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Saturday, July 22, 2017

A DATE WITH A STRANGER | ...LOOKS CAN BE MISLEADING

A DATE WITH A STRANGER
He must have looked out that window a dozen times since I observed him about five minutes ago. He was obviously expecting someone important. Almost every time someone walked in, he seemed a little nervous until he realized it was just another customer. He would then resume tapping his feet and bobbing his head to whatever music it was that he was listening to. 
A short while afterwards, a young lady walked in and he smiled like a little boy as he took off his headphones and hood to wave at her. She spotted him, smiled and walked towards his table that wasn't too far from mine. 

I was surprised when he shook her with both hands instead of hugging her and I thought to myself “who greets a girlfriend like that?”. Well, they got talking and I wasn’t paying much attention until I heard him say “congratulations again on your 40th birthday ma”. I’m sure my ears literally stood up on hearing those words and I caught myself just in time before putting down the paper I was reading to look again at the person he was referring to. I couldn’t help it though, I eventually stole a glance and was amazed that someone her age could look that young and agile.

From that moment on, I couldn’t help eavesdropping on their conversation and gathered that he was a relative that had been asked by his mother to see his aunty about getting a good job in Abuja after his youth service. She was rather influential in the media industry and chances were high for him to get a good placement if she made some contacts on his behalf. After making passing remarks about the need to exercise a lot, eat right and take lots of water, she then appeared to drive the conversation in a different direction when she asked him why he wasn’t doing something major with his talents. He replied like most people would “Aunty K, I don’t have enough money to start” to which she answered “do you remember your Sunday School stories?”. I guessed he was as surprised as I was when he retorted “Sunday School?”. As though expecting him to be surprised, she smiled and continued saying “Yes. Sunday School and in particular, Joseph's story and that of the widow and the prophet”. They sounded unrelated until she started speaking and drew out principles from both stories.

“Like Joseph did in Egypt” she said, “you need to learn to keep aside at least one-fifth of your income monthly so as to raise the funds to finance your dream. While you’re working in an organization, you’re paid to help the company make the money you’re paid. You need to pay yourself first dear; that way, even if you needed further assistance, you’ll have something on the table. Everyone has something to work with. I observed he was listening to know where the conversation was headed; that made three of us - me, him and me again. She continued saying, Like the prophet asked the widow, ‘what do you have?’, there are four places you should look to answer that question; your head – what ideas do you have? Your heart – what are your passions? Your hands – what skills do you already possess? and your home – what resources do you already have? Savings from your salary could fall under the last category.”

I didn’t quite make out the rest of what she said immediately afterwards because my phone rang and I had to go outside to join my friend who had asked me to wait for him at the eatery so we could go check out a property together. As we rode along, he observed I was making a note of some of the things I had just heard. He was curious and we discussed some of them. He was impressed and asked “who was she anyway?” I answered saying “a stranger I wish I met decades ago before I started working for anyone.

Adebayo Martins | #iMuse | TUE.18.07.2017

(Head, Heart, Hands and Home analogy heard from a message preached several years ago by Reverend Sam Oye)


Suggested Reading: 

Thursday, July 6, 2017

#iMuse | My Journal of Random Thoughts; Page 025



OBA TO WA KI WIWA TO WA

 The KING that predates existence
From Outside Time, He Steps Into Time, To Determine Times
17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.
Colossians 1:17
#iMuse | B.08.06.17
#GodIsNeverSurprised
v v v



You can’t spell health without the word ‘heal’.
Being in health is having healing happen so often, you don’t notice.
Then your light will break through like the dawn, and you will heal quickly.
Your righteousness will go ahead of you, and the glory of the Lord will guard you from behind.
Isaiah 58:8 (GW)
#Crumbs077 | 02.07.11
v v v



The things you feel qualified to do as an adult; 
...should not disqualify you from being emulated as a child of God.
3 Since you are God's people, it is not right that any matters of sexual immorality 
or indecency or greed should even be mentioned among you. 
4 Nor is it fitting for you to use language which is obscene, profane, or vulgar. 
Rather you should give thanks to God.
Ephesians 5:3-4 (GNT)
#PornographyIsSin #StopTheSexJokes #BeHolyAsHeIsHoly #WankNoMore
B.24.03.17
bit.ly/BMTHO
v v v


Don’t let sickness be death’s excuse for taking you out before your time.
1-3 God looks after us all, makes us robust with life...
Whenever we’re sick and in bed, God becomes our nurse, nurses us back to health
Psalm 41:1-3 (MSG)
B.19.02.07
#WordsHeardOnTheDayMyMomPassed
bit.ly/MAFDHHC
v v v




You won't believe the number of people holding on 
...because you have determined NOT to throw in the towel.
9 So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. 
At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.
Galatians 6:9 (NLT)
#Don'tThrowInTheTowel #KeepLivingKeepWinning #PressOn
B.13.04.17
bit.ly/BMDMRT
v v v


You can live healthy and leave healthy.
12 The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. ... 
14 They shall still bear fruit in old age; they shall be fresh and flourishing,
Psalm 92:12-14 (NKJV)
#ShowcaseSpeaks #ShowcaseHisGrace #LongLife
v v v

