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Seven Road-Map Steps to Becoming the Best You

Sat, 12 Feb 2011 17:27:53 +0100

The graveyard is commonly referred to as the resting place of unfulfilled dreams. In today's competitive world, we do not have to join the rat race that leads nowhere in order fulfill our dreams.

Who says you cannot enjoy life to the fullest, fulfill your dreams, and be the best you can ever be? It may sound self-centered and selfish, but life as we know it is not a rehearsal but the final take. What that means is that you have to make plans to live your best life now. Below are a few steps you can take to help you becoming the best you ever.

ACKNOWLEDGE THE GIVER OF ALL GIFTS: All good and perfect gifts come from God. Whatever you have now or hope to receive in order to live a successful life can only come from one source - God. Most people want to receive all things but reject the giver. No one can receive a handshake of fellowship with a clenched fist. So also, will an attitude of ingratitude not benefit anyone who receives his gifts and talents without acknowledgment.
EXERCISE YOUR WILL: Human beings are the only species of God's creation who were created with the ability to exercise our will. God never forces His will on us; He leaves us to exercise our will freely in accordance with His divine purpose. When we surrender our will to God, it means that we acknowledge that His will and purpose are far more beneficial and desirable for us. Surrender, obedience, and waiting on God (S.O.W.) are three challenging areas of our relationship with God and with one another. Sometimes, exercising our will may simply mean taking a stand in what we strongly believe in - the things that constitute our values. In order to be successful in life, we must believe in something strong enough, so as to firmly stand by it.
STRETCH YOUR IMAGINATION: Your imagination is a strong asset. It is that part of your being that gives you access and partnership with the creative abilities of God. Imagination is your inner vision, which stretches you beyond the scope of the physical realm. When you develop your creative imagination through discipline, you can cut off vain and lustful imaginations that lead to destructive habits.
MAKE GOOD CHOICES: Life is all about choices. Making the right choices does not in any way rule out the possibility of making mistakes. All it means is that when your choices turn out to be mistakes, you take responsibility and try again. Some good choices are intuitive and are made by "gut feeling". Life is about risk-taking sometimes; it puts the fun and excitement in life when we sometimes act impulsively by jumping with eyes closed into the deep ocean.
TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR EMOTIONS: Emotions - we all have them and we can hardly be human without them. When our emotions begin to control us instead of us being in charge, we are in trouble. He who can control his emotions has conquered self and the road to victory is self-discipline.
MANAGE YOUR TIME EFFECTIVELY: One of the major differences between successful and unsuccessful people is the way they manage their time. Time, they say is money, but much more than that it, is the fact that time is a valuable asset. Setting goals, prioritizing our goals, and following them up with equal commitment and zeal, is what distinguishes the professionals from the amateurs.
WALK IN HUMILITY: We have all heard the saying – “pride goes before a fall.” When we see and acknowledge God for who He is, it is easy to see how much we are less than a speck of dust in comparison to His greatness. Being humble constrains us to walk in love with all men, for love conquers all.

Jesus: The Balm of Gilead

Fri, 28 Jan 2011 04:29:14 +0100

Inspiration from Bible references pointing to Jesus as the healer of all human ailments.

When the storms of life hit you

And all hope in this world has left you

That is when the love of Jesus will reach you

He will touch you, and make you whole again

The love of Jesus, the balm of Gilead

He will touch you

Dry the tears from your eyes

Give you a reason to go on

The love of Jesus will make you whole again

When the cares of life put you under

And all your burdens are heavy laden

That is when the love of Jesus comes swiftly

Lifting you up unto higher grounds

The love of Jesus, the balm of Gilead

He will touch you and make you whole again

Cry no more ye of precious faith

He who feeds the ravens and tends the sheep of his pastures

Healing is bread for his children

His love is medicine and the Balm of Gilead

Christina Green: The Seed of a New Democracy

Fri, 14 Jan 2011 20:56:20 +0100

As a keen observer of times and seasons, I believe that we may have just flipped a new page in history through the recent tragedy in Arizona. Nine-year old Christina Green, a victim of the recent Tucson shooting became the providential seed of a new democracy, by a new generation, for a new people. Her death is a symbolic transfer of the baton to fresh minds and ideals in the race towards the restoration of the glory of a nation in transition.

