Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Dare to Dream

I want to wish you a happy new year. This New Year is a time to unfold new horizons and realize new dreams. It’s a time to rediscover the strength and faith within you, to rejoice in simple pleasures and also gear up for new challenges.

I want to encourage you to Dare to Dream this new year or hold on to your dreams. It really takes courage to dream. This is because any time you dare to dream, there could be a lot of risks and challenges involved. Sometimes we start thinking like What if it never comes true? What if no one supports me? What if people laugh and make fun of me? What if I fail?

Even after dreaming it takes extra effort to hold on to your dreams. Especially when no one believes in your dream or gives you any form of support or encouragement. I want to encourage you not to give up on that dream because you will never fulfill a dream that you let go of.

Also be careful who you share your dreams with. Share your dreams with people that would encourage you and would want to add value to your dream. Not with people that won’t believe or would discourage you from your dream.

What is the dream that God has put in your heart? What is that thing that captures your heart and spirit? What is that thing that consumes your thinking and fuels your passion. What’s that vision from God that’s captured your heart and won’t just go away. Are you still holding on to it or have let it go? Incase you have let it go, then this is the time to reclaim your dream.

Sometimes it might seem there is nothing extra-ordinary about your dream. A dream doesn’t have to be spectacular like changing the world or becoming a CEO or even becoming President or a governor. But do you know that God may give you a dream in pieces? As you trust, believe in HIM and take small steps in Faith, he enlarges your dream when you have developed the capacity to actualize them.

Take out time to read God’s Word and encourage yourself in the Lord as David did. Stand on the promises of God and continually express Faith and Hope in your words and actions concerning your dreams. If God has put the dream in your heart then ensure you spend time with HIM because HE would sure provide a way to actualize or accomplish the dream.

There would be challenges along the way. Don’t forget the story of Joseph in the Bible. But also have it at the back of your mind that all things are working together for your good. So don’t be discouraged and don’t let go of the dream. God is able to do exceedingly abundantly more than we can ask or think.

I am believing God for you that 2009 would sure by your best year ever. It’s time to Dream Big. Take time to write down your Dreams as God lays it in your heart. God is about to make that which seems impossible now and make it our hope for today and the reality of your tomorrow.
Happy New Year once again. Take care and stay blessed.
Regards,
Tosin

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Merry Christmas

May this Christmas end the present year
on a cheerful note and make way
for a fresh and bright new year.
Here’s wishing you a
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Thanks so much for being a part of this blog.

God bless you

Wish you a Merry Christmas and may this festival bring abundant joy and happiness in your life!

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Ten thoughts to live by

1. Thou shalt not worry, for worry is the most unproductive of all human activities

2. Thou shalt not be fearful, for most of the things we fear never come to pass

3. Thou shalt not cross bridges before you get to them, for no one yet has succeeded in accomplishing this.

4. Thou shalt face each problem as it comes. You can handle only one at a time anyway.

5. Thou shalt not take problems to bed with you for they make very poor bedfellows.

6. Thou shalt not borrow other people’s problems. They can take better care of them than you can

7. Thou shalt not try to relive yesterday for good or ill it is gone. Concentrate on what is happening in your life today.

8. Thou shalt count thy blessings, never overlooking the small ones, for a lot of small blessings add up to a big one.

9. Thou shalt be a good listener, for only when you listen do you hear ideas different from your own. It is very hard to learn something new when you are talking.

10. Thou shalt not become bogged down by frustration, for 90 percent of it is rooted in self-pity, and it will only interfere with positive action.

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Give Thanks

Let us face it, if you are reading this message there are literally millions of people who would trade places with you. No matter what you are going through this people envy you and would be grateful to enjoy what you are enjoying.

1st Thessalonians 518 says, “In all things give thank, that is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

If ever we have doubts about God’s will in any situation, we can always give thanks. Since thanksgiving is the will of God in any situation. But why should we thank God especially when everything seems to be going wrong?

We should give thanks because things have not always been this bad. Secondly, things could have been worse. Thirdly, it is inevitable that things will change for the better by the grace of God.

Be grateful for what you have and stop wishing for what you don’t have. So how can you overcome ingratitude? You can only do that by changing your mindset and beliefs. You have to start appreciating God and thanking him for where you are right now. But as long as believe you are getting less than you deserve, you will never become a thankful person. Be Grateful.

Thanksgiving has a multiplying power. Can you remember how Jesus fed 5000 people with 5 loaves and two fishes? Jesus did something quite amazing. He did not cast out any devil or bind any evil spirit. All he did was to take the little available looked up to heaven and gave thanks.

Thankfulness is like an attitude and an important key to success. It is an attitude we all need to learn to acquire - particularly when we feel we are in difficult circumstances.

Take care and stay blessed

Friday, November 28, 2008

Prayer of Thanksgiving

God of all blessings,
source of all life,
giver of all grace:

We thank you for the gift of life:
for the breath
that sustains life,
for the food of this earth
that nurtures life,
for the love of family and friends
without which there would be no life.

We thank you for the mystery of creation:
for the beauty
that the eye can see,
for the joy
that the ear may hear,
for the unknown
that we cannot behold filling the universe with wonder,
for the expanse of space
that draws us beyond the definitions of our selves.

We thank you for setting us in communities:
for families
who nurture our becoming,
for friends
who love us by choice,
for companions at work,
who share our burdens and daily tasks,
for strangers
who welcome us into their midst,
for people from other lands
who call us to grow in understanding,
for children
who lighten our moments with delight,
for the unborn,
who offer us hope for the future.

We thank you for this day:
for life
and one more day to love,
for opportunity
and one more day to work for justice and peace,
for neighbors
and one more person to love
and by whom be loved,
for your grace
and one more experience of your presence,
for your promise:
to be with us,
to be our God,
and to give salvation.

For these, and all blessings,
we give you thanks, eternal, loving God,
through Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.

- Vienna Cobb Anderson

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Strength and Courage

It takes strength to be firm,
It takes courage to be gentle.

It takes strength to conquer,
It takes courage to surrender.

It takes strength to be certain,
It takes courage to have doubt.

It takes strength to fit in,
It takes courage to stand out.

It takes strength to feel a friend’s pain,
It takes courage to feel your own pain.

It takes strength to endure abuse,
It takes courage to stop it.

It takes strength to stand alone,
It takes courage to lean on another.

It takes strength to love,
It takes courage to be loved.

It takes strength to survive,
It takes courage to live.

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Inspiration on the “7 Principles of an Eagle”

1.Eagles fly alone at a high altitude and not with sparrows or mix with other smaller birds. Birds of a feather flock together. No other bird goes to the height of the eagle. Eagles fly with eagles. Never in a flock. Even when Moses (Old Testament Bible) went to commune with God on the mountain‚ he left the crowd at the foothills. Stay away from sparrows and ravens. Eagles fly with eagles.

2.Eagles have strong vision‚ which focuses up to 5 kilometres from the air. When an eagle sites prey - even a rodent from this distance‚ he narrows his focus on it and sets out to get it. No matter the obstacle‚ the eagle will not move his focus from the prey until he grabs it. Have a vision and remain focused no matter what the obstacle and you will succeed.

3.Eagles do not eat dead things. He feeds on fresh prey. Vultures eat dead animals but not eagles. Steer clear of outdated and old information. Do your research well always.

4.The Eagle is the only bird that loves the storm. When clouds gather‚ the eagles get excited. The eagle uses the wings of the storm to rise and is pushed up higher. Once it finds the wing of the storm‚ the eagle stops flapping and uses the pressure of the raging storm to soar the clouds and glide. This gives the eagle an opportunity to rest its wings. In the meantime all the other birds hide in the leaves and branches of the trees. We can use the storms of our lives (obstacles‚ trouble‚ etc) to rise to greater heights. Achievers relish challenges and use them profitably.

5.The Eagle tests before it trusts. When a female eagle meets a male and they want to mate‚ she flies down to earth with the male pursing her and she picks a twig. She flies back into the air with the male pursuing her.

.Once she has reached a height high enough for her‚ she lets the twig fall to the ground and watches it as it falls. The male chases after the twig. The faster it falls‚ the faster he chases until he reaches it and has to catch it before it falls to the ground‚ then bring it back to the female eagle. The female eagle grabs the twig and flies to a much higher altitude pursued by the male until she perceives it high enough‚ and then drops the twig for the male to chase. This goes on for hours‚ with the height increasing until the female eagle is assured that the male eagle has mastered the art of picking the twig which shows commitment‚ then and only then‚ will she allow him to mate with her! Whether in private life or in business‚ one should test commitment of people intended for partnership.

