Wait! WHO IS YOUR CONFIDENCE?

My daughter: Mummy, our Arts teacher asked us to bring extra crayons to school tomorrow.

Me: Why is that?

Her: So we can make a beautiful card for our parents for valentine

Me: So why didn’t she write it in your communication book? (Communication book is what is used in their school to send information to parents on a daily basis)

Her: She can’t write it because she is not my class teacher

Me: But I told you already, if you tell me you want something from school, it has to be written in your communication book!

Her: Why?

Me: Because that way I would know you are not lying

Her: (looking shocked) Mummy!!! I can’t lie to you! I’m your daughter!

(Ok, I’m sure some people are beginning to wonder “Does her daughter truly say these things?” LOL) True life story! Hmmm, I was speechless! God does teach us and talk to us through various channels, if only we’ll take time to listen….

So what did I learn this time? Confidence in WHO God is! My daughter made me realise that who she is to me should be good enough for me to accept. I have told her countless times never to lie to me. It has now sunk in: My daughter never lies (Amen somebody!) and I ought to take her word for it! God is our Father. He never lies. He cannot lie. When He speaks, He expects you to believe His word. Take it as it is, no matter how unbelievable it may sound to the ordinary ears! The Bible says He even honours His word more than His name

Psalm 138 verse 2B: For You have magnified Your word above all Your name. (NKJV)

Look at it. If He says He is your Father, He expects you to trust Him as a child should. Then He says: Forget I’m your Father and take my word for it. Anything I say I will do will be done because I always honour my word. And that even supersedes the fact that I’m your Father!

That is our CONFIDENCE – HIS WORD.

Hebrews 13: 3-8 (The Message translation)

13-18 When God made his promise to Abraham, he backed it to the hilt, putting his own reputation on the line. He said, “I promise that I’ll bless you with everything I have—bless and bless and bless!” Abraham stuck it out and got everything that had been promised to him. When people make promises, they guarantee them by appeal to some authority above them so that if there is any question that they’ll make good on the promise, the authority will back them up. When God wanted to guarantee his promises, he gave his word, a rock-solid guarantee—GOD CAN’T BREAK HIS WORD. And because his word cannot change, the promise is likewise unchangeable.

What word from God are you holding on to? What has He promised you that look like is failing? Remember, He watches over His word to perform it.

Jeremiah 1: 11-12 (The Message translation)

11-12 God’s Message came to me: “What do you see, Jeremiah?”
I said, “A walking stick—that’s all.”
And God said, “Good eyes! I’m sticking with you.
I’ll make every word I give you come true.”

Lay hold of that word and never let go. If He is watching to make it come true, then you should be too!

MEDITATE: Jeremiah 17:7 - “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him (NIV)

Prayer: My confidence is in You Lord and I will hold on to Your promises and word for my life Amen

-By Deby

4 Things You Should Know About Shy Kids

Shy toddlers might not want to speak up — but that doesn't mean they don’t understand what you're saying to them, according to a new study of the largely misunderstood connections between shyness and language.

“Behaviorally inhibited children who may not be speaking much shouldn’t be underestimated,” says study author Soo Rhee, professor of psychology and neuroscience at the University of Colorado Boulder, in a press release about the findings. “Parents and teachers should be aware that they may need to be encouraged more in their expressive language development.”

The study, published in the journal Child Development, was prompted by a thesis student’s review paper that examined associations between shyness and verbal skills, Rhee tells Yahoo Shine. To test those associations, researchers looked at information collected on 816 toddlers — 408 sets of twins — at 14, 20, and 24 months of age, times when children’s language skills are growing rapidly. The researchers recorded observations of each child’s ability to repeat sounds, answer questions, and follow directions, looking for patterns in how the children’s behavior changed over time, and whether an increase in shyness followed or preceded a delay in speech. Their findings showed that shy toddlers actually understand much more than their lack of talking might suggest.

The study results are just the latest discovery about kids with oft-misunderstood shyness — an “undervalued status in a world that values extroversion,” Susan Cain, best-selling author of “ Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking,” noted in a 2011 New York Times opinion piece.

And so, to help foster value — and understanding — here are four more salient nuggets about shy kids:

1. They are far from alone. Shyness is a part of “the great and glorious range of the human normal,” notes Dr. Perri Klass in a New York Times well piece, , who writes about a study by Kathleen Merikangas, a senior investigator at the National Institute of Mental Health, of 10,000 older children ranging from 13 to 18 years old. “We found that about half of kids in America describe themselves as shy,” Merikangas tells Klass.

2. Labeling your child “shy” is not helpful. “On hearing this, a child feels something’s wrong with her, and this will make her feel more shy,” notes Dr. William Sears., who suggests using more accurate terms like “private” or “reserved,” which won’t make your child feel flawed. That belief was echoed by Merikangas, who told the New York Times that perhaps the worst thing to do is tell your child, “Don’t be shy. Don’t be quiet.”

