Let Purpose Define You, Not People

Source: Google 

He left there and returned to his hometown. His disciples came along. On the Sabbath, he gave a lecture in the meeting place. He made a real hit, impressing everyone. “We had no idea he was this good!” they said. “How did he get so wise all of a sudden, get such ability?” But in the next breath they were cutting him down: “He’s just a carpenter—Mary’s boy. We’ve known him since he was a kid. We know his brothers, James, Justus, Jude, and Simon, and his sisters. Who does he think he is?” They tripped over what little they knew about him and fell, sprawling. And they never got any further. Jesus told them, “A prophet has little honor in his hometown, among his relatives, on the streets he played in as a child.” Jesus wasn’t able to do much of anything there—he laid hands on a few sick people and healed them, that’s all. He couldn’t get over their stubbornness. He left and made a circuit of the other villages, teaching. Mark 6:1-6 MSG

Don't be surprised, just because you've made some changes and have become a better person doesn't mean that other people will get it or be able to relate with the new you. There are people that can only relate with you based on your hometown, your past, your mistakes, your profession, your titles, your income, your material possessions, etc.

When Jesus visited his hometown, his childhood friends and family knew that there was something unique about him but they couldn't not receive from him; they couldn't get over the fact that he was "just" a carpenter (his profession) or that he grew up in the same neighborhood as them (his hometown).

Personally, I have discovered this in my own life. Some people will always see me as little Bunmi; you know the people that say "I used to change your diaper when you were a baby" or "I remember when you were this tall" (lifting their hands a few inches from the ground) . There are people that see me as their friend that they used to go clubbing with; or the outwardly quiet girl that they grew up with. However, I am none of the above.

I have friends and family in the city where I pastor, yet many of them have not visited our church. Note to upcoming ministers, this is normal don't be offended. I have come to realize that some people will find it difficult to relate to me as a pastor; but I have learnt to not allow that to get to me. There are people that God has sent me to and they've been able to relate to me accordingly. I also thank God that my husband's and I's immediate families have been supportive, because this isn't always the case.

I also remember when I started this blog, I was so excited to finally have summed up the courage to start. Yet my excitement was short-lived when I discovered that I was not getting as much support from family and friends as expected. But, I couldn't stay there; I had to obey God and focus on the purpose of this blog.

You must come to a place where you walk in the awareness and consciousness of who you; or else, you will allow people, places and situations to define you. It is the creator or manufacturer of something that truly knows the purpose for which that thing was created. You are who God says you are, the purpose for which you were created is your identity.

I am fortunate to be married to both my companion and my pastor. I had to learn how to relate with him on those levels separately. If I just see him as my companion, I won't be able to receive from him as my pastor. This is something that I observed and learnt (I am still learning) from my mentor.

One thing that captivated me about my spiritual parents/mentors is that they knew about my past, yet they refused to define me by it. When I first sat down to speak with them, they addressed me in line with my purpose. They saw me the way God saw me, even though I was and still am a work in progress.

You may be having issues with people accepting the new you or accepting you for who you truly are, but don't be discouraged. You see, people that are not spiritually sensitive can not see you for who you are. Also refuse to be that person, the person that relates to people based on their mistakes or their shortcomings. Choose to love people, when you truly love people, you will see them through God's eyes; you will be patient with them, you will love them thorough their highs and lows and cheer them on along the way (Married folks and ministers, this is especially a word for you).

Surround yourself with people that see you as God does; people that encourage you. Remember it is not everyone that will see you for who you truly are, but never allow that to stop you from being YOU! Keep at it, remained focused on purpose and in no time the world will celebrate you for who you truly are!



You are blessed!



- Bunmi


Wait before you go:

1. If you have not received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, life won't make any sense, it will be cold and empty. You deserve more! Take a few minutes and click on the 'Come to Jesus' tab at the top of the page and be saved!

2. Please leave a comment below, I'd love to hear from you!

3. You can subscribe to this blog and receive email updates once a new post is published by entering your email address in the 'Follow by email' section located on the right of this post.

4. You can share this post or previous posts by clicking on the respective social media icon on the right.

5. Follow me on twitter @BunmiAdebiyi_

6. Like my page on facebook: Bunmi Adebiyi

7. Follow me on Instagram: destinationdestiny_mlmt

Wedding Day: Not Easily Broken

Source: Google

Hello!

Welcome back to all my faithful readers!

And a special welcome to all those who are new here. Welcome to Destination Destiny...A space where I share my life and testimonies.

Today I am continuing my testimony on how I met my husband and our journey to 'I DO'. To play catch up, please read precious posts by clicking the 'How I Met My Husband' label to the right of this post.

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In my last post I spoke about my challenges with adjusting to my new role as a Pastor and a Pastor's wife. While that was going on, another role was on the horizon. A role that I've prayed for over and over and over again. It was finally happening!!! I was about to become someone's WIFE!!! Now that it was finally happening, I assumed that it would be smooth sailing onward...however, there were a few more hurdles to overcome.

Unfortunately, the excitement that I always envisioned would accompany this moment was minimal. Planning my wedding was so stressful! I thought that I could brave the storm and plan it by myself, but alas I surrendered about three months to my wedding day. I was exhausted and overwhelmed from arguing with my parents about what I wanted at MY wedding!!! It was also very difficult planning a wedding in another city with our hectic schedules. I was on the verge of eloping and forgetting about the ceremonies...I couldn't be bothered.

