The Word For Today: What Your Child Deserves (1)

‘Children are a gift from the Lord.’

Psalm 127:3

Your children deserve certain things, like:

1) Time. Not leftover time at the end of the day, but prioritised time. If your life is ruled by a schedule and your children aren’t on it, do something – quickly. Otherwise there’ll come a day when you’re not included in their schedule. Simply watching television together for three hours won’t cut it; you must be ‘emotionally present’. Sometimes that means letting them see your fears and insecurities, even as they witness your delight and appreciation of them.

2) Openness. There’s so much our children can teach us about themselves, about ourselves, and about who God is. Once we realise we don’t have all the answers, we become open to allowing God to speak to us through our children. That kind of receptivity strengthens their faith, helps them remain teachable, and also keeps us young at heart.

3) Structure. It’s vital, during the formative years, to establish rules and maintain boundaries. Children need guidelines and a framework to feel secure. In the early years this includes things like having an established bedtime, then moving it back as they get older. This helps them understand that age brings freedom, but not all at once, because freedom brings responsibility and they’re not as ready to handle it as they think.

Don’t try to be your child’s best friend, or look to them to meet your emotional needs. Their shoulders aren’t broad enough to carry that load. Be confident in God, and in who you are. Seek outside encouragement from healthy sources. In short, strive to become the firm, gentle parent your child deserves.

Dan 3-4, 2 Pet 3

Hola!!!!!!!

Hello everyone!. I am so so sorry I have been away from you for so long. How long has it been?. About 3 weeks now?. More?. Apologies Sweethearts. Your next favourite Blogger has been so busy with alot of things. From studying to working to volunteering at an NGO to my personal life. Phew!, so much right?, or not. Its been eventful and its getting busier, hoping it all pays off with time. 

Alot has happened and you bet ya I'm definitely going to share with you. 

I hope you all are doing great and have amazing things going on in your lives. It will only get better. To you working hard, don't stop, it will pay off. To you about to give up, don't!, your breakthrough is right around the corner just in front of you. To you doing nothing and just waiting for stuff to come to you on a platter, Lol!. Well...good luck with that. 

Ok people!, signing out for now. I'll be right back!

The Word For Today: ‘Peace of Mind’

‘I am leaving you with a gift – peace of mind.’

John 14:27

You can control what goes on in your mind by filling it with God’s Word. Not the Word you read casually, but the Word you process mentally, apply to each situation that arises, and stand on in times of crisis because you know it’s your right to have the peace Jesus promised.

Jesus corrected His disciples because they lost their peace of mind during a storm. He didn’t lose His. He was asleep in the back of the boat.

So where are you today? Resting with Jesus in the back of the boat, or panicking with the others up front?

Worry overwhelms you when you forget two things:

1) What the Lord has told you. Jesus said, ‘Let us go over to the other side’ (Mark 4:35 NIV 2011 Edition). And once He spoke those words there wasn’t a wave big enough to sink them. Anytime you’re doing what God’s told you to do, you may go through storms but you won’t sink.

2) Who’s with you in the boat. The disciples thought they knew Jesus pretty well, but before the night was over they were asking, ‘Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!’ (v. 41 NIV 2011 Edition).

Has it ever occurred to you that the storm you’re in right now has been permitted by God to show you that you don’t have a problem He can’t solve; that you’re not alone, and that through this experience you’ll come to know Him better?

In the Amplified Bible the words of Jesus are translated like this: ‘Do not let your hearts be…distressed, agitated’ (John 14:1). The only power worry has over you – is the power you give it.

Dan 1-2, 2 Pet 2

Throwback Thursday ft Academy Award Winning Meryl Streep

Another reason to never give up or settle for less. Find a picture of Meryl Streep today below.

The Word For Today: You Won’t Try to Intimidate Them

‘You did not receive a spirit…to fear, but…of sonship.’

Romans 8:15

Joseph’s brothers ‘were…stunned with surprise. “Come over here,” he said. So they came closer. And he said again, “I am Joseph, your brother whom you sold into Egypt! But don’t be angry with yourselves that you did this to me, for God did it!”’ (Genesis 45:3-5 TLB).

You’ll notice that Joseph didn’t react the way we so often do when someone hurts us. He didn’t:

1) distance his brothers;
2) enjoy watching them squirm;
3) practice one-upmanship;
4) gloat and say ‘gotcha!’;
5) remind them of how they’d put him down and despised his dreams;
6) demand they acknowledge that he was right and they were wrong;
7) say, ‘I told you so!’

No, Joseph wanted to be loved, not feared. He wanted restoration, not revenge. He knew that the long-term benefits of healing a relationship far outweighed any short-term satisfaction you get from retaliation. He understood that it’s only by releasing your offender that you set yourself free. The Bible says, ‘You did not receive a spirit…to fear, but…the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”’ The word ‘Abba’ is a term of endearment which means ‘Daddy’.

God doesn’t bring up your past, or keep you at arm’s length because of your failures. He wants you to know you can come to Him at any time, know that you’re accepted, feel secure in His presence, and call Him ‘Daddy’. And that’s the kind of love He wants you to show to others – a love that doesn’t want them to feel afraid in your presence.

