Let Your Light Shine

 

What’s up, wonderful, amazing, sweet, and lovely people! Happy Sunday! I’m so happy to share this message with you today. I hope you are having an amazing day and I hope you are still your joy. Welcome to Maryam’s Joyful Life.

Today’s message is a reminder of who you truly are: loved, capable, worthy, and never disqualified from the life of abundance that God has for you. Nothing in your past has the power to cancel your future. Nothing you’ve been through has the authority to diminish the greatness that is already on the inside of you.

Those who rejected you, mocked you, or laughed at you were only reflecting their own limitations—not yours. Their fear of being different, their hesitation to pursue their dreams, and their choice to stay small had nothing to do with you. But you? You are a pace setter. A go-getter. A trendsetter. You are an inspiration. You were born for greatness, and that greatness is finally breaking out of you.

As you rise, some people around you may feel threatened. Your persistence may expose their excuses. Your boldness may remind them of what they refused to pursue. But don’t let their jealousy, insecurity, or inadequacy dim your light. You are more powerful than you think.

Rise above the criticism. Rise above the envy. Rise above the lies.

Embrace the greatness that is YOU.

Live boldly and joyfully the life you’ve been praying for. You are worthy of freedom. You are worthy of abundance. You are worthy of joy. And you deserve to confidently step into the life God is giving you—regardless of what people or even family may say.

Freedom is better than bondage.

I pray that the power of the Holy Spirit breaks every emotional attachment to bondage off your life, in Jesus’ Name. Amen. And I declare that God is bringing the right people into your life—people who are also walking in freedom, joy, and power. Amen!

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✨ Want to Transform Your Life, Joy, or Business?

If you love messages like this and want to take your mindset, habits, joy, or business to the next level, make sure you sign up for one of my programs at:

👉 www.maryamsjoyfullife.com

Your next level is calling — and I’m here to guide you into it.

Stay joyful, stay bold, and keep shining.

The Power of Worship: A Decision That Changes Everything

 

It is a good thing to worship the Lord because He is good and worthy of our praise. Worship isn’t just something we do when life is going well—it’s an anchor when everything feels uncertain.

Recently, I found myself overwhelmed. My thoughts felt scattered, my emotions heavy, and I began questioning my worth—feeling like I wasn’t enough, like I wasn’t doing enough. Have you ever been there? When your mind starts spiraling and your peace seems far away?

In that moment, I made a simple but powerful decision: this is not how I want to continue. Instead of staying in the storm of my thoughts, I turned to God in praise and worship. I began to acknowledge His greatness and His power over every part of my life—including my mind.

Something shifted.

Not long after, I felt lighter. The heaviness began to lift. Thoughts that had been consuming me lost their hold, and areas in my life that had been stagnant began to move forward.

That’s the power of worship—it reminds us who God is, and in doing so, reminds us who we are in Him.

A change to a better state of mind is only a decision away. Choosing praise over panic. Choosing worship over worry.

Sometimes the breakthrough we need isn’t in our circumstances changing, but in our hearts and minds being renewed. When we praise God, He meets us right where we are and breathes life back into our spirit.

So today, if you feel heavy, lost, or unworthy—pause and worship. Speak God’s goodness out loud. Sing even if your voice trembles. That shift in your feelings? That peace that begins to rise again? That’s your breakthrough.

Because praising God always leads to a breakthrough—and even if that breakthrough is a shift within you, that right there is life-changing.

Don’t let anyone steal your joy!

Maryam

It's Been A Few Days But I'm Here

 Hello wonderful, amazing, sweet and lovely friend. Hope this post meets you in great spirits. I have been so busy being a mom and working on other business plans that I forgot to say consistent with posting but I'm here now.

God is so good and always finds a way to reach out to us when we call. Are you overwhelmed, tired, frustrated and or at the verge of giving up? I'm here with good news, He's right there with you and saying this to you "My help is available to you and my strength is bigger than your mistakes and failures. Let me help you carry your burdens!" Are you going to willingly surrender or hold on to what is hurting you or will you right now, honestly open your heart and let God help?

As for me, right this minute, I'm surrendering all of it to God! I don't want to be in the belly of the fish to remember to pray. I want to 'skip the fish' as Pastor Steven Furtick advised in one of his videos about "God thoughts." I don't want to wait anymore until things get out of hand to cry out to my Heavenly father. I advise you to do the same.

I'm praying for God's grace and strength to wrap around you and guide you today and make your day! 

