The Elevation Church

Tag: ElevationNG

  • A Grateful Heart

    A Grateful Heart

    Somto hated Mathematics.

    He struggled with it in class almost every year. Despite my many attempts to help him improve his understanding of the basics, we just couldn’t make a headway. I would scream and be so impatient whenever I sat down to teach him; my wife and I even went ahead to get home tutors for him.

    Why did he struggle with a subject that I felt was piece of cake? Perhaps he was afraid to fail, or maybe my method of home teaching was outdated; maybe he had completely lost interest in math.

    This was my biggest dilemma as a parent in 2014; I just didn’t understand why I couldn’t help my son who was constantly failing this subject term after term. I began to feel a sense of helplessness and visible frustration so much so that Somto preferred to ask his mum for assistance with his math homework rather than come to me. As you may imagine, this made me feel even more helpless. Mr. Farouk (Somto’s class teacher in Primary 6) said to me, “Sir, don’t worry, we will discover the areas of weakness in his math and fix it”.

    I wondered, what could Mr. Farouk do in a few months, that I and other home tutors couldn’t achieve in 3 years?

    A few weeks ago, I decided to go back to my son’s school to show some gratitude to one of the usually forgotten givers in society. Mr. Farouk made good his promise a few years ago. Today, Somto is the math tutor at home, assisting his brothers in their math assignments; he is also performing very well in math in school. Slowly, methodically; but surely, Mr. Farouk helped Somto restore his confidence and love for numbers.  When I paid Mr. Farouk a visit in his classroom, his face lit with joy to know that Somto (whom he calls “my child”) is still doing very well. This simple act of gratitude required that I went back to Somto’s primary school and searched for Mr. Farouk.

    This reminds me of the story of the ten lepers who were healed of Leprosy. Jesus asked the one who returned to show gratitude, “where are the nine?”. I dare say that the other nine lepers who didn’t return were perhaps thankful for the miracle, but that’s where it all ended. Gratitude does not only requires feeling thankful but going ahead to act on it. The lesson from the story of the ten lepers is about returning with something in our mouths or hands. How about making up your mind to return to say or do something refreshing to demonstrate gratitude. Yes, I mean decide now before reading any further, I’ll wait…

    Welcome back and thank you for stopping for just a moment to be thoughtful. I can also feel the smile on your face because gratitude is infectious. There are some simple treasures of life, like cold water, bread and butter.  So simple, but yet so profound in their importance to our daily lives. Some will argue that the best things in life are free (e.g. water & clean oxygenated air). We can and need to be thankful for things as simple as these. Living a life of gratitude requires thoughtfulness and stock taking.

    Research has shown that gratitude has a soothing and sometimes healing effect on those with psychological challenges. Much of our time and energy is spent pursuing things we currently don’t have, and this is draining. Gratitude reverses our priorities to help us appreciate people more than the things we do. Gratitude unshackles us from toxic emotions; as cold water is to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country. Giving or receiving gratitude is as refreshing as a glass of cold water. Gratitude is a way for people to appreciate what they have instead of always reaching for something new in the hopes that it will make them happier.

    Here are some ways to cultivate gratitude on a regular basis:

    • Thank people. Think about someone who has done something nice for you, and mentally thank the individual. Verbalize your gratitude also in prayer.
    • Keep a gratitude journal. You can make it a habit to write down or share with a loved one, thoughts about the gifts you’ve received. What a way to count your blessings.
    • Share your gratitude. Social media platforms today help us to share our feelings of gratitude. Pick a time every month to sit down and write about your blessings. LinkedIn has some nice gratitude templates.
    • Write a thank-you note. You can nurture your relationship with another person by writing a thank-you note. Be specific about the incident or occasion you are being thankful for. Keep it short and simple. Writing shows that it was not just a passing thought. Occasionally, feel free to also write one to yourself. Stick-ons can come in handy here.

    The ethos of the story of the ten lepers in the Bible was not that they were a set of 9 ungrateful lepers, rather it was about the fact that the nine were not thoughtful enough to count their blessings. They were overtaken by the hustle and bustle of life and their unaccomplished dreams. They missed the opportunity for wholeness.

    Gratitude helps you put things in their proper perspective. When things don’t go your way, remember that every difficulty carries within it the seeds of an equal or greater benefit. In the face of adversity ask yourself: “What can I learn from this?”, and “How can I benefit from this?”. Instead of always wishing for good things to happen to us we can choose gratitude, generosity, and goodwill. This is the secret to wholeness and fulfilment.

    I hope this write-up will inspire you to create an attitude of gratitude.

