YOU ARE COMPLETE

When you step unto a stage of commitment, it is important to realize you are already complete. All that is left is for you to discover that completion.

People usually place their hearts on a pedestal to be used, abused, ignored, and violated emotionally and mentally; failing to acknowledge that their hearts also carry worth.

Before stepping into dedication and commitment to another person, it is important to come to a point of commitment and appreciation for yourself.

How do you achieve this? How do you begin to know your value and take note of your worth? How do you begin to see the beauty of your features both inside and out?

Without answering these questions, your heart will remain on that pedestal of suffering because you have not placed it high enough to be valued or given it enough strength to see its worth.

So how can you expect to receive commitment when you do not know the meaning of having self-dedication? How can you begin to speak of knowing your worth when you do not even understand the concept of having value? It is not possible to achieve a life that sees growth when you live in an environment that starves progress.

In order to understand your value, you have to discover your worth.

These are some steps I believe will help you to achieve this:    

1. Spend time with yourself.

This seems obvious enough but people do struggle with this. Instead, they run into the arms of someone else hoping to discover a filling to a void that ultimately comes from within. When you spend time with yourself, you begin to understand who you are-flaws and all. You start to see your actions, speak your thoughts, live your reality without having to consider the opinions of another. And this will lead you to a point of not only growing as an individual but also discovering your value.

2.    Be sociable.

Have a group of people around you that enable you to speak your truth. Live in an environment that allows you to nurture your honesty. This will enable you to grow as a person.

3.    Your worth starts to bloom.

When you walk in an atmosphere of honesty, you allow your worth to begin to speak because you are living your truth. This will not only naturally allow your relationships to build with people but will more importantly foster your relationship to build with yourself.

4.    Your heart grows stronger.

As this happens, the pedestal you placed your heart on starts to grow stronger and more confident because you can now see your value and you know your worth. A lot of people do not see their value because they do not know themselves and as a result they do not know their worth.

5.    Confidence develops.

This will enable you to be more confident with your interactions with people and less tolerant of disrespect to your person. This naturally happens because you now value yourself. And anything you value you do not allow to be disrespected.

6.    Discovery.

 Now you have reached a point of discovering completion and realizing that you do not need anyone to make you complete. You are complete. You are beautiful. You have value. You contain worth.

7.    Complementing Others.

Hence you start to move towards a direction of complementing your partner rather than leaning on them for completion. This applies to all relationships. You begin to complement your friendships, your family, your partners in every aspect: at work, home, and in your surroundings because you have allowed your natural colours of truth to shine. You have allowed your voice to speak. And it will speak in a language of completion and confidence because you now realize your worth.

8.    Respect.

When you have come into a place where you realize you are worthy of respect, you have now come into completion. This is because at the end of the day you need to discover yourself. In discovering yourself you have allowed yourself to become complete. This will enable you to understand that not only do you have value and worth but also, more importantly, your worth and value carries weight in aiding those around you to grow and develop.

9.    Explore.

When you have realized this, you begin to explore avenues to allow your sense of completion to complement your environment. In doing so, you have to remember you contain worth to be shared not to be isolated. There is no value in isolating your worth. In allowing your completion to complement those around you, you have contributed your worth to the growth of another person’s value. This will enable not only a sense of completion to be more important to you, but also, will speak positivity into another person’s life.

10. Haters.

As this begins to happen, you will also notice, there will be those that will not appreciate your completeness. There will always be those that will question your worth. But in arriving in a space of comfort, you have to come to a place of positivity. There will always be people that fail to appreciate the beauty in a diamond but that does not mean the diamond does not continue to shine.

These are steps that I believe will enable you to come into a space of completion where you channel positivity. In following this outline I believe you will begin to live in your true self-your completeness packaged in your worth filled with inestimable value.

God Bless You!

GIFT OF GRACE IS NOW AVAILABLE AT:

LATERNA VENTURES: 13 OKO AWO CLOSE, OFF ADEMOLA ADETOKUNBO STREET. VI, LAGOS.

TERRA KULTURE PLOT 1376 TIAMIYU SAVAGE, OFF AHMADU BELLO WAY, VICTORIA ISLAND, LAGOS.

Follow us on:

FACEBOOK: Tolu Falode: Gift of Grace

TWITTER: tolufalode

INSTAGRAM: fantheflame

thegiftofgrace.net

WALK ON WATER: COME

Matthew 14:22-33:

(NIV)

Jesus Walks on the Water

22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, 24 and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

29 “Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

When I came to Christ I was very lost-that was when He called me. And that birthed my book about faith and trials and triumph: Gift Of Grace: A Sibling Bond.

And I thought in writing that book, I had stepped out of the boat like Peter; I thought I had walked on water. I assumed that my faith had grown as a result and did not need to be further pulled or prodded or stretched-but rather it was complete.

I am not sure why I had that assumption. And its funny now looking back because I have come to discover that our growth in Christ takes place with each step we take towards Him; and those steps never stop.

