"Ruth"-Less Women

I would like to believe that most Christians know the story of Ruth and Boaz in the Bible. Single women are often times encouraged to wait patiently for their Boaz while waiting on a godly spouse for marriage. On Sunday July 27, 2014, I woke up and prepared myself for church. I felt a strong pulling of the Holy Spirit telling me to read the book of Ruth in the Bible. I remember entering my car and convincing myself that I would spend time studying Ruth this week. As God would have it, there was a guest Pastor at church this Sunday and believe it or not, she preached only about Ruth. As soon as she began her sermon titled "Walking in the Field of Favor", I knew I had heard from the Holy Spirit earlier at home so today I sat down with my Bible to read the book of Ruth and asked the Holy Spirit to minister to me something different about Ruth. In the course of my time before God, God whispered in my heart that many women have become "Ruthless" or as He put it, "Ruth"-Less. 

In its Hebrew context, Ruth means "companion; friend; vision of beauty". Source: BehindTheName) The Bible figure of Ruth indeed represented her name. When her husband died, her Mother-In-Law Naomi insisted that Ruth returned back to her father's house so that she could eventually remarry and bear children. Instead of listening to Naomi like her sister-in-law Orpah did, Ruth chose to cling to Naomi. She rejected returning back to her gods and said unto Naomi 

" Entreat me not to leave you or to turn back from following you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God. Where you die, I will die, And there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more also, if anything but death parts you and me. "- Ruth 1:16-17

These are the words and actions of a woman who had chosen to be a friend and companion. Her words show the beauty of her heart and the genuine love and respect she had for her Mother-In-Law. In addition, Ruth's decision and action proved that she was a faithful woman. She could have chosen to leave once her husband died, but instead Ruth vowed that only death would separate her from her Mother-In-Law. Her faithfulness was not conditional to only the good times. Above all, her action revealed a woman who had made up her mind to forsake other "gods" and worship the True God of Israel. These characteristics and selfless sacrifices were seen by Boaz and he prayed a prayer for her saying, "The Lord repay your work, and a full reward be given you by the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge. "-Ruth 2:12

Ruth was favored by Boaz and he took her as a wife. Ruth was a virtuous woman and her marriage to Boaz spurred the elders of the community who witnessed the occasion to pray" The Lord make the woman who is coming to your house like Rachel and Leah, the two who built the house of Israel; and may you prosper in Ephrathan and be famous in Bethlehem. May your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, because of the offspring which the Lord will give you from this young woman" -(Ruth4:11-12)

Today, most women have become "Ruth"-less, leading to a shortage of "Ruths". According to Merriam-Webster dictionary, ruthless means "having no pity; cruel or merciless".  The devil has so much deceived women into forgetting their worth and power in society. The devil has now reduced women into thinking all they have to offer to the world is their breasts, thighs, and sexuality. In this modern day age of social media, women are no longer concerned with being virtuous and holy. No longer are young women being taught to keep their virginity and practice abstinence before marriage. No longer are the older women showing younger women what it takes to be a woman who is concerned with the affairs of her house. Rather, older women are in competition with younger women on looks and appearance. This should not be so. The word of God tells us

"The older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanders, not given to much wine, teachers of good things. That they may admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, home-makers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed. "-Titus 2-3-5

We have turned from being companions and friends to gossipers. We have forgotten that  we are the pathways and mothers of generations to come. Going back to Ruth 4:11-12, the elders prayed that Ruth would be like Rachel and Leah who BUILT the house of Israel. The love, grace, and character of a woman is creative power; we were created to make, to bring about, to build. It is only an ignorant woman who would destroy that which God has given her. Your presence in a family as a wife, a daughter, a sister, or even a sister-in-law, should neither cause confusion and hatred, nor cause the family to fall apart. If it does, then you are no longer "Ruth" but "Ruth"-less. The Scripture tells us that "The wise woman build her house, but the foolish pulls it down with her hands".- Proverbs14:1. The Bible also tells us the he who finds a wife, finds what is good and obtains favor from God. You as woman are supposed to be something "good" that changes someone for the better. You are supposed to be the door that opens to favor.

