A LIFE WELL LIVED-My lesson from the life of NELSON MANDELA

Late yesterday night the world was greeted with the news of the demise of arguably the greatest political leader and President African ever had, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela.

Personally I think he was a selfless man,that epitomized the true meaning of leadership-servanthood.

Waking up this morning, and all of cyber space had gone agog with the news, his pictures everywhere, his quotes not left out. Even TV and radio stations where all talking about the man popularly called Madiba.Then my mind started pondering, why so much fuss about this man; ofcouse I knew the answer, but what got my attention was the fact that we all identified with the man. Almost all the contacts on my blackberry messenger and whatsapp had his face as their display picture and I began to wonder, what did this man do that made him so popular,so admired, so revered. He was probably a man that didn’t do a lot of travels in his early years-he was locked up in prison for 27years,but yet, we all acted as though we had known him personally, like he had made some personal impacts in our lives. My question was how does a man born in the town of Mvezo, Cape Province, South Africa ,on  the 18^th of  July 1918 become a world icon.

I decided to read more about this great man, to see the extraordinary trait he had, to see his special gift or talent,I googled his name and read as much as I could find,alas,there was nothing extraordinary or special about this man. He lived and grew like everyone one of us, except  he had a dream, a passion, he wanted to make a difference, something we all share as humans.

You see life is not about the dreams you have, it’s about what you do when you awake up to reality, life isn’t just about your ideas, it’s about the actions to back it up. The bible says”Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean me”,” The hand of the diligent shall bear rule”.

I think to become great in life you don’t need to start with the whole world, just start where you are, start by meeting a need in your immediate environment. Today the whole world celebrates Mandela because he believed he could bring change to a small community, then province and his beloved country, but in doing these, he has brought change to the whole world. My lesson from Mandela is, If only you can do your best to make your dream come true in the smallest of ways and seek to gradually expand your reach and influence, you will someday get the attention of the whole world. Madiba never came to my country in person, but today we celebrate him like he is our very own.

I will end my thoughts on paper here with an ode to Nelson Mandela from a dear friend.

... And so I thought of names to call you, and I came up with an endless list.
You were a selfless fighter, an inspiration, mentor, an exemplary leader, a philanthropist and a strong and courageous warrior...

What kind of a man would give up himself for his nation and his continent at large? It had to be a man equipped by God for His purpose.

To Africa, you didn't die because your legacies live on forever. You are a father to Africa and your great deeds have inspired millions of people around the world.

South Africa sought for a man to rescue it from the clutches of racism, unfairness and inequality and you stood up for it.
What would the history of South Africa have been without a great man like you?
What would have been the hope of its people without your sacrifices?

You didn't mind the hurt, shame, loss and humiliation. You stood up for your people without counting the cost. Now every born South African is a free man, no rejection, no segregation.

I dare say there's no South Africa without you. You are South Africa, and South Africa is you.
Thank you for showcasing Africa in such an honorable way.
Thank you for restoring the pride and strength of this great continent before the world.

I've searched history through and through; still I found no greater sacrifice made by one man for his nation. We applaud your courage.
South Africa is proud of you.
Africa is proud of you.
The world is proud of you.

Good night Nelson Mandela... 95 hearty cheers!
What a man! What a life! What a leader! What a hero!

                                                         

                                                                       Juliet Ngozi Adigwe

Wealth and Money

All around the world people equate wealth to having lots of money. So we say a wealthy man is the man with a fat bank account, large investment portfolio, a place on the Forbe’s list etc, but reading an article today from a man I respect, he said ”the wealth of this world isn’t reducing.Money is man made,and it doesn’t determine your wealth.Your wealth will determine how much money is available to you,because money gravitates to men and women of wealth”

From this statement,I see a clear distinction between wealth and money, it seems it is wealth that produces money and not the other way round like we have been made to believe.This statement was made by  a very wealthy man(money wise)it means there is something the rich know that a lot of people don’t know. The rich knows that money is not the source of riches but wealth. I just realized now while writing that I have introduced another word which is “riches”. So what is wealth? What does it mean to be rich, are these 2 words synonyms? How does money come? Is a rich man wealthy? Does money make a man rich or makes him wealthy?