As the nation travailed in the pain of September 11
She was brought forth
Turning tears of tragedy into blissful joy
A new beginning, a new hope, a new awareness
Our tingling ears did ignore
Yet she turned our eyes away from selfish dreams
To selfless service, for a nation she loves so dearly
In her curiosity and innocence, she armed herself with love
With just enough understanding that her little mind could grasp
Making waves by aspirations and dreams to lead her peers
Each innocent move turned our pains to gains
Through the glassy eyes of pain, fear, and uncertainty
An aftermath of national tragedy
Little Christina knew that a broken people
Can stand together and heal together
Christina, Christina, Green are the pastures you now dwell
When in years soon, we flip our pages of history
The fruits of our pain now ripe for harvest
There you will be shining like a million stars
Your life, the seed of a new generation
And your tragic death its fruits
Your death, an accident though it may seem
Yet with hopeful assurance an incident of divine providence

Red Ribbons for 2011

Sun, 02 Jan 2011 00:09:17 +0100

The curtain draws for 2010 an unforgettable end to a decade of renaissance marked by a collage of inevitable events in history that will remain in our memories for a long time to come.

Like the unfolding of a mighty scroll
Of time so invincible and space so unlimited
2010 rolled by into the mystical calendar
Of a passing era, flying high like red ribbons in the sky
A decade of renaissance
Bringing to our remembrance
A magical collage of gruesome pictures of the inevitable
Intense shades of red, splashing across the canvas of the globe
The pain of hunger, famine and wars in Sudan
Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq
Ravaging devastation of tsunamis, earthquakes, oil spills and AIDS
The heart wrenching cries of mothers and helpless children
In the rubbles of fallen buildings in Haiti
For some, help came at the nick of time
For many, silenced and buried by the darkness of a sudden grave
Entertainment icons like Michael Jackson took a bow from the center stage

While the world watched America vote in the first black president
Then came the sound of hope from the dark mines in Chile
Men sentenced to death for want of nothing more than their daily bread
Yet saved by the world's lingering POWER of hope in one accord
Flying our red ribbons of good wishes into the waiting sky
Until at last, they came home safe and sound
Such are the irreparable past of the decade ending in 2010
And with grand expectation of Joy and celebration
We embrace an irresistible future of 2011

Twelve Helpful Natural Tips to Lower Blood Pressure

Thu, 09 Dec 2010 17:27:46 +0100

It is called the silent killer because of the way it literally creeps up on you without notice. Yet it comes with devastating consequences on overall health. High blood pressure originates from constricted blood vessels damaged by plaque build-up. Unfortunately, the side-effects of blood pressure pills have caused many to seek alternative measures to lower blood pressure. Below are twelve simple tips to improve all aspects of cardiovascular health.

There appear to be many unaddressed issues in the conventional treatment of high blood pressure. Hence, a wholistic approach has always proved to be longer lasting and more beneficial. The incident of increased blood pressure is usually a symptom in the midst of several other factors. Some of which include possible deficiencies, genetic considerations, stress, and poor diet and habits resulting in obesity. Below are simple tips and additions to diets and supplements that could make a whole lot of a difference.

· REDUCE SALT (SODIUM) INTAKE: This is usually the first point of advise from your doctor. Reduced salt consumption may simply mean cutting down on snacks and junk food, as these tend to have excess salt. Read those labels to check for sodium content of food packages before you purchase or consume them.

· EXERCISE: Do something to induce your sweat glands. A brisk thirty to forty minutes walk twice a week may have a surprising impact in lowering your blood pressure.

· WEIGHT MANAGEMENT: Losing a few pounds will do your body so much good and significantly improve circulation. This will in turn help with lowering your blood pressure.

· REDUCE SUGAR INTAKE: Constant blood sugar spikes would cause your body to retain sodium and water which is bad news for blood pressure.

· TAKE CO Enzyme Q10 (COQ10): This supports heart health and energy. COQ10 is particularly beneficial to help counteract the effects of satin drugs.

· NATTOKINASE: This may not be a familiar supplement for many, but it has been recently made popular as an addition to systemic enzyme preparations. Nattokinase is derived from Japanese soy and known to decrease blood thickness, improve circulation, and reduce oxidation.