So my beautiful ladies, let us be honest with ourselves and evaluate ourselves. Would we be called Ruth, or would people call us ruthless? If we are known as Ruth, let us continue to allow God to guide our steps in righteousness. If we are ruthless, it is never too late to come to God in repentance so that He may make us the blessing we are supposed to be. Ruth chapter four ends by telling us that Ruth gave birth to Obed, who was the father of Jesse, who was the father of David. This chronological timeline shows that the faithfulness, the companionship, and the friendship of Ruth to Naomi led her to becoming the great grandmother of King David, the man the Bible describes as "The man after God's own heart"! Who and what is our character giving birth to? We cannot be mothers to kings without allowing the King of kings to take priority  in our lives. May God give us all grace to be graceful, mercy to be merciful, and the heart to be "Ruth"-full, not "Ruth"-less women. Amen. 

Yorkamazing <3

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T.M.V-Proverbs 31:30-31

"Favor is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman that fears God, she shall be praised. Give to her of the fruit of her hands. And let her own works praise her in the gates"

Health&Fitness: What is FeeFe Up To?- Juicing!

Many readers that have followed my journey know that I went on a health/fitness journey in September 2011. I was in my Junior year in college and I found myself out of shape, always tired, and over weight. I had allowed the stresses of university life to get to me and I would only wake up, eat, study, go to lab, eat, sleep, repeat. No where in my schedule did I set aside a time to workout and exercise. In addition, I was NOT eating healthy therefore the pounds piled on. At my highest (that I know of) I weighed 191.4 pounds. That day was the turning point in my life and I decided that I was going to take control of my health and body. That night I threw away everything that was in my fridge. I got rid of all the processed food, the microwavable packets of unhealthy garbage, and went shopping for healthy food. In addition, I started waking up early to work out before heading to class. One year later of a complete lifestyle change, I lost over 50 pounds and vowed that I would never return to old ways. God was faithful in seeing me through the process and I have been able to influence other ladies to go on their journey to a healthier them. 

So far two personal friends I know have lost a combined weight of over 110 pounds by simply knowing what they are putting in their body. I refused to tell people that I was on a "diet" because I hate the term "diet". To me, diet seems like something temporary. When you decide to treat your body like the temple of the Most High, it cannot be a temporary process. You pick habits that eventually become part of you.  You cannot starve yourself on a diet and expect long term results. My advice to people have always been this: drink water, eat food that can expire/rot, make your own food, limit your portions, throw in fruits and vegetables, and exercise. These things are things you can do for the rest of your life and they will help you maintain your weight. It has been about 3 years since I started the lifestyle change and I have not gained a single pound back after I lost it. Why is that? Because I never went on a diet. I learned/googled/bought books to educate myself on the right foods for my body, I found healthier substitutions for foods I loved, I still ate my Nigerian food but I limited my portion until now, my body is used to eating smaller meals, I became a lover of water drinking up to 3 liters a day, and I found exercise as my stress reliever instead of turning to ice cream and candy. 

Now to the purpose of this post. As a chemist by profession, I love to experiment. My new obsession and passion is now juicing. I have been interested in starting this experience, but for one reason or the other, I never started....until two days ago. For those that may not know, juicing is when you extract the natural juices out of fruits and vegetable. It is an easy way to get all the nutrients of fruits and vegetables without the stress of having to eat them. The other benefit of juicing is that you are in control of what goes into your juice and into your body. Most juices you find in stores have been loaded with preservatives and chemicals that do more damage than good. The juice you make yourself, you know is 100% juice. In addition, because you juice them, you improve your overall health and can even lose weight if you replace one meal a day with the juice. This is my new passion and I want to encourage you all to try it for yourself. As I stated in past posts, when I started being more conscious of my health and how it affects me physically and spiritually, I ask God to guide me in the process so that I may honor Him in all things. Sometimes we get so busy taking care of everyone and everything that we neglect ourselves, but squeezing in time to make sure we are strong will allow us to give the best of us in service to God and mankind. Below is what I am using in this "Juicious" journey I just started. Please share your thoughts and let me know if you try this or send me your recipes! God bless you all and grant you grace for each day. Amen. 

The juicer I bought. I got it for around 31 dollars from amazon.
Click to see the Juicer On Amazon

Picture on the left: I went grocery shopping. Everything in this picture came out to be 27 dollars. Green apples, ginger, red apples, Honey Dew, oranges, celery, strawberries, lemon cucumber, and pineapple. Eating healthy costs a bit of money, but it is definitely worth it in the long run.
Picture on the right: My first recipe was 3 carrots, 3 red apples and half-inch of ginger. 