I am the first born of my family AKA the guinea pig for new endeavors. So everyone had to chip in their two cents...from my wedding colors, to the food, venues, MC, DJ, live band, etc. Everyone had a "better" option than me. In their eyes, I was a little brat that wanted to have things her way. I later discovered that a typical Nigerian wedding isn't primarily about the couple but their parents and other overbearing family members.

I got tired of fighting and crying so I decided to reach out to a wedding planner. Thank God for her, she was my life saver. I can't quite remember how we met, I believe my husband reached out to her; she is a member of our church. She took over and did an amazing job for a small fee. God took control and we kept experiencing favor left-right-and-center. We basically did not pay full price for anything. People would randomly send us money to help out towards the wedding also, God amazed us!

But the devil was not happy with our impending union; he was really on a mission. And he attacked areas that mattered most to me.

At a time there was tension between my husband's family and my family. It really got to me because I always prayed for peace between both families. The tension extend beyond the wedding day and it wasn't pretty (thankfully it is all history now! yay!)

A month before our wedding, our pastors were involved in a house fire. They were still recovering during our wedding time. Hence, they couldn't marry us (officiate the wedding ceremony). I was devastated. I used to always daydream about them marrying us and how much of an honor it would be. They mean a lot to me and it hurt me that they couldn't be there.

To add fuel to the fire, I found out about a week before my wedding that my dad would not be able to make it. That day, I had just come back from getting some grilled fish from one of my favorite fast food restaurants (TFC). My mom called me to the living room, she and my sisters sat before me looking sober, I should have known that something was up.

When my mom gave me the news, I literally ran out of the room and started crying. I ran to my grandma's room while yelling my brother's name. I told my mom that the wedding was cancelled while she responded "God forbid!" Needless to say, I lost my appetite and cried myself to sleep. For the next few days, I barely uttered a word. And I wore sunglasses to conceal my tears when I was out of the house. I was inconsolable.

How could I get married without my dad being there?!?! I am a daddy's girl at heart; my heart shattered into a million pieces. It was painful to know that my dad was alive but wouldn't be able to witness the wedding of his first child. He wouldn't be there to walk me down the aisle, to tell me how beautiful I looked, to pray for me...nope, there was no father and daughter dance neither. I was devastated and angry at the world.

The days leading to my wedding were beyond stressful; things seemed to go from bad to worse. Family members deserted us (my mom, siblings and I) and we had to take taxis everywhere to sort out the finishing touches. Vendors were stalking us for their payments, we didn't have a house to move into after the wedding (God should up a few days before the wedding and we found a place!), there were no honeymoon plans, this list goes on.

Our traditional wedding was on a Thursday, two days before the white wedding. It didn't pass without its own fair share of drama. But, hey at least we got through it.

******

The day had finally arrived, the unhappy feelings still lingered but I made up my mind to put the devil to shame. I chose to dance and smile like everything was perfect. God took all the glory, it was a beautiful day. Our guests enjoyed themselves and it was an extravagant wedding...much bigger than I wanted...A dream come true for my parents.

And of course the devil wasn't finished...There were a few glitches here and there...from my wedding planner calling me the morning of to tell me that the decorations wouldn't work for the reception venue to my mom's friend calling me to ask if her friends could get VIP tables since they were "high class" folks to the zipper of my dress being broken...It took forever to 'fix'... to being told that the limo that we paid for was not working that morning... we were given a small unappealing alternative instead... to running late for the wedding ceremony and getting a call from my uncle with him yelling at the top of his lungs that everyone was waiting for me... to praying fervently that tailor who made my husband and the groomsmen's suits would make the necessary adjustments before the wedding ceremony started...to almost having to find a replacement because the best man didn't show up until a couple of hours before the wedding...to my friends not being able to sing during my wedding ceremony because I forgot to inform the pastor in charge... to not being able to have the song that I wrote for my husband performed because the musician had to leave ... to one of our photographers leaving in the middle of the reception because he got irritated...hmmmm

Needless to say, the whole day was a blur. I really couldn't wait for it to be over. But after it was all said and done, I married the bone of my bone and the flesh of my flesh...some people call it their soul mate...I call him the man God kept for me...God's special gift to me!

And that's all that mattered!

Our union is divine, it was much more than the ceremony. Our union is for a purpose so when things seemed to be falling a part around us, the most important thing was that we were joined together as husband and wife before God and well wishers. The devil couldn't stop that, we got the last laugh!

And though one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. Ecclesiastes 4:12 AMP

To be continued...


You are blessed!


- Bunmi


Wait before you go:



1. If you have not received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, life won't make any sense, it will be cold and empty. You deserve more! Take a few minutes and click on the 'Come to Jesus' tab at the top of the page and be saved!


2. Please leave a comment below, I'd love to hear from you!


3. You can subscribe to this blog and receive email updates once a new post is published by entering your email address in the 'Follow by email' section located on the right of this post.

4. You can share this post or previous posts by clicking on the respective social media icon on the right.

5. Follow me on twitter @BunmiAdebiyi_


6. Like my page on facebook: Bunmi Adebiyi

7. Follow me on Instagram: destinationdestiny_mlmt

Didn't God Prepare You For This?

