Become different
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Wednesday | March 12, 2008
DONT GIVE UP
Sometimes when we pray long and hard about a situation in our life without receiving any answers, we just learn to live with it. We go on about our business, wondering if or when God will send the answer. But God does hear those prayers, and He’s working out the answers even though we may not know all the details. Our situation can change suddenly—quickly without warning!
But one thing is certain: Before God moves suddenly, we will wait. Waiting for answers is a fact of life—nobody gets out of it. So the question is not if we’ll wait, but rather how we’ll wait. And I believe how will determine how long.
There are two ways to wait: One is to wait passively, and the other is to wait expectantly. A passive person hopes something good will happen and is willing to sit around waiting to see if it does. After a short time, he gives up, saying, “That’s it! I’ve waited and waited and nothing’s happened.” The passive person has a lot of wishbone but not much backbone!
The expectant person, on the other hand, is hopeful, believing the answer is just around the corner, due to arrive any minute. His belief is not a passive thing. His heart is full of hope, expecting his problem to be solved at any moment. He wakes up every morning expecting to find his answer. He may wait and wait, but suddenly what he’s been waiting for happens.
It’s just like when a woman is pregnant; it’s said that she is expecting a baby. She carries inside her the promise of a baby, and even though she can’t see it, she knows it’s there. The moment she learns of her pregnancy, she begins to plan for her baby’s arrival. She starts collecting items she’ll need and busily gets the nursery ready. She actively prepares for the arrival of the baby because she knows the promise will be fulfilled—it’s just a matter of time. She is expectant and she’ll wait as long as it takes.
We know the word wait means “to expect” or “to look for.” But remember, it also means “to serve”—just like a waiter waits on your table at a restaurant. Our act of waiting isn’t supposed to be spent sitting around passively hoping that something will happen sometime soon.
Once we’ve asked God to answer a question or solve a problem, we need to be eagerly awaiting His answer. We need to be serving actively, aggressively and expectantly. When our hearts are eager to hear from God, He loves to rush in suddenly with His solution. In many cases this waiting period actually serves as a time of preparation for the answer. If God answered right away, many of us would be ill-prepared to handle His solution.
Sometimes we find ourselves in such horrible messes that it’s hard to imagine waiting one more second. But we need to keep waiting on God and trusting Him with a sweet and simple faith. Then, in a way we never could’ve figured out—God moves suddenly!
In the Bible Paul and Silas knew about waiting, and they waited well. Acts 16 tells the story of how they were attacked by a crowd, beaten and thrown in jail. Verse 24 says the jailer…put them into the inner prison (the dungeon) and fastened their feet in the stocks. He was making sure they couldn’t escape. But about midnight, God showed up. Now it would have been nice if He’d come a little earlier, but Paul and Silas didn’t seem to mind—they just decided to start singing and began to worship the Lord. They began to wait on God.
Verses 25 & 26 say, But about midnight, as Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the [other] prisoners were listening to them, suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the very foundations of the prison were shaken; and at once all the doors were opened and everyone’s shackles were unfastened. God answered them suddenly!
When people patiently and expectantly wait on God in the midst of horrible circumstances, suddenly God breaks through. So don’t give up! Don’t stop believing! Stay full of hope and expectation. God’s power is limitless, and He’ll break through for you.
MY FUTURE MY THOUGHTS
Do you realize you have a uniquely amazing gift, in your possession right this very moment, to do with as you see fit? You can squander, resent, abuse, hate, and even throw it away; or, you can cherish it with an attitude of gratitude, and discover its infinite possibilities. The choice is yours and only yours, because you are the best predictor of your future.
You will be amazed and astounded at the results you will achieve if you can express and attitude of gratitude for what you have now. You see, most people make the mistake of saying, I will be grateful when I get the new car. I will be grateful when I get the new house. I will be grateful when I find my soul mate. I will be grateful when - fill in the blank. Be grateful for what you have now and more of what you are grateful for will come to you. It really is that simple.
