I know, I know! Its been forever I was last here, its been ages you read from me. Dear reader, you may not know but I stepped out of England for a while!!! (Please don't ask about my PhD, I'll tell you about that soon) for now, I am in this very cold, weird place in Canada. They speak French (the story of my life).

Okay, so I was once an intermediate French speaker till I stopped speaking for years, became pretty basic, tried to learn this language in London but never really had the time and now I'm here, I don't want to learn it. This people are rude!! And mean too (if you meet the wrong ones). So far, it hasn't been all that bad.

So I'm on this Information security course. It is really cool, interesting and you need more to succeed. I am so praying hard to get this done ASAP.
So far this is my life and regarding God, hmmmm... He has been AWESOME!!!
I have some wonderful people in my life who have been helping me in my walk with God and every day I want more, I feel I am a lazy Christian but every time I talk to God about it, he tells me everyone has their method of approaching him. I feel a lot better but I can't stay like this, I want more from Him, I want to know him more, that is my greatest desire this year.

Before I go, I'd like to say Happy New Year. 2016 will be an Amazingly blessed year for you and yours. Lots of love from me. I'll see about blogging more, but I can't promise anything, the days are so busy.

I am a programmer, database developer and cyber security researcher by career. I am currently in Africa devoting my time for web development to my small firm. We currently have a number of projects going on and The Lord has been faithful.

Everyday, I wake up and do not leave my apartment here in western Africa, I sit back to work because I've got deadlines. I take a nap and wake up in the wee hours to work till dawn. I sleep in the morning and when I wake up, I devote time to studying the word and deep consecration, communicating with my Father in heaven.

Well, today took a different toll. I woke up and felt the need to dedicate time to the word and prayers. Oh yes! It's time to wait on The Lord, not just for blessings but also for more Grace and wisdom to walk with him, according to his will.

So instead of my usual work routine, this morning, I am praying, listening to sermons and watching my church summer camp going on currently in Portland, I'll be attending the UK one, that's my permanent location. God has been gracious and spending this day with him even in the midst of tight deadlines and problematic program codes, is my utmost joy. Join me if you care to, otherwise, I'll be praying for you. Blessings to you and yours!

P.S.: if you want to look through my profile, here it is www.linkedin.com/in/gigirl

I don't know if I am alone in this but doing a devotion is just like my hair is pulling out and I quickly need to stop and do something else.

The truth be said, the devil truly has taken our precious time with our saviour from us. He hates to see us spend more time on other things. The bible truly said, love not the world neither the things of the world.. Whosoever loves the world more than God is not of God.

Titus 2:11 KJV

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men

God's grace is the word.
We are saved by Grace and it's grace that has been covering for all the love we haven't shown the Lord. Let us start today by spending 15 minutes of every free time with the Lord and half an hour minimum of everyday on devotion. Share your time spent with the Lord with every reader. We are doing a month of the study of the book of Ezra. You can follow us on emeraldogzz.wordpress.com

I won't say I'm in the best of moods now to do this
But what I've got to tell you is that it is essential to try to make someone smile... Recently, peeps have been coming to meet me for advice (excuse my short form) and seriously speaking, I do not know what to say.. Then I turn to the Lord to guide me, sometimes he makes me speak and other times he makes me smile at the person, give a warm big hug and say these words "I'm praying for you" (of course I really do). Surprisingly, it works and what do I do? Smile even more...

I don't know how many are big pretenders but I'm one (yes, I just said it).. I pretend to have the best life when deep down I need a HELP. I do not know how to show that I'm so sad even when I am. Like right now, tears are just streaming down but as usual I smile and write (my best moment for thinking). In everything I give God praise.

Lesson of this whole episode is to SMILE no matter what is going on right now, SMILE because There'll be a light at the end of THIS tunnel. You won't keep going through it because God said, HE won't give us more than we can bear.
I encourage you brother/sister, help another lighten their load and others will help you too with just a SMILE. We are in this together and YOU are NOT FORGOTTEN. :)

My heart goes out to those families who lost someone dear to them in that plane crash earlier yesterday. May the Good God comfort you all and may the gentle souls of the departed rest in peace. Amen.

Yes! I am Nigerian and don't you shake your head in pity for me because I love my country. We do have some issues true, but there's no country without issues. The sad news about Nigeria is that we Nigerians are outspoken so you always get to hear our stories while other countries like little Britain and show-off America just keep the dirty stuff far away from the other parts of the world or they make it sound it's not their fault.

Please do me a favour and tell the Indians to stay away from my country. Who asked them to come manage the airline or own one in Nigeria?? See, my problem with Nigerians:: Stop feeling inferior! we can do better than most countries or race; we are Smart! did you all feel Indians can run it better than Nigerians??? See the end result. Faulty plane, pilot said no to the flight and so did the station manager but annoying and greedy Indians said Yes!! fly!! the plane can handle it. Now we've lost 153 people and even more where the crash happened. I am so disgusted right now and so sad too. God please have mercy on my dear country, it's time for you to listen and hear our cry.

Please dear God!!

This is something I've always admired, desperately wanted and prayed for. Following a sermon at church about a month or two ago, I prayed fervently for it.
I woke up this morning excited about life, because I got to learn that each day God gives us life is a gift and when he chooses to take it, we should thank God for it, because life itself is a struggle.
As I prepare to round up studying and everything relating to Academics at the moment, I get scared but something triggered: God's wisdom. It doesn't come cheap and when it comes, it includes all in one.
I thought of something to write on my blog today, not this... The blog that includes my articles (Emerald's Notebook). I noticed when I just write off my head, it doesn't come out as good as when I am led my HIS mighty hand. I finally found one of my previously written articles and I added just a little to it. I thank God for using me in people's life even as he speaks to me through the poems, novels and plays.

For every little gift, NEVER fail to PRAISE GOD.