6.Eagles prepare for training. When about to lay eggs‚ the female and male eagle identify a place very high on a cliff where no predators can reach; the male flies to earth and picks thorns and lays them on the crevice of the cliff‚ then flies to earth again to collect twigs which he lays in the intended nest. He flies back to earth picks thorns and lays them on top of the twigs. He flies back to earth and picks soft grass to cover the thorns‚ and then flies back to pick rugs to put on the grass. When this first layering is complete the male eagle runs back to earth and picks more thorns‚ lays them on the nest; runs back to get grass and rugs and lays them on top of the thorns‚ then plucks his feathers to complete the nest. The thorns on the outside of the nest protect it from possible intruders. Both male and female eagles participate in raising the eagle family. She lays the eggs and protects them; he builds the nest and hunts. During the time of training the young ones to fly‚ the mother eagle throws the eaglets out of the nest and because they are scared‚ they jump into the nest again.

Next‚ she throws them out and then takes off the soft layers of the nest‚ leaving the thorns bare. When the scared eaglets jump into the nest again‚ they are pricked by thorns. Shrieking and bleeding they jump out again this time wondering why the mother and father who love them so much are torturing them. Next‚ mother eagle pushes them off the cliff into the air.

As they shriek in fear‚ father eagle flies out and picks them up on his back before they fall‚ and brings them back to the cliff. This goes on for sometime until they start flapping their wings. They get excited at this newfound knowledge that they can fly and not fall at such a fast rate.

The father and mother eagle supports them with their wings.

The preparation of the nest teaches us to prepare for changes;

The preparation for the family teaches us that active participation of both partners’ leads to success;

The being pricked by the thorns tells us that sometimes being too comfortable where we are may result into our not experiencing life‚ not progressing and not learning at all. The thorns of life come to teach us that we need to grow‚ get out of the nest and love on. We may not know it but the seemingly comfortable and safe haven may have thorns;

The people who love us do not let us languish in sloth but push us hard to grow and prosper. Even in their seemingly bad actions they have good intentions for us.

7.When the Eagle grows old‚ his feathers become weak and cannot take him as fast as he should. When he feels weak and about to die‚ he retires to a place far away in the rocks. While there‚ he plucks out every feather on his body until he is completely bare. He stays in this hiding place until he has grown new feathers‚ then he can come out. We occasionally need to shed off old habits & items that burden us without adding to our lives …Author: Dr. Myles Monroe

Sunday, November 9, 2008

Men in Heaven

Men in Heaven - Who is the Head of the Household?

At the end of the age when all the believers were standing in line waiting to get into heaven,
God appeared and said, "I want all the men to form two lines.
One line will be for the men who were the true heads of their households.
The other will be for the men who were dominated by their wives."

God continued, "I want all the women to report to St. Peter."

The women left and the men formed two lines.
The line of men who were dominated by their wives was seemingly unending.
The line of men who were the true head of their household had one man in it.

God said to the first line, "You men ought to be ashamed or yourselves.
I appointed you to be the heads of your households and you were disobedient and have not fulfilled your purpose.
Of all of you, there is only one man who obeyed me. Learn from him."

Then God turned to the lone man and asked, "How did you come to be in this line?"

The man replied, "My wife told me to stand here."

Have a great week.

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Smart thinking...

An old man lived alone in Minnesota . He wanted to spade his potato garden, but it was very hard work. His only son, who would have helped him, was in prison. The old man wrote a letter to his son and mentioned his situation:

Dear Son,

I am feeling pretty bad because it looks like I won't be able to plant my potato garden this year. I hate to miss doing the garden, because your mother always loved planting time. I'm just getting too old to be digging up a garden plot. If you were here, all my troubles would be over. I know you would dig the plot for me, if you weren't in prison.
Love, Dad

Shortly, the old man received this telegram:
'For Heaven's sake, Dad, don't dig up the garden!! That's where I buried the GUNS!!'

At 4 a.m. the next morning, a dozen FBI agents and local police officers showed up and dug up the entire garden without finding any guns. Confused, the old man wrote another note to his son telling him what happened, and asked him what to do next.

His son's reply was: 'Go ahead and plant your potatoes, Dad.. It's the best I could do for you from here.'

Moral:
NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE IN THE WORLD, IF YOU HAVE DECIDED TO DO SOMETHING DEEP FROM YOUR HEART YOU CAN DO IT. IT IS THE THOUGHT THAT MATTERS NOT WHERE YOU ARE AND WHAT THE CONSTRAINTS ARE.

Sunday, November 2, 2008

Entrepreneur's Creed

Entrepreneur's Creed

I do not choose to be a common person.

It is my right to be uncommon -- if I can.

I seek opportunity -- not security.

I do not wish to be a kept citizen,
humbled and dulled by having the state look after me.

I want to take the calculated risk,
to dream and to build, to fail and to succeed.

I refuse to barter incentive for a dole;
I prefer the challenges of life to the guaranteed existence:
the thrill of fulfillment to the stale calm of Utopia.

I will not trade my freedom for beneficence
nor my dignity for a handout.

I will never cower before any earthly master
nor bend to any threat.

It is my heritage to stand erect, proud and
unafraid: to think and act for myself,
to enjoy the benefit of my creations
and to face the world boldly and say:
this, with God's help I have done.

All this is what it means to be an entrepreneur.

Spirit of Free Enterprise
The Big Black Book

Saturday, November 1, 2008

YOUR LIFE PURPOSE...

Living your Life Purpose is key. Everything else comes out of that. Your dreams and goals, your vision, your values, the mission of your business, are all anchored in your Life Purpose. When you're faced with a challenge, your Purpose will guide you through. When opportunities present themselves, you'll choose the best avenue to pursue based on its fit with your Life Purpose. It is, as they say, what gets you out of bed in the morning. It's what you will use to measure your progress. It's the track you run on, and the place to go back to when you get off track.

-FOGG.

Monday, October 20, 2008

Begin Each Day With Prayer

I woke up early one morning and rushed right into the day. I had so much
to accomplish I forgot to pray.

Problems tumbled about me and heavier came each task. Why doesn’t
God help, I wondered? He said, “You didn’t ask.”

I wanted to see joy and gladness. But the day toiled grey and black. Why
doesn’t God help I asked. He said, “But you didn’t seek.”

I wanted to come into God’s presence, I tried all my keys in the lock. God
gently and lovingly chided, “My child, you didn’t knock.”

I woke up early this morning, and I paused before entering the day. I had
so much to accomplish, I had to take time to pray.

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Chinese Bamboo tree

The process goes like this: You take a little seed, plant it, water it, and fertilize it for a whole year, and nothing happens. The second year you water it and fertilize it, and nothing happens. The third year you water it and fertilize it, and nothing happens. How discouraging this becomes! The fifth year you continue to water and fertilize the seed and then---take note. Sometime during the fifth year, the Chinese bamboo tree sprouts and grows NINETY FEET IN SIX WEEKS!

Life is much akin to the growing process of the Chinese bamboo tree. It is often discouraging. We seemingly do things right, and nothing happens. But for those who do things right and are not discouraged and are persistent things will happen. Finally we begin to receive the rewards." You can literarily stand and watch it grow.

So, keep watering that faith-seed with your words and action. In a little while you will stand and literarily see it's manifestation

Monday, September 29, 2008

A Blessing In Disguise

The only survivor of a shipwreck washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly to be rescured, and every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming. Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements and to store his few possessions.

Then one day, after scavenging for food, he arrives home only to find his little hut in flames, with the smoke rolling up to the sky. The worst had happened; everything was lost. He was stung with grief and anger.

"God, how could You do this to me!" he cried and complained.

Early the next day, however, he was awakened by the sound of a ship's horn that was approaching the island. It had come to rescue him. "How did you know I was here?" asked the weary man of his rescuers.

"We saw your smoke signal," they replied.

God's blessings often come in disguises. They may show up as uncomfortable or dangerous and painful situations. Only later, sometimes decades later, is the true purpose of a situation revealed. Son keep trusting God even when you may not understand His purposes.

Thursday, September 25, 2008

My Comfort Zone

I used to have a comfort zone where I knew I wouldn't fail
The same four walls and busywork were really more like jail.
I longed so much to do the things I'd never done before,
But stayed inside my comfort zone and paced the same old floor.

I said it didn't matter that I wasn't doing much.
I said I didn't care for things like commission checks and such.
I claimed to be so busy with the things inside the zone,
But deep inside I longed for something special of my own.

I couldn't let me life go by just watching others win.
I held my breath; I stepped outside and let the change begin,
I took a step and with new strength I'd never felt before,
I kissed my comfort zone goodbye and closed and locked the door.

If you are in a comfort zone, afraid to venture out,
Remember that all winners were at one time filled with doubt.
A step or two and words of praise and encouragement can make your dreams come true.
Reach for your future with a smile; success is there for you!

