor indeed”- Edmund Burke.

I’ve spoken about character and believing in your dreams , not giving up and a lot more . All those things are keys to achieve success, but, if you want to maintain success , if you want to maintain riches , I really believe you need KNOWLEDGE, NOT MONEY.

May I suggest to you , that whatever decision you want to make in life , whether you are broke or not , should be made from a drive of passion and insight (well formed knowledge) and not the need to satisfy a temporary desire . The reason is this; you can never really satisfy a desire , you can try to , but how far can your strategy take you ?

Hmm , I need to continue this in the next article , I’ve alot to share , but why rush such important topic ?

Wheew , how I missed this . I’m glad you joined me on this one . I remain humbled and say thank you for reading … watch out for the next blog as we continue this message on finances.

Boye Paulina Sharon

22nd September, 2019

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THE BRAVE SERIES : PART 4

Hey you ! Welcome back 😃.. quick question, what kind of songs do you listen to ? Are you a shy Person ? Do you think you have no use on earth?

Hmm .. well keep those answers right in your head and at the end of this reading, compare and let me know what you feel in the comment section, will you ?😃

I present Ebunoluwa Adeyemo , popularly known as Regalo . A music producer , a mentor , a low key comedian and a friend to many . He’s been here before, however, this time around , he’s here with more wisdom for us . Let’s hear what this king has to say .

I believe that one of the most dangerous things that can happen to a child is that child not believing in his/herself. The truth is, a lot of people, especially children and teenagers are either currently struggling with self esteem issues or have struggled with it before. I too, once fought that battle.

Anyone who knew me as a child always saw me as a quiet, gentle person. I usually kept to myself a lot, so it was easy for them to think I was that kind of person. But I was actually very shy. Most people today see being shy as ‘cute’ but it’s the complete opposite. Shy people are usually people with low self-esteem, crippled by fear and paralyzed with anxiety. I don’t exactly remember how I became like that or what caused it, but I know it was one of the biggest battles I faced.

I had a very low self-esteem, with the idea that I wasn’t useful to anyone or anything. I carried this mindset for years and it began to shape me into the person I was. I remember there was a time it was so bad, I couldn’t talk to anyone in my age group while making eye contact. I would either look at the floor or look past the person I was talking to. If I ever looked at the person I was talking to in the eye (especially if it was a girl) words would fail me instantly. I’d just freeze with no idea of what to say. Because I felt like that, I created a fantasy world in my head where I was the main character, the hero; the one everyone couldn’t do without. I would escape into my fantasy world whenever I could because that was the only way I could feel good about myself.

I had slipped into depression without knowing. I was also very emotional so if someone said anything to me that was in the slightest bit insulting, it would pierce through my heart like a harpoon. I was held captive by depression for so long that the cell became comfortable for me. Sometimes, I saw myself as a humble person, with the idea that God made me that way. I started to create my own ideas about life and humanity around this lie. I became someone who needed other people to feel good about myself.

My life would have probably continued this way if I didn’t meet Pastor Essien. I remember the first time I had a long conversation with him, he tore down the decorations I had put in my cell and made me realise that I was drowning in low self-esteem and depression. He prayed for me and helped me see myself the way God sees me, teaching me about who the Bible says I am.

I started to confess my reality according to what the Bible says. I also started to remove from my life anything that could keep me from accepting this new reality. One of those things was the type of songs I listened to regularly. Slowly but eventually, I changed my playlist and that helped a great deal. Then I started to act like the person God created me to be; a human filled with his spirit, called out of darkness, made righteous and holy. I grasped the reality that I can’t be a christian and have low self-esteem, those two just don’t mix.

Eventually, I had no need for the fantasy world I carried around in my head for years. I accepted the reality of God’s love and acted accordingly. Most people I meet now usually get shocked when they hear about the kind of person I was and the things I did to get accepted by people. Who I am now and who I was are like 2 completely different people. I understand what it means to be accepted by God, I understand that depression and low self-esteem have no place in my life and I also understand that I have to show this truth to people who haven’t encountered it at all.

Enjoyed it ?

Leave your comments below and let’s show some support to this great king.

Remember, you are loved !

Till next time , my good friend ❤

BOYE SHARON PAULINA

29TH MARCH, 2019

MUNIBA MAZARI – We all are Perfectly Imperfect (English Subtitles)” on YouTube

For some reason, i decided to look back and question myself as to why I began “the brave series ” . Today, i realise it’s because I was inspired by this brave woman, “MUNIBA MAZARI”, a Pakistani artist, model, activist, motivational speaker, singer, social reformer and television host. She uses a wheelchair due to injuries sustained in a car accident at the age of 21 which makes her Pakistan’s first wheelchair-using model and her story is a great source of strength to me .