You're worthy and deserving of God's help today!

Don't let anyone steal your joy!

Are you looking for a program that can help stir up your faith and ignite the fire of God's presence to accomplish your goal? Check out my course Unshakable Faith Course here: https://www.maryamsjoyfullife.com/Unshakablefaithcourse

HE WON'T PAY CHILD SUPPORT|| HERE'S WHAT I DID

 

What’s up wonderful, amazing, sweet and lovely people. Welcome to Maryamsjoyfullife Blog! Thank you for checking out my post today! Let’s take a moment to acknowledge the pink elephant 🐘in the room and that is my consistency 🤣🤣🤣

Have you all noticed how consistent I have been the last few days? 🤣🤩 I’m so proud of myself! Staying on top of my blog is now my priority and I’m intentionally showing up for you guys who need doses of Maryamsjoyfullife inspiration daily or weekly. 

Today’s post is about single moms and women currently going through a divorce. 

I filmed a video about “Child Support!” 

In the video, I gave the following reasons why you should stop fighting and forcing your ex to pay child support!

Reasons Why you should stop Fighting For Child Support:

1. Because it breaks your heart when you keep fighting for it.
2. Because they control you.
3. Because you give your power away.
4. It makes you feel helpless

        Do These instead:

1. Cry out to God for your portion.
2. Ask God to remove hate and resentment from your heart.
3. Ask for what you want on your knees in prayer.
4. Pray for peace in your heart. 
5. Start reading books and listening to bawse ladies who have overcome big things in their lives. 
6. Know that if one woman can do it, so can you!
7. Know that Help will come!
8. Ask the Spirit for guidance.
9. You will surely win!

I believe in you and if I can do it, so can you! I still have big goals that I’m going after and I know that I will achieve them sooner than later because I have history with God! God is really for us and we have to realize that!

Don’t let anyone steal your joy!

Maryam

Six Tips for Making Healthy Meals the Whole Family Can Enjoy|| Marlene

  

Happy new month everyone. Welcome to Maryamsjoyfullife! It is a beautiful day indeed because I had the inspiration to start collaborating with guest writers. In today's post, we have an amazing guest writer by the name Marlene from hiringhelp.com, sharing some valuable living tips with us. Please enjoy!

Six Tips for Making Healthy Meals the Whole Family Can Enjoy

In the typical American family, either both parents work, or in many families separated by

divorce, single parents are raising the kids. They come home from work and haven’t seen the

kids since early in the morning, and no one has the energy to cook. But eating healthy doesn’t

have to be difficult and it will help you get through the days so you can concentrate on the things

that matter.

picture from eatingwell.com

It’s tempting to hit the drive-thru several times per week, but as part of an overall effort to make

smarter choices regarding your overall well being, eating healthy is important and good eating

habits can be developed without too much effort. Maryam's Joyful Life shares six tips to help

you prepare nutritious meals that everyone will enjoy.

1. Healthy Eating Starts in the Kitchen

The easiest way to ensure that your family eats healthily is by preparing meals yourself. When

you sit down at a restaurant, all you know for sure is that it tastes good. It’s best to eat at home.

One way to overcome some of the drudgery of cooking day after day is to not skimp on

cookware. When you use the best cookware you feel special. And you’ll feel even more special

after dinner because it will be easier to clean.

As you become more experienced preparing meals at home, you may want to consider making

upgrades to your kitchen. A modernized kitchen can be especially attractive to buyers if you

plan on selling your home.

2. Introduce Salads Into Your Meals

A great way to reduce the number of calories your family eats, while adding more nutritional

value and keeping the meal filling, is to include a salad with lunch and dinner. By using healthy

greens, mixed with other veggies, fruits, or nuts, you feel less hungry when you begin the main

course. You can grow your own herbs and lettuces all year round with an indoor garden.

During the warmer months, an outdoor garden can be a constant source of cheap organic

greens. If you don’t want to share with wildlife, consider fencing in your garden for less than

what building raised beds would cost. Average labor costs are $30–$50 per hour according to

Inch Calculator, while wooden fencing is $16 per foot and chain link is $13 per foot. Your plants

will thank you.

3. Skip Out On Red Meats

Not all proteins are equal and some foods are known to put your health at a higher risk than

others. Recent studies cited on Prevention.com have shown that regularly eating red meats can

lead to a higher risk of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. If you can’t quit red meat

altogether, it’s okay in moderation. Otherwise, try to prepare your meals with chicken or fish, or

with vegetable proteins like peanuts or tofu.

