Tag: Prayers

Family · Hope

Birthdays and Friday musings…

jacquelineobyikocha6 Comments
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

And Friday arrived even before I could turn the page of a book. The days are galloping by so fast nowadays, that sometimes I feel that if one doesn’t buckle down for the ride of speedy days they will practically find themselves flying and landing in 2023 all bushy-tailed and surprised. Each morning, I set a to-do list and by the end of the day I find myself falling short in completing certain things. However, I am also cutting myself some slack and unlearning the ingrained habit of beating myself up when I fall short of my own expectations. What I am trying to do now is to set realistic and practical goals or tasks and prioritize them so that they are achievable. Although sometimes I find myself running around chasing every other thing rather than settling down to doing those things that needs to be done.

Tomorrow is my first son’s birthday and when I look at the young man I am always taken aback at how much he has grown and has now become a full adult of one score, whilst a whole part of me – except for the creaky parts – feel as exuberant and as hopeful as I felt when I was his age. Truth be told, I think I have become quite jaded a bit from life’s experiences and a lot more reserved, though each day, I fight mentally, physically and spiritually not to let the bitter experiences and setbacks get the better of me. I have grown to realize that focusing my energy on things that are out of my control and things that have expired such as the past, is sheer and massive waste of time.

Now to my young man, I pray that life treats you kindly and well. I give God praise for the gift of a son like you and thank Him for His faithfulness and mercy over your life all these years. May you continue to flourish in God’s blessings. May His countenance continue to shine on you. You will find favour in the eyes of men. The earth shall yield its increase for you and so you shall not lack. It shall be in agreement with you to fulfil God’s purpose for your life. As you grow in age, may you also grow spiritually, emotionally, mentally and financially. The Lord will cause you to dwell in good health and everything you lay your hands on shall prosper. His protection shall be over you and He will give you the grace to grow in wisdom. Amen.

I thank God for all the good moments we have spent together, as mother and son. 

Poetry/Poems

Where Do My Prayers Go?

jacquelineobyikocha8 Comments

Prayers, Poetry

 

My prayers,
you are stuck on the ceiling board.
I look up, intently at the white rectangles
eyeing the invisible patterns of my earnest supplications;
that never quite made it past my rooftop.

My prayers,
why are you not getting past the ceiling board?
Is it because in the midst of saying it
I was thinking what sauce I must make for the day
would meatballs or fried chicken
appeal more to my hungry fold?

My prayers,
why do you fail to soar
could it be that the landlords brick and mortar
are far too hard and impenetrable?
I must have a word with him
‘cos he needs to use heaven proof material.

My prayers,
once you leave the space in my heart
do you roam the void trying to fill the vacuum
or do you travel faster than the light of speed
heaven bound where Angels receive you
then file you away in ‘to do files’?

My prayers,
I have no idea where you go
no do I truly know where heaven is,
but what I know is that at some point in time
each word of prayer I ever offered
will be waiting there to meet with me.

© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha

Gratitude

Unto You O’Lord – Personal

jacquelineobyikocha11 Comments

Image result for Images of gratitude

Let us not forget to appreciate every moment that life brings our way and waste less on sweating the small stuff, because, indeed, we have no idea what the next hour has to bring not to talk about the next day, week or month.

This year has been fraught with many ups and downs, many successes and dashed hopes, but in all situations, we must give thanks and appreciate that which we have at this point in time.

Each day, I am learning that affliction and challenges are bitter parts of life, but the big question is ‘how do we handle these situations?’

How we handle these circumstances determines a lot. Our growth, mentally, spiritually, emotionally, physically and even financially emanates from our attitude towards the lessons that life brings us.

I have learnt to continue to speak life and positivity even when fear and doubt is digging a hole in my heart.

I’ve learnt to keep proclaiming my spirit of love and of sound mind even when I don’t understand it all and have no answers.

Unto you O’Lord, I give my all.

My heart knows gratitude that we’ve been spared tears of sorrow at this time.

My brother- in-law had a successful brain surgery and is doing well.

It is not my gratitude nor my thanks that purchased his well-being, but for the Grace of God.

Jacqueline

If you wish to participate in a gratitude challenge, there are several gratitude/thankful platforms in the blogosphere that you can tune into and get your ithankful going on. I can’t express in words the enormity of Joy and fulfillment that comes from having a heart of gratitude. Please check out Maria’s blog, Colline’s blog and Bernadette’s for thankful/gratitude challenges.

