KILL THE PAST BEFORE IT KILLS YOU

 As i sat down at Pentecost Hospital yesterday, in Madina, Accra and patiently waiting for my lab results, my sharp ears caught the conversations of some patients who were also in the queue.

"Today, 20th February is exactly a year that that terrible incident happened", the young man commenced to narrate his story. "The day commenced with a nagging headache, disappointing business news and finally was the sudden demise of my mother in the same hospital that I am today. It was as if eternity and time have glued and stapled those ugly memories on my mind and never ready to erase them".

The emotionally stricken conversation of the young man pierced my ears and shot down my mind. This has crippled my thoughts, forcing me to abruptly end the motivational book i was reading. 

The young man could not let go the pains of the past though it’s not easy. His day was totally ruined because the hurting memories have completely overshadowed his mind and emotions and were far eating the better part of him.

In my sober reflections, i realized that you may pass through a breathtaking and a disheartening situation that may take a negative toll on your life. This ugly past life and events will normally register in your subconscious mind and will always resurface and raise its ugly head the following year on the exact date it first happened.

You may not have control over some situations but you can always have control over how it affects you. The young man was totally sad, looking moody and had his day disorganized.  

May be you are experiencing similar things in life! You can let go the excruciating pains in your heart that normally resurfaces again in that particular month of the year. It could be heartbreak, a breakup, sickness, disappointments, loss of partner or anything that might have hit you harder in life. You can overcome it by doing these:  

1.     Face the problem and never ran away from: Deal with it before it pushes you on the downside of life.

2.     Accept that you cannot change the past: No matter the days you worry or the amount of tears you shed, you cannot simply change the past so push those hurting memories from the present into the past.

3.     Forgive yourself and others: At times, some people find it very difficult to forgive themselves and others who might have badly wronged them. Unforgiveness, anger and bitterness are like drinking a deadly poison and expecting another person to die. Forgiveness precedes letting go. Please let it go and you will be healed and free.

4.     Release the pains: Let go off the pains. It is normal to cry and talk to people about your problems. A problem shared with the right person could probably bring a better solution. After the tears, wipe your face and smile for greater are the days ahead than the days gone. Have hope in Jesus Christ for He is the solid rock upon which we stand.

5.     Remove the past from destroying the beauty of the future: The fact that one lady or gentleman disappointed you does not mean all ladies and men are the same. There is a better relationship leading to marriage waiting you if you give yourself the chance to love and be loved again. There are better job opportunities awaiting you if you keep on trying. Never pin the hurts of the past into the future. You block your chances of a happier and a better life if you do this.

6.     Create a positive future for yourself: One of the best ways to heal yourself is to do something that would cover the pains, disgrace and the woes of the past. Never let what happen in the past destroy the beautiful life ahead. Sit down to make amends, take plans that will make life meaningful than the previous situation that created the mess.

7.     Connect yourself to God: Only God can truly heal your heart, comfort your soul and compensate you. James 5:13 says if there is anyone in trouble, then let him pray. Prayer is offered to God is offered to God but not friends. The faster you connect yourself to God, the better and faster the healing process.

Stay blessed as you make conscious efforts to let go the pain.  

GHANAIAN PASTOR CAMPED MEMBERS IN THE BUSH FOR 3 YEARS

Wolf in Sheep Clothing - Deception

In less than a month ago, a South African pastor convinced his church members to eat grass like animals while he walked over them for religious exercises believed to answer their prayers. Another disheartening incidence that happened in America recently was the White Tail Church’s pastor that entreated his church members to come before God naked and worship Him as they came to the world.

This news did not only drag the image of the clergy into disrepute but also made it unpopular and raised many disturbing questions about the office of the clergy. Today, another disturbing news trickling in was a Pastor near Oyibi in Accra, Ghana that has convinced his church members to reject their homes and live in the bush to await the second coming of Christ.

Unfortunately, the Pastor who believed that they came into the world without any property and would return same hard waited in the bush for 3 years and are still awaiting the return of Christ. Many people who were reportedly missing and feared dead were found in the bush with the pastor. Students and all children under school going age have all abruptly ended their education.

