Stella Agwor's Blog

Oh no, it was actually real,the scene that had just flashed before me wasn't from the contagion movie.It was actually real.Somebody pinch me!
News , mayhem, panic buying, fear mongering, social distancing,self-isolation unimaginable loss of lives, truncation of businesses, and untold hardship for many.
I caught myself as a wave of fear washed over me, what is the meaning of all of this, what must I do, what is God saying?
As I pondered, I could hear very clearly in my spirit these words: "This too shall pass "and almost immediately an unexplainable peace and confidence in a God who is bigger than my fears and still In control settled me.
How are you doing child of God?Are you troubled, worried, tired,afraid or overwhelmed?Rest in the assurance of God's word and His love.Amidst all the fear and uncertainty be reminded that God is sovereign. Amidst all the pain and the loss be assured that God is present, to comfort and to restore.God is still good and he remains faithful inspite of everything.He is in control, He cares about you and nothing takes him by suprise.
I have been challenged in my spirit to take advantage of the huge opportunity a time like this presents.Yes, there is always opportunity in the midst of chaos and we must ask God to reveal it to us and then we must with courage take advantage of it.
Fear is the real enemy, it seizes one, possesses and then cripples.Fear is the real virus dear son and daughter of God and it is spreading like wild fire. yet, the entrance of God's word gives light and understanding and liberates us from every fear.
So this is what I am doing; every time I sense the spirit of fear, I counter it with the truth of the word.Every time fear mongers speak, I counter their words with God's truth. Every time news comes of gloom and doom, I choose not to listen or read such news. I am guarding my heart and consciously staying in an atmosphere of praise and playing my own part in staying safe while trusting God to do the rest.
Don't behave like the rest of the world, panicking and confessing fear,Don't waste this opportunity to press into God and posture your heart right before him.Don't let this season go to waste, so many people now have free time, invest it.Do an online course, study,spend time with your children, read, write,perfect a skill, etc invest this time wisely Because the truth is,This too shall pass.
If you feel overwhelmed, talk to someone about it,talk to your heavenly father. You are not alone, now more than ever we must unite in love and look after each other.
This too shall pass.You are loved, you are cherished!
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” Ps 46: 1
The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them. ” Psalm 34:7

Early mornings!!
Zaine dress up, Zem come take your bath, Zaine this and Zem that!!! 



My mornings are generally characterised by routines; early morning squeals,bargaining,tears,tantrums, the rush to get the entire family's day going, and the million and one things I need to remember and do before I make the dash to catch my bus.

Every morning I am running out of the house in a mad dash just so I can make the bus in time, the mornings I do, a certain wave of accomplishment washes over me and the days I don't, oh well, too bad. lolOne of the things I really love about being a mum is forming fun routines that our kids love and look forward to and one of which has been my morning exit routine. The kids all come to see me off and I demand from them a kiss and a hug.

Couple of weeks ago, as I made my way out in my usual hurried fashion, my little girl insisted on a hug, a kiss on her cheek and nose, plus a high five. As I finally broke a way and made my typical 100 meter sprint to the bus stop, I had the most uncomfortable feeling in my right shoe, here I was with literally 2 mins to go before the bus arrived and yet, I couldn't run or walk any faster. Something was slowing me down.
It was a discomfort I had gotten used to, somehow, I had been alright the days before,but on this particular day, it was just so unbearable.I had Sand in my shoes!!!!
I knew I should have gotten rid of it, days ago but somehow I had managed okay and kept ignoring it till it had gotten to the point where I could no longer put it off. As I stopped and bent to take my shoes off, the all so familiar sound of the bus greeted my ears, yes, you guessed right, it arrived and swiftly sped off, leaving me and my sandy shoes behind. How dreadful.
I was so close, but yet, I missed it simply because of the annoying sand in my shoes that I had ignored for days, until, it costed me arriving early at work.
As I sat fuming in the cold, waiting 15 mins for the next bus to arrive, I remembered a familiar scripture;
Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, songs of sol 2:15.What started off as just a little insignificant pebble, became such a big inconvenience that costed me time and energy.
I considered the many ways I had become comfortable with so called little foxes in my own life, eg
entertaining that thought here and there, buying into that little lie,  procrastinating?
How about just a little more sleep, a little prayerlessness, a little gossip, a little selfishness, a little ingratitude, a little jealousy and a long list of a little this and that. Lord have mercy !!!
It has been months since then yet the lessons from the sand in my shoes have reechoed in my ears and now more than ever as we draw so near to the end of 2019, I feel like God is drawing my attention to the many little foxes that I allowed limit me this year.
Honestly there have been many, and if I really do want my 2020 to be that year that I break through on every side then I must really look inwardly, pay close attention to, and address, habits, character flaws, wrong mindsets, negative confessions, areas of indiscipline, ignorance, appetites and predilections that have costed me and made me miss the mark this year.
What little foxes have you allowed into your life and become comfortable with that if you do not address would cost you your God given destiny, your marriage, career, business, academics, relationships etc?
And as we sit and prayerfully review our year, it is not a time to compare ourselves with anyone else or feel discouraged by the level of progress we made, but to truly take stock and ask ourselves hard questions, and consider the little foxes impeding our full potentials from being attained.
I am praying that God would reveal them to us and grant us the grace and wisdom to re-calibrate and re-strategise.
May He grant us the power to overcome repeated patterns through the help of the holy spirit and  may our lives be flooded with God's light and truth.
May we find the courage to chase away and shut our gates, so little foxes have no access to return back into our lives, in Jesus mighty name, Amen.
God bless and keep you.!!!
You are loved and cherished!
ⒸThiswomanoffaith
Provs 24:33 - 34 : A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man.

