It's not only drunk people that are "under the influence", we all are

Image source: brh.org.uk

"Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?" (Romans 6:16).

When we see and read news headlines like "man arrested for driving under the influence" or "woman jailed for drunk driving", or heartbreaking ones likes "drunk driver kills two in auto crash", and "female driver caught with alcohol with baby in the backseat"; we are pained for the victims and call for the heads of the defaulters, which is understandable.

However, these defaulters are not the only guilty ones, we all are equally guilty of the "same" offence - you are under the influence, and so am I. We are not much different. If we think well and deep enough, we would realise that the defaulters are not the only ones who are "under the influence", or put better, we would realise that we all, just like them, are "under the influence".

This thing called laziness

Image source: notable-quotes.com

“Much food is in the fallow ground of the poor, and for lack of justice there is waste” – Proverbs 13:23.

One very important life truth I have learned is that everyone, I mean every single human being, is given a wealth of gifts, resources and opportunities in his lifetime to succeed. If anyone ends up poor in life, it is not because of a lack of opportunities or that God didn’t bless such one with natural gifts that could be translated to wealth or, at the very least, a comfortable life.

A lot of times, the reason many end up in poverty is laziness. Granted, there may be other factors that contribute to one’s condition, but ultimately, it comes down to what the individual did or, put better, failed to do, as a result of laziness.

The Scripture (especially the Book of Proverbs) has quite a lot to say about laziness - from the nature of the lazy man to how he will end up as he continues in his laziness.

Naïve faith: Faith like a child

"Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it" (Mark 10:15).

Reading John's account of Jesus feeding the Five Thousand (John 6:1-14)... I think the young lad whose 5 loaves and 2 fish were multiplied might not have been the only one in the multitude who had some food on him. Possibly, a few others in the multitude also had some bread and fish, but they did kept it for themselves, except for the kid. (See how his selflessness blessed everyone.)

Christ meant every word when He said only those who receive the kingdom of God like a child would enter it...what did He mean? Only those who have faith...that naïve kinda faith....that child-like faith which, on the surface, appears stupid, yet holds on to God's every word.

For when you feel like giving up || Becky Olorunpomi

It may surprise some, but Jesus actually almost gave up on dying for humanity...
As the time drew near for the fulfilment of His purpose on earth, He must have had a glimpse of the sorrow, suffering, pain and all of the sacrifice...and He almost gave up.
But thank God He did not! God encouraged and strengthened Him, and He went on to pay the ultimate price for us all.
Similarly, sometimes, we can come to a point in life where what lies ahead seems too daunting; we need not fear or dread, all we need is get into "Gethsemane" and draw some strength...Becky shares more insight with us in this wonderful piece...
****
"And He was withdrawn from them about a stone's throw, and He knelt down and prayed, saying, "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done." Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground" (Luke 22:41-44).

Whenever I read this verse of Scriptures, I get amazed. And here's why....
If there ever was anyone in life who understood his purpose on earth perfectly, it was Jesus.

Don't draw the curtain just yet, a lot can still happen

Image source: jtcc.edu

"Is anything too hard for the Lord?" - Genesis 18:14.

As I begin to write this, time check is 6:23 am on Monday, December 12, 2016; and since there are 31 days in the month, it means that there are still 19 more days and about 18 hours remaining before the month and, by extension, the year runs out.

What does this mean? Let me break this down further...

Each of those remaining 19 days in 2016 has 24 hours in them, (including at least 12 hours in today, depending on when you read this)...right?

Now, that's 24 hours multiplied by 19 days, which gives you 456 hours.

Also, each hour in the 456 hours left in the year has 60 minutes, true?...that's 456 multiplied by 60 which gives us 27,360 minutes...

Should I go on breaking it down further?

Each minute in the 27,360 minutes has 60 seconds...that's 27,360 times 60; do the math, what do you get?

A whooping 1,641,600!

That's at least, One Million, Six Hundred and Forty One Thousand, Six Hundred seconds still left in the year...

What's the point of all this?
Who says 2016 is gone and nothing can still happen?
Who says it is over when the Lord hasn't said so?

Who says that thing you've been chasing and asking God for since the beginning of the year cannot happen within the remaining days of this year?



There's still time

If you ask me, there is still a lot of time for something great to happen for you this 2016. So, don't lose your hope just yet...

Don't back down just yet...
Don't give up just yet...
Don't draw the curtain on the year just yet...
Something great...scratch that...A LOT of great things can still happen for you this 2016...you just have to BELIEVE.