Having an outdoor grill or range is a great option for preparing your meats of choice. You can

even add a range hood, a table, and some seating to make a great spot outside for sharing

meals and entertaining. Things just taste better straight off the grill.

4. Replace Carbs with Veggies

Not all carbohydrates are bad, but some are definitely better for you than others. When you

make pasta or a rice-based dish, you are adding lots of calories. You can give your meals a

healthier base by switching to veggies instead. Vegetables such as squash or zucchini can

serve as a substitute for a wide range of foods, giving meals more nutritional value while also

cutting back on carbohydrates.

5. Make Fruits Your New Treat

After dinner, your family will be pining for something cold and sweet to eat as a treat. Of course,

you can’t have sweet treats without consuming foods laden with calories and sugar, right? Well,

not all desserts come with a high-calorie count. The secret is to stick to fruit.

Smoothies are easy to make and can be made from just a handful of your favorite fruits. Add a

dollop of vanilla yogurt to chopped strawberries and you have an incredible dessert on your

hands. Even eating fruit on its own can make a delicious treat the whole family can enjoy.

6. Drink Plenty of Water

It’s vital to stay properly hydrated to effectively deal with the summer heat, but consuming a lot

of caffeine can make that more difficult for your body. Be mindful of the amount of caffeine you

consume each day. It can show up in surprising sources, such as Sunkist orange soda. If you

notice that you’re becoming dehydrated, try replacing some caffeinated beverages with water.

You don’t have to be a professional chef to prepare incredible meals. You don’t need to be a

health guru to provide your family with food that has high nutritional value. With these tips in

mind, it’s time to get in the kitchen and start cooking.

Check out Marlene at hiring-help.com

Thank you for your time today!

Sincerly,

Maryam

To read more about lifestyle, family, food, and travel, visit Maryam’s Joyful Life today!

Picture is from pexels

ENJOYING TIME AS A FAMILY EATING OUT

 

Good morning wonderful, amazing, sweet and lovely people. How are you all doing today. I hope you are all doing great. today is a beautiful day. Welcome to Maryam's Joyful Life.

In today's blog, I wanted to share the importance of enjoying time away from your home and home cooked meals with your family. I have come to see the importance of making a change every now and again. Being at home with family and making dinner, day in and day out is all amazing and sweet but it can also become boring. In my case, I cook, clean and work at home. While I'm grateful for the convenience, it can become boring and uninspiring and this is why I make it a habit to take my kids out to eat food cooked by someone else.

The kids and I went to Applebees to have dinner and it was good. We liked our waitress. She was kind and our food was delivered ontime. You can see pictures of our food on the blog. Our dessert was delicious too. 

Onion rings and bread sticks were yummy too.

I ordered the endless wings and fries. Couldnt make it past my first batch.

Prior to taking the kids to Applebees, I had shown Zoe the menu to choose what she might eat. I think this is another fun twist you can bring to your family. You can make a plan to take them out and build up the excitement leading up to the date but reviewing the menu and looking at pictures of the food on the restaurant's website. Our dessert, we decided on before we arrived at the restaurant because Zoe and I saw the picture and decided we would order it.

Make takign your kids out to eat a fun event you all plan towards. It would bring more family memories and things to talk about later with them.

I really enjoy going out and circulating my money at different fun spots and restaurants with my kids. 

Here's the video to see our full adventures:

I think it's great for our mental health too, lol.

Thank you for checking out my blog today. I hope you were inspired.

Don't let anyone steal your joy!

Maryam

THE DEVASTATION IS JUST WHAT GOD NEEDS TO SHOW UP

 

Good morning, wonderful, amazing, sweet and lovely people. I hope this blog meets you well. Today is a beautiful day and I am very excited to be blogging. Hope you all had a great weekend.

Are you currently going through a devastating life change? Do you feel like it's over for you? Is it so painful that you can't bring yourself to believe things can change? Well, I have good news for you. IT CAN CHANGE!

See, the reason you feel depressed and hopeless is because you did all you could but it obviously didn't work. Now let me introduce you to the God in you, who is always for you. As long as you keep trying to manipulate situations on your own, you will continue to re-create the same old pain. I know this from experience. I was struggling for years and didn't know what else to do. I prayed, fasted and studied the Word but nothing seemed to change until I did something different.