Source: Google

Hello everyone,

It has been a long while and I've sincerely missed this space.
So much has been happening since I lasted posted. But through it all, God has been
good to my family and I!

One of the latest blessings that God has bestowed upon us, is a beautiful baby girl. One Word that describes the process from pregnancy to delivery is GRACE! I will share her story on this blog in the near future.

So I am officially a mother of two! Whoa, it still feels like a dream at times....that is until my precious newborn wakes me up in the middle of the night for yet another feeding or cuddling session...then I know that it is absolutely not a dream but it is REAL!!! *smiles*

*****
In my last post I continued my testimony on my journey to marriage/ministry, I will continue in this post.

Stay tuned!

You can read precious posts by clicking the 'How I Met My Husband' label.
*****

Adjusting from being a church member who was still trying to learn the "ropes" to becoming a pastor in such a short amount of time was an interesting experience to say the least. I was also in the process of transitioning from fiance to wife at the same time and planning a big wedding; mind you our courtship was also short (we got married within six months of meeting each other). So there was so much going on at the same time, I was good at juggling it all on some days; however on other days, I was overwhelmed and TIRED!!! Playing so many roles and wearing so many hats at once was intense...In fact, it was beyond intense!

I remember feeling so exhausted and overwhelmed one day after traveling back to Ife from Akure. I turned to one of the young ladies that used to come along and assist us and said, "I am tired!" Her response was epic, she said "Didn't God prepare you for this?" I was rendered speechless, I just nodded and kept it moving. But those words haunted me, it arrested me. I just couldn't complain, indeed God has been preparing me for 'this' for years...I just didn't know what 'this' was going to be.

As I've stated previously on this blog, I naturally do not like the spotlight; I prefer to be behind the scenes. However becoming a pastor left me with no option. I found myself having to speak in front people, counsel people, visit people, preach to people, etc. And of course, I stuck out like a sore thumb. My accent always gave me away, add my dressing and entire 'look' to the equation...and it didn't take long for anyone to realize that I wasn't from Akure.

Here I was, having to adjust to a new environment and set of people. I thought that Ife was 'bad' however Akure was more 'rural' than Ife. I struggled with the thoughts of fitting in or being accepted, but I knew that God sent us to Akure so I sucked it up and kept on going.

I had to ignore the numerous looks... ranging from annoyance to amazement when I picked up the microphone to speak. Some people may have thought I was 'faking it' while others were excited to hear someone speak 'American English'. I never focused on anyone in particular with the fear of being tempted to analyze and determine the purpose behind their stares. I often focused on an object at the rear of the sanctuary and did what I had to do. My primary task that involved speaking in the beginning was to make announcements; I later found myself leading prayer meetings and before long, I was preaching my first message!

****

One thing that I discovered early was that being a pastor coupled with being a pastor's wife could be very lonely. Prior to becoming engaged, I had a few friends and a number of associates. However those relationships began to dwindle when I found it difficult to make time to nurture them.

I was very lonely! The congregation members and our assistants looked up to us so much. I slowly saw my playful and more social side diminishing. I had to be 'prim and proper ', all eyes were on me...people were looking up to me as a spiritual role model among other things. And the pressure was intense.

It was tough, I felt like I couldn't be myself. I had fought for so long to be comfortable in my own skin. Here I was, feeling that being 'myself' wasn't acceptable for this new role. I felt like I was being scrutinized left-right-and-center...I even had to watch the way I related to my fiance. I remember one day while at church, I was seating next to him and I leaned over to clean something off of his face. He drew back at the speed of light; I was beyond embarrassed. He later explained that he did not want church members getting the wrong impression since we weren't married yet. I didn't get it but I obliged him... all 'for the sake of the ministry'.


So I had to ask myself: Was I Really Prepared For This???


To be continued...


You are blessed!


- Bunmi


Wait before you go:



1. If you have not received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, life won't make any sense, it will be cold and empty. You deserve more! Take a few minutes and click on the 'Come to Jesus' tab at the top of the page and be saved!


2. Please leave a comment below, I'd love to hear from you!


3. You can subscribe to this blog and receive email updates once a new post is published by entering your email address in the 'Follow by email' section located on the right of this post.

4. You can share this post or previous posts by clicking on the respective social media icon on the right.

5. Follow me on twitter @BunmiAdebiyi_


6. Like my page on facebook: Bunmi Adebiyi

7. Follow me on Instagram: destinationdestiny_mlmt

Purpose, Our Fuel for Life

Source; Google

Hello everyone,

Thank you for visiting the blog today!

And thank you for your patience with me. I have been extremely busy and I apologize for not being as consistent on this blog as I would love to be. I am learning not to be so hard on myself; my goal is to take it a day at a time as I play the various roles that God has given me.

So today, I want to continue my testimony to my journey to marriage.

If you have not done so already, you can read my previous posts of this testimony by looking to the right of your screen and click on the 'Marriage' label in the labels section.

****

In my previous post, I mentioned that  my pastor spoke to my husband  (then  fiance) about starting a new branch of our church in another state (Akure, located in Ondo State).

