When Shoes Don’t Fit

There are certain situations I have passed through where I found myself asking questions like “God, why me?” and “God, why did you let this happen?” The most frustrating part was I did not need to look far to see someone who had what I desired, making me feel that God was being unfair to me. Quite recently I have learnt to stop wallowing in self-pity after I had the experience with shoes.

How?

My 20-month old daughter loves shoes. Of interest to her are my shoes, or anything with heels. One day, my daughter wore my shoes and tried to walk. It was not an easy journey for her. She could not walk at her normal pace, nor could she do the things she would ordinarily have done with her shoes on. My shoes appeared more appealing, and indeed they were very comfortable for me, but when she wore them, it was so clear that it was not meant for her.

Then it dawned on me.

Many a times, we may find ourselves in a situation where we lament and complain, and wish our situation was like someone else’s. Not knowing that if, perhaps, we find ourselves in the true picture of what they are going through, we may not be able to cope.

You may think your situation is the worst until you actually know what the “other” person is going through. But really, you don’t need to know.

This post is just a call to gratitude. To say “Thank You” to God, who in His grace, mercy, and sovereignty, has allowed you to be in the shoes you are in. Maybe it could have been worse. Maybe you would have struggled if you were in the shoes of that person whose shoes you wish to be in. With God, no situation is hopeless. With Him, things can only get better.

Thanks be to God who will not give us more than we can bear, who is always with us, and knows how to make every situation work together for our good. He is faithful and more than able to turn around anyone’s “captivity”. The when and how all depends on Him. That is why we need to trust and have faith in Him.

Have a blessed and fruitful week ahead. It is well with you and yours.

On A Path To Healing

It has been a while since I came here, that I almost forgot what to do with blogger. I am currently picking myself up from the floor of spiritual emptiness and emotional pain. And I am on a path to "healing", some details I will share below.

Let me start with a story.

The work day was over so I set my laptop to hibernate. The moment I had clicked on that option, I shut the laptop and put it in my laptop bag. My colleague asked why I did that.

"Why didn't you wait for the laptop to hibernate completely before putting it in your bag?" she asked.

This was a long time habit which I had started when I was always "rushing" to meet Mr. Rita at the end of a work day. But from experience, the laptop always hibernated after I had sent the command.

"There was no need to wait," I replied, "once the command has been sent, the laptop has to respond. It has always hibernated."

As I carried my laptop and walked away, I realized that so is the word that comes from the Lord. When He speaks, He does not have to worry about whether or not it will happen as He has spoken. Once He sends it out, it always produces results. It always accomplishes what He wants to do. Not only that, it always prospers everywhere He sends it to.

Yes, whatever it is God has spoken concerning you, rest assured that it will come to pass. His word always produces results and all the time, the results exceeds our expectations. So to anyone who is still holding on to a promise of God, do not grow weary. As He has spoken so shall it be. In Jesus Name, Amen.

On the personal side, I am trying to recover emotionally from two consecutive pregnancy losses. It has been a very painful period (I did not know I would hurt emotionally so much, even after knowing how awesome my God is). Family, writing, work and personal projects were affected in different degrees. I tried to distance myself from God, because I kept asking myself why He allowed me go through such emotional pain. But understanding that God is ever-loving and ever-faithful, I cannot run from Him nor can I give room to think He does not have my best interest at heart. I know, that as always, I will still have testimonies.

So while I am trying to find myself back on the path to spiritual and emotional healing, I just list a few things I am thankful for:-

1. For life:- I know there is still hope, and I still have an opportunity to fulfill my God-given dreams.

2. For Family:- The amazing love and support of Mr. Rita all through this, and the sensitivity of my 19 month old princess, have been sources of strenght for me. 

3. For Family (again): - My mom and my sisters have been very encouraging. My mom has not failed to share encouraging words with me on a weekly basis.

4. For friends:- I have amazing prayer partners, and amazing friends who make it feel as though I am sharing the "burden" with so many people that I have nothing to carry.

5. For favor and grace:- I have seen grace and favor in different areas of my life. These are gentle reminders that God is still there even if I was still wondering. I cannot list all of these instances.

Wishing you a blessed weekend. Thanks to all of you who checked up on me. God remains faithful.

The Pine Wood Derby

I read this story this morning, and it touched a special place in my heart. I just decided to share here...

My son Gilbert was eight years old and had been in Cub Scouts only a short time. During one of his meetings he was handed a sheet of paper, a block of wood and four tires and told to return home and give all to "dad."