Our comfort zones can be our greatest enemy to our potential.
– David Cottrell

Sunday, September 21, 2008

GIVE OR TRADE ??

Most people have a hard time giving because they have misunderstood the results of previous attempts. They remember being disappointed and victimized . They don't trust giving because they think they have given before and have been burned. But they have not.

What they have called giving was actually a form of trading. Trading is not giving. Trading is an act that focuses on what the return will be. True giving does not focus on the return. It focuses on the giving. The giver gives without conditions, and then moves mental energy to the next person to give to, and never looks back.

Accomplished givers become filled with self-respect. Often they are formerly takers who have reinvented themselves. They are not giving in order to get happiness in return. The happiness is already there. It lives inside the act of giving.

-STEVE CHANDLER.

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Be

If you can't be a pine on the top of the hill,
Be a scrub in the valley - but be.
The best little scrub by the side of the hill;
Be a brush, if you can't be a tree.

If you can't be a brush, be a bit of the grass,
And some highway happier make;
If you can't be a mistake, then just be a bass -
But be the liveliest bass in the lake!

We can't all be captains, we've got to be crew,
There's something for all of us here.
There's big work to do and there's lesser to do,
And the task we must do is the near.

If you can't be a highway, then just be a trail,
If you can't be the sun, be a star;
It isn't by size that you win or you fail -
Be the best of whatever you are!

-DOUGLAS MALLOCH.

Thursday, September 4, 2008

The House of 1000 Mirrors....

Long ago in a small, far away village, there was a place known as the House of 1000 Mirrors. A small, happy little dog learned of this place and decided to visit. When he arrived, he bounced happily up the stairs to the doorway of the house. He looked through the doorway with his ears lifted high and his tail wagging as fast as it could. To his great surprise, he found himself staring at 1000 other happy little dogs with their tails wagging just as fast as his. He smiled a great smile, and was answered with 1000 great smiles just as warm and friendly. As he left the house, he thought to himself, "This is a wonderful place. I will come back and visit it often."

In this same village, another little dog, who was not quite as happy as the first one, decided to visit the house. He slowly climbed the stairs and hung his head low as he looked into the door. When he saw the 1000 unfriendly looking dogs staring back at him, he growled at them and was horrified to see 1000 little dogs growling back at him. As he left, he thought to himself, "That is a horrible place, and I will never go back there again."

All the faces in the world are mirrors. What kind of reflections do you see in the faces of the people you meet?

-Japanese Folktale.

Success: A new Perspective.

Success is defined in different ways. Some see it in money, power, fame.
But it's also the concept of "reaching down", of being able to help your fellowman. Material things you can buy and sell, but things like hope and courage and faith and knowledge are gifts you give your fellowman to pull him up. Whatever you give out to others will come back. It may take a while, but it will come back.

-Richard Chavez.

Ownership

To own something means to declare that it belongs to you. To claim it. To make it a part of what you value and will defend. It can be a marriage, a friendship, a skill, a venture, a success, a mistake. We can own our values by declaring them. We can own our lives instead of pretending they belong to fate.

-FRED KNIPE

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Prayer for the New Month

Dear God:

Thou All-Provider, Thou Who art my Inexhaustible Supply, my Sufficiency in all things:

I hereby covenant with Thee to devote my life and everything Thou givest me in Thy Service; to work henceforth only for Thee, letting Thee guide and direct me in all things.

In return I ask only for Wisdom and Understanding that I may know Thy Will and Thy Meaning when Thou speakest, and for Strength never to doubt Thy unfailing Supply and Support.

HAPPY NEW MONTH

Friday, August 29, 2008

A Life Worth Saving

A man risked his life by swimming through the treacherous riptide to save a youngster being swept out to sea.

After the child recovered from the harrowing experience, he said to the man, "Thank you for saving my life.

The man looked into the little boy's eyes and said, "That's okay, kid. Just make sure your life was worth saving."

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Priest In The Ocean

There was a priest who was drowning in the ocean. He called out to God for help.

All of a sudden, a canoe came and the guy said "Father, let me help you".

The priest replied "No, no my son. The Lord will save me."

The canoe leaves and the father calls out to God again. All of a sudden, a yacht showed up. The captain said "Father, let me help you". The priest again replied "No my son, the Lord will save me". The yacht leaves and the father is calling out to God again. All of a sudden, a big cruise ship showed up. The captain said with a megaphone "Father,let us help you". The priest again replied "No my son, the Lord will save me."

The priest drowns and he's in heaven face to face with God. He said "My Lord. I called out to you but you didn't help me. Why?"

God replied: "I did help you. I sent you three ships".

God will not come to our needs directly but send angels to be there for us.

Remain Blessed

7 laws of prosperity

Thou shalt keep the covenant you have made with the Lord, your God.

Thou shalt not forget your covenant during bad times:
Disobedience will result in a loss of prosperity

Thou shalt always seek God,
study the Word to develop strength and wisdom.

Thou shalt not be envious of those who are prosperous.

Thou shalt be fair and honest, with God and with man:
fair (generous) with money, honest in word and deed.

Thou shalt believe God, and have faith:
God wants you to prosper, so you can help others to prosper.

Thou shalt never forget the source of prosperity:
the power to prosper is a gift from God.

Monday, August 11, 2008

You Are Unique

Enjoy that uniqueness. You do not have to pretend in order to seem more like someone else. You weren't meant to be like someone else. You do not have to lie to conceal the parts of you that are not like what you see in anyone else.

You were meant to be different. Nowhere ever in all of history will the same things be going on in anyone's mind, soul and spirit as are going on in yours right now.

If you did not exist, there would be a hole in creation, a gap in history, something missing from the plan for humankind. Treasure your uniqueness. It is a gift given only to you. Enjoy it and share it!

No one can reach out to others in the same way that you can. No one can speak your words. No one can convey your meanings. No one can comfort with your kind of comfort. No one can bring your kind of understanding to another person.

No one can be cheerful and lighthearted and joyous in your way. No one can smile your smile. No one else can bring the whole unique impact of you to another human being.

Share your uniqueness. Let it be free to flow out among your family and friends and people you meet in the rush and clutter of living wherever you are. That gift of yourself was given you to enjoy and share. Give yourself away!

See it! Receive it! Let it tickle you! Let it form you and nudge you and inspire you!

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Message in the bottle.

A man was strolling along the beach one day when he spotted a bottle washed up on the shore. He went over and picked it up, and noticed a message in the bottle. He popped the cork out and inside was a weathered treasure map indicating that there was buried treasure to be found in the shallow waters below. But the man thought it was a hoax, so he slipped the map back in and threw the bottle back into the ocean...

A little later, another man was walking along the beach and the bottle had washed upon the shore. He too picked up the bottle, popped out the cork, and found the treasure map.

This man, however, was curious enough to wade into the water and hoped it was buried shallow enough to find. But once the cold ocean waters reached up to his thighs, he decided to quit. "This is not worth it!" he thought to himself. So he scrambled back to shore and chucked the bottle back into the ocean....

A third man was walking by the beach and noticed the bottle washed upon the shore. He went over, opened the bottle and found the map. The map looked authentic enough, and promised great treasure... So he got himself a small raft and set out into the ocean to claim the treasure..he rowed out far enough into the ocean where the "X" on the map was and to his surprise, he saw the glint of something shining in the waters below..he dove into the ocean and swam towards the shining object below..

he could see that there was something that looked like a treasure chest, but he couldn't quite reach it and the deeper he went, the greater the cold and pressure on his body and his mind..," I am about to lose my breath, and the longer i take, my raft might be swept away!", he thought. So the man decided to give up the hunt so he would ensure his own life and safety..when he reached the shore once more, he took the bottle from the raft and tossed it back into the ocean...

Finally, one more man was walking along the beach. He noticed the bottle, went over, popped it open, and was excited to find a map promising great treasure. He noticed someone had left a raft by the water's edge, so he took it and paddled out. He too, got far enough to where the "X" marks the spot, and squinted into the waters and saw the shadow and glint of the treasure below.

He took a deep breath and plunged into the waters. Like the man before him, the cold, darkness and pressure upon his senses increased as he got closer. He also realized that if he kept swimming, that he might lose his breath, the raft, and even his own life! But this treasure could be worth all the risk and he persisted. Just as he was about to give up, he grabbed the long chain that was binding the chest and pulled it up along with himself back to the surface.

He broke the surface of the water gasping and exhausted but with the treasure chest safely in his grasp. He paddled back to the shore, opened up the treasure chest and found what the map had promised--gold, and precious diamonds and jewels that would make him secure for the rest of his life.

A relationship with God is a similar treasure hunt. People hear the same message, but the way they receive it will determine the reward they might find. Eternal life is waiting for all those who are willing to take that risk to follow God all the way of life, where we find love, forgiveness and life everlasting. ... for eternity.

