What will your life count for?

Remind me...

2012-02-01T08:57:00.000-08:00

Thank God for a new day and a happy new month to all my readers.

The link below is for a song by Jason Gray. I have been impacted lately by the song, and I thought I'd share.
To me, this song is a conversation- A prayer when going through the storms of life. Mine lately, has been grief. It's a desire for reassurance, a non- judgemental acceptance, and the comfort that can only come from the warm embrace of THE father's love. Whatever it is that you maybe going through... Please, be encouraged.

In agreement with Mr Jason Gray, "In the loneliest of places, and in the darkest hours" I pray God reminds us all, who we are and how much we mean to Him.

Much love from me and thanks for stopping by.

Click here

http://youtu.be/eKyY8zfjBMQ

Happy New Year!

2012-01-02T13:01:00.000-08:00

Hello all, happy new yeeeaar! I know it has been a while since I last visited my blog. However, as the saying goes “there is no better time than the present”. I wish you all that you wish yourself, and in 2012… all I can say is, be passionate, be inspired, be fearless, and be happy.
To kick things off is a book review. I wrote this review a while back, but I find that the beginning of a new year is always a perfect time for some inspiration. I sincerely pray that you find joy, purpose and fulfillment in all the 365 days of the year of our lord 2012. Cheers… and here is to a great year and a great life. Once again happy New Year! Happy reading, and thanks for stopping by.

Book Review: By Amenze Osaghae.
Title : If You Want To Walk On Water You've Got To Get Out Of The Boat.
Author: John Ortberg.
ISBN 978-0-310-23927-7
Binding: Paper Back.
US$11.99/CAN$14.99

I am not afraid anymore... this was the thought that kept coming to my mind as I read through the pages of John Ortberg's skillfully written book.

Human beings are no strangers to fear, as Ortberg put it "every human story, is, at least in part the struggle between fear and faith". This doesn't mean that I will never encounter any situation that may be frightening, but I now have a renewed determination to forge ahead with courage, guided by wisdom. Knowing that the consequences of an alternative action has a price too high, one which I can not nor am I willing to pay. One quote from the book sums it up like this:

"Pushing through the fear is less frightening than living with the underlying fear that comes from a feeling of hopelessness". - Susan Jeffies.

This book is full of encouraging words and a series of meaningful questions aimed at guiding the reader to potentially discover what his/her calling might be, what is holding them back from being all that God created them to be; confront these issues and consequently overcome them. It's for anyone who has a deep desire to walk closely with God and do things that are greater than themselves.

Hopefully other readers will get what I got from this book and probably even more... that life is to be lived purposefully with exorbitant joy, radiating vibrancy, and time wisely used, treasured like a priceless gift that it is. It should be lived without fear. Storms (sometimes) should be expected even though we may be in the centre of God's will... Our spiritual gifts, talents, abilities and every available resources comes from God and should be used to honor the "Giver of the gift". As John Ortberg put it "offer Him your spiritual giftedness- not to be compared to anyone else- as fully honed and developed as you can get it, identified with pristine clarity, cultivated with relentless perseverance; deployed with unstoppable vigor, submitted with sacrificial humility- and (my favorite phrase); celebrated with raucous joy".

John Ortberg is a pastor and author of several other books including: God Is Closer Than You Think and The life You Have Always Wanted. He, of course, wrote this book from a Christan perspective, done in a simple and clear manner that was easy to read and understand. This book contains a lot of life transforming truth (anchored on the Bible) with pages upon pages of profound words. Most times this caused me to reflect, other times to pray and occasionally burst out laughing. The causal way John Ortberg used humor to put his message across made this book fun to read!

As he concluded his book he asked a question, which prior to reading this book, would have made me pause for a while before giving an answer. He asked, "If your God truly is a big God and you could ask Him anything, what would it be?" Without even giving it a second thought my response was:

I want to return to Him empty! Having done all He has assigned for me to do and having fully utilized the means He made available to accomplish the task. That the journey of my life reflect the praise and glory of His holy name. I wonder what your response would be. Why don't you read the book and find out?

What Are You Doing With Today?

2009-12-17T06:59:00.000-08:00

...what I am to be, I am now becoming. -Benjamin Franklin

My take: Today, right now, at this very moment we are molding our future, our existence by various activities or inactivity, resulting from things we have decided to do or not to do with today. What a powerful God given ability! An ability, that is our responsibility to use wisely if are going to make the most of our lives, and be all God wants us to be. In light of this truth, you might want to ask yourself; what am I doing right now, as it relates to the 'dream' I carry in my heart and the goals I have set out to accomplish?

Everyone wants to know what the future holds. This is good, but I think it is better that we desire more to know what potential lies in every day, and how best to use the opportunity each day brings to our advantage. For, the future we wake up to, is more often than not, the results/outcomes of what we have done with the day before.

A lot has been written and said about the value of a day... I believe a lot of us already know and appreciate the significance of a new day. Yet somehow, the tendency to let a day slip by remains a common occurrence... After all, we often think "there is always tomorrow". But here is the kicker, "No one is guaranteed tomorrow".

We all hope and dream of a better future. Needless to say, if all we do with today is hope and dream, all we'll get in the future is... You guessed it-"hopes and dreams". What you will become, is determined by what you do with your "today[s]". This day is very important in the overall scheme of things, so don't let it slip by...

May the Lord teach us to count our days and apply or hearts unto wisdom, now and always in Jesus name amen. {Psalm 90:12}

You can do all things through Christ that strengthens you! {Phil 4:13} Make your day count. And while at it, pray without ceasing {1 Thess 5:17}

THANK YOU!

2009-12-01T05:45:00.001-08:00

It's the beginning of a new month and soon a new year... And as the year winds down by days, or as my children would say by "30 more sleeps", I feel the need... An unwavering longing in my heart, to say thank you to those who have impacted my life this year in a profound way.

First and foremost, a resounding thank you to God my father, In whom I live and move and have my being[Acts 17:28]. To whom I owe my all, the lover of my soul. "The God of my first love"[my first love]... my Elohim, my Redeemer and my friend.

To my husband...
My partner for life. For your love, sincerity, understanding, encouragement, and faithfulness. For being a role model to our "priceless gifts"; our beautiful and blessed children. For being a protector of my heart, and our home... My tireless fighter, my warrior, my angle eyes, my love...

To my parents. I am blessed to have come through you...

To my mother. The strongest woman I know... You personify true perseverance... Stretching the bounds of endurance to limits that I can't comprehend... Love you mom.

To my siblings; an extension of who I am. In ways I can't explain nor fully understand, you all make me want to be an agent of change. You are a source of constant inspiration...

To OG. My faithful friend for over 20 years. Through out this year you where there for me like you have always been...

To Belinda. For being a voice confirmation... And using your life to be a constant reminder to all, to be good steward of everything we are given by doing whatever He[God] says!

To Bridget. For being a sister, a friend and a well of inspiration.

To Tosan. For being there at defining moments in my life. One of which was March 10th 2009. YOU ARE A "GOD SENT".

To Martins. For teaching me about intercession and ministering to others on a whole new level.

To Ede. For being you. Girl you rock!!!!!

To Shola. For making your life a Bible for all to read. That inspires me a lot. I see Jesus in you... Sometimes with you I wonder... "Human or angel"? I'm... kind... of.... leaning towards angel. lol

To everyone who has visited my blog and to all who have left words of encouragement. You are appreciated. God bless you all.

As we all know, this is the last month of the year 2009. Instead of thinking of the things that did not work out the way we expected this year, or the events that have left sadness in our hearts, or a bitter taste in our mouths, Let's all make December a month of remembering with grateful hearts; all the good things that have happened in our lives from January till date.

