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Today, on May 12th, we celebrate Mother’s Day in the United States, extending warm wishes to all mothers and mothers-to-be for a joyous Mother’s Day 2024!

Motherhood is a lifelong commitment, marked by self-sacrifice and unwavering dedication to the well-being of one’s children. It’s essential to recognise and honour all mothers for their resilience in navigating life’s challenges and embracing its highs and lows.

For those experiencing the complexities of pregnancy, I urge you to prioritise self-care under the guidance of your healthcare provider.

On a spiritual level, consider these steps to shift your focus from adversity to gratitude:

1. Cultivate gratitude

Pregnancy and motherhood are divine blessings and deserving of heartfelt gratitude. Begin each day by thanking the Creator for the precious life within you. Envision a bright future for your child and bless it, drawing strength from the knowledge that you are part of a miraculous journey.

“Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him.”

Psalm 127:3 (NIV)

2. Trust in divine guidance

Follow the example of Mary, the mother of Jesus, who embraced God’s plan with unwavering faith. Trust in the promises of God, finding solace in His Word amidst uncertainty. Commit your child’s life to His care through prayer, knowing that His divine intervention transcends human understanding.

Luke 1:38 (AMP)

Following a visit to Elizabeth, to confirm what the angel told her, Mary wrote the Magnificat, a song of exhortation to God during her pregnancy.

We might not have a divine visitation like Mary, but we have the promises in God’s word to draw strength, faith and hope from.

3. Pray

Entrust the life of your little one to the Lord in prayers. Stay encouraged even when it feels like God is quiet or you don’t see instant outcomes. Be persistent, as your prayers are powerful and will shift things in the heavenliness to establish God’s kingdom in the life of your child on earth as it is in heaven.

Also, remember to take everything to God in prayers, including all the burdens that may weigh you down. 

Trust the life of your unborn child and his/her safe delivery into the hands of the Almighty. Lean into Him and do not be anxious. (Phil 4:6-7), but let God’s peace flood your internal world.

4. Seek community support

You need not walk this journey alone. Connect with fellow mothers in your community or church who share your values. Seek guidance and encouragement from those who have walked a similar path, knowing that collective wisdom fosters strength and resilience.

Without consultation and wise advice, plans are frustrated,
But with many counsellors, they are established and succeed.

Proverbs 15:22 (AMP)

5. Embrace self-care and rest

Listen to your body’s cues and priorities rest. Seek support from your partner when needed. Find solace in God’s presence, allowing His peace to permeate your soul. Remember His promise of rest for the weary and find refuge in His loving embrace.

Write scriptures that speak to you on an index card and speak them out aloud so you hear the words with your spirit.

28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  

Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)

You will find peace and shelter under the shadow of His wings. Make it your hiding place.

6. Embrace Motherhood as a calling

Recognise the sacred privilege of nurturing a precious life entrusted to you by God. Your role as a mother is pivotal, shaping the course of your child’s future. Celebrate this calling and embrace the responsibility with reverence and love.

Proverbs 31:26-28

7. Celebrate God’s faithfulness

Reflect on how far God has brought you through in your journey of pregnancy and thank him for the milestones reached and celebrate them. Think of the prayers that God has answered and celebrate them as well.

You can use your communities as a place to share testimonies of God’s provision, faithfulness, and providence through your journey.

8. Trust in God’s Plan

Despite uncertainties, trust in God’s redemptive plan for your child’s future. Pray fervently for their well-being, knowing that God’s plans are for their prosperity and hope. Surrender to His providence, believing that He works all things for good.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

8. Honour mothers and motherhood

Let Mother’s Day serve as a reminder to honour the mothers in your life, acknowledging their invaluable contributions to nurturing and growth. Express gratitude not only on this day but throughout the year, recognising the profound impact of maternal love and guidance.

As we celebrate Mother’s Day, let us cherish the blessings of motherhood and extend appreciation to all who embody its essence.

May the spirit of love and gratitude continue to illuminate our paths, guiding us in honouring and uplifting mothers everywhere. And when Father’s Day rolls around, let’s do the same for dads!

Joanne Sojinu, Author of A Mother’s Prayers, Week by Week Devotional for Your Unborn Child

A Widow’s story of honour and love: A Journey in the Book of Ruth. Delve into the inspiration found within this enchanting tale, where grief transforms into a powerful narrative of love, surpassing all expectations and shaping a lineage with enduring influence.

A grieving wife and mother

Naomi had gone to live in Moab with her husband, Elimelek and sons Mahlon and Kilion. This was during the times of the Judges in ancient Israel, as there was a famine in Israel. Elimelek died after a while.

Naomi’s sons later married Moabite wives, Orpah and Ruth.

Ten years later, Naomi faced another heart-wrenching blow as her sons passed away, leaving her with only her two daughters-in-law. This loss undoubtedly plunged Naomi into profound sorrow and uncertainty, affecting her emotional well-being and financial stability.