According to a news reporter of Adom fm in Accra, the conditions of the members were very terrible as they struggled to feed on mushrooms and the little resources available. The worst group of people to be pitied was the pregnant women among them who lived in the bush in camps amidst mosquito bites and without medical attention.

Remember, “For false Christ and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect—if that were possible”, Matthew 24:24. Watch out and do not be deceived! 

2 CAUSES OF ARGUMENTS IN RELATIONSHIPS AND MARRIAGE – Part 1

Relationships are very important and form the integral part of our lives. Man is created to live in a community coupled with different caliber of people from different religious backgrounds, values, expectations and education? 

Over a decade ago, the rate of divorce cases among wedded Christians is not only alarming but disheartening and scaring to the singles who want to marry. Research shows that 79% of divorce cases are as a result of lack of commitment. The second major cause is too much unnecessary arguments. Arguments normally result from differing views as to who, what and which are wrong and right. Arguments are unavoidable in a relationship but without proper moderation, argument can easily ruin and wipe out the relationship or marriage in a flashing moment.

Two critical elements normally fuel arguments in every relationship and marriage.

1  .      Values: These are the basic things you treasure and are very important to you. Ironically, what is important to you may not be important to your partner at all due to your background and training. Most often, no one wants to compromise his or her values for the others values to overrule. If there are some values you should hold dearly in marriage, then it should be the following: 

a.      Both accepting Jesus as Lord and Saviour

It is important to know who is Lord over your spouse. A different Lord and object of worship will surely breed arguments because your partner may not understand and accept your object of worship and some practices.

b.     Respect Each Other Without Reservation

Absence of mutual respect in every relationship is like wild fire triggering small but will consume on a whole. If you are able to respect your partner without any reservation, then you can live with, tolerate and be at peace with each other.

Disrespecting your partner because of weakness, background, race, colour, financial status and other teething problems is like a nagging tooth ache. You cannot chew well until it is pulled out.

c.       Managing Money

Who handles the cheque book? Why are you poking your nose into my personal affairs; how much I earn, spend on what and what? Your values will determine whether you will save money or spend anyhow.

d.     Raising Children

Several factors come to play in raising children in the family. Beliefs and practices, personal values and couples expectation normally shape the life and the nurturing of every child. While the mother wants to raise the children the way her mum did in addition to her personal values, daddy may want something different which may be in sharp contrast with the wife’s values.

It is important to respect your spouse’s value even if it doesn’t make sense to you. Never condemn and sharply criticize your spouse’s values without letting them know the other side of the value you are seeing that doesn’t augur well. If only we can make conscious efforts to understand and respect each other, then arguments will be minimal and geared towards productive activities. 

FLOATING SCHOOL IN NIGERIA NOMINATED FOR DESIGN AWARD

We have come to a stage in life where ideas and knowledge rule the world but not age. Great ideas through the power of technology can turn the impossible to become possible for generational blessings. 

This structure featured on BBC has just caught my attention and worth writing about. This is a school buoyed by recycled barrels, a structure in a fishing village next to Lagos, Nigeria has been nominated for a Design of the Year Award.

Makoko is a slum on the waterfront of Lagos, Nigeria; tens of thousands of people live in the fishing village on stilts. With support from the UN Development Fund, Nigerian architect Kunle Adeyemi has designed a school that floats on 256 recycled plastic barrels. It has just been nominated for the Designs of the Year 2014, which is overseen by London's Design Museum. 

The three-storey, A-frame structure accommodates 100 children who travel to and from the school by boat. When the class are out, the lower platform is used as a community space: fishermen sit and mend their nets or take naps in the shade. The school is a prototype for other structures in the community. In 2012, the government forcibly cleared part of the village because it was becoming dangerous. 

Do not let your ideas die! You must birth your ideas before you exit the world. One day, your ideas will be seen floating the world. Even if you are not selected for world award, the fulfilment of achieving your dreams alone is self rewarding. 

