Thursday, January 10, 2008

CONGRATULATIONS! YOU MADE IT!

Entering into the New Year means you've entered onto the next level. At every level there are challenges. Games on the Playstation have different levels. The higher you go, the tougher the challenge but the aim is to score as many points as possible at every level. What level are you at right now and what level are you aiming to get to? What are your goals in life? What are your dreams and aspirations and what do you desire to achieve in 2008? Remember, at every level there is a challenge but the challenge must not stop you from achieving your goals. Challenges are there at every level to move you on to the next level. If you are not able to knock down the challenges at one level you will not be able to move on to the next level. What are the challenges you are facing right now? Be determined to move on to the next level, be determined to face your challenges and knock them down at every level, be determined to remain on the victorious level. Your determination is the key factor to you being successful. You must persevere in the midst of adversity. 2008 will manifest its own challenges as with every other year but you must be determined to persevere in order to cross over to the other side into 2009. Keep on, keep strong, keep determined and stay calm. By the way, CONGRATULATIONS, you made it into 2008! Wishing you a very Happy New Year and a successful 2008! (Written by Ladé, 2008 © All rights reserved.)

Monday, November 12, 2007

A WORD IN SEASON

Do you know that a simple word can either build or tear down a person's life? It doesn't cost anything to say something nice to somebody. Some people say "I am not my brother's keeper, so why should I bother?" I think you should be bothered because one day soon you might need a good word to keep your spirit up and there might just be nobody there, after all they say we reap only what we sow. What seed are you sowing in others? Think on this today and make a decision to sow a good seed because one day you might just need a word in season. Sow a good seed in other people's lives and one day you will reap a bountiful harvest in your own.

Wednesday, November 07, 2007

WHY OH WHY?

Why oh why do we blame others for our wrongdoings? By doing that we are denying ourselves the opportunity to accept our responsibility and face up to our errors. We sometimes find ourselves blaming our spouse, friend, mother, father, society or some other person or situation apart from ourselves. You must accept that whatever the case might be, you are responsible for your own actions. The job you are currently moaning about was accepted by you and you were quite excited when you got it, so why not make the best of it instead of moaning about it. If you are blaming your wife, spouse, family member or society for whatever situation you find yourself in right now, you were the one who proposed to her in the first place or found her attractive enough to date her, so why blame someone else. Take responsibility for your own actions. The food that made you fat, you were the one who ate it all by yourself! The drink that made you become alcohol dependent was bought by you and drank by you alone! No one can force a horse to drink water. Can you see that you need to stop blaming others in order that you can free yourself from this bondage of blame in order to move forward? Take time to take stock of your life and make the decision to move forward from where you are by accepting your own responsibility and taking action towards making life better for yourself. My prayer for you is that you will come to a place in your life where you are able to forgive others and let go of whatever it is that is stopping you from moving on in your life. I pray that whatever is causing the anger you might be feeling right now will be uprooted as a result of your determination and that healing will take root in your heart. I pray that you would have the strength to find a place in your heart to forgive ALL those who have wronged you so that you also can be healed and set free in your own self. God bless you as you take this new step with determination to move forward in your life.

Saturday, July 28, 2007

YOUR TIME WILL COME


Life is all about seasons. As a tree bears fruit in it's season, so does your life have it's own seasons. There is a dry season, where nothing seems to be happening at all and you begin to wonder why. There is a season for weeping and a season for laughter. A season of mourning and a season of rejoicing. For everything in life there is a season. If nothing is happening for you right now, maybe now is not the season for you but I assure you that your own season will come. Just as a tree bears fruit in it's season, so will you bear fruit in your own season if you are patient enough and do not give up. The tree does not give up and never complains because it knows it's seasons. When you understand the season you are in then you will be patient and not give up. Maybe you are going through a dry season right now, be patient and wait for the rainy season. If you are patient, soon enough you will begin to bear fruit. Remember, there is a season for every activity under heaven, so hang in there and be patient, your time of refreshing will soon come.

Monday, July 02, 2007

FEELING ANGRY?