In ancient Israel, a widow without children faced heightened vulnerability, many challenges and hardships. Here are some of the ways it manifests:

• Loss of Labour Contribution: In an agricultural society where manual labour was crucial for sustenance, losing a husband meant the loss of a significant contributor to the household’s labour force. Without a husband to help with agricultural tasks, keep livestock, or engage in trade, the widow might struggle to manage the workload alone.
• Inheritance and Property Rights: Inheritance laws often favoured male heirs in ancient Israelite society. If a widow had no sons or other male relatives to inherit her late husband’s property, she might face difficulties in retaining ownership of land or other assets. This could lead to a decline in economic status and stability for the widow.
• Social Safety Nets: Ancient Israelite society placed a strong emphasis on maintaining family and community support networks. Widows without children or close relatives to offer help might lack the social and economic support systems available to other women in similar circumstances. Without the protection and resources provided by a husband or adult sons, widows could be vulnerable to exploitation or marginalisation.

• Limited Employment Opportunities: While some women, including widows, engaged in economic activities to support themselves, societal norms and cultural expectations limit work available to them. Widows without children to help with household responsibilities might find it challenging to balance work outside the home with their domestic duties, further constraining their economic prospects.

Overall, in ancient Israelite, widows without children grappled with economic challenges. These were connected with broader social, legal, and cultural factors shaping women’s roles and status in the community.

Naomi returns to Israel with Ruth

With no relatives in Moab and the famine in Israel gone, Naomi decides to return. Orpah and Ruth insist on following her. All three women were grieving widows, but Orpah and Ruth decide to leave their families and go with Naomi.

Naomi blesses and urges them to go back to their families. She had no other son for them to marry to keep their husband’s linage open, according to the levirate marriage custom. At Naomi’s insistence, Orpah kisses her mother-in-law and goes back home.

Ruth makes a covenant with Naomi

Ruth’s deep convictions led her to cling to Naomi and make this powerful statement:

16 But Ruth replied, “Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. 17 Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!” 18 When Naomi saw that Ruth was determined to go with her, she said nothing more.

Ruth 1:16-18 (NLT)

The elements in Ruth’s words “Your people will be my people and your God my God. And where you die, I will die and be buried”. That only death will separate them, sounds almost like a covenant you make with your spouse. In her words, she is leaving behind her family and gods and totally embracing Naomi and her God.

This was a remarkable and selfless action, as Ruth had nothing to gain from following Naomi. She was also a grieving widow, who set aside her grief to take care of her grieving mother-in-law.

Her statement and action definitely gets God’s attention and attracts His favour. It converges with His Devine order on how Israel should treat the widow, fatherless and alien among them. Exodus 22:22-24. Ruth was not an Israelite, but she was displaying the values of their law in her behaviour towards Naomi.

We can read God’s heart for widows and orphans in Psalm 68:5.

Father to the fatherless, defender of widows—
    this is God, whose dwelling is holy.

Psalm 68:5 (NLT)

Naomi and Ruth in Bethlehem

In Bethlehem, Ruth wasted no time, but went to work in the fields gleaning wheat to provide food.

When we actively orient our hearts towards blessing others it opens doors for us. It also guides our footsteps towards places where we can connect with blessings.

Ruth Encounters Favour with Boaz 

Ruth had been working in a field of a wealthy relative of Naomi on her late husband’s side, called Boaz. Boaz noticed Ruth, and his workers informed him who she was and how she’d been working very hard.

Boaz extended favour towards her and advised her to glean with the women who worked for him. He also invited Ruth to lunch and gave her more food to take home.

Ruth was oblivious that Boaz was Naomi’s relative, till she got home with the food he gave her.

Ruth, faithful to her promise

Faithfully, Ruth continued working hard and taking care of her mother-in-law daily.

Meanwhile, Naomi had returned to Bethlehem feeling empty, childless and perhaps ashamed and overwhelmed with grief. She felt abandoned by God, this reflected in her statement in Ruth 1:19-20.

19 So the two of them continued on their journey. When they came to Bethlehem, the entire town was excited by their arrival. “Is it really Naomi?” the women asked.

20 “Don’t call me Naomi,” she responded. “Instead, call me Mara, for the Almighty has made life very bitter for me.

Ruth 1:19-20, (NTL)

‘Naomi’ means ‘pleasant’, but so deep was her grief that she wanted her name to reflect her bitter circumstances. Blind sided by grief, she did not initially notice that God was blessing her with a daughter. Ruth was doing for Naomi what a daughter would do for her mother.

During difficult times, especially if they happen repeatedly, it’s tempting to think that God is punishing us. However, according to scripture, God desires to bless us with a fulfilling life. It’s also instinctive to become so upset, we don’t notice the opportunities and people He places around us to bless us.

But as Ruth persevered faithfully serving Naomi, and found favour with Boaz, it lifted Naomi’s head from her grief. A spark of hope ignited within her, as she realised Boaz was a family redeemer. He could marry Ruth, what a blessing! He could also redeem the estate of her late husband, and provide an heir.

But you, O Lord, are a shield around me;
    you are my glory, the one who holds my head high.

Psalm 3:3, (NLT)

The cycle of blessings

Naomi gave Ruth a strategy to set in motion the levirate marriage custom.

First, Ruth was blessing Naomi, now Naomi’s blessing Ruth. They’re syncing in an echo system that converges with God’s word, will and ways, and leads to an outcome of blessings.

26 When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, “Dear woman, here is your son.” 27 And he said to this disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from then on, this disciple took her into his home. John 19:26-27.