· HERBAL TEAS: Fortunately, nature is quite generous in her gifts of herbs that help lower blood pressure, reduce heart palpitations, and calm the nerves. Some of such are Hawthorne berries, Mother-wort, German mistletoe, and Ginkgo Biloba, have toning effects on the cardiovascular system.

· POTASSIUM: Consume potassium-rich foods such as bananas, apples, and peaches. The increased potassium has beneficial effects in lowering blood pressure.

· MAGNESIUM: Most hypertension sufferers are deficient in magnesium. The heart is a muscle which can be negatively affected by low levels of magnesium. You can significantly reduce blood pressure by supplementing with magnesium.

· OMEGA 3 FISH OIL: This is yet another supplement that has excellent effects on lowering blood pressure and preventing severe hypertension cases.

· AGED GARLIC: Aged garlic reduces multiple risk factors for heart problems and high blood pressure reduction. It lowers homo-cysteine levels and cardiac atherosclerosis.

· L CARNITINE: This is known for its effects in turning blood fat into energy. Taken L Carnitine along with COQ10 has proved to be more beneficial for reducing blood pressure, belly fat, and increasing overall energy.

Love Never Says Never

Wed, 01 Dec 2010 05:37:59 +0100

Just as computers crash and accidents happen, when the bond of trust is broken, relationships fail. The misfortunes of love are no excuse to never love again. Love is the balm that heals every wound. Better to take a chance on love than live without it.

When love shoots you a fatal arrow
You want to believe it’s not true
For cupid cannot be that mean
Yet you feel so stupid to have let go
When you let your heart, love to steal in a haze
You are left in a daze, the blanks to fill
That may never add up, no matter how hard you try
Shut the door, your senses cry out
Keep it open, your broken heart responds
Remember, covered wounds never heal
And in due season, love will find a reason
To come knocking once again
When at last, true love you find
Take the lid off those wrong motions and emotions
And take the lead once again, to announce the news
That love is more powerful than death
That though a vow you took, on love to quit
But love in you sowed a good seed
This fills your every heart’s need
Its soothing balm is your heart’s greatest need
And true rest it will find at love’s embrace
Now in love’s nest, you can say once again
You never can tell when love would come knocking
For with love, you never say NEVER!

Five Reasons to Live a Life of Accountability

Mon, 29 Nov 2010 01:45:10 +0100

The principle of accountability is an ancient one, originated by God Himself. It basically means one has to answer to another. Who should answer to whom and why, is always a source of contention for many. The result of this contentious attitude is the lack of peace, joy, and contentment in our relationships with one another and with our creator. Below are five reasons why we must learn to escape the consequences and turmoil associated with living our lives as though we are accountable to no one.

· ACCOUNTABILITY TO GOD. Ultimately, everyone would have to answer to God someday; on the Day of Judgment. Whether we believe it or not, we are accountable to God for our days on Earth, for good or for bad. Living with a consciousness of this fact means that we must learn to be accountable here and now.

· RESPONSIBILITY. A life of accountability entails taking responsibility for our decisions and actions. Too many people are very comfortable with shifting the blame of their mistakes and misfortunes on other people or situations. This inadvertently leads to complacency and immaturity. There would be no global or personal development if nobody is accountable to another or to a cause.

· PROMOTION OF ETHICS AND DEVELOPMENT. A world without ethics would be the graveyard of professionalism and a workplace of chaos. This is why we have organizations that attempt to uphold at least some accountability, such as the Better Business Bureau (BBB). People have expectations which must be met when other people render any form of goods or services to them. Accountability in the workplace encourages creativity, encourages respect, and enhances cooperation amongst people of different backgrounds and talents, for the common cause of corporate development.

· PROMOTION OF HONEST AND HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS. We can be free from making cheap mistakes that may turn out to become stumbling blocks of discouragement, if we surround ourselves with people who are not afraid to tell us the truth about our character flaws. Flaws, which run contrary to sensible judgment. Friends who give us the privilege of escaping pitfalls in our life journeys, by sharing with us their experiences as a way of protecting us from making the same mistakes.

· BUILD STRONG CHARACTERS. Accountability sometimes means confronting our weaknesses with equal zeal as we would face our strengths. It may mean facing criticisms, from friends and associates, be they constructive or otherwise. By seeking out relationships in which we are answerable to one another, we become committed to honesty, open-mindedness and vulnerability. The saying “To thyself be true” explains this concept best. It takes strength and maturity to confront one’s own flaws. This would in essence build rock solid character traits that can face almost challenges in life.

