Five years ago I was cleaning the shelf in the lobby where daddy kept all his stuffs; from books to documents, CDs, files etc. When I found a book I was seeing for the first time, it was strange because I had read every book in the house except, of course, this one.
The minute I touched it and read the name “Tough times never last but tough people do.” A tear fell down from my eyes.
It was like a word from heaven. In fact it was a gift from God because it was exactly 8 months after daddy’s death and two others as well. My life was a total mess and it was like a candy to me to bring back my smile and will to truly live.
But it was was more too…
I went further to open the book
And the next page…the next page broke me…it broke me completely.
My name “EBUBECHUKWU CHIKA JONAH” was boldly written on it in daddy’s beautiful handwriting I loved so much.
Seeing it brought me to tears
Because i just realized he had bought the book for me.
He bought it for me guys…
He bought that book as a gift for me.
But I never received it…I never got it…I never knew. I fell down and cried uncontrollably.
Maybe…maybe he didn’t have a chance to give it to me or maybe he forgot.
But one thing was for sure. Finding that book at that time was not a coincidence. It was God directing me to the final gift from my dad that would change my life and stop me from destroying myself from grief.
It was Daddy telling me “Ebubechukwu, its time you rise above this. You are a tough girl and no tough situation should ruin your life.”
And I embraced this book like life itself. I read each page in tears, in brokenness, in pain and in denial and as I flipped through each page, my crumbled faith began to rebuild, my mood began changing, my declarations changed for the better and finally I rose with the understanding that only tough people last regardless of the worst and evil challenge ever experienced. Only tough people survive.
I can’t enjoy this gift alone. I don’t think I can give this copy book to anyone since its my Dads final gift to me. But I can give you this book in digital. I purchased an E-copy years back and I want to share it with you.
With all my blessings prayers and Gods power. It would help heal you and motivate you to rise in life.
I have no doubt that it will.
Just read it.
As you download your copy. Please share your journey and experience with this book with me by sending me a mail or reaching me on any of my social media handles.
Share this link with your friends too, to get theirs
Yesterday afternoon I was chatting with a friend outside work when I told him
“Guy the holy spirit is just the sweetest, the guy was just laughing at me, because he asked me not to wear my black slippers to work but instead of listening, I stubbornly wore it and it disgraced me in the middle of the highway. Since then he has been laughing at me so hard”.
“Really?” My friend asked giggling in delight.
“Yes oh. Dude holy spirit is just the coolest person”. I replied.
“Thats true oh. Let me give you gist”. He suggested.
He told me how he was walking on the street heading somewhere when he passed two girls in front of their entrance door, he thought immediately that it would be so nice to get to share the gospel with them. But he removed the thought from his mind quickly since it was getting late and the cloud was dark, it looked like it was going to rain. He turned front and continued walking.
“Go and talk to them”. He heard the voice again. He stopped on this track “But rain has started dropping, and its not a good time”. He whispered back.
“Stop giving excuses and just go and talk to them”. He heard again. This time he burst out laughing. So he turned his back and was walking towards the girls when he saw them entering inside the house.
“You see. They’ve gone inside”. He muttered to the holy spirit smiling like a mad man on the street. This time he needed to get to his destination on time since the rain was becoming a heavy outpour.
Before he could make a move. He heard the sound of laughter and looked around,only to see the girls outside again.
“You see. I told you. Now its time you listen”. He heard holy spirit say. This time he knew there was no turning back so he succumbed.
“Yes Boss”. He replied sheepishly
As soon as he said hi to the girls, they moved back frightenly.
“No No. Don’t be scared”, its possible that they might have noticed him looking at them from a distance and that scared them a little, he thought. “Look, I’m not here to harm you. I’m just here to talk a little”. He said and started on the business of why he was there.
As they discussed the girls loosened up a little and relaxed. Without even realizing it the rain had stopped the minute he began talking to them. He chuckled and muttered “stop laughing Holy spirit. I know I should have just listened and acted without giving a second thought”.
After sharing this story I couldn’t stop laughing because that is exactly how the holy spirit is.
I also marvelled at his intimacy with God. It was so sweet to hear. And I myself knew first hand how delicious having a close relationship with the holy spirit can be.
The holy spirit is not a dictator. That is who God is. We already have a dictator. God has made the rules. The do’s and dont’s. He has made the commandments. He has made his principles and precepts. He shows us the way and directs our paths. He tells us what to do. But then he was too big of a person that it was not easy for us to open up to him.
So how then could he make us forthcoming without punishing us? God thought. There was only one way. His Spirit.
Sending us his spirit. The person of the holy spirit. He called him the comforter. The healer. The silent whisperer of his words. The gentle one. The meek one. God knew that what we needed was someone more like us; the holy spirit.
Are you following?
The holy spirit was created to build that bond with us that God the father so desired. Until you understand that he is a friend you cannot operate in the dimension God intends for you.
So why aren’t you building an intimacy with him?
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you
John 14:26
He is the mediator. He would stand for you before God. He is the healer. Your heart will find rest as long as you embrace his friendship. He is the comforter because his gentle whisper is all it takes to eradicate the pain and sorrow you feel inside. He is the revealer; nothing can go wrong because he is there to show you the mind of God.
For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say
Luke 12:12
He is someone you should tell everything to. He is someone that holds the secrets of heaven, which is the more reason why you should befriend him so that those secrets can be revealed to you too.
How can you build your intimacy/relationship with the holy spirit?
You can easily ask that friend that hasn’t even called you in months for advice but asking the holy spirit that is right beside you even at this very moment has proven to be difficult for you.
Intimacy with the holy spirit starts with desiring to be more to him and acting on his gentle whispers.
Just like when you decide to finally date that man/woman that you like already and start calling often and sending cool messages/gifts to keep the relationship alive that is how it is with the holy spirit too.
Just start with “Good morning holy spirit. I love you so much. What should we do today?”
And see if he would not embrace you with his friendship, peace and anionting.
Just like that friend you understand, study and understand the holy spirit.
Talk to him always.
Tell him how much you love him
Don’t hurt him
Always listen to him even when its not convenient; just like in the story I shared.
The more you get to spend time with him, the more you get to grow your relationship with him and the more you begin to be filled with his power and Anointing
The Holy spirit was the second most precious gift God gave us after Salvation. While some have unwrapped this gift and are enjoying its treasures and power, others have tossed their gift aside still closed and unwrapped.
Its time. The time is Now. Open that gift.
Read Romans 14:17 Acts 1
Do you have an intimate relationship with the holy spirit? If Yes, how has it been? If No, has this post helped you gain clarity? Share your thoughts in the comment
Every hair on my body stood, as hot tears feel down my cheeks. I was hurt by what happened. I wanted to feel better but I didn’t know how, instead I kept thinking about the problem.
I kept replaying the scenes in my head. And I got angry and aggressive all over again as the tears became uncontrollable.
I became worse than I was a minute ago.
***
I wanted to get better. I wanted the pain to stop but it didn’t.
Why?
Because I gave myself the power to feel worse by putting myself in that position over and over again every time I thought about it, Instead of consciously allowing light to shine through my thought and show me other pictures to focus on.
So when shit happens are you making yourself worse by over thinking about it at that moment?
Don’t.
That is not the best time to think.
Because your mind is clouded by the pain and emotions.
Find a distraction. Or do something to re channel your focus from what happened or just sleep.
You can tackle it later.
Or else you may just see yourself drowning too deep in that pain, grief or sorrow.
Befriend time. Give it time.
Then come back to those thoughts, only then would you see the light hidden behind the darkness.
