Can I be a ‘real’ Christian and work a 9-5?

More and more I’ve been talking to women who are pursing God, but wonder what it means for their career and their current jobs. I talked to a dear friend of mine and she shared that she’s in a season where God is challenging her, she’s hungering for the Word, but she doesn’t know what her purpose in corporate America is. She wondered if God could really use her in the present season to reach the lives of others. She wondered if working a 9-5 meant that she wasn’t living her life completely submitted to the will of God. We talked about the fact that bills still need to be paid, and that she actually enjoyed her job. Ultimately I encouraged her that she was right where God intended her to be, and that’s what I want to encourage you with!

Let’s start with this fact: Everyone is not called to be on the pulpit. As social media pastors and the new generation of ministers rise up, it’s easy to believe that because you have an Instagram and love Jesus, that God’s will is for you to be a social media pastor as well.

Let’s address that misconception.

Matthew 28:19

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” NIV

Matthew 28:19 is called the great commission because it’s what the word of God tasks us to do. We are to make disciples of ALL nations. But notice that verse doesn’t say anything about your profession.

It doesn’t say you have to be a Pastor, Sunday School teacher,  or Professional Evangelist. It simply says ‘make disciples’ and teach them to obey everything I’ve commanded you.’

Here’s the truth saints, disciples can be made ANYWHERE, and even more….God needs people in every sphere of influence so the Gospel can spread everywhere.

God gives favor in corperate settings and in the religious world. Jesus gives favor in politics and with nonprofits. God is not limited to the four walls of the church and neither is his commandment to make disciples.

Sis, God needs you to work a 9-5 because the people at your job desperately need an example of Jesus.

Sis, God needs you in politics and law because the policies of our government desperately need restructuring.

Christians should be in every sector of the world because we are called to lead and be examples in every sector of the world. Matthew 5:16 says ¹⁶ Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

Note that the verse doesn’t say ‘before some men’. That’s a hint to you and me that the gospel is for everybody, and for every business sector.

So the moral of the story my dear friend is that you’re still getting this Christian thing right if you’re working a corporate job, you can still be a minister of the Gospel because your life is the Gospel.

Strive to be the example of righteousness where you’re at because it draws men unto your savior JESUS. And trust me, they need it.

Jesus & I love yall,

Obioma

-------------------

Announcements

• IF you haven't already, follow my passion project @biblesplusbrunch on Instagram. BiblesplusBrunch is an intimate gathering of intentional women. The goal is to feed your soul and body. Over brunch we discuss what God has called you to do it, and equip each other with the resources to achieve and live sold out lives for Jesus. There's a big announcement coming: November 23rd! Make sure you're following for the update.

• My latest IGTV video series is up. I'm talking about Goal setting , and how to make sure you accomplish your God given purpose. Watch it here! 

I'm mad at God, now what?

Yea, you read the title right.
I was mad at God. To be honest, I'm still not completely over what caused me to be upset in the first place.
Let me back up...

So I'm finishing up my first year of my masters program.
I turned 25, God literally shown down his face upon me...but wait, a life hurdle rears its ugly head.
I'm supposed to get an internship over the summer, mind you, I started looking for this internship in 2017 and was convinced I'd be working for Google (That's a long story).
Fast forward several months later, no internship, no job, and wondering what my future is supposed to look like.

In between I traveled to 4 different countries, if you count Puerto Rico(yes, I know it's a territory)
I took amazing pictures, had once in a life time encounters and was blessed to share it with people I genuinely care about.

So why are you mad at God, Obioma?
That's the appropriate question at this time.

Because I've been praying for somethings.

And you know what?

I haven't gotten them.

In the process of praying, I don't feel like I hear God.

I don't feel like I feel God and I'm frustrated about that.

Did I mention that prior to ignoring me, God gave me specific tasks that required provision that I wasn't seeing?

So, I was mad at God. The anger started small at first. I'm praying, but my prayers were one track minded and usually selfish. I'm believing and believing, because God has never failed me before. But I'm not seeing evidence of the belief this time.
As rejection letter after rejection letter poured in...the anger grew.

GOD, you love me, I feel I've been doing what I'm supposed to do...why are you not coming through for me?
So as I asked this question what seemed liked countless times, the anger ballooned. It came to the point where prayer was a chore, but I obeyed begrudgingly, not out of delight, but out of mandate. My worship was lackluster.

In the process, one thing I couldn't fix my mouth to do was deny the goodness of God, or his faithfulness.
BUT, I was hurt, hurt that He wasn't coming through, but worst...that He seemed to be ignoring me.

This is where I offer a picture perfect solution and scriptures that you can reference and be encouraged, but truly, it's not that easy.