     

    Written by Chidi Iwe

  • The Burning Bush

    The Burning Bush

    Only through focus can you do world-class things,

    no matter how capable you are.

    …Bill Gates…

     

    Today, many people have positioned themselves in a place that even if God tried to get their attention from all the distractions, His effort might not avail much. God longs for us to achieve our destinies and purpose on earth, but we seem to be too distracted to hear His voice and too busy to create time to send with Him.  These distractions can come from either external or internal forces and most of the time, we are ignorant of them.

    In a city like Lagos which is ranked as one of the most stressful cities in the world; expert reports reveal that factors like traffic, lack of infrastructure, pollution, mental health etc. can cause a high level of distraction for residents. However, we must remember the story of Moses and the burning bush experience. Many of us read the story like another bible story, but in there lies insightful knowledge about being receptive to God’s voice and allowing Him guide us towards fulfilling our purpose. Moses could have seen a burning bush and continued with what he was doing; there are 2 things that I’ll like to point out from this experience:

     

    • Look deeper, beyond the physical: sometimes we can be looking but not seeing. It takes a deeper sense of reasoning and a yearning desire to notice when God is seeking your attention. Exodus 3:2 tells us that “Moses saw that though the bush was on fire, it did not burn up”. Moses noticed that there was fire but the bush was not burning; and this gave made him curious to find out why.

     

    • Pay more attention to details: verse 3 of that chapter tells us that; “Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight–why the bush does not burn up”. When he paid more attention to the unusual situation, that’s when God spoke to him in verse 4 – “when the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, Moses, Moses!”. Sometimes, we are too distracted to even see that there is an unusual thing happening around us, we seldom pay attention to details and therefore, miss out on many opportunities where God wants to work in our favour.

     

    Frankly speaking, everyone has an excuse for being distracted but the question is – how justifiable are our excuses? We must realize that distractions are not the problem because there will always be a thousand things to distract you if you allow them; the problem is how we respond to the things that try to take our attention from God. Let me ask you these:

     

    • What does God have to do to get your attention?
    • Do you long for Him as much as He longs for you?
    • His desires for you are to walk & work with you to achieve your purpose; will you allow him get your attention?
    • What can separate you from the love of God?
    • Can you filter distractions from your life so you can see His signal?

     

    Just the way you tune the radio to the frequency of the radio stations; your mind, body and soul has to be fine-tuned to heaven’s frequency so that you’re immediately connected. Imagine using a mobile phone with Wi-Fi connectivity but you always buy mobile data without knowing that you have access to unlimited internet. The problem is, the internet was always there but you never turned on the phone’s Wi-Fi feature so you couldn’t connect. This is exactly how it feels when God is seeking your attention to help you chart your course and live a purpose-driven life; a life with fulfilled dreams and accomplished goals.

     

    Today, decide that you will not be distracted; you will look deeper and pay attention to the details God is showing you every day. Be more receptive and tune your heart to connect with God’s signal. I pray that as you focus on God this year, you will have the burning bush experience and achieve all your heart desires.

     

    Written by Seyi Shoyemi

     

     

  • The Real Beauty

    The Real Beauty

    So, I’m here on another Instagram check and I see this amazing beauty whose figure I’ve always wanted to have. It was the curvy figure 8, flat tummy; skin goals-melanin popping; edges laid perfectly, eye brows perfect; eye lashes long and nails perfect! Goodness, is she even real?! No imperfections whatsoever and of course it’s no surprise her pictures always get thousands of likes and comments! She is always popping!

    I compare myself to her and I see so many imperfections – my not-so-flat stomach, the cellulite on my skin, the spots, my crappy hair and bulgy eyes. Little wonder I’ve been thinking of going for some surgery and enhancements once my Canada parole clicks. I mean, in this Naija, people will judge you for being unattractive, and still judge you if you try to do something about it.

    It is no surprise that the bulk of a woman’s expenses are towards looking good – new hair styles, cosmetic surgeries, new clothing, new bags, shoes, hip pads, false eyelashes, false nails, false hair, false lips, bleached skin etc. You can see a woman looking so good, but when she takes off the false additions to her body; it seems like she is a totally different person. Some days, I am tempted to just quit social media because everybody seems so perfect, living their best lives and there’s so much beauty being displayed. As I went to bed that night, the Holy Spirit led me to open Proverbs 31 and broke down some things to me. These verses below are the areas where the Holy Spirit gave me a different perspective about beauty:

    • Verse 10: Being a virtuous woman is more than just slaying on the gram! Behind all the outer beauty, what virtue or values do you possess?
    • Verses 13,19, and 27: Being a virtuous woman is about being enterprising and not being lazy – what are you doing with what you’ve been given?
    • Verse 15: It’s about being early and taking charge – what can people trust you to handle?
    • Verse 20: It’s about giving and helping the needy – how many people are being blessed by your life?
    • Verse 26: Wisdom & kind words are in her mouth – equip yourself mentally & emotionally such that you can dish out wisdom and kind words.
    • Verse 30: Most importantly, it’s about having the fear of God in everything you do.

