FINISH STONGER

It was not until I got to the house I realized that the testimony I shared at Wordroom came from a more hopeless place than I had made it sound it came from.

It was the last Wordroom session for 2020 and we were discussing 'Beyond 2020 - finishing strong in crisis.'

The first question on our sheets was "Have you ever been in what you thought was a hopeless situation? How did you survive it?"

There's one testimony that comes to my mind easily when it comes to this kind of situation, and it is about one of my very broke moments.

We had been given quit notice to leave few days before my birthday, and we finally had to squat at my uncle's. Our things were actually at my aunt's, whose house was farther for me to afford to transport myself, my sister and mum to church and other places we had to go to, so we managed with my uncle's. On the eve of my birthday three days before we relocated to a relatives; I was tempted by a man with about seven hundred thousand naira (N700,000) while I was broke flat and was in dare need of accommodation. I shared this story 'Decisions' http://alawilcoxblog.blogspot.com/2019/08/decision.html?m=1 on my blog.

Fast forward to about three weeks after we moved, I had exhausted all the savings I had left and I was still job hunting and was still new in business. 

On a fateful day, my sis came home from school and needed money for something important in school, and we also had our last supper for that evening cause I didn't know were the next meal was going to come from.

After we had had our last meal, I had my bath and was ready to retire to bed. But before that, I remembered the story of the widow at Zarephath in the bible and how God used Elijah to supply her with more food than she imagined. I just jejely told God like I usually do, "God I'm in Your hands o. I don't know where the next meal will come from, and I've got no idea where money would come from, but I trust You to make a way like You always do."

It was just a sincere prayer, and in just over an hour, I received a phone call from a next compound neighbour of my uncle, that I gave my number a week ago because I knew him from my former church. Usually, I wouldn't step an inch out of my house after I've had my night bath, but when he insisted I came downstairs, I had the feeling to just go, so I did.

He first took me to the shop adjacent to our house and asked them to give me fresh bread (my lovely best food that year) and juice. Me was now saying, "no, thank you." Meanwhile, inside my mind, I was happy o. After plenty "it's nothing, just take it from me," I took it.

We walked outside and stood at my gate, gisting about the things I can't remember right now (I'm guessing it was music.) I told him thank you for the dinner and opted to go inside as it was getting late. Uncle shook my hand, and it was money that entered it. Ma dear, it shocked me o! I could only say thank you.

As I climbed the stairs and entered into my uncle's flat, I counted the money and was amazed at how accurate it was. My sister's bill for the next day and her transportation was sorted, and I had balance to go out and hustle. I knelt down and told God thank You. In fact, we all did. I did it with tears in my eyes, cause it blew my imagination how it came.

Truthfully, I had asked God prior to this time why I would be tempted with so much money and not have money, but I sha just relied on His word. 

This testimony reminded me that, trusting God through the toughest of situations helps you trust and have faith in Him more. It helps you become stronger. Anything of that level that comes your way as a way of testing, it would surprise you how much you wouldn't be as bothered as you use to before.

It also teaches you lessons that could become a force of encouragement to others in the future.

I know 2020 has been quite an ordeal for almost everyone, if not everyone, but I'm here to encourage you to trust God through it all, regardless of where you find yourself now. You can FINISH STRONGER than you anticipated. It might come in little ways you wouldn't appreciate, but it will surely happen.

Being alive to see December in this year full of hurdles is a testimony on it's own.

Count your blessings and be thankful to God cause FINISHing STRONGER, we must attain.

ALA O. PEPPLE

Proverbs 3:5-6(MSG)

Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God ’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track. Don’t assume that you know it all. 

Proverbs 3:5‭-‬6 TPT

Trust in the Lord completely, and do not rely on your own opinions. With all your heart rely on him to guide you, and he will lead you in every decision you make. Become intimate with him in whatever you do, and he will lead you wherever you go.

#AlaPepple #finishstronger #trustGod #grateful

I AM

Wondering why you are overwhelmed?
It's because you've left a lot of things undone. You have been procrastinating, looking for the right time, looking for perfection, searching for the key to start, searching for how to start.
Now you see that everything I told you to do was for a reason. It's now toomuch for you to handle.
How would I achieve all this without failing? You ask yourself.