You can make it!

STANDING UNASHAMED BEFORE HIM

"If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in His glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God." Luke 9:26,27 NIV

A very pretty lady, Diana, once married an ugly man, Dave. She was unhappy about the looks of the husband and hence, felt shy to introduce him to her friends and business partners. Most of the times, she preferred to go out alone and have fun without the company of the husband. Her friends and people who knew them always asked her: "What actually attracted you to marry this man? Is it his money or his ugly looks that will scare people from coming near to harm you?"  

People always pass so many sarcastic comments of such nature about the two couples. This called for much worry for the husband who seemed to be rejected in public by his own wife. One day, the husband invited his wife to attend the End of Year Board of Directors meeting with him but she refused. All efforts to convince Diana proved futile so he left disappointed. 

Thirty minutes later, Diana was watching Tv and she heard the Tv presenter mentioning the husband's name as the one selected to be the Coordinating Officer for Africa in the multinational firm he worked. As they talked about the benefits he would receive and the special package for his wife and children, Diana sat down surprise and didn't know what to do. 

She finally decided to go and made sure the husband saw that she was present. All the new Directors who were awarded and promoted came on stage with their wives. 

And now when Dave was called to be presented the Board as the New Coordinating Officer for Africa, the wife was the first to stand up and clap, fixing her gaze on her husband to make sure he would beckon her to come and join him on stage but he didn't bulge to her frantic moves. 

"Where is your wife?" one of the Directors shouted. "Didn't i see her around?"

He smiled and said, "My wife doesn't follow me to attend programs like this. She is busily doing something at home. And if she is right here with me, then that  could be another surprise for me!" 

Diana was not proud of Dave as her husband. Dave deliberately refused to acknowledge her and give her the honour. The Bible said the son of man will do say if we feel shy of Him and His works. 

Today, you must stop feeling of telling someone about the love of God and the saving grace through Christ. Today, someone must appreciate another and treat them well. Today, you must show love and respect and receive same back. Do not sow dishonour into the hearts of people and at the same time be expecting them to accord you the necessary honour you deserve. 

10 PILLARS OF A HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP

If it’s going to work and better for both of you, then the onus lies on both of you to observe certain principles in life. A healthy relationship is not just a wishful relationship being lived in the abstract world but through conscious efforts.

One of the best ways to be happy and be loved is to make someone happy and feel loved and you in turn will receive abundance of such. Pillars are very important in the foundation stages of every building. The stronger the pillar, the stronger the building to withstand every storm and negative pressures against its existence.  

A healthy relationship must not be left to chance and be expecting the best to emanate like magic. If there is anything you can do to touch the softest part of someone, the try these 10 simple pillars each day.

1. LOVE

The Special Feeling That Makes You Feel, All Warm And Wonderful. 

2. RESPECT:

Treating Others As Well As You Would Like To Be Treated.

3. APPRECIATION:

To Be Grateful For All The Good Things Life Has To Offer.

4. HAPPINESS:

The Full Enjoyment of Each Moment, A Smiling Face.

5. FORGIVENESS:

The Ability To Let Things Be Without Anger.

6. SHARING:

The Joy Of Giving Without Thought Of Receiving.

7. HONESTY:

The Quality Of Always Telling The Truth.

8. INTEGRITY:

The Purity Of Doing What’s Right, No Matter What.

9. COMPASSION:

The Essence of Feeling Another’s Pain, While Easing Their Hurt.

10. TRUST and PEACE:

The Reward for Living the 10 Most Important Things."

If there is any additional thing you will do to make your relationship healthy, then go ahead and do them. The little things at times matter than the bigger ones. You should be glued to these list but scan through and find out more pillars that can make your relationship stand the test of time. 

YOU MUST CHANGE YOUR THINKING

One of the greatest gifts that God has given mankind is the mind. All the greatest and beautiful man-made things we see in the world first started as an idea conceived by just an individual. In fact, no one is created to be a nonentity. There is a divine purpose for creating everyone. 