After washing and cutting up my apples, ginger and carrots, I simply placed it in my juicer and started juicing!

I poured the juice into a bottle, shook it then poured myself a glass! It was DELICIOUS! This recipe has many benefits. It increases your energy, it's great for the heart and gives you healthy glowing skin, and it is a great detoxifier.
Cheers to great health and feeling/looking better!

With love In Christ Jesus,
Yorkamazing <3

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TMV- 3 John1:2

"Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul."

Proverbs 31 Wardrobe Ministry_Edition 2

Hello there! This is the second edition of Proverbs31 Wardrobe Ministry: Clothed with Strength and Dignity. The purpose of these posts is to share ideas of modest outfits that a young believer in Christ can wear to look beautiful without compromising her dignity. I wore this outfit to church for a Baby Naming Ceremony on July 6, 2014 in San Antonio, Texas. Check it out and email me your outfits if you want to be featured! God bless you as you continue to honor Him in EVERY aspect of your life! Amen. 

The Outfit: Black skirt, off-white blazer, leopard print under-shirt

The Outfit: Black skirt, off-white blazer, leopard print under-shirt

Accessories: Gold pumps, baby blue tote purse with gold trimmings, gold Aldo watch

The face: Nude lip gloss (I don't wear make-up because my skin will react and itch)
Accessories: 2-Tone Blue Necklace on a gold chain, white pearl stud earrings

See the past edition by clicking here: Edition 1

With love, 

Yorkamazing <3 

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T.M.V- Romans 12:1

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God--this is your true and proper worship"

When Dying Is Living

One of the phases of life that everyone will experience is the time appointed to die. The topic of death is always one that society does not discuss and it is usually associated with a negative connotation. We live daily as though we are immortal, but the Word of God tells us in Ecclesiastes 3:2 that "there is a time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to uproot". The Word of God also tells us in Hebrews 9:27 that "people are destined to die once, and after that judgement", meaning that there is a day, unknown to us, when we will be called back by our Maker. The good news about dying is that there's an opportunity to die, yet live and it is in this regards that the phrase "YOLO" is invalid. Those in Christ do not live once.  If we believe in God, if we trust His Word to be true, if we know that He is the giver of life, if truly it is in Christ Jesus that we live and move and have our being, if we know that God is good ALL the time, then we must also praise God even in death knowing that before it happened, God allowed it and there's a purpose behind it. In Christ Jesus, dying is living.

 "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His faithful servants. "- Psalm 116:15



When I discovered this Scripture this week, it comforted me. We are precious in the eyes of God while we are alive, and dying does not decrease our worth in the eyes of our Father. Even in death, our Heavenly Father deems us precious. When those close to us pass on to glory, we mourn and cry for them which is understandable, but we have to understand that we are here only for a brief moment in time, and we belong to Someone greater. "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord"- Job 1:21 This world is not our home neither do we "own" anyone. Everyone created in the image of the Almighty are mere gifts from God that God was gracious enough to place in our lives to enrich us and help us experience a glimpse of His love.  The word that stood out to me in the above Scripture is "gave" and "taken". The reason the death of His faithful servants is precious in His sight is because God gives us our loved ones through birth for a period of time, and when He is ready, He takes back those who are rightfully His through death. A parent can allow his or her child to spend some time at a friend's house or camp, but eventually, that parent will want his or her child returned home. The same principle applies to God.

"In My Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself; that where I am, you may be also. "-John 14:2-3 The same God that went ahead to prepare a place for us will eventually come to take us where He has made ready. Upon our return, the same way a loving parent will welcome his or her child is the same way God welcomes us. When we have completed the assignment given to us, when we have done all that God requires of us,  God Almighty welcomes us back by saying "Well done good and faithful servant. Thou has been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." -Matthew 25:23 In the eyes of the flesh, we mourn, but in the Spirit, angels are rejoicing at the return of a child of God. The going home of our loved ones shocks us because with our limited understanding, we believe there is more they are needed on earth for. We shed painful tears at the thought of never seeing them again on this side of world, but the mystery in death is another means by which God demonstrates that His ways are not our ways, neither are His thoughts like our thoughts. This very scripture in Matthew 25:23 reveals that in Christ, there is life after death. If we were faithful over the little things God entrusted in our care while we were living,(family, husband/wife, children, relationships, etc), then according to that scripture, God will entrust more into our care in Heaven, meaning that there is a continuation of life and this life is eternal. How then do we get to that point where we know of a surety that when we take our last breath, we will appear before the Throne of God and be welcomed home?