Don't worry about it. I AM. I AM the way,  the truth, the life. I AM the beginning, I AM the end. I AM The Key. I AM The Starting. I AM The How. You have Me, you have all the answers you need.
Your heart shouldn't fail, I AM The Capacity you need.

Just start with me. Trust me. Depend on me.

I AM

*******
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.
Philippians 4:6 NLT 

Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:7 NLT 

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.
John 14:6 NLT 

ARE YOU? .... BREATHE!

Are you tired of the happenings around the world at this time?
Are you overwhelmed by the do's and don'ts?
Downcasted by the pushes and motivations?
Or putdown by social media and the confusion of who to listen to at a particular time?
Are you sick of working from home? Tired of staying at home, or perhaps you are claustrophobic?

The truth is that, You're not alone! I'm overwhelmed by social media and I know others have their fears too.
It's okay to feel some type of way because of the sad happenings around us. But we don't have to let such feelings becloud us. Like someone said, "you can't stop a bird from flying over your head but you can stop it from building a nest on it. It is key to be awoke for yourself.

Take a break and breathe!!!
You are not in competition with anyone.
Everyone might be right, but there is a 'right' for you.

You might not have plenty, but there is a God who is sufficient in providing.
You might be confused on the know-how, but there is a God who turns our confusion into perfection.
You might be irritated by being with people for a long period of time, but there is a God that can use you to heal and teach another.

You know what?
Turn off the noise. Turn off your data. Put an earpiece in your ears and listen to nothing (just for family and friends to leave you alone). Turn off your system. Close your eyes. Talk to God heart to heart (without opening your mouth). Then, BREATHE DEEPLY.

You know you need it. You will be glad you did it. Do it for your mental health.

Ala O. Wilcox.

#alawilcoxblog #areyou #breathe #live #trustAbba 

A FEW THINGS I'VE LEARNT FROM SOCIAL MEDIA

1. A lot of people make comments because they want to be noticed.

2. Many want to just antagonize. Not necessarily because they want to, but because they want to be seen in a different light.

3. Many don't really mean what they say.

4. Many just want to shake tables. This obviously comes with the negatives and positives.

The bottom line is that; we all want to be heard. Observers will say, 'but I only observe.' No dear, even you who observe, when you write, you write because you want someone to hear (read) what you post. You might not care about the likes, but you care about your message being passed.

Truth is, you have the responsibility of telling yourself the truth and living the truth; which is you.

You are your reality. Others have the reality of you in their heads, but you can't live other peoples reality for you. You have to FIND YOU, BUILD YOU, and LIVE YOU.

Before you make a post or write a comment on any page, ask yourself; "Is this for eye service? Is this truly me? Is this me being positively relevant to the world?"

PS: The true you in a certain context might not be positive because of so many things, ranging from bias, nepotism, anger (because you have been directly affected) , culture, religion, etc. So before you post or comment, think of the people your comment could have a negative influence on.

Even me sef, I think before I comment because I might be boiling on an issue and speaking about it might cause an unnecessary controversy. Laslas, I'll read the comments, like and agree on what I agree on and disagree on what I disagree on, just within my space (my head). I must not drag people to have the same struggles I have.

We can't argue that everyone is a working progress. Please work on giving hope to the world, especially in this Covid-19 pandemic season, when everyone's voice is important.

PS TO READERS:

• Don't believe everything you read.
• Evaluate what goes into your mind. And
• Have the discipline of detaching your mind from accepting what won't make you better.

My Thoughts. 

ALA O. WILCOX 

#alawilcoxblog
#readbetweenthelines
#beyondwords
#wisdom
#peopleareimportant
#writtenwordsarepowerful
#weinfluencewithposts
#positivevibesonly
#covid19
#truth
#blog
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#reality

step back

Sometimes, I can be a weirdo. I say so primarily because I don't seem to fully understand why I think the way I do. In short growing up in the church, a few of my very senior teachers felt I was a rebel, not because I rebelled but because I asked questions they didn't necessarily have answers to. I have changed o, because I've understood that asking some questions to the wrong people would bring bad results.