Thursday, July 31, 2008

A picture is worth a thousand words




A picture is worth a thousand words

Yes, I do Love God.

He is my source of existence and Savior.

He keeps me functioning each and everyday.

Without Him, I will be nothing.

Without Him, I am nothing but with Him I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me. Phil 4:13

I am sure you would be blessed just by viewing this pictures.

Cheers!!!

Thursday, July 24, 2008

Wrong Plan

A pretty woman was serving a life sentence in a prison and resentful about her situation, she had decided that she would rather die than to live another year in prison.

Over the years she had become good friends with one of the prison caretakers. His job, among others, was to bury those prisoners who died in a graveyard just outside the prison walls. When a prisoner dies, the caretaker rings a bell, which would be heard by everyone. The caretaker then gets the body and puts it in a casket, enters his office to fill out the death certificate before returning to the casket to nail the lid shut.
Finally, he puts the casket on a wagon to take it to the graveyard and bury it.



Knowing this routine, the woman devised an escape plan and shared it with the caretaker. The next time the bell rings, the woman would leave her cell and sneak into the dark room where the coffins were kept. She would slip into the coffin with the dead body while the caretaker would be filling out the death certificate. When the care- taker returns, he would nail the lid shut and take the coffin outside the prison with the woman in the coffin along with the dead body. He would then bury the coffin. The woman knew there would be enough air for her to breathe until later in the evening when the caretaker would return to the graveyard under the cover of darkness, dig up the coffin, open it, and set her free.


The caretaker was reluctant to go along with this plan, but since he and the woman had become good friends over the years, he agreed to do it.
The woman waited several weeks before someone in the prison died.
She was asleep in her cell when she heard the death bell rang. She got up, picked the lock of her cell, and slowly walked down the hallway.
She was nearly caught a couple of times. Her heart was beating fast. She opened the door to the darkened room where the coffins were kept.
Quietly in the dark, she found the coffin that contained the dead body, carefully climbed into the coffin and pulled the lid shut to wait for the caretaker to come and nail the lid shut.


Soon she heard footsteps and the pounding of the hammer and nails. Though she was very uncomfortable in the coffin with the dead body, she knew that with each nail, she was one step closer to freedom. The coffin was lifted onto the wagon and taken outside to the graveyard. She could feel the coffin being lowered into the ground. She didn't make a sound as the coffin hit the bottom of the grave with a thud. Finally she heard the dirt dropping onto the top of the wooden coffin, and she knew that it was only a matter of time until she would be free at last.


After several minutes of absolute silence, she began to laugh. I'M FREE; I'M FREE, FREE AT LAST!!! Or so she thought!!! Feeling curious a while later, she decided to light a match to find out the identity of the dead prisoner beside her. To her horror, she discovered that she was lying next to the dead caretaker!!!


Moral Lesson:
Many people believe they have life all figured out, plans all mapped out... but sometimes it just doesn't turn out the way they planned! In essence, it is safer, surer, and most fulfilling to ALWAYS put ALL THINGS into God's hands because He will always come through for you.

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

GRATITUDE is POWER




PEACE OF MIND
If you were to ask your neighbor,
"What would give you peace of mind?" he might tell you,
"A vacation in Bermuda !" or
"An extra hundred grand would give me peace!", or
"A new Ferrari would make me content!"

But going places - and getting stuff - is usually a temporary solution ...
Peace of mind rarely comes from getting more stuff.
Getting more stuff usually leads to wanting even more stuff!
Peace of mind starts with being grateful for what we have right now.

GRATITUDE is POWER
When we are thankful for what we have - for the friends we have, and for the things we've got, we attract more good people and good things!
People who always complain about what they DON'T HAVE, stay stuck. Complainers attract more things to complain about!
It is a law of life. It's hard to explain, but you can observe it around you. We get more of what we dwell upon.

That's why all the spiritual masters have taught the same lesson ...
"Start by being thankful. Be happy with what you have now, and more will come your way."

Every time you say a silent "thank you" you become more peaceful - and more powerful .

Friday, July 4, 2008

Earning without Saving

I would be sharing with you an article from one of my mentors. He is Pastor Sam Adeyemi.

He would be sharing with us the importance of having a good savings habit and culture

Earning without Saving

Few years ago, I attended a seminar and someone spoke for ten minutes on the virtue of saving a fraction of our income. He read from Proverbs 21 verse 20 in the Bible that verse says, ‘there is much treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise but the foolish man squanders everything.’ So the teacher said that day; ‘if you spend everything according to the Bible you are a fool.’ I was shocked because I didn’t have a savings account. I had absolutely nothing in savings. I spent all that came to me as it came. So, I began to argue in my mind that the reason why I did not have any money in savings was because the money was not enough in the first place. And as if the teacher heard my thoughts; he said, some of you here are saying that it is because the money is not enough that is why you are not saving. He said the fact that you are not saving is prove that your wisdom pipe is blocked. And I made a decision that day. I send for forms for a savings account in the bank, I opened a savings account and it began a revolution in my finances.

As the money in my savings account went up, dear reader, my income also began to climb up. If you cannot save money, the seeds of greatness are not in you. When you learn to save, it helps you to develop discipline and to develop your character. It also helps you to take care of emergencies and it helps you to take advantage of opportunities. There are no people without opportunities we only have people who are not prepared for their opportunities. Make a habit of saving today; 5%, 10%, 20% of your income. Get ready for a miracle.

As you change the management of your finances today, I declare that new door of blessing open around your life. And like a living magnet you will attract people, opportunities and money like you have never attracted before.


Mistake Number Four: Saving without Investing

It’s not how much money you make but what you do with the money you make that really count. It’s not enough for you to save money because if your money is not growing and making more money for you, you are loosing money. Rich people do not work for money they make their money to work for them. You must develop the ability to multiply money, to let your money work for you and for you to gain some interest and to gain some profit on your money.

I encourage today dear reader that you assume a retirement age and what your expenses will be at that age. If you are 20 year old, assume for example that you will retire at the age of 60 that’s the age at which you don’t have to work another day of your life. But all your needs will be met and all your bills will be paid. Now, you must use compound interest to your advantage, you must find out how much you can save and invest every month for 40 years that will accumulate and become an amount of money that will yield an interest enough to pay your bills.

As you save money invest some in fixed deposit, invest some in shares, invest some in real estate or landed property. Buy land where it is cheap today, some portions of land that are being sold for N5 million today were worth N20,000 twenty years ago. So, dear reader, our cities will keep on growing and one business that hardly ever fails is real estate. Buy land, build houses and plan to sell them much later and more importantly invest your money in business. Either businesses established by others or businesses that you established yourself. It’s probably the fastest way for you to multiply your money.

Let your money work for you, invest your money today. Investment is the key to achievement and you are free from the curse of poverty forever. I declare today, as you cultivate the habit of saving from your income and investing part of the money, new doors of financial blessing will open to you. Every form of delay is cancelled; the curse of poverty is finished. Obstacles and barriers to your progress are removed. You will enjoy favour and God will fill your life with surprises.

God bless you.

The Army of the Lord

A friend was in front of me coming out of church one day, and the preacher was standing at the door
as he always is to shake hands. He grabbed my friend by the hand and pulled him aside.

The Pastor said to him, "You need to join the Army of the Lord!"


My friend replied, "I'm already in the Army of the Lord, Pastor."
Pastor questioned, "How come I don't "see you except at Christmas and Easter?"


He whispered back, "I'm in the secret service."

Cheers!

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

People come into your life for a reason

People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime. When you know which one it is, you will know what to do for that person. When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually.

They may seem like a godsend and they are. They are there for the reason you need them to be. Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away. Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled, their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.

Some people come into your life for a SEASON, because your turn has come to share, grow or learn. They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it, it is real. But only for a season.

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons, things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life. It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.

Thank you for being a part of my life, whether you were a reason, a season or a lifetime.

"God determines who walks into your life. It is up to you to decide who you let walk away, who you let stay, and who you refuse to let go."

Monday, June 30, 2008

Today is my Birthday



By the Special Grace of God I added another year today.

I am very grateful to God Almighty for the gift of Life, provision, protection and mercies known and unknown.

I am also very grateful to all of you loyal reader of my blog and forum. I appreciate all of you and may GOD bless you richly and grant you all your heart desires.

Thanks all once again and see you all at the top.

Cheers!!!!!

Friday, June 27, 2008

ISN’T IT STRANGE

Isn’t it strange how a 500 Naira bill seems like such a large amount when you donate it a church, but such a small when you go shopping?

Isn’t it strange how 2 hours seem so long when you’re at church, and how short they seem when you’re watching a good movie?