Your life is truly a one-of-a-kind gift, a treasure to be discovered over time. Sadly, you may decide to squander your life away in a spirit of total resignation to the ills in the world around you. You can constantly complain about everything that has ever gone wrong, from the first day until now. You can dwell on a troubled childhood, friends that have let you down in the past, a thankless job, or a myriad of other negative issues. But, what good does it do? Absolutely none!
The more you think about the events that have not worked out in your life, the more depressing and negative your life will become. Why? The answer: you are the best predictor of your future. If all you look for are the negative aspects of life, sadness and frustration will be your lot in life. Fortunately, your future does not have to be that way.
Instead, you can see your precious gift as a source of infinite possibilities. With the right attitude, and a spirit of wonder and amazement, you can learn the art of living your dreams. If you go through life expecting to find blessings, good will come your way. Why? If you anticipate love, friendship, happiness, and all the other riches your life has to afford, you will be dumbstruck at how often you will find what you seek.
Your are the best predictor of your future. Do you see your life as simply a day to day struggle, or do you see it as a precious gift with infinite possibilities? Are you always complaining about how you wish aspects of your life were different, but you are unwilling to put forth any effort to turn things around? Or, do you always look at the cup of life as half full, and live your life expecting to find the resources to fill it to the brim? If so, then you can learn the art of living your dreams.
Remember be grateful for what you have right now with all the feeling and emotion you can possibly put into it. When you do, you will find that all of the things you truly desire will start turning up in your life from the most unexpected sourcesFriday | February 29, 2008
YOUR FUTURE AND YOU
Proverbs 27:17 says, "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens the other." How sharp do you want to be? One of the basic things I have discover about life is that, what you associate with regularly has a vital role in affecting the direction your life will move to. The sum total of your thoughts and actions have a way defining the direction your future will gravitate to. There are many things in life that clamor for our attention. Many of these things are completely useless and only eat up our valuable time. If we're not careful these things will drag us down and lessen our quality of life. We have to be very careful what we subject ourselves to because everything has an influence. We must protect our minds by being careful what we choose to let inside. If we have hopes of having an extraordinary future there are two critical things that we must monitor.
1. The Books We Read
Recently my mentor Deolu Akinyemi gave me a book to study titled the “The Tipping Point by Malcom Gladwell ”.This is one of the great books that I have read that has revolutionized my thinking on how little things can make big a difference. In 7 years or less you will be the sum total of the books you have read. In other words, you will be the sum total of what you have put into your mind. If what you are allowing into your mind on a regular basis is not in harmony with where you want to be in the future you may want to make some serious changes. What we focus on becomes attracted into our lives. If we put positive information into our minds we will attract positive circumstances.
2. The People You Associate With
In 7 years or less you will be the sum total of the people you have associated with.
There have been times in my past that I have had to break off some close relationships because of the negativity associated with these particular people. They did nothing but drag me down. Relationships like that will keep you from getting to where you want to go. I'm not saying that you should stop loving and caring for those type of people, but just love and care for them from a distance. Simply quit hanging out with them.
In conclusion, I end by saying that you have a choice to advance your life forward by the books read and the association you keep.
RE-INVENTING YOURSELF
Just yesterday I had a very vital conversation with Mr Felix Ekpa , a colleague in my office about how you can craft you way to success by deliberately re-inventing your self. By this I mean having a clear vision of what you want about life and taking precise and concise steps toward achieving your own goals. One of the most beautiful aspects of life on this planet is that we always have the option to re-invent ourselves. If you don't like what you are experiencing, you can change it. If you want to play at a higher level, you can choose to grow. We have the ability to dream and to make our dreams come true. One thing that stops us is our own fear. My mentor Deolu Akinyemi defines “Fear” as False-Expressions-Appearing – Real. Author Leslie Charles says: "Fear is nothing to be afraid of." (Stick To It! The Power of Positive Persistence, Yes Press) It happens. It can paralyze us if we let it. It can drive our behavior, if we let it. It is important to keep fear in perspective. Anytime we are thinking about making a change, bettering ourselves, or finding new success, fear is likely to show up. One of the tipping points of success is for you as an individual to come to the point where you need to re-invent yourself in other to advance forward. Every great leader you can think about came to the point were re-inventing was expedient. No matter who you are you must re-invent yourself for success or fail. Most of the world's people are unfulfilled and unsuccessful, by most popular definitions. However true this may be, we also have the ability to change things! Success is founded on many things but is ultimately about a personal transformation that will be unique and special for each of you. That's one of the greatest things about becoming more successful!! Nobody is asking you to become a different person. The process of reinvention is not well understood. The world of success has certain constants. Some of these are core building blocks like accountability, belief in yourself, creating goals, and taking action. There's no need to reinvent these principles; they've been battle tested by success seekers before you!