This occurred in the beginning of our relationship. It was a very tough decision for my husband. A few of the things he considered were: it was the city he grew up in and he was not too fond of it; he was also concerned about getting a good paying job; also we were in the middle of planning our wedding.

For me, I didn't think much of it. From what I gathered, we were just going to be there on a casual basis to help start up the church and then move on with our lives.

But, boy was I mistaken!!!

After taking out some time to pray about it, my husband agreed to go for it. This decision changed our lives forever, we really did not know what we were getting ourselves into. But at the end of the day, it was one of the best decisions we've ever made!

Our relationship became official in December and the inauguration  (church opening) of the church branch in Akure took place at the end of February.

Prior to the inauguration we travelled to Akure (about a 3 hour drive) to meet some of the people that we would be working with and to do some evangelism- publicity for the church.

The weekend finally came for the inaguration and there was so much going on. It was a three day event, by the third day of the inaguration, reality began to settle in. My husband and I were introduced as the pastors in charge of the branch and it hit me. It was really happening! God's strategy of sending me to Nigeria for training in ministry was rather too advanced and 'hands on' for me.

I wanted to take it a step at a time but God had other ideas. As soon as I got engaged, everything changed in leaps and bounds. Before you knew it, people were referring to me as "Pastor Bunmi". That was a tough pill to swallow; in my opinion, there was nothing 'pastory' about me. I was just a girl from America, trying to figure it all out. I was still trying to get my spiritual life up to par, along with many other things.

So the journey began, we had to travel to Akure from Ife twice a week. Thankfully our bosses at work were understanding. We would leavs work early on Wednesday afternoons to be at church by 5:30 pm for bible study. After bible study, we usually had a night vigil that would last until the early hours of the next morning. We would then crashed at the home of our wonderful friends (who took over as pastors after we left).

After a few hours of sleep, we were on the rode again with some church members who came along to asist us. We (my fiance and I) had to hurry back to Ife because we had to attend weekly community development service meetings (CDS). These meetings were part of our NYSC requirements. Staying awake at these meetings were such a struggle for me. I struggled with fatigue and hunger (in most cases, we only managed to purchase snacks on our way back to Ife).

At a point in time, I was elected as the Vice President for my particular CDS group (the Charity group). After much thought, I had to turn over my duties to a friend because I had too much going on.

After CDS, the next stop was always somewhere to get some food and then a well deserved nap; before attending  ministry meetings at the Ife church in the evening.

We would go to work on Fridays and then head back to Akure on Saturdays for evangelism and preparation for Sunday service. After Sunday service, it was back to Ife again.

The times that we spent on the rode was countless...the miles that we covered as we went back and forth were innumerable...but it was Purpose that fueled us and kept us going. It wasn't convenient but it was all a part of the bigger picture of what God had in mind for the purpose of our union.

To be continued...

You are blessed!


- Bunmi


Wait before you go:



1. If you have not received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, life won't make any sense, it will be cold and empty. You deserve more! Take a few minutes and click on the 'Come to Jesus' tab at the top of the page and be saved!


2. Please leave a comment below, I'd love to hear from you!


3. You can subscribe to this blog and receive email updates once a new post is published by entering your email address in the 'Follow by email' section located on the right of this post.

4. You can share this post or previous posts by clicking on the respective social media icon on the right.

5. Follow me on twitter @BunmiAdebiyi_


6. Like my page on facebook: Bunmi Adebiyi

7. Follow me on Instagram: destinationdestiny_mlmt

The Purpose and Power of a Woman

"Woman was created for a purpose. Woman was endowed with power at creation. However, many women suffer from identity crisis as people, society and  media attempt to redefine 'Woman'. Woman was God's idea. Woman is the lifeline of humanity. Woman is the carrier of destinies and the helper of generations. Woman is purposeful, Woman is powerful."

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A few days ago, I had the privilege of ministering at the Family Impact Conference hosted by Joy Blessing of the Love Umbrella.

The Love Umbrella is a ministry whose goal is to help individuals grow in love with their partners and families through the instrumentality of God's Word.

I spoke on the topic titled "The Purpose and Power of a Woman."

I'd like to share what I spoke about below. I pray that you'll be blessed.

*******

Today, many women are walking around defeated and dejected. Deep down inside of them they know that they are powerful; however they aim their power at the wrong things and people. They misuse their power because they are unware of its purpose. 

Understanding one's purpose is fundamental. Like it has been said by many, "If the purpose of something is unknown, abuse is inevitable." It is necessary to know one's purpose in order for one to walk in the fullness of one’s power.

'Woman' was created on purpose; she was not an after-thought; remember God knows the end from the beginning. I'd like to think of it this way, he saved the best for last; the last edition is always better than the first edition.

After creating Adam, God noticed that there was something missing; he search through all that he had created and he couldn’t find anything to measure up.

Genesis 2:18 “And the LORD God said, it is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a help meet for him.”

Now let’s establish one thing before proceeding, woman had always been at the creation of man. When I say ‘man’, I am referring to the human species. There were many species that were created in the beginning, for example: plants, animals, etc.

Let’s look at Genesis 1:26-28

“₂₆ And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.”

Scripture tells us that God is a spirit (John 4:24), therefore when he said let us make ‘man’ in our image and after our likeness, he was speaking of the spirit of man; not the physical body of man.

