On Grace

Hi there! So the fact that I haven't been able to blog in almost two weeks is a huge bummer! Yall my laptop has decided that enough is truly enough and basically gave up on me. Like?? Excuse me Mr. Laptop do you not think I have blogging and other important things to get up to? Much rude. such wow. I want to cry about this. ANYWAY. I wanted to share something important ( in my opinion). So today I was sitting on the bus (recently learnt how to take public transport) and I was thinking, "How would these people know that I'm a follower of Christ, that I'm saved? Like am I REALLY living out my faith boldly? Because I can tweet about it and blog about it and read my Bible and meditate, but IT NEEDS TO CHANGE ME. NORKOR. The Word of God needs to pierce through my being (and it can and does shout out to Hebrews 4:21) and change me from the inside out you know what I mean? Because I'm 14892839% sure that people just going about their day wouldn't know this this life-changing fact about me, by just looking at me. Like "Oh yazz that afro is werqin, she MUST be saved!" Like no. So today I did something I really regret doing. I was walking back home and I basically crossed to the opposite side of the road when I saw this lady and her two daughters begging - basically harassing passersby for money. The moment I crossed the road YALL I felt horrible. Like literally in the middle of crossing the road I was like O_O what am I doing?!/1/111 #HolySpiritConviction up in here. The 1st thought that came to my mind was "would Jesus do that?" and the answer was a straight up "Nahhhh!" I need GRACE. EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. From the moment I open my eyes in the morning (because God sustained me through the night Psalms 3:5) to the moment I close my eyes and whisper a prayer to heaven. I need it. I want my heart to be overflowing with grace upon grace. And Jesus IS grace! whaaat? #GLORRAAAAY. LIKE LITERALLY CAN WE JUST? So yes, getting harrassed by beggar children on the streets can get annoying. But Grace yall. Grace, Grace. I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me. Psalm 3:5
You May Have Missed: Tee & Coco's Prayer Challenge Thankful Thursdays The Truth Is...   Bloglovin' | Pinterest | Instagram | Facebook

Tee & Coco's Prayer Challenge!

Hello! I hope your weekend so far has been great! How'd you spend your Valentine's day? Did your significant other do anything special for you? I want to know about it!My Valentines day was pretty busy! But it was good. Really good. Better than most of my past Valentines day actually. God is good. All the time!

So my best friend, Tee, and I decided that we'd do a prayer challenge. Actually it was my idea that I forced her to join in but that's not important! Kidding. Over this week I've realized how POWERFUL prayer is! I was listening to this podcast by Hillsong Church Sydney and  I dont even know how to explain. It was great. Super blessed by that podcast. ANYWAY. So we'll be doing a prayer challenge. Basically intentionally praying for the people around us and committing them to God y'know what I'm saying? 
If you'd like to join us, please feel free! So here's what we'll be praying for over the next couple of days! Don't even ask why it's a random number of days smh.

 I hope your Sunday has been blessed! Just a super casual reminder that you are deeply loved. 
Pray without ceasing. 1 Thessalonians 5:17
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Thankful Thursdays!

Hey gurl heeey! It's Thursday? Lol whut? But I'm just here fist pumping and clapping because of how God has brought you and I through this week! #PraiseHim #YASSS. I actually need to stop with the hashtags its getting out of control. So I decided heyyy it's Thursday and I have 9439040920349403 things to thankful for. Then I said "hey, lets throw some alliteration in there to do my AP English Language score some justice" so here's Thankful Thursdays! 

I'm thankful for:

• The blessing of the new day, the breath in my lungs and the hope I have in Christ Jesus *more fist pumping and hollering over here*
• God's providence in my life
• My floral design class that is making me just fist pump more than I usually do. 
• Aunties who teach you everything you need to know about sewing
• Aunties / friends who encourage you to follow your dreams and let you know that they're valid
• Cousins who send you hilarious emails (Paloma and Maria yeaa I'm talking aboutchuuu)
• For the roof above my head and the fambam that I have. Basically my numero uno fanz.

Yea so I think this might become a weekly thing just to ponder upon God's goodness and faithfulness you know?

What are you thankful for this Thursday. I seriously want to hear about it. :)

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The Truth Is...

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For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age. Titus 2:11-12

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The Truth Is..

The Creator of the Heavens and the Earth, the One who tells the ocean waves that they can only come this far and no more, the living God who lead the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt, LOVES YOU AND I with an everlasting love. EVERLASTING. Like it lasts FOREVER. (Jeremiah 31:3) And He wants, in fact, yearns to have a deep, amazing, fulfilling relationship with you and I. How craaaazy is that?