Have a pleasant week!!!

Keep The Faith.

2009-11-30T09:13:00.000-08:00

The fact that the sun is behind the clouds does not mean that it is not shinning.-Tunde Adeleye

My take: Keep "The faith". Don't stop believing! No matter how things may appear... God is working behind the scenes.

Life is so much more than your eyes are seeing,
You will find you way somehow if you keep believing.
I have seen dreams that move a mountain,
Hope that doesn't ever end,
Even when the sky is falling.
I have seen miracles just happen,
Silent prayers get answered,
That is what faith can do. Lyrics from the song "What Faith Can Do" By Kutless

You Can Start Again.

2009-11-25T06:31:00.000-08:00

Though you cannot go back and make a brand-new start,
My friend,
You can start now,
And make a brand-new end.-John C. Maxwell

My take: I take comfort in such words... When at times, the realisation of wrong choices, wasted time, opportunities, etc clings to my heart, triggering pain... that is almost unbearable; and I have to face the consequences... At such times though I take a step forward, and give thanks. For such realisation, also indicates that I now view things differently... I am learning, growing and I'm wiser.

Such words reminds me of the opportunity I still have to impact the rest of my life in a tremendous way. It reminds me that I have been given an advantage... That enables me make proficient use of my most precious commodity which is my "time" and appreciate the value of the treasure that is "today".

For, every time in consciousness and every day is a gift from God... A chance to change the outcome of ones life- to re-write if you may, how the story ends...

Such words reminds me of the restorative power of my God... Telling me to;
Speak to the dry bones and they will live again!{Ezek 37:14}
Telling me, that beauty can come from ashes.{Isaiah 61:3}
Telling me to rejoice{Isaiah 54:1-4}.[Regardless, of whether I am a late bloomer or by any reason deemed incapable of blooming]
Telling me that, He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that I can ever ask or think{Ephesians 3:20}
Indeed with God, better is the end of a matter than the beginning!{Ecc 7:8}

The truth is, we may not always get it right... But let the faith we have in God give peace to our hearts as we completely trust Him to make it 'all right'. Even now; God is able to help us operate in the fullness of knowledge, wisdom and understanding. Jesus did it. We are like Christ, we can do it also.

We can all start again. Definitely not from our beginning, but right now from where we are.

Thank you Lord!

What's your take? It's always a blessing when you share...

A Way, With Words...

2009-11-21T10:31:00.000-08:00

The great American novelist Mark Twain said that he spent a large sum of money to trace his family tree and then spent twice as much trying to keep his ancestry secret! He was like the family that reportedly wanted it's history written up so they hired a professional biographer to do it, but they were worried about how the document would handle the family's black sheep. Uncle George had been executed in the electric chair for murder.

"No problem," said the biographer. "I'll say that Uncle George occupied a chair of applied electronics at an important government institution. He was attached to his position by the strongest of ties, and his death came as a real shock." Culled from the book, "Today Matters" by John C. Maxwell

My take: The biographer sure has "a way" with words. lol

Health Matters.

2009-11-21T07:29:00.000-08:00

I know the title of this blog post is stating the obvious, but the truth is that for some of us that are healthy, we often take it for granted.

I have been reading a book titled "Today Matters" by John C. Maxwell for a while now, and at a very slow pace because I truly want to take in a lot, of the life transforming truth contained in the book. But when I got to the chapter on health, I skimmed through it. I didn't think I had much to learn from the chapter, and did not see the big 'hoopla' on managing the disciplines of health daily.

I consider myself to be a very healthy person. I used to be overweight[not morbidly], but thanks to my husband's love and encouragement, I was able to do what was required in order to lose the excess weight[healthy eating and exercise]. I am hardly ever ill. The most times I have been to the hospital was related to childbirth. Thankfully, I have a high metabolism rate and I can burn calories fast if I exercise. So sometimes, I indulge myself and eat whatever I want and at anytime of the day.

Some days back, series of events made me re-evaluate my health choices and revisit the chapters on health that I had previously skimmed through.

It was a week day and it was time to get the children up and ready for school. I tried getting up but I was feeling extremely nauseous, dizzy and oh... the pain I felt in my stomach. I couldn't function. So I went back to bed leaving my husband to fly solo... and carter to the family's needs. Apparently, something I ate very late into the night, did not go well with my system and has made me very ill. Putting it mildly, "My whole day was very unproductive". After Several teaspoons of Pepto-Bismol[extra strength] and numerous visits to.... You know where, I started reflecting on what the author had written concerning the importance of maintaining a healthy daily discipline.

He writes:

"Neglect enough todays, and you will experience the 'someday' you've wanted to avoid!"

"You can move from one climate to another. You can stay away from someone who wants to harm you. But you can't get away from your body. For as long as you live, you're stuck with it. If you make choices that cause you to be continually hurting or unhealthy, it will affect every aspect of your life, your heart, mind, and spirit."

"Health often determine the quality as well as the quantity of life."

"Think about how hard it is to be positive, concentrate, or pray when you have a tooth ache. More serious conditions can be even more distracting."

If we are going to make the most of our lives, seizing every day and every opportunity; we have to take our health into consideration and go the extra mile to maintain a healthy daily discipline. Thank God I feel a lot better now, but the outcome of some health problems are long lasting and irreversible.

Below are some suggestions the author gave in his book for maintaining good health:

1. MAKE THE DECISION TO KNOW AND FOLLOW HEALTHY GUIDELINES DAILY.

2. HAVE A PURPOSE WORTH LIVING FOR.

3. DO WORK YOU ENJOY.

4. FIND YOUR PACE.

5. ACCEPT YOUR PERSONAL WORTH.

6. LAUGH.

7. EAT RIGHT.

8. EXERCISE.

9. HANDLE STRESS EFFECTIVELY.

To have a more in-depth understanding on how to follow through on these suggestions, you'll have to read the book. On a final note, let this quote be a constant motivation to us all, that:

"It's easier to maintain good health than to regain it"- John C. Maxwell

Make the most of your life, Stay healthy.

Blessings and love.

Take Time Out To Reload.

2009-11-21T05:45:00.000-08:00

"I am not retrieving I am reloading." During a talk show, a lady gave this quote as a response to her interviewer's questions, concerning some decisions she's made about her life and career.

My take: I primarily like this quote because, in life sometimes we have to take a step back, access things from a third person perspective [view things objectively], in order to move forward and stay on target. If we are to remain productive, and continue to be of value to ourselves and those around us, we need to take some time out to, periodically re-prioritise [because conditions in life are continually changing], rejuvenate as often as needed, and frequently re-energise... Else we are eventually going to burn out. Having nothing left inside of us, we start shooting blanks [become unproductive]. Ultimately, living unfulfilled lives.

Some people 'reload' by going on vacations, fasting and praying, or simply creating time to reflect daily. Some may quit their jobs, start a new career, start a new business or close down a business... whatever the case, the aim is not retrieving and giving up on our life's goals, but finding ways we can best actualize this goals without losing the essence of who we are.

Hmmm... Maybe I am reading too much into this quote. lol But seriously, what's your take? Have a wonderful weekend!

Get up!

2009-11-16T07:11:00.000-08:00

Thank God for a new week, and the blessing of yet another day...

Lately I have been pondering on the incredible resilience of the human spirit. And the importance of harnessing our resilient nature as human beings, if we are to successfully navigate, the sometimes very treacherous waters of life's journey. Resilience is one of the best response to circumstances that challenges or shakes the very core of our being as individuals.

