The climb.

This is my last entry for the month of January 2009 and i am so thankful for being able to share my thoughts with all of you, despite the demands of my daily life.
It has been a very interesting month with a lot of valuable lessons learnt. For people like me who have chosen to follow our passion , sometimes it feels like there is a mountain in front of us and we have to climb it, in order to get the outcome we desire.

This write up is by Ekene Onu , it was very encouraging to me so i decided to share. There are some words she uses that are typical of Nigerians but the message is very clear. keep moving.

She writes:

Today I climbed a mountain.
Literally.
Near where I live there is a mountain...a 2 mile hike up that can be grueling in places. I have climbed it quite a few times before, it never is easy but it gets easier each time.

The first time I started to climb this piece of imposing rock, I got winded a quarter of the way and decided that it would be detrimental to my life to continue.The second time I got about halfway and decided to celebrate my wins and save some climbing for next time.The third time I was determined to reach the top.There is a part that is so steep they have provided handrails. While climbing that part my heart threatened to jump out of my chest and sit down. I had to call on Jesus more than a few times, startling the oyibo lady next to me, I mention the fact that she was oyibo because African Americans tend to be very used to random shouts of Jesus, in fact had she been black she might have said, "amen sister, amen".


But I digress.
After I got through the steep part. I had to rest. Many people walked by me, an old wiry man with a walking stick, a toddler skipped along with her teddy. A pregnant lady who didn't look it, a heavy set women who did. Two teenage boys with a boombox? - they apparently just came from the 80's. None of them were breathing as heavily as I."Come on sister, you can do it" I looked up to see two black sistah's in their pink and green workout ensembles... I smiled. Well skeewee doggone it, I CAN do it! So I continued and huffed and puffed my way to the top and when I finally got there I fell on my knees and thanked God for not letting me die on the way.

I sat there reflecting on how much life is like this mountain.It is hard work. Maybe there is something you know you need to do. Some dream you want to accomplish but it sits in front of you like an imposing stone. You can't go around it. Got to hike it. You've got to push through the tough parts and you have to pace yourself when it seems easy. Either way you have got to keep moving.There was a time when my life seemed like it was refusing direction. I would make this plan, it would make its own. My husband and I would plan for such and such on this date and then things would not work out. Some days I would wake up and like many of my sisters and brothers when the day dealt with me, I would say Na wa O, anyway I thank God.People would ask me, "How far now? What's up with this or that? When are you going to do x,y or z?" I had no answers. At some point I started to get frustrated.


There is a point at the mountain when you can feel trapped if you allow it. To go up, problem, to go down, problem. Some people just sit there and sigh.Today I know of brilliant people who are sitting there. They can't see their way forward and they can't see where they came from. Forget the rock, they have become one with the rock.When I look at these women I want to cry with them, I want to shake them, I want to shout Oya! We can't sit here forever, we have got to make a move! The mountain is not going to get any smaller and the path won't get any easier. Oya, ngwa! kunye! Get up!

Wikpedia says Inertia means a body in motion tends to stay in motion and a body at rest tends to stay at rest. So the question is which one are you?My friend tells me she has lost her passion, she doesn't know what to do? My dearest. This is for you. Put one foot in front of the other. I know you don't think you can go the distance but this you can do. I know you don't think you know where you are going but all you have to do is put one foot in front of the other. Get in motion. Make a move.Trust me. I speak from experience.


When you don't know what to do, don't lay down in despair. No O! Get up, face the day and deal with the basics, get in motion and before you know it, your life will be spinning on its axis, creating its own gravity, drawing your dreams to you. Filling your life with passion, making room for possibility.Na so I come reach the top of this mountain and I took in the view and I thanked God for getting me through. I looked down at the path I had come up and I was amazed. I had come that far?Yes! and all I did was put one foot in front of the other!
Be well, be blessed.

Do the things that make you feel alive!

Is that the in thing? A dear friend of mine asked, as i told her about my blog and others that are writing through this medium.