I’ve never seen such level of maturity ,perseverance and elegance before . It’s one to make you think beyond your own self and makes what seems like a limitation become your greatest inspiration! It awakens the relentless one in you !

I challenge you therefore to watch this video.

https://youtu.be/fBnAMUkNM2k

I sent it a while back to some friends and they were blessed ; for lessons learnt here are life lessons and so I thought to share with you as well, my beloved.

Be blessed as you watch this 40 minute video😃

It’s for a worthy cause.

https://youtu.be/fBnAMUkNM2k

THE BRAVE SERIES : PART 3

Hey guys! Welcome back to Paulinaboye’s the brave series , I have a good one for you today!

Before we proceed however, can I just greet you a happy new year 💥😃😃💃! I’m for one grateful to be alive, what a gift it’s to see this day , i mean on the last day of 2018, i heard of 3 deaths, like 3 different messages from 3 unrelated people, it was like I was dreaming my way into the new year , sigh, I imagine how many more didn’t see the new year. Being alive , reading this post, take time out to say thank you to your maker, will you .

We should therefore remain hopeful, for we live , and we can make a difference while we do. So I pray for you, that this year will be filled with abundance and blessings and that you may experience transformation in every area of your life, you, my dear reader shall experience peace and joy for the rest of the year ! Amen.

Now, unto today’s story😃.

I showcase the life of my friend and sister , one whom I’m proud to know for she is a lady of distinct strength and dignity. A student of Central University, Ghana studying Human Resource management who today is sharing a story which is rare but insightful , i must say. Not to spoil what greatness you are about to read , but join me as I showcase a Jewel called Benedicta Wallace, read and be blessed .

She writes,

“Before I proceed I’d like to say a big thank you to God and Sharon for this platform and opportunity to share my story with you about my body and how it has affected my life.
Well I’m not all of a good writer but I hope to write to your understanding.

When Offered the opportunity to write I was thinking about how to begin, how to put my words in place, I even asked myself if I can do this but inspite of all , the Bible inspired me to know that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. I’m therefore not frightened anymore to do this. The wisdom of God will work in you to not only understand but see beyond letters to visualize everything more like a video. Amen 🙏🏽

I didn’t grow up like every other girl child where their parents encourage assertiveness, compliment healthy body image and girly attitudes.
I spent the first 13 years of my life with my father where I was brought up the hard way such as in behavior, discipline and morals otherwise like a soldier. Growing in such atmosphere I developed love for masculinity
I loved everything about boys. I preferred playing and hanging out with boys at a tender age to the extent of doing house chores that boys alone were allowed to do . 🤔 You can imagine.

As a result I looked exactly like a boy, as you can see .

In junior high school I would engage in every sports such as racing at which I was always the first, soccer, high jump, short put, volleyball and even tennis when ever I was on holidays.
I usually represented my school in sport competitions which made me popular as a celebrity in school. Inspite of all the praises and glory i enjoyed, I also got intimidated because I was literally referred to as WOMAN MAN and HANDSOME GIRL. I wasn’t really feeling bad about it until I got to senior high school and started developing some sense of maturity, during that period.

Unfortunately, I had to move to my mom’s.
It all started to dawn on me when I changed my environment and girls behaved and looked like girls and boys behaved and looked like boys.
My sisters had soft and flexible body while mine was the complete opposite. I always wondered why this and it brought about low self esteem,timidity and lack of confidence as a lady. I mean, my sister’s and I didn’t grow up together, we really were different. When it comes to dressing, I’d prefer T-shirt, trousers and even snickers because I’d always lie to my self that gowns and skirts don’t suit my shape and I’m just ugly.
I would always tell my self that when I grow up I will do a surgery to become a man because I look like a man already it was just left with the genitals.

My friends in school and church would always tease me by calling me that annoying name, “Woman man”, it was so intimidating that I used to hide from my friends.
As a result I quit all other sports activities and considered only golf since that was a family game.

I remember crying very bitterly to my mom about not liking my body shape, no female dress suiting me, people teasing me and all that. I also remember crying and begging God to please change my strong body to a soft one.
Well , I’m glad both My mom and God helped me get my confidence back , here’s how.
While crying to my mom, she dried my tears and told me something very striking and I will never forget. She said, “Bene my love, don’t you know that this body you are complaining about not everyone has it ; some people don’t have legs and arms but you have and you don’t like it”, she continued, “don’t you know that ladies these days want strong arms ?💪, don’t you see that Ladies with very soft arms wish it were like yours?”