We never actually stop walking on water. He will always tell you to: Come.

And literally, there will be other Christians on the boat of faith that will be afraid. But are you part of those on the boat, or are you part of the few that actually step out? You can limit your journey in Him by staying on that boat-or you can walk into His purpose for you by stepping out.

I found out this is how faith works.

Just because He put you on the boat does not mean He would not call you out of it. I learned that once you obey one instruction, He gives you a bigger one.

The disciples were told to get on the boat-and they did in obedience. 

But then He came in a different form towards them and He would come in a different form towards you-bearing instructions for you to follow. He will walk on the lake towards you when He knows it is time for you to get out of the boat.

And they all saw Him on the lake-and they all thought He was a ghost. 

The point I am trying to make is-they had never seen the LORD walking on water before hence they could not recognize Him. When He moves you deeper in Him, He will show you more forms of Himself-He will show you more of who He is like you have never seen Him before.

And that was why they thought He was a ghost. And He will reassure you He is the One.

As He told them: It is I. Don’t be afraid.

Fear. A predictable human response to an unpredictable situation. And they were all afraid.

But Peter replied.

Are you Peter? Or does the conversation end when He shows you Himself? Are you quiet in fear? Or do you respond in faith?

I chose to be like Peter when He told me to start this Ministry which was birthed out of my first event in Christ The Call.

I was not sure it was Him. I was comfortable on the boat He had placed me in. I had never seen Him in the form He came to me when He told me to do this event. I was uncertain.

I questioned myself. I questioned those around me and with me on the boat and asked: Is this Him? Is He telling me to do this? And they all responded with doubt. Like the other disciples they were not sure. And this is not because they were not on the boat, but because He was calling me out. Hence the instruction was for me and me alone.

And I was afraid.

And when He responded and told me to Take courage!

I reacted like Peter. I said to Him if it is indeed you, show me. Tell me to come.

And in numerous ways, in my heart, in my mind, in my environment-He said: Come.

And so, taking a deep breath, I began my next journey in Christ walking on that water of faith. Unsure of what it meant but certain of who had called me to move forward.

And I did not look at the wind because when I did I grew afraid.

So I focused on Him.

The wind of doubt, the wind of uncertainty, the wind of whispers that cried I was crazy for doing this so soon after launching my book, that it was going to be an unsuccessful event, the wind that nearly made me sink when I sat in my emotions. I decided to ignore them all-my emotions, my fear, my disbelief and rather walk on the water towards Him and He fed my faith.

There is an important lesson hear-forget what your emotions are saying-and let your actions do the talking: Remember faith without deeds is dead.

And when I walked out on that water in faith, He showed me more and more of Himself-and that walk became more about Him and less about me as I got closer to His call for my obedience.

And He came through for me. The Call happened.

That alone is a testimony for me. That something He had shown me in spirit had come forth because of faith. He will call you and you alone. So listen to Him.

 I saw more of His face, He showed me more of His plans for my life-because I had taken that step of faith despite my fear. And when I was sinking in worry, He would always catch me.

My message today is-walk out in faith-even though you are filled with fear-let Him do only what He can do-that is why it is a walk on water. It is not logical-the only reason you are able to walk is Him.

And He is faithful!

So I encourage you-get out of that boat of fear-and walk in faith. Walk towards Jesus and He will not let you sink in your fear. He will catch you!

That was how The Call happened and channeled my steps into Gift Of Grace Youth Ministry. It all started with obedience in faith.

Take the first step; and then He will show you the following steps-He never shows you the whole picture-each step is important. One faith filled step releases a piece of purpose into your life.

So get out of that boat and walk on the water of His Word:

Come.

Instagram: fantheflame

Twitter: tolufalode

Facebook: Tolu Falode: Gift Of Grace Youth Ministry

thegiftofgrace.net

Gift Of Grace: Available at:

Laterna Ventures Victoria Island Lagos

Terra Kulture Victoria Island Lagos

Online on Konga.com

THE SNAKE

All translations are from the New International Version of the Word.

Exodus 4:1-4: 

Signs for Moses

4 Moses answered, “What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you’?”

2 Then the Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?”

“A staff,” he replied.

3 The Lord said, “Throw it on the ground.”

Moses threw it on the ground and it became a snake, and he ran from it. 

4 Then the Lord said to him, “Reach out your hand and take it by the tail.” So Moses reached out and took hold of the snake and it turned back into a staff in his hand.

I remember when the LORD came into my heart….I was lost and lonely and bitter. The silence filled me with sorrow as I missed my brother’s voice. He was a part of who I was, and who I have become. And I was filled with such pain-it stings with the sore taste of memories filled with loss.