There is a sad reality to this question, as so many people waste their time doing things simply because others are doing it or the perception that there is a lot of money to be made. It doesn't matter if they have a passion for it , or even if the very thought kills them inside. There are people that have to psych themselves up, everyday before they walk into their office. They switch to auto mode , their minds focused on one thing, "making it through the work day". Some times when i talk to people about following their passion they are complacent and don't see the relevance. Then i ask them about their job, and get answers like " my job is not bad. Or "it's okay"these response though short speaks volumes. I hardly hear my job is great! I love what i do.

Even if you have good work ethics, stick it out and become somewhat successful at what you or even very successful, there will always be that nagging feeling of things you wish you could have done. Sincerely ask your self this simple questions;

1.Do i want to do this for the rest of my life.

2.Will i do this if i wasn't getting paid?

Your response is a good indicator of how you really feel about your job and the direction your life is going.
Some times people stick to a particular job or means of income because its the only practical thing to do. For instance, assume you just migrated to a foreign country, you need to get a job , pay bills and sort yourself out . If you are from a developing country "the pressure is on"as family members are looking up to you to make life easier for them financially. Getting your dream job as you try to settle in a new environment is a process that normally takes time , time you can't afford. Meanwhile when you get are offered a job, any job, you grab it! As long as it pays the bills. And there are some people that stick to their job regardless of how they feel because it's all they know how to do. The most part of their life spent and all they now look forward to is retirement.

Unfortunately following our dreams and doing the things we love is a road less travelled for so many reasons. People are afraid to fail; its uncharted territory. They want job security so they stick to what they know works in the economy. Some don't even know what their dreams are. Some are so stressed they can't even think straight. For some, its due to impending illness like depression, serious injuries as a result of an accident , emotional trauma or living in very unfortunate circumstances especially in developing countries. Some of these reasons you will agree are legitimate enough to put your dreams on hold but sometimes the reasons we give are nothing but excuses.

In God there are solutions to every problems and practical ways to go about things . Hope can come alive again , new dreams can birthed and there is Restoration for wasted years. As long as you have breath in you believe, He is able to make everything work together for your good . Whatever you do, i strongly advice , please do not quit your day job until you have found another source of income . Especially if your paycheck is all you've got.

Oprah has said numerous times in her show that one of the secrets to success is doing the things you have passion for. And she has interviewed many highly successful people that say the same thing. Do what you have true passion for not what you can tolerate. I particularly like the way one of her guest put it. Russell Simmons named as,one of the top 25 most influential people of the past 20 years by USA today, when asked by Oprah the secrets of his success and advice for others, he said " do you" . A very artistic way of saying be true to yourself.

In my opinion, if you are going to work very hard at anything, putting in long hours, spending time away from your family and loved ones, doesn't it make more sense to put this efforts into something you are truly passionate about? This is worth giving some thought to. Some one once told me where i used to work that" it's a shame to go through life not attempting to do the things you love". This words have stuck with me ever since .

we only have this one life, some people may argue differently but let's all try to make the most of it. Valentino a very famous fashion designer once said , "wear the clothes that make you feel alive" i say do the things that make you feel alive!

FOCUS ON YOUR VISION.

Don't belittle, or under value your vision/dream, because its not as glamorous and famous like that of others. Or even considered important by the public. Because, therein lies your purpose, success and fulfillment in life. Some people want to be astronauts and go to the moon, others want to be teachers{one of the most noble profession out there; underpaid and overworked} some people want to find a cure for cancer, others want to be make up artist; they derive joy from making other people beautiful and happy. The main thing is that you find fulfillment in what you do and have a positive impact on the lives of others.

If you find yourself in such admiration for someone else and what they do, that you get enveloped in their world; what they eat what the wear ......... fanatically following up on their life, you will eventually loose yourself. This happens a lot in America with so many people "celebrity obsessed" . Some Americans are so busy trying to keep up with the lives of the rich and famous and be like their "idols"that they have lost their own identity.


This also happens in the lives of some siblings, where one sibling is constantly trying to be exactly like the other. Or even amongst close friends. The only being that deserves that kind of attention from us is God. let him rule over your thoughts, heart and mind. Be fascinated by Him and your life will be better for it. The word {bible} says:

Hear O Israel the lord thy God is one God and thou shall love the lord thy God with all thy heart with all thy soul with all thy might. Mark 12:28-24

This is my favourite bible verse. In the book solitary refinement Robb Thompson, explains how a close relationship with God can help you discover purpose and live a fulfilled life. Take time out listen to the voice within. where your strength, identity and essence is.

