Christmas Countdown: Pentatonix Performs Amazing A Cappella Version of Little Drummer Boy

As we count down to Christmas, we will be sharing some of our favourite songs in the spirit of the season.

This video is about Pentatonix Performs Amazing A Cappella Version of Little Drummer Boy.

Pentatonix is an Acappella group of five vocalists, Scott Hoying, Kirstie Maldonado, Mitch Grassi, Avi Kaplan and Kevin Olusola, originating from Arlington, Texas. (Kevin Olusola is Nigerian and a beat boxer)

Enjoy....

Spread the Word

The whole essence of life as a human being is so fascinating that one can’t but look to the skies and bless God for His awesomeness. He is so awesome that He created each of us for a special purpose. As Christians however we have the unifying purpose to reach out to others and bring them into the fold.

Loving others is a form of worship to God. The world is so devoid of real love that when we show genuine love, it is viewed with scepticism. I watched a video on YouTube the other day and thought I should share.  A stranger picked the grocery bills of random customers in a departmental store and I could see from the video that those affected were first in disbelief and when it dawned on them that it was for real, they broke down in tears. It was such a joy to see the gratitude in their eyes. I could feel they were shocked at such act of kindness and in my mind I imagined if they were unbelievers and asked to accept Jesus as their Lord and their Saviour, they were not going to think twice before saying yes.

When Christians ask what offerings are used for, I get disappointed because it reflects a level of shallowness that I can’t wrap my head round. No great ministry runs on water. We are in this race not for us alone. As Christians, we need to be sensitive to the needs of others around us. The early church recognised the importance of this tool for evangelism and capitalised on that.

Happy Thanksgiving Day. What do you have to be thankful for?

It is a holiday in America today. I am not an American so I would not lay claim to actually know what it is all about. However, all I hear about Thanksgiving is being with family and carving/chomping on the Thanksgiving Turkey. And there is this unusual tradition of pardon granted to the White House's turkeys; a tradition started by ex President Ronald Reagan. President Obama announced the pardon of Popcorn and Caramel out of a host of 80 birds; more like The Hunger Games.

How To Love a Woman

Women are very sensitive beings. I remember telling my husband not to tell me ‘I love you’ like it was part of an everyday greeting. This is probably because I have my head in the books as to how I think romance should be in a relationship. Much as this might be a wrong approach to things, I know from experience that there is a place in the middle where reality and ‘books’ meet. See, I believe romance is a very important part of a relationship and should be paid close attention to. Every woman wants to be told she’s beautiful and above all feel needed.

We all would agree that love really does get so familiar that lovers get comfortable just role playing. I complimented a friend’s look the other day and she absent mindedly said she wished her husband would say that more often before she caught herself in mid-sentence. I sensed the longing in her for something that used to be. I know it is not like her husband doesn’t find her attractive anymore; he has just gotten so used to her that he has forgotten how she loves being told she is beautiful.

Is The World Ever Going To End?

My grandma is being covered with earth today. I wish I was there to pour sand on her. Come to think of it, I think I am going to tell my family members to allow my organs to be harvested if they are still going to be useful after my death. We are all not our bodies but souls after all. I have always known life is all vanity but dealing with her death just brings it nearer home for me. Oh! She lived a full life in case you are wondering; she was over a hundred years old. It’s just that no matter how long we spend here, the world outlives us all. 

I read history books a lot and I wonder what it was like to be in the world around 200BC.  I am sure if some of those alive then get a chance to take a look at the world again they would wonder how come the world still exists ‘cause atimes I feel like the world is on the verge of destroying itself that God had to come up with a genius idea like rapture us to preserve mankind.

 I was discussing with a friend about the life after and he was of the opinion that the world was never going to end. He said people will die and their souls will be judged individually, each one after his death but he doesn’t believe there will be a rapture of all souls and an end to the world as we know it now. He also argued that non Christians that are very moral and upright cannot be denied passage into heaven.