Blessings disguised as an inconvenience

God’s usual way of blessing people is often through others who make themselves available. Both parties often get blessed through the process. The opportunity is not always attractive and will often come when it is more convenient and reasonable to say “no”.

We see this later with the nearer family redeemer. Ruth 4:1-6. Where Boaz sought another family redeemer nearer than him in the pecking order.

Boaz approached this family redeemer with the question of redeeming the lands of Mahlon and Kilion. His willingness faded once he realised he’d have to marry Ruth and that their first child wouldn’t belong to him. He thought that his agreement could jeopardise his estate, so he rejected the offer.

What we see as a blessing depends on the filters we have developed for our vision, forming our worldview. Elijah prayed for rain after a three-year drought in Israel and asked his servant what he could see. His servant, observing, told him there was a cloud the size of a man’s fist. But Elijah saw a mighty storm brooding on the horizon. But his servant saw just a small cloud with a zero potential of producing drought braking rain. I Kings 18:41-45 (NTL)

Ruth marries Boaz

Boaz bought the land of Elimelech, knowing the risks to his as well. But he went ahead, joining Naomi and Ruth in the sequence of God’s blessings.

A widow’s story of honour and love evolves as Boaz married Ruth, who bore him a son. Everyone was pleased, as they saw this as Naomi’s son and the entire village were wishing this family well.

It’s interesting that the Bible says that God enabled Ruth to become pregnant. She wasn’t a young wife, neither did she bear children for Mahlon, her late husband. However, doors opened for her in this marriage.

Their son’s name was Obed, who became the father of Jess, the father of David, the linage of Jesus. God’s covenant to David was that He would establish an eternal throne through his linage.

This promise has an eternal weight of glory that outweighs the fading glory the first family redeemer, sought to preserve. God’s ways are for more vast and intricate than ours.

A thought and question for you

“Have you ever experienced a blessing disguised as an inconvenience? Share your stories and insights in the comments below, and let’s explore together how God might be inviting us to partner with Him in birthing something new!”

Joanne Sojinu, Author, A Mother’s Prayers, Week By Week Devotional for Your Unborn Child

I thought I’d focus this short blog on women who are currently planning to become mums, but have not yet seen that outcome. A mixture of emotions can ensue when this drags out for so long, particularly when you have to put on a brave face to congratulate mothers around you who do not have a battle with this issue.

He settles the childless woman in her home
as a happy mother of children.

Praise the Lord.

Psalm 113:9 (NIV)

You Are Not Alone

You are not alone. There are many other women facing this challenge that later go on to have a quiver full.

There’s a woman in the Bible called Hannah, who had this problem. She was married to Elkanah, who also had a second wife called Peninnah. Peninnah had many sons and daughters.

During their annual event, when they would go to worship the Lord and sacrifice an offering at Shiloh, Elkanah would give portions of meat to all his sons and daughters he had with Peninnah, and to Hannah, he would give a double portion. 1 Samuel 1:4.

I’m sure many aspiring mums would be familiar with a story similar to this, particularly around Christmas, when you give gifts to perhaps your nieces and nephews or other people that have children, and of course, they can only give you one gift if you have no children.

This is how Hannah felt year after year, and to be childless those days was socially and economically limiting for a woman.

Seek God In Prayers

Unlike Rachel in Genesis 30:1, who was in a similar position and said to her husband, “Give me a child or else I will die.” Hannah took her issue to God right there in Shiloh, where they had gone to worship.

She prayed internally, not moving her lips, in anguish pouring out her grief to the Lord. She also made a vow to dedicate her child to the Lord. Initially, Eli the priest thought she was drunk, but when he realised she was not, he agreed with her in prayer that God would grant her request.

Co-labourers With God

Hannah had a son and named him Samuel. It is interesting to note that the Lord had closed Hannah’s womb. 1 Samuel 1:5. Like me, you may ask why? This scripture came to mind: It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter. Proverbs 25:2. (AMP)

God knew all along that Samuel was going to be a very prominent priest in the History of Israel, who played a pivotal role in transitioning Israel from a period of Judges to kings, but Hannah also had an important role in preparing Samuel for this great mission and the way God got her attention was to close her womb to enable her to make this discovery.

Hannah’s Discovery

‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’

Jeremiah 33:3 (NIV)

While Hannah prayed in anguish, not even moving her lips, but perhaps she groaned internally. Her posture of prayer took her to a state of mind where she could connect with God’s purpose and come into agreement with God’s will for Samuel.

And she made a vow, saying, “Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.” 1 Samuel 1:-11 (NIV).

You can read the complete account in 1 Samuel chapter 1.

Standing In The Gap

I would like to stand with you in prayers and I have written out a prayer to facilitate this. You can go a step further in faith and buy my book, A Mother’s Prayers, Week by Week Devotional for your unborn Child.

My younger brother bought my book in 2021 after waiting 8 years for his second child and I agreed with him in prayers and last year, my niece was born. Find someone who would continue to stand with you in prayers over this issue. Never underestimate the power of prayers. May the Lord remember you as he did Hannah.

“Again I say to you, that if two believers on earth agree [that is, are of one mind, in harmony] about anything that they ask [within the will of God], it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.

Matthew 18:19 (AMP).