Gal 5:9:   A little leaven leavens the whole lump. 

Phil 3:13-14: Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have laid hold of it. But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on towards the goal to win the prize of God's heavenly calling in Christ Jesus.

Who is your father?

I remember the first time I travelled to my village without my parents
I must have been in primary school and my dearest grandmother of blessed memory insisted my parents brought me over for the weekend.

Village life really and truly intrigued me, I loved the simplicity of communal living and how content everyone seemed, food was eaten fresh from the farms, with the large itigidi river providing fresh fish and water, and in the evenings, a dozen children would gather in my granny’s living room to watch a DVD, what was there not to like, for a child living in the city and raised overseas, village life was exciting, refreshing and alluring.

That was the first of many visits, the older i got,  my grandmother became the most influential woman in my life, especially as I had lost my mother at age 14.

She was wise, inspiring and I picked up my literary prowess from her as she and my mum piqued my interest in books. She would make me write letters to her and correct my English and send the letters back to me with the highlighted corrections. Lol, bless her soul.

I made so many trips back and forth to visit her especially when I was in the university, so many of them where unannounced.  I would make the 2 hour bus travel to the neighbouring village, then catch a speedboat or canoe ride and I would show up on her doorsteps to her amazement.

I loved our bond, I would lie on her bed and we would talk, gossip, sing and pray well into the night.
We would wake up early in the morning sit outside and watch the whole village come alive.

 The best times of my young adult life were spent with my granny, but today, I pondered about one thing that remained unchanged as the years went by with each visit that I made.

Every time I went to the village my granny would send me to greet my relatives, she would ask a cousin to come get me to make the rounds, and as I walked past, greeting elders with the only native dialect I knew they would speak back asking “Ale` wa` nen o?   which simply meant; Who is your father or whose child are you?

Every compound we passed by, the same question would be asked and then I would reply saying my father’s name, and many times I would be given monetary gifts, food stuff, or pronouncements of blessings just by the mere mention of whose child I was. They welcomed me, embraced me because of who my father was, a man the villagers knew and respected.

As I reflect on this simple yet powerful message, I could hear God asking very quietly, as the events of the past weeks have dared to question my identity.

Ale` wa` nen o? who is your father o?
Stella Whose Child are you?  What do you possess by being my child? And what responses do you get? do you know you were created in my image and likeness?  what access can my name give you? What doors can my name open for you?

To know the magnitude and import of a person is to know his nature, attributes and the influence that his name commands. As God began to remind me that he is not just the great and mighty one, he is also my dear father, my Abba, my papa and just like the mention of my earthly father’s name brought me favour, his name commanded blessings and everything I need to live victoriously.

Everything pales in the light of this truth; I am a child of the most high God.
His nature is good, and I can trust him with every minute detail of my life.

Everything that I would ever need or desire stems from him and he is well able to take care of me.
For he is not an unjust daddy who when his children ask for fish, he would give them a serpent.He is a good father, far from the picture our frail earthly fathers have painted of what fatherhood is.

And as I write this, every fear I have of my future melts away, because, I know I would be right where my Papa intends for me to be, in the end. No matter how overwhelmingly difficult things seem now, or how senseless the events occurring in my life are, may I never forget whose Child I am.

I pray for you today that when challenging situations and the difficulties of life question your identity that you would be bold enough to retort and shout back till the enemy is silenced for you know who you are.

I pray that the eyes of your understanding would be enlightened today, you are not a beggar, a failure, worthless or disadvantaged.
You are your father’s child, but if you never truly know your father, you would never know who you are and what you are worth.
So tell me, WHO IS YOUR FATHER?

©️Thiswomanoffaith

Matt 7:9-11NIV
Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

1John 3:3 GW
 Consider this: The Father has given us his love. He loves us so much that we are actually called God’s dear children. And that’s what we are. For this reason, the world doesn’t recognize us, and it didn’t recognize him either. Dear friends, now we are God’s children. What we will be isn’t completely clear yet. We do know that when Christ appears, we will be like him because we will see him as he is.  So all people who have this confidence in Christ keep themselves pure, as Christ is pure.

I looked at my husband, this sweet, sweet man that God had blessed me with, and the tears flowed freely; “I am tired, I am tired “I muttered repeatedly as my sobs progressed to deep groans. When would this end, I am so tired! It had been such a difficult season, a season that seemed unending. The week before I had lost a wallet with some valuables and I could barely get home and this week I had parked my car and my plate numbers were stolen. It felt like the enemy had employed all his cohorts and the mission was to “STEAL OUR JOY” and deflate our spirit at all cost.

It was a hard season; I was physically and mentally tired. God had probably gone on vacation, couldn’t he see what we were going through? like God how far, how much longer was this going to go on for and how much more could we bear?