It is nice to admire someone, your admiration for them should inspire you to be the best you can be. But do not compare yourself with that person and make them the centre of your world .This only causes strife, jealousy, envy and a form of idolatry. Be in awe of God alone. Free yourself by embracing your dreams / visions, it is as unique and as important like that of the next person. Focus on your dreams and not that of another. If you are in a group where you collectively have a common goal, find significance there and do not undervalue your contributions.

People are different, just like a thumb print no two individual can be the same. So are the things that happens to us in life , how it happens and when it does. The situations ,circumstances and the stories of our lives can never be the same. Sometimes we find ourselves wondering why . There are so many reasons why this is so , but one is partly because God deals{ relates} with us differently . He knows you, knows how you are wired and exactly how to bring out the best in you. The way He communes with you might not be exactly the same way He does to someone else. To some people He only has to say things once, to others He might need to say it over and over again. To others He leaves them alone for a while till they become restless, focus, and start to seek him . However he speaks to you listen, it will save you a lot of time and heart ache. Value what he given you, your gifts, talents , family and friends and the rod of authority you have; that is the platform you use to interact with others.

For non christians reading this article, this information might be new .But if you are searching for answers, you want to know who you really are, why you are here and if there is a God, sincerely call on Him. Say, God if you are real, find me i 'm lost, reveal yourself to me. He will respond one way or the other. He always does.

But know this meanwhile, you are unique. So are your visions and dreams. Victoria Lowe in her book 10 spiritual principle of successful women, states how you can be a success in life by applying Godly principles. Two of which are:
1. Believe in your purpose
2. Follow your dreams

This was a tough article for me to write . Hope it's a blessing to someone. Your comments and questions are welcomed as always.

A paradigm shift,viewing failure differently.

Everyone in life will encounter failure one way or another. And just like every thing else in life, the right attitude is vital, if we want to fully utilize our abilities and overcome every obstacle. If you have failed so many times, that you are beginning to wonder if there is something wrong with you, please perish that thought and listen to what your experience is trying to tell you. Sit back analyzes your endeavours ask yourself, what went wrong?

The problem might be that, what you are doing, is not right for you. You might not be naturally wired to be in that field or line of work. Or it might be that you need a different approach. Whatever the case maybe , learn from your mistakes and bounce back. The bible says, a righteous man falls seven times and rises up again.....proverbs 24:16 . Your ability to bounce back is a quality that is required to succeed. This time you will be armed with more knowledge and wisdom than you started out with. The founding fathers of aviation failed so many times, but they kept trying regardless. The only difference between successful people and those that are not is , "perseverance". The successful people never gave up!

If there is no one to encourage you, encourage yourself. After all it's your dreams and it's your life . If you have failed big deal, like i said before everybody has failed at one time or the other. It's how you handle it that counts.

The fear of failure is crippling, it can be the difference between living a mediocre life to living a fulfilled life . Build self confidence by acquiring the skills, the information and the resources you need to succeed. Surround yourself with positive minded people , cause not every one will be routing for you. If you are fortunate to be around people doing well in the are you want to excel in, be humble and learn from them. If not study them from afar, success always leaves a trail, follow it. Go on the Internet, do research, ask questions , try again, don't give up. It's never too late to live your dreams.
In this article i will like to share the views of a wonderful lady i just met. Juwon Abiola.
she says:

No need to fear failure. Failure doesn't mean you are a failure, it means you have not succeeded yet.

Failure doesn't mean you have accomplished nothing, it means you have learnt something.

Failure doesn't mean you are a fool, it means you have a lot of faith.

Failure doesn't mean you have been disgraced, it means you are willing to try.

Failure doesn't mean you are inferior, it means you are not perfect.

Failure doesn't mean you do not have it , it means you have to do something in a different way.

Failure doesn't mean you have wasted your life, it means you can start afresh.

Failure doesn't mean you should give up, but you should try harder.

Failure doesn't mean you will never make it , it means it will take longer.