This is an act of faith in a God that still answers prayers and not a magic formula and it may not work for everyone, but it could work for you.

Joanne Sojinu, Author A Mother’s Prayers, Week by Week Devotional For Your Unborn Child.

I can’t believe we’ve been in lockdown for over a year! It’s almost seems like I went to bed last March and fell into a long dream. I’m glad that restrictions are easing and the city doesn’t look so ghostly any more.

Even basic things like shopping in the High Street, became a luxury in lockdown and it was interesting to see the long queues to the stores on April 12th, when the government lifted non essential shopping restrictions here in the UK.

Getting Back to Normal

It all points towards the hope of getting back to normality. It’s been a long, hard challenging year and start to this new decade of the 20s. We have all discovered that we are much more resilient than we thought of ourselves.

We have had to navigate isolation, fought the coronavirus, adhered to restriction measures to protect ourselves and others by socially distancing, relentless hand sanitising and wearing a mask in shops and enclosed spaces outside our homes.

How Far We’ve Come

We’ve had to replace our normal outdoor entertainment with creativity, social media, Zoom and a lot of reading. I hope there’s something positive you’ve learnt during lockdown that enhances your life. I definitely have!

So, now that we are coming out of lockdown, I have to work at deconstructing all the thoughts and fears that have kept us in lockdown and socially distancing from one another. Further restrictions in the UK officially ease on Monday 17th May to permit indoor and outdoor entertainment .e.g. cinemas and up to 6 people can meet indoors and two households. I’m certainly looking forward to eating indoors at restaurants again.

We’ve spent an entire year having rules drummed into our ears to prevent us spreading the virus and rightly so. Now that restrictions are being slowly lifted, do we just go back to normal? What do we do with all the memories and cautious behaviour we’ve learned during lockdown? How do we attempt to deconstruct the fears we’ve spent a year building up in our minds?

Processing Learned Fears

There are so many questions that are important to process as we come out of lockdown if we want to integrate into social spaces and not demonise each other or subconsciously develop agoraphobia. 

So here’s a way to deconstruct fears and process things clearly, and I will use the “How do you eat and elephant” saying – One bite at a time:

Facts about Covid-19 – It is a highly infectious virus transmitted by droplets from the nose and mouth that affects the respiratory system. The elderly and people with underlining health conditions, such as cancer and respiratory issues, are at a higher risk of infection. Others are A symmetric, so they can contract the virus, but develop mild or no symptoms, but might infect others with it. The way to catch it is through people spreading the virus, which rapidly replicates itself.

Measures to contain the spread

We have spent over a year in lockdown, adhered to social distancing rules, wearing a mask in enclosed spaces, such as supermarkets and shopping centres. Most unessential stores, pubs and restaurants have been closed as a measure to curb the spread and large gatherings became illegal. We did this well.

The Covid-19 Vaccine and its effectiveness

Since last December, the government has rolled out the Covid-19 vaccination programme, starting with the most vulnerable to the less vulnerable. 

So what does the Vaccine do? The vaccine enables the white blood cells in our bodies to develop an immunity to the virus and it also stops us from getting seriously ill from it. It requires two doses for the vaccine to be fully effective. How to get the Covid-19 vaccine in the UK

If everyone gets the vaccine, we can all have a better chance of returning to normality. 

Over the centuries, we have had plagues and viruses, which we have fought with vaccines and medication and Covid-19 will be no different.

The government announced that their move to ease restriction further is based on four tests of the vaccine’s effectiveness.

How Safe is the Vaccine?

According to the National Health Service (NHS), the COVID-19 vaccine meets strict standards of effectiveness and quality set by an independent medical regulator. The BBC reports that, as it stands now, over 36 million people in the UK have received, at minimum, the first vaccine, which is over half the population. It is very reassuring that we are making headway.

Can the Vaccine Protect us from Covid Variants?

The World Health Organisation (WHO), states that approved vaccinations available, provide a protection against variants to the virus that might develop. This is because the vaccines provide a wide range of antibodies and cell response to fight mutations. 

Health researchers are constantly studying the behaviour of the virus in order to make a quick response to changes that might be problematic.

So, given the above information, we can be confident that the coronavirus is under constant militant scrutiny.

In view of all that is being done, we can safely deconstruct fears built up in our minds over the last twelve months and feel a lot more confident and informed about where we stand regarding getting back to normality.

Brief Personal Update

I have finally found a poetry editor and my poems are in the editing process. I should get a first draft before the end of the month and I hope to get my collection of poems out soon as I complete all the editing.

Here is a poem I wrote about lockdown:

Photo by Alberto Bigon on Unsplash

Joanne Sojinu

Lent, the Passover and Easter are very important seasons in the Christian calendar and it can sometimes Passover us with all the busyness of life. News on the pandemic and social media are all jostling for our attention.

I knew that if I didn’t become intentional about Easter, I can miss an important opportunity to review what God did for me and celebrate the essence of it personally. I want it to be a season of being grateful for the life Christ died to give me on earth and the one to come.

A few years ago, I immersed myself in the reason for the season each Easter, by reading the gospel story. I also listened to teaching and though it’s the same story every Easter, God highlights something new to me. This keeps the meaning fresh in my heart. To me, it’s an important memorial of the work God started right from the fall of man at the beginning of time.