 I was so sure that God had not forsaken us, I was confident that there was a reason for all these, so I held on to my conviction that God was indeed a good God but I must confess that on days like these my faith was shaky, it felt like we had been making the same prayer request for ages, circling the same mountain, dealing with the same challenge; it had been 1 whole year and my husband was still with no job. It felt like God himself had closed the door of employment on us. Recruiters that used to chase him for roles began to avoid his calls, we thought he had contacts in his industry, but everyone he knew kept giving one excuse or the other. We had to live on 1 income, and it was barely enough to sustain our family being that his income was 3 times mine.  

Our faith was stretched like never before, but God kept showing us that he was with us, even in the midst of what seemed like fire, I look back and see how he kept the peace in our home, not one day did we have a fight over the fact that there was not enough money at home. I imagine the kind of issues that stem from lack of finances in a home and I know how insecure women can be as a result of that and the conflicts that can arise but through it all we experienced a level of joy and contentment that could only come from God, growth and maturity.

I remembered how God had given us a prophecy that my husband was going to be very great and wealthy. That we were going to be a blessing to many, that was like in our 2nd year of marriage and I honestly fantasized about what it would truly look like for us when this greatness materialised. As the years have progressed we have seemed to be moving so far away from that picture of greatness that I nursed in my heart, my vision included something like lots of billions in my account, fleet of cars, an array of hired help and probably a closet filled with the finest assortment.(very vain, I know, don’t judge me, lol)

I am so sure, that even angels where shaking their heads, one in disapproval and two in pity as if to say, you this child you have no clue as to what was coming. I had no idea what the journey to greatness looked like and that it involved mandatory suffering.

It has now dawned on me what the magnitude of being great truly means, and that when God says you would be great, it means roll your sleeves up for the grating that is to come. That is for greatness to come, he was first going to take you through a process that involves pain, sweat, tears and ultimately blood to rid you of certain mindsets, attitudes, appetites/desires, character and a whole worth not so that when he is over you can be the very best of what he has destined you to be.

Like for real, you hear these sermons, you read about Joseph and all he had to go through before he got to the palace but somehow we expect God to just skip that class when it comes to us and promote us straight to the palace. We want the glory without a story, gain without pain. No process, no journey, we just want to arrive.

But this grating is long, hard, painful and sometimes degrading or shameful in the eyes of people. They look at you, shake their heads in pity and sigh, poor man, look at him he is so unlucky, his life is so hard. Look at her, her own is so bad, at age 38, no one has ever proposed to her, oh; she is so unfortunate maybe God shut her womb, no child yet, it has been 8years.

They look at your journey, your struggles, the pit stops and detours you have undergone and conclude that just maybe God has forgotten you, they laugh and jeer at you, you become a gossip topic disguised as a prayer request. It can be so discouraging but hang in there, dear Child of God, don’t be discouraged, there is greatness in you and God only knows what you would become, He is working on and in you. He is preparing you, shaping you, moulding you for all that he is preparing for you. Would you pass the test?

I look back now and see how much God used that season to work on our character, I see how He matured us, how he dealt with pride and pomposity in us by allowing my husband work as a labourer in a warehouse for long hours. He used that pruning, grating experience to make him humble, compassionate and even a better husband and father. He would come home excited thankful to God for the privilege to have a job again, he had learnt the true value of work and he worked with his whole heart. He put all his big qualifications aside and he knew he had to feed his family, so he rolled his sleeves up and not once did he think it was beneath him. It didn’t change his identity neither did he define himself by what he did, he would go for meetings during the day pursuing his dreams and he would work at night in a warehouse, I watched my husband stay joyful and full of faith, showing up in church every Sunday and it is amazing how God’s grace makes it look easy when we depend wholly on him during a season of adversity. It is said that adversity reveals the true strength of a man and for some of us, the reason why God would keep certain prayers from being answered is because we cannot handle pressure and we need to be refined through the crucible of adversity and trouble.

5 months after my husband worked in a warehouse after searching for high paying jobs for 12 months, he got a job without an interview that saw him earning in 1 day what he earned working a 12-hour shift in a week. Just like that, after a season of what looked like an unending siege of hardship God showed up; praise God.

There are so many lessons in our story that you can glean from;

1.       God never leaves or forsakes you even when He is quiet, it is intentional

2.       Not all suffering is from the devil, suffering is good for you, endure it.

3.       Adversity reveals your true character; and God is more interested in who you become, and He would use adversity as a tool to refine your character, so you become more like Christ.

4.       What you are going through does not change who God is, God is Good.

5.       While you are waiting for your big door to open, don’t sit idle, go get a job, for there is dignity in labour and nothing is beyond you.

6.       Every word or prophecy God has given you is true, even if it tarries, it shall surely come to pass.

 

I hope our story has encouraged and uplifted you, God would not fail you. Regardless of what it is you are going through remember who you truly are; a king. You are born for greatness! Suffering is good, endure it.

God loves you.

 
 1 Peter 5:10 The Passion Translation (TPT)

And then, after your brief suffering, the God of all loving grace, who has called you to share in his eternal glory in Christ, will personally and powerfully restore you and make you stronger than ever. Yes, he will set you firmly in place and build you up.

2 Timothy 2:3

You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

In 2012,I had a strong burden to write..
I  heard it clearly in my spirit
Write…Write about your struggles and victories
Write.