3. Kids can form strategies for dealing with shyness. “The general rule of thumb,” writes psychologist and parenting coach Dr. Laura Markham, “is to accept the nervousness that comes up as a part of normal life that affects most people, reassure yourself that you’re OK anyway, and focus on others rather than yourself.” You can help your child do that, perhaps with a reminder that she doesn’t have to be interesting, just interested, and that asking kother ids questions and listening to their answers can be all she needs to try to do.

4. A shy kid is not necessarily introverted. “Shy people fear negative judgment, while introverts simply prefer less stimulation; shyness is inherently painful, and introversion is not,” Cain has noted, which is helpful when trying to understand the feelings of a shy kid. “But,” she adds, “in a society that prizes the bold and the outspoken, both are perceived as disadvantages.” You can help your timid one to see his own quiet power by pointing out that same power in others. “For very different reasons, shy and introverted people might choose to spend their days in behind-the-scenes or ‘passive’ pursuits like inventing, or studying, or holding the hands of the dying,” Cain says. “These are not alpha roles, but the people who play them are role models all the same.”

Source: shine.yahoo.com

Recipe: PULL APART BREAD ROLL CAKE IS SIMPLY DELICIOUS

 









































 To make this bread roll cake first you have to make dough with flour, buttermilk, yeast, salt, egg yolks and melted butter. Rest the dough so that it rises. Then roll a big disc of the dough and cut its sections with a knife as shown. After that roll the sections and arrange them in a cake tin as shown in the photo. Brush with melted butter and egg and sprinkle some sesame seeds over it. Bake until it is golden and enjoy. stylishboard.com

World Bank to spend $80m on Redeemer University, 9 others

 World Bank is set to spend at least $80m on 10 Africa Center of Excellence (ACE), in Nigeria.

World Bank Lead Economist Africa Education, Mr. Andreas Blom, stated this Monday, at a meeting of World Bank with 10 ACE, in Abuja.

He said the World Bank would build African capacity to solve Africa problems.

The 10 universities that were selected in Nigeria included, Redeemer University Mowe, Ogun state\ University of Ibadan, Ibadan (Africa Centre of Excellence for Genomic of Infectious Diseases, ACGID), African University of Science and Technology, Abuja, Pan African Material Institute, PAMI), Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (centre for Agricutural Development and Sustainable Environment), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (Center of Excellence on Neglected Tropical Diseases and Forensic Biotechnology), University of Jos (Phytomemedicine Research and Development, ACEPRD), University of Benin (Center for Excellence in Reproductive Health and Innovation), and University of Port-Harcourt (ACE Center for oil field Chemicals).

Due to the number of excellent proposals from Nigeria, three more universities were added they were, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife (knowledge Park: A model for National Science Technology and Knowledge Park Initiative) STEM, Bayero University, Kano (African Centre of Excellence in Dryland Agriculture and Benue State University, Makurdi (Centre for Food Technology and Research (CEFTER) – Agriculture.

He said it was rather unfortunate that none of the African University is one of the first 500 universities in the world. And hope that soon the story would change.

He identified poverty as a major challenge in relation to food wastage, storage and health related challenges.

And he hoped that by the time ACE is able to engage the continent, at least 25 universities in the continent would make the first 500 ranking in the world universities.

He stressed the importance of working together with World Bank through commitment and hardship.

“For Nigeria to have 10 out of 18 Centers of ACEs, it shows its clear leadership in the continent” he said.

The Executive Secretary of National Universities Commission, NUC, Prof. Julius Okojie, in his address said ACE project was initiated. In 2013 by the governments of Republic of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal and Togo, with support from World Bank.

He said the project is meant to build capacity in competitively selected institutions to produce in-demand highly and applied research, and secondly to facilitate rapid development within the African sub-region through the strengthening of Centres of Excellence by way of collaborations and partnering in the sharing of talents, skilled labour and higher education services.

“Under the ACE programmer, grants of up to US$8 million would be awarded to winning proposals, from various institutions across Africa consisting of a lead institution and collaborating partners. The primary focus would be on science, technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), Health Sciences and Agricultural Sciences.

A total of 55 proposals were received, all of which were carefully evaluated by a team of experts assembled by NUC”. Okojie said. 247nigerianewsupdate.com

Today: DECLARE The WORD Aloud

What does it cost to wake UP every morning and DECLARE great and mighty WORDS over our lives?

Why remain moody, fearful and uneasy?
What if you are TO RELEASE the Angels that will bring you FORTUNES via your declarations?
I guess they will fold their hands & keep looking till you.... (You get my point)

STOP waiting for whatever...
ACTIVATE
Declare TODAY.
NOT COMPLAIN OR MURMUR.

 What does God's WORD say about you and the situation?
Now now, let’s DECLARE
Don’t say Ooooo
DECLARE aloud

The Beauty in Ashes

I love facial dimples, I so wish my cheeks were decorated with those dainty dents! My friend has these awesome dimples on both cheeks and anytime he smiles, oh my, he always looks super cute. The other day, I was looking at his picture and called him 'dimples' by way of offering a compliment. He smiled and told me something I had never heard, thought, or considered....

