MARTHA @ 47

It feels weird for me to wear makeup from a professional artist, but it may be okay, especially as today is my birthday and a special one for me ☺️.

So I turned 47 today and I know 47 is no big deal when thought of in an ordinary sense, especially when life expectancy in the Bible is three score ten…but I’m thankful to have attained this age irrespective of the challenges I’ve faced.

I wasn’t fortunate to live freely like others because I was born with sickle cell anaemia; one of the most dreaded sicknesses one could think of. I faced death again and again due to many life- threatening crises associated with the disease. No one thought I could survive it, including me. The acronym “SS” was all I thought I was but God thought otherwise. God tagged me a “Saved Soul”, and a “Serene Spirit” person… Probably I was yet to know my true self.

At age 10, I gave my life to Christ and was filled with the Holy Spirit. I was empowered on the inside and positioned to surmount my problems and live a fulfilled life through the life giving spirit of God and the power of His word. I dedicated my all to God, yet my problems didn’t go away, at least for now or for a long time…So I thought.

In fact, at age 31, when I was already a mother of 2, I found myself giving up on life. I abhorred life because of the incessant pains I faced often. I focused on my pain and fed my disgust for life. I forgot hubby and the two angels God blessed us with were God sent to me.

One day, while having one of the worst crises I ever had, I prayed to die. I closed my eyes tightly, expecting to open them in another world, my heavenly home. Then I had a vision: I was dead and buried and my 2 young children were at my graveside crying and asking me, “Mummy, who have you left us with?” My husband was also standing there looking very sad. I felt a more severe pain watching them sad because of me. It dawned on me that I Love them more than life and would give my all to see them happy.

I woke up from that dream realizing for the first time the heartbreak I would cause for my loved ones if God had answered my prayer. Then I heard a voice ask me this question, do you still want to die? It was a voice I’m familiar with, the Voice Of God! With tears in my eyes and a trembling voice, I answered, NO!

Till now God has defiled science and predictions. He has shown me that He is the only one who decrees and it comes to pass. And just like He held the sun in Joshua 10:12-13, so He holds my life to this moment.

I build my confidence in God’s word and tap into His promises which are Yea and Amen. I have learned to hang my life on His every word and since I began trusting Him, He’s never failed me. He’s been my strength and my strong fortress; my healer and my deliverer…

God has said in His word that: With long life He will satisfy me and show me His salvation. (Psalm 91:16)

“… as the days of a tree, so will my days be, because I belong to Him. Isaiah 65:22-

“And I shall serve the LORD my God, and He shall bless my bread, and my water, and take sickness away from me… the number of my days He will fulfill. Exodus 23:25-26 … and many others… I proclaim these daily and believe them with all of my heart…

Now through trusting God, I enjoy sharing my story and letting people know that God is real and there’s nothing He can’t do for those who trust in Him. He’s my Light, my Rock, my Strength, and my Song… He rescued me from those who were stronger than me and brought me to a spacious place. Now I sing to Him a joyful song of praise…

I hope that my story will give hope and courage to those going through similar pain.

I wish to tell these stories of the mighty acts of God in my life to my grandchildren and my great- grandchildren, with Paul by my side😉.

I wish that you, the reader, will find solace in God’s word as I have, and stick to it eternally.

And one more thing! If you’re a sickler and are reading this post, please make this part of your daily diet: a tablespoon of honey, a handful of peanuts or peanut butter, some soybeans in any form, Guinea Corn or corn or any of their siblings, collard greens and bitter leaves . As the father of modern medicine Hippocrates said, “Let thy food be thy medicine”.

I’m excited for the days ahead and what they hold for me because I know in whose HANDS they are.

So if you’re thinking of sending me a birthday gift, please channel it to our charity organization. Our next project is to build a tertiary hospital for the underserved communities around Benue State where they can easily access comprehensive healthcare. While we plan to embark on this mega project, the Odumehaje community in Ugbokolo, where our medical mission is headquartered – a community of over 11,000 people currently has no single health facility. 25 deaths from preventable and treatable illnesses have been recorded in the community in the last one month and it’s a pain to our hearts to see this continue longer.

There’s a local government Primary Health Clinic that has been abandoned for years in that community. Our organization, OCMM, has renovated it twice already to put to use during our Free Medical Missions (FMM), but it’s always under lock and key whenever the missions are over due to inadequate equipment and staff.

So we want to kickstart from there before this month runs out. We want to put in basic equipment and infrastructure and get it up and running so the villagers can have access to affordable, and sustainable healthcare.

To donate to this project, please click HERE. Thank you in advance.

It’s my Birthday! Thank you Lord for the gift of another year 🙌🎂💃💃