I remember shaking my head…but the burden wouldn’t go,
I mustered the courage and wrote a post on a blogging platform
I sat and then I waited for the response
Oh my,It was far from what I expected .. I got abused and sworn at
I deleted my account immediately and willed the voice in my head telling me to blog to stay silent.
After much ado, this woman of faith blog was birthed in March,2013
One of the scariest things I have had to do..

This time around regardless of how I was going to be perceived or received
I knew I had to do it for God was leading me to share my faith walk with no inhibitions, to share my real struggles, to be open and vulnerable so His glory, His grace and His Mercy could be seen through me.
He was asking me to be real, flawed, imperfect so His perfection could express itself through me.
I have learnt that it takes a certain kind of grace to be vulnerable, to show your scars so others can see.. to tell your truth so others can be free..
To live with no falsehood or pretence, just living life as one helped by God.

I am also learning that, we all are facing struggles, challenges and being vulnerable enough to share your pain, insecurities ,struggles with a brother doesn’t make you weak but it gives them an opportunity to see God’s grace at work in your life.
Very recently, I went through a really rough season,
And a dear friend of mine was there every step of the way.
She saw me at my very lowest and when God eventually turned things around she said something to me:
“She said, next time I go through a challenge, I would remember your experience  and I would not give up, because I was there, I saw everything as it happened and the same God that came through for you, would come through for me too.”
Isn’t it powerful that when we live our lives as openly and honestly as we could.
The people around us would be inspired by how we went through our testing process
It’s not just about the testimony…yes the testimony would definitely come because God is faithful
But most importantly it’s the way you behaved during the test that is most important.

You see, when Jesus carried his cross all the way to Calvary.
He didn’t carry it at night time..He didn’t hide..He couldn’t
All could see him…in-fact, He, was laughed at and mocked.
And I guess that’s why we find it hard to be open…to share our burdens because unfortunately
It is human nature to judge, mock, laugh and gossip .. regardless of what is going on in their own lives.
Truth is we all have a cross but it is so easy to focus on someone else’s cross. Perhaps if we all were real, it would make us more compassionate and loving, slower to judge or condemn because we were focused on carrying our cross and not hiding it…

Or perhaps it could be pride stopping us
I struggled with pride…how were people going to look at me, if I wrote about being broke, or jobless  or told them of my worries..what would people say about me…I have learnt that dying to self was going to cost me my pride, my self image…I was going to have to redefine who I was and it was not going to be  based on what I had or didn’t have or by the standards of men but on who God said I was.
Every post, I have shared has stripped me of something and I know this is only the beginning
And I pray that God would help me and humble every step of the way.


To be honest, some battles cannot be shared with everyone and we must be discerning
Of who we tell what to…and the timing of when we share things.
That being said, your helpers are always around you and we have to be careful not let our pride, or fear of being hurt stop our helpers from locating us.
I also love how easy it is to sieve people that come close to me.. let’s admit it..
Not every one would stick it out with you during a season of testing and being open and real helps
Differentiate the real allies, your core people from the ones who are just around you for the frills
To be able to carry your cross well, you would need to drop all baggage and unnecessary load especially relationships that are not destined to help you as you carry your cross.


A lady shared with me a challenge she was facing and I kept nodding “ me too” you mean you went through the same thing, yes I replied with a wide grin,I too had had a similar experience and as I shared my testimony with her..faith welled up on her inside.
There is so much power in that Phrase “ Me too”
Me too can evoke a certain kind of comfort, a reassurance of some sort.
“Me too” It is such a liberating word.
Because if you went through and have come out with a testimony
It means, I would be fine too..
I wonder how many people would have been encouraged if we were real, open and vulnerable.


I pray this post invokes a desire in you to be honest in your walk God
To live unashamedly every day and to not care what people thought of you, rather to live a life that
gives God glory.
To carry your cross, knowing that His strength is made perfect in your weakness
The next time someone asks you how you are, I pray that beyond the I am fine..you would be bold enough to show your scars and battle wounds for the things you want to hide are the things God wants to use.
I pray you have the boldness to ask for help when you need it and not feel the need to put up a front.
I pray you are more gracious and compassionate to your brother or sister as they wade the storms of life bearing in mind that you too are also on a journey.
Remember it’s not just about the testimony but who you have become after the test.
May I be encouraged, inspired by the way, you are carrying your cross.


God bless you.


Matthew 16:24-26 English Standard Version (ESV)

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?

James 1:2-4 The Message (MSG)

 Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colours. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.

Leave the grave behind…

April…has always been that month of the year
that tugs at my heart for so many reasons..
This year was no exception,

So many memories are laced all through this month
I lost my mother and my daughter around Easter time,
And I also celebrate my salvation day and big brother’s birthday in April as well.
Isn’t it ironic that life has a way of bringing so much joy and sorrow concurrently,
As one life ceases, a new one begins..almost immediately
The very force of nature nudging you to the acceptance of what the circle of life truly is..
The reality of life and death
If the concept of death still terrifies you,  I urge you to embrace it as the knowledge of the fickleness of life would spur us to live our lives purposefully.