WHEN, we go through times like this, and it's a matter of when, not IF: This is God's way of testing our faithfulness, our belief and our head knowledge of his sovereignty. 
I don't doubt that with a snap of his heavenly fingers, all my problems would be solved, but the part I'm dealing with is how faithful am I to God, and to his vision for my life.
My faith, YOUR faith will get tested, time and time again, and even though we know that our God is good, do we really believe that.

Will you keep serving God not just when He says No, but when he says 'Not right now'
Because it's not God's 'Nos' that hurt the most, it's his wait.
Because while you're waiting, you're in pain, and you're travailing, you're hanging on to the last thing He did.
If I can paint a picture: you're teetering on the edge of a cliff blindfolded. You don't know whether to jump or not because you don't know if the ground beneath you is safe, the wind is blowing and with each blow you're forced to keep your balance on the edge. The whole time, you're asking God what do I do, and it seems like all he can say is 'Not yet', but you're not sure how much longer you can keep fighting the wind.

What if I told you God never asked you to fight the wind? What if I told you His wait, really does mean WAIT, and while you're waiting, make sure you have on His full armor.

Ephesians 6:13-18

 13.Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 

When we really take the time to dissect Ephesians 6, we realized that in the waiting process, God gives us everything we need to bear the winds. To stand firm, we need the Belt of Truth (which is a reminder of all that God is, and all he can do, and has done.) We need the Breastplate of Righteousness, which encourages us to continue to do good and not grow weary in our well doing. We need the shoes of peace because when the enemy attempts to target our minds, we confidently can stand in the peace that surpasses all understanding.

Our shield of faith is the reminder that God is faithful, no matter the nasty schemes of the enemy against the reputation of our Savior. Our salvation is where it all starts, and the word of God, the bible is how we counterattack. 

The most important thing, in all this: Prayer!

Trust me, God knew I was angry with him, He just wanted me to admit it. Use these testing time to run to God and not away from him. Tell him your frustrations, the battle, the fear. And when He says wait...trust that too.

My prayer is that if you're ever mad at God, you take the time to stop, and bask in his sovereign goodness. Realize that all things have a purpose in the hand of God. And honestly, how can you stay angry at the one who gave it all for you?

All my love,

Obioma

At Westminster Palace, with my usual face. London was interesting to say the least.

------------

Announcements

• IF you haven't already, follow my passion project @biblesplusbrunch on Instagram. BiblesplusBrunch is an intimate opportunity to feed your soul and body. Over brunch we discuss what God has called you to do it, and equip each other with the resources to achieve and live intentionally. The next brunch date is: June 23rd: Orlando Florida. 

 Reserve your seat here!

• BiblesPlusBrunch launched an IGlive series: #CandidChats featuring myself (@simplyobioma) and my good friend: @Mayaj_soreal (instagram). We discuss different topics that affect both believers and non believers alike. The point is to start real conversations that hopefully inspire real thought and real change! TUNE in every Tuesday.

• I've been super diligent about adding new content to my YouTube channel, from inspirational videos, to vlogs check it out here! 

My latest video: How to know he's the One

What's the Pressure?

I was talking to one of my girlfriends, and the conversation was about pressure.  I spoke about this self-imposed pressure  to achieve. Although I was getting my masters. I still felt behind. I felt like there was something more I could be doing, my accomplishments paled in comparison to my desires. She felt like a disappointment because she was pursing a degree that she didn't originally plan to pursue. She felt like she'd given up on her hard science degree in favor of an 'easier' choice...even though she knew God was calling her to make the change.

Fast forward months later, and I'm scratching my head asking "What's the pressure?"
I'm genuinely at a place where I see God manifesting in the big and small areas of my life, and I'm wondering why I ever felt so much pressure.

Why was I worried that things would never happen?
Why was I scared of a future that God promised was assured.
Why was I so envious of other people and their positions in life?

I feel like many of us are constantly dealing with so much pressure, from every side. We face this constant pressing by external and internal forces. I liken the feeling to a balloon that's being blown up and at the same time, someone is squeezing it as hard as possible.

Heather Lindsey wrote a book called the Pressure Trap, and you can find the preorder on her site at Heatherllindsey.com. I don't think it's a coincidence that what's burdened my spirit, would burden hers enough to inspire a whole book.

The point is, we keep setting standards or allowing others to set standards for ourselves that God never gave us. This causes us to be unhappy with where we are. Because we're discontent, we look at others life and accomplishments and are envious. Our envy drives us to pressure our self and set more standards in our life that were meant never for us. Then the cycle continues.

Isaiah 64:8 The Voice (VOICE)

8 

Still, Eternal One, You are our Father.
    We are just clay, and You are the potter.
We are the product of Your creative action, shaped and formed into something of worth.

We break the cycle by first realizing, that we are the product of God's creativity. Sometimes the pressures in life, both self & other serve the purpose of molding us into the design God intends. So yes, pressure is not always a bad thing.