These words brought a bit of self confidence to me and I was beginning to get proud of my body but i wasn’t confident enough still until God spoke to me and said, “you are looking at the wrong mirror look at the right mirror”.
The little word from God meant and still means a lot.
The wrong mirror represents what people say about me, the wrong mirror is the mirror I stand in front of every day only to condemn and hate my self.
The right mirror, however is the word of God.
The right mirror says I’m beautiful!
The right mirror says I’m perfect!
The right mirror says I’ve got all I need!
The right mirror says I’m fearfully and wonderfully made !

This brought completeness to my life that God actually knows and cares about all I’m going through even the smallest of it all.

I have realized that there’s nothing wrong with my body but there is a lot wrong with what I accept from the outside world about my body.
I can now dress like a lady and slay 💁.

No one is born hating themselves or their bodies. This is a learned behavior that has to stop being passed down from generation to generation.
Love your body shape because it’s yours be proud of . If you don’t people will give you reasons to hate it and God won’t be happy about it.
You have the body because God made it so.
So discover what you can do with it and stop living your life by what people say but rather live your life with what God is saying about you.

Thank you and God bless you 😊”

Like it ? Please share and leave your comments , thank you 😉.

See you next time! By the way, men in the house, get ready !💃

Boye Paulina Sharon

22nd January , 2019.

THE BRAVE SERIES : PART 2

On today’s episode of the brave series , we showcase a vibrant young lady known as , Lawal Damilola a.k.a LolahJune, Born and bred in Nigeria, she once worked as an Air hostess for Arik airline. She is a woman worthy of emulation and praise. A woman whose strength could be compared to that of a Lioness.

I once spent some of the most important years of my life living with her and i must tell you , those years are soo far , my most memorable years ; she taught me the true essence of leadership and she served as the sister i never had , here is the story of this Queen.

She writes,

“A fathers affection is an expression I’ve only read about or seen in movies, i can’t say what it is from experience because I have not felt it and it feels late to , so I probably will never know what it’s like, biologically , I mean .

I’m lucky to not be a prey to an abusive father, mine was just unapologetically absent.

Mum will try many times to fill the space but there’s only so much she can do. He’d be home every once a week, became once or twice a month then never again. He’d often call me and my sister names; bastards, foolish children, okporoko heads 😂(we laugh at this one as it actually sounds funny, until we realized it meant the head of a brainless fish)😔. The pattern went on and on until I stopped picking calls from him.

Last I remember seeing him was in 2007, after being involved in a ghastly motor accident and was asked for a relatives phone number. For some absurd reason, the only one I remembered after regaining consciousness was his, before going blank again. He showed up at the hospital 2 weeks, after the incident.

That accident changed everything for me, literally. Asides from my IQ being affected, it left me with ugly scars on parts of my body. Didn’t only feel unloved, also felt not as intelligent and not beautiful enough. I could bet I needed therapy, but therapy is not a thing where I’m from.

Everyone was concerned about the physical/internal injury. The trauma lasted until low self esteem creeped in fully.

Grew up a naive, shy, timid little girl; even tagged myself agoraphobic (Fear of places and situations that might cause panic, helplessness, or embarrassment ) and a loner just to excuse myself from meeting people or going out of my comfort zone.

I didn’t want anyone in my life, scared they’d leave like my daddy did.

I’d cry each time my friends spoke about their loving/caring dad, i wanted to be a daddy’s girl, so bad. I remember my cousins coming around with both of their parents to visit our grandparents . They’d look so happy and cared for, look down on us that had to live with grandma and grandpa. I hated every moment of my childhood.

Until I became of age, I dreaded Father’s Day. Reading all the efforts dads around the world put in place to put a smile on their little one’s face gets me in my mood always. People will notice I never talk about him and ask questions like “You have a dad, right?”, Embarrassed, I always responded, “No”. Then they go, “I’m so sorry”, like my response meant that he’s dead. No he’s not dead, I have a biological dad, not an acting one.

Every relationship with an opposite sex as I got older was me finding a father figure in a boy, -almost the impossible-

It’s tough I must say, especially also growing up with a fanatic as a mum who while dealing with, you don’t have an opinion. I trust the separation took its toll on her and the energy directly transferred to the kids because we had our fair share.

I grew up in fear, fear of the unknown because it’s what mum taught me do, FEAR!

I’m still a work in progress but I can bet the low self esteem is out the way.