I sat the other day on the 6th Anniversary of my late daughter’s death
And I honestly could feel no sorrow,
Rather a deep wave of gratitude overwhelmed me,
I was thankful for the fact that God was healing and mending my broken heart..
Thankful for the grace to not be stuck in grief and in bitterness
Thankful because my pain is not written on my face, rather joy exudes,
Thankful because I somehow found the courage to embrace my pain and not run away from it.
Thankful because I did not stay angry at God for letting us go through what was a harrowing experience.

I remember telling someone recently how we had lost a 1 year old child, and
her face dropped in horror, “you don’t look it”came her reply..
Look it ? I quizzed, ha please tell me how one who has lost a child looks o..
No o! came her apologetic response, is just that you are just so happy and you are always smiling.
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm

I get it, so life has hit me hard,
I have had a couple of traumatic experiences
May be  some of my scars are very visible while others are not,
I might even have a limp, that tells a story of what I have been through..
But regardless of what my experiences in life have been
I have a choice to either wear sack clothes and mourn every day of my life or choose to respond with joy and gratitude.
I could also allow all that my past has come with to define or label me, or hide my scars, never talk about it and wear a veil so thick you never see the real me.

There are so  many broken and hurting people buried in emotional and psychological graves.
Stuck in experiences too deep, too heavy, too painful to move past from.
I love the fact that if Jesus could leave the grave behind I also have been given the power to
Regardless of how bad or painful whatever I have experienced is,
Because He lives, I can live, I can face tomorrow, I can heal from that hurt.
So I have chosen to embrace life and to not allow the pain of loss keep me bound
To not wallow in self pity and bitterness
I have accepted God’s help and little by little, I have bounced back
because that is what God does for His children, He walks with us, seeing us through some hard core stuff and then He pours His grace on us and beautifies and restores our lives so we don’t look like what we have been through.

I sat with a lady a while ago after a marriage of 18 years had ended bitterly,
And all I could see was a once beautiful woman now aged with sorrow buried in the grave of disappointment, anger and bitterness, she wore it on her face and her words showed her hurt and pain.
It had been 5 years since her divorce and yet her pain was raw that I could feel it.

It’s not enough that you met with hurt, pain or disappointment
It’s not enough that you where deceived, abused, rejected, abandoned, cheated on,
Or that you experienced the pain and heartache of loss
The ultimate plan of the enemy is that you stay buried in the grave of whatever it is you have experienced
That you stay down and never rise from it
That you change your name from joyful to sorrowful
That you never revive that dream or try again
That you never trust again or love again.
That is where the devil lost, because He could not keep Jesus buried past the 3rd day.
He broke through the dirt, He left the grave and everything it represented behind
So you could do same..

This post is for you who feels stuck in grief, who feels like they lost that golden opportunity
Who feels like the are not good enough or worth much because of what happened,
Because of who left, because of what was said and what was done.
What ever it is that is keeping you from living your best life,
Whatever it is that is robbing you of your full potential in life.
I pray you find the courage today to break through the dirt and rise up..
I pray you receive strength to leave behind whatever grave that has kept you bound.
I pray you ask Jesus to help you rise again
I pray you have the right people around you that would hold your hands and love you through this season.
I pray you have the wisdom to seek the appropriate help that you need( professional/ pastoral counselling,  therapy, medical help) to bounce back again.
May you truly live a free and full life In Jesus Name,Amen.



“If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9


“He will destroy death for always. The LORD God will dry the faces of everyone who has tears in their eyes. People will not feel ashamed again, over all the earth. That is what the LORD has promised to do.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭25:8‬ ‭EASY‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬



Feel free to share.
God loves you so much.

TWOF.

Can you see it ?
How time flies,I can’t believe it’s the end of the 1st quarter of 2019 already,Where did the time go?How was it for you?
Honestly, the 1st quarter for me has been different from how I envisaged it would be, I thought that A, B and C would have fallen in place, but for some reason or the other it hasn’t.Yet, in spite of all that, I have made good progress.Progress in the sense that, I have a clearer picture of what I must do to bring about the results that I seek.There are many things that are out of my control, things that only God can do but I must take Ownership of the things In my power that I must do to bring out the Changes, the progress and the elevation that I desire to see in my life, family and ministry.