The knowledge that we are the work of God also allows us to Breathe because we know something greater than us is in control. And at the bottom of it, isn't that what pressure is all about?
Pressure boils downs to the fear of failing to meet set standards. If we realize we aren't the boss of us, then we realize that only God can help us meet those standards.

2Timothy 2:20-21 (the Voice)20 Look, in the mansions of the rich and powerful you will find everything from silver and gold serving bowls to wooden containers and clay jars; some are used for special occasions—where honor is important—others are used for more mundane tasks. 21 So tell them, if they will clean up their lives and purify themselves from dishonorable teachings that lead people astray, then they can become honorable vessels, consecrated and useful to the Master, made ready for every good work He has in store

Sometimes the point of pressure is to turn us from vessels of dishonor to vessels of honor.
Hear me out!
You can judge a man, or a woman by how they handle stress and the stresses of life.

While everyone else caves in to the pressure to be 'successful' a certain way, or the pressure to look, dress and act a certain way...will you?
Or will you purify yourself by the word, through the Holy Spirit and allow God to take away that pressure and simply provide direction?

All my love, 

Obioma

----

Announcements

• IF you haven't already, follow my passion project @biblesplusbrunch on Instagram. BiblesplusBrunch is an intimate opportunity to feed your soul and body. Over brunch we discuss what God has called you to do it, and equip each other with the resources to achieve and live intentionally. Make sure you follow us for the next Brunch date!

• BiblesPlusBrunch launching a new IGlive series: #CandidChats featuring myself (@simplyobioma) and my good friend: @Mayaj_soreal (instagram). We will be discussing different topics that affect both believers and non believers alike. The point is to start real conversations that hopefully inspire real thought and real change!

• I've been super diligent about adding new content to my YouTube chanel, from inspirational videos, to vlogs check it out here!

5 Go to Tips for Shopping on the Low

I am the biggest believer in the FACT that looking expensive doesn't have to be expensive.
My bestie always says that they created 9.99 for me. And to be honest, she's right. If something is under 9.99, I about 75% more likely to buy it than not.
I'm not ashamed.
Why am I paying ridiculous prices for clothes or items that I most likely won't wear more than twice a year.
Below are my 5 go to tips for dressing fashionably and shopping wisely.

1. Shop Second hand

Yes, I know. There's such a stigma about thrift stores and second hand clothes.  I'll start by saying all thrift stores aren't created equal. But, if you have the opportunity to shop second hand, then I highly recommend it. Second hand stores typically have high quality standards and low prices. Stores like Platos Closet are intentional about catering to trendy, fashion forward consumers. Platos prices are typically more reasonable than spending $$$ on brand new clothes that may not be worth the mark up.
Goodwill is also a very dope place for rare finds, especially now that vintage is making a reappearance.
Moral of the story: Someone else's 'don't like' can be your 'feel inlove'. There's no reason you should be embarrassed, or hesitant about buying or wearing quality second hand.

2. ROSS, TJMAXX, MARSHALLS are your best friends

Betsy Johnson shoes, $9.99 @ Ross

If you're still scared to try second hand, that's okay (no judgement zone!) I recommend you hit up the next best thing: low price department stores. Stores like Ross, TJMAXX , Marshalls offer quality, name brand items at prices less than the department store. Now that I'm fully adulting, I wish I'd known about these stores in my college years. I buy all my cute home décor, journals, occasional dresses and skin care at places like ROSS. My favorite thing about low price department stores is the ability to buy name brand, new at cheaper prices.

3. Shop clearance & outlets

You're still too boujie for low price department stores?

Fine Sis, at least shop clearance first. If you're going to go to a mall, and walk into a store, head straight to the clearance section. DO not pass GO, DO NOT collect $200 . It can be work, but sifting through clearance can also be really rewarding especially when the seasons are changing and stores just want to get rid of inventory. I typically buy summer clothes during winter and winter during summer. Outlets are great for designer items at reduced prices.

Pants from Ross, shoes from Charlotte Russe outlet.

4. Price compare on AMAZON

I promise you, there's a high probability that cute blazer you want is listed on amazon for a cheaper price. When in doubt, Amazon it out! That is all.

5. Check out apps like Offerup & Poshmark

I have never personally bought things from either app, but I do have them both on my phone(I'm plotting). Offerup features general items being sold by locals. Poshmark focuses on clothes and accessories being sold nationally. I've heard awesome things about both. I had a friend sell her Louis Vuitton purse on Poshmark with success. I was shopping for a pre-owned Chanel bag the other day, and prices started at $700. Poshmark also offers authentication for big ticket name brand items for free!

I hope the tips are useful! As much as I like looking good like the next person, I also understand that being a good steward of my God given finances is necessary. Spending a ridiculous amount of money to 'look good' is not a requirement. If you have the cash, then more power to you. BUT you don't have to sacrifice style for savings.

At the end of the day, you define what you wear, it doesn't define you!

All my love,
Obioma