I really believe that when you set your mind to seek God during Easter, He will meet with you and open your eyes up to see glimpses of glory that you may not see another time.

Two men on their way to Emmaus after the death and resurrection of Christ were talking about the entire event. Their hearts were clearly engaged in this passionate discussion as they reviewed the events over the last two days. These men were clearly believers, and Jesus had informed His followers to wait for Him in Jerusalem. 

Jesus appeared to them on their journey, but they did not recognise Him. He started teaching them, taking them back through the prophets and how they prophesied He was to die and be glorified on the third day.

The men invited him for supper and as he blessed and broke the bread, their eyes were open. Without being told, they headed back to Jerusalem. Their encounter with Jesus, not only gave them clarity of thought, but a clear direction of where they should be.

You can read the full story in Luke 24:13-35.

Jesus will visit you too when you intentionally seek to know Him more. He will clear the fog in your head and navigate your journey to the new life he purposed for you to live!

I wrote an Easter poem below:

Joanne Sojinu, Author,

A Mother’s Prayers, Week by Week Devotional for your Unborn Child

My book of poems will be out soon!

I’m trusting you all had a great Christmas and New Year’s in lockdown! What a challenging year 2020 has been for everyone, with COVID-19 hitting us in March like an avalanche, followed by a series of lockdowns and restrictions, not to mention the financial impact for many people and businesses. 

The closing of Churches, social communities and youth centres has also made the season quite isolating.

For me, it has been quite a very challenging year and I won’t bother you with the details other than that I could not write as much as I would have liked to because of family matters and other issues that I needed to attend to.

However, I’m optimistic that hope is peeping through the horizon and will push its way through the gloom of last year and bring with it a breath of fresh air that we all so desperately need.

I mentioned at the beginning of last year that I will publish my poems, which I had to postpone till this year and hope to get out soon, and I thought I’d share with you, one I wrote last year called ‘Avalanche’. It’s a reflection of my experience of last year that was fraught with challenges, one after another. 

But I’d have to qualify that by mentioning just how much I felt God’s presence, protection and provision in the midst of it, which was overwhelming, and I am very grateful, and in no shadow of doubt, that He was fully in control.

My encouragement to all those adversely affected by COVID-19, be it a loss of a loved one, economic changes and or having to juggle home schooling with a day job, there is a bright future ahead of you!

I’d really love to hear your feedback on this poem.

Poem

Avalanche 2020

 As the day lengthened anxiety I fight
 with each hour, as day turns to night.
 No more tears and too tired to see
 Your faithful love was chasing me.
 
 Lofty mountains and valleys low; 
 before my eyes, destiny unfolds.
 A journey hard and strewn with thorns,
 With footsteps of love, my heart you’ve won.
 
 A season so heavy, nights dark and cold
 Still at dawn, the sun rose.
 Its beaming rays chased out the shadows;
 Melodies of love follow me in the meadows.

 I began the year with great hope and cheer,
 it took turns on streets of despair.
 Flooding my life wave after wave, but in the
 hollow of an avalanche, I hide in your embrace
 
 Whispers of hope I hear in the distance;
 Fly high your hope and let’s form a resistance.
 We’ve conquered plagues all thru the years.
 It’ll soon be over, and we’ll lift our cheers!

 ©  Joanne Sojinu, July 2020

Before I go into how mothers are called to be co-creators, let’s first go back to the beginning. I will be providing an insight into God’s original design for man and his relationship with God.

Then we’ll look at the fall, God’s redemption plan and how we reconnect to our lost relationship with God. Lastly, how we fulfil the element of the mission which is to be fruitful and multiply.

The Beginning

In Genesis, we read the account of God creating the world so intricately. And out of darkness came this beautiful universe, the starry host as part of the night light, a great burning ball for day light. The sky, the seas, lush forests and animals. I cannot survey the beautiful terrain of this world and not believe that the architect of this stunning creation wasn’t God.

Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth”; and it was so. And the earth brought forth grass, the herb that yields seed according to its kind, and the tree that yields fruit, whose seed is in itself according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. So the evening and the morning were the third day.

Genesis 1:11-13, NKJV.

Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

Genesis 1:26-28, NKJV

The first couple and their mission

Following the divine order in which He created the world, God created Adam and Even after His own image and likeness. God wanted them to have dominion over all living things. Since God created man in His image, He wants humans to have a level of dominion that would be in keeping with the likeness of their creator, within His set boundaries, while still being subject to their creator through a relationship.

For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building.

1 Cor 3:9, NKJV

God created a beautiful Garden called Eden that had trees pleasing to the eyes and good for food and put Adam in the Garden to maintain it. Part of Adams role in dominion, was to name the animals. Eve was created to be his wife, partner and co-creator

Whilst meditating on the creation story, a few things dropped into my spirit about the role of women in co-creating and populating the earth.

Man’s relationship with God pre and post the fall

God desired to have a relationship with Adam and Eve as their father and He also walked in the Garden, Genesis 3:8. Scriptures indicates that Adam and Eve were familiar with God, they knew His voice and had a relationship with Him. They are the only human couple that had direct access to God in person.