Resilience is the ability to recover from {or to resist being affected by} some shock, insult or disturbance.-Wikipidia

The first segment of this definition "...the ability to recover from" brings to my mind, instances, when it seems as though life has packed up a punch, and has dealt us a blow that knocks us down and out for the count. This normally is, a very shocking and painful experience.... This blow can be: terrible financial problems resulting from the loss of one's lively hood, the betrayal of a trusted friend, or sudden death in a close knit family. The list of such disturbing situations goes on for miles, depending on the impact the situation has on an individual, and the way they respond to it.

At such times, there is the tendency to wonder "how did this happen? when and how am I ever going to get back on my feet?"

Here is something that might help; Believe that this is not the end of "you". Even after a devastating hurricane "deep underneath, the earth still has the ability to give life-Ekene Onu. You can recover. There is healing in Jesus name for that aching or broken heart. Your inner man can be strengthed once more, God can give back to you more than you ever lost {Job 42:12}, and even restore the wasted years {Joel 2:25}

Deep inside of you, lies the ability for new, fresh and beautiful things to spring forth again!

All you have to do is get up...

"Inside of a ring or out, ain't nothing wrong with going down. It's staying down that's wrong.-Mohamed Ali

Staying down... That is where the problem is! Instead, exhibit that beautifully and fearfully made ability in you to bonce back and recover. This is when you tap into that resilient nature that God has intricately built into the fibre of your being. No life circumstance can destroy your spirit unless you allow it. You are that strong!

"man has never made any material as resilient as the human spirit.- Bern William

Dwelling on the mistakes of your past is not necessary... No matter how painful or devastating the outcome of such mistakes has had on your life.

Mistakes are like signals indicating to you that you are/were on the wrong path. So most times all you need to do is change direction or try a different approach. It is usually encountered in the process of actually accomplishing something. " the man who makes no mistakes does not usually make anything"-William Connor Magee

Hold on this truth most of all, that God is able to turn those mistakes into miracles. Miracles that will propel you full steam ahead towards that expected end.{Jeremiah 29:11} In the process you become a better stronger "you".

"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called by His purpose-Romans 8:28.

All you have to do is, get up!

The other part of the definition of resilience emphasis the ability "... to resist being affected by". For me, my faith in God is the anchor that keeps me stable -in an "undisturbed" state. Psalms 125:1 says; "Those who trust in the Lord are as mount Zion which cannot be moved but abides forever". My trust in God, is what helps me harness this resilience nature when needed and confidently say "this too shall pass."

I really believe that our resilient nature showcases one of our many unique attributes as human beings. This is something to be admired, and exhibited as needed to celebrate our uniqueness and the Glorious God that made us this way!

"our greatest glory in not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.-Confucius

"A righteous man falls seven times, and rises again... {Proverbs 24:16}

It's time... to get up!

Your Choice!

2009-11-13T09:15:00.000-08:00

We can throw stones,
Complain about them,
Stumble on them,
Climb over them,
Or build with them.-William Arthur Ward

My take: What we choose to do with whatever life presents to us, becomes a defining part of the story of our lives. To a great extent, our lives today is the result of series of choices made in the past. I pray, that God helps us to always make wise decisions in Jesus name amen.

Perseverance

2009-11-13T07:12:00.000-08:00

I write about success most times because I believe everyone has an innate desire to be a success in life. But there are things we have to do, some attributes we have to acquire in order to achieve and maintain success. One of such things is understanding what perseverance is. Apart from knowing how to persevere, we also have to know when not to persevere. Because sometimes in life, there are things we need to let go of.

One of the most interesting definition of perseverance that I got on line, as I was doing some research, was that perseverance is "doggedness: persistent determination".

This immediately put a picture of a bull dog latching unto something on my mind. You would agree with me, that it is quite a sight to behold. Once that dog pounces on anything it really wants... The vigor and grit with which it holds on, is something we have to emulate when we have our hearts set, and our minds made up to achieve a goal.

Another definition I got online describes perseverance as "... the steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state etc especially in spite of difficulties, obstacles or discouragements.

I also like this definition because of the emphasis on the phrase" in spite of difficulties, obstacles or discouragement" This is actually when the true trait of perseverance comes to light. When something is easy you really don't need to persevere, but when something is hard, it doesn't mean you give up! So when next you encounter challenges on the course of your life's journey, just tell yourself "all I have to do right now is persevere". Keep at it. If you feel are not gaining ground at the moment, at least you can strive not to lose ground! Maintain that which you already have.

"The road to success is dotted with many tempting parking places"-Author unknown

"When you come to the end of your rope, tie a note and hang on" -Franklin Roosevelt

"You can't go through life quitting everything. If you are going to achieve anything you've got to stick with something" -From the television show Family Matters.

"Perseverance is the hard work you do after you get tired of doing the hard work you already did" -Newt Gingrich

Now, this is a quote after my own heart. lol. Sometimes that extra push is what makes all the difference.

If you want more inspiring quotes about perseverance visit http://www.quotegarden.com/

Perseverance is indeed something that can be learnt. Life is the school, the Holy Spirit is our enabler, and He will help us endure till the end. Our passion, our belief in God, in ourselves and in whatever we are doing will make it easier for us to learn how to persevere!

God bless you.

What Is Your Definition Of Success?

2009-11-12T09:38:00.000-08:00

It is a well known fact that every body wants to be a success in life. But I have also found out that, people view success differently hence our definition of success also differs.

Today I am just curious to find out what people's definition of success are. One of the best definition I have read is by John C. Maxwell, who writes:

Success is...
Knowing your purpose in life,
Growing to reach your maximum potential, and
Sowing seeds that benefit others.

I have heard people describe success as a process, others says it's a season.

For me:

I am a success each time I am doing effectively, what I believe God wants to do.

What is your definition?

Honoring Our Father.

2009-11-12T06:22:00.000-08:00

....Then if I am a father, where is My honor? -Malachi 1:6 {New American Standard Version}

I have only, always, associated this scripture with tithing and offering until yesterday as I watched the plumbline, with Faisal and Sabina Malick of Covenant Of Life Ministries. They were teaching on financial stewardship and the significance of our offerings unto God. I listened attentively as they focused on the word "honor". I was beginning to have a better understanding about the offerings we gave unto God. And view it from a perspective that I have never seen it before. I was glued to my television set, desperately grabbing onto every word the couples spoke, because I did not want to miss a thing. For a brief moment while in this attentive state, I thought "What a privilege we have as Christians to honor the king of glory with our tithes and offerings ..."

They spoke on the truth that, when an offering was given, specifically as stated in Proverbs 3:9-10 {Honor the Lord with your capital and sufficiency[from righteous labors] and with the first fruits of all your income; [Deut. 26:2; Mal. 3:10; Luke 14:13, 14.] So shall your storage places be filled with plenty, and your vats shall be overflowing with new wine. [Deut. 28:8.]} We are blessed with increase. An increase that is not affected by the world's economy. I don't know about you, but to me, now more than ever, that is very good news!

I gathered also that our motive for giving should be taken into account. We give to honor God, not to impress people { Mat. 6:1-3}. In regards to our tithing, we are simply returning to God what belongs to Him. In the book of Malachi the Lord says the tithe belongs to Him! When we don't give our tithes, we are taking what doesn't belong to us, hence stealing from God. Is it wise for a man to rob God? I think I hear a resounding no, lol.