That was not an easy task for Gilbert to do. See, I'm the only one really raising Gilbert. His dad was not receptive to doing things with his son. But Gilbert tried. Dad read the paper and scoffed at the idea of making a pine wood derby car with his young, eager son. The block of wood remained untouched as the weeks passed.

Finally, I stepped in to see if I could figure this all out. The project began. Having no carpentry skills, I decided it would be best if I simply read the directions and let Gilbert do the work. And he did. I read aloud the measurements and the rules of what we could and couldn't do.

Within days his block of wood was turning into a pinewood derby car. A little lopsided, but looking great (at least through my eyes).

Gilbert had not seen any of the other kids cars and was feeling pretty proud of his "Blue Lightning," the pride that comes with knowing you did something on your own.

Then the big night came. With his blue pinewood derby in his hand and pride in his heart we headed to the big race. Once there my little one's pride turned to humility. Gilbert's car was obviously the only car made entirely on his own. All the other cars were a father-son partnership, with cool paint jobs and sleek body styles made for speed. A few of the boys giggled as they looked at Gilbert's, lopsided, wobbly, unattractive vehicle. To add to the humility Gilbert was the only boy without a man at his side. A couple of the boys who were from single parent homes at least had an uncle or grandfather by their side. Gilbert had "mom."

As the race began it was done in elimination fashion. You kept racing as long as you were the winner. One by one the cars raced down the finely sanded ramp. Finally it was between Gilbert and the sleekest, fastest looking car there. As the last race was about to begin, my wide-eyed, shy eight year old ask if they could stop the race for a minute, because he wanted to pray.

The race stopped. Gilbert hit his knees clutching his funny looking block of wood between his hands. With a wrinkled brow he set to converse with his Father. He prayed in earnest for a very long minute and a half. Then he stood, smile on his face and announced, "Okay, I am ready."

As the crowd cheered, a boy named Tommy stood with his father as their car sped down the ramp. Gilbert stood with his Father within his heart and watched his block of wood wobble down the ramp with surprisingly great speed and rushed over the finish line a fraction of a second before Tommy's car.
Gilbert leaped into the air with a loud "Thank you" as the crowd roared in approval. The Scout Master came up to Gilbert with microphone in hand and asked the obvious question, "So you prayed to win, huh, Gilbert?"

To which my young son answered, "Oh, no sir. That wouldn't be fair to ask God to help you beat someone else. I just asked Him to make it so I don't cry when I lose."

Children seem to have a wisdom far beyond us. Gilbert didn't ask God to win the race. He didn't ask God to fix the outcome. Gilbert asked God to give him strength in the outcome. When Gilbert first saw the other cars, he didn't cry out to God, "No fair, they had a father's help." No, he went to his Father for strength.

Perhaps we spend too much of our prayer time asking God to rig the race, to make us number one, or too much time asking God to remove us from the struggle, when we should be seeking God's strength to get through the struggle.

"I can do everything through Him who gives me strength." Philippians 4:13
Gilbert's simple prayer spoke volumes to those present that night. He never doubted that God would indeed answer his request. He didn't pray to win, thus hurt someone else, he prayed that God supply the grace to lose with dignity.

Gilbert, by his stopping the race to speak to his Father also showed the crowd that he wasn't there without a "dad," but his Father was most definitely there with him. Yes, Gilbert walked away a winner that night, with his Father at his side.

(Taken from Laugh and Lift for July 23, 2012. For more Christian Inspirational articles and clean humor, visit Laugh & Lift at http://www.laughandlift.com).

Remain Blessed.

What Inspired My Novel "Against The Perfect Will"

As I lay on the bed that day, shivering and feeling my body parts get numb in stages, I could not help but think about my life and how it seemed it was coming to an end prematurely. So my life would soon end, I wondered. What will I explain to my maker? That I mistakenly took an overdose of expired Ampiclox and that was why my life was cut short? A mistake? Pathetic!

My mother and siblings surrounded me, trying to understand what I was going through. How could I explain this strange thing happening to me? My legs were numb now and lifeless. The numbness had started getting to my arms and back. I know the moment it gets to my ribs and heart, I would be gone. My family was hoping I could endure until morning (only 3 hours away but it seemed like a year away) so that they could take me to the hospital. I was quite pessimistic. I started talking about my preferences for a burial.

As I closed my eyes and awaited the next stage of the numbness that should finally affect my ribs and heart, I had a discussion with my maker.

"So you mean that I can die just before I defend my final year project? All my hardwork, sleepless nights, 6 years in school and I will not see the logical conclusion?" I asked Him.

"If someone makes the wrong decision, no matter how small it may seem, it can affect his or her whole life forever, in some cases even cutting short his/her life," He replied.