After sin and the fall of man, direct access to God was limited in that God no longer physically visited Adam and Eve in person. This is because sin had caused a separation, though they still communicated with him. Their children Cain and Abel, also communicated with God and on one occasion, they brought the fruit of their labour before God. Genesis 4:3-5. They would also have told their sons about God, including the fall.

The Role of populating the earth

The couple’s role was to teach their sons about God, His love how to relate to God, their role in terms of work, productivity and dominion over living creatures as well as what is right and wrong. This was important as the instructions Adam and Eve were given was to be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth and have dominion over all living creatures on earth. So teaching their children about God and that they were made in the image and likeness of God would be part of this order, so that generations down the line are not confused about their identity in God.

Sin’s barrier between a Holy God and man, and God’s redemption promise

The fall of man in Genesis 3, created a barrier between a Holy God and man. As sin began to rule the world and the distance between God and man became wider and wider, so mans identity in God began to slowly fade away.

But God did not leave Adam and Eve in their sinful state, the seal of redemption was placed on them right there in the Garden after they’d sinned:

Also for Adam and his wife the Lord God made tunics of skin, and clothed them.

Genesis 3:21, NKJV

God sacrificed an animal and covered Adam and Eve with the skin of the animal. It was a sign that He was going to sacrifice His own son in ransom for their souls centuries later. Through Jesus’ teaching, we have a revelation of who we are and that our spirits that was once dead to God through sin, has been awakened to God through Christ’s death and resurrection, as we put our trust in Him. We have been reconciled back to the Father and we also have the Holy Spirit who teaches us all things. John 14:26

Jesus is also described as the second Adam

So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. It is sown in dishonour, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.

1 Corinthians 15:42-45, NKJV

So, we see in 1 Cor 15:45, that Jesus followed the divine order of God as seen in the creation story, by planting His life as a seed.

In taking the fall for the human race as God, divinely incarnated in human flesh, but without sin, Jesus has not just redeemed us from the curse of the law and reconciled us back to God through faith, but He has also taken the place of Adam, not as a living being, but as a life-giving spirit.

When we believe in Jesus and the finished work of the cross, our spirits that was once dead to God, awakens to Him. As a result, we can relate with Him on a spiritual level as our Father. The very relationship He wanted with us from the beginning.

The Role of Women as Co-Creators

Now that we’ve wrapped up the gospel and God’s redemption plan, we can now  look at the role of women as co-creators with God.

Men are included and have an important part in this role as well as co-creators, but I am looking at this through the point of view of a woman, who carries the seed of the child and can begin her role right from conception and throughout her pregnancy. 

Adam was mandated by God to be fruitful and replenish the earth. Jesus, who planted His life as a seed, has become the Vine, we are the branches and God the Gardener. We abide in Jesus and let His words abide in us and we bear much fruit in kind: John 15-5.

You can teach your children about abiding in Jesus right from the womb as they are being formed, by praying over them and taking time to talk to your unborn child. You can tell stories to your baby and this can continue right up to delivery, and the seed is sown from there.

It is a form of watering and sanctifying your seed while they’re in your protective care and not yet contaminated by the world and other weeds. We don’t stop, we continue through childhood to adulthood. If as many mothers do this, we can multiply fruitfulness in our children according to God’s divine order through Christ Jesus our Lord.

As we see from genesis 3, there will always be a contention for the seed you carry:

Genesis 3:15

But As we continue to abide in Jesus, who has redeemed us from the curse of the law, and let His words abide in us, we will always have the victory through Jesus our Lord and Saviour, Amen!

Joanne Sojinu, Author, A Mother’s Prayers, Week by Week Devotional for Your Unborn Child /https://joanneswellofpearls.com/book/a-mothers-prayers/

So we’re two months into the pandemic and national lockdown for our nation, where COVI-19 has caused separation, isolation, sickness and for some, the loss of friend’s, colleagues or loved ones. In its trail, it has caused panic stockpiling of food, all kinds of conspiracy theories, a fear of the unknown and awkwardness towards others opposed to how we once moved, shopped and gathered in crowds without a second thought for our health.

But it’s equally important to point out some of the good things that has surfaced in the wake of this pandemic:

That inherent in us is all is a good and altruistic nature

Everyone’s doing their part to stop the spread of the virus by staying home, which is very hard to do, particularly if you’re closed in the four walls of a small flat with young children pestering you to go out and it’s hard for them to understand that there is a curfew in place that supersedes their parent’s decision on whether or not to take them out. Thank God it has been eased a bit. Also, it was very good to see the nation coming together to help one another and look out for elderly and vulnerable neighbours, do food runs and make contributions towards the welfare of those who have been financially impacted by COVID-19. It was also lovely to see restaurants using their kitchens to cook and feed NHS staff, while others made Personal Protective Equipment for NHS staff and Caregivers.  We’ve seen many people employ creative ways to raise money for the NHS, including a 100 year old WW2 veteran, Captain Tom Moore, who raised over £32M for the NHS, by walking the length of his garden 100 times before his 100th birthday on 30th April. How wonderful is that!

But you my say where is Hope on the Horizon for Me?

All of the above points to the hand of hope on the horizon that we need to rebuild our lives, the nation and the future together. Although we don’t know what the future will be like post lockdown, but I think it’s important to look with hope and not despair. The unknown may be a challenge right now, as our generation has never experienced a pandemic before, but it also presents a lot of opportunities with it and it’s best to focus and build on what we can control.