Failure doesn't mean God abandoned you, it means God has a better plan for you.

John C Maxwell in his book, attitude 101 says "..........i believe it's nearly impossible for any person to believe he is a failure and succeed at the same time"
If you want to succeed, change your mind set, and acknowledge this truth; you might have failed, but you are definitely not a failure! The only person that can determine what you can or cannot do is you.

The power of one!

I was talking to a family friend the other day, and just like so many other Nigerians we are deeply concerned about the state of affairs in the country and strongly feel it time for a change. So I shared with him the things I would like to do as an individual and hopefully make a difference. He said and i quote " that will be like a spit in the ocean". He was implying that the efforts of one person can not make a significant difference in Nigeria, because the country has a lot of problems , so enormous and complex .

My take on this; this mind set is one of the reason Nigeria is still in bad shape after so many years. Individuals are so perplexed with the enormity of the problem that they believe their efforts will be insignificant.
I on the other hand believe in the power of one. Do not get me wrong, I also belong to various groups where people of like minds are working together to come up with ideas, suggestions and solutions to impact lives positively. But I know, as individuals we are capable of making significant difference in our lives, the life of others, affect this generation and even the next.

looking at biblical history, when ever God wanted to cause a change he does not call a crowd of people, he starts with one man. when He wanted to bless the nations of the earth, it took the obedience of one man called Abraham. Genesis 22:18 ... and through your off springs all nations of the earth will be blessed because thou has obeyed my voice.

It took one man's resolution to worship God no matter the consequence, that caused an idolatrous nation to recognise there is only one true and wise God.
Daniel 6:25-26........I make a decree , that in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel..........
Daniel was just one man. But the actions of this man shook an entire kingdom and we are still reading about it today.

It took one woman's simple but brave act of defiance to inspire a generation to fight for civil rights. An unknown seamstress living in Montgomery Alabama finally had enough and refused to give up her seat and move to the back of the bus. Rosa parks inspired a movement by this one act that put an end to legal segregation in America.

Mahatma Gandhi resolved within himself that in his life time India will gain independence and have the right to govern itself as a sovereign nation. One man called himself to action and others followed .

Barack Obama, started out with all odds stacked up against him. He had a name that was easily dismissed, from an ethnic background referred to as the minority in America, no money, no followers. In this initial stage even his wife saw his dreams and ambition as lofty. All he had was the belief and mind set that" YES HE CAN" He can make a difference and his efforts as an individual was not insignificant . We all know how the story ends. My point? He was just one man.

So never underestimate the power of one! If God speaks to you like He did to Abraham, obey Him. If you live by Godly principles / values like Daniel stick to them , if you have had enough like Rosa Parks, do something! It is true, no one person can physically do all the work, but we can inspire others when we call our self to action. You and i as individuals have the power to cause a positive change in Nigeria. Instead of waiting for a group of people or someone else to make a difference "be the difference". Embrace the power of one.

The heart of a great leader.

Watching the inauguration ceremony of the new president of America has inspired a lot of people. One of whom is, Adeolua kinyemi a fellow blogger. After reading his blog today on a prayer for Nigeria leaders, I was inspired and fired up again. Hence this article , the heart of a leader. The heart of a leader is the heart of a servant. A great leader is the one constantly trying to find ways to serve others to alleviate their plight whatever this might be.

This was evident in the life of Martin Luther king and other great leaders that American has had, and the world has known. There are leaders and there are great leaders. what makes leaders great is not the title they have or the position they hold. It is their heart's desire to give of their self the very best for the benefit of others.
In one of MLK'S { Dr king} speeches he said that when he is gone, he doesn't want to be remembered for his noble peace prize, or any other achievement in his lifetime, but that he tried to love someone, to reach out to others...............................It was his heart desire to serve and pour out his life for the benefit of others. With speeches inspiring hope and looking forward to change aimed at alleviating the plight , that the people faced at that time. I have come to realise that, titles are good but testimonies are better! If you have both like Dr king had, thank God . If faced with a choice , choose to have testimonies , be a blessing to others. The heart of a great leader is selfless , loves humanity and is humble.