As a younger girl, I was really inquisitive and outspoken. I also read anything I came across asides mills and boom novels (I wasn't a lovey-dovey freak like the usual teenager.)🙄. I did read some, but those weren't my areas of interest. So, as a teenager, I read a lot of books that were totally opposing my belief system. I read books on crime and investigation, analytics, atheism, etc. I watched horror movies at night.🤦‍♀️ I would always ask myself questions of what the people entrapped would have done differently.
Believe me when I say I am one person that can have an unwavering mind. I got to find this out through my readings and thought processing afterward.

Anytime these things seemed to make sense, I always found myself asking questions that were deeper, and somehow I got answers. I sha know that instead of what I read to make me turn to an atheist, it makes me love Jesus some more, but it makes me ask and have to answer to questions that make Christians become a ridicule in our society and see how I can fix it for myself and in turn influence others to do the right thing.

I used to advise my seniors, so I was seen as smart, intelligent and all. And if I got into an argument with you, I will intelligently rubbish you, but you see that argument, I must win.

Fast forward to growing into a young lady in my mid twenties, I took a step back from always being in the spotlight, always asking questions (based on wanting people to know I know because somewhere at the back of my head i knew the answers directly or indirectly) , always having answers to peoples questions, etc. I stepped back to unlearn, listen and learn. I decided to process slowly and attentively.

Guess what?
It has helped me a whole lot to being the lady, people applaud me to be today. I know sometimes I overdo it, but I'm learning to share when I need to and be quiet when I need to.

I was never really always patient with people. I personally had to go through stages to make that part work. I was ever really not fully judgemental. It took a while to see things from the perspective of Jesus' instruction of loving people. I was never really always soft spoken and courteous. I always wanted to be, but I always got it wrong till I stepped back to observe.

The wisest man in the Bible Solomon also observed. Notice that he didn't go about asking questions to get knowledge. After God had granted him his request, he had the assignment of paying attention to get the understanding the normal man wouldn't because they were busy being busy. For instance, he observed the ants.

The whole world is telling you at this moment to "do, do, do" but you might just need to take a chill pill and observe instead. Observe others, observe systems, observe governments, observe brands, and most importantly, OBSERVE and DISCOVER YOU.

Many might not agree, but as usual, these are just MY THOUGHTS. It's not for everybody but a few.

Ala O. Wilcox.

James 1:19

#AlaWilcox #stepback #covid19 #season #wisdom #blog

PRESENT BUT ABSENT

In the heat of the night,
Through the coolness of the trees,
I heard the whispers of the wind,
Which amplified the sounds of the teaching on the street of Arochukwu.

"It is not wrong to correct a sister"
One of the words the wind sent to me
Everyone was solemnly quiet as she spoke
I guess it's bible classes
If it were Sunday I'll say Sunday school

They were divided into 8 groups
But these words caught me
The lady on red stood out amongst all 8 teachers

Guess what?
It was through the short barricaded fence
I saw how apt they listened
But then again I was distracted
Distracted by a guy who seemed absent
I don't know if he was hungry or disturbed
But I know he was there but wasn't there

So much we can see within a few seconds
Only if we look
Like really look

Guess what?
It wouldn't be his fault if he was rude to a lady after this class session
Why you may ask?
Because he was absent

Present but absent
That's one of the decadence eating our society today
If we can be presently present
We would learn to unlearn

It's just a 5 minutes walk
Hence my inability to say more.
But,
I was present in my presence
Hence the lesson from my walk.

What is your lesson?
Are you presently present or presently absent in this covid-19 season?
Think about it.

