The Road to the Cross: One Step At a Time

My name is Candace Olusola. This is my growth toward understanding the Bible, solidifying my faith, molding my relationship with Christ, and taking up my cross to follow Him in holiness, faith, truth, and love. Won't you join me? Socials: @CandaceOlusola

[candaceolusola]

Don’t forget to get some rest. #shabatshalom (at Dominica) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp8hPLaPRq5/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[candaceolusola]

Happy Friday! 🫶🏾🫶🏾 https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp6GgP7PsDp/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[candaceolusola]

Happy Friday! https://www.instagram.com/p/Cpn7RxcPRZj/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[candaceolusola]

Ｔｈｉｒｔｙ-ｔｈｒｅｅ And Candace. Honey. You ain’t seen nothin’ yet! 🎵 ᴅᴏɴ‘ᴛ ʙᴇʟɪᴇᴠᴇ ᴍᴇ? ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴡᴀᴛᴄʜ! 🎶 #hbd #roadto33 #begrateful2023 #butGod https://www.instagram.com/p/CpLywR2PPpg/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[candaceolusola]

⛓️ʙᴏɴᴅᴀɢᴇ ᴠs ғʀᴇᴇᴅᴏᴍ⛓️ ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ When people think of God, they often think of this bitter being who wants to control people with a bunch of outdated rules and be worshipped for it. They think the wants to take away the right to “do you” and have fun. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙖 𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙤𝙛 𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙛 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙂𝙤𝙙 𝙞𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙, 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚, 𝙖 𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙤𝙛 𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙛 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙚 𝙛𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙙𝙤𝙢 𝙞𝙨. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ From a human perspective, we understand that laws and rules are generally in place not to bind us, but to allow us the freedom to live life as moral and safe as possible with the community at large as a focus of the creation of those laws. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 𝙂𝙤𝙙 𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙖𝙢𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙮. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ God is the ultimate definition of freedom, for true freedom is driven by love, of which He is the essence and embodiment of (1 John 4:8). As any good parents would, He has created a system to function in the world through commandments and principles that are rooted in His essence. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ 𝘼 𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙙‘𝙨 𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙤𝙛 𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙛 𝙬𝙝𝙮 𝙧𝙪𝙡𝙚𝙨 𝙚𝙭𝙞𝙨𝙩 𝙙𝙤𝙚𝙨𝙣‘𝙩 𝙢𝙚𝙖𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙣‘𝙩 𝙛𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙛𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙙𝙤𝙢. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ To trust that God wants His kids to operate in His Love is the beginning of obedience and freedom through following Him through Christ & His Word. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ Do you agree that God is a God of freedom? Why or why not? Share below! 💜🙏🏾​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #fff #faithfirstfriday #happysabbath https://www.instagram.com/p/CogFD3jv2vw/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[candaceolusola]

God is so good! My brother @kolusola and his @imaginefaithtalk podcast co-host @donovandeedonnell have a new @youversion Bible reading plan for the advent season (or really any session because we can talk about the significance of the both of Jesus anytime 🙌🏾). Go to The Bible App to read “All Things New” today! #advent #christmas #biblestudy https://www.instagram.com/p/CltawZTupPN/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[candaceolusola]

‼️ғᴜɴɴʏ, ɴᴏᴛ ᴘᴇᴛᴛʏ‼️​​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ Someone I once knew used to tell me that when he read the Bible, He could see how petty God was. At the time, I translated “petty” to simply mean funny, to which I agreed. There is definitely some good humor in the Bible. (And in my life. Holy Ghost cracks me up sometimes.) ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ 𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙂𝙤𝙙 𝙞𝙨 𝙉𝙊𝙏-- 𝙞𝙨 𝙥𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙮. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ According to Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary, petty means “marked by or reflective of narrow interests and sympathies : small-minded.” ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝘽𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙗𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙮𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙨𝙢𝙖𝙡𝙡-𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙙! ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ Everything God says and does is with grand intentionality. His thoughts and ways are beyond human comprehension. He’s THE most important thing of significance in the entire universe! ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ 𝙂𝙤𝙙 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩 𝙄 𝘼𝙈! ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ Though pure humor comes from such a wonderful God, nothing about Him is petty. May we not offend Him by giving Him such lowly titles that most closely describe the enemy. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​How would you describe God? Comment below! 👇🏾💜🙏🏾​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ ——​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ “God replied to Moses, ‘I AM Who I AM. Say this to the people of Israel: I AM has sent me to you.’” ‭‭Exodus‬ ‭3‬:‭14‬ ‭NLT‬‬ ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ #livefreely #mindsetshifts #faithfirstfriday #fff #bibletruth #petty #thegreatiam #christiancoachtips #lifecoachtips #motivationalspeaker #keynotespeaker #Youtuber #publicspeaker #happysabbath #shabatshalom https://www.instagram.com/p/Clr3VPiJu2I/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[candaceolusola]

Sanctification is a lifetime process from the moment we accept Christ as our own. The more the Holy Spirit shows us our own hearts, the more we realize “o wretched people that we are.” Yet, we can be grateful for the process because, though painful, it is a process to take us from being legally free to functionally free.