I began reading motivational books at age 11, as it was me setting a reasonable foundation for myself. It helped a lot in being more of a realist than pity partying my entire existence. I would recite words daily just so it’s sticks, words to basically help me think more positively of myself and future, release a little fearful energy and let peace reign.

I made this decision for myself , I wasn’t going to allow situations define me or who I amount to. So far, I am not even anywhere close to perfection, however, reading the Bible gave me thorough insight of God’s promises for me. I didn’t need to be perfect to experience the blessings listed there. Why? Because God is a father to all and His love for me is unconditional; it’s not based on my perfection, neither is it based on my flaws ! A Good Good father, He is ! I understood to the in-depth that His love for me isn’t dependent on how perfect I am because in truth, no one is perfect.

He has been my father even before I was conceived. Engaging with this spirituality daily opened my eyes to how I was created in the image of my true father , one who cares so much as to even die for me.

Today, my biological father is alive, remarried and proud of me and my sister as his only kids. Lives he didn’t wait to nurture, children that he left to fend for themselves all through their youthful days. It was hard living with the fact but forgiveness is divine.

I forgave and forgive him to be at peace with myself not because he deserves to be forgiven. We don’t deserve to be forgiven as God’s children, but even still , He forgives us.

Now, I live at peace having in mind, i owe my kids the best biological father in the world. I live, growing each day at a time , knowing fully well, He is with me as I journey through life. I live , bold ”

Boye, Paulina Sharon

29th December , 2018.

THE BRAVE SERIES : PART 1

For weeks, I’ve pondered upon what to bring to you, my reader; that which will help you as you journey through life more than I’ve been able to give so far. I have always posted what I have learned and I’m honoured to have you learn from me . However, I said to myself, “why don’t they learn from others as well?”.. it took me some time to put things together to bring you an amazing series, called , ” the brave series” it features amazing people who are fast growing and heading for the top.

Our first star is Olarinmoye Oluwamayowa, a student at the university of Lagos, model, fast growing writer and a lover of music and books .

She writes,

“When I was asked to write about my life story and how it has totally transformed me, I couldn’t pick a moment because a lot of things have happened to me in which aided in my growth.
Is it my insecurity? Fear of failing? Learning how to trust God ? Letting go of the need for people’s validation? My spirituality? It’s a lot but I’m going to focus on my insecurity and how I got past it.

Over 4 years ago, I was the girl who needed people’s validations. No day passed without me comparing myself to a fellow specie or without me asking someone if I was beautiful. Lol weird right? I know and funny how I’ve met people who went through the same phase too. But the truth is that’s what’s beautiful about our human self. – The ability to evolve, grow and let go of bad habits.
As I lived with my insecurity, a lot of thoughts creeped in as I also compared myself to people . I’d tell myself I was ugly. I needed people to tell me I was beautiful before actually believing it and even when they did, I thought they were lying and they just said it just to make me feel good.

You know, sometimes our thoughts are backed by so much insecurity, that they create lies we believe. Me being ugly was a lie I began to believe but fast forward to when I encountered God’s love like never before.

I remember when He (God) , asked how dare I call myself ugly because me calling myself ugly meant I was calling him ugly for HE created us in his image and likeness. He told me I was absolutely perfect the way I am and he made me exactly this way for a purpose ; I guess that’s why I model now lol.

Now, I don’t even want to change a thing about me and I don’t even need anyone to tell me I’m beautiful or I look good because all that matters is what God thinks about me. If I wake up every morning, waiting for a validation from a human like me, what’s going to happen if they don’t compliment me? I’d feel bad, so why would I want to dwell and rely on the words of individuals?
I’m beautiful because God says I am. I look good because God says I look good. I’m amazing because God thinks so too. I’m an imperfect perfection and that’s what makes me beautiful. The ability to embrace myself for who I am and to also embrace my flaws and my imperfections is what makes me beautiful.

Mr Odudu Essien, founder of Young Ecclesia Nation, who is also my spiritual father, played a big role in helping me get over my insecurities. He told me about the importance of early morning daily confessions. He encouraged me to look at myself in the mirror and say statements like “I am confident. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. I am smart. I am of royal blood because I belong to the family of God”. Those statements absolutely helped purge me of my insecure thoughts.

Sometimes people come up to me and they say stuff like “oh I wish I had your body” and I tell them not to wish they did because they are absolutely perfect the way they are and the best person they could be really is their own self.
If you think you’re fat and it’s endangering to your health, then do the right thing by losing some weight but don’t let whatever negative stuff people tell you get to you because remember, it’s what God thinks about you that matters.