Anger consumes the soul, it can disable you and deprive you of all the good things you are entitled to enjoy in life. I sometimes feel so angry, I start palpitating and having headaches and I know this is not healthy for me. If I do not take a positive action, the anger will sooner or later destroy me and I do not desire that. This is not an easy task for anyone but if you really do want to enjoy what is left of your life, you have to make an effort to be delivered or set free from your pains. You may have spent all your life trying to please people, desiring to be accepted by the ones you love, but to no avail. You may have tried to defend yourself and to prevent yourself from being rejected, but the more you tried, the more you felt rejected. My advise to you is to quit trying because you will NEVER get any approval from men. Your hope must be placed in the realm of the supernatural where God is able to make things happen for you. If you continue fighting this battle yourself I can assure you of failure. This battle cannot be fought in your own strength, you need help and need it fast. You cannot do it on your own. It is impossible! Have you seen a country go to war on it's own without asking it's friends or allies for help? No! That nation or country, if it does not get the help that is needed to win the battle will come home defeated and depleted. My encouragement to you today is not to allow, anger, bitterness and unforgiveness to eat you up. You cannot do it on your own. Wisdom says you must ask for help now before it's too late!

Saturday, June 30, 2007

ACT TODAY


Today might be the last
Who knows
What the day might bring
Who knows?
Today might be the last
Be kind to someone
Say something nice
Forgive, let go
Today might be the last
Go see a loved one
Today is another day
Another day, a new day
Another opportunity
To let go, forgive
Today is the day
To forget yesterday
The pain of years past

Let go, forget
Today, forgive
Embrace, love, share
Another day might not be
Today might be the last
Let go, let God
Today, not later

Tomorrow, later
Might be too far
Too late!
Tomorrow, later
Might be too late
Just too late!
Act today, now
Let go, today
© Unique Ministry 30/06/2007

Tuesday, June 26, 2007

GRACE IN THE MIDST OF ADVERSITY


When my dearly beloved maternal grandmother passed away in 1993, I thought my world had collapsed, as she was such a gracious and loving grandmother who cared and always prayed for the family. She was a pillar to all of us, including my father. In fact my father, whose parents died when he was aged 12 adopted my grandmother as his own and they had a fantastic relationship, he treated my grandmother as his own. A year after my maternal grandmother died, my father passed away. I was so distraught and aggrieved, as I realised that my father did not live to see me get married nor did he live to see his grandchildren. This caused me a lot of pain and it took a while before I could let him finally rest. He was also a great man of prayer and was a wonderful father to all his children. Then a few years later, as if we had not suffered enough, my precious, kind, very quiet brother-in-law passed away. He was such a nice man, we all found it hard to come to terms with his sudden death at the age of 48, leaving behind two young children. In 2003, my husband survived a fatal accident, which could have killed him.

As I look back at all these events behind me, I marvel at the grace of Almighty God whose power became perfect in my weakness. I marvel at how His grace brought me through the pain, grief and sorrow.

There is always a way out of any tunnel, it depends on how you see it. You might feel you are in a pit right now thinking you can't go on any longer. Is your world crashing around you and you think you've just about had enough? My encouragement to you is that the grace of Almighty God who was sufficient for me in my time of pain will bring you through your valley of affliction and replace your weakness with His strength. Weeping my endure for a moment but your joy will come in the morning. I pray that you will find strength in God and anchor yourself to his grace. Though times may be tough for you right now. He will carry you through and be sufficient for your emotional, mental and physical well being. Count your blessings today and name them one by one and you will be surprised what the Lord has done!

Saturday, June 23, 2007

ARE YOU A WORRIER?



If you are a worrier my heart truly goes out to you. In this day and age it is very difficult not to worry about one thing or the other. If it's not the bill you are worried about, it could be your health, the children, your family, the future and so much more. The world we live in today is a very difficult place to avoid worrying about one thing or the other. We are all in pursuit of happiness, which seems to elude us. My encouragement to you is to start where you are with what you can. I leave you with these nuggets of wisdom:
  • Planning for tomorrow is time well spent. Worrying about tomorrow is time wasted.
  • Careful planning is thinking ahead about goals, steps and schedule and trusting in God's guidance. Turn to God first for help.
  • When done well, planning can help alleviate worry.
  • Worry damages your health, as the object of your worry consumes your thoughts.
  • Worrying can reduce your ability to trust in God.
  • Worrying about the future hampers your efforts for today.
  • Worrying is more harmful than helpful.
  • Living one day at a time keeps us from being consumed with worry.
  • God does not ignore those who depend on him.
LIVE ONE DAY AT A TIME!