The manner in which we give also is important. An example is in Mat 26:6-13, which describes how the woman with the alabaster bottle, offered to Christ with great reverence. She offered out of the essence of her being as she washed the Lord's feet with her tears. At this point she could have asked for a cloth to dry the lord's feet but she used her hair. As I reflect on this for a minute, for most women I know, their hair in something they don't play with. They invest thousands of dollars yearly just to make it look good. But she didn't stop there, she gave her most expensive possession, and treated it in front of the master, as though it was absolutely nothing compared to the privilege of offering it to her Lord. Hence she broke the bottle and used the perfume to anoint Jesus.

This was very symbolic as Jesus later explained that He was being prepared for His burial. Sometimes when we are led to give, we might not fully understand the sacredness of our giving, as it is tied to the Father's agenda. A lot can be learnt from the manner with which the woman with the alabaster bottle gave unto the Lord. The reverence that went with the offering obviously touched the Lord, hence He said that everywhere the gospel is preached she will be mentioned.

Another example of someone in the Bible whose manner of giving got heavens attention was Solomon. He gave with such reverence, as though nothing he gave was enough for such an awesome God, the God of his fathers. The Lord was so pleased He payed Solomon a visit. My Prayer today is that we learn to give in such a way that pleases God.

For the longest time, giving my tithes and offering was done because it was required as stated in the bible... and there has been many disputes in the body of Christ if "born agains" are even supposed to give their tithes... which is one tenth of what you earn. There are times I go like, "well... God understands, I don't have enough money right now... so, I will start all over again next paycheck". Because of this mind set I have not been consistent giving my tithe nor considered much the significance of my offering. And that is obviously because, I did no fully understand the dynamics involved with giving unto the Lord.

As I listened to the ministers, the longing in my heart to give grew, I wanted to honor the Lord. But I knew for the moment I couldn't give the way my heart desired. As I sat back on my chair almost feeling a sense of sadness, a thought came to my mind almost like a revelation saying " you can honor God with other things that you do..." I was elated! Definitely, there were other things I could do to honor the Father, while I wait for that awesome privilege to honor Him in my substance.

For honor is, the great respect, regard , esteem shown to another. {www.thefreedictionary.com}Every child of God can honor Him in so many ways. This should be a lifestyle... What we do, what we wear, what we eat{healthy food}, at our places of work, in our various vocations, how we treat others, how we take care of our families, in our thoughts..., the opportunities are endless...

As I write this blog post today, I write with a renewed sense of purpose. I write honoring my father, the great "I AM".

How are you honoring Father God today?

Showing Forth His Praise In All We Do.

2009-11-04T09:49:00.000-08:00

Lord, help me to do great things as though they were little, since I do them with your power; and little things as though they were great, since I do them in your name. -Blaise Pascal.

My Take: That the name of God be glorified in all we do, great or small.

Powerful Prayers For The Month Of November.

2009-11-04T06:31:00.000-08:00

Happy new month all! I am so delighted to share these prayer points with you. It was written by a friend as she was inspired. I am determined to allow these words have an impact in my life as I pray and hold on to the truth of God's word. what about you? Remember, PRAYERS CHANGES THINGS!

Subject: Its a NO-vember of many NO and that divine YES.

Beloved, It’s so amazing the month starts with 2-letter NO, because heaven wants to say NO to certain things that have not made the years the best we envisaged and say YES to our expectations.

JOIN me as we declare these NO-sayings throughout the month of NO-vember

NO evil will befall you (Psalm 91: 10)
NO enchantment against you (Num. 23:23)
NO weapon formed against you will prosper (Isa. 54: 17)
NO strife (Gen 13:8)
He suffered NO man to do them wrong (I Chro. 16: 21)
He commands Do my prophets NO harm. ( I Chro 16: 22)
NO war against YOU ( 2 Chro 17: 10)
NO more reproach (Neh 2: 17)
You will fear NO evil (Ps 23: 4)
No delay, no tarrying (Ps 40: 17)
NO good thing will He withhold from YOU (Ps 84: 11)
NO complaining in our street (Ps 114: 14)
NO sorrow (Pro 10: 22)
No peace for the wicked over your life and family (Isa 57:21)
NO oppressor ( Zec 9: 18)
NO man shall hurt thee (Acts 18 : 10)
NO fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness ( Eph 5: 11)
NO plague (Ex 30: 12)
NO other gods (Ex 34: 14)
NO wrath (Num 1: 53)
NO man will stands on your way (Deut 11: 25)
No want of anything (Judges 19: 19)
No more sadness (I Sam 1: 18)
No hurt; as the LORD liveth (I Sam 20: 21)
Violence shall NO more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise. ( Isa 60: 18)
Thy sun shall NO more go down ( Isa 60: 20)
Thou shall NO more be called forsaken ( Isa 62 :4)
Surely I will NO more give thy corn to be meat for thine enemies; and the sons of the stranger shall not drink thy wine, for the which thou hast laboured (Isa 62:8)voice of weeping shall be NO more heard in her, nor the voice of crying (Isa 65: 19)
There shall be NO more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days ( Isa 65:20)
I will NO more make you a reproach among the heathen (Joel 2: 19)
I will afflict thee NO more (Nah 1: 12)For there shall be NO loss of any man's life among you ( Acts 27: 22)
NO flesh shall glory over your life ( I Cor 1 : 29)
As you touch NO unclean thing ( Isa 52:11)

Because there is NO God like thee in the heaven, nor in the earth; which keepest covenant, and shewest mercy unto thy servants, that walk before thee with all their hearts ( 2 Ch 6: 14) It’s a NO-vember to RE-member in Jesus name ( Amen) (Thoughts and prayer as written above were God's inspiration to my household and I believe what He says unto one, He says unto all)Toyin Adekanmbi Champions Family - a Facebook Group committed to championing the cause of heaven in every family. NB - Please share this declaration with friends and family as email attachments, referrals to join via http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=43749937064

Shalom

Your Worth Is Not in Your Achievemets.

2009-11-02T07:50:00.000-08:00

Undoubtedly, many of us want to achieve or accomplish things in life. This, more so for believers, who have a great desire to live a life that is pleasing to God, and accomplish all they can for the sake of the kingdom.

Sometimes in the process we might experience a great deal of pressure, especially when we feel we are not meeting our set goals, and discontent when we perceive that we are not doing the best that we are capable of. The enormity of the task ahead at times can be overwhelming. People whose dreams are bigger than they can humanly handle, usually experience this state of being now and then. A word by Dr Charles Stanley seems very appropriate to note at this time that "No dream is too big for God" So whatever the case, be encouraged.

The major problem in my opinion, arises when we start equating our worth with our achievement or believing that our worth is based on the things we possess. Nothing could be farther from the truth. {...for man's life does not consist in and is not derived from possessing overflowing abundance or that which is over and above his needs -Luke 12:15}.

These days the society which we live in, and sadly sometimes in our places of worship, make matters even worse. More often than not, people are regarded as important and valued mostly based on the things they have achieved or possess -it's the reality we all face.

Recently I got an e-devotional from Lakewood Church Ministries written by Pastor Joel Osteen . This mail actually triggered my thoughts concerning this issue. I have to confess at first, the words in the mail were hard for me to accept. I had to disabuse my mind with the word of God before I could come to terms with his message. He writes:

Few things compare to the pain and disappointment of not accomplishing what you set out to do.

It seems in our culture that our worth and happiness depend on success, wealth and fame.

When you live with this mindset, it's extremely hard to accept God's unconditional love. It can become difficult to be grateful for ALL of the wonderful things God's ALREADY done in your life. You find yourself continually thinking, "What's next?"

God's Word is filled with His plans and promises for your life. It teaches that your value DOES NOT come from your success. In God's economy you are not measured by what you've accomplished.

The key to achieving is to realise that what you achieve does not determine your worth.