Let’s continue reading…

“₂₇ So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”

We see from this verse that the female ‘man’ came into existence at the same time that the male ‘man’’ came into existence.

“₂₈ And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.”

Both the male and female man were blessed in the beginning (“And God blessed them…).

Let’s read Genesis 2:7:

“And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”

Here is where man’s body (or earth suit) was created and his soul (will, emotions, intellect-the part that reasons and thinks) was activated; remember his spirit had already been created in the previous chapter.

We are still referring to the human species here…which is man; meaning that woman was ever present.

Now let’s go to Genesis 2:20-22:

“₂₀ And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him. ₂₁ And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh thereof; ₂₂ And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.”
This is where the female man's body came into existence.

God is purposeful, he is not wasteful; woman was created because she was needed. Verse 20 states the primary purpose of woman; she was created to be a help meet (helper) for the male man. 

Furthermore, we see that God did not go back to gather dust from the ground to create woman. She was created from man’s rib; she was already a part of man.

Therefore woman is not inferior to man; she is his equal counterpart. Now when I say "equal counterpart", I mean that men and women are of the same origin.

The male man and female man were created for the same general purpose (Genesis 1:28: “₂₈ And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth); however they have different roles to play in fulfilling this purpose.

******

Now let's speak specifically about the purpose of a woman.

The Purpose of a Woman:

The confusion about the purpose of a woman began in the garden of Eden. Adam failed to play his role as a man; hence Eve was not informed about her purpose and power. Dr. Myles Monroe of blessed memory puts it this way, "the fall of man = malfunctioning woman & irresponsible man". 

One of Adam’s major responsibilities was to teach Eve the ways of God and to pass on the instruction that was given to him (Ephesians 5:26). This is why the bible says that Adam was not deceived, he knew better; he made the conscious decision to sin against God (1 Timothy 2:14).

One of the major issues that the female man or 'woman' faces today is that she has been told all her life that this is a “man’s world” (referring to the male man). She has been told that her place is in the home. She has been confined to the kitchen and the bedroom ( or “the other room”). She has been told that her opinions were irrelevant and that she had to dance to her husband’s (or a random man's) tune.

However, there is a voice within woman shouting“FALSE! FALSE! That’s a LIE!!!

Then we saw various movements arise, i.e. feminism. Women began to liberality themselves; get an education, work outside the home, etc.

This is lovely, however other issues arose. We began to hear statements like “What a man can do, a woman can do better.”

We must understand that although men and woman are equal counterparts or better said equal opposites; men and women are completely different; a woman trying to be a man is an abuse to purpose. 

The differences between men and women can be seen in various ways, i.e their physical structures; men were designed to be givers while women were designed to be receivers.

Differences could also be seen in the way they reason; men are logical, women are emotional; it could also be said this way, men are thinkers and women are feelers.

Men say what they think and women say what they feel; this is why women are very sensitive to words.

When Adam saw Eve, he not only admired her physical appearance and features. Being a man of God, he saw beyond her curves; he had a revelation:

Genesis 2:23, “And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.”

Adam recognized that she was a part of him (bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh). Furthermore, because he was a man who had constant fellowship with the father he called her ‘Woman’ like his God did in Genesis 2:22. He saw that even though they were created similar, this woman had something that he did not have; it was a womb.

The purpose of a womb is to incubate: The purpose of a incubator is to receive, give life to or multiple and give it back.

Woman has the power to take something, make something out of it and give it back. There is a common saying that goes, "Give her a house, she makes it a home; give her groceries, she makes a meal; give her sperm, she makes a baby."

The power of woman is found within the confines of her purpose. A woman that is unaware of her purpose, is powerless.

Another significant difference between men and women is that men are visionaries. You never saw Jesus healing a blind woman during his ministry on Earth. While, women are birthers of visions (i.e. Mary given birth to Jesus, God's vision to save humanity); that is why they are called help meets. Give a woman your vision and she will show you the blue print to making it a reality and help you every step of the way. Men are seed carriers, while women are harvest producers.

This is why we see the devil attacking women throughout scriptures with bareness or infertility; he never attacked men in scriptures with infertility. Even till date we see women being diagnosed with fibroids, endometriosis, ovarian cysts and other reproductive issues. The devil is after the seed! 

Once a woman is impregnated with something (seed), she will bring it forth (Isaiah 66:7).

Hence men in the house, you must be very careful with what you give you’re the women of your life; she will always reproduce what she’s been given; If you sow negative words, she will reproduce negative actions.

*****

How to Discover One’s Purpose?:

Purpose is found in God; any effort to discover purpose outside God will lead to confusion.

First of all, one must be born again. One must receive the life of God and confess him as Lord of his life (Romans 10:8-10).

Another woman or man can not tell you what your purpose is; this is how inappropriate relationships develop. Purpose can only be revealed by one's creator. God knows you intricately, he created you and chose your purpose before your parents even thought of you (Jeremiah 1:5).

The manual for creation has been made available for us; this manual is the Bible. We also have the gift of the Holy Spirit to aid in discovering purpose.

The Bible is God’s Will; and as his child, his will must become yours in order for you to fulfill your purpose and live a fulfilled life.

There is a general purpose as a member of the body of Christ (the great commission) and a specific purpose for every individual.