Ezek 22-23, James 1

This model walked around with no pants in broad day light and nobody noticed!

Creativity never goes wrong!. This model went out and about with no pants and nobody even noticed. You would expect such a scenery would turn heads and attract all the attention to her but she strolled casually and even stopped by traffic, still nobody seemed to notice. This is because, even though she was naked from the waist down, it wasn't noticed because what you see that looks like she's wearing a pair of blue jeans was actually painted on her skin by body-paint artist Sandra Bakker.

Interesting right?. Find more pictures below.

Model walking in the midst of people but still was not noticed

A close up look

Model walked about like any other person

Can you spot the naked woman in this photo?

A first look at the picture above and all you see are the gate, the fence, the trees, the leaves on the ground, etc, but you would never guess they was a person hidden within the picture. A model, Nadine, who can barely be marked out thanks to incredibly precise body paint by Artist, Jörg Düsterwald, who created the illusion with photographer Tschiponnique Skupin and the model in a forest in Lower Saxony, Germany.

Nadine's entire body was painted to blend in. Find Nadine below.

Amazingly creative, right? :-)

The Word For Today: You Won’t Talk About It

‘You meant evil…but God meant it for good.’

Genesis 50:20

Twenty-two years after selling Joseph into slavery, his brothers now stand before him as prime minister of Egypt. They don’t recognise him, and he holds their fate in his hands. If you’d been in his shoes, what would you have done? Gotten even? Reminded them of their past offences?

For the next few days, let’s look at what Joseph did:

He didn’t talk about it. ‘There was no one with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers’ (Genesis 45:1 NIV 2011 Edition). Joseph made sure no one in Egypt would ever know what they’d done to him. And isn’t that how God treats us? The fact is He has enough on each of us to bury us, yet He refuses to resurrect our past sins. So why do we? To punish! ‘Perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment’ (1 John 4:18 NIV 2011 Edition).

What are we afraid of? That they’ll get away with it. We want them punished, so we tell everybody what happened. And when we do:

1) We play God! God says, ‘Vengeance is mine; I will repay’ (Romans 12:19 KJV). He alone knows the weakness in your offenders that caused them to hurt you, and whether they’ve repented and changed.

2) We set the standard by which we ourselves will be judged. ‘You will be judged in the same way that you judge others’ (Matthew 7:2 NCV).

If that’s a truth you’re not comfortable with: ‘Get rid of all bitterness…Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God…has forgiven you’ (Ephesians 4:31-32 NLT).

When you’ve been wronged, ‘forgive and forget’ is the right response!

Ezra 20-21, Heb 13

This Will Change Your Mind About Racism

:)

The Word For Today: Through Christ, You Can Conquer Your Habit

‘Think carefully about…Jesus.’

Hebrews 3:1

Let’s say you’re trying to lose weight, but you love doughnuts. How can you overcome temptation? By repeating, ‘I must not eat doughnuts, I must not eat doughnuts, I must not eat doughnuts’? No, the more you think about doughnuts, the more you’re going to want them. Instead you must focus on something else (or someone else – Jesus!) who can help you overcome the temptation. Your problem is not in the doughnut shop, it’s in your mind. That’s where victory is won or lost.

Paul writes: ‘Dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice – the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behaviour and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect’ (Romans 12:1-2 NLT).

You can lock yourself up in a room and still think about doughnuts. On the other hand, you can get your mind on Jesus, draw strength from Him, and drive victoriously past every doughnut shop in town. The same principle applies to any habit you want to break and any sin you want to conquer.

Does victory come easily, or overnight? No, Satan tempted Jesus repeatedly in the wilderness, and he’ll keep tempting you until he realises his strategies no longer work. ‘Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him’ (Matthew 4:11 NKJV).

Through Christ, you can conquer your habit.

Ezek 18-19, Heb 12

The Worst Mistake

You read the title of this post and different things come to or cross your mind. Getting pregnant. Wasting several years in a relationship with the wrong person. Spending hard earned money on something frigging irrelevant. Letting down your childhood/best friend. Missing a rare opportunity. Making a promise you won't keep. Getting drunk. Giving out highly sensitive information about yourself. Becoming addicted, Having a one night stand, Not going after your dreams, Ignoring your health, Not making time for loved ones, Succumbing to a leisure and pleasure-filled lifestyle, Dating a married man, Having an abortion, Missing out on the big picture because you were too busy paying attention to irrelevant things, Not having a plan, Being too careful, Doing something you hate, Not saving for the rainy days, Having an inferiority complex, Pleasing everybody but yourself, Procrastination, Not being you...

The list goes on and on. 

Thing is, while all of the above mentioned are mistakes, one as bad as the other, none of them is as worse as not making a mistake at all. 

What is a mistake?. The dictionary defines a Mistake as "an act or judgement that is misguided or wrong." It also means to misunderstand or misinterpret. To choose badly or incorrectly in action, opinion, judgment, etc. A mistake is something incorrect or unfortunate that someone does. A wrong action attributable to bad judgment or ignorance or inattention. 