This is really a major story I can easily talk about because it’s a thing of the past and I’ve been able to overcome my major insecurity so I’m not ashamed to say I was an insecure individual. In fact, opening up about it reminds of the need to be confident and I’m grateful to God and the people who stood by me through this phase. Most importantly, I’m grateful to God for the woman I’m becoming. I can absolutely say I’m proud of my growth.

So beautiful people , Never compare yourself to anyone because it’s a battle you can never win. Do not underestimate yourself by comparing yourself to others. It’s our differences that make us unique and beautiful and always remember no one can make you inferior without your consent.

I really hope this little piece blessed you and if you’d like to ask questions or you need advice concerning this same issue or any issue at all, you could send me a dm on instagram or Twitter – @mayowaa_xo. God bless you always and forever.
Love May x”

Boye Paulina Sharon

20th November , 2018

Our First love !

Brought into an unknown world, we cry as to express discomfort, ” where am I ? , this is not home, I don’t know this place “, we cry out , and soon, not long after, the loving touch of a woman/man who you seem to know, the one you’ve connected with for a few months calm your nerves down and you feel comforted, for the love of a parent, is second to none , ” can I trust you to hold my heart and take care of my hurt ?”

We soon find a sweet taste of love sprinkled on our tongues, the sweet taste of milk, our only surviving hope at that point in time. We soon learn to call that person , mother or father , and although this may not be so all the time , we were once at the most fragile point of our lives , nurtured by someone, loved by someone, biological or not , a human looked at you and loved you, cared for you, bathe you , took it upon themselves to help clothe you , and that person is family.

We begin to grow, and we are introduced to our brothers , or sisters or just people that have come to make life just a little more frustrating but still fun for us, lol.

The memories we share of the days we’ve laughed, the days we’ve cried , the days we’ve lost , the days we’ve found, have remained memories of a lifetime.

Family is a person , family is two people , it’s three people , family is company, they are not the ones put into our lives to hurt us , I see that they are the ones put into our lives to challenge us to eventually become strong and independent people.

I have learnt that the ability to care for your family , spend time with your family, despite anything, is a key definition of love , because , nothing hurts more than saying, ” I wish ” and knowing it’s only a wish . The time spent with these ones can never be replaced , we may have friends again when we loose some, but these will forever remain the people we first connected with , they will never stop being family.

On this day , I write to remind you , that as much as we’ve grown, as much as we are striving for success, as much as you’ve been hurt , never forget family.

Before Jesus said it’s finished and died, he did something significant, John 19:27- ESV -” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home”.

It’s amazing that even before Jesus died , the last thing he made sure to do , was to make sure his family was taken care of .

My friends , I can not begin to share with you that I understand the pain that comes at times , the hurt , the fights , the tests , the betrayals that comes from family , yes , having a family isn’t easy , but I promise you , it’s worth it .

The best moments are shared with family , we share our greatest joys with no other than family , look back and think of the days you gotten the best results or news , the days you got into college and called up family, think about the best days of your life, the day you got your first job , and remember the ones who you shared the news with , and they rejoiced from their hearts with you, family.

And so…….

Our dear family ,

to the ones that know our darkest secrets and our deepest pain, to the ones that cry with us and laugh with us , to the ones who love us despite our imperfections , to the ones we’ve learned to love through it all , the ones we can call up at any time of the day and they are ready to help us , the ones that hurt us the most and cause us the most pain at times , the ones that go through the fire with us and can never be replaced by friends, to the ones who when we find ourselves in trouble help get us out of trouble together as though they were with us at the first instance , to the one that annoy us the most , our enemies in love, to family , this is a write-up to say , you are our deepest and most valued assets , the best gifts to us is family and we remain in love with you .

To our grand parents, our hero father, and virtuous mother, siblings of joy , best uncles, loving aunties, and great cousins, we , I appreciate you and honour you on this day.

I say thank you, for being available as chosen vessels of God’s Grace in my life .

Yours truly,

Your daughter

Sharon Paulina Boye.

23rd September, 2018.

A FRIEND

Dear reader,

Friends, they shape us and affect us in ways we see and don’t , it’s amazing that they contribute to about 70% if not more of our growth . They have effect on us more than we know. They are key influences of our growth , in all areas; spiritually, educationally, financially, whatever it may be . The friends we have tell a lot about our now and our tomorrow.

Who are our friends ? Many People have different ways to define who a friend is , and for me, I would say, a friend is someone who will help discipline and correct me even at the expense of our friendship , someone I can pray with , cry with , laugh with , fight with and settle with. Someone that sticks closer than a brother, a true friend.