    When next the world tries to sell you the ‘need’ for that beauty product/routine; please remember that what is inside is more important than what is outside, and these ‘needs’ will never end because human desires are insatiable. There will always be new stuff, new procedures and an unending cycle of beauty rules and what-not. However, being a woman of virtue with the fear of God and making sure not to lose your identity to the world; seeing yourself the way God sees you is more important.

    It’s time for a new beginning, to see yourself in God’s mirror as his beloved child who He paid the ultimate price for and created in His image. Take off the lens of the world and quit allowing the polished seemingly-perfect things of social media make you depressed.

    Start to see yourself using the same lens Gods uses to look at you (His beloved child) and allow Him to show you the true definition of beauty which comes from within.

     

    Written by Ijeoma Ubabukoh

  • Waiting on God

    Waiting on God

    “How long will I have to wait?” Mike asked Joe frantically…

    He was too nervous to sit still. He had been waiting for a feedback about his presentation for over an hour and he was beginning to get impatient.

     

    Joe replied him with a smile on his face; “Guy, calm down, you didn’t think you were going to get to this point in the first place, did you? I’m sure they are just trying to ensure everything is in place and the contract is properly documented before you sign it”.

     

    Mike turned around, he had a look of joy mixed with uncertainty on his face and without saying a word, he kept pacing.

     

    Michael had been bidding for a contract for almost 2 years at Joe’s company. If the contract goes through, it will be the breakthrough he had been waiting for all the while for his own business. He runs an interior decoration company and desperately needs this to work. He had been applying and gotten rejected over and over again. However, he didn’t give up hope because he believed that all they needed was just to see his proposal and they will know the value he’s about to bring to the table. Luck shone on him on the day of his last rejection, when Joe, the PA to the company’s MD who was in a rush for a meeting bumped into him spilling his cup of coffee and soiling a part of the portfolio of his designs for the contract proposal. You would have expected him to get furious because he had just been disappointed again; but Mike kept his cool. While he was trying to get himself together to save what was left of his proposal, Joe spotted one of the designs; collected his contact, apologized for his action and went away.

     

    Mike had totally forgotten about that incident until one morning when his phone rang and on the other line was Joe, who asked him a life changing question; ‘do you still want the contract?’ Apparently, Joe went ahead to do a research about Michael due to how composed he was even after the coffee situation. He realized the young man could be a good fit for their rebranding project after all. Joe mentioned Mike to the MD who caught a glimpse of the proposed design and agreed to meet him.

    So, here he (Mike) is, in the waiting room after an amazing presentation, totally nervous about the outcome and the time was moving slower than a pregnant snail. After what felt like eternity, he got the contract and the rest, they say, was history.

     

    Why the long story, you may ask? Well, let me ask you a question. Have you ever had to wait on something or someone and the uncertainty of the outcome of your waiting puts you in a place of despair? More so, it looks like you are waiting in vain as so much time has passed and a lot of people are mocking you for the hope you have in what you are waiting for.

    How about waiting on God? Has he given you a promise that is taking longer than usual to come to pass and you are wondering if it was truly a promise or a mind game or He was just messing with you or you didn’t hear well? You’re not alone, I’ve been there.

     

    Here is a thought; maybe, what the Bible refers to as waiting on God is a process of pruning, reforming and preparing you for the next phase or for that expectation. But I know this for sure that until you are ready, what you are waiting for might never come to pass.

     

    What does it mean to wait?

    To wait is an action of getting ready for something to happen; an action, in readiness for your expectation. It does not indicate a time frame or limit, which simply suggests that if you have an expectation, until it comes to pass; you are expected to wait on it. Waiting on God, therefore, is a process of believing God for a desire, trusting him to be able to perform it according to the promise from his word and rejoicing in hope until you see the fulfilment of that promise.

    Are you like Mike, pacing and unsettled because your expectation is taking longer than expected and you are beginning to get tired? Don’t! Instead, activate your waiting process so that you can receive the desires of your heart and much more.

    The idea of waiting has little to do with time but a whole lot to do with readiness, growth and positioning; so, giving up is not an option. Giving up is not going to bring you your expectation but staying on with the right attitude will.

     

    “But those who wait for the LORD’s help find renewed strength; they rise up as if they had eagles’ wings, they run without growing weary, they walk without getting tired.”

