Girls That Crave for Love

By Lindah Opaade

The Christian faith does involve struggle in the ability to accept change; one has to embrace the unknown. Reflecting on the anticipation of the norm is where our faith is shaken and questioned despite of the truth of scripture.

Living the past behind seems clear before we start on the journey of faith. The challenge is evident in the tunnels where we find ourselves under the invisible water.

Accepting the love of God will guide our destiny in a light worth believing in love and the meaning of love. My own victories and struggles have unleashed the truth that manifests in our mysteries of life. The knowledge of the higher power in this earth directs my understanding to the love we crave as more than we can fathom.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris UK
• Release date: Jan 26, 2018
• ISBN: 9781543488739

Book preview

Copyright © 2018 by Lindah Opaade.

ISBN:                   Softcover                               978-1-5434-8874-6

                            eBook                                     978-1-5434-8873-9

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Public Domain

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Rev. date: 01/26/2018

Xlibris

800-056-3182

www.Xlibrispublishing.co.uk

774078

Contents

Dying to self

Prayer

Communication

The Loving God

Hope

Relational

Low Self Esteem

Worry

Insecurities

Having been raised up in a christian environment in Africa. I never presumed that travelling beyond the borders in search of a world only known to me, by studies and watching TV would result into a wandering challenge exceeding my imagination.

Africa is Home, although everything seemed familiar and not exciting anymore. Emigrating to another Continent never solved the underlying acquisition of what happens beyond the forests and Mountains in a tropical country. The farther land and culture appeared more welcoming and thrilling to the ears and eyes, therefore taking note of the cohort surrounding is not taken into account, such as every neighbour in the community watching out for each other’s family. Preaching that impertinent behaviour is not accepted to every one is important as strong values were instilled and established to be compatible in a society. An opportunity to travel to United Kingdom seemed like a new adventure, little did I comprehend the idea that this open door was far from my expectation in a young mind.

Having no immediate family in the new surroundings became a dark tunnel, turning my entire imagination into a solitude. The familiar faces I had encountered in the foreign land acted more different than before, henceforth they had exchanged their belief to suit the new lifestyle far from African Communities. Therefore, determined to adapt to this new lifestyle in United Kingdom? every gesture learnt while growing up had to make a new turn, as the community values seemed not the norm in the new surroundings. The gossiping neighbours and the parents that give kafeus in order for the community stay grounded became absent and more needed. The world was now narrowing, drawing back as all the Spiritual expectation and morals were being challenged. This resulted into a disconnection from the environment and disengagement of values and beliefs that were instilled and had become a norm in an adventurous mind. Being faced with an option of two worlds to choose from, which was not an easy challenge, those dreams and goals that were set growing up had to be hold back on a stand still, as settling in the middle of two worlds is complicated and comes across as inconveniencing with no guaranteed protection.

"In the middle of a foreign country, friends become like family". The word blood is thicker than water is power strong, one beneficial factor is keeping a close relationship with the family in Africa. Communicating to the people as always as possible, results in a strong attitude towards life, thus giving up is not the answer but persevering is the key to success.

With connections in a distant land, faced with the mind and the people around. Choosing the christian bible studies, instead of the Rom Com Hollywood fantasy, was the best decision encountered in that particular season. Deciding to be obsequious in Bible classes advanced to Discovering this God who can talk through the pages of the bible. People past and present do hear his voice which is affirmed through the written word, bringing them to the knowledge of humanity and his purpose, gives a clear direction to life and protection from a fallen world or life. In my reflections this knowledge about God is unavailable while in Africa, yes many did say that God set up the ten Commandments and he was very furious at anyone who disapproved of his law but if faith is placed in Jesus the son of God, we find redemption. The love of this God is never fathomed at all. That’s why I decided to put my thoughts on paper and my discoveries through the mysteries of Love, Faith and Hope.

Falling in love with spiritual life guided to a Christian community of the same mindset to life and beliefs. Although many aspects of concept were still different because of the cultural upbringing, these communities of Christian faith can be loving people, they choose to love beyond the colour of their skin and the cultural differences. Together this leads to close friendships, therefore adapting to this kind of attitude because of the belief in Love is the only way to finding acceptance among people of different colour and race.

Having grown up in a country of 54 tribes, trusting can be an issue. Meanwhile, the wars that happen among people, of different culture and languages are rooted in the belief in Comparison of effective manpower. You can understand mistrust issues now. However being able to change the pattern of prejudice towards others, meant that the entire reasoning has to go from the thinking stream. Repenting, taking on a totally new idea towards life, becomes a goal to endure through as the transformation takes residence, where the familiarity has to be broken and replaced with a new thinking pattern in a new country with strangers, now referred to as family.