Life is full of ups and downs…

Would you rather have it otherwise?
33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. 
In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, 
I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33
#YouAreMOREThanAConqueror #SuccessIsWhoYouAre
#iMuse007 | B.14.10.16
bit.ly/BMDMRT


v v v v v v v



The quotes above are excerpts from my book "Crumbs" (©2011) and a few other thoughts that come to mind every now and then.
Like I said in the "Introduction" to the book, as the name implies, ‘Crumbs’ is more or less drops of thought put together in one place to hopefully add up to at least a bite.
The book or better still, blog notes in the #iMuse Series, are in a bid to share with you the likes of some thoughts that run through my mind every now and again. 
So, this book is for the most part, me "thinking out loud" and not an attempt in any way to assume the role of an authority in any of the fields the quotes may refer to.
Once in a while, I will also include inspired text messages and missives. It will be a delight to have you check out some other write ups and posts on this blog.
I pray that you’ll indeed be blessed as you do so.

God bless you.

By the way:
#Crumbs050 = Quote number 50 from the book, Crumbs.
B.M.2011 = © 2011, 'Bayor Martins
#iMuse005 = a random thought, number 5 in the collection of my muses.
B.08.01.15 = 'Bayor received this thought on the 8th of January, 2015

Picture Credit: Google

Translations used include:
KJV  King James Version
NKJV  New King James Version
BBE – Bible in Basic English
CEV – Contemporary English Version
ERV – Easy To Read Version
ESV – English Standard Version
EMTV – English Majority Text Version
GNB/GNT – Good News Bible/Good News Translation
GW – God’s Word
ISV – International Standard Version
LITV – Literal Translation of the Holy Bible
AMP – Amplified Bible



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@bayormartins



bit.ly/Bayor

Saturday, July 1, 2017

OVERFLOW | JULY 2017


...the overflow is also a consequence of consistent flow.
Every drop before the overflow, builds up to the overflow.
With continuous flow, the container is perpetually replenished.

3 If the clouds are full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth; and if a tree falls to the south or the north, in the place where the tree falls, there it shall lie.
Ecclesiastes 11:3

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Psalm 23:5-6




The overflow is a call to responsibility; the need to increase capacity.
Abundance is for service – He is not a God of waste.

3 And Elisha said, “Borrow as many empty jars as you can from your friends and neighbors. 4 Then go into your house with your sons and shut the door behind you. Pour olive oil from your flask into the jars, setting each one aside when it is filled.” 5 So she did as she was told. Her sons kept bringing jars to her, and she filled one after another. 6 Soon every container was full to the brim! “Bring me another jar,” she said to one of her sons. “There aren’t any more!” he told her. And then the olive oil stopped flowing.
2nd Kings 4:3-6 (NLT)

1 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred and twenty satraps, to be over the whole kingdom; 2 and over these, three governors, of whom Daniel was one, that the satraps might give account to them, so that the king would suffer no loss.
Daniel 6:2

“Clear lots of ground for your tents! Make your tents large. Spread out! Think big! Use plenty of rope, drive the tent pegs deep. You’re going to need lots of elbow room for your growing family. You’re going to take over whole nations; you’re going to resettle abandoned cities.
Isaiah 54:2-3 (MSG)

May this new month and second half of year 2017 indeed be a Graduation from the old to the new; we can't graduate downwards.

No more limitations; it's an outpour of great Grace and Restoration.

Welcome to this season of The Overflow and Manifestation.

His Grace is sufficient for the second lap of the race.

Hallelujah!

God Bless You.

'Bayor

If you’re reading this and yet to accept Jesus Christ into your life as your Lord and personal Saviour, please pray the below:

Heavenly Father, I come to you today in the name of Jesus. I am a sinner and cannot help myself. I believe with all my heart, that Jesus died for me, that He was buried for me and that He rose triumphantly for me! Forgive me all my sins. Cleanse me with the precious blood of your son, Jesus. Deliver me from sin and Satan to serve you, the true and living God. Today, I accept Jesus as my Lord and personal Saviour. Thank you for saving me! I am born again. I believe that I’m now your true child, in Jesus mighty name.

If you prayed the above prayer sincerely, welcome to a life of victory as a child of the living God! You have been set apart by God. If you need further instruction on this pathway of life, please locate a Bible believing church around you or online. We could also connect on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. Please click on any of them below and send me a direct message.

Unless otherwise stated, all scripture references above were taken from the 
New King James Version of the Bible.
Where applicable, emphasis mine.

Pictures: Google
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FURTHER READING

Perfect Rest | July 2013
Excerpt: May this Seventh month be a for you, the beginning of total REST from all that hitherto represented stress and toil.

July, Comply! | SECOND HALF 2014
Excerpt: A foundation does not need to be painted to bear up a beautiful house…
Regardless of how seemingly unattractive these past six months have been, the rest of this year will be COLOURFUL...

#T.G.I.F | July 2015
Excerpt: God has paid the price to make the rest of the year, the best of the year!
Without God’s help, life’s journey is a tiring race;
With God’s help, life’s journey is tireless – that’s Grace.

REVISION, PAGE 7 OF 12 | JULY 2016
Excerpt: May our eyes of understanding be enlightened to see the necessary steps to be taken to make this second half of the year, the better half of the year.


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