Question is….am I willing to pay the price for the future that I see?What is the future that I see?What must I do today, that would take me closer to the future that I see?This past few months, it’s become clear to me that I am not serious o, lol.Like for real, we all want to be great, have an impactful and successful lifebut in reality we are settling for average, making poor or uniformed choices,we are not maximising our time effectively and we are not disciplined enough to put the work required that would take us to this new level that God has for us.
For instance,I set a specific health goal at the beginning of the year,I had mapped out a strategy to achieve it, but every week that has gone by has seen me fall short.No amount of prayer or wishful thinking  🤔 can replace the work required to achieve this,The results I experience in this area of my life would be solely dependent on the decisions I make daily, my habits and practices that either take me closer to my dream or farther away from it, do you see? Change and progress especially on the weighing scale is not going to happen automatically.Making unhealthy food choices and refusing to exercise would take me farther and farther away from the picture that I see.So I am asking myself how badly I want to see a change in this area and what are the things I must start, sustain and stop in other for me to achieve results. I know, it is not easy, food is bae, but how badly do I want this.Same goes in every other area of my life.
I really love to tell myself the truth, because you can fool people but you cannot fool yourself,I know the excuses that I am constantly making that are limiting me,I know the habits( like watching Netflix when I should be writing or researching) that are wasting my time and energy,God help me.lolI know the relationships that are not adding value to me, or pushing me to become my best selfTruth is, the very outcomes I desire are within my reach but am I willing to push, to jump, to gain knowledge in that area, to motivate myself while staying committed and disciplined?
If we must be people who see results in 2019 then we must be willing to do our partSo I ask you the same question I am asking myself What do you see, at the end of 2019 what would you have accomplished?Are you on track to achieving what you see?Do you have a strategy and a plan on how you intend to achieve it?Are there habits, relationships or belief systems that are hindering or limiting?How bad do you want it?Can you see it?What can you see?
If you do not have a picture, if you cannot describe it, if you cannot imagine it, then prepare to have a year just like every other one before it.Let us tear down every lie of the enemy and redeem our time,You can do it and you would do it, you are not a failure, you are capable of making significant progress.You have the power to turn your life and situation aroundGod is waiting for you, to rise up and walk..Remember the lame man by the pool of Bethesda in the bibleHe had a real, genuine excuse ;no one to help, no godfather, no connections, no resources But all around him people were getting results.  Jesus asked him this question which revealed the root of what was limiting him;Do you want to be made whole?
So my dear , how badly do you want to make progress in 2019What price are you willing to payCan You be honest with yourself and review what it is you are doing or not doing Great people pay close attention to their daily routines and habits.I love this quote by James Clear from his book Atomic Habits, it says; “ you do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems ”.So powerful….! Let us introspect What do I see concerning my 2019, if there where no limitations or obstacles, what would I like to see happen in the remaining 3 quarters of 2019?What goals did I set at the beginning of 2019?What can I begin doing today that would radically change my course in life?What must I stop doing that is keeping me in a stand still position And finally, how can I maintain and be committed to the things that are guaranteed to propel me forward.Regardless of how the 1st quarter in 2019 was for you,There is more for you, God is saying “Rise up and walk into that future that you see”.Your God given dreams are possible with Christ Hold on to the picture of what you see concerning your futureI truly pray that the picture you see, is a great and glorious one.
Pray with me;Dear lord,I thank you for the 1st quarter in 2019 I receive grace and strength for this next quarter,Open my eyes to see, great and glorious things that you have prepared for me.Help me to do my part, to stay disciplined and committed I refuse to walk in fear and doubt for all things are possible to them who believe.I receive wisdom to make the changes necessary in my life today so that I can bear much fruit.I trust you to bring the resources I need that would take me from dreams to reality.May I never be disconnected from you my source, for in you I find everything I need to flourish.In Jesus Mighty Name, Amen.

Feel free to share, If this has encouraged you.Kindly share with me, what your see in your 2019 and what you plan to Start, stop and continue doing to ensure you enter into this new level.
 God loves you so much.
Stay Strong.
©️Stella Agwor

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 The Passion Translation (TPT)
Isn’t it obvious that all runners on the racetrack  keep on running to win, but only one receives the victor’s prize? Yet each one of you must run the race to be victorious. A true athlete will be disciplined in every respect, practicing constant self-control in order to win a laurel wreath that quickly withers. But we run our race to win a victor’s crown that will last forever. For that reason, I don’t run just for exercise or box like one throwing aimless punches, but I train like a champion athlete. I subdue my body and get it under my control, so that after preaching the good news to others I myself won’t be disqualified.

“The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.” Proverbs 21:5

“But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.” 2 Chronicles 15:7 
“May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.” Psalm 20:4
“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?” Luke 14:28

My heart has been a little sad, many tragedies have happened this past few weeks
So many families are broken and in despair, and my heart aches for them and I pray that God would comfort them in a way only He can.
But something else has made me really sad, Something that should not have……..

A dear friend shared a testimony and though I was truly happy and shared in her excitement,  I could not help but feel a tinge of sadness….
Sadness because I too have been waiting and praying for my own testimony and It seemed like mine was taking forever to appear.
I was disappointed because I felt like somehow God had forgotten me,
Just like the week before when that other family shared their testimony and instead of rejoice with them my heart ached yet again.
When would my own come, I asked?
When would it be my turn?
When would God remember me?

It can be so difficult to wait joyfully when tough seasons tarry
When our answers seem delayed,
Every one around us is getting married but no brother in sight,
Every one is having children, but yet you are still waiting
When you go from one Job interview to the other with no offer in sight
When you keep getting bypassed for the promotion at work
It is hard to wait..
It’s even harder to wait joyfully..

I started to write this post last week and my heart was so
Overwhelmed that I just couldn’t finish it.
I was so discouraged, yes, my faith was waning.
My heart was getting bitter and I was angry that God was silent.
Where was all this bitterness coming from ? what was sapping my joy?

Hmmmm…The enemy had me, just where He wanted me…
In a place of ingratitude and comparison
I was focusing on all the things going wrong and I had failed to recognize the faithfulness of God in the midst of my trials.
For a second I had forgotten who my heavenly was and what He was capable of doing.
I had doubted the goodness and faithfulness of God,
What happened to waiting till my change came?
What happened to praising my way through,
What happened to counting it all joy?
What had happened to my confession?
I had allowed my situation speak to me and I sat silently, listening, crying and lamenting.
And before I knew it, bitterness had creeped into my heart.