We've all made a mistake or two or more at one time or the other in our lives. I have. Maybe I even have a list of mistakes I've made. There are people who beat themselves up after they realize they've made a mistake. Especially those ones they saw coming at the back of their mind but somehow got carried away or chose to ignore. In truth, nobody in their right mind wants to make a mistake. Nobody likes that feeling of regret. Nobody like the "had I known" phrase ringing in their head. But the thing is, how do we learn if we don't make mistakes?. Imagine a world without mistakes. It wouldn't be a world at all. Mistakes exist so we can learn, so we can be better next time. 

According to history, some of the great people who lived made mistakes. 

As a young man, Abraham Lincoln went to war a captain and returned a private. Afterwards, he was a failure as a businessman. As a lawyer in Springfield, he was too impractical and temperamental to be a success. He turned to politics and was defeated in his first try for the legislature, again defeated in his first attempt to be nominated for congress, defeated in his application to be commissioner of the General Land Office, defeated in the senatorial election of 1854, defeated in his efforts for the vice-presidency in 1856, and defeated in the senatorial election of 1858. He realized he wasn't doing something right and when he finally figured it out, he became the 16th President of the United States of America. 

Charles Darwin gave up a medical career and was told by his father, "You care for nothing but shooting, dogs and rat catching." In his autobiography, Darwin wrote, "I was considered by all my masters and my father, a very ordinary boy, rather below the common standard of intellect." Clearly, he evolved and learnt from the mistakes of his youth. 

Henry Ford failed and went broke five times before he succeeded. He obviously got to the point where he realized that mistake he kept repeating and in time, from learning from his mistakes, he's now a notable name in the automobile industry. 

Mistakes are a part of life, It is one of the stepping stones needed to move on or up to the next level. Mistakes are vital in learning. Although, as much as we need mistakes to grow wiser, wouldn't be so wise repeating the same mistakes over and over. That would be stupidity. 

So, you still ask, whats the worst mistake?....The worst mistake is not making a mistake at all.

The Word For Today: Be Gentle

‘Blessed are the gentle.’

Matthew 5:5

Jesus said, ‘Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth’. We’d all be a lot better off if gentle people ran the world, because those who aren’t gentle are making a real mess of things! St Francis de Sales said, ‘Nothing is so strong as gentleness, and nothing so gentle as real strength.’ Just as you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar, people respond more readily to gentleness than aggressiveness.

The famous football coach, John Wooden, told the following story: ‘My dad, Joshua Wooden, was a strong man in one sense, but a gentle man. He could lift heavy things men half his age couldn’t, but he would also read poetry to us each night after a day working in the fields raising corn, hay, wheat, tomatoes, and watermelons. We had a team of mules named Jack and Kate on our farm. Kate would often get stubborn and lie down on me when I was ploughing. I couldn’t get her up no matter how roughly I treated her. Dad would see my predicament and walk across the field until he got close enough to say, “Kate.” Then she would get up and start working again. He never touched her in anger. It took me a long time to understand that even a stubborn mule responds to gentleness.’

When the Bible speaks of meekness, it’s not speaking of weakness. Meekness means ‘power under control’. An unbroken horse is useless; an overdose of medicine kills rather than cures; wind out of control destroys everything in its path.

Jesus is powerful but He is also gentle. And you are called to follow in His footsteps (1 Peter 2:21).

Ezek 16-17, Heb 11

Invest Now!, Buy A Land!

I always say that once I make enough money to invest in anything, it will be a land investment. My reason is very simple. Lands appreciate. What do I mean?. Ok, here's an example. In the 1990s, back when the Nigerian Naira had so much value than it does right now, a man bought 2 plots of land for N160,000, N80,000 for each plot. That was in the 1990s. Recently, last year to be precise, he sold the land for N15M. Land, which over time, had been reduced to almost 1 and half plot by the "Omonile" (people who own the land before selling but still exercise some form of kind of authority over the land even after sales) he bought it from. How?. Well, when they were selling the land next to the one the man bought, they cut into the man's land thereby reducing the actual 2 plots size. Still, it went for as much as N15M!. It could have been more, but the structure of the land made it water logged and it couldn't be priced higher than that.

What am I trying to say?. Investing in a land property never goes wrong. After working in real estate for a little over 4 years and a personal experience, I have witnessed first hand how much a land can appreciate over time. When you buy a land now, depending on the location, structure and condition of the land both during rainy and dry seasons, it can become 2, 3, 5 or even 10 times the actual in price in just 5 years!. Sometimes less than that.

Now, not alot of people know this. Most people make money and the next thing they think about is "I want to buy a car".Now, while there is nothing wrong with buying and owning a car, a car is kinda a liability. A short-term investment. An investment you spend more money on. An investment that brings in little or no money for you, though this depends on whether it is for personal or commercial use. Don't get me wrong. Of course!, I love a good car. If you buy me one now, I will definitely accept it dancing shoki. Lol!. But, if I saved up enough money that could afford a nice car, abeg, I will jump buses for a little longer and spend that money investing in a land. I will pay rent a little longer. I will leg it under the sun for a while more. I will endure being squeezed in a commercial bus like sardine for a little longer. LOL!. I will endure all that knowing I have a land property/investment in my name.