    Isaiah 40:31 NET

    This tells us that when we wait on the Lord, we will return better than when we started. We will receive the strength required for that desire and we will be able to enjoy it at the level that is expected. If peradventure, it requires a lot of sacrifice and dedication on our part, because we have prepared during the waiting season, we will not get weary because we are certain that we are doing the right thing.

     

     

    How then do we wait? There is a process of waiting and it includes the following:

    1. Believe: What is the promise you are holding in your heart? Do you believe it? You must believe it so much so that you can literally paint a picture of it coming to pass in your mind. Just as Abraham “believed God and it was accounted to him for righteousness”. Galatians 3:6 NKJV

     

    1. Trust: Sometimes the reason we cannot wait on God is because we don’t trust what He has said. It looks way beyond us and we think it’s bigger than our usual expectation, so we look for alternatives. This is us sabotaging the arrival of our blessings. So, trust God; no plan B, C or D, just plan A, God.

     

    1. Focus: Irrespective of what the circumstances around you might look like, don’t take your eyes off the promise. This will give you staying power. If possible, write it somewhere you can easily see, paste it on the wall, on your office table or as your screensaver on your phone or laptop. When you fix your eyes on the promise, you are automatically fixing your eyes on God and it becomes impossible for you to wait in vain or for the enemy to steal your joy.

     

    1. Rejoice: Now take your faith a notch higher, praise God like you already received the promise. When you thank God for what he’s about to do, he comes through in ways that exceeds your expectation. Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah were going into battle and instead of arrows and spears, they led the way with praise and they didn’t have to raise a finger because God set an ambush against their enemy. That is how powerful your praise can be; it will look foolish to others. In fact, they will wonder if you are normal but rejoice. Remember, praise will confuse the enemy.

     

    On a final note, your waiting period will require patience on your part. Don’t waste that season complaining, fidgeting and worrying. Activate your waiting process and stay the course. Though it tarries, wait for it, it will surely come to pass.

    This vision is for a future time. It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled. If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed.

    Habakkuk 2:3 NLT

     

    Written by Tolu Oyekan

  • New Decade, New Me

    New Decade, New Me

    A new decade bellows – “Hello, it’s 2020! A cool looking number, seem like a harbinger?”

    A voice in my head tells me that it’s not just another new year. It’s a defining decade.

    Now is a good time to have a pregnant pause. Why? “Because it’s a new season and there’s need to set the ball rolling already.”

    Typical of every new year, old things are passed away and all things have become new. SugarRush is the order of the season.

    Okay, calm down, let’s make sure the ball is in good condition and our stage is prepped to keep the ball rolling. A new you is not just new goals and resolutions but new mindsets and principles to guide you in the new year.

    At the beginning of every year, a lot of men and women peek into high heavens, make pleasant plans and progressive projections while some resort to robust resolutions, which are incredible ingredients for a great year. Except that studies have shown that only 25% of people stay true to their resolutions after 30 days, and only 8% accomplish them. I strongly believe there should be a cure for this trend, you really don’t want to be part of that statistic. And if you have been doing great with your plans, visions and resolutions, this is a year you want to scale up and a have grander vision.

    You may ask, “How do I go about this herculean process of planning and pursuing a grander vision for the new year and by extension, the new decade?”  Ponder on these four nuggets:

    1. Make It Plain: Then the Lord answered me and said, “Write the vision, and engrave it plainly on tablets so that the one who read it will run. Habbakuk 2:2

    Visioning is key to the actualization of any great task. Every invention and innovation is a product of imagination. God’s plans and purposes are often downloaded in form of ‘visions’, this does not necessarily have to be a dream, trance or ‘angelic visitation’ of sort. It could be an idea, a simple thought or a deep desire.  One way you can make it plan is by writing down your ‘imaginations’ or goals in clear terms and placing them in a location where you can always make reference to them. It is also good to set timelines for your goals and develop a good strategy for accountability. Suffice to say here that your goals must be SMARTER (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound, Enriching, Rewarding).

    However, designing a Vision Board is another fantastic way to make it plain; a vision board is basically a collage of images, inscriptions and/or words used as a visualization tool. The images and words can be printed out, written cut out from magazine pages.

    How to have a workable vision board:

    a. Reflect: ponder on the kind of life you desire in the new decade till you have clearly outlined goals to be achieved.

    b. Collect: gather some magazines and cut out images, phrases and quotes that resonate with your goals. You can also search online and print out relevant photos and words.

    c. Connect: get a cardboard or any solid board and stick the images, quotes and phrases on it with gum – in a creative/meaningful manner.

    d. Display the completed vision board in a conspicuous spot where you can view it at least once a day, preferably in your bedroom. You can take a picture of your vision board with your smartphone and use it as your wallpaper and/or as display picture on social media platforms.