The reason I added someone I can fight and settle with is , you can fight with someone and genuinely never settle with them or let go of the problem . There are certain people no matter how much we try to remain friends with , one argument can destroy it all , and i believe it’s because we’ve not learned to love despite, in that friendship.

We will be quick to say some things are not worth forgiving, and that is why I would ask, should we marry our friend ? I mean, how many divorces and traumas are we preparing for if we can’t value our everyday friendships ? I’m going to divert a little and say, we enter marriage sometimes as we enter friendships , we don’t take it seriously anymore , that’s why it’s soo easy to get a divorce these days , why ? We say because, “we don’t love each other anymore”, Really ?

This is a task I’m willing to take up, for everyone i call a friend, i must be willing to act as though we are married , lol, without the romance of course . Let’s think deeply about it , let it be like a contract, if I’m calling you my friend, you must be someone I’ve gotten to know , you must have values, be upright , and when situations and problems spring up , we are stuck together ! I’m serious, this will make you think and be selective and careful of those we call friends. I mean, why would the bible say a ,” friend ” is closer than a brother ? You have lived with a brother all your life ! You are not about to let just anybody be called a friend now are you ? Our siblings are gold and precious to us , and for you to seemingly have a deeper bond perhaps with me than I do with my sibling, it’s not a joke, it is to be taken seriously. In As much as we know A lot of people, it doesn’t make them all friends, also, as much as we like people , doesn’t mean we Marry all, right ?

Let’s take up this task together and start to carefully and cautiously select our friends, let’s remember, it’s like a marriage contract, similar ! I believe this will also help us when it’s time to get married for us who are single and for my lovely married people this challenge will help us value our spouse more, why ? Your spouse is first your friend before anything, one thing I’ve learnt from those I look up to.

A friend is someone you can pray with , I would say , it’s someone that even when we fight , and argue with , we can always go to the pillar and foundation of our relationship (God) and he will settle it, genuinely, in both hearts. For it’s one thing to think we’ve let go of a hurt , it’s another to actually let go .

Not all people are meant to be in our lives forever however , there are friends for seasons … I’m saying, whichever season you are in , whoever is your friend now , should be adding value , character, goodness to you. Someone who will help push you to the next level , and when it’s time for you to succeed, let’s you fly as an eagle and succeed . Someone you can be yourself with and still will never allow you do wrong and withdraw from correcting you . Someone who supports you together with your dreams and although they may do wrong to you at times, they learn to cherish your heart carefully the next time , even though they know what hurts you , they respect you and not use it against you when situations spring up. Someone who is for you. Someone who sticks closer than a brother, a true friend.

We should however, also learn to be a friend that sticks closer than a brother to others .

Would you join me in this task ? I challenge you today .

By the way, something amazing is coming up, watch out 😃.

Yours truly ,

Sharon Paulina Boye

15th August, 2018 .

IT’S TIME!

Recently, I’ve learnt a lot. Within such a short while , I’ve learnt soo many things that could have taken me in all my life’s journey, so far.

These past few days , I’ve spent with God, just Him and I and although it may seem I’m really crazy at times, cause I mean , one can’t see Him right ? I feel closer to Him than ever , it’s weird, I know . I’ve been really silent, like I mean silent from every other thing, I just wanted to experience what it’s like with just , “us” (God and I ), no other person.

So , I took a break , and it’s transformed my life in ways I can’t explain, I’ve made soo many mistakes even when I thought I was doing right and it is amazing how when you spend time with God, He begins to reveal your wrongs to you, I’m getting better … we are striving for a better faith , I believe.

I’m about to get super real now though , note it😃. I’m super excited typing this , so permit me if it all seems like every where right now , lol, you know that feeling , “the butterfly feeling ” , when you’re close to someone you never expected to be as close to…. it tickles 😂😃… I’m super excited , I wish you could see my expressions , hopefully you feel it through this. I’m super excited I know Christ, that I’m a child and friend of the way , truth and life. I’m super excited I get to share the truth and partake of His glory. I’m super excited to be Me ; He lives in me, and you….only when we believe in Him , I’m just super excited to be in a relationship with Him.

I was reading an article few minutes ago , and I was like , “This just has to be shared ” . I was pushed to proclaim, “I’m not ashamed of the gospel of Christ and I’m not ashamed to proclaim to the whole world, ” I’m a believer, I believe in Jesus the son of God ” , but more than ever , I’m not afraid or timid to let you know , ” the time is near ” “.
I’ve never felt it this way before, I’m writing this , my head is moving in different directions( like I’m astonished ), I can’t describe what I feel properly … but i know more than ever , ” Jesus is so close “, and this should be an exciting news rather than news to make you scared or put off.
I know every one has heard it. Yeah , ” Jesus is coming soon “, it’s been there since like forever, and He’s still not come , fam! I’m not even about to preach that this time it’s real, but this is my truth , I guess everyone has always told their truth when they say that statement…..
More than ever , I’m sure, we are in the end times ….. so I’ve decided to share what I read from this blog to prove we are in the end times and that we should stick closer to God now , more than ever.