Hope

Welcome to July…

jacquelineobyikocha8 Comments

Hope[1]

May this new month of July

be a month of fulfilment

a month of hope and faith

infinite grace and love 

for you and your loved ones.

Shalom!

P.S: I hope to see you at our online party  today. It’s always a good time:-)

Below is my first just published Poetry Book “Out of the silent breath” which is available on Amazon and Smashwords.

When you buy my book, you support me in an invaluable manner.

 

‘A Richly Layered and Passionate Read.’ Jan Cliff

Out of the silent breath

If you enjoy my works, you can fuel my creativity with a cup of coffee or a slice of cake😉

Family · Gratitude · Life

Is it ever too much? personal

jacquelineobyikocha23 Comments

I must admit to you that there are days when I start out to pray and that little impish voice in me will say “but you thanked God for this same thing yesterday, so why should you bother him to thank him all over again?” Thankful[1]

….And the wiser one in me tells me that “God is never tired of hearing my voice and that I should never forget that he inhabits my praise,” which I can assure you keeps the impish voice sulking in a dark corner and wondering what wise retort to come up with.

Unfortunately for the imp, it always falls short.

Yesterday was my son’s birthday which was also a school day, even though he’s of the opinion that such an important day should be spent eating cake and making merry – which is not a bad idea,  however, we struck a good bargain – that boy can negotiate 😉

A bargain that he’ll go to school for classes as usual and also join his mates for their scheduled outing to Ski-Dubai, with the promise that we would have a birthday dinner in the evening and also take him to the theme park to play during the weekend.

For some reason, I wasn’t comfortable with the school outing and my niggling mind led me to pray with them and talk to him about being careful.

By mid-afternoon, the day was running smoothly until my phone rang and it was the school nurse. I detest getting such calls because it’s never something to jump up and down over.

The lady nearly gave me a heart attack! Her slow narration on how some other boy got a bit rough at play with my son and mistakenly hit him in the eye had me chewing my nails in angst. A riot of emotions ran through me. I felt like having bionic powers and hurtling off to the school to grab my child, but a little voice told me to keep calm and thank God.

In relief, I thanked God, for it could have been worse. Asides from a slight redness and puffiness which had gone down, he’s as beautiful as ever.

Which brings me to this point of my story.

Each new day is a present day, a new beginning and the fact that I thanked God yesterday for Grace, Mercy, Favour and hedge of protection over my family, should not make me not to thank him today and tomorrow and the next…

For we are told that when we commit our ways unto the Lord, our paths are established. There’s nothing like too much praise when it comes to the goodness of God.

I hope that there’s something that you are thankful for today.

You can join Colline’s  or Maria Jansson gratitude challenge platforms.

@ithankful 🙂

© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha

Below is my first just published Poetry Book “Out of the silent breath” which is available on Amazon and Smashwords.

When you buy my book, you support me in an invaluable manner.

Out of the silent breath

Never leave me lonely

With words left unsaid

You walk away into the dark

Like a mist, that melts away.

Life · Musings

Tuesdays Trickles…My thinking corner.

jacquelineobyikocha10 Comments

Every Tuesday, I share snippets of thoughts that I call ‘My Thinking Corner.’

I would like to invite you to participate. The challenge is quite simple.

Each Tuesday, share your very short snippets of positive, inspiring, motivating, health, spiritual, writing advice, clips, posts etc, that can serve as a prop to motivate others and simply add my link to your post.

I call it my thinking corner because, I actually take out a bit of time just to think through things, encapsulate my thoughts as much as possible and detoxify my mind.

It might work for you in a different way, but the idea is to get the positive thoughts flowing.

Please send in your little thoughts. You never know whose life you might inspire.

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  • We cannot plow our fields by sitting under the shaded tree, chewing on a twig and turning the garden of our dreams in our minds. Our hands must get dirty in the muck and the hoe.
  • To climb up to that success ladder, you must unfold those hands cradling your chin and hold the ladder.
  • Your children can teach a lot of great life lessons, especially in patience. You will realize how elastic your patience truly is.
  • Life has no short cuts except you wish to cut it short.
  • A lot of people want to be somebody notable. Be patient and be yourself first of all. There’s a whole lot of being in you.

© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha

Our Thinkers Thoughts came in from:

Giggles & Tales prayers from the heart shows us that the only way is really to put those difficulties into prayers.

Dollops of heedful ramblings simple message is age old and yet has never gone out of fashion.

Annette’s message gives me lot’s of hope for indeed, you are never too old to dream a new dream.

Friends on my mind can I count on you or are you there just when it’s all beautiful?