In the case of president Obama, its not that he went to Harvard, or that he is a great orator, or even that he is president, but his heart's desire to serve others and make a difference in their lives. By trying to alleviate the plight that America faces now. Using his gift of eloquence to inspire hope and change , always saying its not about him but about the people.
My lord Jesus who is the greatest leader now and forever reflected this in His life, He came to alleviate the plight of humanity and offered his life for all . He did this with great humility . If you are a leader and want to have an enduring legacy, serve others. Jesus said on this, if you want to be great in God's kingdom, you have to be the servant of all.

The heart of Great leaders cause them to rise up to the occasion. When God needed someone on behalf of mankind, Jesus said, here i am send me. Martin Luther king answered the call for that particular time in America's history. Obama answered the call for this time in history. Now there is a call for change in NIGERIA. Will you answer the call?


So, as many as want to cause change in Nigeria and the lives of Nigerians think "service" with humility. To be a ""servant of all "'requires humility. In Nigeria the leaders are not public servants, which they should be. Instead they are _____________my fellow Nigerians can fill in the blanks. Not all everyone is born to be a leader or has the heart of a great leader, but we can all do something to be a blessing to others. Lets all have the best interest of others at heart bearing in mind we are all going to leave someday and return to our maker.
If you have the heart of a leader make your life count answer the call. Use your natural talents and gifts to cause positive change, If you are a teacher, a writer an orator, a preacher whatever platform you have use it. God that sees and knows the heart of all men will guide your steps.. Nigeria needs you!

THERE IS A PRICE FOR SUCCESS?

We all have hopes and dreams. In our hearts we carry different aspirations of what we want to do with our lives and how we hope things work out for us. Well life happens! And things don't always work out the way we desire. Sometimes our dreams give way to more realistic pursuits as life demands. In this present day economy , many people are more concerned about having a roof over their heads and securing their jobs , than they are, pursuing child hood dreams.

Some experts say this is the best time to pursue your dreams others argue differently. whatever the case, there is a price to pay in life for success in whatever we do.

The sooner we realise and accept this fact, the sooner we can put an end to mindless day dreaming, time wasting and the misery we cost ourselves and others by constantly complaining of how the world is not revolving around us and our aspirations. Every body has to pay the price for success (this greatly depends on what our definition of success is). We all go through stuff! " Setbacks, tough times and unplesant surprises don't just happen to some; they happen to everyone" pastor John Hagee.

There is a great deal of work involved . God is fair ; life is not !

I came across this post not so long ago and felt I should share . It helped me to an extent to put the notion of success into perspective. Titled: SUCCESS IS NOT A GIFT. By Royal Prince.

He writes

"For every achievement there is a price tag and at the counter of success there is no bargaining; the price has to be paid and that, in full"-Unknown.

Success as we all know could mean different things to different persons. No matter what it means to you, it involves the achievement of set goals, aspirations, dreams, vision etc.
Let me stun you: God has not promised us success as a gift but as a reward, in response to the application of the principles governing it. He made this clear to Joshua in Joshua 1:8 when He instructed him thus: "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shall make thy ways prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success". If God promises us success as a gift, He has given us a licence to be lazy. A gift is something you didn't work for.


"It has been said that God feeds the birds of the air but the truth is, He never drops the food in their nests. "

All round success is an integral part of God's covenant with Abraham and sure, he was a force to be reckoned with in his days. It is just natural that his seeds (descendants) walk in the same realm of such an unusual prosperity and success. The scriptures testified of Isaac in Genesis 26: 13,14 that he waxed great and went forward, and grew until he became very great, having great possessions to the point of becoming the envy of the Philistines. Wasn't that also the story of Jacob? Of course it was! Instructively, their successes were not handed down to them as gifts on platters of gold. They worked their ways through under divine providence. God, in His mercies, has brought us into the same providence having en grafted us into the stock of Abraham through faith in Christ Jesus so that the blessing of Abraham might come on us as well (Galatians 3:7-14). By virtue of this, you have no reason not to be successful in life unless you chose not to.