Here it’s, ready ? Note , it’s really long 😃, also it was written some years back, so don’t be keen on the dates in particular but the message .

Listen to these songs while reading if you can ( split screen your phone, perhaps) ; https://youtu.be/NswPPVgMaPE, https://youtu.be/hl4HjgPQ5tI

We Are Living In the Last Days
There are so many signs that tell us we are living in the last days of earth’s history. Not only do we have the main Bible signs, and the 6000 year timeline plan of God, we also have the apostle Paul’s description of the last days in 2 Timothy 3.
2 Timothy 3:1-5 …..’This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.’
Would you agree that we are living in “perilous times”? I believe we are. But how can we be in the last days when so many people around the world are living normal happy lives, without a care in the world? …
Matthew 24:37-39 …’But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.’
Do you see? The reason so many people are carrying on as normal is because they don’t see the signs and they don’t know what is about to happen to this world. So they blindly carry on living as if nothing is going to happen, and these people will continue to live normal lives right up until the second coming of Jesus, at which point their lives will come to an abrupt end.
Let’s look at 2 Timothy 3:1-5 and compare what Paul says about the last days with where we are today in 2013.

In the Last Days People Will be Lovers of Themselves
Would you say that we are living in a world full of people who love themselves? In other words, people who put themselves first before God and everyone else? I believe we see that today, even in the churches. People are more concerned with how they look on the outside than how they are on the inside. This consumer age we live in is all about “Me Me Me!!” The tv, radio, internet and magazines are loaded with adverts to lure us into buying the newest thing, and we get sucked in every time.
The majority of people, even professing Christians, wouldn’t look twice at a beggar or homeless person on the street, let alone help them. Don’t get me wrong, there are lots of good people out there who are compassionate about helping others and putting Christ Jesus first in their lives, but the majority of people are really only interested in themselves. People’s lives are so saturated with entertainment today that living a holy life of self denial for Christ is alien to them. Satan has deceived the world into thinking that spending more time watching tv, going to the cinema, playing games, socializing and reading novels than time with God is ok, “as long as you believe”.

In the Last Days People Will be Covetous
Instead of seeking after heavenly riches, the majority of people today are seeking for material, worldly riches. We live in an age where people clamor for the latest things, and are always in want of more, whether it be money, cars, houses, clothes or holidays etc. And we have the prosperity gospel as an example of the covetous nature of even professing followers of Christ Jesus. So many people are lured into this false gospel with the promise of material wealth. It’s nothing more than IDOLATRY.
Satan is the grand master at diverting people’s attention away from God to themselves (and ultimately to Satan himself), and he has succeeded in luring the world into ungodly pleasures and desires.

In the Last Days People Will be Boasters and Proud
Pride is the cause of Satan’s fall because he wanted to be exalted above God, and the world today is full of proud and boastful people. This isn’t Christian pride, boasting about Jesus, this is worldly pride. Do you like to be the center of attention? Do you like to be accepted by the world as one of them? Do you like to be exalted and lifted up by others? This is pride. One of the reasons people seek after material goods and wealth is because of pride. They want to be able to boast about the things they have and what they have achieved in a worldly sense. LOOK AT ME is the way of the world today.
Matthew 23:12 …’And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.’

In the Last Days Children Will be Disobedient to Parents
If you go back just 40 or 50 years you will find that children had far more respect for adults, but now we have a world full of children who have little or no respect for grown ups. Not only that, many children now have little respect for their parents. My job takes me around many schools and it is amazing to see how cheeky and disrespectful children are nowadays. And what makes it worse, governments are bringing in laws to stop parents punishing/disciplining their children, which causes the children to get away with a lot more.
Satan loves disobedience, and if he can get children to disobey at an early age, then they are going to find it more difficult to be obedient to God as they are growing up.

In the Last Days People Will be Unthankful
Just have a think about your daily life. Are you really thankful to God for the many blessings He has bestowed upon you? Do you thank Him for waking you up in the morning? For feeding you? For providing you with a job and income? Do you thank Him for His wonderful creation? And most of all, do you thank God everyday for giving us His Son Christ Jesus? Do you contemplate that amazing sacrifice He made? Many of us are unthankful today because we have been conditioned by the world to HAVE things and just take it for granted. Now if Christians are like this, then what are those outside the faith like? We certainly live in a time of ungreatfulness. Spare a thought for those who DON’T have today!