Women have to understand, that there is absolutely nothing WRONG with them; the images that are portrayed on media, in magazines, and on social media are not REAL. You are created the way you were because of your purpose (height, shape, characteristics, personality, etc.). Flaws and in, you are perfect in your father’s eyes and you were created for such a time as this.

*****

I hope that you were blessed by this blog post! I pray that every woman that is reading this will be inspired and encourage to step out and be bold in fulfilling her purpose. THE WORLD IS AWAITING YOUR MANIFESTATION!!!

You are blessed!


- Bunmi


Wait before you go:



1. If you have not received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, life won't make any sense, it will be cold and empty. You deserve more! Take a few minutes and click on the 'Come to Jesus' tab at the top of the page and be saved!


2. Please leave a comment below, I'd love to hear from you!


3. You can subscribe to this blog and receive email updates once a new post is published by entering your email address in the 'Follow by email' section located on the right of this post.

4. You can share this post or previous posts by clicking on the respective social media icon on the right.

5. Follow me on twitter @BunmiAdebiyi_


6. Like my page on facebook: Bunmi Adebiyi

7. Follow me on Instagram: destinationdestiny_mlmt

So Much So Fast

Hello Everyone! I hope you had a great weekend and I pray that you'll have an amazing week ahead!

Thanks for stopping by the blog today! I continue my personal testimony today. Please view previous posts if you haven't done so already. Just click on the "Destiny Steps" tab.

****

After those series of events, things began to happen so fast. As my reason for being in Nigeria became clearer, it became more obvious that I had to end things with Raymond. My family and friends were no longer in support of the relationship as well.

My mom visited Nigeria in September; he saw her for a few minutes and left because we had gotten into an argument prior. Afterwards, he ignored mine and my mom's calls throughout the time she was there. My uncle asked him to come and see him several times and he never did. My dad complained about him never calling, he was unbothered. For the most part my friends never liked him. What was I waiting for?

As I took time to ponder upon all of the above and much more, I mustered up the courage and called it quits over phone one evening in November. I don't remember my exact words but I let him know that "we" we're not working. He sounded shocked; I guess I caught him off guard. He didn't say much as we said our goodbyes. 

I usually didn't do well after breakups, so I dreaded the aftermath. I reluctantly hung up the phone to face the music. Surprisingly, I actually liked the music that I was facing this time around. I felt at peace, it was such a weird feeling for me. I tried to be sad, I tried to cry but I couldn't! I just knew that I made the right decision.

I informed Pastor Tee shortly afterwards and he sighed for relief. I told Karen also and she was happy, she couldn't hide it. I felt neutral, I wasn't jumping for joy but I was good. I informed all my family and friends and they all consoled me, I'm sure that they were doing cartwheels. Prior to the breakup, being alone again frightened me. But I decided to enjoy the time alone and focus on what God sent me to Nigeria for. I was ultimately done with relationships, I couldn't be bothered thinking about another anytime soon.

Shortly after the breakup, while at church for a Corper's fellowship (which I and Karen started) meeting, someone came to ask for me. A young lady with a beautiful smile told me that the senior pastors were looking for me. At first, I was afraid and secretly prayed that nothing bad happened to my family.

As we walked to the church office which was about 5 minutes away, the young lady shielded me from the scorching sun with her umbrella. I felt special! As I walked into the office, I saw a lot of people waiting. I was told to walk right in...I took one step at a time, while I wondered what was going on.

By time I got to the office, I saw them both seated and smiling at me from ear to ear. We exchanged greetings and they proceeded to tell me that the Lord told them some things about me. I sat there thinking "What is going on??? Why is God singling me out like this?” They asked about my family, childhood, background, etc. They also told me so many things, I sat there overwhelmed. They told me that I was a ministry gift (that I've been called into the ministry). Now that shocked me! I always knew that I'd be actively involved in church but never at that level. At most, I thought that I'd be a deacon...If I only knew...haha. They also told me that God wanted to use me to take the ministry outside of the country. They asked if I was engaged and this time around, I said no! I explained the reason for the breakup and they told me to not to be bothered and focus on other things.

Before I left their office, they prayed for me and one word to describe it is: EXPLOSIVE! As the prayed for me, it was like an outer body experience. All I know is that I walked out of their office a changed woman!

****

One of the things that they told me was that I had to finish foundation school so that I could become a steward (church volunteer) and join their mentoring platforms. I finally took it more seriously and aimed to finish up ASAP.

One evening while at foundation school, a young man just came out of nowhere and sat with my group. He began to ask tons of questions by starting with me. I was annoyed, first of all who was he? Second of all, I hated to be called out! His question to me was "How do you study the bible?" I don't remember my response but it wasn't the answer that he was looking for. For the rest of the session, I felt bad. I was embarrassed, I hated being wrong.

After foundation school was over, he introduced himself to me. He said that his name was Pastor Tunde Adebiyi, I said hello and kept it short. I dreaded the bus ride back home and I was hungry. Surprisingly, he offered to take me and some other people home. Throughout the ride home, he kept talking and asking questions. I gave short answers as I looked out the window, ever ready to get home. As soon as he got to the front of my apartment complex, I practically ran out after saying a quick thank you and goodnight.

