SHINE AS STARS

‘And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever.’ Daniel 12:3

Today, I want to encourage you to S.H.I.N.E. As Christ’s ambassadors in this world, we must be the light that will lead them to the Father. We must exemplify true Christianity in all our dealings. Christ encouraged, ‘Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven’ (Matthew 5:16 KJV).

S – Smile – Let the joy of the Lord be reflected by the smile on your face. Be joyful, rejoice, and be glad. The Psalmist said, ‘Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased’ (Psalm 4:7). No matter how sad you are, a smile will help. Always bring the fragrance of a joyful welcoming smile.

H – Hold -your peace, talks less. Think through your response, be calm. Pause before you speak – speak peace. Be reconciliatory in your speech. James 3:2 says, ‘For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.’

I – Integrity – You must have a predetermined policy to be honest. Exemplify performance and character integrity. Build the inner man by the Word of God. Proverbs 11:3 reads, ‘the integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.’

N – Nice – Be a good person, be kind. Kindness is what a blind man can see and a deaf man can hear. Have a reputation for kindness. Don’t just be right, be kind. Don’t just be strict, be sweet. Don’t just be firm, be tender. You can be tough yet tender-hearted.

E – Exemplify Excellence – If no one is following you then you are not worth being followed. Be an epitome of excellence. Go the extra mile in all you do. Be an example of believers.
Be the Christ you want to see in others. Carry your candle and light the darkness in the world around you. I wish you all great and grace. God bless you. By Rev. G. E. Erhabor

10 REASONS WHY YOU'LL NEVER BE RICH

You don't have to inherit money, win the lottery, or even be the next Bill Gates or Warren Buffett to become financially secure. With a little bit of knowledge and a lot of hard work and discipline, almost anyone can accumulate sufficient wealth -- and perhaps even great wealth -- to enjoy the creature comforts of life.

But how do you get ahead if you're living paycheck to paycheck? The fact is, no matter how much you earn you could be creating your own barriers to financial success without even knowing it. Here are ten things you might be doing that are preventing you from achieving prosperity. Change your ways and you could find yourself well on the way down the road to riches.

1, You Buy High and Sell Low: Does this sound like your investing strategy? You hear about a stock that is soaring, and you want to get in on the action, so you impulsively buy. But soon after, the stock starts tanking. You can't bear the pain of watching your shares decline further in value, so you immediately sell at a loss. As a result, you're wasting money rather than building wealth. Unfortunately, many investors buy high and sell low because they follow the herd blindly into the latest hot stock. You can resist the urge to go with the crowd if you adhere to smart investing techniques. One such technique is dollar-cost averaging, a simple system of investing at regular intervals no matter what the market is doing. While it doesn't guarantee success, it does eliminate the likelihood that you're always buying at the top -- plus, it takes the guesswork and emotion out of investing.

2, You Buy Everything New: New stuff is nice, but it's often not the best investment. Take cars. Estimates vary, but some experts say a new vehicle loses 30% of its value within the first two years -- including an immediate drop as soon as you drive off the dealer's lot. According to Kelley Blue Book, the average vehicle is worth 44% less after five years. If you're not comfortable buying something that someone else has owned, get over your hang-up because you're missing a big money-saving opportunity. Many pre-owned items can cost up to 50% to 75% less than the price you'd pay if you purchased them new. 

3, You Carry Too Much Debt: Americans have $846.9 billion in credit card debt alone. That's $7,050 per household, according to NerdWallet.com, a Web site that analyzes financial products and data. If you're only making minimum monthly payments on $7,050, it'll take 28 years and cost you $10,663 in interest before you're debt-free, assuming a 15% interest rate. And that only holds true if you don't make any additional charges. Some debts can lead to financial success -- a mortgage to purchase real estate, a credit line to start a business or a student loan to fund a college education -- but a high-interest credit card balance usually doesn't. Pay down credit cards with the steepest rates as quickly as possible. Putting $250 per month toward that same $7,050 debt will retire it in three years and save you about $9,000 in interest versus making minimum payments. 