I went online to see the various definitions of the word wealth,and I noticed that most of the common dictionaries we have(Webster,Oxford,Merriam etc)have a similar definition for wealth as “An abundance of valuable material possessions or resources; riches.The state of being rich; affluence.”May be this is where we all got the mindset that wealth is about what money can buy.

I also stumbled upon another online definition from www.businessdictionary.com and it defined wealth in a way I seem to relate more with. It said, Wealth is the”Tangible or intangible thing that makes a person, family, or group better off”. It also defined wealth in terms of accounting, economics, monetary and non monetary wealth. For non monetary wealth, it had this to say, ”Non-monetary wealth: things which depend on scarce resources, and for which there is demand, but are not bought and sold in a market and hence have no price. Examples are education, health, and defense.”

This is similar to the first definition I cited because it gives credence to that which is “intangible”

Now I will give my own simple definition of wealth, which is,”Wealth is who you are, what you know, that produces what you need ,also, it is the intangible that produces the tangible. It is the value you have developed or acquired into your personality that can amount to monetary value when required”. So wealth is from your inside, out. Its source is the intangible that is available to everyone, so nobody is disadvantaged.

I am a Christian and I believe the scriptures, especially Heb11:3 that says, ”By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible”. This means, that the tangible as we know it today was made out of the intangible.I will explain this by going back to the book of beginnings-Genesis. In chapter 1, it gives us the account of creation or re-creation. For everything tangible that was made and as we know it till today was created by words (intangible).”Let there be….and there was”….isn’t it awesome to know that all the beauty and splendor of the world today was made by words. In chapter 2 verse 2 of the same book, the bible says ”And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done.”Taking a close look at this verse you will notice that ”God rested” and not “God finished”, meaning the creation never stopped, it was just that God was done with his own part,he had created the frame work, the pattern, the foundation for creation and he expected man to continue. So if man must continue, then he must follow the same pattern, create the tangible from the intangible.

Looking at our world today, it is important to note that every invention of man came from the intangible. Right now I am typing on a laptop, using MS word, on a Windows operating system, all of this was made possible by someone who thought it was possible. First, it starts with a thought or idea(intangible) and ends with being the richest man in the world today according to Forbes.

What am I trying to say, wealth comes as a result of the quality of your inner man. If you will invest in who are you, who you are will produce what you need or desire. Keep investing in yourself, read books, get involved in activities that will sharpen your mind, learn new skills and before long the value you have created on your inside will produce riches on your outside. Today’s world is very competitive, and to stand out is to be able to compete favorably. One must stand out based on superior knowledge, information and skills, and all these are intangible.   

Wisdom brings wealth, wealth brings money and honor. Wisdom is in God and from God. Becoming rich is a journey, it starts from being wealthy. When you start out your journey in wealth, you may not be instantly rich, but with time, it will be inevitable. So you can be a wealthy man that isn’t rich yet, but don’t stop or get discouraged, remember “MONEY GRAVITATES TO MEN AND WOMEN OF WEALTH”.

NASA Finds Message From God on Mars

NASA announced today that its Curiosity Rover has found an unambiguous message from God written on tablets in a Martian cave.

According to an official press release two giant stone slabs the size of small elephants were located deep inside a cavern abutting Aeolis Mons, a large mountain.

Upon one tablet is a copy of the Ten Commandments and the text of John 3:16 written in 12 languages – including English, Spanish, Chinese, Basque and Hebrew. On the other tablet is a simple message in English reading “I am real.”

According to top scientists who have studied the discovery extensively, these findings may have definitively established Christianity as the one true religion.

“This is amazing,” says Syms Covington, an Australian researcher working for NASA’s Mars Exploration Program. “We went into the cave looking for water, and we found proof of God’s existence instead.

“I mean how else did those tablets get there? I can tell you one thing: there’s not a single atheist inside NASA’s control room now. What we saw was jaw-dropping.”

Genesis 1:1-In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth

NASA’s Curiosity rover arrived on Mars in August of last year with a mission to explore the Martian climate and geology for signs for habitability.

Thus far the mission has been a success, with the discovery of an ancient seabed and chemicals needed for life suggesting that Mars was once suitable for life.

However the tablets, both of which are signed “Peace and Love – Yahweh,” represent the rover’s most significant find to date, and is perhaps the most important scientific event in history.