This same pastor came around during my next class also. This time around he didn't come to my group or ask me a question. But he made small talk after foundation school. Before he could offer to take me home, I ran off to the bus stop. 

I didn't realize it then but shortly after, I realized that this was the man that God said was my husband a few weeks ago. I still wasn't convinced, it was all mistake. There was no way that he'd want to marry me. He looked like a goody-too-shoes and I had an ugly past. Yea, I was definitely mistaken!

To be continued....

You're blessed!


- Bunmi


Wait before you go:



1. If you have not received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, life won't make any sense, it will be cold and empty. You deserve more! Take a few minutes and click on the 'Come to Jesus' tab at the top of the page and be saved!


2. Please leave a comment below, I'd love to hear from you!


3. You can subscribe to this blog and receive email updates once a new post is published by entering your email address in the 'Follow by email' section located on the right of this post.

4. You can share this post or previous posts by clicking on the respective social media icon on the right.

5. Follow me on twitter @BunmiAdebiyi_


6. Like my page on facebook: Bunmi Adebiyi

7. Follow me on Instagram: destinationdestiny_mlmt

Serving the Lord

“Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;" Romans 12:11 KJV

The above scripture encourages us to serve the Lord. The Lord Jesus Christ died for us in order for us to live for him (2 Corinthians 5:14-15). We were bought with a price (1 Corinthians 7:23). We can never repay the Lord for his sacrifice, however we owe it to him to serve him with our spirit, soul and body (Romans 12:1). We were saved to serve God (Hebrews 9:14).

You might be wondering what exactly is service? And how can you serve God?

Service is wholehearted dedication to a person or something. Service is an expression of love. Service is selfless. We serve God by loving him above all else, obeying him- loving what he loves and hating what he hates, seeking and doing his Will, and following him (John 12:26), 

While studying how to serve the Lord a few weeks ago, the Holy Spirit gave me this analogy: 

Serving the Lord can be compared to going to a restaurant and being assigned a waiter. In our father's business we are waiters/servers. There are different levels in which we serve, i.e. managers, supervisors, etc but we are all servers. When being attended to by a waiter, we expect to get exactly what we ordered for. If we order a cheeseburger with onions, cheese, bacon and lettuce. That's what we expect! If we get something different we will complain and say that the waiter is not doing a good job, which leads to bad customer service. We would not be satisfied and would most likely not leave a tip.

 The same comes with serving God. True service is serving God how he wants and when he wants. You can't give God a chicken sandwich when he asked for a chicken salad and claim that it's the same thing. Service to God is not on your terms but his. This is one of the reasons why many people feel like they're serving God but not being rewarded for it. 

God is a God of order, he is extremely detailed. He has a way of doing things. When he calls you to do something, he expects you to follow the instructions; either instructions that he reveals to you or instructions that are spelled out in the manual for abundant living (the Bible). 

Also our attitude in service to God is important. You can't drag your feet, roll your eyes and mumble under your breath and expect God to bless your service. Your motives must be pure and your heart must be right. Remember God loves a cheerful giver. If you go to a restaurant and the waiter has a bad attitude, it'll hinder you from having a good experience during your time there. His/her attitude will affect his/her service to you. A good attitude = good service.

It is a privilege to serve God. And the good news is that their are rewards for service in this life and the life to come (Hebrews 11:6; Isaiah 45:19). So when it comes to serving God we do it how he wants, when he wants, to who he wants and we don't ask why. Obedience is a major attribute of service; it stems from faith. In order to serve God effectively, we must obey God totally. Partial obedience is disobedience.

And I'll tell you this! Serving God is SO worth it!!! It doesn't cost you anything but it pays you SO much! Serving God is the path to success. Serving God is the path to honor. Serving God is the path to increase. You were created for a purpose and that purpose entails serving God and others, so get to work! 

So from now on, every morning when we wake up. Our first question should be, "What can I do for you today Lord?".

Confession: Heavenly Father, I thank you for saving me to serve you. Today I make up my mind to serve you by doing your Will for my life.

Prayer starter: Heavenly Father I come to you today asking that you reveal to me your Will for my life. I ask for wisdom to serve you as I ought. In Jesus' name, Amen!

You're blessed!


- Bunmi


Wait before you go:



1. If you have not received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, life won't make any sense, it will be cold and empty. You deserve more! Take a few minutes and click on the 'Come to Jesus' tab at the top of the page and be saved!


2. Please leave a comment below, I'd love to hear from you!


3. You can subscribe to this blog and receive email updates once a new post is published by entering your email address in the 'Follow by email' section located on the right of this post.

4. You can share this post or previous posts by clicking on the respective social media icon on the right.

5. Follow me on twitter @BunmiAdebiyi_


6. Like my page on facebook: Bunmi Adebiyi

7. Follow me on Instagram: destinationdestiny_mlmt

Ministers of God

“He has enabled us to be ministers of his new covenant. This is a covenant not of written laws, but of the Spirit. The old written covenant ends in death; but under the new covenant, the Spirit gives life.” 2 Corinthians 3:6 NLT

There is a common misconception that ministry gifts- i.e. Pastors (Ephesians 4:11-12) are the only ones that are supposed to preach the gospel. That's absolutely FALSE!!! Every believer has been given the great commission “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature" Mark 16:15 KJV. You were created for a purpose; and that purpose entails preaching the gospel within your sphere of influence.