The Israelites had an opportunity to be legally free, and they took it with thanksgiving - initially. Once in the wilderness, they complained and wanted to turn back to legal bondage. Why? Because they didn’t understand that the wilderness was less of a punishment and more of a process of helping them transform their minds to function in the reality of their legal freedom. Their lack of understanding made them think they made the wrong decision for following Moses out into the wilderness.

Don’t let the wilderness discourage you. See it as a training ground for the Holy Spirit to work with you one-on-one so you can better be prepared to fight the battles the enemy has planned against you. You’re on the winning side legally. May you grow to function as you are, too. It is then when the Promised Land can be received and appreciated for what it has to offer. It is the reward for enduring the process, the training, and being deemed ready to win your battles.

Stay encouraged, dear friends! Christ is praying for you to endure in faith. This Wilderness is not just for you. It’s for those coming up behind you and alongside you to learn how to do the same better and sooner.

Have a wonderful Sunday, everyone.

#morningtalkswithjesus

—

““Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.””

‭‭Luke‬ ‭22‬:‭31-32‬ ‭NLT‬‬

[candaceolusola]

There’s nothing like seeing your story unlock shackles and break chains⛓ off of another human being’s life. I’ll never stop sharing my story. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 💜🙏🏾 #publicspeaker #keynotespeaker #mystory #testimony https://www.instagram.com/p/ClPaQ6Tvu43/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[candaceolusola]

💜ʏᴏᴜʀ ʟᴏᴠᴇ ɪs sᴇʟғɪsʜ!💜 ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ The type of love the world promotes is quite conditional. It’s based on mood, based on emotions, based on actions towards us, based on, well… conditions! ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ 𝙏𝙧𝙪𝙚 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙪𝙣-𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ Love isn’t love if conditions are to be met first or if there are selfish motives behind our actions for selfish gain. Love should be others-centered unless the acts are directly and intentionally toward self. Even then, self live isn’t to be contained, but used as a fountain for others to benefit from. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ 𝙏𝙧𝙪𝙚 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙖 𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙗. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ We are to act in love regardless of your sentiments. Sentiments can support acting in love, but they are not sustainable enough to have to always be present in order to act. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ 𝙏𝙧𝙪𝙚 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙖 𝙣𝙤𝙪𝙣. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ “God IS Love” (1 John 4:7, 8). He is the literal embodiment of it. To know God is to know Love. It’s very existence ceases without the existence of God. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​How have you seen love in your world? Share examples below! 👇🏾💜🙏🏾​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ ——​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ Looking for a keynote speaker for your next event or a life coach to guide you towards your breakthrough? Go to the link in my bio to find out the multitude of ways for us to work together.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ #livefreely #mindsetshifts #faithfirstfriday #fff #feelings #emotions #truelove #GodisLove #christiancoachtips #lifecoachtips #motivationalspeaker #mentor #lifecoach #Youtuber #publicspeaker #happysabbath #shabatshalom https://www.instagram.com/p/ClH4Cs0PSL-/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[candaceolusola]

Thank you @ukcpfi for having me today. I enjoyed my time speaking with you all. Stay encouraged. God is leading you to beyond what you face today. Swipe left to see photos of me and my graduating class of 2019. #publicspeaker #pharmacist #bbn #Christatcenter #ootd #thankful #blackpharmacist #GodofSurprises #crazyfaith (at University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy) https://www.instagram.com/p/CkuHxp5Myll/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[candaceolusola]

It’s a high Sunday! Thankful to God that I’d be able to visit one of my online churches in person for the first time. God is so good! Now let’s go elevate our thinking!! Head to @redefinedtv YouTube channel to watch this service and sermon series called Cuffing Season, Vol. 3! #happySunday #cuffingseasonvol3 #blessed #gratitude #letsgo (at Redefined Tv) https://www.instagram.com/p/CkEFEsFpSZS/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[candaceolusola]

Have a great weekend, everyone! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #sabbathrest #fff #faithfirstfriday #faith #christatcenter #eveningtalkswithjesus https://www.instagram.com/p/Cjtep9EpsLQ/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[candaceolusola]