In the Last Days People Will be Unholy
The majority of professing Christians believe that because we are under grace we no longer need to keep the law (the ten commandments)and it doesn’t matter if we continue in sin. This is NOT the gospel of Christ Jesus and it is certainly UNHOLY. Again, just go back 50 years and you would see Christians living much holier lives. But today in 2011 we have churches full of unconverted people who continue to live just like the rest of the world. So to fulfil this condition of the last days, we don’t even need to step outside the church because there is so much unholiness inside it! Churches have become like theatres and concert halls rather than sanctified holy places of worship.

In the Last Days People Will be Without Natural Affection
I love this one, because it alone shows us that we are in the last days. Just look at how homosexuality has become accepted by the world over the past 20 years, and not just by the world, but by professing Christians too! It’s no longer regarded as “taboo” or forbidden, which God confirms in His Word, instead it is treated as just a normal thing.
Just last year (2010) President Obama said that one day soon, homosexual marriage would be regarded as just as honorable as a marriage between a man and woman. Now this is a professing Christian President of a supposed Christian nation. Not only that, we are now even seeing churches EMPLOY active homosexual leaders!! Do these people even read their Bibles anymore? In the last days people will be without NATURAL affection. We are IN that day!

In the Last Days People Will be Despisers of Those That are Good
These days people will not take rebuke or correction for the wrong things they do. If you warn a Christian about something wrong in their life, then they will just tell you to stop “judging” them. And those who do live good holy lives are seen as fanatical or are labled as “Pharisees”.
Revelation 3:19 …’As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.’
If we cannot take correction, then we are not going to learn and grow in Christ Jesus, and we are most likely not going to repent of the wrong we do. And where will that lead? … Proverbs 15:10 …’Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way: and he that hateth reproof shall die.’
Jeremiah 7:28 …’But thou shalt say unto them, This is a nation that obeyeth not the voice of the LORD their God, nor receiveth correction: truth is perished, and is cut off from their mouth.’
2 Timothy 3:16 …’All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.’

In the Last Days People Will be Lovers of Pleasure More than Lovers of God
Here again we don’t even need to look outside the professing church. So many professing Christians these days spend far more time on worldly pleasures than with God. Television, movies, sports, games, shopping and socializing are the pleasures of the day, and God gets little time even from professing Christians. Have a look at your own day to day life. Do you spend more time on these things each day than you do with Jesus? If so, then you are a lover of pleasure, not God.
How many Christian homes during the evening are studying God’s Word or praying, rather than watching the tv? I would guess not many at all. Television has become the idol of so many lives today, and even the things that are watched by professing Christians would be abominable to God. These are the last days for sure!

In the Last Days People Will Have a “Form” of Godliness Only
There are so many professing Christians in the world today who think that they are saved by just “believing” in Jesus. And as a result they continue to live worldly sinful lives with no real conversion taking place in their heart. Even the devils believe, but are they saved? No. If you have no works or no fruit in your life, then your profession of faith is dead and useless. Not one person can be IN Christ Jesus and not be changed by Him, not one! Going to church once a week does not make you a Christian, because a true Christian will walk and grow with Jesus EVERYDAY. Where are the people living holy lives for God? Where are they? Yes, there maybe “revivals” going on around many churches today, but what kind of revivals are they? Are they revivals of holy living? If not then God is not in it.
Anyone can open a building, stick a good band on stage, draw many people through the doors and call it “revival”. It’s called a rock concert!

Are we in the Last Days?
I am totally convinced from the above and the signs of the end times that we are living in the last days. As a people we desperately need to get right with God, because we are in judgment time and Jesus is going to return soon to give His reward to those who have truly served Him or destroy those who did not obey the gospel. Are you obeying the gospel of Christ Jesus? Do you have a love for the truth? Do you search and study the scriptures each day? Please heed the following warning.
2 Thessalonians 2:10-11 …..’And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie.’
The deceptions that Satan is going to manifest during the very last days are going to be so strong, that if you don’t have a love for the truth and are not grounded in the truth of God’s Word, then you will leave yourself wide open to be deceived. Don’t think that your mere “belief” in Jesus will save you, because if you do truly believe, then you will be living everyday for Him and searching the scriptures to find out the truth.

We are living in the last days, PLEASE get ready!
Ref:
http://www.end-times-prophecy.org/in-the-last-days.html
Share❤

Yours truly,
Sharon Paulina Boye.

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