So how then, do we know our worth as human beings? The answer lies on the cross! For the worth or "value of a thing is determined by the price paid".- Jeremy Pearson. The highest price that can ever be paid for anything was paid for us. The bible declares we are bought with a price {I Corinthians 6:20}. A price so high that it should at least give us an idea as to what we are worth to God and as human beings. Nothing can top that... no matter what we achieve or don't achieve, it can not add to or diminish our true worth.

With this truth in mind and hopefully settled in our spirits we become more confident... Knowing that we are the apples of the Lord's eyes {Psalm 17:8} Treasured, valued, significant and very.... important. Our focus is now primarily on God. And rightly so for "it's not about us, it's about Him!" Ecclesiastes 12:13 says " Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man." Our life should be about stewardship not the pursuit of self-fulfilment. Being a good steward doesn't involve money alone. It also includes taking proper care of and making the most of everything He has entrusted to us. this requires that we set properties and maintain balance in all we do.

Ultimately, love becomes our driving force. We aspire to do things with dedication, commitment, tenacity, unwavering zeal , making the most of our lives because of the love we have for God, and more importantly because of the love He has for us. This love should reflect in the way we treat others and take care of ourselves. We then carry ourselves differently, think differently, speak differently and do things with excellence because of who we are and whose we are "A child of the king". We no longer try to become "somebody" important because we know, we already are!

With such a drive, and a healthy state of mind {which is the mind of Christ-1Corinthians 2:16}, achieving great things for God is guaranteed and success in life becomes inevitable! Glory to God!

Opportunities All Around!

2009-11-01T18:36:00.000-08:00

Finally, I was done with my weekly shopping routine. Although extremely tired, I was very pleased with the outcome of my shopping hours. I had come across a lot of incredible "red tag events" that saved me lots of money. As I drove home I thought to myself, "There are lots of money saving deals going on everyday, but sometimes, for one reason or another, I miss... it".

So I said a little prayer in my heart "Lord, help me recognise daily, all the money saving opportunities around me so that I can make use of them". In my train of thoughts I figured, "It will be foolish of me not to... it doesn't make any sense throwing money away, spending more than I should, after all this money could be redirected to doing other important things". Interestingly, some minutes later, one of my favorite songs started playing on the car stereo. Titled "lord Give Me Your Eyes".- By Brandon Heath.

Parts of the lyrics to the song says:

Give me your eyes for just one second
Give me your eyes so that I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me your love for humanity
Give me your love for the broken hearted, the ones that are far beyond my reach
Give me your heart for the once forgotten, give me your eyes so I can see...

...then it occurred to me, when was the last time I prayed that God should open my eyes... so that I could see all the opportunities around me daily... to be a blessing in ANYWAY to others. Opportunities to share with all the gospel... planting seeds that would bring souls into the kingdom. For this is indeed a wise thing to do. { ...and he who is wise wins souls - Proverbs 11:30} After all, Christianity is about sharing the love of God through Christ to others.

A lot of such opportunities present itself to us everyday, but sometimes, for one reason or another, we miss... it.

With a heart felt prayer this can change. We can be a blessing to others DAILY and impact our world for Christ. Happy new month all! Below is the youtube link for the the song "Lord Give Your Eyes".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDEvXMzZWUs

A True Friend.

2009-10-30T10:22:00.000-07:00

A true friend is someone you can sit with, not say a word and feel like you had the best conversation in the world.-Osaru Abby Evbuomwan.

My take: wow! I honestly can't think of anything to add to that...This quote speaks volume of how you should feel when you are with your true friends.

When Is It Time To Be Happy?

2009-10-30T09:11:00.000-07:00

We convince ourselves that life will be better once we are married, have a baby, then another.

Then we get frustrated because our children are not old enough, and that all will be well when they are older.

Then we get frustrated because they reach adolescence and we must deal with them. Surely, we will be happier when they grow out of the teen years.

We tell ourselves our life will be better when our spouse gets his/her act together, when we have a nicer car, when we can take a vacation, when we finally retire.

The truth is that there is no better time to be happy than right now. If not, then when?

Your life will always be full of challenges. It is better to admit that much and to decide to be happy in spite of it all.

For the longest time, it seemed that life was about to start. Real life.

But there was always some obstacle along the way, an ordeal to get through, some work to be finished, some time to be given, a bill to be paid. Then life would start.

I finally came to understand that the obstacles, were life.

That point of view helped me see that there isn't any road to happiness. Happiness is the road.

So, enjoy every moment. Stop waiting for school to end, for a return to school, to loose ten pounds, to gain ten pounds, for work to begin, to get married, for Friday evening, for Sunday morning, waiting for a new car, for your mortgage to be paid off, for spring, for summer, for fall, for winter, for the first or the fifteenth of the month, for your song to be played on the radio, to die, to be reborn...before deciding to be happy.

Happiness is a voyage, not a destination. There is no better time to be happy than...

NOW.

Live and enjoy the moment. Author unknown.

This interesting write-up was sent to me by a dear friend not long ago. The truth in this message is worth sharing; though I think, it is somewhat unfortunate that the author is unknown. He/she did a good job relating this truth about life {The time to be happy is now}. I would like to add however, that our lives does not necessarily have to be FULL of challenges, but it is never void of it.

When The Voice Of Rejection Speaks!

2009-10-29T13:58:00.000-07:00

I wrote this a while back for a group on face book called "Wife's Healing Clinic" as a source of encouragement for hurting women dealing with rejection in anyway. I pray it's a blessing to someone that reads this blog post. Please read and pass on to others.

When the voice of rejection speaks, it says; you are not good enough, you do not measure up, I/we want nothing to do with you.

As women of purpose and destiny, we should react like Joseph, though he was rejected and even hated by his brothers; continued in the fear, reverence, praise and service of God. Our attitude should be, God in you I trust. Although I find myself in this situation , I still believe that your plan and purpose for my life will be fulfilled... Raise up your heads daughters of Zion, evil will always bow before good. You are royal, beautiful and Divine. Do not allow yourself to be put down.

If you are all that rejection says, God would not have made you. All He makes is good. Even glorious! So identify the voice of rejection for what it is, a LIE! If you have encountered rejection in life, one thing is certain you carry purpose in you. Moses suffered rejection from the people of Israel so many times, though he was called by God to lead them out of bondage. David was seen as a nobody in his family, though he was called by God to be king of Israel. Jesus was rejected by His own people, though He was their messiah and the king of Glory. So guess what, you are in good company. Stay positive and focused, the whole world is not against you, even if they are, God is not. Your focus should always be on pleasing God. The scripture says; if a man's ways pleases God, He will make his enemies to be at peace with him.

Sisters, God always has the last say concerning our lives. Rejection is a tool of the enemy meant to STOP you on your tracks. Instead stop and pray. Ask God for directions, let it be a time of discovering who you are and all that God has made you to be. Let it be a time for purpose to speak!

But God chose what the world thinks foolish to shame the wise and
God chose what the world thinks weak to shame the strong.
God chose what is low and despised in the world, what is regarded
as nothing to set aside what is regarded as something,
so that no one can boost in His presence. 1Corinthians 1:20-21
Culled from YouTube-Casting Crowns, "Voice of Truth ".

In light of this truth, if you are rejected and despised by people it is safe to say that God has chosen you to show forth His praise! Glory to God.

Pathway To Success.

2009-10-28T13:55:00.000-07:00

Do what you can, with what you have, where you are. -Theodore Roosevelt. 26Th President of the United States Of America.

My take: This advice is simple yet profound. It challenges us to make the most of what we have. It urges us to focus on "right now..." A reality check if you may, which calls for an honest assessment of our lives inventory.