"Hmmm, I wish people knew about this."

"Yes they will know about it. You will tell them." His words were firm.

"Me? That is if I get to heaven when this Ampiclox overdose thing finishes me," I replied.

(As I look back, I can imagine that He must have laughed with my statement)

"Go and drink water, my daughter," He instructed me.

"Water?"

"Yes, water and lots of it!"

It was not as though there was any other thing to do. I could lay on that bed moaning and awaiting death. Or I could drink water and see what happens.

“Water”, I muttered. “Big bottle of water!”

One of my sisters hurried to get me water. I finished 1.5litres in no time and continued laying on the bed. The numbness continued and affected my ribs then stopped. I remained on the bed waiting for the next wave of numbness that would numb my heart.

Suddenly, I felt a strong urge to urinate (of course). My siblings took me to the toilet. When I urinated (a very long urination for that matter), the whole house was filled with a strong smell of Ampiclox. When I got back to the bed to lay down, I realized that the numbness had left my ribs. Slowly, the numbness started leaving my body (in the reverse order in which it came). By morning, my whole body was back to normal. No one would have imagined what we passed through that night.

So, while waiting to defend my undergraduate project, I began to write the story “Against The Perfect Will”. Today, 10 years later, it has been published to the glory of God. In order not to make this a long post, I will save the synopsis for a later time (maybe just before the book launch). But please join me in thanking God for His inspirations, for the privilege of using me to send a message, and for making everything beautiful in its own time.

Against The Perfect Will is on ground in preparation for the book launch (date to be confirmed). But you can get a copy from the following links:

AMAZON (US)

AMAZON (UK)

BARNES & NOBLE

Word Association Publishers

Please feel free to visit EROInspirations facebook page and like it to be updated with the plans and progress of "Against The Perfect Will", to read and receive inspirational articles from EROInspirations, and to receive encouraging quotes and messages from the Word of God.

Remain blessed.

(PS: If you are in Nigeria and interested in getting a hardcopy of the book, please send me an email at esurunma@gmail.com and we can get talking...).

You Are Blessed

Wonderful Heavenly Father, Awesome God, The Author and Finisher, The Perfecter and Completer, You who does things beyond our expectation, even at your own perfect timing, words are not enough to describe you. As we draw closer to the end of this year, I am convinced, oh Lord, that 3 months is not too long for you to turn things around in the life of the person reading this. You do miracles every day and You can do miracles in this person’s life. Oh my Jehovah Suddenly, how I love and adore You. This 2009 is not over yet. Thank you that this year will be filled with testimonies for the person reading this. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Beloved, today we will not be having a question on the Infant Step Series, questions will continue next week. I want to share with you something about being blessed.


A challenge or trial in life does not necessarily mean you are out of the will of God. If you find yourself in such a situation, you may ask yourself “what have I done to deserve this? Has God stopped loving me?” The deceiver does not help matters because he will place before you several reasons why you may be going through the challenging phase. The greatest lie of them is when you are made to believe that there could be a curse, based on what you did, or a curse from someone related to you.

Beloved, I want you to understand that as a child of God, operating under the covenant [Genesis 15:1-18], you cannot be cursed because Whom God has Blessed is Blessed and no one can curse such a one [Numbers 22-24].

Remember the covenant between God and Abraham. As a spiritual descendant of Abraham, you are part of this covenant because when God started out with Abraham, He said, “…I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you…” [Genesis 12:2-3]. You are blessed automatically and hence you cannot be cursed.

Now when people take an oath, they call on someone greater than themselves to hold them to it. And without any question that oath is binding. God also bound himself with an oath, so that those who received the promise could be perfectly sure that He would never change His mind. So God has given both His promise and His oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, you who have fled to Him for refuge can have great confidence as you hold to the hope that lies before you. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for your soul. It leads you through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary. Jesus has already gone in there for you. He has become your eternal High Priest in the order of Melchizedek. [Hebrews 6:16-20 paraphrased].

So as I wish you a blessed week ahead, be conscious of the fact that you are indeed blessed, you cannot be cursed, and you can hope in God for it is impossible for God to lie. As a child of God, victory is assured for you. Nothing can separate you from the love of God. Remain blessed.



Do you desire the blessing and assurance that you cannot be cursed, yet you are not born-again? It is not too late to give your life to Christ. Simply confess your sins to God, ask for forgiveness, acknowledge His son Jesus Christ that he died for your sins, and he is alive. Invite Jesus to become your Lord and Saviour, and for the Holy Spirit to help you obey God. Look for a church founded on the word of God to attend, and continue to grow in the word. The Blessing will be upon you and victory over every situation will be guaranteed.