Success is not a gift but a reward, and it responds not to wishes but to hard work. The earlier you understand this truth the better. Life is like a supermarket with lots of items on display each with a price tag. When you go shopping in a supermarket, nobody has the right to question the choices you make. At the counter, what determines what you go out with is not your choices per se but your ability to pay the stipulated price tagged on the choices you have made. Whichever you can not paid for, is dropped from your cart (trolley). There is no bargaining! This is life for you! Like they would always say, "nothing is free even in Freetown". Success is not without a price.

"success is not a gift but a reward; it responds not to wishes but to hard work and only those who pay the price win the prize "

Hope you know that life does not give you what you deserve but what you demand; and you don't demand for what you are not entitled to; and you are not entitled to what you are not qualified for; And you are not qualified for what you have not worked for. That is how it operates.

Greatness comes with a price and only those who pay the price win the prize. There are principles governing success and if you desire success, you must be willing to pay the price. Discovering these principles and actually applying them is the PRICE you have to pay. Nobody, not even God, will do it for you. It is DIY (do it yourself). Too many a people has the same attitude as that rich man who asked Jesus in Mark 10:17 "...what shall I do to inherit eternal life" but who unfortunately walked out on Jesus when he was eventually told what he must do. Such people with a kind of what-shall-I-do-to-make-it-in-life approach attend programmes, read books, listen to messages and ask questions but are too lazy to walk the walk. They are too lazy, like the guy in the pix up there, to go to work using the tools at their disposal. They confuse day dreaming with vision not knowing that a vision that does not result in an action is day dreaming. Success, like precious metals, is not found on the surface and can only be extracted through hard work. selah!


I believe in prayers, I believe also in positive confessions but I also believe that only those who sow through thought full actions should expect a harvest. Prayers and +ve confessions often provide the right environment, attract divine favour but its never a substitute for work. Providence may offer you the opportunity for a job, but you must through hard work proof you self worthy of such favour. If God worked and is, according to Jesus, still working you better believe in work. Do you know that "thus says the Lord" is not a licence to go and sleep?

When God told Elijah to go to Zeraphat that He has commanded a widow there to sustain him, Elijah upon arrival didn't meet a widow with a very sumptuous meal waiting for him. Rather he met a reluctant widow with little or nothing left for her and her son. Many of us would have accused God of not being true to His word. "Didn't you say that you have commanded a widow to feed me, how come she doesn't even have enough for herself and besides she's resisting? we would murmur. But Elijah, armed with that divine information from on high, persisted and eventually had his way. Thank God he understood how God works.

No wonder apostle Paul charged Timothy in I Timothy 1:18, thus: "This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them might war a good warfare"

His word has gone out concerning you that He wish that you be on top only and not beneath; that you prosper and be in health even as you soul prospereth. whether you enjoy these or not is your responsibility. Success is yours by provision but you have to do all you can to take possession of it so you could enjoy its full benefits.

Selah!

Hope you were blessed reading this post. I know I was , the first time I read it and even now.

There is the possibility that some people after reading this post may say "I have worked very hard all my life but success eludes me" Maybe God isn't on my side or something. Maybe I was destined to be this way, maybe I there is something wrong with me , maybe.......Hold on! Don't faint in despair. Please read my next post on the principles governing success . Although you can be successful working hard , hard work alone does not guarantee your success in life.

It's all about planning.

It is impossible in life to accomplish anything without a plan. There is a saying that goes , if you have failed to plan, you have planned to fail. In other words failure is inevitable without a plan. So much is lost, time and effort are wasted due to lack of proper planning. looking at the overall picture of our lives, we can honestly say that some of our dreams have not come through because we did no have a plan to accomplish them.

knowing where you want to go in life is one thing , knowing how to get there is another. I have always had good ideas of what i wanted to do with my life and on how to make the most of it. The problem was, i never really had a thought out plan on how to achieve this. It is the beginning of the year and so many people have written out their goals and know what they want to achieve .This is good , but we should also have a well thought out plan on how we intend to achieve these goals and also have back up plans, just in case things do not happen the way we expect.

It doesn't matter the failures of our past, we can start again. I honestly believe anytime we realise a fault in us, is an opportunity to make things right. Some people realise their mistakes sooner than others. what ever the case, something can always be done about it.
Before we can come up with a plan for anything in life, we have to know what we want. whether it is about fiances, relationship our health, or anything that is important to us, we need to make up our minds what we really want.