    After the vision has been made plain, what next?

    1. Map Out a Strategy: it is not enough to have a great vision; it is important to have an action plan. You may have a vision to start a business, get promoted, change jobs, get employed, get married, lose weight, spend more time with your spouse or children, build a rich relationship, whatever your goal may be. Write down specific actions that will help you achieve your goals and set timelines for those actions.
    2. Make Time for Divine Supplications: Every good intention and ambition require divine intervention. The place of prayers cannot be overemphasized in a world filled with distractions and uncertainties. Commit your goals into God’s hands. He is the Master planner of the universe.
    3. Make Up Your Mind: “A river cuts through a rock not because of its power but because of its persistence” – it is important to note that at some point or the other, you may fall short of your plans or fail to meet your target. Pick yourself up and keep pushing. Fail forward; always remember the reason why you started in the first place and focus on where you are headed.

    Finally, no matter what you set out to achieve this year; no matter the obstacles and oppositions you face, know that you are a mobile miracle – happen to life every day!

     

    Written by Adeleke Adeite

     

  • No Longer Slaves

    “You unravel me, with a melody, You surround me with a song
    Of deliverance, from my enemies, Till all my fears have gone
    I’m no longer a slave to fear, I am a child of God”

    No Longer Slaves – Bethel Music

     

     The first time I heard the song “No Longer slaves” by Bethel Music, I felt this spine-tingling, deeply satisfying and overwhelming sensation of peace and hope as the lyrics poured all over me. These feelings were not only as a result of the fine composition, the plaintive chord or the beautiful voice of the lead singer; it was the message that was captured in the song. The repeated affirmation of my status as God’s child by virtue of which I have been liberated from the shackles that bound me. I have gone on to listen to this beautiful song many times afterwards, yet it never loses its pristine freshness and relevance. It most certainly never will.

    As humans who are faced daily with one worldly travail or the other, a popular coping mechanism we adopt is to find something to worship and unfortunately, we sometimes make the wrong choices. Some settle for their jobs, relationships, fame, appearance, acceptance, food, alcohol, etc. and quite naturally, the more we commit to fulfilling the limitless demands of these things, the more inextricably bound we are to them. No resource or time that is expended towards them ever seems to be enough and in a short period, a master/slavery relationship slowly and stealthily develops. Before we know it, we are slaves, working and exerting ourselves over that one thing.

    For me, it was indecisiveness. By convincing myself that I was only trying to make the best decision in any given situation, I would expend so much energy overthinking my options to the extent that when I finally made one, there would hardly be any left to execute it. I wanted control and worried over anything that would not allow me some. But no matter how much I worried or dithered, it never helped the immediate situation. It took a long time to discover that at the heart of my constant indecision was fear; the fear of making the wrong choice or doing the wrong thing and failing as a result. In effect, I was a slave to fear!

    My case was mild compared to what many have gone or continue to go through. Fear has destroyed relationships, careers and other things that are dear to people. If allowed to fester, it is capable of dominating and manipulating faith, thoughts and dreams. It can shatter marriages, careers, parenting and ministry, and has pushed many to the brink of depression and desperation. This is both unfortunate and ironic considering that God intends differently for us. 1 Timothy 4:12, says, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear”. He has delivered us over our enemies, He has delivered us over the obstacles that hinder us. He has given us the gifts of “power, love, and a sound mind.” When fear attempts to take over your thoughts and actions, He alone has placed a song of deliverance. “We’ve been liberated from our bondage. We’re the sons and the daughters, let us sing our freedom”.

    I have since been separated from that which plagued me but it came through God’s help, self-introspection and realization. I have learnt to lean on God and acknowledge Him in my options, fully trusting Him to make the best decision for me (Proverbs 3:5 & 6). I will continue to testify about my victory over fear in the assuredness of my immutable status as God’s child. Thus, if you are bound in flesh and spirit to any weakness, I encourage you to do the same. I pray that His grace and deliverance take preeminence in your life. Irrespective of the influence of your background, social media and negative relationships, your status as God’s child is never in doubt. God’s love flows through your veins at all times. His reflection and glory shine continually upon you. Through his grace and acceptance of same, you are liberated from that which restrains you. You are no longer a slave to any vice. Galatians 5:1 says, “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” Do not return. Do not waver. You are free!