“When people find out about this, they will demand change in our society,” explains a political scientist at Georgetown University. “Democracy will have to give way to theocracy. We’re gonna have to build more churches and reintroduce prayer into schools. Abortion is defiantly going to be illegal within a few months.”

Despite its potential significance, Covington fears that the Earth-shattering discovery may not make the impact it should.

“Unfortunately, the mainstream media is so anti-Christian, they might not even pick up this story,” he explains. “But God is real. We have proof. And everyone deserves to hear the truth.”

YOUR LATENT POWER

Jude 1:20 says: “But you, beloved, build yourselves up [founded] on your most holy faith [ make progress, rise like an edifice higher and higher], praying in the Holy Spirit; (AMP).

You may have wondered how come there’re some Christians who are often intimidated or overwhelmed by the circumstances of life. They easily become afraid when challenged by unpleasant situations, thereby making themselves vulnerable to the fierce attacks of the enemy. The reason for this is not that such believers don’t have faith, for every Christian has been given the measure of faith (Romans 12:3). But the real problem is that many who find themselves in such situations have allowed the power of the Holy Spirit lie dormant in them.
2 Corinthians 4:7 says, “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.” So there’s no question as to whether or not the power of God is in you, for it is! But you must stir up that power within you continually, otherwise it will be inactive. You’re to make that inherent ability and divine energy in your spirit available for use anytime you want. That power is stirred as you meditate and talk the Word, and, as you pray fervidly in tongues.
God expects us to function in the earth with His power. He wants you to learn and know how to activate His power in you as much as He wants you to learn about faith and how faith works. When you study 2 Timothy 1:5-6, you’ll discover something striking. Right after the Apostle Paul commended Timothy, his grandmother Lois, and his mother Eunice for their unfeigned faith, he charged Timothy to stir up the power of God in him. There, Paul was talking about the power of the Holy Spirit that Timothy received when he (Paul) laid hands on him (Read 2 Timothy 1:5-6).
This means it’s possible for someone to have faith yet have the Holy Spirit’s power remain latent in his spirit. Most of the attacks the devil launches against people are either against the body or the soul. So that power shouldn’t only remain in your spirit. You have to stir it up until it inundates your soul and permeates your physical body. That way, you’re able to ward off whatever attack satan launches against you.
When you’re stirred, the anointing will surge through every fibre of your being; from your spirit, to your soul, and your body. There’ll be an influx of the power of the Holy Spirit into your mind, will, emotions, and it will move through your whole body, causing you to be immune to the vices of the enemy.

 

THE SURE GUIDE

The Holy Spirit in us is God’s ultimate, absolute and complete response to our needs. In Him God becomes to us what we need Him to be. He becomes our strength, our health, our wisdom, courage, ability, competence and provision. Yes, He is to us and in us, whatever we need Him to be; making our daily lives the inspiring opus of His dreams. 

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come (John 16:13).
As one who is born again, you don’t have to be anxious about the future, for your future is bright. Jesus said “When the Holy Spirit, who is truth, comes…He will tell you about the future” (John 16:13 TLB). The man without the Holy Spirit is the one who should be uncertain about his future. He’s like an airplane without a pilot, or a ship without a captain, lost at sea, bobbing about in the water. He’s a traveler, wandering aimlessly, with a ticket to nowhere.
But for you that are born again, life doesn’t have to be mysterious anymore for the Holy Spirit living in you came to guide you and bring the future into your present. The Psalmist said, “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” (Psalm 16:11).
By yourself, you can’t know the path of life that brings success, joy, victory and prosperity, but the Holy Spirit has come to lead you into that path. He knows how to take you through life’s journey and make you a success, for He sees the end from the beginning. He came to guide you and show you visions of the future. Let Him have His way in you today!