What you want to reinvent is you! Some parts of you are immune to this, and for good reason. Re-inventing yourself for success has three main tripod that must be considered
1) Having something of value to convey to others
2) Knowledge of how to use that thing of value for both your own gain and for the benefit of others
3) Willingness to express that thing of value to others
If it is time to reinvent yourself, don't get too carried away with your to do list. Start making up your "to feel" list. Clarify your "Who do I want to be?" list. The person you want to be is already within you. The feelings you want to feel are already in you. You are fully equipped for success, with the resources of Spirit ready to assist. You are an extraordinary being, and your good is coming to you in extraordinary ways. Thanks for reading.
Tuesday | February 26, 2008
I BELIEVE
Am a true born Nigerian. By this I mean my parents are full blooded Nigerians. My country is known to be blessed with a lot natural resources and human capital. My country with over a population of 140million is supposed to be known as one of the most developed countries in the world considering the avalanche of natural resources she has at her disposal. Some time ago, she was known as the Giant of Africa.
A nation that its citizens flag their green and white colours to show case their patriotism and love for their mother land. A land that once flowed with milk and honey, where every one had abundance to share with those who don’t have. A country that was once the big brother to other Africa nation, restoring peace, joy and democracy to Liberia. Nigeria the pride of Africa, the envy of the black race, the trigger of the continent of Africa. Haba! Nigeria what really happened to all the glory and glamour you once show cased. Like the pick cock you dazzled the international community with beautifying splendor and bliss of your majesty. The whole world stood spell bound at the compendium of your rich heritage when you gathered nations together for FESTAC 1977. You were once the centre of tourist attraction. When your citizens go out for competition, they were giving first class reception and they won back trophies for you.
Nigeria was feared and highly respected in the committee of nations. Her leadership was respected and modeled by other nations. Every nation wanted to draw closer to her. But after a while her leadership suffered focus and mismanagement, she moved from her independence state to corruption and plunged into poverty and huge debt. Her children had to queue weeks and months in foreign embassy’s to procure visa to travel out. Her children deserted her and became slaves and labourers in foreign nations in order to get daily bread. Graduates from her universities litter her streets in search of jobs, hence increase in crime rate, kidnapping of oil workers, increase in sex workers, ritual killing, assassination, political violence and rigging of electoral results to gain power to loot the national treasury.
My people hear this. I see hope, I see a New Nigeria. A land of opportunities, where the strong help the weak. A land where all men will be the ICONS of a new Nigeria. A land of ambassadors and Representatives. I believe in the new Nigeria. I believe in the New Nigeria Club as the vehicle to achieve the great vision of a new Nigeria.
Friday | February 22, 2008
LEADERSHIP AND PEOPLE.
One of the geatest mentor and leader i have seen in recent times is Adeolu Akinyemi. I have decided to model his leadership principles and apply them on a daily basis. I call him the 21st century strategic thinking leader. He leads by examples and deep principles. He has made me to understand that leadership is all building people.
Focus on people. Leaders see the power of people as the biggest asset in any situation. Leaders that focus on people care more about the contribution, lessons learned for future growth, and impact on the people more than the actual result. Why? Since they are actively involved in the process, leaders know that they often achieve success while developing and engaging the people in the process. Leaders that believe in their people's desire to produce and their own ability to guide and mentor the process to yield success.