I also sense an endearing message in this quote, that the human spirit has a tremendous ability to thrive no matter what. This ability if applied with excellence and diligence in doing what we can , with what we have, and from where we are, is a definite pathway to success.

What is your take on this? As always you are more than welcome to leave your comments.

The Problems We Face.

2009-10-28T06:04:00.000-07:00

The problems we face have a way of getting us on our knees.

Problems are for a season but always for a reason.

At best, it says this is an opportunity for change. At worst, it says I am taking you down with me.
It can have adverse psychological, emotional and physical effects on us or can put songs of praise in our mouths.

It can develop Godly character in us or it can make us loose the essence of who we are.

We can either be more determined or utterly downcast.

It can give us a sense shame or a warrior's fame.

It can be our good friend, truthfully revealing areas in your life that is not right or be our worst enemy.

Talking about friends, it has a way of letting us know who our true friends are when it comes around.

Problems; sometimes is self inflicted, other times it happens to us by chance.

There are times, we have a clue about what to do, other times we might be clueless.

It can grind us to dust or polish us like diamond.

How we react to and view problems determine a lot the outcome of our lives. When we face a problem we can choose to:

"Be pitiful or powerful", we can't be both.-Retha McPherson

Problems are a part of life. And life is not always easy.The Lord says "...in the world you have tribulation {great misery or distress, great affliction, deep sorrow} but take courage; I have overcome the world". John 16:33. The only people whose lives are void of any problem whatsoever are those in the grave. If you are facing a problem[s] at least thank God, you are alive!

I don't think it is healthy or beneficial for us to pray for an easy life. Instead we should pray for strength in our inner man {Ephesians 3:16} , for pure and unadulterated wisdom from God the father {James 1:5}, for knowledge to add to wisdom which is the only guarantee we will have stability in these unstable and uncertain time{Isaiah 33:6...wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of your time}. Also for understanding so that we can establish things just as Father God used understanding to establish the heavens{Proverbs 3:19}. Pray for--------you are welcome to add more...

Having prayed, we need to humble our selves so that we can receive grace to function and do that which is required and expected of us {James 4:6 ...God is opposed to the proud but gives grace to the humble} Receive the love of God which He freely gives unto us, the love which cast out all fears! {1John 4:18} The bible is filled with verses asking us not be afraid, for fear is one of the most crippling thing known to man. So today I am echoing the words of God, fear not! Not even the problems you are facing. You have been made more than a conqueror in Jesus name! Instead of listening to the voice of fear listen to the voice of faith; after all they are both asking you to do one thing in common " believe in something you have never seen." Finally our minds need to be focused on God, so that we are kept in perfect peace.{Isaiah 26:3} With all these in place there is nothing that will come our way that we can not handle.

It is most imperative that we bear in mind also that for every problem there is... a solution!

God has graciously given us the solution to every problem man will ever face in life. He is a good God whose thoughts towards us are that of good and not evil to bring us to an expected end. He has given us:

Authority in the name of Jesus. Indeed there is something about the name of Jesus. At the mention of the name, sickness and diseases disappear from our bodies. Demons and all the forces of hell take to their heels. As believers, In the name of Jesus we can go on our knees and pray asking God of anything and it will be done unto us. {John 14:13-14} The name of the Lord is a strong tower and the righteous run in and they are saved!{Proverbs 18:10} Use the authority!

Power in the blood of Jesus: The bible makes us understand that we overcome by the blood of the lamb and the words of our testimony. The blood of Jesus is our covering hence as Christians when we pray we cover ourselves with the blood. Because of the blood that was shed from Emmanuel's veins, the things that are supposed to destroy us passes over. Whenever we are faced with a problem that seems like it is going to utterly destroy us all we need to do is plead the blood of Jesus!

His words: This words I speak to you Jesus says are spirit and life. The bible contains all the information we will ever need to live a rich and fulfilling life. The words of the Lord are pure words; as silver tried in a furnance of earth, purified seven times. {Psalms 12:6} For the words of God to be beneficial to us in solving lives problems, we first have to know the word then we have to make a conscious decision to agree with the word. Or as I like to tell myself "Be one with the word". When we do this we will find that there is no limitations for us except the one we put on our self....we are now ready to think like God, talk like God and create like God-Pastor Paula white. When we are in agreement with the word regardless of what is happening around us, the will and purpose of God be done in our lives as He has purposed in heaven.

No one and nothing can thwart, delay or stop you from living the life you are destined to live except you! This brings me to one of my favorite quotes; "nobody great or small can be ruined except by his own hand". -Oscar Wilde. Let's take God at His words! Not only when we face problems but at all times. Open the bible and read. Heaven and earth may pass away but my words will not pass away {Luke 21;33} It's that powerful! Psalm 138:2 ...God has magnified His words above all His name. He is that serious about what He says! Thank you lord!

The holy spirit: Our comforter... He is the one who comforts us when sometimes life gets unbearable. He is our companion... no matter what happens, we are never alone. Right now even as you read this He is there with you! He is our helper... The bible says the same power which raised Jesus from the dead is at work in us , so we can do all things through Christ which strengthens us. He is our teacher, our guide and brings to our remembrance all things. He is the one that gives us utterance to pray... He is able to tell us what to do at any situation or circumstances we find ourselves and make us come out on top. Sometimes in my thought, I fondly call Him my "secret weapon", although He is much more than that. He can turn you into "solutions.com" as a dear friend of mine testifies. More than ever we need to relate closely to, and work in partnership with the spirit of the living God.

He has given us tools and divinely placed people around us: Every human being came to earth equipped by God with abilities, gifts and talents, unique and sufficient to go through the journey of life. One way we find out these things is in the place of prayer and the problem we face has a way of causing some of these things to rise up from within us. He has given us our minds and intellect enrich and use it. Read good books that will be worth your time. For reviews on books that have the potential to do this visit http://booksenrichinglives.com/ The most highly recommended books of all times still remains the BIBLE. `He has given us mouths not just to eat and drink but to channel the course of our lives by the words we speak. Death and life are in the power of the tongue and those who love it shall eat it's fruits {Proverbs 18:21}. Change your confessions. Your life is responding to the name you are calling it!

There are people God has divinely placed around us for the seasons of our lives. Be it in the time of problems, setbacks, trials or in the season of rest. We have to look outside of ourselves and what we might be going through, take out time and note the people currently in our lives. Even the people we meet; for with God there are no such things as mere coincidence. We have to become aware of their presence and what they are in our life for. God uses people to help each other. Who are the people in your life right now ? If you can't seem to find any, then pray in Jesus name and ask God to send you "Destiny helpers" as a friend of mine would call them.

After giving this a lot of thought, I can say for sure that, if we look closely and re-focus our attention for a moment we will find that every problem we encounter in life always come with an opportunity. An opportunity to know God like we have never known Him before. If only we will let Him, He will help us turn that problem into a promotion. I hope the words written today is helpful and a blessing to somebody as it has been to me. Please feel free to leave a comment as usual, lets share some more on this. There are giants in the land... but we are more than able!

Shalom all, I hope this article wasn't a tad too long. lol

Words Of Hope.

2009-10-26T18:39:00.000-07:00

All the broken pieces of your life is nothing more than a "beautiful" mosaic of your future -Retha McPherson.

My take: If we let God put the pieces together... He will make our lives a "masterpiece". Halleluya!!!

The voice of truth...

2009-10-26T15:21:00.000-07:00

Listen to the voice of truth...

when you feel like giving up.

When fear makes you want to retrieve and curl up.

When you feel like, you... can't... any... more...

Oh yes you can...

