Happy New Year

Hello, my lovelies 💓

Happy New Year!!!

A new year can feel like just a different day, no big deal, kind of like becoming a year older. In a sense it is. It can feel like “nothing has changed” and “what’s all the fuss about” but I think it’s a fresh opportunity to be grateful, to reflect and to look forward.

If you’re very honest and fairly reflective, you’ll know that there were things you wanted to do last year that just never happened. This is a good time to think back on those things, see whether they’re still important and whether they’re a priority for you this year.

For me, last year I wanted to be more consistent in uploading posts here and by the grace of God, I did it. So I’m grateful. Although I did it, it wasn’t as graceful and organised as I would have liked. Sometimes I made it by the skin of my teeth. This year I want to be more organised. I don’t want to settle for the bare minimum. I want to up my game. For example, I want to ideally post a few fictional pieces, so you guys can hold me accountable. The year is 12 months long oh. LOL.

For some of us, it’s easy to think of good things that have happened. For others, it’s a lot harder to think of good things. It might be that you’ve started your year on a downer and it’s a huge effort to keep going every day. I know how that feels. While our specific situations might differ, the sentiment is likely similar. Please believe me when I say it does get better. Don’t let the little flicker of hope die. Protect it with everything. Draw on the strength of the people you have around you. I pray you don’t have to go on the journey alone. I pray you have a shoulder to lean on, someone you can be vulnerable with. Let someone see that you’re hurting, confused, angry whatever it is. Journaling can also be helpful. Pour out what’s in your heart and mind. Better out than in.

One month has already gone by. You’ve made it through one month! Well done you 👏🏽 As I told someone today it can be hard to hope for the big things. Start with the small simple things, e.g, I hope I can laugh at something funny tomorrow, I hope I can have a few minutes of respite from worrying.

For those of us who have not hit the ground running, it’s not too late to start.

Be realistic with your goals.

Rome was not built in a day.

Remember that progress is not linear.

You have absolutely got this! Just like I have 😉

I want to give us a challenge this year. Every night before you sleep (or whenever fits your schedule), say at least one thing that you’re grateful for out loud. Try to vary the things you express gratitude for. This is not to say you can’t say the same thing twice this year lol or even in one week. My emphasis is on thinking about it instead of mindlessly repeating the same thing.

Sweet Lord Jesus, thank you for this new year. Thank you for bringing me to the end of the first month of this year. There have been highs and lows but you’ve seen me through it all. It’s so beautiful that you see all of us, in our individual circumstances and you’re able to meet us where we are. The years change but you never do. You’re our constant in a world of change. Lord as we continue this year, help us to lean on You and those you’ve placed around us. Help us to remember that difficult times don’t last forever. Help us remember to celebrate even the small wins. I pray that you help us to be more disciplined with our goals and balance that with extending grace to ourselves and others. Let’s have a blast this year! In Jesus name, amen

Posted on January 31, 2026January 31, 2026 by Sinmi 4

Hope

Hello lovely people 😊

Hope you had a lovely Easter. As you probably know, in the Christian tradition, we’ve just celebrated Easter when we remember that Jesus died for us and God raised him to life again. The hope we have in Christ hinges on his resurrection. Last week, I was in church on Easter Sunday, and I felt God remind me to be hopeful. He said, “Never let anything prevent you from being hopeful.”

God’s message reminded me of the period late last year into early this year when I felt hopeless. I was very disappointed, and although I knew theoretically that things won’t always feel that way, that truth did not sink into my heart. For me, things felt very dark, and despair surrounded me like a fog. The comforting words of loved ones were not getting through the thick fog of despair. At that point, I thought it was too painful to hope again, so I’d just live life not expecting anything because that felt safer; those were lies, though. Lies upon lies.

See the thing about despair and hopelessness is that it not only steals today’s joy but tomorrow’s as well. It relegates life to a mindless existence where you go through the motions. The life God designed was not meant to be that way.