Dare to Dream

Tonight I dream
Tonight I dig
And go through things
Buried under disappointment
Shut behind doors of hopelessness;

Tonight I resurrect
Dreams lost because none could understand them
Hopes abandoned because of lack of self-belief
Faith grinded because they said it could not be;

Tonight
I dare to dream
Those dreams left behind years ago
I dare to dream, once again.

The Inspiration
As he listened to the testimonies in church, he clapped the loudest and nodded the most frequently. Yet he said, “God, I am happy for what you are doing in the lives of these people. I wish my case was like theirs. Mine is a hopeless situation. It has deteriorated beyond your power. I cannot even hope for a miracle…”

Sarah laughed within herself when she was told she would have a child. It was not a laugh of excitement or joy. It was a mocking laugh. She probably said, “My case is a hopeless situation. I cannot imagine it. God, let’s not go there. Talk about something else more realistic. For me, it is finished.”

God simply responded, “Is there anything to hard for the Lord?” [1]

You think your situation is hopeless. You think it is finished. Age and time only makes matters worse. You have dreamt too often but it ended up shattered and not realized. You are at the point where you are tired of hoping and dreaming.

You may have made several attempts. Yet you met disappointments. Maybe doors shut at your face. Each one leaving cracks in your heart.

It is time to dream and hope again. It is time to ignite your faith. Because there is nothing too hard for God. He says that we shall dream dreams [2]. And if He puts a dream in our heart, there must be something to make it come to pass.

And it shall come to pass that the LORD shall give you rest from your sorrow and from your fear and from the bondage you have been serving [3]. He will restore to you all the years taken from you that men may know He is the LORD your God, and His people shall never be ashamed [4].

He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that you ask or think [5].

Dare to dream…again…

Have a blessed weekend ahead.

Bible References
[1] Genesis 18: 12-14
[2] Joel 2:28
[3] Isaiah 14: 3
[4] Joel 2: 25-27
[5] Ephesians 3:20

Unfinished Business

The words of my mouth

May the words of my mouth
Be acceptable to you, Oh lord
May they be spoken in due season
May they be as honeycomb
May they make the heart of man glad
May they be gracious
May they be
Of You.

The Inspiration
“Please remain seated while we make this announcement,” came the bellow from the Virgin Nigeria PA system. Nkeiru shifted uncomfortable on her seat. This was the third time they had made an announcement. Each time the announcement was made, they talked about a delay. She had an appointment she did not want to miss. “Why the delay?” She asked herself.
“The Flight VK--- from Lagos to Abuja has been delayed for an hour…”
She did not wait to hear the rest of the announcement. She picked up her bags and marched straight to the lady that had made the announcement. After 5 minutes of venting her frustrations on the lady, Nkeiru stormed off with curses at the tip of her lips. She was not relieved though because she was not going to make the appointment. She was guilty that she had left an innocent lady almost in tears.

As she walked out of the airport to get something to eat, she saw an old friend of hers.
“Alice! Long time no see!” Nkeiru squealed in delight as she embraced her friend.
“Yes, Nkeiru. It’s been more than five years.”
Alice excused herself from the person she was standing with. They shared some minutes catching up on old times.
“Why don’t you introduce me to your father?” Nkeiru asked blatantly. “I have not met him before.”
“That’s not my father, gal. That’s my sugar daddy.”
“What are you doing with a sugar daddy? Don’t you have a Father?”
“He is taking care of me at the moment in ways Daddy can’t!”
“Don’t you want to be available for a young man?”
“These young men of nowadays. There is no good guy out there. Nky, you know. Is it not two of us that got heart broken in year 3?”
“I had two more heart breaks after that, but that does not change the fact that there are good guys out there. We probably had some things to learn out of the heart break, such as there is someone who loves you and will never break your heart. There is some one whose love is unconditional...."

"Spare Me!"

"... You don’t have to sleep with Him to get money from Him. He is not going to beat you blue-black when you did not speak to Him. He is not going to make you feel you are nothing more than an instrument to satisfy a man’s need. He simply loves you for who you are! I know you had it rough with that relationship…”
“…relationships…” Alice quickly corrected her
“…but you won’t find that good guy when you are in the house of your sugar daddy. That man holds no promises for you. He is simply a distraction from your purpose and destiny! And guess what, Alice? I have been there before. I have seen what is best and I want you to experience it too.”