4, You Pay Too Many Fees: Late fees, banking fees, credit-card fees -- the amounts might seem insignificant when taken individually. After all, an overdue library book or Redbox DVD might only run you a dollar. But if you're regularly paying penalties and fees, these charges can quickly eat a hole in your budget. Consider this: The average bank overdraft fee is $32.20, according to Bankrate.com, and the average charge for going outside your ATM network is $4.13. Late-payment penalties for credit cards can climb as high as $35. So how do you avoid pesky fees? Read the fine print so you understand fee rules, and stay organized so you avoid breaching those rules.

5, You Pass Up Free Money: Would you ignore a hundred-dollar bill on the sidewalk? Of course not. You'd bend over and pick it up. So why are you passing up other opportunities to get free money? If your employer matches employee contributions to a 401(k) but you're not participating in the retirement plan, then you're passing up free money. If you let rewards points from loyalty programs or credit cards expire, then you're passing up free money. If you claim the standard deduction on your tax return when you qualify for itemized deductions that could lower your tax bill even more, then you're passing up free money. Believe it or not, there might even be free money out there that you forgot about -- or never knew of in the first place. There are more than $41 billion worth of unclaimed assets ranging from old tax refunds and paychecks to forgotten stocks and certificates of deposit being held by state agencies, according to the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators.

6, You Neglect Retirement: It's easy to focus on the present -- the bills you have to pay, the things you want to buy -- and assume you'll have time in the future to start saving for retirement. But the longer you wait, the tougher it will be to amass a sufficiently large nest egg. For example, if you wait until you are 35 to start saving for retirement, you'll have to set aside $671 a month to reach $1 million by age 65 (assuming an 8% annual return). But if you start at age 25, you'll need to save just $286 a month to hit $1 million by the time you're 65.Even if you're creeping closer to retirement, it's not too late to start putting away money. 

7, You Spend Too Much: Plenty of Americans live beyond their means but don't even realize it. A 2012 Country Financial survey found that more than one-half of respondents (52%) said their monthly spending exceeded their income at least a few months a year. Yet only 9% of respondents said their lifestyle was more than they could afford. Of the 52% who routinely overspend, 36% finance the shortfall by dipping into savings; 22% use credit cards. Blowing your entire paycheck (and then some) each month isn't an ingredient in the recipe for financial success. Neither is draining your savings or running up card balances. To rein in spending, start by tracking where the money goes every month. Try to zero in on nonessential areas where you can cut back. Then create a realistic budget that ensures you have enough to pay the bills as well as enough for contributions to such things as a retirement account and a rainy-day fund.

8, You Save Too Little: If you're like most folks, your savings habits could use some improvement. The personal savings rate in the U.S. is just 4.9% of disposable income, down from a high of 14.6% in 1975. Only about one-half of Americans (54%) say they have a savings plan in place to meet specific goals, according to a 2013 survey commissioned by America Saves, a group that advocates for better saving habits. Saving needs to be a priority in order to build wealth. Begin with an emergency fund that can be tapped in the event of an illness, job loss or other unexpected calamity. A 2012 survey by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority found that 56% of individuals say they have not set aside even three months' worth of income to handle financial emergencies. Once your emergency fund is well under way, you can divert small amounts toward other goals, such as buying a home or paying for college.

9, You Retire Too Early: An early retirement is a dream for many, but calling it quits if you're too young has several potential drawbacks. For starters, you could incur a 10% early-withdrawal penalty if you tap certain retirement accounts, including 401(k)s and IRAs, before age 59½. (There are exceptions.) You can claim Social Security as early as age 62, but your benefit will be reduced by as much as 30% from what it would be if you wait until your full retirement age, which falls between 66 and 67 depending on your year of birth.

10, You Don't Invest in Yourself: This might be the single biggest obstacle on your path to riches. If you're not investing in continuing education, training and personal development, you're limiting your ability to make more money in the future. "Your own earning power--rooted in your education and job skills--is the most valuable asset you'll ever own, and it can't be wiped out in a market crash," writes Kiplinger'

Source:Yahoofinance

DO YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE IN CHRIST?

