HAPPY NEW MONTH

Source: Google Images

Happy New Year! Happy New Month!
It's definitely been a while.
Change has happened. For starters i took down my locs. I am wholly a naturalista. :)
I plan to grow out my natural hair as long as my locs were. Everybody is raving about my new look.
Half the time i still do not know what to do with my hair. I get caught up all the time.

Hello February!
While februrary is generally considered the month of LOVE,
It's my month of FAITH.
I choose to believe,
Only good and positive stuff allowed,
I will believe the unbelievable,
I will dream the unthinkable,
Speak it into the atmosphere,
And let my words do the working.

EVERY STEP COUNTS...

Get off the scale! I have yet to see a scale that can tell you how enchanting your eyes are. I have yet to see a scale that can show you how wonderful your hair looks when the sun shines its glorious rays on it. I have yet to see a scale that can thank you for your compassion, sense of humor, and contagious smile. Get off the scale because I have yet to see one that can admire you for your perseverance when challenged in life. ― Steve Maraboli, Life, the Truth, and Being Free

It boils down to how badly do you want it?
I began my journey of change a year ago.
The first year of my journey was purely miraculous. All i did was say a prayer.
A few blurred lines full of open honesty and sheer desperation for change.

"Dear Lord,
Help me lose the extra weight. I have done everything in my power to lose the weight.
I have been on diets, i joined that very expensive gym and the swim club. I never missed a workout unless it rained heavily.  Lord, you know i have done my best. I cannot go beyond this point without your help.Help me lose the extra weight.
I watched the video on youtube of a prophet prophecing weightloss and instatntly people lost the weight in the auditorium. Tonight i am calling on that God who was in that auditorium that night. HELP ME!"

God came through for me.
I did not diet neither did i excercise. I would go to sleep and wake up smaller/lighter.
During the year 2014 i lost a whooping 16 Kgs or 32 pounds on nothing but the faithfulness of God.
My colleagues at work and my family and church family can testify on my behalf. It happened right before their eyes and mine too :)

January this year, i wanted a six pack. I became bolder with my prayers. I asked the Lord for a six pack. The response was not what i hoped for.

"Irene, it is not my responsibility to keep you fit."

I could no longer ride on that miracle cloud. It was upon me to do part. Clearly God had fulfilled his end of the bargain. #FaithfulGod
After taking the step of faith, i had to take the next step running or jogging or skipping.
I took up exercising and healthy eating. I traded sodas for smoothies, water and herbal teas.
I started jumping rope and T25ing every morning.
It's been five months and i can count the number of workouts missed, My wonderful readers it has payed off :)

May 2013 vs May 2015

 LESSONS LEARNT.

1. Miracles still happen today. Believe
2. God IS THE SAME GOD.
3. You have to want it so badly, that nothing is too difficult, no sacrifice is too big.
4. Start from SOMEWHERE .... ANYWHERE
5. Your journey is your journey, Stay on your lane.
6. Focus on the bigger picture.
7. It will not be easy, but it gets better. Just keep going.
8. GET OFF THE SCALE!! My wardrobe became my new scale.
9. TAKE THE STEP OF FAITH
10. TAKE THE STEP ON THE TREADMILL.
11. DO IT FOR THE AFTER PHOTO :)

BY FAITH NOT BY SIGHT

2 Corinthians 5:7 New King James Version (NKJV)
⁷ For we walk by faith, not by sight.

Blindfold surprise by Phil JonesPhotography

There has been something about the month of November.
One constant lesson has been re-playing OVER & OVER & OVER.

Just because you do not see it does not mean IT HAS NOT HAPPENED !!

I have come to learn there is something i now call BLINDFOLD SURPRISES.
Well, this in my new understanding is when things happen even when you cannot see it.
Some things do not necessarily manifest 100% on the spot. Its a process that is supposed to strengthen our faith and not dampen it contrary to popular belief.