Isn’t it strange that you can’t find a word to say when you’re praying, but you have no trouble thinking what to talk about with friends?

Isn’t it strange how difficult and boring it is to read one chapter of the Bible, but how easy it is to read 100 pages of a popular novel, Newspaper or Magazine?

Isn’t it strange how everyone wants fronts row tickets to concerts or games, but they do whatever is possible to sit at the last row in church?

Isn’t it strange how we need to know about an event for church 2-3 weeks before the day so we can include it in our agenda, but we can adjust it for other event at last minute?

Isn’t it strange how difficult it is to learn a fact about God to share it with others, but how easy it is to learn and understand, extends and repeat gossip?

Isn’t it strange how we believe everything that magazines and newspaper say, but we question the words in the Bible?

Isn’t it strange how everyone wants a place in heaven, but they don’t want to believe, or say anything to get there?


THINK ABOUT THIS

Thursday, June 26, 2008

The Power of Our Words

The Power of Our Words
By Michelle Cox and John Perrodin
Authors, Simple Little Words


Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another. – Romans 12:10
Fifteen-year-old Vicky and eleven-year-old Michael Haynes were like most sisters and brothers. They drove each other nuts. Both knew exactly which buttons to push to irritate the other.
Vicky remembers, “We fought like cats and dogs—especially when our parents were gone. Michael was always getting into my stuff and invading my room. You know, just being a typical little brother.”
The two usually went their own way, but one sunny day, they decided to walk together to the K-Mart near their home.
They started down the dirt road, Michael stirring up clouds of dust as he kicked at the rocks along the way.
He was chattering away, and for once, Vicky really listened to him. She looked at his freckled face, the straight hair falling across his forehead, his eyes sparkling as he laughed. And it hit her. He really was a wonderful little brother. The way he expressed himself, his sense of humor, and his outgoing personality all held the promise of the remarkable young man he was becoming.
She stopped him. “Michael, I need to tell you something. You’re the best brother in the world, and I’m really blessed to have you as my little brother. I just wanted you to know that.”
She hugged him and then the two continued on their way, the words forgotten as they browsed through the displays at the store.
Two days later, Michael died in an accident.
And Vicky remembered those words she had said to her brother, grateful she had taken the opportunity to tell him that he was special to her—while there was still time.
Years later, she realized that on the country road that day, God had visited an insecure teenager who was about to face a loss that would shake her to the core, and he had prepared a way to carry her through—without regrets or guilt.
No, she hadn’t realized her and Michael’s days would be so short, those moments so fleeting, but for the last forty-five years, the fact that she said those words to her little brother has been a comfort to Vicky’s heart.

* * *
Why are we so stingy with our words when they have the power to touch a heart, to change a life, or to brighten someone’s day? – Michelle Cox
* * *


Dear Lord, Help my words to bless the lives of others. Remind me to say “I’m proud of you” to those who need to hear it, “I’m sorry” to those I’ve wronged, and “I love you” to those around me. I love you, Lord, and I thank you for your words that have touched my life, given me hope, and brought me comfort. Amen.

Thursday, June 19, 2008

The Value of Integrity





Can I share this story with you? It is an old Ghanaian fable.

“An aging king woke up one day to the realization that should he drop dead, there would be no male in the royal family to take his place. He was the last male in the royal family in a culture where only a male could succeed to the throne - and he was aging.

He decided that if he could not give birth to a male, he would adopt a son who then could take his place, but he insisted that such an adopted son must be extraordinary in every sense of the word. So he launched a competition in his kingdom, open to all boys, no matter what their background.

Ten boys made it to the every top. There was little to separate these boys in terms of intelligence and physical attributes and capabilities. The king said to them, "I have one
last test and whoever comes top will become my adopted son and heir to my throne."

Then he said, "This kingdom depends solely on agriculture. So the king must know how to cultivate plants. So here is a seed of corn for each of you. Take it home and plant and nurture it for three weeks. At the end of three weeks, we shall see who has done the best job of cultivating the seed. That person will be my heir-apparent. "

The boys took their seeds and hurried home. They each got a flower pot and planted the seed as soon as they got home. There was much excitement in the kingdom as the people waited with bated breath to see who was destined to be their next king.

In one home, the boy and his parents were almost heartbroken when after days of intense care, the seed failed to sprout. He did not know what had gone wrong with his. He had selected the soil carefully, he had applied the right quantity and type of fertilizer, he had been very dutiful in watering it at the right intervals, he had even prayed over it day and night and yet his seed had turned out to be unproductive.

Some of his friends advised him to go and buy a seed from the market and plant that. "After all," they said, "how can anyone tell one seed of corn from another?" But his parents who had always taught him the value of integrity reminded him that, if the king wanted them to plant any corn, he would have asked them to go for their own seed. "If you take anything different from what the king gave you, that would be dishonesty. Maybe we are not destined for the throne. If so, let it be but don't be found to have deceived the king," they told him.

The D-Day came, and the boys returned to the palace each of them proudly exhibiting a very fine corn seedling. It was obvious that the other nine boys had had great success with their seeds. The king began making his way down the line of eager boys and asked each of them "Is this came out of the seed I gave you?" And each boy responded, "Yes, your majesty." And the king would nod and move down the line. The king finally got to the last boy in the line-up. The boy was shaking with fear. He knew that the king was going to have him thrown into prison for wasting his seed.

"What did you do with the seed I gave you?" the king asked.

"I planted it and cared for it diligently, your majesty, but alas it failed to sprout." the boy said tearfully, as the crowd booed him.

But the king raised his hands and signaled for silence. Then he said, "My people behold your next king." The people were confused. "Why that one?" many asked. "How can he be the right choice?" The king took his place on his throne with the boy by his side and said, "I gave these boys boiled seeds. This test was not for cultivating corn. It was the test of character; a test of integrity. It was the ultimate test. If a king must have one quality, it must be that he should be above above dishonesty. Only this boy passed the test. A boiled seed cannot sprout."

The single most important quality you can ever develop that will enhance every part of your life is the value of integrity. Integrity is the core quality of a successful and happy life. Having integrity means being totally honest and truthful in every part of your life. By making the commitment to become a totally honest person, you will be doing more to ensure your success and happiness in life than anything else you can ever do.

Stay Blessed

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

The Ultimate Measure

The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. – Martin Luther King, Jr.

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Take Control




You can't control the length of your life, but you can control its width and depth.

You can't control the contour of your face, but you can control its expression.

You can't control the weather, but you can control the atmosphere of your mind.

Why worry about things you can't control when you can keep yourself
busy controlling the things that depend on you?

Take Control and have a great day!!!!

The Cow Story

YORUBA ECONOMICS
You have two cows
U kill them both And throw an owambe party!

IBO ECONOMICS
You have two cows
U make very good counterfeits of them
And sell for the price of the real cows!

HAUSA ECONOMICS
You have two cows
You rear them till they are four
Make sure ur kids rear cows too
And just maintain!

TRADITIONAL ECONOMICS
You have two cows.
You sell one and buy a bull.
Your herd multiplies and the economy grows.
You retire on the income.

INDIAN ECONOMICS
You have two cows.
You worship them.

PAKISTANIECONOMICS
You don't have any cows.
You claim that the Indian cows belong to you.
You ask the US for financial aid,
China for military aid,
British for Warplanes,
Italy for machines,
Germany for technology,
French for submarines,
Switzerland for loans,
Russia for drugs,
Japan f or equipment.
You buy the cows with all this
and claim exploitation by the world.

AMERICAN ECONOMICS
You have two cows.
You sell one and force the other to produce the milk of four cows.
You profess surprise when the cow drops dead.
You put the blame on some nation with cows
& naturally that nation will be a danger to mankind.
You wage a war to save the world and grab the cows.

FRENCH ECONOMICS
You have two cows.
You go on strike because you want three cows.

GERMAN ECONOMICS
You have two cows.
You reengineer them so that they live for 100 years,
eat once a month and milk themselves.

BRITISH ECONOMICS
You have two cows.
They are both mad cows.

ITALIAN ECONOMICS
You have two cows.
You don't know where they are.
You break for lunch.

SWISS ECONOMICS
You have 5000 cows, none of which belong to you.
You charge others for storing them.

JAPANESE ECONOMICS
You have two cows.
You redesign them
so that they are one-tenth the size of an ordinary cow
and produce twenty times the milk.
You then create cute cartoon cow images called Cowkimon
and market them worldwide.

RUSSIAN ECONOMICS
You have two cows.
You count them and learn you have five cows.
You count them again and learn you have 42 cows.
You count them again and learn you have 17 cows.
You give up counting and open another bottle of vodka.

CHINESE ECONOMICS
You have two cows.
You have 300 people milking them.
You claim full employment,
high bovine productivity
and arrest anyone reporting the actual numbers.