I am in support of the belief that each person’s rapture happens immediately after death with reference to the story of Lazarus and the rich man(Luke 16) but as to what would happen to non-christians,I told him what I have always known, that Jesus is the passage to heaven referencing John 3:16. The world is definitely going to end someday as contained in the book of revelations.  He wanted for me to step out of what the bible said and view it fairly using my human mind, I was almost tempted to. I wanted to believe what he believed but then the conviction that Jesus is Lord is deeper. 

There are many times I want to understand what God was thinking when particular things happen but the more I know, the more I still want to know.  Reason can’t be used to explain the things of the spirit. Like how it doesn’t make any human sense that God sent his only son to earth to be assaulted and killed for our sake or how we keep doing same damnable things over again but get forgiven and renewed .

I know there are many people out there that seek answers to questions such as the one asked by my friend. To you all, I want to say God will stop being God if he answers to us and explains to us why He is God. He is the one and only ruler and so unquestionable.

While this post might not help much in quieting your doubts, I hope it makes you want to reach out to any of your non-christian friends. They also deserve the promise we have in believing Jesus is the way.

Please Help! My husband has lost his job and I have never worked in my life

Sometimes couples go through tough times. Christians are not exempted from tough times. However our attitude to tough times determines the outcome in our lives.

What do you do when your husband has lost his job and you have never worked in your life?

My advice is this: Apart from encouraging and praying for your husband, find out what you can do with your hands.

I do believe that everyone is gifted to do something. Do not sit down and fold your arms saying that you can't do anything. There is always something to do.

Choosing That Special One

When I woke up this morning to type this post, I wanted to write on something entirely different but I decided to check some early morning blogs and I had a change of mind.

Yesterday’s post focused on the things that needed to be done just before one enters that lifelong contract with another and I feel more inclined to write along the same line. Seeing into the future is not a specialty most of us have, so choosing that person that we are going to be pledging our forever together with needs so much more than the physical.

It’s a crazy world out there so it is comforting for most people that meet their partners in church. I guess for those that do, it takes away the headache of having to deal with individual vices linked with not revering God. it also makes the  person feel to a large extent that he/she is compatible with the other person since being in Christ is naturally suppose to translate to having a character also like Christ’s.

However, it is not as easy even for those that meet or hope to meet their significant others in church. I’ll tell you why. I remember there was this very dedicated brother at my church and he was dating a sister to the knowledge of every member of the congregation. They did everything together. Long story short, He marked his territory so fiercely that every other male member of the church knew they had to keep off. I was surprised however when after a while he broke up with her and even changed churches. We learnt later he said they were not compatible. 

Wake Up!! Marriage is not a fairy tale. This is the real world.

A lot of people, even Christians, feel that you should live happily ever after without any quarrels and storms. They get baited into the Cinderella story where there is a Prince Charming that dotes on you every morning, afternoon and night. He wakes you up with a kiss everyday, brings you breakfast in bed and even sings to you while you are eating.

Wake Up!! Marriage is not a fairy tale. This is the real world.

As much as I would love to tell you that you will have a wonderful, quarrel-free marriage devoid of storms; I can't.

Don't be downcast. I am not a bearer of bad news. All I want to say is that marriage can be beautiful but it is hard work. Happiness, peace and tranquility depends on what you bring to the table.  You need to invest in making it a beautiful journey.

Why would you want to live together before getting married?

I am sure some people will wonder whether I am from the dark ages when I ask this question; "Why would you want to live together before getting married?" Today, this is a common pattern among people in the Western world.

It is even inferred from the movies nowadays that there is nothing wrong with a girl moving into a guy's place while they are dating or even thinking of getting married. Sometimes this act shows that they may be getting serious about marriage. Nowadays, instead of speaking of husbands, wives, and spouses, we hear about partners, companions, significant others, and meaningful relationships.