How do I know this?
Answer this: Is anything too hard for the Lord?

Zacchaeus was a man that sinned all his life, cheating others to enrich himself...until one day, yes ONE DAY, it all changed for him and his household. One day, HE ENCOUNTERED SALVATION, and EVERYTHING changed....from inside out. Just. One. Day. And we have 19 more days...

The Samaritan woman that Jesus met by the well in John 4 had, for the most of her life, been thirsty, lost, confused, lacking direction; she had had five husbands (that should be a record of some sort!) ...until one day she ENCOUNTERED THE LIVING WATER and EVERYTHING changed for her. ONE DAY. And we have 19 more...

Saul, who later became Paul and went on to write 13 (14 if you count Hebrews) books of the New Testament, was a Pharisee, a hater and great persecutor of Christians, a murderer until one day he ENCOUNTERED THE LIGHT FROM HEAVEN and EVERYTHING changed for him...

I could go on...

One day is enough for God to change EVERYTHING for you and your household... One day - 24 hours, 1,440 minutes, 86,400 seconds...that is a lot of time.

And we have 19 more days - 456 hours, 27,360 minutes, over 1.6 million seconds... That, my friends, is a lot of time for God to do a lot for you this year.

Don't draw the curtain on the year just yet...
Don't throw in the towel just yet...
Seek His face again, and draw strength for one final push...push with faith this time, and you'd surely see results.
Don't lose hope just yet, a lot can still happen this year.
I believe it for me. You should believe it for you

Is anything too hard for the Lord?

How to overcome temptation || Stella Ndukaife

How can you tell true gold from counterfeit? Subject it to a test? I think so, too. If you do not put it through a real test (that is, through fire), the gold could keep "parading" itself as authentic when it's only substandard.

Similarly, as God's children, we would be tested through trials and temptations...the great news however is that we can overcome every and any temptation we face.

Besides, our God has assured us that He would not allow us face temptations beyond the capacity He knows we have, and that even in the midst of the temptation, He'd provide an escape route...we indeed have nothing to dread, God's got us covered!

In this post by Stella Ifeoma Ndukaife (of Ella's Haven Blog), she shares with us how we can overcome temptations...
****

Stop living like no one in the world cares about you!

Imagine for a moment that you know no one anywhere who cares about you, or about what you do or fail to do.
Imagine for a moment that you know regardless of what you do, no one feels hurt or pained, or even concerned about how you're living your life.
Imagine that for a moment...that no one anywhere thinks you've got any value, and that you're a complete write off; how would you live your life then?

4 levels of human existence; what level are you?

I have learned in life that though we may not have much say about the circumstances in which we are born; but we have all the say about the circumstances in which we live and die. It doesn't really matter in what circumstances you were born, you can rise above that level, if you choose to.

Granted, there are challenges that can keep us down, but as the Scripture tells us, God will not allow you have a burden you cannot bear, and even in that situation, He'll make a way of escape for you. There is, indeed, always a way.

That said, let's look at four levels in which humans live, as outlined by Zig Ziglar. Every one you know can be classified into one of these levels. As we go on, ask yourself: what level am I? And how do I move up the ladder? Because the higher up you are on the ladder, the more influential you will be. Here goes...4 levels of human existence

How to maximise the internet to help your walk with God (3)

Imagine being in the land of plenty, yet suffering lack; or having access to so much, yet it looks like you've got nothing!
That is what it can be like for a Christian if you can't find your way around online...how do I mean?

Live ready!

Image source: godstellations.com

Think about this: How do you ensure you do not miss a one-off event you do not know exactly when it will happen, but you're sure it will definitely happen?

What do you do to make sure you do not miss the only flight in six months to your destination when you don't know exactly the time it is scheduled to take off, and you're aware that it will take off without prior notice?

How does one manage this? How does one ensure he doesn't miss out on something he has no clue exactly when it will happen?

How to maximise the internet to help your walk with God (2)

- 3 bloggers shares insights that will help you

Hi there and welcome to November! It's a great new month filled with opportunities! This month, don't be afraid to take those steps the Lord has been nudging you to...just spread your wings and soar like the eagle you are! Walk with God this month and beyond, and it shall end in praise.

Here's the second part of this post where your favourite Christian writers and bloggers share insights to help you maximise your time on the internet and use it to grow your spiritual life...plus, websites and blogs to find wonderful God-inspired, spirit-breathed content to nourish and enrich your soul and spirit.