Yes we can! This is an attitude that encourages the will and intention to carry out actions regarding what we want. For plans to be successful, we have to be determined and disciplined to follow it through. Be informed about what you want to do, so that you can plan accordingly. Do research , the Internet is flooded with information on every topic known to man. Find out people who have been successful in the area of interest and emulate them. Apply the same principles they did. Success always leaves a trail , follow it. A plan should also have a time frame. know exactly when you want to accomplish things and how long it will take and plan accordingly.

In making the most out of life, we need to have a plan on how we intend to achieve it. We need to plan for the future , which always begins tomorrow. Simply put, GOALS + PLANS = RESULTS. So , get out the drawing boards people, let's start planning.

Proverbs 27:12 says , A sensible man watches for problems ahead and prepares to meet them. The simpleton never looks and suffers the consequences.

Make money, don't let money make you.

Money is man made. A medium of exchange for trade in goods and services. Well improved upon since the time of "trade by barter". When people simply traded what they had in exchange for what they needed. Because of the importance of money, people work very hard to make (acquire) it; some harder than others. In any case, spend a lot of their TIME and ENERGY doing it.

Unfortunately, in the process of making money, we have lost sight of the main reason money was created. Making money is now used to equate our importance in society and life. How much we make and what we own. Values are trampled upon in the process, because the acquisition of money and the amount of "goods" we have, is now tied to our significance .

I will like to note here that, everyone is significant because we are made by God for a purpose. So with or without money we all have our roles to play in life and none is more, or less significant than the other.

The love (passion) for money has turned many people's heart cold. It has made a lot of people throw away morals and values. As long as people have lots of money, society celebrates them even when they act crazy. And we see this at times in Hollywood. Because of this era in history, where most people, seem to be totally consumed with the quest, to make the most money overnight, some have even reversed the teaching of Christ. Instead of, seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all other things (including money) will be added unto you; it is now, it doesn't matter what you do, even if you are living in total disobedience to God, just put the money in the offering plate and all will be fine.

The bible talks about WORK:
......that if any would not work let him not eat.
2 Thessalonians 3:10

The importance of DILIGENCE:
Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings....
proverbs 22:29

One of the many ways we can GIVE:
......to deal thy bread to the hungry, that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house, when thou seest the naked that thou cover him.....
Isaiah 58:7

Giving doesn't end in church. Like I mentioned earlier money is important and can be used for tremendous good. Ecclesiastes 10:19 money answereth all things. The problem is the LOVE for money 1timothy 6:10 ...... the root of all evil . And this evil can make us , loose sight of the reason why we are here "Divine purpose". We should be more passionate about anything that can cause a positive change in our life and in the lives of those around us, not the change in our wallet or bank accounts.

Economist say, the basic necessity of man are, food, shelter and clothing. Most people believe they have to eat the most exotic food, live in the most luxurious homes or wear the most expensive designer clothes to be living the "good life" The quality of life we live is not dependent on how expensive these things are but how enriched our being is. Life is lived from the inside out and not the other way around. If you are wealthy enough and can afford these things, thank God and enjoy. If not know when to be content! Else you will spend your years trying to figure out how to have enough money. Money is never enough. Even some of the wealthiest people in the world are still trying to make more money!

I apologise for such a long article. So I will leave this verse for you to ponder on as you consider what your priorities are in regards to money.

....for what shall it profit a man to gain the whole world and loose his soul..
mathew 16:26

Please do watch the video on my blog, "loose my soul" by: tobymac. The lyrics are very inspirational.

Get Out Of Debt!

As we continue into the new year, it is essential that we put priority into getting out of debt.
It is difficult to focus on how to make the most of your life when you are in debt to your eyeballs , and constantly thinking of how to make your bill payments.

Experts say persistent stress caused by financial worries can lead to physical and mental problems such as hypertension, eating disorder and sleep disorder "insomnia". There are so many cases, where financial problems have put strain on relationships and some couples have ended up divorced.