We have now discovered that some of us can work from home and a lot of small firms may decided to ditch their overheads that comes with having an office premises to working from home and having online meetings and then renting a space to meet in person when required, which will save on rent and utilities.

Some who have been furloughed, may have discovered new business opportunities online. I’ve heard of someone who’s got into the business of producing face masks following lockdown. 

Creative gifts can be honed and flourish in lockdown

In Genesis 37, Joseph the son of Jacob and one of the 12 Patriarchs, ended up being locked out of his own home and land when his brothers sold him to the Ishmaelite’s for 20 shekels, who sold him on to Potiphar, one of Pharaoh’s officials, all because of his dream and the fact that he was loved very much by his father. As if things couldn’t get any worse, Joseph was later tempted and lied on by Potiphar’s wife, who had an eye on him and he was subsequently imprisoned for a crime he did not commit. Joseph could have thrown his hands in the air and given up, but he saw his lockdown as an opportunity to interpreter the dreams of his inmates, the butler and the baker, both of which later came true. When an opportunity arose in the palace to interpret the dream of Pharaoh, Joseph was remembered and was able to accurately interpreter Pharaoh’s dream, which led to his promotion to a very high position in the king’s palace. The account runs over several chapters to the end of Genesis. 

We see in this story that creative gifts can be enhanced and perfected during lockdown, ironically, Joseph needed people to help him hone his skills and his brothers were not the perfect candidates, as they did not like him, but God provided him with an opportunity that came disguised in, what looked like, a big injustice. Joseph had two choices; to cave in, gather a pity party in prison and lament no end about the selfish nature of his brothers, or he could use his time to discover new horizons buried or blurred in plain sight. 

Perhaps there are opportunities on your horizon view that needs to be unwrapped from its brown paper and is waiting for you to find it, dust it off and wrap it up in Gold!

Joanne Sojinu, Author

A Mother’s Prayers, Week by Week Devotional for Your Unborn Child

In December, I remember hearing about the coronavirus in the distant Far East and seeing some of the footage of how it was impacting the health and lives of the population of Wuhan in China. It seemed strange but not unfamiliar, as China had also experienced SARS in 2003, so I didn’t think too much of it as I thought they’d bring it under control as they did with SARS back then. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine, that it would, not only come so close to home, but take hold of our buzzing nation in a dark and vice grip, bringing it to a screeching halt and taking so many lives, as it swept over the nation and the world at large.

We’ve gone from overcrowded streets in the West End, large protests over climate change, demonstrations over a Trump visit last summer in Westminster, large protests over Brexit in Parliament Square and all the drama in the House of Parliament over the Brexit agreement, to deserted streets, social distancing; learning to stay at home, empty parks and closed businesses. The life as we knew it has come to a standstill as we navigate the new norm of working from home and for some, whose work depend on serving people face to face, learning new ways to feed their families and pay the bills.

Personally, I found the first week of working from home very difficult, as I kept listening to the news and hearing the daily rise in the amount of people contracting the virus and dying from it, the NHS medical team working very hard without proper equipments and it all felt like we were at war against an unseen army laying siege and silently taking lives. Even though I’m quite solid in my faith, this really shook me and I felt like I was in a daze. I couldn’t do much but watch more of the news and the more I watched the more hopeless I felt.

Then I had to wake up and shake myself out of the state of mind I was in and remind myself that I had access to God through prayers.  So here are a few things I did to reorient my focus to a more positive state:

Prayers

I began to pray in the spirit, as Romans 8:26-26 (NKJ) says: 

Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

Also, Jude 1:20, admonishes us that praying in the spirit also strengthens our faith, but even if you are unable to pray in the spirit you can engage your heart with God and He will hear you.

Organising a Group to pray with

When I engaged my mind in prayers I felt impressed to organise a few ladies I know that would be interested in praying together and so I called them and arranged an online prayer group and we pray regularly for God’s intervention. I strongly believe in the power of prayers. James 5:16 (NKJ)

Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

I also believe the when two or more people join faith together and pray for a common goal, it is much more effective than praying solo, as you can also encourage each other and change a negative atmosphere. 

I felt that our battle was not just with COVID-19, but with the spirit of fear that it was generating, which was reinforcing the negative, making fear bigger than faith and there is a need for a lot more positive energy to bring down God’s heavenly agenda to earth to combat this virus and we need sound minds to do this.

Limiting my focus on negative news

I limited my intake of the news and the negative narrative proliferating on social media outlets, such as WhatsApp groups, that was feeding the panic already in place and I started focusing my mind on worship, creativity, checking on those I know who live a lone and encouraging them. I believe that people will naturally gravitate towards their most dominant thought, therefore our thoughts need to be creating positive energy. We can do this by reading more of God’s word and promises and refocusing our energy towards what we can control. 

Getting Creative

Whilst in quarantine, during the Great Plague in the 16th Century, Issac Newton worked on his theories and calculus, optics and laws of motion. I hope this will inspire you also to be creative with the opportunity you have in this isolation period, and it doesn’t have to be as technical as calculus.  I have been getting creative by mastering by guitar skills with some of my favourite worship songs and also carving out time to work on my next book and getting to grips with marketing.