1. Start Early To Honor God
"Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years  approach when you will say, "I find no pleasure in them"-Ecclesiastes 12:1 Death does not recognize age or status, neither does it favor one gender or race. For this reason, the Bible instructed us to remember our Creator from a young age. The devil goes around deceiving people into thinking that they can live recklessly while they are young and then give their life to Christ when they are older, but how many times have you heard or witness someone your age or younger passing on? We are to live each day, glorifying God. Psalm 90:12 says, " Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." God is just as interested in the life of an 18 year old as He is interested in the life of a 81 year old. Do not make excuses to put God off.

2. Learn to Love, Learn to Serve, Learn to  Forgive
"Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart. Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, nor sworn deceitfully."-Psalm 24:3-4 We are to work and walk with a pure heart, loving and serving those around us with clean hands. We are to reflect the perfect love of Christ in every relationship, which means loving constantly, serving selflessly, and forgiving quickly. It is only a person with a clean heart and clean hands that can stand before a Holy God and because we do not know when our time will be up, we should ask the Holy Spirit to help us daily in our journey through life.

Death, though painful for a moment, cannot be compared to the glory that awaits God's people. Nothing pleases God more than to grant eternal rest to a child that has labored his or her life to expanding the Kingdom of God. For this reason, if you are dealing with the pains of the death of a loved one, take comfort in knowing that all is STILL well. It is okay to cry for those who have passed on because they are deserving of our tears; however, we should not cry as those who do not have a hope because in Christ, dying is living. May God comfort you and yours in Jesus name. Amen. It is well.

Yorkamazing <3

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TMV- Philippians 1:21

"For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain"

Getting Older

"Teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom"-Psalm 90:12

By the special grace of God, once a year, there's a day set apart for us to celebrate our birthday. I recently was blessed to mark my birthday in the month of May and I have been thinking about life in general. I've had a few days to flash back on the years I've lived and to also look forward to the years to come. I've thought about where I predicted I would be at this present age and I've planned for where I want to be by my next birthday. In all of my reminiscing and planning, I remembered Psalm 90:12. The Scripture begins by asking God to teach us to number our days. We number our days each year when people ask you, " How old are you?". This year when people asked me that question and I replied, 99 percent of the response to my answer has been "Feefe you are getting old!" to which I wanted to respond, "Well Duh, of course I'm getting old!".  Aging is not what concerns me. What has been on my mind is the second part of Psalm 90:12 that talks about applying our hearts unto wisdom. The question then remains, how do we apply our hearts unto wisdom? The Word of God tells us that

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments. His praise endureth forever. "-Psalm 111:10

The very first step in applying our hearts unto wisdom is acknowledging that God is God. The fear of, or the reverence of the God, is the beginning of wisdom. No matter how well educated we are, we have yet to taste wisdom and understanding if we are ignorant of the existence of the True Living God. He is the God that created heaven and earth, the God that formed you in your mother's womb and knew you before your mother knew she was pregnant! He is the same God whose grace has allowed you to see another birthday and whose air you are borrowing! Acknowledging His Sovereignty over your life is the start of wisdom.

"Commit your way unto the Lord, Trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass"-Psalm 37:5

When we have this fundamental wisdom, then we will become aware of our foolishness and inadequacies. Rather than being ashamed of this, it will force us to draw closer unto God. If anyone is like me, the older I become, the more I realize how much I need to have my entire life in submission to Christ. I have desires, dreams, and expectations, but increasing in age has exposed my weaknesses.When I was younger, I used to be able to hide behind my parents or my older siblings. They made choices for me and looked after me. If anything was wrong, they took care of it. Now I am more independent and this has force me to realize that I cannot do anything on my own. I am not talking about doing things in the sense of cooking, cleaning, or paying bills because my Mom, being a Nigerian mom, ensured that I knew how to take care of myself. But in terms of doing life,  I now understand how crucial it is to walk in the grace of God. When I think about the future and I think about matters of a young adult's mind like finishing off school, building life-long friendships, and finding a spouse for marriage, etc.,  I realize that I need God to direct my paths.  A mistake in these areas of life can alter an entire destiny and now I see why the Scripture also tells us to "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean NOT on your own understanding; In all of your ways, acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your path"-Psalm 3:5-6. We need the grace of God to apply our hearts unto wisdom to make godly choices, to live the life God called us to live and be all that God destined us to be! Wisdom is the principal thing!