He said to me, "Do you know that dimple is a deformity?" I was like, "No way! What??? That's not possible! How could something that attractive be a deformity?" Well, curious me went straight in search of information and indeed, I found out that dimples are actually genetic defects (caused by shortened facial muscles). However, as genetically defective as they are, they are considered a mark of beauty and loveliness. For those who have 'em, dimples are DELIGHTFUL DEFECTS! How awesome is it, that something, which is supposed to be a defect, turns out to be a beauty mark?

There's a saying in my native language, "A white pap comes out of a black pot," and another one, "When a king's palace burns down, it produces a more beautiful palace (by the time it's renovated)." This is to say that glorious things can very well be born out of adversity. A remarkable story in the Bible tells of how God turned the adversity of two women into a timeless beautiful story. Ruth 1:1-5, 8-9, 16-19, 19-21; 4:13-17

1 In the days when the judges ruled in Israel, a severe famine came upon the land. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah left his home and went to live in the country of Moab, taking his wife and two sons with him. 2 The man’s name was Elimelech, and his wife was Naomi. Their two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in the land of Judah. And when they reached Moab, they settled there. 3 Then Elimelech died, and Naomi was left with her two sons. 4 The two sons married Moabite women. One married a woman named Orpah, and the other a woman named Ruth. But about ten years later, 5 both Mahlon and Kilion died. This left Naomi alone, without her two sons or her husband. 8 But on the way, Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go back to your mothers’ homes. And may the LORD reward you for your kindness to your husbands and to me. 9 May the LORD bless you with the security of another marriage.” Then she kissed them good-bye, and they all broke down and wept. 16 But Ruth replied, “Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. 17 Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!” 19 So the two of them continued on their journey. When they came to Bethlehem, the entire town was excited by their arrival. “Is it really Naomi?” the women asked. 20 “Don’t call me Naomi,” she responded. “Instead, call me Mara, for the Almighty has made life very bitter for me. 21 I went away full, but the LORD has brought me home empty. Why call me Naomi when the LORD has caused me to suffer and the Almighty has sent such tragedy upon me?”

13 So Boaz took Ruth into his home, and she became his wife. When he slept with her, the LORD enabled her to become pregnant, and she gave birth to a son. 14 Then the women of the town said to Naomi, “Praise the LORD, who has now provided a redeemer for your family! May this child be famous in Israel. 15 May he restore your youth and care for you in your old age. For he is the son of your daughter-in-law who loves you and has been better to you than seven sons! 16 Naomi took the baby and cuddled him to her breast. And she cared for him as if he were her own. 17 The neighbor women said, “Now at last Naomi has a son again!” And they named him Obed. He became the father of Jesse and the grandfather of David.

These two women were battered and broken in the face of adversity. They both lost everything but God turned that same ugly situation into a glorious one. In the midst of the ashes, God brought out beauty. There is no way we'd trace the genealogy of our Lord Jesus Christ that these two names won't be mentioned. What a beautiful story!

Do you know, that there's beauty in those ashes scattered around your life? Do you know that defect or deformity has massive potential of becoming the most beautiful thing that ever happened to you? Do you know there's a blessing in that raging storm? Do you know that:
He gives beauty for ashes
Strength for fear
Gladness for mourning
Peace for despair
If you didn't know, now you know! It don't matter what your situation looks like presently, after you've been tried in fire, you will come out as fine gold. Your situation is but a dimple - a delightful defect. You will find beauty in your ashes. 
-By Ayotunde

In His Pursuit

TEXT JOHN 8:12-31

Key verse: “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12).

Light is required to find our way. When a lamp is used, its usefulness will depend largely on how close we follow the bearer of the lamp. To follow from afar is as good as walking in darkness. And walking in darkness will make one go astray, stumble, fall and be destroyed.

To the Pharisees, Jesus declared “...I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life”. This was enough message to bring conviction and guilt upon their hearts. They tried to cover-up their guilt by accusing Jesus of boasting. The Lord however went on to justify His claims as He made them understand that the Father bears witness of Him. He appealed to their knowledge of the law in Deuteronomy 17:6. This generated further questions from the Pharisees who instead of being teachable, indulged in contentious questions in order to engender strife. Nevertheless, Christ’s purpose of giving detailed explanations of His deity and relationship with the Father was achieved as some simple-hearted Jews got saved.

Many today argue and contend God’s power to save through Jesus the only Light of the world. Many who claim they are saved dispute sound doctrine on Christian conduct and living. We cannot by wishes and personal desires, change the truth of the word of God. As we hear and read the word of God, we must receive and believe it wholeheartedly like a little child. We must choose to follow Christ and walk in the Light. True discipleship is in believing and continuing in the word of God. Are you born again? Then you must follow Christ and walk in the light.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: To follow Christ is to walk in the Light.