More often than not, some people find themselves stuck to something that is not working. It could be a bad job, marriage, relationship or anything else. Man, you remain if you complain. Complaints do not produce good results; they rather aggravate the situation. You must stop complaining and start thinking to fetch good solutions to bring total transformation. 

To have a change of mind is not something automatic. One does not just change his or her mind until something triggers it. A change in thinking doesn't happen on its own. Good ideas to transform lives and generations don't go out looking for people. If you want good ideas, you must search for it by conscious efforts. To be a better thinker, you must work at becoming one and not just a mere wishful thinking.

One of the maladies of our generation is static thinking. It is not easy to change one's mind but man must not be static. Changed thinking is difficult. In fact, Albert Einstein once said, "Thinking is a hard work; that is why only few do it". Thinking is difficult and one needs discipline and conscious efforts to think. Most of the problems of today's generation were as a result of the lazy thinking our forefathers did. The disaster that awaits our children's generation is worst if we don't think of doing something for posterity. 

One of the greatest investments in the world is to change one's thinking pattern for exploits. We cannot solve today's problems with the same old ways of thinking. Napoleon Hills once said, "More gold has been mind from the thoughts of men than has ever been taken from the earth". 

My friends, the next big thing the world is waiting for is right in your mind as little ideas that you may not regard. The next gold mine is right in your mind. Changed thinking is worth the investment. Yes, it is worth it! Yes, you, you, you can do it if only you want to change your mind for the better. 

Finally, the Bible entreats us in Rom 12:2 to renew our minds. Treat this as an emergency if only you want your ideas to leave the abstract stage into realities and fulfillment. Remember, Prov. 23:7 says, "As a man thinks in his heart, so is he". Negative thinking has never produced any positive life. If only you can imagine it and put it to practice, then you can achieve it. Nothing is more self satisfying than your own act of creative thinking to put smiles on the faces of people. You must  change your thinking now!!!!

WARNING! CONTAGIOUS BLESSINGS

“Isaac planted crops in that same year and reaped a hundredfold, because the Lord has blessed him. The man became rich, and his wealth continued to grow until he became very wealthy”. Gen. 26:12-13

God promised Abraham and his descendants of a generational blessing. He promised to bless those who would bless him and curse those would curse him. Amazingly, the lives of friends, servants and even slaves under these blessed people became a blessing.

Anything that is contagious must be separated from public areas to prevent its transmission. But I tell you the truth, some people operate in the command blessings of God and they carry the power to transmit their blessings to the people around them. Abraham and Isaac singlehandedly fed thousands of servants, slaves and their animals. These people in turn also became a great blessing to their families.

Man, just a quick lesson here.

1  .    Walking with the blessed will definitely affect your life for you to be blessed and the opposite is true.

2  .    Poverty and blessings are like contagious diseases, they can be transmitted to other people.

3   .    If your master or leader is blessed, then you can be assured of being blessed.

4   .    The life of those ahead of you can be an indication of your future but I tell you the truth, your personal covenant with God will make the difference in succeeding.

Character, spirits, blessings and curses are contagious. By merely associating yourself with some people, you can indirectly share in your fortunes or misfortunes. Choose the people you walk with carefully because they can cause you to progress, stagnate or retrogress in life

A NEGATIVE MIND WILL NEVER PRODUCE A POSITIVE LIFE

A negative mind will never produce a positive life. 

A negative mind is like the trash can where all the trashes of life are kept. 

A negative mind never attracts real beauty in life. 

A negative mind will not attract great potentials in life. 

A negative mind produces negative results. 

The Bible implores us to be watchful of whatever we think OF which descends down into our heart. In Prov. 23:7, the Bible said as a man thinks in his heart, so is he. You are a product of your thoughts. The negative the thoughts, the worse life will be. 

In Rom. 12:2, the Bible admonishes us to renew our minds. We cannot reach the next level with the same old and negative ways of thinking. It is worst to wake up each morning with a negative mind. This will affect your day and block your senses to see the positive and potentials in everything around you. You have the power and the ability to think right. Let's avoid the negative mind.  