A few years ago, i read an incredible story of a visually impaired man who could tell color by touch.
Yes! Just by touching anything of color he knew if it was blue or yellow or white.
I have seen things of color all my life and even with the lights off i cannot tell what color a thing is.

I have experienced a lot of blind surprises lately. Honestly, walking in faith takes a whole lotta FAITH & TRUST. Being a very logical person does interfere with Faith and Trust alot. *work in progress*

Believing when you cannot see stretches my faith muscles so hard i can see six pack forming. lolThe Bible requires of us to walk by faith because what we see is so limiting. God can do above and beyond what we can ask for or imagine. Faith begins where when we cannot see or touch or ask for or think of. It begins wher the natural meets the supernatural.
When Christ on the cross declared it was finished in the natural he was hanging on a cross lifeless. some were depressed because they thought he is gone.. it's over! Lets mourn him. The natural was so limiting.

The phrase it is finished was above and beyond what we could imagine. He had accomplished God's purpose. He had defeated the devil, death, poverty, sickness and all sorts of  earthly viles.

I do not know how far your faith and trust levels have been stretched?? But just because you cannot see does not mean it has not happened. Keep the faith. Keep trusting.

WALKING DICTIONARY

And once the storm is over, you won’t remember how you made it through, how you managed to survive. You won’t even be sure, whether the storm is really over. But one thing is certain. When you come out of the storm, you won’t be the same person who walked in. That’s what this storm’s all about.”
― Haruki Murakami

Source: Weheartit.com

Over the last couple of months, i have gone through a major transition.
My life has undergone a MAAAJOR make over. It's somewhat KILLING social life *musings*
I have learnt hard lessons. Those lessons that have now expanded my borders and vocabulary.

Pas.sion
an intense desire or enthusiasm for something

:: You’ve gotta LOVE what you do! Otherwise, what’s the point in doing it??? Right??!

I, on one end have discovered my TRUE passion and am LOVING IT  *parapapapa  :))) *

Goal

The end toward which effort is directed; AIM

:: Goals are EVERYTHING!! You CAN NOT achieve what you have not stated. Learning first hand that happy go-lucky does not COUNT.
Write it down.. Account for it!
You will NEVER appreciate where you have been until you know where you are going.

Per.se.ver.ance

Continued effort to do or achieve something despite difficulties, failure or opposition

:: OOOHWEE! You can say that AGAIN! My dictionary word of the year! It doesn’t get any easier than perseverance! One word, with a whole lot more underlining in between.
I am walking that line.
Bottom line is, go hard or go home.

At.ti.tude

A feeling or emotion toward a fact or state

:: TWO WORDS .. TONE [IT] DOWN. *okay, three words*

If it ain’t positive, don’t express it. Nobody wants it! Positive all the way.

Ad.ven.ture

An exciting or remarkable experience

:: This is NOTHING less than an adventure. The Adventure continues on all fronts.
Most times all the exciting things are scary. Until you are on the other side of scary, you will never know.. JUST DO IT!

Bal.ance

Mental or emotional steadiness

:: I have failed this test face flat! I have been unable to master the art of balance!! Sounds so easy, doing is another thing all together. ;((( FENG SHUEI needed!

I put work first , always at the mercy of important things *hides*

I definitely do not want to be successful and lonely  .. all alone?! *yikes*

Ap.pre.ci.a.tion

An expression of admiration, approval, gratitude

:: I am appreciating ALL the advice dispensed to me . Amateur & Pro alike! Heh!!

GRATEFUL is me! Plus am appreciating myself for going the mile *Proud 3^rd person persona*

Faith

Firm belief in something for which there is no proof (2) : complete trust

:: Believing makes it all possible. Enough said J)

Family. Friends

Because they ALL make it worthy in the end

:: I know for sure I wouldn’t be here without the HELP and SUPPORT of a select few SPECIAL people.

|HUGS| KISSES  :)))

Thanking You. Loving you all.