Thanksgiving: Ten Things to be Thankful For

Tue, 23 Nov 2010 01:06:43 +0100

Thanksgiving season is the allocated time to indulge in excessive eating and drinking as a show of our gratitude for blessings received all year round. It should also be considered as a time of reflection during which we can focus our attention on specific blessings that we take for granted. Below are ten things we should be grateful for, not only over Thanksgiving, but all year round.

·        Life: Life is a gift from God. It is therefore a privilege to be counted amongst the living. The breath of life that sustains man can be withdrawn at anytime, so each new day is another opportunity to fulfill God’s purpose.

·        Living: Many are alive but not living. For example, one who is on life-support is far from living. Be thankful therefore for the grace of being well and active.

·        Relationships: We should be thankful for the people in our lives; family, friends, and anyone with whom we are connected in meaningful relationships. Indeed, we ought to be grateful for the love and support we share with each and every one of them. Life will be meaningless without the various levels of community ties and relationships that we tend to take for granted sometimes.

·        Provisions: The faithfulness of God provides us with all our needs. No matter the situation we find ourselves, His provision in diverse ways gives us the hope we need to carry on.

·        Wisdom and Intellect: You may never appreciate the true value of your mind and sanity until you lose it or experience this in the life of someone you love. Take the time to acknowledge that you are sane and be grateful for your ability to learn and understand.

·        Grace: If you simply conjure up in your mind, all the “could have been” scenarios in your life, be they positive or negative, you may begin to catch a glimpse of what undeserved blessings we receive and take for granted. You may not be all you desire to be, but whatever you are or have is by the grace and mercy of God alone. Whether your dreams come true now, tomorrow or never, hope tells you two things; anything is still possible as long as you are alive, and things could always be worse. So remember to give thanks for what you have and be hopeful for the things you desire.

·        Purpose: Every one of us was created in order to fulfill a particular purpose. When God made you, He had something in mind for you to accomplish. Whether you have accomplished it or not, be thankful that God loves you enough to count you worthy of fulfilling His purpose through you. People tend to want to choose lofty goals and great heights of achievement without first accepting their ordained paths of destiny.

·        Destiny: Your destiny is a chosen path by which you may accomplish God’s purpose. There may be many paths to greatness but only one path to destiny. Be grateful that you have a destiny and given the grace, you will align your will to God’s perfect will and design to fulfill your destiny.

·        Afflictions and Interruptions: Nothing happens by chance and all things are providently designed to push you into a divine order. So be grateful for your afflictions and what may seem like interruptions in your life; they are designed for you to acquire more strength and wisdom.

·       Disappointments and Chastisement: Be grateful for your past mistakes and God’s ability and willingness to correct you each time you drop the ball. Be appreciative of the fact that you are being corrected because you are loved. God’s love is manifested even in His judgment; for God will not redeem that which he has not judged. Redemption means that His love is there to rescue us from the consequences of our own mistakes. Hence, we should make Thanksgiving a daily affair.

Thanksgiving Poem

Fri, 19 Nov 2010 05:16:07 +0100

Thanks today and everyday we must give

For clear blue sky, fair weather, and unfair too

Hurricanes, tornadoes, floods and drought

We have survived just so we can testify

Thanks today we should give

For loved ones far and near

For those who fight for our freedom

And for them who wait for their return

For those who spare a smile even on the bad days

To cheer us up, when hope seems lost

For the love we share, and the times we enjoy

For good memories, and for the not so good

Thanks today we ought to give

For children that bring lost smiles to sad faces

How fast they have grown to remind us

Of what we used to be.

Thanks today, how can we ever forget

That today’s thanksgiving calls for tomorrow’s blessings

Thanks today for the breathtaking blessings and fragrance

Of fresh roses and the dry bouquet of Earth’s autumn colors

The reminding contrast of passing seasons

Thanks today for our table of bread, and the sweet aroma

Of Thanksgiving special delicacies

Turkey, ham and pumpkin pies

Tasty wines and cherry pies

For moms who prepare them with love

Just like Grandma would do

So we can sit round the dinner table once again

This thanksgiving Season.