My Thoughts.
written on 06-02-20 but relevant for the season.
Ala O. Wilcox

#alawilcoxblog #present #absent #stayathome #covid19 

GOOSEBUMPS

It's funny how being cold doesn't necessarily make me have goosebumps. My mum is tired of asking me if I'm okay. You know why? Because when people are cold, I'm warm, when people are hot, my temperature is cold. When you don't expect my temperature to be high, it would be without me necessarily being sick. Whilst cold gets into people via their heads, I have to protect my legs and leave my body, and I'm good.😄 God is just wonderful with how He creates. 😊

When my late granddad sold his house and bought another, the new house was close to a big bush which used to be a forest. There was a cut tree in the compound, and it had soldier ants in them. We didn't notice this at first, but during the rainy season, the ants came. 

Chai God! They flooded the environment, the house, our doors, our windows, our bathrooms, etc., and goosebumps became my friend. Solomon in the bible wasn't wrong about ants in any way.I was even the first person to see a snake in that compound but it didn't give me goosebumps, but common soldier ants ‍🙆‍♀️ gave me. Nna! The thought of the army of soldier ants is even giving me goosebumps right now. 

Anyways, in the fear, I decided to face my fear and do a research on how I could get rid of soldier ants. I tried everything I saw that I could and eventually at some point they didn't give me goosebumps anymore. Soldier ants were a bye bye situation after a while, and as much as I still get goosebumps once in a while from a cluster of ants, I faced my fear and goosebumps just became a natural way of reminding me there was danger, but it didn't make me want to stay away from dealing with what was to be dealt with.

So what's your fear? What gives you goosebumps? Have you fought with it yet? You either choose to live with allowing your fear scare you or you choose to scare your fear away even in your fear.

My Thoughts.

Ala O. Wilcox

#goosebumps #alawilcoxblog #fightfear #covid19 

The SHIFT DRESS

I held myself somuch not to write about this, but I had to anyway.
On this very beautiful Saturday morning, as I prepared for the training I was to attend, I had lost interest in the pre planned cloth I was to wear and I was looking out for something that I would be relaxed in for the day, based on my mood. Alas! I saw this over five years short native gown I wear once in a while. That was my comfy outfit according to my mood and I just ironed and rocked it.

Enroute my destination, while I walked down the road, I realized the gown wasn't staying in position. It always shifted away from the regular line, thereby making the dress feel tighter than usual and it made it look hotter too and uncomfortable. I had to make an extra effort to hold a part of the dress firmly while I walked to reduce the rate at which it tightened.
As usual, many cars stopped to either say hello, or attempt to collect number or just slow down, smiled and zoomed off. I'm a very shy person, especially when toomuch attention is on me while walking but I managed through the long frequent walks at different stops.

Few weeks before that day, I wore an above the knee skirt (not necessarily short), and this same occurrence happened and I was wondering why that day. But this gown version brought my attention to my inner wear. One of the tights I bought recently while I was changing the old ones was a material that seemed slippery and of course elastic. The bottom line is that the surface was slippery therefore it affected the outer clothes I wore.
How didn't I take note of this earlier? I asked myself. It just got me thinking about how much we pay attention to the outside of a thing and not pay full attention to the inner. Forgetting the inner can distort the outer at some point.
It's just like painting a house that has damp issues, after a short while, the inner issue (dampness)will surface to the outside and reveal that there is a problem that has not been sorted out inwardly.

Ponder on, and pay attention to those things you know you need to change on the inside. It's not good enough to look all glam, orderly and perfect on the outside whilst your inside is wailing for a change or an adjustment to function better.
If you don't pay attention to what you wear under, your outer wear, though looks perfect now, will shift like the shift dress, and reveal there is something is wrong on the inside.
Nothing is truly hidden under the sun.
A word is enough for the wise.

My Thoughts.

Ala Wilcox.


#alawilcoxblog #shiftdress #innerwear #attention

The real Ala would never pick..

I woke up some days back feeling a little pissed. I was out of airtime and data and needed to respond to some prospective clients, and I had a deadline for something that was tied to finance but all my plans weren't just making headway.