NIGERIAN ECONOMICS:

You have two cows
You eat one and claim it was stolen
Call in the Police to investigate
Police arrests everyone living within 100km
Torture them thoroughly
until someone admitted kidnapping the cow
The police instead collected one cow each from everybody arrested
You have your cow back
and the Police now owns a cattle farm.

Have a great day!!!!!!!!!!

Thursday, June 5, 2008

Good Morning




Don't say you're not important,

It simply isn't true,

The fact that you were born,

Is a proof, God has a plan for you.

The path may seem unclear right now,

But one day you will see,

That all that came before,

Was truly meant to be,

God wrote the book that is Life,

That's all you need to know.

Each day that you are living,

Was written long ago.

God only writes best sellers,

So be proud of who you are,

Your character is important,

In this book, you are the 'Star'

Have a Fabulous Day!

Friday, May 23, 2008

Fisherman

The American businessman was at the pier of a small coastal Mexican village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large yellow fin tuna.

The American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them. The Mexican replied "only a little while". The American then asked why didn't he stay out longer and catch more fish?

The Mexican said he had enough to support his family's immediate needs. The American then asked, "but what do you do with the rest of your time?" The Mexican fisherman said, "I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take siesta with my wife, stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine and play guitar with my amigos, I have a full and busy life, senor."

The American scoffed, "I am a Harvard MBA and could help you. You should spend more time fishing and with the proceeds buy a bigger boat with the proceeds from the bigger boat you could buy several boats, eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middleman you would sell directly to the processor, eventually opening your own cannery. You would control the product, processing and distribution. You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City, then LA and eventually NYC where you will run your expanding enterprise."

The Mexican fisherman asked, "But senor, how long will this all take?"
To which the American replied, "15-20 years."

"But what then, senor?" The American laughed and said that's the best part. When the time is right you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich, you would make millions.

"Millions, senor? Then what?"

The American said, "Then you would retire. Move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take siesta with your wife, stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar."

Have a lovely weekend!!

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

An Obstacle In Your Path

In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the king's wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it. Many loudly blamed the king for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the stone out of the way. Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables.

Upon approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded. After the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse laying in the road where the boulder had been.

The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the king indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway.

The peasant learned what many of us never understand.

Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve our condition.

Monday, April 21, 2008

Eleven Lesson's From Noah's Ark!

Just got this piece from a friend...

Everything I need to know, I learned from Noah's
Ark.

ONE: Don't miss the boat.

TWO: Remember that we are all in the same boat.

THREE: Plan ahead. It wasn't raining when Noah built
the Ark.

FOUR: Stay fit. When you're 60 years old, someone
may ask you to do something really big.

FIVE: Don't listen to critics; just get on with the job
that needs to be done.

SIX: Build your future on high ground.

SEVEN: For safety's sake, travel in pairs.

EIGHT: Speed isn't always an advantage. The snails
were on board with the cheetahs.

NINE: When you're stressed, float a while.

TEN: Remember, the Ark was built by amateurs; the
Titanic by professionals.

ELEVEN: No matter the storm, when you are with God,
there's always a rainbow waiting.

Stay Blessed

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Eagles And Storms



Did you know that an eagle knows when a storm is approaching long before it breaks? The eagle will fly to some high spot and wait for the winds to come. When the storm hits, it sets its wings so that the wind will pick it up and lift it above the storm. While the storm rages below, the eagle is soaring above it.


The eagle does not escape the storm. It simply uses the storm to lift it higher. It rises on the winds that bring the storm. When the storms of life come upon us - and all of us will experience them - we can rise above them by setting our minds and our belief toward God. The storms do not have to overcome us.


We can allow God's power to lift us above them. God enables us to ride the winds of the storm that bring sickness, tragedy, failure and disappointment in our lives. We can soar above the storm.


Remember, it is not the burdens of life that weigh us down, it is how we handle them.

Thursday, March 20, 2008

The Duck & the Devil

There was a little boy visiting his grandparents on their farm. He was given a slingshot to play with out in the woods. He practiced in the woods; but he could never hit the target. Getting a little discouraged, he headed back for dinner.

As he was walking back he saw Grandma's pet duck. Just out of impulse, he let the slingshot fly, hit the duck square in the head and killed it. He was shocked and grieved! In a panic, he hid the dead duck in the wood pile; only to see his sister watching! Sally had seen it all, but she said nothing.

After lunch the next day Grandma said, 'Sally, let's wash the dishes' But Sally said, 'Grandma, Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen.' Then she whispered to him, 'Remember the duck?' So Johnny did the dishes.

Later that day, Grandpa asked if the children wanted to go fishing and Grandma said, 'I'm sorry but I need Sally to help make supper.' Sally just smiled and said, 'Well that's all right because Johnny told me he wanted to help' She whispered again, 'Remember the duck?' So Sally went fishing and Johnny stayed to help.

After several day of Johnny doing both his chores and Sally's; he finally couldn't stand it any longer. He came to Grandma and confessed that he had killed the duck. Grandma knelt down, gave him a hug and said, 'Sweetheart, I know.

You see, I was standing at the window and I saw the whole thing, but because I love you, I forgave you. I was just wondering how long you would let Sally make a slave of you.' Thought for the day and every day thereafter?

Whatever is in your past, whatever you have done... And the devil keeps throwing it up in your face (lying, cheating, debt, fear, bad habits, hatred, anger, bitterness, etc.) ..whatever it is...You need to know that God was standing at the window and He saw the whole thing. He has seen your whole life.

He wants you to know that He loves you and that you are forgiven. He's just wondering how long you will let the devil make a slave of you.The great thing about God is that when you ask for forgiveness; He not only forgives you, but He forgets.

It is by God's grace and mercy that we are saved. Go ahead and make the difference in someone's life today.

Always remember: God is at the window! When Jesus died on the cross; he was thinking of you!

Enjoy the holiday.

Cheers!!

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Random Thoughts


Did you know that silent and listen are spelt in the same letters?


Well then, always think all you say but don’t always say all you think


Because your thoughts are yours only


But the words you speak can never be withdrawn from the minds of those who heard it,


It becomes theirs also.


Always remember that no one can ask you to repeat your thoughts


But people can always ask you to repeat your words.


So always think all you say and don’t always say what you think


Have a great day

Monday, March 17, 2008

5 Minutes Management Training

Lesson 1:

A man is getting into the shower just as his wife is finishing up her shower,when the doorbell rings.The wife quickly wraps herself in a towel and runs downstairs. Then she opens the door,there stands Bob,the next-door neighbour.

Before she says a word, Bob says,'I'll give you $800 to drop that towel.'After thinking for a moment,the woman drops her towel and stands naked in front of Bob,after a few seconds,Bob hands her $800 and leaves.

The woman wraps back up in the towel and goes back upstairs. When she gets to the bathroom, her husband asks,'Who was that?''It was Bob the next door neighbour,' she replies.'Great,'the husband says,'did he say anything about the $800 he owes me?

'Moral of the story:

If you share critical information pertaining to credit and risk with your shareholders in time,you may be in a position to prevent avoidable exposure.

Lesson 2:

A priest offered a Nun a lift.She got in and crossed her legs,forcing her gown to reveal a leg.The priest nearly had an accident.

After controlling the car,he stealthily slid his hand up her leg.The nun said, 'Father,remember Psalm 129?

'The priest removed his hand.But,changing gears,he let his hand slide up her leg again.The nun once again said,'Father,remember Psalm 129?

'The priest apologized 'Sorry sister but the flesh is weak.'Arriving at the convent,the nun sighed heavily and went on her way.On his arrival at the church,the priest rushed to look up Psalm 129.It said,'Go forth and seek,further up,you will find glory.

'Moral of the story:

If you are not well informed in your job,you might miss a great opportunity.

Lesson 3:

A sales rep,an administration clerk,and the manager are walking to lunch when they find an antique oil lamp.They rub it and a Genie comes out.

The Genie says,'I'll give each of you just one wish.''Me first! Me first!' says the admin clerk. 'I want to be in the Bahamas,driving a speedboat,without a care in the world.

' Puff! She's gone.'Me next! Me next!' says the sales rep.'I want to be in Hawaii,relaxing on the beach with my personal masseuse,an endless supply of Pina Coladas and the love of my life.

'Puff! He's gone.'OK, you're up,'the Genie says to the manager.

The manager says,'I want those two back in the office after lunch.'

Moral of the story:

Always let your boss have the first say.

Lesson 4

An eagle was sitting on a tree resting,doing nothing.A small rabbit saw the eagle and asked him,'Can I also sit like you and do nothing?

'The eagle answered:'Sure,why not.'So,the rabbit sat on the ground below the eagle and rested.