What happened to encouraging myself in the lord,
And standing on His promises..
I like Naomi was choosing to be bitter because of the blows life was dealing me,
I was allowing the enemy lie to me.
Last night, I did something that I should have done all along,
I spoke to myself and my situation, I said “Stella, why are you discouraged, why are you disquieted within you,
Hope in the lord, for you shall yet praise Him.
 I spoke over myself and I encouraged myself in the lord.
And I reminded myself of how much God loved me and how He had great plans for me.
I listened to some messages and faith began to well up in my heart again,
And then I put some praise on..
I said devil, you are not going to rob me of my joy any longer
God is for me, and He is not against me,
This too shall pass.

You see, God has never failed me, it’s not in His nature to fail,
So I had to remind myself that the chapter is not over for my story has not ended yet,
The master writer is writing my script and it would be a blockbuster in the end.
I had to remind myself that God can be trusted, that the fact He was silent didn’t mean that He had forgotten or forsaken me…
I had to say it loud so I could hear it, that God was a good God and that everything He allowed me go through was all part of His eternal plan and that, good was going to come out of this season

You see, stop sitting around waiting for someone to encourage you,
They just might be going through their own stuff and don’t even have the right words to say to you,
So get up, open your mouth and speak over your life…
No need to be bitter because it’s happening for A and it’s not happened for you yet,
Shake that bitterness off  you and rejoice with them
Your blessings are coming, God would surely give you a testimony.

I encourage you as I encourage myself today..
To make it a daily practice of speaking over your life
Speak God’s truth about your situation and let faith flood your heart as you wait
For the manifestation of God’s promises.
As we wait, let’s make sure our attitude glorifies God every day.
Be encouraged for we shall yet praise him.

Pray with me…
Dear lord, I refuse to be bitter or discouraged
Over the things I am believing in you for
Help me to wait joyfully for my harvest season and while I wait ,help me
To rejoice and celebrate with others because I know my own time is coming.
Lord, Help me to continue to grow my faith as I fill my heart with your word
Teach me to speak life over my life and situation and not death.
Thank you lord for I trust you and I know that you would never forsake the righteous
Be my strength, my hope, my joy and my peace as I wade through this tough season
In Jesus Mighty Name.
Amen



Ps 42: 5 NLT
“Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again— my Savior and”my God

Job 13:15
Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.


Romans 4:20

Yet he did not waver through disbelief in the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God

1 Sam 30: 3-6KJV
So David and his men came to the city, and, behold, it was burned with fire; and their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, were taken captives.
Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep. And David's two wives were taken captives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite. And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.



Feel free to share if this has encouraged you.
God loves you so much.
@thiswomanoffaith

 

Are you taking notes?
I am so excited, something is brewing…but I cannot aptly describe it; I know without a shadow of a doubt that something is about to happen.
I am so pumped about my future and what God is doing and as I look ahead, I cannot help but reminisce
for we cannot truly appreciate how far we have come until we look back.

Today I had a flashback to a season of my life where I was overlooked, underrated, and written off.
I was that girl with nothing going on for her, I could walk into a room and not be noticed, not because I wasn’t beautiful, attractive or good looking but because when people looked at me in that season, all they could see was what had happened to me.

What had happened to me?
I had failed and repeated a year in university, I was the assistant class rep that year and I had to be replaced. Oh!  the disgrace and shame I felt, every bit of confidence I had in myself was knocked down.
I still remember the silence and hushed tones when some of my previous course mates saw me months after results were published.
I had gone from this girl who was at the forefront, to somebody who had lost her voice.

I barely had friends, people hardly spoke to me, looking back now; I think it was more the way my shoulders drooped and my head hanged, that pushed people away, that and the fact that failure had no friends as compared to success.I wore the cloak of defeat and shame for a very long time, So I guess if people wanted to be friends I might not have noticed.

I remember when someone told me he pitied me and was worried about my future because my grades were not improving. He kept asking me, what is your problem Stella.
Problem? I left there feeling like there was something really wrong with me,
What had I done wrong, who had I offended, why was I failing repeatedly?
Would I ever amount to anything?

Little did I know God was making me, pruning, teaching and equipping me for the various
Seasons to come. The turning point was when I realised that failure had a lot to teach me and the sooner I wiped my tears, humbled myself and started taking notes, the quicker my elevation would come..and wow, the lessons learnt have transformed my outlook on life and I am so grateful for the experience and it how it shaped me into this person I am today.

I learnt not to let failure define me, yes I had failed but that was not who I was. Failure was essential for growth, there were going to be many more failed attempts in the future so I had to learn how to prepare myself for that and learn how to get the most value out of it.
I was coaching a student recently who was struggling with her studies and couldn’t see past all the re-sits she had to take and it was affecting her self esteem,
So I shared my Uni days story with her and she said ‘’no way, you are so intelligent and confident
No one would have ever guessed” and that made me laugh, I could have walked around with a chip on my shoulder you know, but I chose to learn from it.

I am not that girl anymore who is terrified at failure, for I have learnt what it truly is;

an opportunity.
An opportunity to try again, re-launch, look a little closer and reinvent one’s self. To do better and become great.
An opportunity many do not have because they just happened to make the pass mark, so the move up to the next class but they never really learn what true success is.
So today we have so many PASS MARK Individuals, average folks who play safe, doing just enough to get by, writing off themselves and allowing others to do the same to them.