Dealing with self and the building called the church, begin to feel cold, therefore finding a quiet and peaceful place, is very important. The significance of staying with the new familiar friendly relationship but different is that I have some tangible understanding of humanity in different hierarchy. The building where we meet is so vibrant during Sundays. Expectations were always raised during such catch ups. However, during the weekdays life could become difficult and darker. The only source of connection experienced would be the family in Africa, because the new friendships are concerned with the life they live here in England. Don’t hesitate about that attitude, I never expected much change although some of my decisions had to be changed on how to move forward at the time. Finding yourself caught up in between two ideologies is a Spiritual battle in its own. Triggering thoughts like, either to lose life or continue to live just as life has been instilled from the grass roots of nurturing start struggling within the mind. The reality is in the truth of knowing that It’s not easy when you let go of the world you know and perceive clearly for some new world. it’s like dying inside to your own human self.

Dying to self

When we realise our personal desires are harmful or dangerous to us and the environment around us, we are expected to change that attitude in ourselves, what is important is we have to be taught some of these principles while growing up. Morals like stealing, fighting, bickering about each other are the behaviours that disorganised social gatherings, not being able to settle with other people because of theft or murder or gossiping does create an atmosphere of disillusion causing dissatisfaction in communities. These behaviours became evident in the new found life creating battles among the members because of power and it does affect life. Therefore life becomes deteriorating, going the downward spiral with no sense of who is right? Blocking everyone out makes more reasoning at the time of ignorance. Having read the scripture, that condemned the praticises assured that this is not acceptable in the environment, but remembering that not judging others is also a code that Christians have to wear creates doubts about integrating in the community that preaches with their mouth but seems to close their hearts to what is clear in black and white. In order not to lose the entire human connection, dying to self to achieve the gift and fruit of the Spirit of God separates us from wrong and connects us to good. Simillarily directing us to the fear of God and staying in the truth of authentic relationships. A relationship with God is the best relationship one can ever crave for, sometimes when we find ourselves in the dark place, thinking that we are buried should be the last thought on our mind, because if we are in a relationship with Christ, the dark place is most likely to be the season when planted in the ground. Christ became the seed that was crashed, for humanity to know the will of God, therefore we being planted illustrates the time of sprouting into becoming the strong tree, that can produce good fruit for others to consume too. Before a seed becomes a plant, its crashed in the ground and probably dies before it sprouts through

having been challenged to forego my upbringing and take on a new idea of life helped me understand self and neighbour. letting the truth of scripture inter wave in our core being separates humanity from the rottenness of its darkness and opens her into the knowledge of good in the world full of different ideas and cultures. As taking on the culture of Christ and his way has a direct impact on the newness of humanity, surrendering the old, unsatisfying nature and desire is vital to the transformation of a new self, in place of willingness in accepting godliness and self control. The old nature seems to allow hate, gossip, competition among people, yet Christ called us to love and accept the human race as she is subject to repentance.

"Blood is thicker than water". Having had a strong link in Africa, did strengthen the relationships with the family life. The Reading of scripture, strengthens the spiritual life. Church life is great, everyone is happy and socialising is a great way to make it big in this world especially in a big City that is frequented by new and better emerging minds economically. London is a big city with Old and New buildings, the world’s financing Capital with a MultiCultural population mainly of intelligence, the finests of the World’s brains walk through this City, each with a different idea of life. However one thing most of them have in common is the Money Business, as traders are always on top of their game and investors are searching for new ideas in the Economy, that makes two different people of different lifestyle to eat and chat about the growth of the world Economically, but what is really Lacking in London is Spirituality, understanding the Spiritual desire of humanity derives from true Spirituality.

Having friends who understand your lifestyle and thinking is fine, however when this is all over and done with, you are alone. Effectively the catch ups create a placate atmosphere for a while but going back to your house and the other interesting thing to do is watch TV, that is the challenge to be dealt with. Therefore, picking up the phone or social media and chat with the family or friends from the past, makes dying to self harder than expected, but makes humanity fit well as trying to learn how to be compatible in the new life. I Love my friends and family, they are important to me, but sometimes letting them understand my new lifestyle was a tough task, I could lose words to say because of my enthusiastic desire in trying to be a follower of Christ, eventually most of them did come around and we have a connection better than before, as I understand my life and their lives are valuable and important to God who created them. The lack of Spirituality in one of the world’s financial cities has created a population that is disengaged from reality and love. Everyone in the city is frequenting night clubs to find some form of acceptance from the world or their peers, but in truth from my perception its the Spiritual void in humanity that has made an angry people. Monday morning seating on the tube, will divulge you in noticing how everyone is busy and concerned about the work to be done, that’s the beginning of the month. However at the end of the Month, with luck the tube can be relaxed with no angry people pushing you around, Why? Payday is near or done! Monetary is on their mind that they forget to realise the tube is public transport not a place to fight others because your boss is not understanding you. As it’s written He who has not sinned, let him cast the stone. Am not throwing stones here but just highlighting what is lacked in the middle of the busy world we all grow up chasing, without Love and the right people, You might lose yourself completely.

Therefore realising that reading scripture is part of the Christian faith, and embracing the fact this is a routine that has to be loved and enjoyed every day,