Live life to the fullest!

It might not be perfect.

Do what you can....

The rest is up to God.

He can turn the inharmonious composition about any one's life into a beautiful symphony!

Don't stop now.

listen... and believe the voice of truth...

While driving to work last week, I was so encouraged and inspired by the song playing on my car stereo, "Voice Of Truth" by Casting Crowns. It was such a beautiful way to start my day. I hope someone is blessed by it as well. To listen to the song just click on the YouTube link below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcuiuIwtpa4

GOD'S TIMING.

2009-06-09T14:51:00.000-07:00

It was almost bedtime and normally I like to read a story to my children from the bible before they sleep.

This night, it was a story about Jacob and Esau. As I read I came across a line that said "Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebbecca". I thought to myself, "That is rather late...". I figured, a man from Isaac linage did not have to wait till forty before he got married. I mean when was he going to start having children? Then again, I thought, 40 for a man is not that old, especially in Bible days when people lived to be well over a 100 years old.

As I continued reading it siad, "Isaac prayed to God for His wife for she could not have children". Hmmmm, isn't this the same problem his dad had? When Sarah could not conceive? It's brow raising when sometimes a particular problem remains in a family.... It's almost like everyone in that family has to partake of it .

Anyway, back to the story.

"And Isaac was 60 years old when he had his twins " Wooo....! Alright stop! 20years....! It took 20years for one prayer to be answered? One that probably had the couple staying up at night. Children are a very intricate part of a family unit. Didn't God see how important this was to the couple? To any couple who wants children?

I couldn't help but think, if this had happened to me, if I were in their shoes I would have died! Okay not literally, but gosh, coming from an African heritage the pressure would have been something for the movies. Honestly 20years...! I might even have said, "Lord, why are you doing this to me"? Cried a lot and prayed even more. In fact, I would have declared a solemn fast every other day. Needless to say I would have been miserable! You might be saying, "Woman, where is your faith"? But I would have felt maybe I was doing something wrong! Or maybe there was some "sin" in my life. Didn't the scripture say, "Ask and you shall receive" Luke 11:9 and "Nothing shall be impossible to them that believe"? Mathew 17:20.

Then it occurred to me, in this microwave era where every body wants things done in less time and with sheer convenience; that God still works with His own timing. We seem to have this preconceived notion that God should work with our time. There is a time frame in our minds that we have set in line with our hearts desires and we expect God to play catch up! When this doesn't happen, we often find ourselves wondering why some of our prayer seem unanswered and we try to put forth every conceivable explanation other than " it is not yet time". Our human understanding cannot fathom how God sees time. The bible says ".....one day with the lord is like a thousand years and a thousand years like one day" 2peter 3:8

God has not changed! If He worked divinely regarding time in the past, He still does today.

What is it that you have been praying and believing God for? And every human understanding indicates that the answers has to come right now or should have come a long time ago. Has it been been more than 20years? 20years or simply feels like it. Don't give up. No matter how long it takes. If He said it, He will do it! We may not fully understand God's timing , but we can rest, assured that His timing is always right.

We exist for Him. He does not exist for us; He is the Controller of our days, the Architect of our lives, the Master builder, He knows when to fit things in according to His plan for our lives and He makes all things beautiful in His time. He gave us life and He has a purpose for it. He works out everything that concerns us according to that purpose. He is not a God that wants to see us suffer and miserable. His thought towards us are that of good and not evil to bring us to an expected end. (Jer 29:11) The outcome (expected end), if you will hold, on is good. He has written the script and He knows how the story ends....YOU WIN!

There is a lot to be learnt from Isaac's story, Isaac was a man of faith like His father Abraham but unlike His father while he prayed and waited he did not make the mistake of trying to help God out in solving his problem. Probably he heard while growing up of the problems that single act caused in his father' s household. I mean, it was so bad that a virtuous woman like Sarah had to send Hagar packing! But the story didn't end there... well that's a topic for another day.

Sometimes in life we try to help God out. This only brings us unnecessary heart aches and one prayer point is multiplied to many more.

Take for instance a woman that has asked God for a husband, she prays for a man that would love her as Christ loves the Church, a man after God's own heart. She starts out well; believing God all this years, now she is in her late 30's and her biological clock is ticking! All her friends around her are married and they look at her funny, actually, they do not want to associate with her anymore. The pressure is on. So she helps God out by accepting the next person that comes her way proclaiming love but treats her like crap and will not go to church even if he was paid to. That does not deter her, she is on a mission. She will change him as soon an they get married. Since the dream-man (desired husband) has not showed up, she is going to help God by making a desired husband out of "lover boy". We all know how that story goes; seen it too often in the church. After the wedding she will not be able to change him, the prayer points has just multiplied and the heart aches moves to a whole new level.

Like I said earlier we may not always understand God's timing of things, but let us take a cue from this story about Isaac's unwavering faith and listen to the voice of wisdom saying;

Wait...
Wait...
Let God do things in His time
Don't be dismayed and do not fret
Your life will be better for it yet
And in life's journey you'll find rest
Just wait
Everything will work out in time
God's timing is perfect, rooted in love, He knows what's best.
And He can only give you the very best
If only you wait, you will find
That is what He doing
When He does things in His time.

WORK UNDONE.

2009-06-04T15:27:00.000-07:00

Ever had a feeling there is something you need to do and you are so restless because you can't figure it out? Almost like you are forgetting something, some work undone probably, but you know it's important.

That is the way I have felt for months now, since I have been away from my blog. I had my reasons for the long break, but in retrospect they now seem like excuses. I hate excuses. So I am not going there. The most important thing for me at least, is that somehow I have resolved within myself to get back to writing through this medium.

Yesterday, relaxed and ready to write, I picked up my laptop, went straight to my blog site then it occurred to me, I have actually forgotten my password! Wow ! It's been that long? I thought to myself as I stared at the screen. I mean, I was blank! No recollection whatsoever.

As I sat there thinking of the profound lesson learnt, I decided to write " note to self, the human memory is not always reliable". lol.

Anyway, feels good to be back. Stay with me y'all and keep the comments coming!

Encouraging words when going through the storms of life 3.

2009-04-06T18:58:00.000-07:00

This write-up is by a friend Ekenu Unu. I found it very encouraging at a time in my life when I needed to hear these words again."This too shall pass". I hope it's a blessing to someone else.

There is a song that springs up in my spirit whenever I am faced with something that I question my ability to bear. And this too shall pass, Like every night that came before it.There are things that happen in life that literally knock the wind out of you. Perhaps it is a financial situation that you can’t see the way out of, perhaps it’s the betrayal of a loved one, perhaps it’s the loss of health, or the loss of a spouse. Whatever it is, it feels like the end of something. Sometimes it feels like the end of you.It’s not.

When a storm is raging, it feels so intense. The lightning and thunder can cause even an adult to long to hide under the covers but it does not last forever. Even the hurricanes eventually end. And while it may have devastated the things above the land, deep underneath the earth still has the ability to give life again. I have experienced things in my life that felt like that. A raging storm, chaos and pain that seems to never let up, situations over which I feel I have no control. When Jesus was in the boat with the disciples, he was sleeping, while the storm raged around them. They became afraid. They went to rouse him, because they were so fearful that they roused him with attitude, saying “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown”. He awoke and commanded the storm “Quiet, be still”. Then after dealing with the storm, he then said to the disciples. “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

This is what I have been learning lately.I have been convicted. I write about my faith and I can tell anyone who cares to listen that I trust God, but a little rain and I start to panic. The truth is that we may not notice Jesus in our lives when the storms are raging. It may seem as if he is sleeping. We may be shouting and crying out, “Lord, are you not there?” I have been challenged to my core and today I stand in the midst of a storm but for the first time in a long time. I am not afraid. The wind has been swirling around me threatening to destroy so much that I hold dear, but today I realize that those things that I thought defined me, even if the winds uproots them from my life, I will still be me. This storm too shall pass.