NIGHT PRAYER AND DECLARATION

I declare in the name of Jesus that you shall wake up with a new vision and direction for the year 2014. 

I declare in the name of Jesus that your mess for the day will turn into a message tomorrow. 

May God grant and spill over you just one original idea to impact and transform generations. 

By virtue of being a son of God, i pray that you will not miss your portion of the blessings of a son. 

I command the Angels of God to keep watch over 

And now, i thwart every sickness, accidents, misfortunes, death, disappointments, setbacks, failures, loses and every bitter experience that has been carefully calculated and fashioned against you  in Jesus' name. 

I declare that the Angels of God will keep watch over you in this year in peace and not in pieces. 

May every life headache be rolled away in the name of Jesus. 

May every reproach be rolled away in the name of Jesus. 

I declare that your disgrace in the year 2013 will turn into abundance grace in the year 2014. 

Every test will turn into a living testimony. 

May the Lord reveal Himself to you this day to have a personal encounter with Him. 

In Jesus name i pray, Amen!

FINDING TRUE LOVE AND HAPPINESS

Each day, many people work hard and harder until they are worn out at their own displeasure all because we are eagerly searching for happiness and true love in life, marriage, work, family and the list goes on. A lot more have done so many things even against their own wish and to their own displeasure in the name of finding happiness and fulfilment in life. 

Unfortunately, we do all these things but the situations aren’t getting better and frustration turns to stare us in the face. The question is how then do we become happy in life? How do we find happiness in our relationships, marriage and life?

One day, a group of 50 people attended a seminar about finding happiness in life. When the auditorium was full to its capacity, the speaker appeared on stage and could read the high expectation on the faces of the participants. He could see a lot of unhappy people who seemed worthy and achievers in life but there was a missing element of happiness in their life. 

Suddenly, the speaker stopped and decided to do a group activity. He started giving each one a balloon. Each one was asked to write his/her name on it using a marker pen. Then all the balloons were collected and put in another room.

Now these delegates were let in that room and asked to find the balloons which had their names written on them within 5 minutes. Everyone was frantically searching for their name, colliding with each other, pushing around others and there was utter chaos. At the end of 5 minutes no one could find their own balloon.

Now each one was asked to randomly collect a balloon and give it to the person whose name was written on it. Within minutes everyone had their own balloon.

“This is exactly what happens in our life”, the speaker began to talk. “You were all very eager and desperate to find your own balloon causing stampede and chaos to other people. The search for your own balloon or happiness rather causes discomfort to other people but when we seek the happiness of others, we in turn receive true love, happiness and all the good things that we desire”.

“It is not enough to fall in love. Much is required of you to ensure that you give true love even if the situation is not as you expected it. A man can only receive and reap what he has given and sowed respectively”, the speaker concluded shortly.

Today, there are a lot of people who are not happy and feel unloved all because they are always expecting their partners to show them the most sizzling and unconditional love when they are rather not sowing the seed of love and happiness.

Do not be deceived, a man can only reap what he has sown. Let’s give out love and receive love! Let’s make other people happy and receive happiness back in life. 

WAKE UP AND CHASE YOUR VISION

Every morning presents us with two opportunities and two choices to make. You either continue sleeping with your dreams and dream more dreams or you wake up and chase your dreams to achieve them. 

At times, we are very tired, feeling weak and sick when the dawn of a new day comes. We can feign to be sick and lie in bed all day, enjoy a sound sleep and relax but our dreams and visions will forever be a dream and a vision in our minds and heart and never reaching the reality stage. 

Many people report sick on Mondays and others feign sick. Why? Mondays bring some sought of seriousness and getting back to the same old, tedious and boring work environment or school is hell. 

We just need to encourage ourselves, wake up from bed and chase our dreams until they reach the realities we desire. How happy we become when our dreams or visions leave the abstract stage and reach the fulfilment stages in life. We have to do everything possible to wake up each day and start the new day with new energies fired into our system to work. Here are a few things to do to encourage you.