Recent research from 2011 by the Pew Research Center has found that the number of couples that cohabit before marriage has increased. 44% of adults (and more than half of 30- to 49-year-olds) say they have cohabited at some point. Nearly two-thirds of adults who ever cohabited (64%) say they thought about it as a step toward marriage. The report also notes a trend toward rising public acceptance of cohabiting couples over the years.

Music is divine (Bless the Lord)

I pretended like it was raining as the water from the shower formed tiny beads on my body. The weak fluorescent light going on and off made it seem like there was lightning helping my pretence. 

It is one of the times I love the most, being alone and listening to songs on my phone through an external speaker. There are times I even forget I have a terrible voice and sing along. This morning it was Tye Tribett’s Bless the Lord that was playing and like in a flash, I could feel my spirit leave the bathroom. 

My mind was in uniform with the sweet voices of the worshippers I was listening to. The sincerity in their praise was contagious and I couldn’t stop my heart from leaping. There was a special fullness that is unexplainable in that moment. The harmony of the voices and instrument stirred in me emotions I couldn’t explain. I felt tears welling up in my eyes. It’s amazing what music can do. I could feel peace from within; it’s a beautiful and complete feeling.

Living the Full Life (Women)

 Photo credit: healthdailys.com

My grandma lost her memory long before she died. She spent her last days trying to make sense of the world around her. I used to go to her room and hoped she appreciated my company. Most times, I was just going to sit beside her and we would both stare into space. How I enjoyed those times. In my mind, I suppose we enjoyed the sanity in the lack of awkwardness in the silence shared.

In her lucid times, she would share with me our family history or tell me the meaning of a saying that was popular among our ‘people’. I knew her strength was lost in the story that her wrinkled face told.

She passed away this year and her burial is in a few weeks and I really miss her. Forgive my show of emotions, I am going somewhere with this post, stay with me please. You know no matter how much time we spend on earth, it would never feel like we have lived long enough and even when we are in pain, our loved ones would still want us around no matter how selfish there reasons might be.

She spent her last days with those she loved and I can bet nothing could have felt better than that. 

As a Christian, I believe there is the life after but before then one has to live to the fullest while here. Living to the fullest is very objective; the things we prioritise differ from one person to the other. I really do wonder about the life after though, I even had a minor argument on what it meant with a friend and I think I might share with you in my next post.

Are you spoiling your child by giving him/her the "goodies" you didn't have while growing up?

I have a friend who grew up in a large family and did not have some of the luxuries of life while growing up. But he had an educated father who ensured all his children had decent education. Now my friend didn't have the luxury of travelling every year for summer or getting Christmas gifts. But he grew up in a happy family where there was so much love and warmth.

Well my friend relocated from Nigeria to Europe where he landed a good job and decided he would give his children all the things that he didn't have while growing up. He bought them the latest video games, the latest toys and many more. I guess he felt that was his way of showing them love; at least his children didn't have to be denied some of the things he was denied.

It was all rosy until the children decided that they too were entitled to the gifts, toys, video games and that life was all about getting and getting. Some of the children started giving less attention to education. The father had thought that putting them in these good european schools and giving them all the comforts of life would free them up to read their books.

Alas the children wanted all the free time to play games and more games. This also started affecting their attitude in school and at home.

Thank God For Closed Doors - TYLER PERRY

Tyler Perry

I am a fan of Tyler and his 'popular' Facebook posts have ministered to me at different times. This is one of my favourite posts of his and I thought to share. Be inspired.

When I wake up in the morning and see the sunrise as I’m running, I thank God for new mercies every day. As I was running this morning, I started thinking about this and you know how much I like to share my morning thoughts… LOL

I was out just thinking about my life and all the times that I wished that a door had opened. All the times I had promoters and people lie to me saying that they would help me... I remember wishing the bank would approve my loan request for a house or a car (usually one I couldn’t afford at the time). I wished that this person would help me or that person would do something to help my business, or this person would help my dreams come true.