Here's what I did, I stopped trying too hard and praying too hard. I just started giving thanks and expressing my pain to God, declaring that God can handle it and even at the moment was in control. Then I took it a step further, I began to declare that I am a child of God and I deserve to be happy, joyful and free. The more I did that, the more the enemy was upset but that was not my concern. I just continued to focus on the blessing and power of God. Guess what? Everything changed for me. Things didn't change for me before I changed. I noticed that as I changed my perspective, everything around me couldn't help but also change to match my new perspective.

What if instead of focusing on the disappointment, you focus on the blessings you already have? 

What if instead of trying to get back at those who broke you, you focus on the strength that you already have?

What if instead of talking about the problems, you focus on God's Omniscience? 

We have made a religion out of worry and fear. We somehow have deluded ourselves to believe that we can change our lives by focusing on the pain and things that broke us but that's the very reason we are suffering. You energize and empower whatever you focus on.

Here's a better "what if": What if we focused on solution, instead of the problems? What if we get excited about the blessing we are about to see, instead of the pain staring us in the face?

In my life, I have seen God show up for me over and over again because I FOCUSED ON GOD! God is always the ANSWER to whatever you may be going through. I dare you to try God and you will see mountains become mole hills and valleys become mountains and seas dry up and problems become promotions.

Don't let anyone steal your joy!

Maryam

MY LOVE LIFE FAMILY KIDS DAD UPDATE

 Hello wonderful, amazing, sweet and lovely people. Hope this blog meets you well. Today, I wanted to share a little bit of an update with you all. Are you ready?

My kids are fine and thriving. Why wouldn't they be? They have a mom who puts God in the center of everything and  there's no other way to go but up from here. I am doing great and I also give Glory to God and my never backing down attitude. I am a bull when it comes to going after my goal. If the Bible tells me that victory is already mine, then I have to act like it is. I do that in  how I work and how interested I am in life and also how I carry myself. Although sometimes, I think some people around me expect me to be rude or dumb but I know better than to play out to their expectations.

I really am grateful for the practice of meditation. It just grounds me and gets me in a place of clarity and power. I just know no matter what is going on, I am already a success, it is just a matter of time before it materializes. Why am I telling you all of this? There are people who follow me and think that it is an easy ride for me. In some ways it is, but the reason for my strength is mostly my faith in God. Now, I have to warn you. My faith is not blind or weak. It is faith that declares "There is a way," when there's obviously no way. It is faith that trusts God even in uncertain times. Good news is God ALWAYS SHOWS UP!

Watch today's video:

When you trust God, all things work out for you. Don't trust God and then worry yourself to death. Trust God and then go have fun like; walk in nature, read a good book, bless someone with some food or clothes you have not worn in a while. Just do something nice for someone, while you wait for your harvest; whatever that may be for you.

To conclude this, I am looking forward to an amazing life and each day I live it to the fullest!

God is always good!

Don't Let anyone steal you Joy!

Maryam

HOW I LEARNED TO GET OUT OF MY OWN WAY

 

Good morning, wonderful, amazing, sweet and lovely friends. I hope this meets you in good spirits. I am so happy to be posting a blog this morning. Hope you are keeping your heart from negative energy.

Today, I want to share a lesson that I learned with you. I have come to the realization that whenever there is a worthwhile goal you are going after, there will be obstacles all about you that will try to stop you. Obstacles in the form of negative thoughts, people and things. From my experience and keen observation, it has become clear to me that these forces intend to keep you from experiencing growth and fulfilment. The reason I have become aware of it is because I meditate and I watch. I am observant of my energy and the energy all about me. 

Trust me when I say the negativity is everywhere but you are stronger than it. Have you ever tried to do a whole lot of things but felt overwhelmed? But when you broke that whole lot of things to little tasks, you were able to complete it. Then you looked back and wondered why you were overwhelmed in the first place? Well, I have. It is all about perspective. The spirit of fear is what keeps us from achieving what we desire to achieve. We are afraid of failing, rejection, death, people's judgement and just plain afraid of nothing. 

Want to watch my latest vlog:

I go after what I want these days inspite of the fear that tries to cripple me. I get up and do the work I have to do, inspite of the spirit that wants to keep me stuck. The name of the game is MOVE! Get MOVING! When you feel heavy, stand up and get moving. When you are overthinking, get up and get moving. Movement shakes off the rut and clears the way for the good you want, to flow into your life.

Today, I got up and got moving. That's how things get done. Don't get in your own way by overthinking what has to be done. 