Honest me I fell in love with this. Wish I could find one for my house.

Deb’s words of wisdom are little nuggets that speaks volumes.

Parenting with purpose Seye’s colourful messages always grabs my attention.

Thank you to all the contributors. May these words take roots in our lives and may our harvest be bountiful 🙂

‘So, when will you share those nuggets of wisdom of yours?’

Devotions · Family · Gratitude · Love · Personal story

To The Daughter Of My Heart… personal

jacquelineobyikocha47 Comments

Wearing a crown painstakingly made by my younger brother :)
Wearing a crown painstakingly made by my younger brother 🙂

My dearest darling daughter,

I watch in awe as you edge on the cusp of teenage-hood, so fast, so soon, since it seems just like yesterday that your cute, squiggly and warm self was handed into my arms and you truly became mine.

I still relive your valiant struggle to surmount all the challenges faced by a tiny preemie and as I look at you today, my tall elegant child, it is in amazement of God’s goodness and grace over your life.

Daughter mine, my gentle unassuming child, in my minds eyes, I remember your tiny arms outstretched to me so many times as you uttered, ”carry mama” always a toddling step behind my feet.

Now, look at you! My beautiful budding young child, full of her own dreams and aspirations and bright as the morning star.1449293617280[1]

The love that I have for you cannot be expressed fully with words and my heart burgeons with so much delight with The Heavens for allowing you to be mine.

I say this so that you may always know, that even if you look back tomorrow and I am no where to be found, that I love you to the ends of time.

That I love you unconditionally and irrevocably.

Know that as your wings grow and are stretching to fly, that I pray for you today and always.

I pray that your star will always shine as bright as The Heavens created it to be.

I pray that you will soar like an Eagle and that wisdom will always follow you.

I pray that deep peace that flows like the oceans of time will always be your portion and the flow of your joy shall be like a river.

I pray that the generosity and compassion of your heart will continually expand.

I pray that abundant Grace will be your daily cloak, that favour will be your portion and that the Mercy of God will never depart from you.

I pray that your courage will be boundless as you grow into a confident, strong lady, filled with faith, hope and love.

I pray deeply that life will treat you well.  Be blessed. Be happy. Be well.

Happy 12th my precious girl Nnenna, Adaobi, Christine, Mmesomachukwu.

You truly decorate my life and my heart.1449293417812[1]

I love you loads and loads.

Mummy.

Life · Musings · Poetry/Poems

Was it Too Little, Too Late?…

jacquelineobyikocha22 Comments

There are times when people pass on and you wonder…

Was it that we didn’t pray enough?

Was it that we waited too long to pray?

Was it this and was it that?

Then it dawns on you once again!

That The Scourge of Death,

Though a most unwanted visitor,

Is the only certainty in the cycle of life.

And will call at His own time!

Like seasons come and go,

So does the life cycle of man!

Rest in peace, my lady.

Your absence will be felt.

© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha

Life goes onImage credit: Funcrisp.com

Devotions · Gratitude · Hope · Inspiration - Motivation · Love · Social Issues

Under His Shadow, We Pray Today…

jacquelineobyikocha11 Comments

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Dear Lord,

May our aching hearts find healing in your presence.

May we rise against the hurt and the destruction,

Which pervades our society today,

So that we can reach for the silver linings hiding in dark clouds.

Grant our minds a sublime state of being,

Where negative spirits of hatred, of distrust,

of aggression and its virulent forces cannot find root.

Let your peace that brings tranquility reign in our lives,

As you cast your shadow of protection over us.

May those who dwell in the secret place of the Most High God

Abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

Amen.

© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha

Please just take a moment and listen to the Jim Reeves below. Thank you.

 

Creative Writing · Devotions · Hope · Inspiration - Motivation · Life · Musings · Poetry/Poems

Victorious Peace Even When The Tempest Rages…

jacquelineobyikocha26 Comments

Glorious sunset

The winds whispered and then they howled,

The thunder clapped and began to roar,

The lightning danced, throwing fire darts in mad glee,

The Earth rumbled in the quake,

It’s groaning and shivering,

A disheartened statement from deep tectonic plates.

We thought that all would be rendered asunder…..

…..But then came The voice and whispered into the ravaged Earth,

Dripping red with blood,

Peace! Be still!

……and the Earth stood still.

May the peace that transcends common understanding,

Be your portion today and always.

PEACE!!

© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha

The Daily Post prompt Victory

Forget the sad times. This week, it’s all about reveling in a win.