So, if you have some amount of money just sitting in your bank account, instead of just letting it sit in your account, look for a land to buy. Even the banks that are helping you keep your money, those banks invest in real estate. They use your money to buy lands, houses, develop estates, etc. If you cant afford a land with an outright payment (land that you pay for at once), go for a land that has a mortgage plan (land that you pay bit by bit for) to suit your income.

In Nigeria, the real estate industry is one of the most lucrative industries and it has a future here. So, stop thinking about driving the latest car when you're still a tenant and don't have a long-term investment in your name. Buy a land!

The Word For Today: Your Quiet Time with God (2)

‘And for thy pleasure they…were created.’

Revelation 4:11

Did you know:

1) God created you so that He could have a relationship with you? He made you in order to enjoy your company every day. ‘And for thy pleasure they…were created.’ Your attitude towards your quiet time with God will be transformed when you realise that He wants to spend time with you, waits for you, and welcomes you into His presence.

2) The cross is what made this relationship possible? When Adam sinned, God drove him from the Garden of Paradise and placed angels with swords at its entrance so that mankind could never re-enter. Then God did something truly amazing; He took on human form, lived among us, died in our place, and was cut down by the sword of divine judgment at the cross, providing us with a way back into His presence.

Wonderful, isn’t it?

In the Old Testament only one man, the high priest, could go into the Holy of Holies. And he could only do it one day a year. A thick veil separated God from the people. They stood outside wondering what God’s voice sounded like, what His presence felt like, and what His glory looked like. Only the high priest knew. But when Jesus cried, ‘It is finished!’. (John 19:30 NKJV), the Bible says, ‘The veil of the temple was torn in two from top [where God was] to bottom [where we were]’ (Mark 15:38 NKJV).

Now, as ‘priests unto God’ we can come into His presence at any time and meet with Him (Revelation 1:6). What a privilege! Grace makes it possible. And gratitude should be the magnet that draws you there each day.

Ezek 11-13, Heb 9

The Word For Today: Your Quiet Time with God (1)

‘Seek first the kingdom of God.’

Matthew 6:33

Jesus said, ‘Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.’ What kind of ‘things’ was He talking about? Things like money, houses, relationships, health, and jobs. What did He mean by ‘the kingdom of God’? Living under the rule of Christ each moment and submitting to His will in all things.

When Jesus used the word ‘seek’, He called for three things:

1) Intentionality. When something important is lost, you must put aside other things and seek until you find it.

2) Importance. Position, performance, prosperity, and popularity can be good things when properly used. But without the rule of Christ in your life, you’ll always be vulnerable to the devil.

3) Importunity. No matter how long it takes, how hard you must work, or what you must rearrange, restore your quiet time with God to its rightful place.

The psalmist wrote, ‘When You said, “Seek My face,” My heart said to You, “Your face, LORD, I will seek”’ (Psalm 27:8 NKJV). ‘Quiet time’ has been called many things throughout the history of the Church: morning watch, daily devotions, appointment with God, or personal devotional time. It really doesn’t matter what you call it, as long as you have it regularly. Your quiet time with God is just daily fellowship with Him through His Word and prayer. It’s a time you deliberately set aside to meet with Him. The goal is that you might grow in your personal relationship with God so that you can know Him, love Him, serve Him, and become more like Him.

Ezek 8-10, Heb 8

Give God His Tithe (4)

‘…those who fear Him lack nothing.’

Psalms 34:9

There are three kinds of givers: the flint, the sponge and the honeycomb.

To get even a spark from a flint you have to hammer it.

To get anything out of a sponge you have to squeeze it.

But a honeycomb just overflows with sweetness.

So which kind of giver are you?

The Psalmist writes, ‘Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him…for those who fear Him lack nothing’ (vv 8-9 NIV). Tithing is an act of worship. Of the 118 hours you’re awake each week, almost half are involved in earning money. So when you give God your money, you’re giving Him your brain, your brawn and yourself.

When you go to the Lord’s house on the Lord’s Day, partake of the Lord’s Supper and put the Lord’s tithe into the Lord’s treasury, it’s an act of profound worship. Now, let’s be clear: a God who paves heaven’s streets with gold isn’t going to go broke because you don’t give Him a tithe of your income. But you might! This sign appeared on a church marquee: ‘Give God a tithe in proportion to thine income, lest He be displeased with thee and give thee an income in proportion to thy tithe.’

The act of tithing isn’t about the tithe; it’s about the tither. It’s not about the gift; it’s about the giver. It’s not about the money; it’s about the man or woman. It’s not about possessions; it’s about the possessor. As the songwriter Isaac Watts said, ‘Were the whole realm of nature mine; that were an offering far too small. Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.’