How to maximise the internet to grow in your walk with God (1)

-3 bloggers share helpful, insightful tips

Picture this: you pick up your mobile or your PC, you go online searching for content that'll give you that spiritual boost that you require (and earnestly desire), but you can't just seem to find the right resources.

It seems the internet is saturated by content that pulls you down, rather than build, enrich, encourage, relief, strengthen, inspire, motivate and refresh you.

4 money habits that will (surely) land you in deep poverty

Habits are what define us. Good or bad. They are those things we do repeatedly and consistently, almost without noticing we do them, and have become part of us. Habit is more than just WHAT you do, but also HOW you do them.

We have habits in different core areas of our life - eating habits, reading habits, thinking habits, sleeping habits, work habits, and our focus for this discussion, money and spending habits - all of these and more together form character; and as you know, character determines destiny. A man's character determines where he ends up in life.

The beautiful story of my freedom: I am no longer enslaved

Once upon a time, there was a cry for blood; actually, it was a wailing...a wailing so intense that nothing could douse it...it was so intense that it caused great panic and chaos among the people, and brought untold destruction and evil upon the land.
Concerted efforts were made to douse it even if a little bit, but it was all to no avail...the wailing continued... blaring on...night and day...it was a wailing for my blood for the sins I had committed...

The one drug that can heal this sick world

If we're honest, we'd agree our world is broken and sick...and needs some healing.

Everywhere you look... Wherever you turn... In the news... In our neighbourhoods... In the pages of newspapers... On TV... On social media.... At our churches... At the office... You find evidence of this.

Our world is so sick that hate has become the norm, our actions exude so much hate and bitterness.

3 thoughts to help you maximise this week (and every other week)

Image source: lovethispic.com

Hi there! It's the beginning of a new week, the second in this joy-filled month of October 2016!
I'm hugely expectant of great and mighty things this October. Why, you ask? Well, my Father never has evil plans or thoughts for His children...His thoughts for us are always good...always! So be expectant! Be upbeat!
Remember, the mind has a magnetic pull, and attracts to us the things we think on the most...guard your thoughts!

To begin the new week and help us through it in God-like fashion (that is, excelling at all you do), I felt I'd share some profound thoughts with us. I believe these nuggets will help us maximise this week and every other week we may be gifted (life's a gift, you know). So, here goes...3 thoughts to help you maximise your week

Another way to look at our God's omnipotence

And God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." - Exodus 3:13 (NKJV).


Image source: lovethispic.com

Our God is omnipotent (that's indisputable!), and that means He is all powerful. It is an appellation reserved for Him alone as no other being - whether in the heavenlies, on the earth or beneath the earth - can be referred to as "omnipotent"!

When we say our God is omnipotent, we generally mean He has the power to DO all things. And that's right! Absolutely. God certainly has the power/ability to DO all things.

How are you doing? Time for a spiritual check up

Hi there! How are you doing today? I just thought I should check up on you...


Image source: medq.co.uk

And no, I'm not asking about your psychological (or mental) state; and I'm definitely not asking about your physical welfare, no!
I'm referring particularly to the real you - your spirit. The real you is your spirit. Your body is merely a "tent" (as the Apostle Peter called it in 2 Peter 1:13,14) that must be "put off" when the time comes.

Running the race of faith (2): With singleness of mind

Hi there and welcome to October! Trust the new month met you well. I can imagine God's consistent faithfulness keeps you and your loved ones shining and winning all round! He never fails! It's by His grace we're still standing and still winning!

I'm so excited about the prospects of this month and beyond; I'm excited because I know God never keeps one for nothing, He has great things in store for us. Such things that eyes haven't seen nor ears heard! I'm sure of it! So regardless of what others say about some recession (by the way, those of us in Eden do not experience the so-called recession!), be hopeful, remain positive, and wear a smile that flows naturally (don't try to force it!) from a heart that is filled by God-birthed peace, joy and love.
****
Moving on, we'd be concluding the two-part series on "running the race of faith" (anchor text: Hebrews 12:1-2) in this post by looking at a critical subject.

Running the race of faith (1): Shed the extra weight

***
Hi there, I trust God has been consistently #faithful to you as He is to me! I figured; His #love for us is so intense! So deep!
Ok, this is going to be a two-part series of posts on "running the race of faith" (anchor Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-2).
We'd be looking at the Scripture to learn what we need (and do not need) to "run with endurance the race that is set before us" (v. 1). This is part one of the series, subtitled: "shed the extra weight". I trust that God will help us as we learn what we need to run this race of faith successfully. Do enjoy...