Alice was thoughtful for a while.
“I really don’t like you now,” Alice confessed, “because you are not supporting me. All my other friends have encouraged me in this relationship and have even suggested ways that I could extort money from the man. But I know you are saying the truth. I really want more but I just remain in the relationship because I have no other option.”
“Why don’t we have lunch together and talk about the relationship that really matters? The relationship with Jesus. My flight has been delayed for another one hour!”

That was some years ago. Today, Alice is a woman living in the fullness of what God has stored up for her. Thank God for the delay in Nkeiru’s flight.

Have you ever found yourself asking “Why the delay?” If you do, then know it is time to ask, “Lord, what can I do in the mean time? What can I learn in the mean time? How can I improve as I prepare for what I desire?” Surely, what He has promised you will come to fruition [Psalms 85:9; Proverbs 23:18; Isaiah 14:24; Habakkuk 2:3; Romans 4:21]. You will be surprised that when you look back, you will appreciate what you called a delay, for He has made everything beautiful in its time [Ecclesiastics 3:11]. Make the best out of the waiting period. Don’t leave without finishing what you were really supposed to do.

Your Awesome Love - Lyrics for the Song

Your Awesome Love
Come’ from above
Inside my whole
You make your home
Amazing Love
Anew each morn
Keeps me going on
Leaving no void

Your Awesome Love (There is nothing like it)
Come’ from above (Can’t do without it)
Inside my whole (There you inhabit)
You make your home (And show me what love is)
Amazing Love (That’s what I’m feeling)
Anew each morn (That’s why I’m singing)
Keeps me going on (That’s why I’m living)
Leaving no void (That’s why I’m complete)

It comes from Jesus, Jesus, Sweet Jesus
It’s because of Jesus, Jesus, Sweet Jesus

I call your name (You’re right beside me)
I seek your face (You’re right before me)
I face each day (You’re right behind me)
With Your Amazing Grace (You’re all I really need)
And in the dark (I fear no evil)
Light floods my path (Enough for the next inch)
Joy fills my heart (Filled with thanksgiving)
New songs I have (Of fresh testimonies)

It comes from Jesus, Jesus, Sweet Jesus
It’s because of Jesus, Jesus, Sweet Jesus

Your Awesome Love (There is nothing like it)
Come’ from above (Can’t do without it)
Inside my whole (There you inhabit)
You make your home (And show me what love is)
Amazing Love (That’s what I’m feeling)
Anew each morn (That’s why I’m singing)
Keeps me going on (That’s why I’m living)
Leaving no void (That’s why I’m complete)

Your Awesome Love (There is nothing like it)
Come’ from above (Can’t do without it)
Inside my whole (There you inhabit)
You make your home (And show me what love is)
Eternal Love (There is no one like You)
You’re all I want (Cant do without You)
I Love you Lord (None loves me like you do)
Forever more (That’s why love you)

Sing last verse till fade…

The Inspiration
I was on an early morning flight. No book to read, no music to listen to, forgot the words I should be meditating on (don’t blame me too much. I thought I had understood it when I rushed through it that early morning. It had to do with freshness and I remember the bible passage was in Romans. I must have been thinking of other things as usual. So much for understanding). As the plane began to take off, HE said, “I’m taking you to a new level (in your life), higher than you can imagine.” And I replied (imagining that the new level was in the air), “Well, let me get some sleep. Wake me up when we get there!”

As I laid back and closed my eyes, I started humming a tune. I tried to remember which song I was singing but I hadn’t heard it before. I tried putting words to it but all I could sing was “Amazing Love”. HE urged me to write it even if it was two words but I wanted to sleep so I told HIM to leave me to rest. Then HE reminded me that by the time I sleep, wake up, get to work, think about all the things HE won’t have me thinking, I would have forgotten there was a tune not to mention words. Since I feel bad when I forget an inspiration I opened my eyes and started writing in my pocket jotter. And voila! We have the lyrics for “Your Awesome Love”. These lyrics are for the next No 1 Hit.

I have had inspirations for several songs in both my life as a sinner and a believer. If not that I now believe that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, and I am what HE says I am, I would have said that I can’t sing. When I told him “Lord, you know I don’t sing, why give me a song?” HE replied, “One of your callings is to write so write what I tell you to write. It does not have to come in the ways you are familiar with.” Then HE reminded me of Moses who stammered and Aaron who assisted him. HE said to me, "Just do what I say you should do. I have given you all it takes to do it. Where I know you will need help, I will send help to you."

Message for YOU Today…
Forget your limitations today and focus on your strengths. HE wants you to use what HE has given you to glorify HIM. Do what HE wants you to do. Do not fear to ask for help where you are not strong. And believe me, when you do what HE says you should do with what HE has given you, HE will help you in those areas where you think you lack.

Have a blessed day.