We have the other set of individuals who disregard and slight those who have failed
They try to define them by that event not knowing that it is designed to make them better and greater.
If you, my dear have felt that way, mocked and slighted because you attempted something and it failed.
You started the business but it crumbled, and now you feel knocked down,
You entered a relationship but it failed, and now you feel like a failure
Or perhaps an idea didn’t quite pan out the way you thought it would.
Or a project you started got abandoned
Brace up, roll your sleeves, cut your losses and embrace your failures,
It does not and should not define you,
It is an opportunity. Choose to learn from it and become great as a result of it.
In a short while, the people who laughed at you;  wrote you off and looked down on you would take
Coaching lessons from you.

If you are a student and you are struggling and find yourself failing
It might be time to change your learning strategy, look into your itinerary and cut out
excesses or distractions. God has given you a sound mind and you can do all things through Christ

who gives you the strength and ability.
Do not write yourself off and do not let anyone do, even if they do today, tomorrow it wouldn’t matter because you would have become better and you would have the last laugh.

I hope this encourages you to lift your head up today and work confidently
Knowing that everything you would ever go through good or bad would eventually
Work out right for you. God has equipped you with everything you would need to be great and not ‘AVERAGE.
You are valued, you are able, you can win, you are not a FAILURE,
Every dream God has laid in your heart is POSSIBLE,
Every God-given idea is ATTAINABLE, Failure  is good, let it be your teacher, get out your books and start taking notes.
You are UNSTOPPABLE.
See you at the top.

God loves you so much.

Philippians 3:13-14 (NIV)
Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
JER 8;4 (GNT)
The Lord told me to say to his people, “When someone falls down, doesn't he get back up? If someone misses the road, doesn't he turn back?
Proverbs 24:16 Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)
Good people might fall again and again, but they always get up. It is the wicked who are defeated by their troubles.

I was jolted back to reality as the train came to its final stop, my stop. The icy wind blowing against my face woke my sleepy eyes and my feet went from walking to running all in attempt to wade off the cold as I embarked on my 20min walk to work.

January was such a cold month; everyone wore a long face as they hurried past. Only  yesterday we cheered and said our `` happy new years’’ with excitement and dreams of a better and greater year ahead. Where was all the excitement? Why all the gloominess?

I caught a reflection of my face in a nearby mirrored door; huh, who is that girl? I looked no different from the faces that walked past me, it was not just about the cold weather, my slumped shoulders said a lot.

Hmmm, I  remember starting the new year with so many hopes, dreams and aspirations.Some where amidst the hustle and monotony of life, amidst the reality that a new year does not automatically mean that all the challenges of the previous year suddenly disappear, Some where in the middle of all that, I had allowed all that was ahead of me, overwhelm me.I had caught a glimpse of the Giant, like the children of Isreal and It terrified me. I had been stuck between asking ;how can this be lord and finding the faith to say, let it be done to me according to thy word.

I remember the mighty things God had laid in my heart to be accomplished this year, the great visions and projects.I walked out of that New year service on the 1st of January ,2019 with renewed passion, vigor and a can do spirit, where had all that gone?  It’s rather too early in the year to get discouraged; I thought to myself, too early to throw in the towel, too early to lose steam for the race hadn’t even begun.

Why did I all of a sudden feel like what was ahead of me was insurmountable? why was I feeling doubtful that God would not do all He had said He would do in and through me. I realized that it was an old trick of the enemy, same strategy, same approach. Attack her mind and fill it with lies, just maybe she might believe and forget how big, mighty and great the one who lives In her is.

Truth is God would never call you to anything that doesn’t seem bigger or greater than you, the dreams, ideas, visions are no small feat, and it would take relying completely on God’s direction and help to achieve them. But it is so possible, so doable, so achievable.We are  who God says we are and we can do all things through Christ who Strengthens us.

So I welcome the month of February and I am determined to go for the gusto, to take small steps daily that would bring me closer to the realisation of my dreams.

Today, I encourage myself to stay on course, to face courageously the giants that present before me on my journey to destiny.To take up my shield of faith that is God’s word and tear down every lie and falsehood of the devil. I refuse to believe that I can not, that I am not and that I have not, what it takes to be victorious.

My God-given dreams and Ideas are so possible and so are yours. What visions and goals did you start the year out with that now seem like wishful thinking? What lies have the enemy been telling you about those goals you have set, how about the ones you haven’t had the courage to write down yet?

Refute every lie and take courage, keep advancing towards that desired future by taking small steps daily to achieve your goals. Regardless of what is happening around you.keep your eyes on the price and trust that God is able to lead you every step of the way.

My prayer is that we fulfil destiny. I pray that we would be focused and live every day to the fullest. And that this year we would see, seize and secure every opportunity that presents before us.That we would find the courage to keep on keeping on, even in the face of discouragement.In Jesus name.Amen.
Keep winning.

Eph 3:20 NIV
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.
Isaiah 41:10-13

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.  “All who rage against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced; those who oppose you will be as nothing and perish.  Though you search for your enemies, you will not find them. Those who wage war against you will be as nothing at all.  For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.

Luke 1:34-37 NIV
“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.””




©️Thiswomanoffaith