We all have been told there are good debt; which when used intelligently can assist in building wealth. Examples are mortgage debt and loans used for investment.
And there are bad debts; used to purchase disposable or durable items using high interest paying credit cards. This situation is worsened when bills are not paid on time and minimum payments are made towards the debts.

In my opinion the BEST DEBT to have is NO DEBT. This year I encourage everyone to try their very best and get out of debt. First we have to change the way we think . It is possible to live in North America debt free. How soon we get out of debt and if we ever get out of debt depends on our attitude. We have been made to believe being in debt is essential if you want to build wealth but it is not the only way to build wealth. I totally agree there are good debts, but like I said before, the best debt to have is no debt and a zero balance totally eliminates the stress of debt.

Here are some suggestion to get out of debt quickly.

1.Stop using your credit cards.
2.Have a budget that includes all aspects of your life not just bills.
3.Have an emergency fund savings. This will help to prevent going back to use your credit cards if there is a financial emergency.
4.Save on your energy consumption. Pay attention to how you use your electricity, water and gas.
5.consolidate your debt.
6.Find another source of income. This may be a second job and use the money strictly to pay off your bills.
7. Avoid frivolous spending and free up cash for debt repayment. Make lifestyle changes if you have to , it might seem inconvenient but will be well worth it

Finally, I want to make reference to the bible on why I really believe we should be debt free.

The rich will rule over the poor and the borrower is a servant to
the lender.
proverbs 22: 7

Let no debt remain outstanding except the continuing debt to love
one another
Romans 13: 8

In history and throughout the bible, there are so many people who have built wealth through diligence, hard work, saving and innovative thinking. And they did not have to be in debt to do it, If they could with the resources they had at that time, surely we can also. Wishing you the best always and a debt free life!

What Will My Life Count For?

This is a question I believe everybody should be asking as we begin the year 2009, and hopefully for as long as we live. It is never too early or late to start asking thIs question, making wise decisions , efforts and finding ways to make our lives count.
Why is this important? Well, the alternative would be an existence void of meaning and utterly senseless. knowing we are here for a short time, we should be very careful how we spend our waking hours and how we treat other people.

I believe life should have significance and purpose. To truly make your life count, you have to find what that purpose is and fulfill it.
When it comes to this, people have diverse opinions because of various beliefs or lack thereof. The world and the people in it, is very interesting and dynamic . As we grow older, our values, opinions and encounters with others shape our thinking , actions and eventually directs us to or derails us from all we are meant to be.


Natural gifting and talents are indicators of what we are supposed to be doing in life, but this does not disclose the whole purpose or reason for our existence.
I find that the bible has the answers to all these questions. And it is left to us to search for the truth in it and apply it to our lives.
Maybe you are at a point right now where you just don't care , or too stressed to think or do anything about it. It may be, that you have found your purpose and already know how to make your life count.
Regardless of where you are in life , I invite you to join me as I answer or attempt to answer this question, You are welcome to leave viable comments and even suggest topics for subsequent articles in my blog.

Events of the past months has made me come to terms with my mortality as a human being and this has totally changed my outlook on life. So I started asking myself; what will my life count for? How do I want to be remembered? What kind of legacy do I want to leave behind for my children?


This blog to me is more than a forum of personal freedom because I love to write, it is a way to dawn significance and hopefully reach out to others who are on the same path, in discovering the purpose of life and have a burning desire to make their life count.
A forum for thought provoking questions intended to make people think, find answers and hopefully re-evaluate the way we all live our lives.
Questions like;

"At the end of your life, what do you want to have achieved? how will you
evaluate how worthwhile your time has been? Do you think you will be satisfied?
In what way do you want your life to be successful? How do you define 'success' and how do you accomplish it?
Culled from, making your life count a formula for spiritual success.

And to these questions I would like to add, do you know for certain if there is a heaven or hell? This particular question is very vital because, if there is a hell I am sure nobody would want to go there especially when it is for eternity. In my subsequent articles I write on topics that affects our everyday life as it relates to these questions and so much more.


In conclusion , 2 timothy4:6 explains what the chief end of man is. How we can glorify Him now and enjoy Him forever.

For more reading see:
Making your life count by Louis Brown Ogbeifun.

Wishing everyone a very happy and fulfilled year.