Leaders love to learn to be better leaders. Leaders attend leadership training and focus on leadership skill development. The love to learn from other leaders, social networks, business or leadership books or seminars, and executive management training program
Continue to be a better leader. This action requires dedication to the leadership development process. Leaders need to constantly grow. They need to learn, read, see, and hear more ways of becoming effective. They take this knowledge and experience to develop their own methods of leadership. This is where mastery comes into the picture. Regardless of the type of leader, whether it is a business leader, political leader, spiritual leader, or even a little league baseball coach, leadership requires a fearless, confident, and positive attitude that draws people into the message and gets them to follow. Thanks for reading.
MY LEADERSHIP THOUGHTS PT1
Studies have shown that there are many kinds of leaders arising from all levels of the organization. Each person has a leader inside of them and it is a matter of circumstance when and where those leadership abilities will be called upon. Remember that leadership is a process and many variables act upon the emergence of a leader. But each person must be viewed as your next potential leader.
Leadership is a learned skill. To be effective as a leader, one must devote the time and energy to learn and develop the skills needed to effective lead.
Leadership Action:
Learn from a leader. For those that strive to become a more effective leader, you need to figure out where you are going to learn the skills. Learn from a leader that you have access to on a frequent basis. Connect with a good boss, religious leader, teacher, coach, mentor, or even a parental figure. Connect with anyone that has influenced or help motivate you. What did they do, how did they do it, and what results did they achieve? Connect with the actions so you can see how and why the results were achieved. This will begin to fuel your fire to develop the type of leader you want to be and then test your ability to lead at higher levels.
MY LEADERSHIP THOUGHTS PT2
Leadership is 100% about people. Leaders get people organized and focused. Leaders get people to share a common vision. Leaders allow people to try new things, embrace change, overcome fear, and step outside their comfort zone.
Leadership Action:
Focus on people. Leaders see the power of people as the biggest asset in any situation. Leaders that focus on people care more about the contribution, lessons learned for future growth, and impact on the people more than the actual result. Why? Since they are actively involved in the process, leaders know that they often achieve success while developing and engaging the people in the process. Leaders that believe in their people's desire to produce and their own ability to guide and mentor the process to yield success.
Friday | February 15, 2008
I SHALL NOT WANT
When the Lord desires a thing on the earth, He puts it into it as a seed. The seed then begins to grow and eventually produces the fruit, which was the goal. Now, the seed is the word of God.
In your life as His child, God has plans that He wants manifested on this earth and He has placed those things in you as a seed. It is expected by the Lord that you will allow that seed germinate, grow and produce fruit on this earth to the glory of God. Now, the events of your life are being engineered in God’s sovereignty to bring those things to pass and they will come to pass if you will allow them. Note that these things are great and wonderful things that you most probably have never imagined.
When the Lord Jesus was explaining about this seed principle, He pointed out three reasons why one may not see fruit produced (please refer to Matt. 13 for the whole gist). The third reason is the one that is strongest and, as we’ll see, the most subtle. It catches many who have overcome the first two.
“And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.”
This is one weapon of the enemy that is so subtle you do not even know it is a weapon against you. Let me explain.
The deceitfulness of riches is illustrated by the fact that you think your discontentment, your anxiety can be explained by what you don’t have. You think that the man who has more than you is happier, more contented than you are and that your life will markedly improve when you acquire some material things. That is deceitful because it is not true.
Hear the truth from the mouth of the Truth Himself: “ A man’s life does not consist in the abundance of things He possesses’
That is the truth. Believe it, what will make your life improve is not a fat account, money to throw around, a big car, or a big mansion. No! Those things are not bad but they are not worth chasing after. It is the vanity that the devil has sold to people’s minds that make them think they are necessary goals in life. Let nobody deceive you; Jesus has said the truth: “A man’s life does not consist of those things”.
On the other hand, the worry (or cares) of this world is best described as “what shall we eat, what shall we drink and wherewithal shall we be clothed?”
These are very reasonable things. This is why this weapon is the strongest and the most subtle.
It is this fear that prevents people from allowing the fruit of the word to be manifested. My message to you today is that you do not have to be a victim of this choking influence. I am preaching to you that there is One who will take care of that and this One does not and cannot fail.