WORRY CAN NEGATIVELY AFFECT THE WAY YOU TREAT OTHERS

Thursday, June 21, 2007

YOUR LIFE


As we grow up, we learn that even the one person that wasn't supposed to ever let you down probably will.
You will have your heart broken probably more than once and it's harder every time. You'll break hearts too,
so remember how it felt when yours was broken. You'll fight with your best friend. You'll blame a new love for things an old one did. You'll cry because time is passing too fast, and you'll eventually lose someone
you love. So take too many pictures, laugh too much, and love like you've never been hurt because every
sixty seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back.
Don't be afraid that your life will end, be afraid that it will never begin.

ETERNALLY GRATEFUL


I am grateful for this new day. Another day, a new lease of life. So grateful that I have a roof over my head. Another day to be thankful, to be grateful that I have food to eat, I have shelter to dwell in, I have clothes and shoes to wear. I am thankful that though life is not all perfect, I have a God who is perfect and He watches over me. For this, I am eternally grateful.

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

CAN YOU PUSH?



Today has been quite a challenging day for me. Another trial on my journey of life, another unexpected surprise in battle. Another battle I could do without. I tell you, sometimes I feel like giving up! The only option I had was to make a choice whether I would fret and allow the circumstance I was going through to overwhelm me or rise above the tide that was coming against me. Life is full of choices and I realised that this was my opportunity to practice what I preached all the time. It's alright to encourage others to have faith and stand strong but when faced with the same adversity I wondered whether I would be able to display the same attitude I encouraged others to have. No matter what, you will be tested and proven by your own words. I tend not to panic when faced with difficult situations, as it causes more anger and confusion. Like a pregnant woman in labour about to deliver her baby, I realised that this is evidence that my breakthrough was just round the corner and I had to keep pushing despite the pain, regardless of the pressure.

My encouragement to you is to push despite your pain. Keep pushing and don't stop, you're just on the verge of your breakthrough. If you give up now you will never experience the joy that could have been, so keep pushing and don't give up now.

Victory comes through pain. There is no victory without battle. If an army does not go to war there would be no sweet taste of victory.

The breakthrough of any pregnant mother is the joy of having her baby delivered. I know that my joy is just round the corner and I choose not to give up now, though I am bit tired of going through the battle, I know that if I persist, I will surely experience the joy of breakthrough.

My choice is to keep pushing and not give up now. Can you push? I encourage and persuade you to push and not give up now. Your breakthrough is just round the corner!

Tuesday, June 19, 2007

ARISE AND SHINE


Our minds become easily polluted when we have nothing good to occupy it with. What is on your mind right now? Are you worried about how you are going to pay your bills? Is your marriage on the verge of breakdown or your relationship is not working anymore like it used to? Are you worried about your health and well being or your children's well being? Does the thought of an uncertain future set your heart pounding?


My prayer for you today is that God will strengthen you and give you hope. Even though you walk in the valley of the shadow of death, He will be your rod and your staff, He will comfort you. Be encouraged and try not to sink deeper in the darkness of your thoughts which has no answer. God is the only way out of the darkness, He is the only One who is able to stretch out His hands and pull you out of the pit. No man has the answer, the only thing any man can do for you is give you promises that are not guaranteed to be fulfilled.


Try and look up, there is always a light at the end of every tunnel and though your journey might seem like it's not going to end, believe me every story has an ending to it and yours will be no different. Your pain is nothing compared to your victory but in order to experience victory you must go through the furnace of affliction, turmoil and despair. Your persistence will pay off and your expectation will not be cut off.


I leave you with the words of Isaiah 60:1 Arise, shine; for your light is come, and the glory of God is risen upon you.

Monday, June 18, 2007

HANG IN THERE!