2000 years ago, Good Friday was everything but good. I can imagine the disciples were terrified. Their master and rabbi has been cruified. They’ve seen him die. He was meant to be the saviour, but now there’s no hope. They could not remember all the things he had told them of his death and resurrection. All they saw was the reality that he had died a criminal’s death and their journey of 3 years had come to an abrupt end.

Thank God the story doesn’t end there! Jesus rose on the 3rd morning. Light shone in the darkness, and the darkness receeded. The miracle of Easter is an example of hope; that joy does come in the morning; that the darkness (of the tomb) is not the end of the story.

I’ll be the first to tell you that it’s hard to be hopeful when everything within you just wants to curl up and shut everything out. I don’t have a magic wand, but God’s mercy prevailed for me. People were praying for me, and God broke through to me and lifted the fog of despair. Even at my low points, I knew deep inside that the feelings of despair I felt would not have the last laugh. I knew the feelings were not true, but I was too emotionally exhausted to fight them. I chose to “ride it out”.

I have a few suggestions that can help in those moments and periods of despair and hopelessness.

Surround yourself with people who love you and can hold you up in prayer. Ideally tell at least one person how you feel
Journal if you can. No filters, just raw thoughts and emotions. Write to God
Don’t stop speaking to God. Be angry, be sad, be whatever, but tell him. He can take your emotions. You don’t need to filter anything for Him, he sees it all anyway
Read the psalms – you’ll find something there that reflects your state of mind. Derive comfort from knowing you’re not alone.
Listen to music that can soothe your soul

If you’re going through a rough patch, it might be hard to believe but this too shall pass.

My testimony is that I have hope now. I have faith that God’s plans for me will become a reality. I know and am reminded that whatever happens, I am the beloved of God 💕

Lord, we thank you because you are a God of mercy. We thank you for your mercies, which are new every day. Lord, we receive mercy for today. Let your love fill our hearts. Let us know in our hearts that we are your beloved and nothing will change that. Remind us, dear Holy Spirit, that the power that raised Christ from the dead can also bring life and light from every dark situation we’re experiencing. Reach through the fog of pain and despair and let us experience your embrace. Fill us with your hope for a better tomorrow. Fill us with hope that one day, joy will come in the morning. Thank you, Lord, for hearing and answering our prayers. Amen

Posted on April 30, 2025July 1, 2025 by Sinmi 6

End of a chapter

Hello guys 😊

It’s that time of year where we’re reflecting on how the year has gone. The good, the bad and the ugly.

It’s been a hot minute since I shared something personal. This year I have experienced a lot of good things. Many prayers have been answered, many fears allayed and by the same token, many hopes realised. I have truly been loaded with many benefits.

During the latter part of this year, one of my hopes were dashed. Sigh. I’ve been shocked at how much this has cast a shadow on these blessings I’ve just been talking about. It’s almost as though the bitter taste (this has left) in my mouth has erased the memory of the sweetness I enjoyed earlier. It’s so subtle. At times, I find myself thinking this year has been rubbish or my life is just … More recently, I’m catching these thoughts, recognising they’re not the full picture and trying to balance/counter them with the knowledge of the great benefits I’ve enjoyed this year.

It sucks to end the year with this bitter taste lingering on my tongue, in my mind. It’s hard to generate excitement for the year that’s round the corner. (I’m not a fan of suffering olympics, but) I know there are people going through worse things and I really hope they are surrounded by love and find strength to keep going.

To those of us whose 2024 has not panned out how we hoped or perhaps there’s a dream you had that hasn’t come to pass or even crashed and burnt, this post is for us.
This too shall pass.
Things aren’t always going to look bleak.
The pain abates after a while.

There are two songs I’d like to share which I think are beautiful and capture some of the sentiments I’ve shared. I’ll share the Spotify links and YouTube links.

Hold on to me – Lauren Daigle Spotify YouTube

Your will – Lee Vasi Spotify YouTube

A third link I’ll share isn’t a song. It’s an exhortation, a fresh perspective on restoration by a lady called Ty Bello. It’s also on Spotify.