I have decided to challenge myself in this new age to seek after God in a more sincere, deep, and personal way, and I want to encourage you all to do the same. Let us not get older and yet remain spiritual babies for the Word of God says, "When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a [wo]man, I gave up childish ways."-1 Corinthians 13:11. Now is the time to give up childish ways and start applying our hearts unto wisdom, seeking that Christ be revealed in us and through us. If by my next birthday nothing in me and about me has changed for the better, then I have failed to let God transform me and increase me. May this not be my portion, or yours. Let us press towards to mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:14)

Yorkamazing <3

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T.M.V Proverbs 4:7

"Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: in all of your getting get understanding."

A Higher Level of Trust

 "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths"-Proverbs 3:5-6 

What does it mean to trust someone? I know that with most people, they have to know you first before they trust you but I do my own in a way that is somewhat backwards. With me, I will trust you until you give me enough reasons to stop trusting you. Some people give me enough reasons to not trust them within seconds of me meeting them, others within a few weeks but one thing that is for sure is that a person's character will always reveal itself with time. When I think about God, I have come to realize that there will never come a time when God's character will give me enough reasons not to trust Him. Unlike people who may put up fake personalities and hide their true identities under a fake mask, God has shown me, and proven to me times without number that He is the same yesterday, today and forevermore. Though God can do all things, the only thing He cannot do is lie because that is not in His nature. The Word of the Living God says 

"God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent; Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?"- Numbers 23:19

That Scripture can be summed up to say " God CAN be trusted!". People may disappoint you, they can overlook you, they can undervalue you, but God is NOT a man! It is not in His nature to mislead you. I want to encourage you this day that whatever it is that God has promised you, trust him! The above Scripture asks has God ever said something and not done it? Has He ever spoken it and will He not make it good? That is to assure us that everything that He has uttered must be so! Not only that, whatever He has vowed must be good! With prayer and full confidence let us grow to rely on God's Word and promises even when our circumstances may look discouraging. This is a higher level of trust that God is requiring from His people. As we grow in our Christian faith, we cannot hold on to the same level of faith and trust that we had when we first believed. Let us not trust God as we trust people. If we are waiting for the time when God will fail, we wait in vain. If you feel that because God did not answer one particular prayer request therefore you can no longer trust Him, I want to assure you that God did answer your prayer. A good Father will never give a child what He knows will harm the child. Trust God! He is faithful, He is Just. If He said it, He alone will do it! 

Yorkamazing <3

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T.M.V- 2 Corinthians 1:20

For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God

Health Tip of the Month: Meal Preps!

I've had people message me and ask me questions about meals from my youtube video I posted. From those messages,  I promised that I was going to blog a little more about health and fitness things! Well here we go! My advice to anyone starting a weight lost journey/ lifestyle change is to prepare your mind for what your body is about to experience. One way to prepare your mind is by knowing exactly what you are going to eat each day. This is called Meal prepping. Meal prepping is still useful for me as a student because it saves time and allows me to keep my health in check even while busy with school. In the same vain, it can work for those working a full time job, or anyone who is a parent. When you have a schedule of what you are going to eat and when you are going to eat, it makes it a lot easier to stick to the journey and prevents binge eating or the various temptations that you will find throughout the week. Start by writing out your meals. Have a clear idea of what you are going to have for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and be sure to include healthy snacks in between these three main meals. Doing this simple task before the week starts has many advantages. One great advantage of doing this is that you will be able to know exactly how much calories you've consumed in the day. Weight loss is simple math between calories in and calories out so accounting for each calorie will help you reach your goal faster. Below is a sample lunch prep I made as an example of a simple lunch meal prep. If you are like me and you get tired of eating the same thing every day, you can fix two types of lunches and alternate between the days to spice things up a little! I hope this helps! Above all, ask God for the strength and wisdom to make good decisions (health related and with other aspects of life) daily.

Lunch: Salad with baked chicken and a side of fruits. 

Yorkamazing <3
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T.M.V- 3 John1:2

Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul