Answering the Call

Nadu Denloye

Description

Answering the Call is a faith-based book about one woman's lucid account of her journeyto self-discovery. It details her gradual understanding of life and purposeafter a life-transforming experience despite having spent decadesliving a seemingly 'successful' life. More than just another leadership book,Answering the Call is personal and challenges one to ask certain salientquestions that cannot be answered without first knowing your role in the grandagenda that has been set by the Master Planner.

Informations

• Publié par: Dayspring Discipleship and Helps Ministry
• Date de parution: 30 juin 2016
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781783019731
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 3 Mo

Extrait

A NSWERING THE C ALL
Making Sense of It and Taking Ownership of the Journey


N ADU D ENLOYE



D AYSPRING D ISCIPLESHIP AND H ELPS M INISTRY
Copyright © 2015 by Nadu Denloye
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 written form from the copyright owner, except by a reviewer, who may quote brief passages in a review.
ISBN: 978-178-301-973-1
Published in Nigeria by:
Dayspring Discipleship & Helps Ministry
56, Seriki Aro Avenue, Ikeja
P.O. Box 6762, Ikeja
Lagos State
www.dayspringhelps.org
[phone] / [phone]
[e-mail] / [e-mail]
First Edition

All scripture quotations are from the New International Version except otherwise stated.

E-book created by Ibukun Olowu Omojola // Wings Media [phone] // [e-mail]
I give praise to the L ORD , I proclaim His name; I make known among the nations what He has done for me. I sing to Him, I sing praise to Him; I tell of all His wonderful acts.
Contents
Foreword
Preface
Acknowledgments
Prologue THE AHA!

Part I Life Is Not Random
Chapter 1 GOD IS!
Chapter 2 CREATED FOR A PURPOSE
Chapter 3 AN UNDERLYING ORDER
Chapter 4 THE CALL

Part II Making Sense of It All
Chapter 5 CONNECTING THE DOTS
Chapter 6 CHARACTER & COMPETENCE – THE RIGHT TO LEAD
Chapter 7 SENSE OF SELF
Chapter 8 THE SPIRITUAL DIMENSION

Part III Taking Ownership of the Journey
Chapter 9 A WISE MAN GIVES THOUGHT TO HIS WAYS
Chapter 10 TAKING THE INITIATIVE
Chapter 11 THE CHALLENGE OF PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
Chapter 12 IMPLEMENTING A PERSONAL GROWTH PLAN
Epilogue A HOLY CALLING
F OREWORD

This book is about the profound life experiences of a child of God as she seeks to become the best that the Creator intended her to be. The way in which the journey so far has been presented in this book lends itself to ready comprehension.
It is a lucid account of the context in which Nadu has had to navigate her life journey, initially making what she considered commonsensical, non-strategic choices, as well as about the choices she is making more lately with the fuller consciousness of what the bigger purpose of her life is.
This is a book about sharing life’s experiences at a personal, deep level; the considerations, the fears, the uncertainties that played out in the making of decisions that have impacted the successes and non-successes along the life journey of a highly gifted, self-aware individual.
The writer has been very close to me both as a family friend and also in a professional relationship kind of way for over twenty years. Being kindred spirit, we have had a lot to share (and still sharing) concerning professional career progression, personal leadership development experiences and perspectives, including issues around our spiritual development.
I am privileged to know that this book has been a long time coming and so, particularly pleased that the passionate desire to put in the public space the benefit of her unique experiences is being fulfilled.
More pleasing is the fact that the real intention is to offer this work as a guide for ‘co-travellers’ on the way to serve as a lamp unto their feet, perchance they are traversing a similar path and so find aspects of the book applicable to their own trajectory.
I reckon that given the broad spectrum of its reach, most if not all readers will find valuable nuggets to take away and apply.
The book clearly demonstrates the depth of research and diligent work that must have gone into assembling the vast array of scriptural references as well as excerpts from wisdom literature. The way in which the materials are stitched together to make for meaningful impactful reading also demonstrates the intellectual effort that must have been expended.
Given the richness in content, I suspect that this book shall earn the status of referral material for leaders, would be leaders and Leadership teachers alike both now and in the future.
The other great value of this work is in the palpable openness of the author. Choosing to make herself vulnerable in the authentic and candid style of writing speaks to Nadu’s deep commitment to sharing all with the reader with a view to maximizing the learning/sharing experience. It is paradoxical that in exposing the reader to her fears and nonstrategic choices at times, her humanness shines through further enhancing the worth of the material and the strength of her character.
I wholeheartedly recommend this work to all who are on the way to taking ownership of their own journey.