After our family prayers my mum and sister saw my demeanor and started beckoning to me to be happy and not to worry. This was almost like rubbing salt on injury and I was almost infuriated, but then again, they know how to make me laugh even when I'm upset.😄
At some point, I said I wasn't angry, but I was just a little unsatisfied with the results I'm getting with the kind of work and sacrifice I put in. My dear, I saw myself recalling two or three incidents of why I think God should not let me go through some level of difficulties, then as I was speaking, I heard in my heart, "you are complaining, why not thank me for what you are expecting." My sister now crowned it by saying, 'a thousand years to us is like a second before God.' I just whispered, "Lord I am sorry." As I had my bath, I was intentionally putting words of Thanksgiving in my mouth as my mind was bringing facts to my mind step. It was more like for every fact, I thanked God for the positivity of the situation. As I left the house that day, I felt light.

As I prayed that night while everyone was sleeping, I was thanking God for doing mind blowing things because he does it amazingly, and pictures of testimonies of other people started flooding my mind and mine too. Then there was one that continues to amaze me anytime I remember it.

There was a particular day about 3 years ago, when my family and I had accommodation issues and I had absolutely nothing (no shishi or kobo) on me. It was almost like we had our last supper and were waiting for the day miracle would happen, because it was not like we had enough to eat that day. I personally had to form like I wasn't too hungry to allow mum and sis eat more, then after that meal, I said out loud, "God, You are there in heaven, na your hand I dey, show working o", then I took a shower and prepared to sleep.
I received a call from someone who stayed around where we were holding out and I reluctantly gave my number (I have known him as a person for years but was never close to him). The real Ala would never pick that call up because she has showered and it was to 10 pm but, I had a nudge to take it. We talked for a few minutes and he pleaded with me to come downstairs. I DRAGGED myself into wearing something and going downstairs. He first requested I picked up something to eat from the close by shop, and I said I wasn't hungry, but he insisted I take something at least a pack of juice and fresh bread. I can't even remember if I agreed to. As I mentioned that I needed to go up since it was already late, he put money in my hands. I said thank you and went upstairs, I counted N6,000. Guess what? N3,000 was needed for my sis' school, and I practically had nothing to give her, let alone what we could eat. God eventually made a way through a supposed stranger I never thought or imagined He would use.

This is to you out there who sometimes is likely thinking God has forgotten about you. HE HAS NOT AND HE NEVER WILL. LEARN TO TRUST GOD even when facts tell you otherwise.
2020 will be lit if you learn to trust Him, worship Him, Put Him first, listen and PRAY heartily/sincerely to Him.

Ala O. WILCOX

Before DISTRACTIONS

Remember when you read stories as a little child. There were images on almost every page and it made you imagine and bring the stories to life.

It was always amazing when I read or was told the story of the tortoise climbing down the rope from the food spot high in the sky.😄 The part my aunt who took care of me as a little child used to deceive me was the story of the tortoise not wanting people to ear, so he puts a lot of pepper in the buffet for the feast and tells the other animals not to do 'sssha' or drink water, cause anyone who did wouldn't eat anymore. But he always did what he told them not to do as a reminder, but in actual sense, he was doing it to relieve himself the hotness of the spice.

I loved noodles so much and didn't know how to eat. Eventually, that was the only meal you wouldn't force me to eat. My aunt also loved it, so she always put a lot of pepper and told me the story, and also deceitfully did what the tortoise used to do but me I'll be keeping up the pace without having water or doing 'sssha' till I managed to finish what was on my plate. That was how my love for pepper started.

When I was told these stories, I practically imagined them happening in my mind. It made them real, and it made me relate with the stories better. As a teenager who loved reading, same thing happened with all the books I read.

But I realized that having clear imaginations can be very difficult these days because we have so much noise. This brings me down to when I want to have a quiet time, it used to be smooth, but overtime, I realized that there were lots of distractions. I'm sure I'm not alone on this table.

Have you ever wanted to study your bible with your phone, and you need your data to access some information online, then notifications start beeping in? You ignore for a while then you don't even realise when you decide to read a message while you're still studying? Sometimes you're distracted mentally by your itinerary. 🤦‍♀️

I struggled with this a while, and I started asking The Holy Spirit to help me. Guess what? I was reminded of making mental images. I did as a child so why can't I now? Trust me, this has helped me a lot since I got this answer.