🙏🏾💜 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #fff #faithfirstfriday #letgo #letGod #goodpain #sabbathrest https://www.instagram.com/p/CjbkVQZMrow/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[candaceolusola]

Dear Papa Smith, From the time your family moved to Kentucky back when I was a 6th grader, you had always treated me and my brothers as one of your own without question. You constantly made me laugh and were fun to talk Bluegrass music with. You supported me through my education, even coming to my pharmacy school white coat ceremony and graduation party. You and Mama Smith have always opened your home to me, no matter how old I’ve gotten. You helped raise me spiritually in some of my darkest hours. You now get to sleep in the arms of Jesus, in the arms of the angels. In that great gettin’ up morning, I’ll bring my fiddle so we can play sweet bluegrass music together. Love you, Dad. Youngun 💜🙏🏾😭 ——— Thankful for the promises of God. I’ll see him again. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. #wearefamily #sleep #rip #childofGod #rest #goodbye #bittersweet #wehavethishope #evensolordcomequickly https://www.instagram.com/p/CiQxln-JzSm/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[candaceolusola]

𝙳𝚘𝚗‘𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞‘𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚘𝚡𝚒𝚌?
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Many of us grew up believing we had to push through unhealthy situations.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
We taught ourselves to stay quiet and not speak up for ourselves.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
We convinced ourselves that making a promise today meant we couldn’t break it tomorrow.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Listen to me: Circumstances change, people change, and you change!
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
You have every right to decide that you no longer want you be friends with the person who once was your best friend “forever”, you are allowed to leave your job, and you’re allowed to stop talking to that relative. As life progresses, not everyone that has entered nor every opportunity taken is to continue on through life with you, even if at one point you made a promise to stay.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Live peaceably amongst men if you can, but if that’s no longer the case, don’t be ashamed for choosing to leave toxic situations and cut off toxic people. 📸: @kevinbrownmedia 
•
•
•
•
•
•
#toxic #toxicpeople #toxicsituations #freewill #cutoff #influencer #instagram #instagood #love #influencermarketing #empower #advocate #beauty #influencerswanted #influencerdigital #lifestyle #ambassador #podcaster #lifecoach #strong #bold #beautiful #transformation #growth #rolemodel #influencerlife #digitalinfluencer #instagramers #motivation #inspiration
https://www.instagram.com/p/CMcsgLyh0XM/?igshid=ruyph1ccrwgf

[candaceolusola]

“𝚘𝚑, 𝚋𝚎 𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚎𝚏𝚞𝚕, 𝚕𝚒𝚝𝚝𝚕𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚞𝚝𝚑, 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚜𝚊𝚢...“ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Anyone living in a duel language household already knows that most parents will only speak their native tongue with their children. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Sometimes they won’t even respond to you if you speak to them in a different language other than their native tongue, even if they understand exactly what you’re saying. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Why do they do that? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Because they already know that their children will learn the tongue of their community outside of the house, but the only reassurance that they’ll know and utilize the native tongue is by full immersion in-house. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Many of us are not only living in environments where the people around you speak the language of much of the culture - the language of hatred and slander - but you start to use it in your daily vocabulary toward self and others. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Now, why in the world would we continue to be in an environment like that? And if we cannot control our environment, why would we join in on that rhetoric toward ourselves and others? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Go against the grain and establish in your home and/or your physical self: We speak in Love in this place and we will not respond to that which is not spoken in love toward self nor towards others - periot! 💁🏾‍♀️ — “𝕊𝕡𝕖𝕒𝕜𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕒 𝕗𝕖𝕨 𝕜𝕚𝕟𝕕 𝕨𝕠𝕣𝕕𝕤 𝕞𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥 𝕓𝕖 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕞𝕠𝕤𝕥 𝕚𝕞𝕡𝕠𝕣𝕥𝕒𝕟𝕥 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕨𝕚𝕝𝕝 𝕕𝕠 𝕥𝕠𝕕𝕒𝕪.“ —𝗠𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗗𝗮𝘃𝗶𝘀 • • • • • • #influencer #instagram #hatetalk #love #empower #advocate #healthytoughlove #beauty #toxicenvironment #lifestyle #ambassador #podcaster #lovelanguages #lovehate #lifecoach #pharmacist #strong #kindness #bold #fearless #beautiful #transformation #growth #fluent #rolemodel #linguistics #influencerlife #motivation #inspiration #instalike 
https://www.instagram.com/p/CMaFhTNBNY2/?igshid=aeea43b203cp