Despite our sin, shortcomings, attitude problems, past nonsense, family history - EVERYTHING - He wants to call us His children. He loves us so much that He sent His only Son Jesus Christ to DIE for us, so that all the horrible things you and I have done can be forgiven. Like YO. Can you even imagine that? My mind is currently being blown. I'm constantly in AWE of God's mercy and grace towards me and my nonsense, sins, shortcomings etc. And I did nothing to deserve His Grace, but He freely gave it to me!

And all He requires of us is to turn away from our sins and fix our eyes on Him. He wants to bless us, and fill us with joy, hope, peace and love! What sort of news is this yo. LIKE MHM. This is some G-O-O-D NEWS! We have HOPE because of Jesus' death on the Cross. With the way things were rolling, you and I were destined for death because of the sin in our hearts, for the wages of sin is death, but - and things are about to go from 0-100, the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus (Romans 6:23). ETERNAL LIFE. CAN WE JUST PONDER ON THAT. FIST PUMPS, HIGH FIVES AND YAZZZZ FOR JESUS ALL AROUND.
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So this post came to me at like 2am one day. This is literally what goes on in my head unfortunately. But yes. I hope your weekend was fantastic. Mine didn't go as planned because my boys the Black Stars of Ghana (football team) went all the way to the finals at AFCON (African Cup of Nations) and lost 9-8 during penalties. I'm still an emotional wreck. That game was actually too intense for my young heart tbh.
*sigh*

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Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, behold all things have become anew. 2 Corinthians 5:17

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The Gap Year Grind | Introducing Michel'Lee

Hello there! So today I have Michel'Lee from Being Perfectly Flawed  guest posting for me! She's also taking a gap year #gapyearbuddies!

Hey Voyageur Africaine readers, my name is Michel’Lee Williams, I’m 20 years old and I’m from the Turks & Caicos Islands; located in the Caribbean. Living in the Turks & Caicos Islands, I sometimes take for granted the amazing natural beauty that is literally walking distance from my house. Island life is really simple, yet amazing. Yes, the weather is “almost” always perfect, besides hurricane season and sometimes during the winter. No we don’t live huts and under palm trees (LOL ); and no I’m not always in a bathing suit, but I do have a friend who is. Oh, and Norkor, you can definitely visit me. Any day! I enjoy reading, TV shows, music, occasional quality beach time and of course sleeping (seriously). 

I am a new blogger, owner of beingperfectlyflawed.blogspot.com. I started blogging last year (2014), mainly because I was taking a gap year after achieving my Associate Degree in college and I got carried away when making my gap year bucket list. I thought “Hey, I love writing and I need to start expressing myself. Blogging it is!” It was a no-brainer. Taking a gap year initially was not a choice neither was it a part of my plans for my life (apparently it was a part of God’s). I took a gap year due to lack of financial funds. This was definitely a tough time for me. I didn’t know what my next step would have been; I didn’t know how to even think about my next step. 
The biggest challenge for me during my gap year at first was accepting that I was taking a gap year. Taking a gap year is usually something that an individual wants and makes plans for ahead of time; that was so not the case for me. I mean yea, eventually I wanted some time off from school, but I just didn’t want it while I had big plans for University ( come on, this was University....in a foreign place….with new experiences). After a few pep talks with myself, I accepted my gap year with open arms. 
 I was not going to allow an entire year go by with me being sad over something I had no control over and I definitely was not going to give the devil any head space. I picked myself up with encouraging words from loved ones and with my faith in God.  My next challenge was getting everything on my gap year bucket list done and done! The biggest challenge on that list was getting a job (which was #1 btw). It wasn’t until this month, 5 months into my gap year, I blessedly got a job. 
So far I am beyond grateful I took a gap year. I’m learning so much about myself. For years I thought I knew what I wanted and who I was wanted to be, boy was I wrong! During my gap year I had a bit too much free time (haha), and that was exactly what I needed. Some ‘me time’. For years it has been all about school, study, exams, assignments…God knew that I just needed to stop and breathe; and my gap year gave me just that.  A breather was exactly what I needed to find myself, to grow, to draw closer to God and to learn about who I am. My nightmare turned into my best dream; taking a gap year was definitely a blessing in disguise for me. I would not have changed anything about it. I wouldn’t do anything differently; I wouldn’t even go back to hoping the funds were available at the time.
 That’s how much of an positive effect my gap year is currently having on me. Nevertheless, if I had to go back to change something about my gap year, it would certainly be how I emotionally accepted it. Had I known taking a gap year would have been such a great personal experience, I would not have cried or get angry at God for not doing it my way. Besides personal growth, the best thing about my gap year so far is the amazing rush I get from being able to check something off from my gap year bucket list. LOL, as silly as that sounds, it is true. 
I would advise any high school graduate or college graduate, like myself, who is deciding to take a gap year to go for it! There’s so much that can be learned within a year without the stress of books and exams. Make the best of your year off. Try new things. Take the time out and not just find yourself, but create yourself. 
-xox Michel’Lee Williams Being Perfectly Flawed Thank you so much Michel'Lee! 
In His hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind - Job:12-10 Bloglovin' | Pinterest | Instagram | Facebook

Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award

Hi! I'm back with another blogger award! Am I popular yet? No? K. But Ms. Holly over at HollyLooYa Blog is basically my favorite person ever. Her blog is both HILARIOUS and DEEPLY MOTIVATIONAL. Her heart is just wow and tbh she's so wise like oh okay then. Sorta kinda wish I can be like her one day. BUT YES. LETS GET ON WITH THIS BLOGGER AWARD.