All of a sudden,a fox appeared,jumped on the rabbit and ate it.

Moral of the story:

To be sitting and doing nothing,you must be sitting very,very high up.

Lesson 5

A turkey was chatting with a bull.'I would love to be able to get to the top of that tree' sighed the turkey,'but I haven't got the energy.

''Well,why don't you nibble on some of my droppings?'replied the bull.They're packed with nutrients.

'The turkey pecked at a lump of dung,and found it actually gave him enough strength to reach the lowest branch of the tree.

The next day,after eating some more dung,he reached the second branch.Finally after a fourth night,the turkey was proudly perched at the top of the tree.

He was promptly spotted by a farmer,who shot him out of the tree.

Moral of the story:

Bull Sh*t might get you to the top,but it won't keep you there..

Lesson 6

A little bird was flying south for the winter.It was so cold the bird froze and fell to the ground into a large field.While he was lying there,a cow came by and dropped some dung on him.

As the frozen bird lay there in the pile of cow dung,he began to realize how warm he was.

The dung was actually thawing him out!He lay there all warm and happy,and soon began to sing for joy.

A passing cat heard the bird singing and came to investigate.Following the sound,the cat discovered the bird under the pile of cow dung,and promptly dug him out and ate him.

Morals of the story:

(1) Not everyone who sh*ts on you is your enemy.
(2) Not everyone who gets you out of sh*t is your friend.
(3) And when you're in deep sh*t,it's best to keep your mouth shut!
(4) Not everyone loves to see you happy.

THUS ENDS THE FIVE MINUTE MANAGEMENT COURSE

Have a great day

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Think the right thoughts-1

“For as he thinks in his heart, so is he” - Proverbs 23:7



Did you know that your life will always go in the direction of your most prominent thoughts? In order to follow God’s plan, you have to think God’s thoughts for your life, which will encourage and build you up.



Right thoughts give you the strength to keep moving forward! God wants to increase you in every area of life, giving you more wisdom so you can make better decisions. He wants to bless you financially so you can be a blessing to others.



And He wants you to be happy so you can encourage others. But, you must do your part first by thinking the right thoughts.


Get into the habit of thinking the right thoughts.

Have a lovely weekend


Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Do You Want To Be Happy?


Then what are you waiting for?

Most people are waiting for something -- something "special" that will make their life great, so they can be happy.

Ask yourself: have others had this, and are they all happy? No, they're not, and it won't give you lasting happiness, either.

Happiness is not determined by external circumstances, but by internal circumstances.

Everyone chooses how happy they are by what they choose to think about.

Your attitude is determined by your perspective, which is determined by what you think about -- your focus. You choose your focus, so ultimately, you are the one who chooses whether to be happy, or not.

Perspective is what the Beatitudes (Matthew 5) are about.
Seeing a bigger picture than just this one small moment of time. (The Beatitudes are where Jesus explained how some are blessed, or happy -- even in difficult situations.)

(The word we translate as "happy" in the New Testament is usually translated as "blessed.")

You won't get happiness by chasing what the world has to offer. It has already been tried and found wanting.

And, you will never be happy as long as you are self-centered. A focus on self is guaranteed to prevent happiness.

Right after Jesus performed the menial task of washing his disciple's feet -- akin to cleaning toilets today -- He told them:

JOHN 13:15, 17
15 I did this as an example for you. So you should do as I have done for you.
17 If you know these things, you will be happy if you do them.

You will be happy if you help others. If you take your focus off yourself. That's what Jesus taught.
So you must choose to focus on God and be thankful and happy.
Stay Blessed.


Monday, March 10, 2008

Faithfulness Begins With Gratefulness

“His Lord said to him ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'”
Matthew 25 vs. 23 (NKJV)

Faithfulness requires you to first be grateful.
You cannot be faithful over something for which you are not grateful.

In marriage, you cannot be faithful to your spouse if you are not grateful that God has brought that person into your life.

Similarly, you cannot serve faithfully in your job or business if you are not grateful to have been given custody of it.
To be grateful for something requires you to appreciate its value.

The reason why the servants who were given custody of 10 and five talents respectively traded with what they had was that they recognised and appreciated the value of what their master had entrusted them with.

On the other hand, the third servant who had been given one talent chose to bury it and was called a lazy person by his master.

He was not grateful that his master had seen fit to entrust him with one talent and because he did not appreciate the talent, he lost all motivation to trade with it and that's where the laziness set in.

As you start out today, God has given you 24 golden nuggets called hours.

You must start out by first being grateful for this privilege because as long as you have life, there is always hope.

Do not let any challenge you currently face have the effect of causing you to fail to appreciate the value of this day.

Regardless how enormous the challenge you face might be, recognise that the graveyard nearest to you is filled with hundreds or even thousands of people who would gladly trade places with you even if it means taking on your challenge too.

You must also learn not to wait till you have had some enormous breakthrough first before you can be grateful.

Nothing you lack means anything if you have it but don't have the gift of life.

Before you can be faithful with this latest batch of 24 hours that God has blessed you with, first be grateful that you have them and that's the key to being faithful in your use of them.

For after all, if you are not faithful over this one day, why should God entrust you with many more?

Have a great day

Thursday, February 14, 2008

Ten Traits That Make You Filthy-Rich

Saving money isn't all about whether or not you know how to score screaming bargains.
It has more to do with your attitude toward money.Just think of those who don't fit the filthy-rich stereotype. People like Warren Buffett.

As explained in the book The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas J. Stanley and William D. Danko, personal finance has as much to do with people's traits as it does with money. Many millionaires, in fact, have frugal ways.

Understanding how personal traits can influence your finances is an essential ingredient for building wealth.

Here are 10 key traits:

1. Patience:

Patience is one of the most important traits when it comes to saving money.This means waiting until the first wave of product hype has passed, keeping a car for an extra few years before getting another one and waiting until something you want fits into your budget instead of putting it on credit.Patience is often the difference between creating savings and being in debt. Having the patience to wait until you find a good deal is a cornerstone of good finances.

2. Satisfaction:

When you're satisfied, there is no reason to spend money on nonessentials. The sole purpose of commercials is to make you believe that buying a product or service will make you happier, wealthier, better looking or improve whatever isn't bringing you satisfaction.People spend because they want to capture the excitement shown in advertisements. When you are satisfied with what you have and your life (not trying to live like those on TV), your finances will be in a lot better shape.

3. Organization:

Being organized can make you more productive and ensure that all the many issues pertaining to personal finances are addressed.It means not paying late fees, not buying two of everything, knowing deadlines that can affect your finances and getting more done in less time. All these can greatly benefit your finances.

4. Discipline:

You need the discipline to continue to save money for specific, long-term goals every month.Personal finance isn't a way to get rich quick, but is a disciplined execution of your lifetime plans.

5. Reflectiveness:

It's important to be able to look at your financial decisions and reflect on their results.You're going to make financial mistakes. Everyone does.The key is to learn from those mistakes so you don't make them again, or recognize if you keep repeating them.

6. Creativity:

The economy and our earnings don't always match our expectations.Unexpected developments wreak havoc to elaborate financial plans. When this happens, changes are needed to deal with the new circumstances. Creativity is essential to accomplish this.Creativity allows you to make something last longer rather than purchasing it when you don't have the money. It means juggling money to stay out of debt rather than simply paying with a credit card. It means finding a cheaper alternative when money is tight.In these ways, creativity plays a large role in keeping finances in order.

7. Curiosity:

Having curiosity helps you learn, study and improve yourself.The curiosity of wanting to know more, to take the time to study and then take what is learned and put into practice is an important process that is driven by curiosity.

8. Risk-Taking:

To build wealth, one needs to be willing to take risks. This doesn't mean uncalculated risks. It means weighing all the options and taking calculated risks when appropriate.The stock market has risks involved, but over the long term, history shows that it provides good returns on money that is invested wisely. Those who fear risk altogether end up saving money in accounts that likely lose money to inflation in the long run.

9. Goal-Oriented:

The importance of setting and working toward goals is obvious. If you don't know where you are going, it's difficult to get there. It helps your personal finances immensely if you have money goals and are motivated to reach the goals that you have set for yourself.Those who lack goals don't have a road map to take them to the financial destination they want.

10. Hard- and Smart-Working:

Creating wealth and staying out of debt rarely comes about without a lot of hard work.Many people might hope that the lottery will solve all their financial problems. The true path to financial freedom, however, is to work hard to earn money while educating yourself to continue to have more value and increase your salary.You may not possess all of the above traits. But knowing them can help you make changes so that you nourish the ones that you have and obtain the ones you're missing.Ultimately they will help you with your personal finances and create a plan to accumulate the wealth you desire.

Copyrighted, TheStreet.Com. All rights reserved.