Preparing for the Rapture of the Saints

Wed, 10 Nov 2010 18:37:59 +0100

The car just ahead of ours had a sticker that read “In case of the rapture, this car will be unmanned”. What a beautiful reminder that some saints are waiting in joyful hope for the return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. For many who have enjoyed and affirmed His faithfulness in the circumstances of their lives, it is a logical expectation to trust in His promise which assures us of His imminent return to take His bride home.

The word rapture is not exactly mentioned anywhere in the Bible. Nevertheless, a descriptive account is given by the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Thessalonians in a comforting reminder that Christ is returning in a cloud to take the saints home to heaven.

“For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, them also who sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord; that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the Archangel, and with the trump of God. And the dead in Christ shall rise first, then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. So shall we ever be with the Lord”. (I Thessalonians 4: 14-17)

When the hurricane seasons begin, people are advised to listen up for severe weather warnings, possible emergency evacuation notices, and instructions on items to include in an emergency kit. The Bible has provided us with similar advise. There is no need to stretch your imagination too far in order to grasp the probable chaos that will occur on the day of the rapture. On the streets, there will be unmanned cars whose drivers suddenly disappear. There will be panic stricken mothers whose strapped babies disappear from the back seats of their cars. Traffic lights technicians will vanish from their duty posts and airplanes will crash into the oceans because the pilots disappear. Thousands of people will be frantically looking for their loved ones amidst the almost unimaginable chaos. The then resident reporters at the news desks of CNN will keep the world abreast of the glorious appearance in the sky with the headline; “THE KING OF KINGS IS BACK”. Ironically, modern communication technology will make it possible just as the Bible predicted that “all eyes shall see Him”.

The interesting thing about this climax event is the fact that suddenly a sizable number of people who continued to seek and live out their personal freedom through the outright rebellion against God and civil authorities will be left to figure out a suitable self-made strategy to operate the world system by their own imaginations. Complainers, atheists, and control freaks, who if not in control, are unable to see the good in any system or people, will have the opportunity to govern themselves. What a dreadful way to find out that self acquired freedom is no freedom at all?

In order to best determine the make up or requirements of a rapture kit, it is expedient to examine the lives of all the men who historically had rapture-like experiences on Earth. The Bible points us to three men apart from Christ Himself, who experienced the rapture. It is critical to note that they all had one thing in common; a close walk with God. Christ was buried, but His grave remains empty today as evidence of His resurrection. He was taken up in the clouds in the presence of His disciples and will return in like manner. The other three with similar experiences; Enoch, Moses and Elijah are best described as men without graves!

“And Enoch walked with God and then he was no more; for God took him” (Genesis 5:24). Moses on the other hand was supposedly buried by God himself but no one to this day knows where. “So Moses, the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab according to the word of the Lord. And He buried him in a valley in the land of Moab over against Beth Peor, but no man knows of his sepulcher unto this day” (Deuteronomy 34:5-6). Elijah was taken up in the presence of his successor Elisha. “And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven” (2 Kings 2:11).

Walking with God is a love journey; for none can walk together except they both agree. The relationship and its honesty makes the difference. A relationship of constant communion fostering over time intimacy based on TRUST, OBEDIENCE AND SACRIFICE. One-on-one communication with God on a daily basis is how we strengthen our relationship with the lover of our souls. Prayer is the vehicle that takes us into this secret place of power which is His PRESENCE. Many are acquainted with His promises and how to get them to work in their lives, but getting into His PRESENCE which is the place of His POWER and staying there is what we need more than anything else.

So go on, pack up your Rapture Kit. Fill it up with your “robe of righteousness” which is now your “robe of love”. Remember, that’s what He gave you the day you accepted His offer to become His bride. He gave this to you as proof of His love and you must sustain it’s purity by love and compassion unto others. As you do, be sure you have kept it clean by the "washing of water with the word” (Ephesians 5:26). Be reminded also that you do not need any physical lamp. For the word which has been a light in your path is the same engrafted word transferred from the tablet of stone unto your heart. By that very robe He gave you, you have access into His presence where He puts His mouth to your ears to whisper the revelation of the appointed time. If you have your kit packed ready, be assured that you will hear the trumpet sound and indeed be ready for the sweetest ride ever. Maranatha!