You may not be called into the ministry but you are a minister. Whatever you've been created to do is for the glory of God. Whether it's singing, designing clothing and accessories, being a doctor, an artist, a hairstylist, a business man or woman, etc.; we were created to establish the kingdom of God wherever we find ourselves. 

If you love Jesus then you will obey his commandment (John 14:15). “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” John 13:34-35 NLT. We were commanded to love others, when we do so we show the world that we are truly followers of Christ.

When you love someone, you are committed to them. When you love someone you believe in their vision and you are willing to partner with them to fulfill it. When you love someone you are willing to sacrifice all that you have to make them happy. God loved us too much to sit around and watch us wallow in our sins; he gave up his most prized possession so that we could truly live (John 3:16).

Imagine how your life would be if Jesus never came to save you. Think back to the days when you didn't know Christ, remember how much of a mess your life was? When you see people around you frolicking with sin, do you forget that you once were in their shoes? Or are you moved by compassion to help them? The best gift that you can ever give anyone is Jesus Christ. Money will run out, clothing and shoes will wear out for Jesus is eternal. The Lord Jesus gives eternal life, the abundant life.

While you go about your daily business, make sure that you're in the Will of God first and foremost. And be ever ready to minister to anyone that crosses your path. You can be the reason why someone decides to live instead of taking their life. Don't let the devil lie to you and tell you that you're not eloquent enough or that you don't know enough scriptures. Take the first step, open your mouth and the Holy Spirit will fill it with the right words. Also simply sharing your personal testimony and living upright can preach to others...you may be the first bible that they read. At times, you can reflect God’s glory simply by the way you live and carry yourself; it can get to the point where someone would ask you what you know. There will be a landmark difference (something about you) that will single you out, when you live right. 

You were saved to live for God. You were not saved to wake up every Sunday morning to put on your 'Sunday's best' and strut down the runway of the church. God commanded us to go out into the world; the world needs you, are you going to continue to sit around and watch people die an eternal death around you?

So as you go about your business today and every day, make sure to do it all to the glory of God! 


You're blessed!


- Bunmi


Wait before you go:



1. If you have not received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, life won't make any sense, it will be cold and empty. You deserve more! Take a few minutes and click on the 'Come to Jesus' tab at the top of the page and be saved!


2. Please leave a comment below, I'd love to hear from you!


3. You can subscribe to this blog and receive email updates once a new post is published by entering your email address in the 'Follow by email' section located on the right of this post.

4. You can share this post or previous posts by clicking on the respective social media icon on the right.

5. Follow me on twitter @BunmiAdebiyi_


6. Like my page on facebook: Bunmi Adebiyi


7. Follow me on Instagram: destinationdestiny_mlmt

Destiny Inspirations: End of Myself

Hello Everyone!

We are going to do something a little different today. A few weeks ago, I was on Facebook and discovered this video. It was a video of my cousin Adenike, delivering an original spoken word piece. Hours after listening to it, I could not get her words off my mind; they kept ringing in my ears. The concept of the piece is something that the Lord has been drawing my attention to lately.

Adenike Olaleye is 24 years of age. She is an Assistant Ecommerce Merchandise Manager. Her hobbies include: Shopping, Stepping, Dancing, Singing and Traveling. She started writing poetry at the age of 12 and started performing her pieces at the age of 16.

Be blessed as you listen!!!

During a recent sermon, my spiritual father said these words "When it comes to doing things for the Lord, you must do it from your heart. If you don't, it won't reach God". God looks at the heart, forget about putting on a phony performance. If your heart's not in it, he doesnt want it. It is time for us believers to give our all to God and the things of God. No more half stepping, no more seating on the fence, no more hot and cold Christianity. It is time for us to come to the End of ourselves; It is not about: Me, Myself, and I. The purpose of God for your life is bigger than YOU!

Yes, it's a sacrifice but it is worth it. He saved you to serve him and his Will. There are people attached to your purpose; if you don't come up they will be stagnant. You've been given too much to keep it to yourself. But someone who does not know, and then does something wrong, will be punished only lightly. When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required (Luke 12:48 NLT). Stop being stingy with the grace of God. You received it for free, so give it freely to others (2 Timothy 1:9).

When you believe in a product or service, you would be willing to market it for free. What are you doing to market Jesus? Are you willing to make Jesus famous? Is he worth the hype? Hasn't he been too good to you? Hasn't your life changed drastically since you accepted him in your heart? Take your place! Bring glory to God in what he has called you to do! Let your light shine for the entire world to see, be unashamed of this gospel! You'll never regret it!


You're blessed!


- Bunmi


Wait before you go:



1. If you have not received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, life won't make any sense, it will be cold and empty. You deserve more! Take a few minutes and click on the 'Come to Jesus' tab at the top of the page and be saved!


2. Please leave a comment below, I'd love to hear from you!


3. You can subscribe to this blog and receive email updates once a new post is published by entering your email address in the 'Follow by email' section located on the right of this post.

4. You can share this post or previous posts by clicking on the respective social media icon on the right.

5. Follow me on twitter @BunmiAdebiyi_


6. Like my page on facebook: Bunmi Adebiyi


7. Follow me on Instagram: destinationdestiny_mlmt