Men are afraid of hunger; they should be. Jesus said “these things the gentiles seek after. But ye...”
Did you notice these words “But ye”? That is to show you that your own life is different.
What shall we eat?
Jesus said your life is more precious than that of the sparrow which God feeds and that He will much more take care of you.
He has said “I will never leave you nor forsake you” When Israel said, “the Lord has forsaken me”. God answered, “ can a mother forget her sucking child? Even though they forget, yet I will NEVER forget you” He said the very hair of your head are numbered. That is how closely He watches over you.
“The Lord is your keeper”
“The Lord will protect you from all evil”
“He will keep your soul”
“The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in”
Are you believing these?
The issue is not that basic needs are not important or that starvation and thirst do not kill. No. I am saying that come what may we have an ever-present help in the time of trouble.
You see, the Lord likes using strong words. Check these out:
“...We will not fear, though the earth be removed and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea.” Why?
Because God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in time of trouble.
Again see:
“The young lions may lack and suffer hunger, but they who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.”
No wonder the psalmist said:
“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want”
“Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death. I shall fear no evil. “For the Lord is with me…”
The Lord is with you. You will not lack. He will furnish your food, your drink, your clothes, your house, everything. Worrying about these things is a sign that you doubt God’s love, that you don’t believe He cares. But child of God, He does! Just do your duty and leave the rest to God.
What is your duty?
“Seek peace, and pursue it. Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.” What is your duty?
“Fear the Lord, obey His commandments”
“But ye, seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all other things shall be added unto you”
Let your focus be on doing the right thing, focus on doing well what God has placed in your hands.
Let nobody deceive you that you have the situation of the nation as an excuse for wrongdoing.
He has promised this:
“Who among us can live with continual burning?
“ He who walks righteously, and speaks with sincerity.
“He who rejects unjust gain, and shakes his hands so that they hold no bribe….
“He will dwell on the heights.
“His refuge will be the impregnable rock.
“ His bread will be given him.
“His water will be sure.”
This, beloved, is God’s standard.
The money that does not rightly belong to you, don’t take, it will only procure for you judgement and enduring poverty. God has promised that your own supply will be assuredly given you.
Do you want everlasting prosperity? Then wait for the one that comes from God.
Dare to be different.
Dare to be a child of the Almighty in truth.
I know that your mates who are in one form of government position or another today are ‘making it’. Take your eyes off that because one day, the falacy and corruption that made them will break them.
Keep your eyes on God, on truth.
“Be not envies towards wrongdoer “For they wither quickly like the grass
“Trust in the Lord and do good
“Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness
“Delight yourself in the Lord
“And He will give you the desires of your heart.”
Do you desire abiding prosperity? Then receive the one that God will bring, not the one you will orchestrate by ungodly means. If you do otherwise, you will lie down in sorrow! If it is the blessing of God, it will make you rich without adding sorrow.
If you are truly a child of God, He wants to make your life an example of the profit of righteousness. He wants to show to the world that it pays to fear God. Bear in mind that He will also use some people to show what it pays to practice unrighteousness. What kind of example do you want to be?
In closing, remember these:
God loves you and He wants the best for you. He desires for you to trust Him knowing that He can never fail you. In due season, He will bless you in such a manner that your environment will notice. That is what is meant by God bringing out your righteousness as the noonday.
Do not let the fear of hunger or tomorrow push your hand into iniquity. It will get you burnt.
Remember that it is in these difficult times that God determines those whose hearts are really for Him. And for those people, the Bible tells us, His eyes run to and fro the whole earth that He might show Himself strong on their behalf.
If you are a child of God but you have been living life directed by the worry of this world and the deceitfulness of riches, then it is time to repent and allow God start His work in you.
If you do not have a personal relationship with God through the Lord Jesus, then it is time to let Him take over your life, for Him to be a father to you. Do not be deceived that we are all His children. The Bible says the Lord knows those who are His. This means some are not His. To become one of God’s own children you need to believe Jesus and to accept Him as Lord. This means to turn from your previous way of life and to start following Him. Thanks for reading