Luke 20:27-47, Ps 110-112

Title-less Post

Kendall Jenner of the Kardashian Family

WOW!. Social Media sure has taken things to a whole new level. Or is it the other way round?. Is it people taking Social Media to a whole new level. Na wa o!. So, to celebrate a certain high amount of Instagram Followers, you have to post a nude or semi-nude picture?. Chai!. SMH. LOL!. This generation.

Came across this Kendall's picture and it turns out she uploaded this to celebrate 40 million followers on Instagram. Not 40 millions for Christ o!. So, when she reaches 50 million, she bares both boobs. for 60 million, a topless full baring picture showing every every. Then for 70 million, a head-to-toe fully stark nude picture. For 80 million, she might probably do like Amber Rose who shared a picture of her fingering herself. Only God knows what she'll do if she reaches 100 million followers. I like Kendall. Of all the Kardashians, she is the only one with an actual career. Not even their Mom, Kris, measures up to her. And everybody knows!. 

Following the trend which has been on for some time, our own Kaffy, a professional and very talented dancer, also shared a picture when she reached 100,000 followers. Which means her fans should expect a more revealing picture when the followers increase. LOL!. Find the picture below.

Well, you're allowed to post whatever you like to your feed right?. I mean, afterall its your page. Come to think of it, what on earth isn't abused these days?. 

The Word For Today: Intrusive Thoughts

‘Seek first the kingdom of God.’ Matthew 6:33

It can seem like sometimes everything works against us when we’ve got something that we want to be getting on with, especially when it’s prayer. You’re not the only one. Legends of the faith like St Ignatius and Martin Luther even had prayer-intrusion-thoughts that seriously got in the way. So what to do.

2 Corinthians 10:5 NLT says, ‘We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.’ What does that look like in practice? If you’re praying, and find a thought sneaking into centre stage (whether it’s evil, something tempting, or just plain-old distracting), mentally point at it, and say, ‘No, thought, in Jesus’ name, I’m taking you captive! I’m talking to God here!’. If it helps you imagine it getting caught in a bubble, and put to one side, go for it. You don’t have to fight your thoughts, you can just tell them that Jesus is Lord, and move on with your conversation with Jesus.

And know that God doesn’t mind. He’s not sat across from you tapping His watch, frowning, when you’re dealing with a distraction. ‘Capture’ it, and turn back to His face. What Now? When you finish reading, spend time in prayer ‘seeking God’s face’. See if you can just sit with Him, knowing He’s with you, and just, kinda, hanging out together.

When distractions pop up, ‘take them captive’. (If it’s an important thing for later, jot a one word note about it and you can go back to it later.)

Video: Say No to Jungle Justice!

It's been 3 years. 3 years since the brutal murder of these boys in a place called Aluu in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. The four boys referred to as ‘The ALUU4’. They were people with friends, families and were alive just like you and I are now. These boys were brutally murdered like animals by people who decided to play god and take matters into their own hands. They were falsely accused, beaten mercilessly, paraded as thieves, humiliated beyond reasoning and then burned like animals. The death of these boys was horrible. No person deserves to go through what they did, whether guilty.

When I watched the video, I was shaken to the bone. I couldn't understand how a human would feel so comfortable pounding on the head of another human without first thinking how it would feel if it was his own head that was being pounded on. Jungle Justice has become a norm in not just Nigeria but in everywhere in the world. People taking the law into their hands. People's love for one another have waxed so cold that, killing is now considered as just any other thing. People start fights that end in violence and sometimes death. Fights break out and instead of onlookers or bystanders to get the police or the appropriate authorities, they pull out their phones and make videos and post them online and even send them to media houses who go ahead and publish these sick videos. What is the world turning into?. The love for violence these days is sickening. With ISIS always coming up with different sick ways to murder people to a neighbor stabbing a neighbor over a pot of food to a man killing another man over a money debt that can't buy a human life.

These boys' murderers are out there. Some walking free and some facing the law. But no amount of justice served to these murderers will bring these boys back. They are gone and we can only pray for their souls to rest in heavenly peace.

If you didn't get to watch the video, you didn't miss anything, but if you would want to see the horror these boys were put through, find the sad video below. Pls, viewers discretion is advised as content is extremely graphic.

Photos: World Leaders Rocking Man Bun Styles

LOL!. People lay way too much. Ok so, somebody's wild imagination thought out what world leaders would look like if they rocked man buns. This is really hilarious but kinda cute. Check out more photos below.

Even the Pope

LOL!

Photo: This Little Girl With Cancer Needs Your Help

 

This little girl, Kehinde Adebiyi, was seen with her mother begging for money at Obalande some weeks ago. When a LIB reader approached the woman, she said the girl has cancer and needs N1.2 million for radiotherapy (which they have started), chemotherapy and surgery. They desperately need help. Anyone who is interested in helping can please call the mum on 08177626057. 

Culled from Linda Ikeji Blog.

Throwback Thursday: Check out this throwback picture of Babangida & Abacha holding hands

These men were former presidents of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Gen Ibrahim Babangida (left) ruled Nigeria from 1985-1993 while Late Gen Sani Abacha (right) ruled Nigeria from November 1993-1998.