    Written by Temitayo Ogunmokun

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Be Intentional

    Be Intentional

    John Maxwell, world renowned authority in the subject of leadership, once told a story of how, back in 1976, he received a gift from Eileen Beavers, his assistant at that time. As he unwrapped it, he saw it was a book with the intriguing title, The Greatest Story Ever Told. He couldn’t wait to read it! But when he opened the book, he was shocked: The pages were blank. Absolutely blank. Inside was a note from Eileen that said, “John, your life is before you. Fill these pages with kind acts, good thoughts and matters of your heart. Write a great story with your life.” This note made him, for the first time, think about how he was the author of his life, and that he could fill every “page” with whatever he wanted. It made him want to be significant; it inspired him to do whatever he could to make his life matter.

    At the core of intentional living is:

    • Having a pristine understanding of who you are in Christ and what God’s purpose for your life is.
    • Knowing why you do what you do and why you don’t do what you don’t do.
    • Being willing to take a step back and evaluate the things you are doing.
    • Doing the things that are important to you even when they are not easy.
    • Evaluating the advice and example of other people and taking from it what works for you.
    • A life of legacy, which stems from making impacts that transcend generations and geographical borders.

    Living intentionally is what clearly differentiates a person who is ‘living’ from another who is merely ‘existing’. It helps you chart a course for your life – and for the people you are responsible for – instead of just breezing aimlessly through life. It further gives you the liberty to make time for the things that are truly important and to discard the rest.

    Components of Intentional Living

    • Visioning. You need to develop the capacity of receiving and then running with God’s instructions for your life, especially as we approach the New Year. Every vision has a timeline, after which it loses its potency. All things may be lawful but not all things are helpful; therefore, strive to keep your focus, channel your energy and deploy your resources on only those things that matter.
    • Be strategic. Get your goal-setting gloves on! Break those seemingly colossal goals, targets and aspirations into smaller tasks that you can handle quite easily. Every complexity of life is just an aggregation of smaller parts. Find the smaller details in every challenge and tackle them one at a time.
    • Banana Island, Lagos, wasn’t sand-filled in a day. Small but consistent actions birth mastery over life and make the most significant impact. Stay disciplined in the course of life like an athlete does. Don’t worry if you fail at being the best version of you from time to time. Each time you come short, get right up and try again. When you don’t let your head down, you will in no distant time be the focal point in the story of your life.
    • If you will live your dream life and make any sustainable impact, you must feed your strengths and starve your weaknesses. Be bold, yet unassuming. Have the ‘I-can-do’ attitude always. You can do all [expedient] things through Christ who strengthens you (Philippians 4:13). “Every time you choose action over ease; you develop an increasing level of self-worth, self-respect, and self-confidence”, says John Maxwell.
    • Pray without ceasing. You also need to have an attitude of gratitude, both to God and to man. A heart of thankfulness impels you to focus on living the best life God has intended for you, instead of wallowing in jealousy and self-pity over the progress of others.
    • Leverage on God’s wisdom. Living intentionally requires knowing, like the Sons of Issachar, what to do, when to do it and how to do it. God says in Jeremiah 33:3, ‘Call to me and I will answer you. I will tell you marvellous and wondrous things that you could never figure out on your own.’ Trust that God is able to direct your affairs and in turn, surrender the government of your life over to Him.
    • Define your values and stick with them. Your outlook to life must not be anything short of positive. Your life becomes more interesting and influential the moment you choose to become selfless and prioritize others above yourself.

    The key to a life that matters to God and humanity, is one that entails living your best story, and not someone else’s.  Don’t just be fixed on hearing or telling a good story; instead, be that good story – of love, selflessness, impact, courage, patience, faith, exploit, significance, and so on. There’s no limit to the positive change you can engineer when you begin to live each day with intense intentionality.

     

    Written by Matthew Mancha

  • Better at 70

    Over lunch, a few months ago, a friend asked me what I liked to do on my birthdays. Before even thinking it through, I blurted out, “I like to be alone so I can think.” I find that I’m more honest when I don’t have much time to package my thoughts.

    As my next birthday creeps around the corner, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about the person I have become over the last 365 days. Am I better? Am I kinder? Have I become more focused, more inclined to achieve the goals I set for myself? If I keep going down the path I’m going, what would my life look like when I’m 70? You know, like a movie where someone going through midlife crisis is confiding in a friend, and they say something like, “I just feel like I woke up and became this person, I have no idea how I got here. I don’t recognise who I am”.

    When we were growing up, our lives were divided into measurable periods. We had school terms, semesters and holidays. We had milestones: school grades, promotions, graduations to measure our progress. Assessment required no deliberate intention on our parts. But as we got older, transitioned into the workforce and into ‘adulting’, life became less clear cut. With no defined markers to see how you’re doing – as a person, as a friend, as a partner, as a parent – it is easy to avoid self-assessment and drift into complacency.