1. What is your favorite quote or Bible verse?
I honestly don't think I could choose! There's so many A+ Bible verses that I love, but Colossians 3:12 just makes me fistpump! It says "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. It's a daily reminder of what I should be clothing myself with and how I should be treating others.

2. What is the most interesting food you have ever eaten?
Most interesting? Uhm. Frog legs or squid. Ughhh I didn't like both of them.

3. If you could re-live any moment in your life/or live in a different time period, what would it be?
I honestly don't know. OH MY GOSH I KNOW. I would want to relive/do over that one time I was talking to *ahem* a crush of mine and I was really rude to him. I feel like things could have gone differently. Smh middle school Norkor was such a mess like wow.

4. Did you make any resolutions for the New Year? If so, what were they?
What are resolutions? No resolutions here, keep moving.

5.  What would you say is your "Spirit Animal?"
er. *side eye* I'm not even a fan of animals so.. no spirit animals over here..

6. If you could have lunch with Amy Poehler (because obviously, we all want to be her best friend), what is one question you would ask her?
ER. Haven't read Amy Poehler's book. Soooooooo this is a tad bit awkward.

7. If your life was made into a movie, what would it be called? Who would play you?   

. It would be called "How To Get Your Life Out Of Shambles" but I feel like it would be more of a series you know? And dur, Lupita Nyon'go would play me. Get with the program pls.

8. Where do you see your self in 5 years? 
Fantastic question! Not sure, but not worrying about it toooo much. God is in control, and I just want to do things that glorify Him.

9. What is you biggest pet peeve?
YO. When people leave pens uncovered, like are you not planning on using it ever again? 

10. What is one piece of advice you would give to your 18 year old self? 
LEWL. I'm not 18 yet....but I would say "I hope you're studying hard and staying in prayer and the Bible and not being such a homebody / shy person."

So that was kinda fun. If you want to do this tag thingie / post, GO RIGHT AHEAD. I have no one else to nominate. #nonewfriends

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

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The Truth About My Gap Year : Part II

In which God constantly reminds me that He is faithful even when I am not, and that He has plans for me to prosper! (2 Timothy 2:3 and Jeremiah 29:11) If you missed part I here it is!

So if you follow me on Instagram (@xoNorkor), I think I've posted twice about my gap year and how God has been so good. Man. 
So basically here's the low-down. This gap year I've volunteered at New Life and fallen in love with baby John (who praise God is getting adopted in like a week, I'M CRYING AND HAPPY AT THE SAME TIME). God has been stripping me of some sub-par things within me like impatience. 
Remember when I posted about a new passion? Well I've been praying and internally crying about it and man, God makes a way when there seem to be no way! Like wow. My mind is seriously being blown by God's goodness and how He provides like crazy for me! So I basically wanted to start a small business making little things from Ghanaian fabric and 1. I can't sew. Like I have no training or anything. I think I've used a sewing machine once in my 17 years of life. and 2. We don't have a sewing machine.
 SO. IT ALL SEEMED PRETTY IMPOSSIBLE. Good quality sewing machines are pretty expensive where I live, so I was seriously trying to figure out a way to get a sewing machine. Like looking on the Walmart online store and trying to find people who were going to the US to get it for me ALL THAT KINDA STUFF.
SMH. Long story short, a colleague of my mom's from like 94820923 years ago, who actually remembers me from when I was like 7, is going to hook me up with some sewing training and will help me find a good sewing machine for a reasonable price. I'M JUST LIKE YO. This lady popped outta NO WHERE, and voila, all the pieces are being put together by God. For His Glory alone! Much praising. Such worship.
ALSO. I'm starting a floral design course TOMORROW. I'M SO EXCITED. I love flowers, like seriously look at this post, and a lot of my instagrams. I'm so excited to learn a new skill and ALSO hopefully turn it into a business! My God is so great like w0w. I'm going to be occupied. NO MORE SLEEPING IN. *FIST PUMPSSSSS*
So that's whats going onnn with my gap year! I hope you're doing well yo.
Keep on loving each other as brothers. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing. Hebrews 13: 1-2
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