That is how He found me-I was surrounded by the silence of grief-and alone. I was alone. And He came and stood and showed me His face. I was curious. I wanted to know who He was because in His presence I felt comfort, I felt I was understood and above all else, I felt safe. And He began to speak into my spirit and show me a revelation of His face in His Word. The Word spoke life to my dying heart. And He gave me a message that I did not even know He wanted me to share-the first of this message was poured out in pain in what has now become The Gift of Grace. Then, I did not know what was happening. But truly, when He comes in, He shows you more of who you are. He knows you by name.

And like Moses, I was confused. Concerned about what it would mean to say His Name and share His voice with people. I questioned and queried Him:

What if they do not believe me or listen to me? What if they say The Lord did not appear to you?

And He showed me this Word and spoke its meaning into my uncertainty. He showed me my staff-this gift of writing He birthed into my spirit during those months of pain. You see the LORD will show you yourself-He will show you your staff. Moses was a shepherd but that did not cross his mind as he questioned his message from God. He did not pay attention to his staff. I did not pay attention to mine. I did not even notice it. But the LORD drew my attention to it.

He said to me: What is that in your hand?

Just like He has said to you what is that in your hand? Where has He placed you that you shine naturally? Where has He moved through you with ease? For me, it was in my writing.

And the interesting thing is, that staff in Moses’ hand remained a staff as long as he held it. Are you still holding your staff? Are you still clinging to where God has placed you? Just because you have begun to hear His voice does not mean you have begun to obey Him.

Moses was the same here. He held his staff as he questioned the power of God.

At some point the LORD will tell you as He told Moses and He told me:

 Throw it on the ground.

This is because our staffs are to be glorified in His Name. We take no part in what He has chosen to do in our lives. We are merely instruments blessed by the fact that He has chosen you and He has chosen me. And in telling Moses to throw that staff down He was telling Him to surrender. Have you surrendered?

When the LORD told me to throw my staff down-I obeyed-have you? You cannot experience Him unless you obey:

Moses threw his staff on the ground.

And suddenly it stopped being a staff-it became a snake –as the Word says. When the LORD moves in your life, through your staff, it will be a product of obedience. And your staff will become a snake. A snake filled with the anointing of Christ because it is purely the power of God.  

Not you in any way, shape or form. And when He turned my staff into a snake I was scared. Like Moses I ran from it. Because when He moves in your life, it will be a product of obedience that will produce progress and testimonies.

It will scare you. This is because it is not natural-it is supernatural. And in this process you will see more of His face and He will show you how to use your snake. Just like He told Moses:

4 Then the Lord said to him, “Reach out your hand and take it by the tail.” So Moses reached out and took hold of the snake and it turned back into a staff in his hand.

When He shows you your snake, it will only become one in your hands because it is His gift to you-it is His anointing on your life; this is why the snake turned back to a staff in the hands of Moses.

It is important to note that Moses followed the instruction of the LORD and took the snake by the tail. The LORD will instruct you on how to hold and handle the gift He gives you. You should follow it for the anointing to keep moving in your life.

My testimony of this is my book The Gift of Grace which is my staff turned into a snake. He showed His face in my situation and revealed more of Himself to me during this period of trusting and transformation in Him.

I hope you do this too and watch Him work through you.

God Bless.

GIFT OF GRACE-NOW AVAILABLE AT:

konga.com/gift-of-grace

LATERNA VENTURES: 13 OKO AWO CLOSE, OFF ADEMOLA ADETOKUNBO STREET. VI, LAGOS.

Follow us on:

FACEBOOK: Tolu Falode: Gift of Grace

TWITTER: tolufalode

INSTAGRAM: fantheflame

MY GIFT OF GRACE

Today, I am so grateful to God to announce the release of my book titled -
Gift of Grace: A Sibling Bond.


I wrote this book at a time when I felt lost, alone, depressed and isolated by grief because it had taken my brother Toba into death. I was beyond heart broken and I was shocked into a very deadly silence because of how brutal the attack was on my spirit.
That is where the LORD found me and began this beautiful chapter of faith in my life.
That is where He nourished me and showed me His face and the mystery of His Name.
And that is when my story changed and I began to fan the flame of faith.
Gift of Grace chronicles the story of Toba, my brother and how his life drastically changed mine. 
It is a tale of family, love, laughter, tears and finally Life.
My hope is that this book inspires people to find their faith in Christ and to seek Him in their daily situations.
My hope is that my story inspires you to share yours.
My hope for this book is to share how beautiful the LORD is even when you are faced with death whether it manifests in your life in the  physical, emotional or spiritual capacity to bring decay; the LORD still speaks.

I hope this book shares this message with your heart.
Please join me in sharing the Gift of Grace-a book I dedicate to the  voice of my brother whose soul was called into peace so early in life. 
Finally I pray when you seek His face He shows you the power behind His Name.

God Bless.

Follow us on:

FACEBOOK: Tolu Falode: The Gift Of Grace
INSTAGRAM: fantheflame
TWITTER: tolufalode

Available from: 19th of May 2015.