     

    Last year, I found myself complaining a lot. I could hear myself doing it, but I couldn’t stop. I nit-picked at work; I grumbled on the drive home; I moaned about people. It was like a waterfall, everything that came out of my mouth seemed to be negative. It got so bad that two people called me out on my attitude. After hearing them out, I took some time alone to soberly consider myself. If I became more and more the person I was at that moment, who would I look like when I was 70? I didn’t like what I saw. With so much at stake, I knew I had to be more intentional about pursuing my personal development. I figured, that I had to introduce something into my life to help me catch myself before negative traits spiralled out of control. So I listened to some podcasts, read some books and drew up a chart around what I considered important aspects in my life.

    The table above gives defined paradigms around which one can think about life.

    I’m by no means perfect; people close to me will gladly and emphatically attest to this. I still find myself overwhelmed by my flaws. But perfection is not the goal, incremental improvement is. I can become a little more thoughtful, a little more consistent and a little more discipline. And when my 70th birthday rolls around, as unassuming as the coming one, I can look back and see that indeed I was better at 70.

     

    Written by Ugonna Iheme  

  • Uncluttered: Your Space, Your Schedule, Your Soul

    Uncluttered: Your Space, Your Schedule, Your Soul

    My mind has been a mess, I have been screaming about being tired for more than a month now. I’ve been feeling anxious, sad, angry, worried, and a ton of emotions for about a month now. I sometimes feel like I am running in circles inside a vehicle but not being able to take hold of the wheel. Hence, going back to the starting point, not moving forward; and guess what’s worse? The year 2019 is almost over and I feel scared of it ending with me achieving nothing. I know I am not the only one who has felt this way, so let us journey together on how to declutter our mental space, declutter our schedule and life in general and take back the steering wheel of our life.

    1. Have your to-do list clearly written out – I know you think you are smart and your memory is as sharp as the needle pin, but sister/brother please write it out. Remember what is said about the faintest pen. Get your notepad/your phone; write out your plan, those issues still outstanding for the year, for the month, for the day. Personally, each time I actually write my plans for the day, I always end up achieving more as opposed to just going about my day casually.
    2. What is priority? – You need to truthfully answer this question in order to channel your energy appropriately and order your life accordingly. You need to know what matters most to you generally in life and also set your priority for the day. Amidst the hundreds of things you need to do, which is more important? Which is urgent? Which is important but not urgent? Set these things accordingly so you don’t expend energy on the wrong things and feel wasted.
    3. What do you need to make it work? – Action time? Success time!! Now that we have written it out, what do you need to do to make your to-do-list come alive? For example, you want to lose weight, save money, start going to the gym/get a trainer/stock your fridge right for weight loss, etc. Activate a standing instruction on your account to save money. Identify the actions, resources you need to successfully make your to-do list be materialised and go for them.
    4. Rethink your thinking – As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he. You need to remove negative thoughts and emotions from ruining your heart and mental life. Meditate on God’s word, make conscious efforts to rebuke negative thoughts with the right words from the bible. e.g You are working on a project in the office and the devil reminds you that you will fail, or your business plan will fail. Don’t just rebuke the devil by saying “No, I won’t fail”; instead, go a step further by proclaiming – I am the head and not the tail, the favour of God is upon me, I am loved by God and he blesses the works of my mind etc.
    5. Healthy eating, healthy relationships and lifestyle – You need to take care of your body by eating right, and taking conscious positive actions on your body and a healthy lifestyle. The friendships you maintain also have an impact on your mental space. Avoid toxic relationships/people and being in the middle of unhealthy relationships. Keep your heart pure and devoid of anger/malice/unforgiveness.
    6. Remove distractions – What are the things keeping you from doing the best with your life and living as God planned for you? Often times, there are habits, lifestyle, people that we need to remove/cut off in order to live a fulfilling life. This could be the internet, movies, food, e.tc anything that has an unhealthy control over you should be taken out. Take out the “thorns” that will not allow the workings of God take effect in your life.
    7. Set realistic expectations – it is important for you to be realistic in your goal setting such that you do not get weighed down by things beyond your control/reach.
    8. Be thankful for the present – often times we are busy making plans for the future, obsessing and worrying that we forget to stay in the present and appreciate the present victories we have. While making plans for tomorrow, stay grateful for today.
    9. Rest – defined as “to cease work or movement in order to relax, sleep, or recover strength”. It is important to note that the objective for rest is to recover strength, not get busy with other things. Often times, especially in this part of the world- vacations are used to focus on side hustle/family issues instead of to recover strength. Stop denying your spirit, mind and body the recovery process.
    10. Ask God for help – God is our maker and the one who knows us better than we know ourselves. He is the help we need always and is the mastermind of our present and future. Who better to lean on to navigate the course of our lives than Him.