Give God His Tithe (3)

‘Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse…’

Malachi 3:10

When you honour the Lord in your business, He will bless your business. Imagine the advantage you’d have in the marketplace with God as your partner! Many famous Christian business people throughout history were faithful tithers, including Henry John Heinz of Heinz 57 Varieties, and William Colgate, the toothpaste magnate. Some of these people were so blessed that before their lives were over they gave God 90 per cent of their income and lived on the other 10 per cent. God says: ‘Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this…and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough to store it…all the nations will call you blessed…’ (vv 10-12 NIV).

When you demonstrate that God’s business means more to you than your own, He will prosper you. And He invites you to ‘test’ Him in this. How long have you known that you should tithe, wanted to tithe, said you were going to, and yet you’ve never got round to it? Start now—and start with what you have! What you can do now is the only influence you have over your future. John D Rockefeller is reputed to have made the following statement concerning the habit of tithing: ‘I never would’ve been able to tithe the first million dollars I made if I hadn’t tithed my first salary, which was a dollar fifty per week.’ Tithing demonstrates that you’ve conquered self-interest and the fear of lack. It’s a demonstration of faith—and God always rewards faith!

Jer 43-45, Titus 2

Movie to Watch: Bridal Wave

If you are into romantic dramas, then this is a must watch. The movie is what you can call "Old but Gold". Had me teary eyed in the end. Lovely romantic comedy that opens your heart to some truths you may or may not already know.

A soon-to-be bride is planning her dream wedding to a well-off doctor at a beautiful resort. Although his family doesn’t care much for her, she’s trying to make the most of the situation. When she meets a charming local right before the wedding, she must decide which man she should be with - the man that can provide for her financially or the man that really understands her.

Watch and leave your comments or thoughts.

Enjoy!

The Only Thing Stopping You is YOU! (1)

I want to be great

I want to be rich

I want to be famous

I want to be wealthy

I want to be heard

I want to be a Star

I want to be. . .

We all want to be one thing or a lot of things. Some people don't even know what they want to do or be, they just know they want to be any or all of the above. Some people don't know what they're good at. They don't know their talents or skills or their purpose. Some people lack the courage to pursue their dreams, probably because of lack of finance or encouragement or motivation or a nudge in that direction. Some may have all that but lack the self-motivation to take the first step.

You want to sing but you're afraid your voice will be criticized or isn't good enough, but you sing everyday, in the shower, during chores and basically through all your day's activities. You've even been commended a lot of times on your voice. Still, you feel its not good enough. You feel going for any of the talent hunt shows like MTN Project Fame, Nigerian Idol is going to be embarrassing because you'll be scrutinized in front of so many viewers starting from the judges. You feel you can't go through any of that, but somehow in your imagination, you find yourself singing in front of a watching crowd, entertaining them... but its all in your head. It wont come to life except you take that bold step.

What you fail to realize is you have already decided your fate without even trying. You have decided the outcome without even trying. Its just like concluding that eating beans will make you suffer a running stomach without tasting or eating the beans first.

Its ok to be scared and shy, but its totally not ok to not try at all. You can start from somewhere. Like recording yourself sing and posting it online on your social network page *sounds cheesy, I know, still its better than nothing*. Or better still, join the choir in your church. And if you're not a Christian or do not go to church, you can stick to your social network page. You just have to start from somewhere than not start at all. Surely one day it will pay off.

All you have to do is take that first bold step towards becoming your heart's desires. The only thing that will stop you is you and the only thing that can make it happen is you.

The Word For Today: Don’t Be Cynical

‘If you love someone, you will…always believe in him.’

1 Corinthians 13:7

There are very few monuments erected to sceptics. That’s because instead of building people up, they tear them down. David’s older brother Eliab was like that.

Here’s his story.

When nobody else in Saul’s army, including Eliab, who was a general, was willing to take on Goliath, David volunteered to go out and fight this ‘uncircumcised Philistine’ (1 Samuel 17:36). In Bible times circumcision was a sign of God’s covenant of protection and provision for the Israelites. And David knew this bully had no such contract with God; only the Israelites could claim such a benefit. As a result, David was very secure in the covenant, and embraced God’s promise. Obviously this wasn’t the case for Eliab. His ‘anger burned against David and he said: “Why have you come down? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your insolence and the wickedness of your heart; for you have come down in order to see the battle”’ (v. 28 NASB).

Interestingly, the name Eliab means ‘God is my Father’, so Eliab not only represents secular cynics, but Christian ones too. Yes, we have them in the Church! All it takes is one sceptical member and soon all those with weaker faith, or no faith at all, start chiming in and perpetuating the negativity.

Beware: cynicism can wreak havoc in any relationship and environment. That’s why the Bible says, ‘Blessed is the man who doesn’t sit in the seat of the scornful’ (Psalm 1:1). Think twice before sitting down in that seat. If you stay there too long you may not be able to get up again!

Ezek 5-7, Heb 7

Give God His Tithe (2)

‘…I will give you a tenth.’