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Answered Prayers

A voyaging ship was wrecked during a storm at sea and only two of the men on it were able to swim to a small, desert like island. The two survivors, not knowing what else to do, agreed that they had no other recourse but to pray to God. However, to find out whose prayer was more powerful, they agreed to divide the territory between them and stay on opposite sides of the island. The first thing they prayed for was food.

The next morning, the first man saw a fruit-bearing tree on his side of the land, and he was able to eat its fruit. The other man's parcel of land remained barren. After a week, the first man was lonely and he decided to pray for a wife. The next day, another ship was wrecked, and the only survivor was a woman who swam to his side of the land. On the other side of the island, there was nothing. Soon the first man prayed for a house, clothes, more food.

The next day, like magic, all of these were given to him. However, the second man still had nothing.

Finally, the first man prayed for a ship, so that he and his wife would leave the island. In the morning, he found a ship docked at his side of the island. The first man boarded the ship with his wife and decided to leave the second man on the island.

He considered the other man unworthy to receive God's blessings, since none of his prayers had been answered.

As the ship was about to leave, the first man heard a voice from heaven booming, "Why are you leaving your companion on the island?"

"My blessings are mine alone, since I was the one who prayed for them," the first man answered. "His prayers were all unanswered and so he does not deserve anything." "You are mistaken!" the voice rebuked him.

"He had only one prayer, which I answered. If not for that, you would not have received any of my blessings."

"Tell me," the first man asked the voice, "What did he pray for that I should owe him anything?" "He prayed that all your prayers be answered."

For all we know, our blessings are not the fruits of our prayers alone, but those of another praying for us.

Friday, February 8, 2008

Stopped By A Brick

About ten years ago, a young and very successful executive named Josh was traveling down a Chicago neighborhood street. He was going a bit too fast in his sleek, black, 12-cylinder Jaguar XKE, which was only two months old.

He was watching for kids darting out from between parked cars and slowed down when he thought he saw something. As his car passed, no child darted out, but a brick sailed out and -- WHUMP! -- it smashed into the Jag's shiny black side door! SCREECH...!!!! Brakes slammed! Gears ground into reverse, and tires madly spun the Jaguar back to the spot from where the brick had been thrown.

Josh jumped out of the car, grabbed the kid and pushed him up against a parked car. He shouted at the kid, "What was that all about and who are you? Just what the heck are you doing?!" Building up a head of steam, he went on. "That's my new Jag, that brick you threw is gonna cost you a lot of money.

Why did you throw it?" "Please, mister, please...I'm sorry! I didn't know what else to do!" pleaded the youngster. "I threw the brick because no one else would stop!" Tears were dripping down the boy's chin as he pointed around the parked car. "It's my brother, Mister," he said.

"He rolled off the curb and fell out of his wheelchair and I can't lift him up." Sobbing, the boy asked the executive, "Would you please help me get him back into his wheelchair? He's hurt and he's too heavy for me." Moved beyond words, the young executive tried desperately to swallow the rapidly swelling lump in his throat.

Straining, he lifted the young man back into the wheelchair and took out his handkerchief and wiped the scrapes and cuts, checking to see that everything was going to be OK. He then watched the younger brother push him down the sidewalk toward their home.

It was a long walk back to the sleek, black, shining, 12-cylinder Jaguar XKE - a long and slow walk. Josh never did fix the side door of his Jaguar.

He kept the dent to remind him not to go through life so fast that someone has to throw a brick at him to get his attention. ---- What a great story!

At times in our lives, we tend to become so wrapped up in other things. We become focused on ourselves or our job we do not realize there are others around us that need our help.

We can react in a negative way to a situation without fully realizing or taking the time to look at the other persons situation, or to take the time to find out the reason the other person has taken the action that they did.

Have a great weekend

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

I have Learned

I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it may be better tomorrow.

I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles a rainy day and lost luggage.

I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life.

I've learned that making a "living" is not the same thing as making a "life."

I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.

I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands. You need to be able to throw something back.

I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.

I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one.

I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love that human touch - holding hands, a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.

I've learned that I still have a lot to learn.

Thursday, January 31, 2008

The Hospital Window

Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs. His bed was next to the room's only window. The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back.

The men talked for hours on end. They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation. Every afternoon when the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window.

The man in the other bed began to live for those one-hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and color of the world outside. The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake. Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats.

Young lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every color and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance. As the man by the window described all this in exquisite detail, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine the picturesque scene. One warm afternoon the man by the window described a parade passing by. Although the other man couldn't hear the band - he could see it.

In his mind's eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words. Days and weeks passed. One morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths only to find the lifeless body of the man by the window, who had died peacefully in his sleep. She was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take the body away.

As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch, and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone. Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look at the real world outside. He strained to slowly turn to look out the window beside the bed.

It faced a blank wall. The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his deceased roommate who had described such wonderful things outside this window. The nurse responded that the man was blind and could not even see the wall.

She said, "Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you." Epilogue: There is tremendous happiness in making others happy, despite our own situations.

Shared grief is half the sorrow, but happiness when shared, is doubled.If you want to feel rich, just count all the things you have that money can't buy. Today is a gift, that's why it is called the present.

Have a lovely weekend

A Butterfly



A man found a cocoon for a butterfly. One day a small opening appeared, he sat and watched the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to force its body through the little hole. Then it seemed to stop making any progress. It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could and could go no farther.


Then the man decided to help the butterfly. He took a pair of scissors and snipped the remaining bit of the cocoon. The butterfly then emerged easily. Something was strange. The butterfly had a swollen body and shriveled wings. The man continued to watch the butterfly because he expected at any moment, the wings would enlarge and expand to be able to support the body, which would contract in time.


Neither happened. In fact, the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen body and deformed wings. It was never able to fly.


What the man in his kindness and haste did not understand, was that the restricting cocoon and the struggle required for the butterfly to get through the small opening of the cocoon are God`s way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into its wings so that it would be ready for flight once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon.


Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our life. If God allowed us to go through all our life without any obstacles, that would cripple us. We would not be as strong as what we could have been. Not only that, we could never fly.


Have a great day

Monday, January 28, 2008

What Goes Around

His name was Fleming, and he was a poor Scottish farmer.

One day, while trying to make a living for his family, he heard a cry for help coming from a nearby bog. He dropped his tools and ran to the bog. There, mired to his waist in black muck, was a terrified boy, screaming and struggling to free himself. Farmer Fleming saved the lad from what could have been a slow and terrifying death.

The next day, a fancy carriage pulled up to the Scotsman's sparse surroundings. An elegantly dressed nobleman stepped out and introduced himself as the father of the boy Farmer Fleming had saved.

"I want to repay you," said the nobleman. "You saved my son's life."

"No, I can't accept payment for what I did," the Scottish farmer replied, waving off the offer.

At that moment, the farmer's own son came to the door of the family hovel. "Is that your son?" the nobleman asked.

"Yes," the farmer replied proudly.

"I'll make you a deal. Let me provide him with the level of education my own son will enjoy. If the lad is anything like his father, he'll no doubt grow to be a man we both will be proud of."

And that he did.

Farmer Fleming's son attended the very best schools and in time, he graduated from St. Mary's Hospital Medical School in London, and went on to become known throughout the world as the noted Sir Alexander Fleming, the discoverer of Penicillin.

Years afterward, the same nobleman's son who was saved from the bog was stricken with pneumonia. What saved his life this time?

Penicillin.

The name of the nobleman? Lord Randolph Churchill.

His son's name? Sir Winston Churchill.

Someone once said:
"What goes around comes around."
Work like you don't need the money.
Love like you've never been hurt.
Dance like nobody's watching.
Sing like nobody's listening.
Live like it's Heaven on Earth.

Have a great day

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Life Is A Do-It-Yourself Project

An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer-of his plans to leave the house building business and live a more leisurely life with his wife enjoying his extended family. He would miss the paycheck, but he wanted to retire.

They could get by. The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter said yes, but his heart was not in his work. He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end his career.

When the carpenter finished his work and the builder came to inspect the house, the contractor handed the front-door key to the carpenter. "This is your house," he said, "my gift to you." What a shock! What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently. Now he had to live in the home he had built none too well.

So it is with us. If we build our lives in a distracted way, reacting rather than acting, willing to put up less than the best.

At important points we do not give the job our best effort. Then with a shock we look at the situation we have created and find that we are now living in the house we have built. If we had realized that we would have done it differently. Think of yourself as the carpenter.

Think about your house. Each day you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall. Build wisely. It is the only life you will ever build. Even if you live it for only one day more, that day deserves to be lived graciously and with dignity.

The plaque on the wall says, "Life is a do-it-yourself project." Your attitudes and the choices you make today will be your life tomorrow, build it wisely.