     

    Written by: Ubabukoh Ijeoma

     

     

  • What to Look Out For in Choosing a Church

    What to Look Out For in Choosing a Church

    Before you over-analyse it, let me start by saying that, there’s absolutely no perfect church anywhere. Don’t forget that! Perhaps you are moving to a new location or you are just considering changing your church (for whatever reason), it is expedient that you think through this decision carefully, thoroughly and prayerfully. Why? Because one of life’s key decisions is choosing a church; this is a decision that will not only impact upon your life here on earth, but also has ramifications deep into eternity.

    A church can make or mar you; it can serve as the nerve centre (or otherwise) from which the entirety of your life derives its coordinated rhythm for optimal productivity and sustained impact. The right church family is the very catalyst that will propel you into your God-ordained destiny and it is the solid base from which your life will be established firmly in grace.

     

    The honest answers to the following questions and an in-depth consideration of the checklist below will help streamline your options, until you find the right church:

    • Who/what is at the core of their worship?

    Is Jesus at the centre of their devotion? Who’s the major subject of reference in any of their meetings? Whose word is the final authority, God’s Word or that of the pastor? To whom do the church members owe their allegiance? A church where the Trinity (God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit) is not at the ‘centre of it all’ is a no-no. If the Word of God is not central in the operation of the church, please run!

     

    • What is their doctrinal base?

    Does the church believe and teach that Jesus is the Son of God and the only way to God? Do they believe that every scripture is inspired by the Holy Spirit and that salvation is a gift and not earned by our good works? Does the church’s doctrine highlight the reality of heaven and hell?

     

    • Are there discipleship programs in place and a rock-solid foundation for growth?

    Is the church very intentional about its leaders’ and members’ spiritual development? You should be able to see some evidence that supports the presence of these three-dimensional growth: qualitative (spiritual growth in Christ and training of people for ministry), quantitative (outreach with new people coming into the church, especially via evangelism and good works of charity) and organic (this is the development of gifts and people plugged into ministry).

     

    • What is the church’s core practical value and culture?

    Does the day-to-day outlook of the church reflect their documented values? Are these values in any way contradictory to the tenets of the Holy Scriptures? What constitutes their culture? How do they welcome and treat visitors irrespective of their societal status?

     

    • Exemplary leadership and active mentoring opportunities

    Are the conduct and general lifestyle of the pastors worthy of emulation? Do they have good reports within and outside the church they are overseeing? Are they (the pastors and leaders) accountable to other senior pastors and church leaders elsewhere? Can you respect and submit to their authority? It is wisdom to join a church that has ample avenues for mentoring its members in the things of God and on how to excel in other spheres of life.

     

    • Is it a church where your gifts, talents and/or experience can be deployed?

    A child, from whatever dimension you look at it, is someone that needs to be catered for all or most of the time. As you grow healthily in the things of God, you will realise that greater fulfilment comes by being at the giving end of things. You need to be sure that the church you are moving to can provide the platform for you to live out your calling and also serve as an enabling environment for you to be a blessing to humanity.

     

    • What are your family needs?

    If you are a family person, you may want to factor the needs of your spouse and children too when deciding which church to join. You need to be sure that church has a well-structured children and/or youth church, with programs carefully designed to help raise them up in the ways of the Lord.

     

    • Proximity

    It is not advisable to join a church just for the numbers; you must be fully planted there. Is the church you have in mind within reaching proximity to you? As much as possible (except when you are out of town), don’t join a church that you can only attend services online because the distance is not ‘kind’ to you.

     

    • Church size

    You also need to determine what is best for you in terms of church size. The intimacy of a smaller church often translates to a greater opportunity for individual care and a chance to develop strong relationships. Larger churches possess the capacity, financing, talents, numbers and other resources to undertake bigger projects. However, you must note that a large church with an effective small groups system can yield the typical advantages that a smaller church has over a larger one.

    The thoughts outlined here are in no way an absolute template, but a guide to narrow down the vast options at your disposal. As you partner with God through the direction of the Holy Spirit, I believe you will find a place where you can call home. The church God will lead you to may not be your personal preference, but allow Him to use you to bridge the gap in areas that are lacking.

    Whatever your needs/preferences, be sure to join a church that will help you to live purposefully here on earth and to make heaven in the end. The peace of God will overwhelm you once you find the right church for your planting.

     

    Written by: Mancha Matthew

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