DIVINE ABILITY

Jude 1:20 says: “But you, beloved, build yourselves up [founded] on your most holy faith [ make progress, rise like an edifice higher and higher], praying in the Holy Spirit; (AMP). At 12noon and 10pm (local/GMT) we’ll pray for 15min in the spirit, being very attentive to the Holy Spirit’s ministrations during and after prayer.
You may have wondered how come there’re some Christians who are often intimidated or overwhelmed by the circumstances of life. They easily become afraid when challenged by unpleasant situations, thereby making themselves vulnerable to the fierce attacks of the enemy. The reason for this is not that such believers don’t have faith, for every Christian has been given the measure of faith (Romans 12:3). But the real problem is that many who find themselves in such situations have allowed the power of the Holy Spirit lie dormant in them.
2 Corinthians 4:7 says, “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.” So there’s no question as to whether or not the power of God is in you, for it is! But you must stir up that power within you continually, otherwise it will be inactive. You’re to make that inherent ability and divine energy in your spirit available for use anytime you want. That power is stirred as you meditate and talk the Word, and, as you pray fervidly in tongues.
God expects us to function in the earth with His power. He wants you to learn and know how to activate His power in you as much as He wants you to learn about faith and how faith works. When you study 2 Timothy 1:5-6, you’ll discover something striking. Right after the Apostle Paul commended Timothy, his grandmother Lois, and his mother Eunice for their unfeigned faith, he charged Timothy to stir up the power of God in him. There, Paul was talking about the power of the Holy Spirit that Timothy received when he (Paul) laid hands on him (Read 2 Timothy 1:5-6).
This means it’s possible for someone to have faith yet have the Holy Spirit’s power remain latent in his spirit. Most of the attacks the devil launches against people are either against the body or the soul. So that power shouldn’t only remain in your spirit. You have to stir it up until it inundates your soul and permeates your physical body. That way, you’re able to ward off whatever attack satan launches against you.
When you’re stirred, the anointing will surge through every fibre of your being; from your spirit, to your soul, and your body. There’ll be an influx of the power of the Holy Spirit into your mind, will, emotions, and it will move through your whole body, causing you to be immune to the vices of the enemy.

Practice Real Love

Practice Real Love · Friday, May 31st ·
Pastor Chris

What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone (James 2:14-17).


Our opening verse shows us the way to prove our faith. In reality, it’s actually the way to demonstrate your love, because love isn’t just in words; it’s demonstrated through your actions; it’s called the "labour of love": "Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love…in the sight of God and our Father" (1 Thessalonians 1:3).

This means that love sometimes may not be convenient, but you’ve got to walk in love all the same. Those you love may not necessarily love you in return, but it makes no difference because there’s no promise in the scriptures that says those you love will have to love you back; we’re only commanded to love. So, don’t look for the reciprocity of it before you do the right thing.

John 3:16 says "For God so loved the world…"; here, He’s referring to the world of sinners; those who didn’t care about Him. Isn’t it wonderful, and so inspiring to know that Jesus came to die for sinners who didn’t want Him? While on the Cross, even as their representative, they spat at Him, but His response was that of love; He said, "…Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do…." (Luke 23:34).

You’re born to love; and love is something you consciously practice. Let nothing dampen your resolve and commitment to walk in love. Remember, you don’t love for the sake of those you love, you love for the Master’s sake. Jesus said in John 13:34, "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another." Walking in love is your proof that you’re a true believer in Christ: "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another" (John 13:35).

Prayer 

Dear heavenly Father, I thank you for your love, and the indescribable joy of sharing it with others, and revealing to them the compassion of Christ, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Further study:
1John 3:18;My little children,let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.
John15:12;This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
James 2:15-17 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

Daily Scripture Reading

1 Year Reading Plan : 1 Chronicles 5-6 John 15:18-16:1-16

2 Year Reading Plan : Mark 14:22-31 Numbers 34

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it (Proverbs 22:6).