Don’t Do Life Alone

So, please don’t do life alone, but reach out to friends and families, as it is important for your mental health. We are social beings, created to relate with one another and we have suddenly found ourselves apart, due to COVID-19, which is a strain on mental health, particularly if you have young children and you’re having to juggle work with caring for them as well as home schooling them. Here’s a useful podcast you might find helpful: https://www.focusonthefamily.com/episodes/broadcast/unexpected-homeschooling-tips-for-teaching-kids-at-home/

Social media provides an outlet where you can join a group, form a group and use this time and opportunity to do something new, which in turn, will divert your mind from dwelling on the negative. If you are part of a church that has small groups, that’s a good place to go and find community where you can encourage one another in your faith and or even join together and do something altruistic for your community, which also has a way of lifting your spirit!

Joanne Sojinu, Author:

A Mother’s Prayers, Week by Week Devotional for Your Unborn Child

I love attending baby showers, as I seem them as special moments where I get to share an important time in the life of a friend or family member, getting ready to introduce their bundle of joy to the world. What a beautiful season of anticipation and joy of motherhood that is about to unfold!

Some of us go to great lengths of thoughtfulness and creativity to make the baby shower a beautiful occasion, which is very heart warming to every mother and I’m sure the baby feels the atmosphere of love as well, even in the womb.

Baby showers usually takes place a month before birth. What if we have a baby shower day for each month of pregnancy, where the pregnant mum would choose that day to shower God’s blessings over her unborn child by focusing on a theme. The theme might be “strength” and it could go like this:

• I bless you my beloved child, even though your frame is tiny, the Holy Spirit fills you with strength in your bones and immune system to overcome sickness and any other challenge.
• I bless you with strength and confidence in my/our love for you and in the endless love of Almighty God.
• I bless you with strength to be your own person and may I have the grace to nurture and help you to channel this well.
• I bless you my loving child with a strength to always choose what is right, even though you may be standing alone in your choice
• I bless you my loving child with the strength to trail blaze useful problem solving ideas, drawing confidence and strength from God

You can also involve close family members and friends in the process as well, as they get to bond with the child and have an input, as a community, into blessing the child, which is a very godly thing. You could provide them with 9 dates to put in their diaries, depending on how far along you are before you announce your pregnancy. They can either use their words or you can provide them with a Bible verse to inspire them and or give them a monthly theme on the blessings that they wish to shower your baby with.

When this is done, you can create a book or file with dividers for each month and file away the blessings provided and keep it for your child until he or she is old enough to understand and appreciate it. 

There is power in community blessings, which unfortunately, has become a lost treasure in our society. An example of a community coming together to bless a family can be found in the book of Ruth chapter 4:11-12

And all the people who were at the gate, and the elders, said, “We are witnesses. 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 Ephrathah 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.”

What a beautiful display of the blessing of a community, united as one for the good of one another. Grant us more of this Lord!

Joanne Sojinu

Image by Karen Arnold, Pixabay

I was asked this question during a TV interview whilst I was in Nigeria for my mother’s funeral last month. I must admit that I could not recall the correct answer, but said it was around the 10th week. I later checked and found out that it is the 13th week from the date of conception and the 15th week from the date of your last period. 

‘A Mother’s Prayers’ provides two dates for ease of reference; the date from conception, which you may never know and is also that date that I use for the stages of the growing child’s development and prayers; and the date from your last period, also referred to as the gestational date. I’ve written it this way so that the prayers could follow closer to the actual developmental stage of the growing child. You can work out the date of conception, as it will always be two weeks less than the date of your last period, assuming that you’re on a 28 day cycle.

But I began to think a lot deeper about when babies actually hear you in the womb. Human beings have a spirit, a soul which, consists of the mind and emotions, and they also live in a body. 

The Bible says:

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,

    before you were born I set you apart;

    I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

Jeremiah 1:5 (NIV)

This implies that God knew our spirit before we came to earth, but the body took shape during conception and pregnancy.

Another scripture that talks about our spirit can be found in the book of Ecclesiastes. 

and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. Ecclesiastes 12:6-7 (NIV)

The dust is in reference to the body and the implication is that our spirit came from God. Genesis 2:7 indicates that God formed man from dust and breathed into man and he became a living soul.

During fertilisation, the gender and genetic makeup of the growing embryo is already determined. I would suggest that it is at this stage that the spirit of the child is also present. Whether the spirit of the child can hear in the womb at this stage, is something we may never know on this side of heaven. However, it is interesting that at the end of life, hearing is the last organ to go.

Food for thought!

Joanne Sojinu

Autumn is an awesome time of new beginnings, the falling of golden leaves, the days shortening and it’s back to school for children and Uni for others. And I’m thinking of my next project. 

This can be so hard when you’re an author and marketer of your own books and you’ve got to juggle the two simultaneously. The temptation is to tip the weight of the scales disproportionately towards social media and get increasingly frustrated. 

We start the writing process with God and then get all tangled up in marketing in the bid to make a sale. I’m learning to trust the same God that helped me write, to also make a way for the sales too, so that I can continue to get good content out there. This does not minimise the importance of engaging in social media, but suggests taking time to figure out how to get the balance right.

Joanne Sojinu