• Try reading and creating mental images of scriptures you read.
• Try singing and reminding yourself of past victories.
• Mental images are so powerful cause they make things we can't literally feel or see to become real.

I'm taking an instance of scriptures and worship, but it cuts across everything including your dreams.

If you can think it (see it in your mind), you can get it and you can become it.

Let's go back to when worship was without beeps of notifications. Let's go back to how it was before distractions.

My Thoughts.

Ala O. Wilcox.

#alawilcoxblog #beforedistractions #focus #mentalimages #life #solution

THE JOURNEY TO ACTUAL FORGIVENESS

Forgive: to stop feeling angry or resentful towards (someone) for an offence, flaw, or mistake; to no longer feel angry about or wish to punish (an offence, flaw, or mistake).

Since the last time I said I was going to post on my blog; I've been having a nudge to write on forgiveness and I've not been able to write about any other thing.
I've been holding back, because, you know me na, I don't have any form of shyness when it comes to revealing something about me that will teach another person to be and do better and I'm a shy person that is not shy.🤭

Soooooo, 2019 was my year to forgive. I call it that because a few persons I trusted hurt me so much that it was almost necessary to disgrace them.😄 It wasn't funny sha o.
So I process things a lot and I'm not a hasty decision maker, but when I make up my mind, forget it. Only God can fit....😉

Yes, I was hurt, but I knew the only way I could undo the hurt was to forgive. The question was then, "how do I forgive the way God would want me to?" Trust me, I have forgiven in the past, somuch that sometimes I forget how much they hurt me, but my mum would always keep me in check. And I'm grateful for that because forgiveness comes with knowing your place, worth and value with whow you have forgiven.

Anyways, this past year forgiveness was on another level. Betrayal 001, on every level. The tablet was extremely bitter to chew, but I knew I had to take it.
So, I decided to take on prayers for myself to let it go, because truth is, only God can help you let go of some things that hurt you.
I remember sleeping that night crying bitterly, asking God why good people are vulnerable to people who betray them because of their decision to trust.

My dear, as I woke up the next morning, I was heavy and I couldn't hold the tears, it took the best of me.😭😭😭😭 Guess what I heard strongly in my spirit? PRAY FOR THEM FOR 10DAYS. I was led to write some prayer points on my prayer journal that morning and it shocked me that they all had to do with blessing these individuals who hurt me and praying for their true salvation. Chai!!😢🙆‍♀️ Lord it's not fair this thing you're telling me to do o. I want to pray for myself rather, you are instructing me to pray for them, morning and night. Welldone sir.

I eventually embarked on that journey of prayer and everytime I did, I cried my heart out. But from the 4th day, I realized I wasn't as touchy as I used to be, and before the 10th day, I was all free. Peace unfathomable. I found out that when I came in contact with them, I just pitied them for their naivety. They feel guilty (I suppose), but they can't say. As for me, I have moved on with my life with peace. Till tomorrow they always have this defensive attitude when I'm around but me I just laugh.
A few persons that know the whole story always say to me, "Ala, i don't know how you do it", but I always tell them, it's not just Ala, it's the Holyspirit.

Have you been hurt so deeply and badly by the people you trust? Are you caught in the web of anger when you see/remember/hear some persons because of what they did to you? If you search deep down, and you realize that you are living in unforgiveness, you have to ask The Holyspirit to help you let it go.
I know this is for someone out here.

Forgive! Let it go! Forget! It's for your sanity.

BUT, forgiving and forgetting doesn't mean you shouldn't be wise enough to remember the place of the ones you have forgiven. 

As for the stories behind this write up, in due time, if I'm led to, I would share. I'm not promising though, but sha, forgive.😉

And if you've been hurt and you find it difficult to scale through, or you have a forgiveness story and you wouldn't mind sharing how you forgave, please share with me via alaowilcox@gmail.com.

▪︎ Ala O. Wilcox

#alawilcoxblog #thejourney #forgiveness #blog #peace #tranquility #forget