Today is one of those days I feel that although nothing seems to be happening the way I would like right now, I am rest assured with hope that there is going to be a breakthrough for me. My choice is to hang in there and not give up although this is easier said than done. Believe me I have been through the fire and know what it's like but what can you do in the midst of this hard and wicked world where life treats you like a piece of meat? I believe what we make of life is to do with our choices, so today I choose to hang in there and cling on to hope. I am hoping that all will be well and that I will get to the light at the end of the tunnel. Tomorrow is another opportunity for me to hang on to hope and I know that one day, just one day, my dreams and wishes will manifest. Today is another day in my journey. Wishing you well. May your today be better than your yesterday and your tomorrow be greater than your yesterday. Keep looking up and hang in there!

SO THANKFUL I DID NOT DIE


I am thankful that I did not die in my sleep last night, as this was a possibility. Whoever told you your life was your own? We are all so vulnerable but we refuse to admit it. I am thankful for the fact that I could lift myself out of bed and walk into the shower. Someone somewhere could not do that this morning. I am thankful that today is another opportunity to be grateful for my life and not take it for granted, as this is what we all tend to do without realising it. Our lives are not our own. I choose to be nice to someone today. I choose to be kind to someone today. I choose to add on to someone else's life today. It could be the last day I am opportuned to do this. Be grateful for what you have and do not take your life for granted. Choose to be kind to someone today. Smile and be grateful for today you never know what tomorrow might bring.

Friday, June 15, 2007

A NORMAL DAY



Today has been one of what I call a"normal" day. Woke up with no worries though I had every opportunity to worry. Got a lift to work and got out of the car with a spring in my steps. As today is a Friday, I was a bit more cheerful at work and everybody noticed this. I was looking forward to having a great weekend. I came accross one of the letters I started writing to my pastor's wife, which was never finished and therefore not delivered. I regreted this so much because she passed away on 4th June 2007.

Lesson learnt: proscastination is the thief of time! Do not put till tommorrow what you can do today, for tommorrow might just be too late!

AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE

I am grateful that today is another day in the scheme of God's great plan for my life. I am grateful for the fact that I am still alive, this is something that money cannot buy. I am grateful that even though I do not have millions of pounds, I have millions of opportunities to make it in life. Today is another moment in my life, another opportunity to be a better person. I am grateful that today is today and that it will take care of itself. I am grateful for the air that I breathe and all the beautiful things that life has to offer. Today, I will maintain an attitude of gratitude. Try and do the same today.

Thursday, December 07, 2006

WHO WILL LISTEN?



It can be quite frustrating when all you need is to be able to talk to somebody and there is no one to listen. You know, you can have a lot of people around you yet no one is listening. Their response could throw you further into the pit of frustration and anger, especially if you are the sympathetic type who always gives a word of encouragement when needed but in your time of need you find that you are screaming down a tunnel and there is no one there to respond or help, so your cry for help then echoes back to yourself.

The human race can be quite selfish in many aspects, as people know how to use others to meet their own needs but when it comes to giving other people the help that they themselves received in their own hour of need, it becomes a burden for them to sacrifice for just one moment. Such is life, but we must continue to encourage ourselves and keep going, as I have come to the conclusion that even those very close to you can deny you at any time and you cannot fully rely on the arm of flesh, as it always fails at the most needed hour.
Why, oh why is the human race like this? Why are we so selfish that we cannot sacrifice? Why do we forget so easily where we are coming from?

When we are in Canaan, the land full of milk and honey, why do we so easily and speedily forget our Egypt, the land of slavery where we came from when we needed help so badly someone came and bailed us out!
Be determined to continue and not allow the selfishness of the human race to harden you, as the only person who will get hurt is you.

Why am I publishing this today? Because someone right now is crying out for help and there is no one to listen.

I soon realised that the art of listening is a truly a gift. Some may genuinely be willing to listen but have no time, others listen only when it benefits them. It is only a minority that sacrifice and listen regardless of whatever you have to say. Just being there for someone does not cost money, neither will it cost you your life, it is only a matter of sacrifice.

