All The Deets From The Book Reading And Correctional Centre Visit

There is always someone who God uses as a divine helper to me in everything that He lays on my heart to do.
I have noted this trend and I don’t take it for granted.
And in the instance of the book reading/discussion on purpose that held in Lagos on December 19th, it was a very special lady called Oma.
Oma will call me and say “okay what do you need? How can I help?”
And after doing all that, she’ll still say “I’m sorry that I cannot do much”.
And I’d want to scream “my heart is almost bursting at what you’re doing already”.
I’m not certain she’ll want the role she played to be put out there but I can’t write this without showing gratitude to her (I’m sorry dear, forgive me for putting you out here).

And then Amaka… babes, I don’t know how I met you ohh, online ba?
But you’re God sent… I believe that with all my heart.
Amaka was the moderator for the event, she came way early and we had not even started then.
She waited… then we did the author interview together and then she still stayed for a while even though she had another event to be at later.
Girl… I mean it, thank you!

And then Demilade who told me after reading my book, that he had read it more than 6 times!
I was like “wow?!”
Then he proceeded to start inviting everyone at Church to come for the book reading…
As in, the hype he was hyping me eh, I was wondering “what did this guy see in this book that he read it 6 times and counting?”
And it was true oh, because Demilade took the book review and you need to see his notes from the book.
I peeped the underlined parts of his copy of the book and “afraid catch me”.
Demilade moderated the event along with Amaka too and I am just so thankful for these amazing people God brought my way.

Also my church leaders, Brother Peter and Pastor Nat who helped with a venue for the book reading.
We were trying to get a conference room at Church for the event but couldn’t and Pastor Peter was the one running that aspect.
When we didn’t get it he said “Pastor Nat said you can use the Pastor’s room, hope that’s okay?”
I wanted to scream at his “hope that’s okay?”
Are you for real? How many Pastor’s give their flock room to use their Pastor’s room/office for an event?

Of course I am overwhelmed! With gratitude!

Then Donald who I was calling and calling to help with plans, arrangement at Church, etc.

 

My heart soars at all these amazing things that have happened this year and I’m so grateful for everyone… everyone single person who’s just been amazing!
You’re a testament of God’s love and help to me and I am thankful!

 

So unto the details of the day…

We started at about 1:30pm with filming an author interview.
I and Amaka were supposed to do it weeks back at the singles hangout but couldn’t do it.
So we used the opportunity of the book reading to do it.
The video was so much fun to make and it will be up soon… soon meaning next year 🙂

 

After filming the video, we started properly with prayers and then Demilade did the book review.
Like he totally spoke about every step of the book and pointed out things that I even had not seen before.
And then when he got to step 6 which is share your story and was the theme for the discussion on purpose, he shared his own story.
And I was again blown away by how God transforms, renews and changes in totality.
As he spoke I was just thanking God in my heart because I prayed for transparency and openness and for people to be willing to share and for holds to the past be loosened, for people to see purpose in their pain and in their stories.
And even before I began speaking, Demilade had started the transparency and openness.
We ended up not reading the book again even and I just went with the Spirit’s flow, shared my story and then said what was laid in my heart for us on our stories being springboards to God’s purposes for our lives.

I cannot reproduce here and I will just say that you missed if you weren’t there *tongue out*

 

We didn’t just talk about sharing our stories, we spoke on fear as a hindrance to walking in purpose, on loving others through their messy stories even though it maybe happening at the moment… on being sensitive to the Spirit, on marriage, etc.
It was just as if even though the theme was on sharing our stories as a step to walking in purpose, every person who came got a word for themselves and got a spring towards what God wanted them to do as regards living purposeful lives.

Then we had words/lessons being shared, refreshment, pictures and general joy that arises from being at programmes like the one we had.
My heart was FULL.

Afterwards I had to go to Pst Nat’s born to worship that I talked about here and shared my testimony there as well.
Let’s just say that God has taken the mess as a light for Him and I am overwhelmed.
We (I and my sister) got home at past 12am that night but I was singing and in thanksgiving mode all the way.
Nothing beats #WalkingInPurpose dears… nothing gives the fulfillment it gives because it springs from God who is the ultimate One who satisfies our souls.

If you haven’t found your purpose yet… if you aren’t walking in God’s purpose for your life, let 2016 be a new start.
Purpose in your heart for next year as I did this year to #WalkInPurpose and God will blow you away when He begins to reveal His path of purpose for your life to you.

 

I believe that 2016 will have me holding some more meetings on purpose and raising men and women of purpose for God. I am simply excited to see how God works all these out in the coming year.
Now Onto The Correctional Centre Visit…

I got an email from a friend (again not sure if she wants her name out there) who was coming in from obodo yibo and wanted to do stuff to impact others.
I had planned to donate clothes/things to an orphanage or something before leaving Lagos and at her email I took it seriously and scouted for a place to visit.
Finally found the girls correctional centre at Idi-araba, visited to know what we are supposed to do and fixed a date for it.
Told some other persons who were interested and shared on the blog.
I had wished for 20 sponsored copies of the book and got about 10.
On the morning of the visit while I was on my way there, I suddenly got a text message from a sweet lady who wanted to sponsor an extra 10 copies.
Talk about God noting my 20 copies wish and granting it on the morning of the visit!
We all met up at the centre and I had the pleasure of also meeting up with persons I have never seen physically before!

 

We got some info on the girls at the centre, basically kids with some issues, abused girls, pregnant girls, the ones prone to commit crime, etc, all being moved along towards a changed life.
I shared my testimony again and I pray that seeds have been sown in lives.

Other ladies who came also had some stuff to donate to the girls but beyond that, I believe that I will love to know the girls some more and mentor as needed because beyond a visit, a relationship that pours into lives is what is needed here.
We were also told testimonies of some girls who come in and now are at the university, some about to enter the university, etc.
Those are made possible by some persons who just take on to sponsor some of them to school, so if that’s something that tugs on your heart, the girls correctional centre at Idi-araba is one place that could use your help.

All in all, I am thankful that these events were a success.
I take none of it for granted.
All the glory goes to God.

 

As I mentioned here too, I talked about filming a video on issues of sex and chastity because the season seems to be one where a lot of us are gappling with staying pure..
So I was invited to speak on chastity at a youths programme in RCCG in Warri yesterday and I got them to film the video.

I know it would be of great help to everyone who’s been reaching me on questions concerning chastity/purity.
The video will be up on my you tube channel before tomorrow so subscribe to my channel here to watch as soon as it’s uploaded.
The year 2015 has been an awesome one!
I will be evaluating my goals soonest too and then wrap up blogging for the year this week because I want to go into some mini hibernation mode.
I really need to #Rest and soak in for a fresh and God-vision filled 2016.

 

I love you guys… everyone on here.. some I have contact with, some are still silent and ghost readers. lol.
I love you all.
Have a great week ahead,
Love,
Frances.

 

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