As we celebrate Children’s Day today in honour of all the children of the world, we must also take time out to consider this beautiful instruction in the scripture above. This is because God desires that the children also walk in his plans and purposes; and He is counting on us to bring them up accordingly.
However, there are times we find committed Christians whose children grow up as unbelievers. You might then want to ask “Why is this so and who is to blame?” Really, you can’t always blame such children because it’s the responsibility of parents to train up their kids in the way of the Lord, for that’s what the Word says. So when you see a child that’s not walking on the path of righteousness, chances are that child hasn’t been trained to choose and walk in that path of life.
If you’re a parent, you ought to have a vision for your children, especially while they’re still young. Don’t wait till they’re grown-up before you teach them what to do and how to live. Train them to do what’s right from their formative years, and when they grow up they’ll continue in that path.
We talk a lot about Solomon and his wisdom. But it was his father (David) who trained him to follow the right path in life. David was wise to guide his son the way he did. When you study the books of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, you’ll discover that Solomon hearkened to his father’s counsel. When God appeared to Solomon and asked what he wanted, he knew exactly what to ask for since he had been trained aright. His father David taught him to choose wisdom and esteem it above riches (Proverbs 4:1-5).
There are parents who say, “I try not to impose anything on my children. I let them make their decisions by themselves.” That’s not what the Bible teaches; the role of parents transcends just feeding, clothing and sheltering their children. Parents are to shield their children and wards from the vices that pervade today’s world, and guide them along the path that’s just and right.
Don’t forget that our choices in life are influenced by the information we have. Therefore, when children are not exposed to Holy Spirit – inspired information, they’ll pick up whatever information they find in the world and make choices based on them. Don’t allow your child grow up in foolishness; train him with the Word of God and as he grows up, he’ll not depart from it. Take conscious steps today toward making advancements in this area also. God bless you!
Happy Children’s Day!

It’s About What You Say · Monday, May 27th ·

Pastor Anita

Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof (Proverbs 18:21).


Having a great life and enjoying all the blessings God has reserved for you begins with how effective you are in using your tongue rightly. This is because the principle in the New Testament is, "What you say, is what you get" (Mark 11:23); it’s about the tongue. Many are in bondage, not because Satan overpowered them, but because of their negative confessions. Proverbs 6:2 says, "Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth."

Cultivate a wholesome tongue, for "A wholesome tongue is a tree of life..." (Proverbs 15:4). The word "wholesome" is translated from the Hebrew: ‘MARPE’— meaning healing, curative, medicine. Therefore, you should speak words of healing.

You can control your job, your finances, your home, and your body with your tongue. Your life doesn’t have to be a surprise, as you can chart your course in the direction of God’s perfect will. You can frame or create your desired future.

It doesn’t matter how much someone says he believes, it takes giving voice to your believing for faith to be activated. Romans 10:10 says, "For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." To enjoy the blessings of your salvation, you must use your mouth.

Salvation, amongst other blessings, means to be brought out of slavery into liberty, to be brought out of poverty into abundance, to be brought out of sickness into health, and to be delivered from sin into righteousness and the life of God. However, for these and the other blessings of salvation to become your vital experience, your confessions must be in sync with the revelation of God’s Word concerning you.

Prayer
Blessed Father, I thank you for your wisdom in my heart and in my mouth today! Thank you for the power and impact of your Word in my life, as I speak it forth and chart my course in the direction of my destiny in you, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Further study:
Mark 11:23;For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.

Romans10:8-10
But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach):that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Daily Scripture Reading

1 Year Reading Plan : John 13:1-30, 2 Kings 20-22

2 Year Reading Plan : Mark 13:12-23 Numbers 30

USING YOUR MOUTH

Jesus gave us the power of attorney to use His name in this world, for all authority in heaven and in earth is His (Mt 28:18, Phil 2:9-10).
We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak (2Corinthians 4:13).

Proclaiming what you already believe in your heart strengthens your spirit and causes the Word to be active in your life. Our confessions of faith change and transform us, causing us to experience the realities of the Gospel in our lives. Therefore, always boldly proclaim the Word in Faith.

Believing what God says and confessing the same will change your life. This is because there’s power in the Word, which gives it the ability to change hopeless situations and cause circumstances to conform to God’s plans and purpose when applied.

God created the world by His spoken word. He said “let there be…” (Genesis 1:3, 6, 14), and there was! In other words, whatever He spoke came into being. Hebrews 13:5-6 says, “for he hath said, …So that we may boldly say…” He taught us to boldly make our faith proclamations. Jesus taught us the same when He said in Mark 11:23 ‘you shall have whatever you say’

So we learn from Scripture that God talks faith, therefore we ought to be that way for “as He is, so are we in this world” (1 John 4:17). When you speak God’s Word in faith, the Spirit of God causes it to come to pass. So today, proclaim the Word boldly in faith concerning any challenging situation you may be facing. Remember, what you say is what you get, so speak the Word boldly and create the realities you want to see in your life.