I say a big THANK YOU to the minority who are always there and willing to sacrifice. God bless you.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Think, one day you may need someone to listen and there may be no one there, just as surely as you were not there for that voice crying out for help today. What you sow is what you will reap.

WORD OF WISDOM

He who answers before listening— that is his folly and his shame. (Proverbs 18:13)


Friday, September 08, 2006

LET ME ENCOURAGE YOU

If you look at the state of affairs in the world today there is no doubt that things are not as easy as they used to be. People are in serious debt, they cannot get themselves out of it, there is chaos everywhere you look, one disaster or another, wars here and there. There is pressure everywhere, on all of us to the point of perplexity. You wonder sometimes what is going on. You sometimes think "why me?" but I can assure you that you are not alone. What you think you are suffering or going through now somebody somewhere is going through exactly the same thing. Let me reassure you once again that you are not alone.
Maybe you are lonely, sad, in debt, depressed or almost depressed. This is not the time to give up now. You must not give up. If you've ever thought of committing suicide, please don't do it! Please, I beg of you, that is not the way out. It will only cause more pain to your family, friends, child/children. I want you to look around you, what can you see? Do you have a roof over your head? Somebody somewhere has none. Have you had a meal today? Somebody somewhere is still praying to get food from someone somehow. Are you clothed? Somebody somewhere is looking for an item of clothing to wear. Are you warm and cosy? Somebody out there is going to sleep in a cardboard box, homeless with nowhere to lay their head today, with no food and no shelter. Life is not easy. Nobody promised anyone a bed of roses. None of us had the opportunity to chose where we were born or in which family we would be born into. Neither you nor I had a choice.
My word of encouragement to you today is please dont give up, look around you and see what you can be thankful for. Remember that some of what you have as your few or prized possessions somebody else might not have and is still looking for it. You have to try and face your situation (face your goliath) and see what you can do about it. Help is at hand if only we look hard enough and not give up. Giving up is not the answer. The answer is in your perception of life. If you give up on life, life will give up on you. You must accept first of all that you are in a battle and you can never fight any battle alone. You must seek help now.
Nobody said life would be fair. The problem is that we are always expecting to live a perfect lifestyle but in order to do that we must be perfect ourselves. Tell me, who is perfect? No one, not you, not me either. Have you been looking, searching, thinking, worrying, anxious. Are you on the bottle trying to drown your sorrows? Nothing else can help you. You are searching and questioning but you cannot find any answer to all of your questions. Have you been treated unfairly by a loved one or by friends, family, acquaitances or colleagues at work? I tell you again, life is not fair and I don't expect it to. It is your attitude towards life that matters.
As I write this blog, my life is not perfect but I thank God for every new day, for the little that I have to feed me today, for the fact that I have a roof over my head. I try and look around me to see what I can be grateful for. Are all my debts paid? No! Am I living an ideal lifestyle? No! but I still have life. Whilst there is life, there is hope. If you give up on life, then all your hope is gone. Your life is much more important than money and all the material goods that we are tempted with daily. We are lured into debt everyday and like a trap set for a mouse, we all fall into it.
My final word to you today is that no matter how dark your situation is right now, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Dont give up but look up, one day your trial will come to an end. I know a story of someone who was declared bankrupt recently and he called me out of despair not knowing what to do. His wife would call me all the time crying on the phone but I encouraged them to hold on and stick in there and not give up. We cried out to God for help and He heard us and answered us. Though the pain was much whilst going through but the light came at the end. The good news is that his bankruptcy declaration was overturned and he has now been given the all clear. You must have hope against hope. Dont worry, the end will come. A new dawn will soon break for you. Always remember, you are not alone. All of us are going through one pain or the other, one trial or the other. Of course when you are going through it all it always seems like there is no way out, like you are hemmed in and locked up in the darkness of your pain and sorrow but let me reassure you once again, there is a light at the end of every tunnel. Keep reassuring yourself until you come to believe that your trial, tribulation, pain, sorrow or whatever you might be going through right now, shall also pass. Let your daily confession be "this one too shall pass". Take one day at a time and deal with each day as it comes. Have hope for tomorrow. May you find help in your time of need.
Take a few steps today and see what you can do about the situation you find yourself in.