There is something crippling about fear. I don’t know how many times it is written in the bible, do not fear, don’t be afraid. In my personal revelation, it is an area that God has been dealing with me on. I am being forced to grow in ways I never thought possible. Do not give way to fear.When we run under the covers, instead of facing the wind, we are simply hiding. We cannot hide from our problems. We cannot hide from our pain. We can petition God, cry out in anger and it may seem like He is silent, but perhaps this storm is an instrument of God to build your faith. I know it has been for me and this particular squall is no exception.

It is the fear that holds us hostage. It is the fear that blinds us to our own power.I have been afraid of so many things. I cannot share my whole heart. As a result, I have made so many decisions that I would remake if I had the chance. In Luke, there is a word that says whoever loves his life shall lose it. Imagine how the disciples felt in that boat. There was a man who they knew to be the son of God laying there. He had been talking to them of spiritual things, showing them heaven. He had been assuring them of their own power. They knew that as long as they were with him, they would be alright. Yet they panicked. In our lives sometimes we panic.We compromise our faith because we panic.

A young woman, who knows that God has promised her the desires of her heart, makes decisions she knows are wrong just to keep a man because deep down she is afraid that she might never find love. A wife goes to ungodly places because she cannot have a child and is afraid that she might lose her home as a result. A mother doesn’t chasten her son because she is afraid he will turn his back on her.A woman doesn’t stand up for herself because she is afraid she will lose her marriage.I understand this kind of fear all too well. I have felt it. I am thankful because we serve a God that calms the storms first and then chastises later.

This storm too shall pass.

But in the meantime, in between time, even though the rain may come down with enough force to drench you and the winds threaten to knock you over. Even though it looks like you life is about to fall apart. Hold on to your faith. Do not give way to fear. And this too shall pass Like every night that’s come before it. He’ll never give you more than you can bear. And this too shall pass. So in this thought please be comforted. It’s in His hands. Yes this too shall pass

Encouraging words when going through the storm of life 2

2009-04-06T18:52:00.000-07:00

In the words of Pastor Joel Osteen, "Discover the champion in you." Read and be encouarged in Jesus name, amen!

If someone were to ask you to describe yourself in two words, what would you say about yourself?

Has it ever occurred to you that rarely do people admit their flaws or their weaknesses openly? We cringe when people criticize us, even if done constructively. Inwardly we suppress feelings of anger towards the person and question why they had the nerve to question our ability or intellect.

When was the last time you did an audit about yourself? And if you haven’t, would you be happy to ask all your friends to complete a questionnaire about you? If not, why not? Are you afraid of what they might write or say about you if they were to be honest?Deep beneath the veneer of laughs that you enjoy with people close to you, would you say they would speak positively about you? Would they state that you are a person they truly hold in high esteem in terms of your character, dignity and how you relate generally to people? Or to be brutally frank, would they label you a loser? If you saw your character in another person, would you like what you saw?Do you really know what you are really capable of doing despite what others think about you? The fact of the matter is that only you can answer that question.

It doesn't matter what people say about you. But what you do or don’t do is a choice. If you need to grow and move out of your comfort zone, no one is going to do that for you. You may read or listen to all the motivation messages by many motivational speakers, if you are not ready to change, no one will force you to.If you wish to settle for less, that’s a choice you have chosen. If you are content with what you have achieved, that’s also a choice you have chosen. As Thomas Edison said, “If we all did the things we are capable of, we would astound ourselves”.

But before you come to that realization, you need to re-discover yourself before you can re-brand yourself. Sadly, some people go through the motions of life - they merely exist. They are dead men walking. They endure life instead of enjoying life. They have lost all hope. Their reasoning is impaired and devoid of motivation. Others who once had promising careers have lost their jobs and their homes in the global crisis and as a result, some of them have even committed suicide. Life has dealt them a deadly blow and they have decided to stay down instead of getting up. They have chosen instead to settle for a life of mediocrity.

So what if you seem to be going through a crisis? So what if you have lost your home or job? So what if you have lost lots of money in this global crisis? So what if your mates whom you went to school with are now successful? Let it be borne in mind that finding your purpose in life is not about who is the strongest, fastest or brilliant. It is about how you fully maximize your God given potential during your life time. Some of the people you consider as rich may be miserable. Some of them may be successful in business but they make a lousy husband or wife and as such thrive in a dysfunctional family. And to cap it call, some of them may be stinkingly rich, but can't seem to enjoy their wealth due to a debilitating disease which is incurable.

However if you knew yourself, you would realize that if you are going through a crisis, it is only temporary. That is why the operative word in that first sentence is "going through". It does not mean you are going to be stationary in your crisis for life. So what if your so called friends are laughing behind your back? So what if they now look down on you with disdain because you no longer fit into their mix? To use the colloquial phrase, they are “happening” because they have “arrived” and are operating at “another level”.

But look at yourself sternly in the mirror and ask yourself. Do I know who I really am? Do you merely admire your looks in the mirror or do you reprimand the person you see? Do you believe you could have achieved better? Do you wallow in self pity?Do you have to accept what people say about you? If they are wrong and you honestly think so, that is water off a ducks back - move on. Are you going to let someone kill your dream because of what they said? Are you going to let life's circumstances hold you back and imprison you? Don’t let people’s words affect your mood, hold you captive or cloud your sense of purpose in life. For when your glory manifests, not many people will remember your story.In the same vein, if they are right, what are you going to do about it? Are you strong enough to withstand the tide and change for the better? If you need to birth your dream, now is the time.

The phrase “later” or “when the time is right” is called procrastination. God has deposited a lot inside of you. Cash in on it and don’t bury your talents or let them die prematurely. Always remember that you are unstoppable so begin now to unleash them. Tell fear to take a hike, kick procratination to the kerb, strangle doubt, knock depression out, drop the heavy burden of low self esteem and lift up high self esteem. Seek wisdom where it has been lurking and embrace it for it will direct your path. Befriend good health, don't run from love, greet mercy and favour her friend will follow you; entertain prosperity and he'll push away and poverty when it comes near you.Now, ask yourself one more time. Do I really know myself? If you do, go out there and do your thing.

In passing, let me end by quoting Peter Drucker, he said “the best way to predict the future is to create it”.Proclaim to yourself that you are already a success. For as a man thinks, so is he. You may be on your knees now, but by the time you stand, you will be outstanding. If you are pursuing success at the moment, when you achieve your dream, you will end up being driven by success.Change your thoughts to positive ones for when you do that you begin to project a different mindset. A paradigm shift will be forced to take place as something inside of you will be bursting to come forth in the form of your dream.Start sowing the seeds for your success today. No one can stop you. To your success, Tunde Adeleye

The climb.

2009-01-28T08:13:00.000-08:00

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!

2009-01-27T19:25:00.000-08:00

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.

2009-01-25T18:45:00.000-08:00

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.

2009-01-24T18:55:00.000-08:00

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!

2009-01-23T17:58:00.000-08:00

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.

2009-01-21T08:04:00.000-08:00

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?

2009-01-14T08:30:00.000-08:00

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.

2009-01-10T16:15:00.000-08:00

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.

2009-01-09T22:54:00.000-08:00

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!

2009-01-07T16:20:00.000-08:00

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?

2009-01-02T12:42:00.000-08:00

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.