Genesis 28:22

Jacob wasn’t a giver by nature. Quite the opposite, in fact! He cheated his brother Esau out of his birthright, which entitled him to twice as much of their father’s inheritance. And when he worked for his father-in-law Laban, he took advantage of him too. But one night Jacob met God in a life-changing dream, and when he woke the next morning he told God, ‘…of all that You give me I will give You a tenth.’ Note, this was hundreds of years before the Law of Moses was instituted, which said, ‘A tithe of everything…belongs to the Lord…’ (Leviticus 27:30 NIV). Jacob wasn’t motivated by law, he was motivated by love for God.

You can give without loving; some folks give under pressure, or to impress others, or to get an income tax deduction. But you can’t love without giving! The Bible says, ‘For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son…’ (John 3:16 AKJV). You’re never more like God than when you’re in the act of giving. Jesus said, ‘…seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you’ (Matthew 6:33 AKJV).

Tithing is about putting God and His kingdom first. When self, home, business and pleasure come first in your life, your priorities are out of whack. Tithing reverses that order and puts God where He rightfully belongs—in first place. When God instructs you to tithe, He’s telling you to establish the habit of putting Him in the number one slot as a life principle. When you do, Jesus said ‘all these things’ you’re so concerned about will be ‘added to you’.

Jer 40-42, Titus 1

Just For Laughs

Nna na wa o!..na so so children don dey join Facebook these days!...hmm!..

Went to buy something from a nearby Supermart. The owner's son *shouldn't be more than 6years old* was talking to me while his Mom went to get my balance. As we talked, the next thing the boy asked was 'Are you on FB?'. At first, I wondered what FB meant. Then I just assumed he meant Facebook. I also wondered why he would ask me that. I answered 'yes' with a surprised look on my face. Before I inquired more on why he was asking, he handed over a piece of paper to me. He said 'that's my FB ID, pls add me'. I took the paper, still wondering why he asked that question. Then I looked at it. Guess what was written on the paper.

'KoKo Master'

Lo!. I just kept quiet, laughed silently, collected my balance when his Mum returned and just kept laughing.

This is the part where the saying 'wonders shall never end' would fit in. LOL!

Always Keep a Good Attitude

‘…meditate on these things…and the God of peace will be with you.’

Philippians 4:8-9

When you’re going through bad times, your goal should be to keep a good attitude. And with God’s help you can.

Dr Viktor Frankl, a Nazi Holocaust camp survivor, said: ‘If a prisoner felt that he could no longer endure the realities of camp life, he found a way out in his mental life—an invaluable opportunity to dwell in the spiritual domain, the one that the SS was unable to destroy. Spiritual life strengthened the prisoner, helped him to adapt, and thereby improved his chances of survival.’

Here is some practical advice on keeping a good attitude in bad times:

1) Always believe the best about others, but don’t get bent out of shape when they disappoint you. Nobody is perfect, including you. Just be grateful for the people that bring joy and endeavour to be counted among them.

2) When you are tempted to retaliate, judge or become impatient, say to yourself, ‘This is an opportunity for me to model a great attitude for the glory of God.’ You say, ‘But this person is driving me crazy.’ Then refuse to be a ‘passenger’ and go along with them. Take back the wheel, get into the driver’s seat of your life, and determine which direction you’ll go and what attitude you’ll have.

The Bible says: ‘…whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things…and the God of peace will be with you.’

Jer 48-49, Philemon

Find People Who Believe in You

‘Carry each other’s burdens…’

Galatians 6:2

Mark Twain said, ‘Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great.’ Why does the Bible say, ‘Carry each other’s burdens’? Because one person can only carry a burden so far on their own.

American novelist John Kennedy Toole quickly discovered that. As a young writer he worked alone writing a novel in New Orleans. When it was finished he sent it to publisher after publisher, but they all turned him down. Overcome by rejection, he took his own life. Some time after the funeral, his mother found a coffee-stained manuscript in the attic and took it to a professor at Louisiana State University who agreed to read it. Immediately he recognised its genius and recommended it to a major publisher. After its release, John Kennedy Toole’s novel, A Confederacy of Dunces, won a Pulitzer Prize and was heralded as one of the major novels of the twentieth century. If only he’d surrounded himself with friends who knew how to share his burden, encourage him when he faced rejection and motivate him to keep going, his life would have turned out very differently.

So the word for you today is—‘Find people who believe in you.’ Encourage and support them, and welcome their support in return. Spend more time with those who sharpen you and make you better, and less time with those who drain your energy, time and talent.

The truth is, friends who speak encouragement into your life are priceless. Their words are ‘Like apples of gold in settings of silver…’ (Proverbs 25:11 NIV).

Jer 46-47, Titus 3

The Word For Today: You’ve Been Forgiven, So Live Like It!

‘I will…remember their sins no more.’

Hebrews 8:12

When Satan brings up your past, remind him of what God has said: ‘I will…remember their sins no more.’ It’s not that God’s forgetful; it’s that He chooses not to remember your sins. And when you choose otherwise, you question His forgiveness, allow the enemy to guilt-trip you, and forfeit the confidence you need to receive what God has promised you (See 1 John 3:21-22).