Abiola Popoola, FCIPM
Managing Partner, CONTEXT CONSULT
P REFACE

"And I pray that as you share your faith with others, it will grip their lives too." Philemon 6 (TLB)

"I suggest that the only books that influence us are those for which we are ready, and which have gone a little further down our particular path than we have gone ourselves." - E. M. Forster

"There is certainly some truth to the adage that life begins at 40"; I would say that to anybody willing to give me an ear. The transformational experience I had at about the time I hit this quintessential age was so profound I couldn’t help but talk about it. What happened? I was re-born! William Wallace in the film Braveheart said: "Everyone dies, not everyone truly lives". And so it was that I began to truly live!
This book is about my understanding of the journey called life and the transforming power of Jesus Christ in my life. Everyone has a story. This is my story! And I believe the difference Christ makes in my life is a story worth telling, and the time is now! At the age of 60, if the 70 years of the proverbial life span were condensed into a single 24-hour day, it would now be 20:57 hours in my life. . .
How many times over the last few years have I uttered the scripture, "Lord, teach me to number my days?" The thought particularly tugged at me and not without cause, as I sat through a school mate’s funeral two years ago. She was just one year my senior in secondary school and had celebrated her 60th birthday only a few months before. The pictures in the funeral programme were those from her birthday celebration. Her joy, her laughter at being in the midst of loved ones and close associates at this milestone seemed to jump out of the pictures. Did she know at that time that that would be her last birthday celebration on planet earth?
I had the calling to write this book about ten years ago. I’ve felt compelled to write it, to pass on to others what I have received. Rick Warren in his book The Purpose Driven Life " {1} says that, "as you grow closer to God, He will give you a passion for something He cares deeply about so you can be a spokesman for Him in the world. It may be a passion about a problem, a purpose, a principle, or a group of people. Whatever it is you will feel compelled to speak up about it and do what you can to make a difference. You cannot keep yourself from talking about what you care about most." Indeed, the more I am learning and growing, the more I have seen the need to apply what I am learning, and to share it with others.
I did make a start even back then, ten years ago, but procrastination and rationalisation as to other things that needed doing as well, seemed to be the order of the day. So at this funeral, I got thinking that I had to get down to it. There would be no one to blame after all the nudging. To not do this one thing I know God has called me to do in spite of any other good thing I may be associated with, would be failing - a matter of the good being the enemy of the best. From the world, a pass mark maybe, but from Him who has put me here for such a purpose, a resounding F! What could the loss of sight, my right hand, my mind, or any mishap to me or to those connected to my destiny portend towards the ability to execute my calling? Nobody plans or prays for these occurrences, but life does happen. One day, everything is hunky-dory, then out of the blue, a whirlwind appears taking the socks off you. You never saw it coming but there it is and after all the procrastination, what excuse can you give?
So what is it that has been given to ME ? Nothing fundamentally new! For indeed, there is nothing new under the sun. Paraphrasing Ecclesiastes 3:15, whatever is has already been, and what will be has been before. Many have written and many more will continue to share about life and living. It has been from time immemorial, and whatever there is has been known to some and has been said in one form or the other. A matter of old truths said in new forms and words. Steven Covey in his book The 8 th Habit " {2} refers to a remark made at a conference about all the speakers essentially saying the same thing – "Each had his or her own semantics and definitions and often had some unique insight not voiced by others, but in terms of the most basic elements, they were the same."
I have come to the conclusion that if the call is pressing, it must have its own unique insight, form, approach or timing. Though it basically embodies the same general message, it will resonate with a specific set of people in a special way – confirming, refining, integrating or expanding their own thoughts and ideas and taking them further down a similar path of enlightenment and growth.
I would hardly describe myself as the omniscient guide. Rather, the learner and synthesizer craving coherence and integration of my experiences and others’ and putting them together in a way as to try to make sense of the journey of life. And I must say, only to the extent that I know now! Because with reflection and time come new perspectives, refinement of thoughts and ideas, and increased understanding of experiences and events.
It may be wise to learn