 1. Wake up with a positive mindset  

 2. Have a list of things to do

 3. Set goals for yourself for the day and don't attempt doing everything. They bring more stress

 4. Try to do the same old and boring staffs in a new and interesting way. 

 5. Be focused on the set target to achieve and this could assist you to overcome laziness and wake up. 

 Remember, even the richest men on earth are still working.

BELIEVE THE BEST IN PEOPLE

It is very easy for someone to believe in you when you succeed in life; but the one that believed in you first before you succeeded is greatest of all to have seen what others did not see from the beginning --- Arch Bishop Duncan Williams.

Many women have left their boyfriends and fiancés because they could not simply believe in their capabilities. This great doubt created uncertainties in their minds and heart about their security in the future. As a result, many of these women slip through the exit way and rush into the arms of other men they felt secured with. 

Many of the great men the world has ever produced were first rejected and despised by both men and women. They found their ideas very weird and strange to be achieved. These men were most of the times left alone trying and trying their ideas to work. Many women hate such type of genius men. Women want men who will always be around them, talk to them and make them smile and happy.

In fact, it is very easy to believe in someone and embrace their ideas when they have succeeded in life. On the other hand, people find difficult to see the greatness in you carry in your mind when you are a “nobody” today.

Let’s believe in the capabilities of people and encourage them. 

DRIVE FASTER

A teacher once organized a lesson for her toddler class. She decided to teach them the meaning of the colours of the traffic light. 

"Red means stop", she commenced to teach with full energy. 

"Yellow means get ready"

"Green means go, go, go and go" she concluded reciting the old poem. 

Soon after she finished and was about to ask her pupils to repeat after her, Lovia, one of her pupils shot up her hand. 

"Please Madam, I have a question", she said amidst doubts that could be read on her face. 

"Yes, ask your question", the teacher said. 

"Please, i think the yellow light means drive faster", she expressed her views as the teacher bust into laughter. 

"Why do you think so?" she asked the little girl. 

"Please Madam, I think so because any time daddy is driving and the yellow light shows up, he drives faster", she concluded with a feeling of convincing the teacher. 

"That is good, Lovia!" the teacher responded. "Daddy has the right to drive faster when the yellow light shows before he will be stopped by the red light. The yellow means you should be getting ready to stop. 

There are a few lessons to be learnt here. The amber or the yellow light should be a warning signal to prompt us of stoppages in life. At times, we need to drive faster knowing very well that the red lights of life will stop us from progressing, reaching our target and not achieving the set goals. 

The amber or the yellow light should fuel some energy into us to fight on and strive to scale over all the hurdles and match forward. 

Let's drive faster when all shows that life, business, work and good things are getting ready to stop. There is no stopping after crossing the traffic lights in light. Drive on to achieve your vision in this year. 

GREAT MINDS AT WORK

"Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people"…Eleanor Roosevelt 

All the wonders we see and hail in the world today emanate from the creative ideas of individuals who took actions to realize their dreams. There is nothing that cannot be done if we could first conceive it and thereafter take actions.

Ideas are very powerful. They are like viable seeds that need to be planted on good soil in order to germinate and bear fruits for all to enjoy. On the other hand, a great idea planted on bad soil may germinate with stunted growth and never bear fruits at all.

Whether great ideas develop from conscious efforts or by accidents, what matters is its fruition but not only the conception.

It is amazing to hear what people think about and discuss. I have always heard people spend endless hours on TV and radio discuss events, the flaws, the good and the bad and even to the point of the worst dressed personality at the event. These presenters call themselves professional presenters hosting the most sizzling shows. Are they “Professionally Average Minded People?”

Never sweat talking about events and people in this year. It is a waste of time. We don’t better our lives by talking about people and criticizing others. Talking about events is getting your mind and life glued to the past. Let’s get talking about great ideas that can transform our generation and thereafter take action.

The seed of greatness is in you! Yes, you! Most of the great inventors recorded in the annals of history did not have good formal education. What matters is being passionate about your dreams, your purpose on earth and staying focus despite all odds.