Rom 15:13 NIV

I’d like to end with a prayer.

Dear God, I thank you for all the beautiful things this year has brought (please list three things you’re grateful for). You have surprised me and filled my mouth with laughter. I’m grateful for all you’ve done for me and for being my father, my friend. You know that although I’m grateful there are things that have caused me pain this year too; things that I don’t understand; things that cause my hope and strength to fail. Lord I want to be hopeful but it’s so hard. I want to have the right perspective but pain blinds me at times. Lord you are the God of all hope. I ask that you fill me with your hope, your joy and your strength. As hard as it is, help me to trust you and trust in your goodness and faithfulness. My 2025 is in your hands, let it be the year that you have made, one I will rejoice and be glad in. In Jesus name I pray, amen 🙏

Posted on December 30, 2024December 30, 2024 by Sinmi 2

Prayers I’d like to share

Hello dear people ☺️

Sorry for the abrupt, unscheduled break in transmission. If you’re not new, then you’re probably not surprised as it’s not the first time 🤭 🫠 The last few months have been full of ups and downs, mainly ups to be fair. That’s quite typical of life, isn’t it?

Anyway, this post is going to be different, and I might bring a similar version back in the future. Over the last few weeks, I’ve written some prayers based on bible verses, which I’d like to share with you. First, I’d like to share a prayer that I’ve not written. I found it on a website I’d been using as part of my devotional. It resonated very strongly with me, and when I shared it on WhatsApp, it resonated with some others as well. I hope it blesses someone.

Now, for some of the prayers I’ve written, I know they won’t be for everyone. When I wrote them, I wrote them for myself, but if someone else finds it helpful, I’ll be even happier.

Isaiah 50 prayer
Thank you Lord that I am your disciple. Thank you for teaching me. I receive your teaching. Thank you for wakening me daily and wakening my ears. My ears are open to hear you. I will not be rebellious or turn back in disobedience. I receive your strength to obey fully. I am helped by you. I receive your help and empowerment. I recognise your help. I will not be ashamed. I will not be confounded or confused. I am determined to do your will as you reveal it to me, so I set my face like a flint. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen

Psalm 95 prayer
Thank you for being my God. I am so blessed to be the sheep of your hand and to be among your pasture. As my shepherd, you lead me and instruct me on where to go. I thank you because I know your voice and I recognise it clearly as you speak. As you speak to me through this period, Lord help me to maintain a soft heart of flesh towards you. I rebuke, renounce, and refuse any trace of hardness of heart in me. I declare my heart is soft, good soil where your seed can be planted and bear good fruit. As you sweetened the waters at Meribah, please hasten to sweeten this situation also. I do not want to tempt you, grieve, or disgust you like my forebears (the israelites) did. I do not want to experience the work of your judgement. Please help me and be merciful towards me. Help me not to err in my heart, and as you search me, please expose every element of error so that I may repent, be forgiven, restored, and placed back on track. I do want to enter into your rest, and I want to experience and enjoy my promised land, the land of blessings you have prepared for me. I thank you for all these things I have received from you, my Lord, and my God. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen

Psalm 55:22
Lord, I thank you for your welcome, your call to me to come with my burdens. You ask me to release the weight of it by giving it to you. You take the weight off me, and I feel so light and free. Thank you, Jesus. You promise to sustain me so I receive your sustenance. You keep me going, Lord, not scraping by but with an abundance of grace and strength. Because I’ve been made righteous by the blood of Christ, in your kindness and faithfulness, you won’t allow me to be moved. I will not stumble, slip, fall, or fail because I am backed by the Most High who doesn’t fail. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen 🙏

Please let me know what you think of this kind of post.

Blessings
Sinmi

Posted on November 18, 2024November 18, 2024 by Sinmi 4

Sexually inappropriate behaviours

Hey guys 👋🏽 Hope you’re doing well. Today’s topic is a bit heavy but it’s an important discussion that must be had. It’s complicated and has been the source of heartache and emotional turmoil for so many people 😢 💔

Needless to say, rape is a CRIME and there should NEVER be an excuse for it. Rape happens because of rapists. FULLSTOP! This article will be discussing sexually inappropriate behaviours with a focus on rape. [Sometimes in this article, rape may be used interchangeably with other forms of sexually inappropriate behaviours.]