Don't let anybody steal your joy and don't you steal your own joy!

Maryam

WHAT MAKES A STRONG MARRIAGE?|| COL SAM AHMEDU'S 35 YEARS WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

 

Good morning, wonderful, amazing, sweet and lovely people. Thank you for stopping by today. I hope you are having a good day and are not allowing anyone or thing steal your joy. Welcome to Maryam's Joyful Life. Today is a beautiful day.

In today's post, I want to share some amazing secrets to having a long lasting union from one of the most respected men I know. He has been a blessing to me and many others I know and I have heard about. He is a father, a husband and an inspiration. I have watched  him shine his light amongst youngsters and older people for years and he just keeps shining. I have no doubt the reason he always shines bright is because of his heart of service to others. His no other than my Col. Sam Ahmedu. He is a leader in the Nigerian Basketball Association and also a leader in Africa. I can not express completely how inspired I am by him but I can say that I have seen him help many people and he never stops. I am just thankful to know him.

It is his 35th wedding Anniversary and I asked his permission to share his secrets with my readers all over the world and he humbly agreed. His humility is no surprise to me as I am in awe of how amazing of a father he is to all who have had the privilege to be in his presence. I am so thankful to share his response to my questions. Please read and be inspired.

Question: How long have you been married?

Col. Sam: 35 years(26, July 1986)

Question: What quality do you love most about your wife?

Col. Sam: Her simplicity, honesty, supports me in all I do and she is a good mother who appreciates family values.

Question: What makes a great home?

Col. Sam: The art of sharing and having trust in one another.

Question: What is the greatest virtue to keep a home?

Col. Sam: Family first above all other things. And keep family problems to yourselves.

Question: Any advise to Younger people?

Col. Sam: Learn to forgive each other, never go to bed without resolving any disagreement and learn to say I am sorry.

Well there you have it everyone. I want to say how thankful I am that Col. Sam took the time to answer my questions. I must say that he is just amazing like that.

May his marriage and union continue to flourish like I know it will in Jesus Name. Amen!

Don't Let Anyone Steal Your Joy!

Maryam

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU ARE CONFUSED

What's up wonderful, amazing, sweet and amazing people. Thank you for checking out my blog today. It is a beautiful day. I hope you are all having a good weekend. Today is a good day. Today, I want to share what to do when you are confused. I have gone into details on a recent video. Please watch and you will gain a whole lot from it.

Why are you confused? The reason is because you are too close to the situation. Step back from that situation and watch it like you are watching a movie. Say to yourself it is well with you.

Step back and go to your closet and pray and meditate. I especially like the Psalm 23, 91 and Matthew 6:33. Learn to surrender everything to God and give thanks like everything is already handled and you will see God's glory. For more, please watch the following video.

 Don't let anyone steal your joy!

Maryam

I WAS PREGNANT AND DIDN'T KNOW IT

 

Throwback from when Zoe was cooking in my oven.

What's up wonderful, amazing, sweet and lovely people. I hope this blog meets you well. Today is a beautiful day. Thank you for checking out my blog today. I hope this weekend is your best yet.

I was pregnant with anger, resentment, fear, worry, anxiety and comparison but did not know it. For years, I wondered why things were not happening the way I wanted. I prayed, gave money to prophets and pastors but it was always like my sin were too deep for God to forgive me so I had to suffer. This continued until I decided to seek God's face differently. How long and how many times do I need to ask for mercy for things to change for the better? 

After all, compared to some people I knew and had heard of, I was a saint! Why did I keep hearing these so called prophets talk about sin and forgiveness.

Well, the unanswered prayers and recurring pain led me to discover God for me. I found out that the more I focused on what was not working for me, the more of that I had. It led me to become mindful of where I focused. God NEVER keeps good things from me, I keep myself from accessing God's good by harboring all sorts of negative energies. These negative emotions are stored up in the Solar plexus area and build up like pregnancy. This pregnancy gives birth to more of the same negative cycles. 

Right now, I can gladly say that since I started meditating and focus on the things I want and the goodness of God, I am no longer controlled by my solar plexus. I have no use for negative energies. 
I acknowledge that God is good and all that I want is already available to me. Now, I just raise my vibration in gratitude and connect to the good I want. Giving thanks that I already have it and expect it to show up by God's grace. The good news is, it always shows up! 

Truly God's ways are beyond finding out. His Grace abounds for us all.

Don't let anyone steal your joy!

Operate in LOVE always!

Maryam