Growing Like Beautiful Flowers

I’ve never been more intentional about embracing my femininity than I am now as a mum of two adorable girls. While I’ve always been very girly in some special way —my voice, my style, my grace, my walk, my smile...and even my name (Nwamaka meaning Beautiful Baby Girl) —I do not ever want to lose that fundamental core. 

International Girl Child Day 2023

“I will bless Nwamaka and her girls, like rain that falls on dry ground. They will grow like beautiful flowers. They will have strong roots, like the great trees in Lebanon. They will grow like a tree that makes new branches. They will be beautiful like olive trees. They will have a sweet smell, like the forests in Lebanon.”

— Hosea‬ ‭14:5-6‬ ‭

God made this captivating and tantalizing promise first to Israel and He has extended it to me as well. I’m still savouring every bite of this promise; each translation leaves me anticipating more. The Word of God is so yummy. What a delight!

To commemorate today, October 11th, as the International Day of the Girl Child, I want to share this piece with you:

No matter what you feel in this moment – you were created to display God’s BEAUTY and GRACE.

STYLE: Embrace Femininity with Blue

Why is pink often linked to girls and blue to boys? Ever pondered this? Just considered it today and was super surprised by my findings. Huh!

Happy Style-Sunday!

Let Girls Wear Blue 

Can you remember the day somebody else was wearing the same outfit as you? There was probably a time when you were out at an event, or at work, or the mall, or at school, or in the church and you suddenly noticed that someone was wearing an item identical to what you were wearing. Maybe the same dress, jacket, shoes, t-shirt . . . etc.

How do you react to such wonderful moments? For me, I ALWAYS acknowledge and appreciate them. I can also take it two steps further to create a style post out of it.

I have reacted a couple of times (see here and here) and I'm doing it again. It feels so good!

Kachi CG Releases New Official Music Video "Baby Girl" in Celebration of International Day of the Girl Child 2023

I was planning to save this for October 11th but I can’t wait any longer. I believe the whole wide world needs to hear this. Picture me gesticulating the ‘whole wide world’ with my arms outstretched, forming a very big circle. Yes, Kachi CG’s ‘Baby Girl’ deserves a global stage because it makes a universal statement: 

A baby girl is a gift to the world.

Click to watch the official video below:

I love this song, specially because it narrates my authentic story about desiring a boy as my second child. It’s a fusion of drama and music. Yours truly was featured. ;)

Promise Me – Pastor Jerry Eze

Every time I click on the ‘New Post’ button to draft a blog post, a fixed sentence serves as a constant reminder for me:

“Amaka, remember your life is meant to showcase the glory and beauty of God.”

The statement helps me stay on course. Coming across this article on the Teens WhatsApp post this morning, where I serve as a facilitator, stirred me. Yes, I promise! 

‘Promise Me’ as written by Pastor Jerry Eze

Promise me that you will never abandon your Purpose to make ignorant folks happy.

Please promise me that you will value Divine Validation over what anyone feels or thinks about you.

Promise me that you will not sabotage yourself and miss your Divine Timing.

Promise me that you will always see the Best out of every situation.

Please promise me that against all odds you won’t let your dream die.

Writing From Scratch Is No Longer Scratching, Is It?

I do not promote myself enough. No, scratch that. I do not market my products and services enough. It’s high time I started hyping up my own enterprise. 

Let me know if it’s working. ;)

‘I Write’ or ‘AI Right’

Recently, someone asked me why I had not been churning out content as I was doing before I got married. I laughed and I was surprised by the sound of that laughter.

Prior to that moment, such question would have taken me aback. I would have beaten myself up for not producing fruits as much as I wanted to. Thankfully, I had grown into a woman who knows what she has been called to bear in this season. 

If it was not because the question came right after a heartfelt appreciation of how one of my blog posts had helped her out, I would not have bothered with a response. However, I gave a reply stating that my content focus had evolved into videos and encouraged her to subscribe to my YouTube channel. 

Perhaps the reply was not satisfactory enough. This person now mistakenly said: Ahan, there is ChatGPT to help you create content nah. You can even transcribe your videos to text with AI.

I laughed again. But this time, the laughter was a private moment within me. No one heard it.

Major Takeaway from the ‘Just Us Girls’ Conference 2023

I am so happy. No, happy is an understatement. I am overjoyed! This year’s Just Us Girls Conference themed ‘WOWMAN’ was brought together specifically for me, right in this season. Wow! Like, I mean! 

I’m really loving how God has been so intentional about me this year (and this month, in particular). Thank You, my Sweet Jesus! 

WOWMAN Conference 2023

I am big on attending conferences, and I derive satisfaction in sharing my key lessons and notes with you. Remember when I shared my highlights from The Spirit-Life Conference in 2017? How about my notes from a Ruth-Naomi Meeting in 2018? And my lessons from the Excellent Leadership in 2019? Aha, you see! 

I have always enjoyed attending events that are geared towards my growth — mentally, socially, physically, and most importantly, spiritually. As long as I am led to attend, I prepare myself to receive everything that God intends to pour out into me. 

