Equipping young women professionals with young families to find fulfillment, contentment and joy as mothers and home makers without losing sight of who they are as women.

Volume 12, Issue 15: Take Time To Celebrate

Like many in my setting, I didn't grow up celebrating birthdays. Celebrating birthdays became common after we had children. But even then, we only celebrated our children's birthdays. We did not celebrate our birthdays as adults, until recently. But even so, it still feels awkward to me to invite guests to celebrate my birthday.

I went against my objections to the idea of celebrating my birthday and invited guests over. It was the best thing I had done for myself in ages. We had a wonderful time. It was nice being celebrated, appreciated, blessed, sang for and gifted. People can be so kind. It reminded me of a portion of Scripture.

The twenty second verse of the fifth chapter of the book of Galatians says, "But what happens when we live God's way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard. Things like affection for others, exuberance about life and serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people".

I felt loved by these people who set aside hours of their Saturday afternoon and evening to spend with me. They gave of their time and resources on my account. What a blessing! It left me wanting to bless them back even more than I had done by setting a table for them.

I am coming to appreciate that celebration is an important part of life. One's birthday is an opportunity to celebrate the countless goodness of the Lord. To have lived almost halfway through my desired exit age, I thank God for bringing me through fire and water in order to bring me to a place of abundance. Therefore I don't want to let these occasions go unmarked. I want to celebrate what God has done.

I hope you are encouraged to take time to celebrate not only your birthday and the birthdays of your loved ones, but to also celebrate at different occasions of life when you are touched by the Lord's goodness in your life, and in the lives of those around you.

For His Glory,

Lillian Chebosi

Volume 12, Issue 14: Fall In Love With Repetition

"The most important battles must be fought anew each day. Exercising today does not render tomorrow's workout unnecessary. Supporting your spouse today does not mean you can mail it in tomorrow. Learn to love the endless nature of things, and life will get easier." James Clear.

Life is a series of recurring actions. Success is all about having the discipline to do the same right things over and over again. A fit body isn't obtained from one or random exercise sessions. A fit body is obtained from repeated exercise sessions. In the same way, an unhealthy body isn't a result of one or random unhealthy food choices. An unhealthy body is a result of repeated unhealthy food choices.

Cleaning or having your house cleaned today doesn't guarantee you a clean house. You have to clean it regularly to have a clean house. Tidying up your closet today does not render having the habit of daily keeping your closet tidy unnecessary. Without the habit, it will take a only a few days for your closet to return to the mess it was in before you tidied it up.

Paying yourself first a decent portion from this month's paycheck doesn't make you rich. It is doing so month after month, year in-year out that puts you on the path to financial independence.

Sharing a meal with a friend this weekend does not mean you can ignore them for a long while thereafter. Maintaining a rich friendship requires regularly deposits of time, kindness and support.

Almost no part of life is a one-off investment. We even don't take a shower today and forget all about it for days on end. We do it again tomorrow and the day after, and the day after. We don't read the Bible once and get faith to carry us through the rest of life. We read the Bible every day to walk with Jesus and live a victorious life. I could go and on, but we get the point.

We have to find a way to enjoy the endless nature of things so that we are happy doing them over and over again. Then we will remain on the path of success.

For His Glory,

Lillian Chebosi

Volume 12, Issue 13: Unbothered

When we get hurt or offended by someone, especially from a misunderstanding or wrong assumption or accusation, we desperately want to get heard by them. We want to tell them that what they thought about us isn't true, that we didn't do or say or mean what they think we did or said or meant. That they were wrong about us.

We go to lengths trying to explain ourselves, then we want them to be remorseful for misjudging us and to apologize. But sometimes that doesn't happen. The person who wrongfully accused us and offended us doesn't admit they were wrong and apologize. What do we do then? What should we do?

We let it go. We decide to be unbothered. We accept that they are never going to see things our way and let them be. It comes time a when we have to let go of the offense and take the high road. How do we do this?

• By being too big to care. We decide to play at a higher level than them, refuse to care about their behavior.
• By being unmoved by their behavior. We decide to not be moved by their behavior.
• By not magnifying the offense with our attention. We decide to remove our focus from them and the offense and focus on things worthy of our attention.
• By remaining unperturbed. We accept that they will never see our side and and stop trying to win them over.
• By remaining calm. The Bible cautions against fighting with a fool. When we remain calm, we come out on top.

Choose to be unbothered by the offenses laid on you by others. Take the high road, and you will come out on top.

For His Glory,

Lillian Chebosi

Volume 12, Issue 12: Wait For Direction

Every now and then we find ourselves in a decision valley, needing to make a decision amidst varied options and opinions. We then turn to God for guidance and direction, a good thing. But we are often too impatient to wait on him, or too clouded with noise to hear him. I know, because I was recently there.

I had a decision to make for someone. There was two of us, deliberating on a difficult decision for a teenager we care about. This teenager didn't make it easy. She knew what she wanted and stuck to her guns. We didn't want what she wanted and were determined to make her accept our choice for her.

All along, I was praying that God would lead us to make the right decision, one that would make the best fit for the teenager. It was weeks into the daze and I wasn't hearing anything from the Lord. I felt confused and helpless, and eventually let the other person take the lead in steering us on. I went along with their decision for us to proceed with our initial plan, even though the teenager was still against it.

Then I got direction. A day later it became clear to me that our plan wasn't the right plan for the teenager, and that we needed to quickly change course. It was good to have direction at last, but what bothered me was why it took so long for me to get it. I wondered whether I had been impatient or whether the Lord was speaking all along but I was too clouded to hear him.

Whatever the case, this experience has taught me to never be in a hurry to make a crucial decision. I will tarry until I am quiet enough to hear, until the Lord gives me direction. I will wait on the Lord patiently, until I hear him. I have made enough wrong decisions in the past, it's time to learn my lesson and decide to always wait on the Lord for direction.

For His Glory,

Lillian Chebosi

Volume 12, Issue 11: Stay In The Game

I used to walk for slightly over an hour each day. I like workouts that are at least 30 minutes long. As a result, I used to look down on short workouts. My attitude was that of all or nothing, until I ran into a slack season. Then I realized that I was going to end up with very few workouts or none at all this season if I don't settle for a short workout when I am low on time or motivation.

A small doze of something that is good for you on a consistent basis is better than nothing at all in the hope of getting a big doze of it. I would rather squeeze in a 10 of 15 minutes workout every week day than have none for waking up late.

What are you putting off until your circumstances are better? What activities have you put on hold until you are in a position to give it your all? If you are waiting to get a raise before you can start saving, then you are not only lying to yourself, you are also wasting your opportunities.

If you have put pursuing your master's degree on hold until you have more time in your hands or feel like it, then you may wait a long time and delay your chances for career advancement. Do it small, until you can do it big.

If you are used to having long workouts or long walks, but currently can't seem to find the time or motivation to do it, settle for a shorter workout or walk in the meantime. Small is better than nothing any day.

A consistent flow of small drops of water into a large bucket eventually fills the bucket to the brim, to overflowing. Small consistent steps in the right direction will keep you in the game. Walk, until you can run again. Do it small, until you can do it big again.

For His Glory,

Lillian Chebosi