When you keep rehearsing your past you not only keep it alive, you empower it. What you keep on deposit, you’re more likely to withdraw and act on in a moment of weakness. Just as nobody knows when a dormant volcano may erupt, you can’t predict when an unresolved issue will resurface, turning your words into hot coals and your behavior into a blaze of destruction.

Only by accepting God’s forgiveness, and forgiving yourself and others, can you break the hold your past has over you. Shame isn’t a blessing; it’s a weight Jesus bore for you on the cross. So set it down and walk away! God’s Word says, ‘As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us’ (Psalm 103:12 KJV).

Notice, there’s a North Pole and a South Pole, but no east or west pole. Why? Because that distance is infinite and beyond measure. Are you getting the idea? Any time Satan brings up your past it’s because he hopes you’re ignorant of the truth, or he fears your future and wants to rob you of it. Don’t take the bait! Point him to the cross of Christ, refuse to discuss it further, and keep moving forward.

Ezek 3-4, Heb 6

Give God His Tithe (1)

‘A tithe of everything…belongs to the Lord…’

Leviticus 27:30

Instead of saying, ‘I’m giving God my tithe,’ you should say, ‘I’m giving God His tithe.’ But you say, ‘I earned it, so I own it.’ No. The Bible says, ‘The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein’ (Psalms 24:1). God owns every square foot of land on earth and every person who walks on it—including you. You’re not an owner, you’re a steward! And while a good steward deserves to be well rewarded by his master, his first priority is to please him and carry out his will.

The Bible says, ‘A tithe of everything…belongs to the Lord…’ Get your thinking straight on this issue! In God’s eyes 10 per cent of your income is ‘dedicated funds’ to be used for one thing only—His purposes on the earth. And tithing isn’t how the church raises its budget; it’s how God raises His children. We distort God’s Word when we teach tithing as a means of getting money to pay off church debt, or as a substitute for other worn-out methods of fundraising, or as a cure-all for the church’s financial shortfalls.

The Bible says, ‘…son (daughter)… give me thine heart…’ (Proverbs 23:26). When God has your heart’s deepest affection you’ll give gladly, not grudgingly. The first man in Scripture to tithe was Abraham. Why did he do it? Gratitude, because God had delivered him from the hand of an enemy who was out to destroy him.

Has God delivered you? Has He blessed you? Then show your gratitude by giving Him His portion!

Jer 37-39, 2 Tim 4

You Need Friends Who Encourage You

‘A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.’

Proverbs 17:17

If you’re wise, you’ll surround yourself with people who support you emotionally and spiritually, and you can share your dreams and ideas with them. C S Lewis and J R R Tolkien were members of The Inklings, an informal literary discussion group associated with Oxford University. It comprised teachers, writers and friends who met regularly at a well-known Oxford pub to discuss passages from their favourite books as well as their own writings.

In 1936, they decided the world needed more novels that had faith and morality as their central theme. Lewis and Tolkien decided to write science fiction after realising the inferior quality of similar stories being published at the time. They literally tossed a coin to decide who would write a book on space travel versus time travel.

Tolkien got the time travel nod, but his early efforts with such a story never really worked out. Later, however, he would achieve great success with The Lord of the Rings.

Lewis wrote his famous series of novels called The Space Trilogy, and from that momentum he eventually penned The Chronicles of Narnia.

Now, you may not reach that level of success, but you’ll go further with the encouragement of true friends than you will without it. So ask yourself what’s involved in cultivating the kinds of friendships that’ll help you fulfil your God-given potential. It may mean coming out of your shell and reaching out to others. Could you encounter hurt and rejection? Sure! But you’ll succeed only if you’re willing to take that chance.

Jer 34-36, 2 Tim 3

Don’t Be Inflexible

‘…Naaman…went away in a rage.’

2 Kings 5:12

As a general in the Syrian army, Naaman was accustomed to having things his own way. So when Elisha told him to dip seven times in the muddy Jordan River to be healed of leprosy, he ‘went away in a rage’. He said, ‘Aren’t there cleaner rivers? Couldn’t the prophet just lay hands on me and heal me?’ Fortunately, he listened to his servants, swallowed his pride and received a miracle.

There are important lessons here. Since all progress calls for adapting to change and overcoming obstacles, ask yourself:

1) What’s at the core of my fear and anger over this situation? Am I afraid of the unknown and the changes it may bring?

2) Am I being inflexible and trying to impose my will and wishes in this situation? Am I willing to forfeit God’s perfect will by resisting a change He’s orchestrating? Many of us miss God’s best. Why? Like Naaman, we are accustomed to being waited on and having our ego stroked. E.G.O. means Edging God Out! Are you doing that?

3) Am I being lazy or incompetent, not wanting to invest the necessary time and effort into the change? Unless you’re willing to change, you won’t grow. And if you don’t grow, you won’t position yourself to receive the blessing God has in mind for you.

Charles Franklin Kettering said, ‘The world hates change, yet it is the only thing that has brought progress.’ Today ask God for the emotional and spiritual strength to embrace the changes He’s bringing into your life, and to help you to see them as being for your good (Romans 8:28).

Jer 32-33, 2 Tim 2