Like a butterfly, I am consistently and constantly living in a state of evolution. 

I practically live on knowing that there is an atmosphere that I need to be brought into right before my next upgrade. It could either be at a prayer meeting or a conference or from a place of pain and rejection. I am always looking out for where and how my heart can be stirred and my spirit will be lit up. I am always looking out for the WORD that will make the babies in my womb to leap. The Amaka you knew six months ago is MOST POSSIBLY not the same Amaka you will meet today.

Never Ever Write “My Husband Said” In A Professional Email

If you are reading this paragraph right now, just start laughing at me already. Just laugh. I didn’t know how funny the mail sounded until those who heard it started laughing about it. Lmho. 

Avoid Personal Reference In An Official Email

If you have been an ardent follower of Heart Rays, then you’d know that I share from real life experiences. I make it so raw that you can almost feel the emotions pouring onto the page. Yeah, I get that feedback from my readers A LOT. However, today is not going to be so emotional because I just want to get it over with. It’s 23:47 and I need to go to bed because I have to host a virtual brainstorming session with my team tomorrow morning. 

So, here’s the gist: Nigeria just concluded her gubernatorial election which brought a lot of tension in my local area due to tribal conflicts and electoral violence. It felt unsafe going to work today (Monday). My husband vehemently insisted that I stay back home with the girls as well. 

So I sent a mail to the HR stating that “my husband said...”. 

Please, laugh at me.

I don’t even know what I was thinking! 

Don’t be like me. Here are some reasons why you should AVOID using personal references in your professional emails:

1. It undermines your Credibility

When you're communicating in a professional setting, it's essential to maintain impartiality and avoid introducing personal biases or opinions into the conversation. Relying on someone else's opinion or authority in a professional setting suggests that you're not confident in your own knowledge or ability to make decisions. This can undermine your credibility in the workplace.

New Job Jitters? A Guide to Navigating Your First Day with Confidence and Success

I recently read an article I wrote that was titled "The First Day At A New Job", and I couldn't help smiling. Little Amaka has grown into a Senior Executive in the PR/Media Industry. Lol. Yeah, I’m back to full-time employment. :)

How To Survive Your First Day At A New Job

Starting a new job can be both exciting and nerve-wracking. As you prepare to enter a new working environment, you may feel uncertain about what to expect and how to navigate your new role. But don't worry - with the right mindset and approach, you can make your first day at a new job a success.

As someone who has been through this experience before, I have some advice for those of you who may be starting a new job soon. Here are some tips to help you survive your first day at a new job:

1. Come with an open mind

One of the most important things you can do on your first day at a new job is to come with an open mind. Be willing to learn, to ask questions, and to take on new challenges. Remember that you are there to grow and develop in your career, and that will require a willingness to be open to new ideas and ways of doing things.

50+ Ways To Treat Yourself With Love

Hi! Valentine is over, isn’t it? How are you feeling today? I mean, how are YOU really feeling? Are you being kind to yourself? Have you compared yourself to someone else today? Are you going on and about the past? I honestly want to know.

As Christians, we have definitely read the commandment,“Love Your Neighbour As Yourself.” Yeah? Great. Today’s article emphasizes‘As Yourself’ because how can you love your neighbour as yourself when you don’t even know how to treat yourself with love?

How To Practise Self-Care Using the 5 Love Languages

Yep. It’s post Valentine’s Day, let’s treat ourselves to top-notch self-care by diving into the five love languages and how you can practice them on yourself.

The concept was originally created by Gary Chapman in his book, The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts, based on his experience facilitating marriage counselling. Essentially what he found out was that couples expressed love in different ways, and if they weren’t clear on how the other person liked to receive love, chances are there was a disconnect in the relationship.

I completely agree with Gary.

Everyone gives and receives love differently. And I’m not just talking about relationships…I’m talking about loving yourself, too! Your love language can also translate into a self care love language and can guide which activities will be most rewarding for you.

Wait.

How To Pour From An Empty Cup When You’ve Been Called

Have you ever heard the phrase, “You can’t pour from an empty cup”? Oh, well. It is not written in the Bible and I have been asked to inspire you so that you can destroy that empty cup - the particular one you’ve been trying to fill.

Pouring Yourself

As a Christian. Wife. Mother of two beautiful girls. Author, blogger, teacher, speaker, and book lover. I am heavy on SELF CARE this year. I said it here. Yeah.

HeartRays (This blog) has been my safe space to share all things Christian - singlehood, (un)employment, marriage, fashion, motherhood and conservative issues since 2014. I believe in bold truth-telling, authenticity and purposeful living.

Each time I am privileged to look back on this journey, I am utterly thankful and filled with courage to just keep showing up. Blogging is a form of self-care. I only realized this a few minutes ago. Immediately I decided to draft this blog post, I started getting it.

It was a lightbulb moment when I realized that sharing my life (whether by writing, speaking or taking photographs) is a form of self care. I imagined it like a cup being poured out and the Holy Spirit tells me, “no girl, rivers of living water are flowing out of you!”