Sexually inappropriate behaviours occur on a spectrum from inappropriate (or suggestive) words to penetration. In England, rape is legally defined as penile penetration of someone’s vagina, anus or mouth against their consent or when their ability to consent is in doubt. This definition automatically sees men as the perpetrators of rape and does not acknowledge the sexual violation some men have experienced at the hands of women. Perhaps this partially feeds into the difficulty in society acknowledging that female-on-male rape does occur.

Although all sexually inappropriate behaviours are very harmful, unfortunately most times we only recognise actual penetration as being harmful. It is important to point out that no one but the survivor knows the true extent and severity of damage that has been done.

NOBODY has a right to prescribe, predict or dictate how much damage and pain a survivor is “allowed” or meant to feel.

NOBODY should dictate how long the survivor can take to “recover” (heal) from this damage.

NOBODY should blame the victim because no one deserves to be sexually assaulted, NOBODY.

Anyone can be on the receiving end of these horrific events; babies, elderly people, men, women, heterosexual, homosexual, LGBTQ+, virgin, sex worker, anyone.

Although there are some trumped up charges of rape and sexual assault (which is despicable and criminal), cases of rape and other sexual offences are largely underreported for many reasons. Shame, fear, lack of knowledge, shock are the most common reasons. Sadly in many cases of rape and sexual violence, the perpetrator is known to the survivor prior to the act. Only 13% of perpetrators of sexual assault (against females) have been reported to be strangers [See ONS link below]. Sexual assault is 3 times more to be perpetrated by a (ex-)partner than a family member [ONS]. Over one in ten adults have been sexually assaulted; with indecent touching four times more common than rape [ONS].

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A rape/sexual assault allegation should NEVER be an act of revenge. Recently I heard of a case where to my surprise, people were sceptical of whether or not a person reporting sexual assault was being truthful. Most of the sceptical people had sons and were thinking about their own sons and the impact of a false allegation on them.

I was quite shocked by this. Imagine someone very distressed and distraught who summons the courage to seek help, only to be met with scepticism. We might not shout out our biases but they reveal themselves in the way we act, the questions we ask, the manner with which we treat people. THIS is the damage I’m referring to when I denounce the evil of false allegations of sexual assault. We are doing the real victims(survivors) a disservice.

False allegations do a whole world of damage to true victims (survivors), alleged perpetrators (their present and future, their family) and the societal outlook on rape. Why are some people so vindictive? I honestly do not know how some people sleep at night knowing they have falsely accused someone of rape. What’s worse is this recent spate of social media warriors who can with one tweet or thread ruin someone’s life. An apology or retraction of the allegation will NEVER be enough to atone for the grievances committed. I cannot police what people post on social media regarding trauma they’ve experienced but often times I think it does more harm than good because social media users can be ruthless with no concern for the mental health of the real human beings involved. Personally I’d advocate for other means of seeking justice to be explored before bringing the case before the judge and jury of Twitter Court. (This is only my opinion, you might not agree but I’m not saying this to hurt anyone. If this offends you, I’m sorry.)

Lastly, rape has been around since the beginning of time and unfortunately I think it will always be with us because where humans are, all sorts of errors and “badness” is bound to occur. Does this mean we give up and accept this curse? No! We sensitise people, educate people, punish and seek justice against perpetrators. Charity begins at home. Its easier to do a post and forget about it but we should try to talk discuss this with our parents, nieces and nephews, sons and daughters. Also, we need to support survivors and make the process of seeking medical and legal help easier. We improve our legislation to show that our public, social media outcry isn’t just a phase, a trend that is swiftly swept away. We learn from the pain of others. We do NOT justify or explain rape or any form of sexual abuse.
#saynotorape