As I look back now I’m so glad that none of those situations worked out. I’m so glad God closed those doors because they forced me to find the right path for me. If you’re in this situation and you feel like doors are closing all around you and you are frustrated, here’s something I’d like you to think about: Life can be like a living maze. You know what a maze is. In a maze, you start out at one end and your objective is to find your way to the finish line.

Many times you may make a turn and hit a dead end and you have to go another way. Just like life, that door closing on you sends you another way. It doesn’t mean it’s not going to happen, it just means you need to go another way. If you keep moving, eventually you will get to where you’re going.

Notes From Me to You (Oluwamayomikun mi)

My life has been one of great testimony. I mentioned in my last post that I was going to share with you my birth story. Below is a summarised version of how the journey went. I would love to read yours too.

Please use the comment box when you are done reading.

Thanks.

In the last few days that you were inside me, our connection became more intense. I told you all of the fears I masked with smiles. I was both happy and scared; I wondered what you would look like and I prayed about both serious and mundane things. 

My vain self sent a note out to my sisters about how I wanted you to look; I wrote in details my naive vain wishes. I wanted you to have eyes like mine; dreamy and wide. I asked the Lord for your daddy’s lips. I can’t explain to your innocent self but those lips played a large part in making you *mischievous grin*.

My complexion would have been nice on you though, but yours would have looked better ‘cause I was so faithful to my vitamins (God knows I even stayed faithful to taking a gallon of water per day). I told myself you would come out with skin looking bright and beautiful like the sun. I asked myself a million times over if my strength was enough to rely on to bring you forth. I played with different scenarios on how your entry into the world would be. You stirred inside me sometimes in reply to some of my thoughts; I guessed it was your way of telling me ‘You got this mum’.

What do you do to help a friend struggling in his/her marriage?

What do you do when you see your friend, colleague struggling in her marriage? What do you do as a christian to help this friend so that you are not seen as either making it worse or delivering the wrong counsel?

I have been in this situation a couple of times; i mean, trying to help a friend. Some marriages were saved but some were not. But I have not been deterred in helping when called upon.

I would like to advise that you must realise that you are NOT mini-Jesus and every friend must take your advice or counsel. Even Jesus dying on the cross has not saved everyone that has heard the Gospel.

Here are some of the things you can do to help that friend that is struggling with marital issues.

Live, Love, Give love...unconditionally

We all are in the pursuit for relevance which translates into happiness for most of us. We strive for happiness in different ways and most times we become slaves to the wrong things because we have lost vision of what the true race is about. Life holds more meaning when we are able to realise the whys and hows.

The past month taught me so much; I have been humbled by the goodness and selflessness of those around me. I learnt life’s ultimate lesson of loving oneself and appreciating interdependence. I have come to the conclusion that the race for relevance is overrated and the key to true happiness lies in being able to open one’s heart to others; Being able to love unconditionally.

A month ago, I birthed another, it still feels surreal and I can never say enough about how much this process has affected who I am positively. I see things in a different light (now, I feel like telling you about the whole motherhood experience but I am going to save that for another day)

Like life wants her lessons to sink in, I meet so many beautiful people that give themselves selflessly to others and have made me reflect on my own inadequacies but above all they have me deeply thinking about the true essence of life.

All of a sudden I feel an awakening like I don’t want to die with all manners of ‘I wish’. I want to live a life impacting other lives. I want to be able to give back through being able to love ‘because I think that is how to be truly free. Life’s too short to waste a day and when that day comes when I breathe my last, I want to be able to say ‘I was here’.

Have you seen Unconditional - the movie? (you should see it) It’s a true life story about a man who grew up in the hood with all the odds that comes with living in the hood but decided to impact the kids in the hood positively by showing them love they never knew existed. I understand we all can't be Chuck Feeney (you should read his story when you can) but in us, lies the tool through which the world around us can be changed.