The book of Ephesians is often called the “queen of the epistles.” It is like a Reader's Digest condensed version of the whole story of redemption from Genesis to Revelation. In one short book, the apostle Paul teaches in glorious detail what Christ's death on the cross accomplished for us, the seriousness of our need as sinners that caused God to do this, and the ways this gospel changes us practically.

Paul presents in Ephesians a great manual on “gospel-centered” living. He uses the phrases with Christ, in Christ, through Christ, with Him, in Him, and through Him over 30 times in Ephesians' six short chapters. The gospel, we see, has not just given us access to God through Christ, but it has also included us in Christ. It has sealed us in Him—a phrase that would sound blasphemous if the Bible did not say it first.

"In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise" (Eph. 1:13, NASB).

Our inclusion into Christ changes everything. It gives us a brand new identity—righteous, virtuous and powerful—because it is His identity.

Our identity is our sense of self. It is the thing that gives us continuity in how we interact with others despite changes in our circumstances. We often identify ourselves by lesser things than how God identifies us. Some of us identify ourselves by our career, our relationship status, or our children.

I have been a middle school, high school and college math teacher, jobs in which I found a great deal of personal fulfillment. Now I am a wife and mother. On the side, I am an author. Depending on the season of life, I have looked to each role to feel good about myself, to identify myself positively. But those are just roles I steward for a season. They are not my ultimate identity.

Even being the daughter of a family firmly rooted for generations in the low country of South Carolina does not ultimately define me. Jesus Christ, along with all His name invokes, defines me both here on earth and for eternity in heaven. He is my identity because I am in Him.

Practically speaking, when I mix up my roles at any given stage of life with my ultimate identity, I end up in idolatry. At the stage of life I am now as wife, mom, and author, my husband and children cannot be my identity. I cannot pin all of my hopes for the future on their personal successes. It is not fair to them, and it keeps me from placing my hope for the future in God’s hands. They become my idols when I do that.

I also cannot place my hopes for feeling good about myself on the books I write. It did not take long after publishing my first book to receive criticism from a reviewer. I figured out quickly that I would be undone if I allowed the way my books were received to make me feel good or bad about myself. Instead, God calls me to be a good steward of my roles of wife, mom, and author, not an idolater who looks to her husband, children, or books (or whatever stewardship God has given at the time) for her sense of personal achievement.

The problem with idols is not that they will not affirm us and satisfy us in the way that we long. The problem is they cannot. It is not in their power. We devastate relationships in our lives when we look to certain people to meet needs in us God never intended them to meet.

A spouse, friend, or child may try for a season to fill those needs and make us happy, but at some point, they will become so discouraged by the utter depth of our need and our inability to be satisfied with anything they do that they will push us away, perhaps even severing the relationship completely.

Jesus alone is our ultimate source of identity. But what exactly does it mean for us to find our identity in Christ? The Bible uses several word pictures which I find helpful to communicate the details of our relationship with Christ. The Word paints believers at multiple places in Scripture as, first, Christ's cherished bride. By Wendy Alsup

HOW DO I STOP COMPARING MYSELF WITH OTHERS?

Q: How do I stop comparing myself with others?

1. Get clear about you. 
A sense of self lets you see others' successes and become better, not bitter. List words that describe you: smart, strong, kind; mother, friend, visionary. Value yourself and you won't want to be like anyone else.

2. Seek meaning, not approval. 
When you spend your life chasing recognition, you can also expect to spend it worrying about who's passing you by. If you work to advance your dreams, your place in the pecking order ceases to matter.

3. Know that everyone has her own strengths. 
Our parents told us, "Sit up straight like your brother. Clean your room like your sister." The result? We learned to measure what we do by what others have done. But that isn't useful when every individual has unique gifts.

4. Emulate what works. 
When someone does something well, assess what made her succeed and figure out ways to incorporate those traits in your own life. If that's possible, great! If not, refer to #1—and keep doing you. By Iyanla Vanzant

WITH THE SAME MEASURE (expect harvest)

Saturday November 16, 2013 will remain forever fresh in my memory...why? It was such a delight to see God fulfill His word in ways beyond what my little brain comprehend. Mothers Summit is a vision that God gave my mentor, Rev. Mrs Funke Felix-Adejumo, I cannot but be fascinated at the zeal and enthusiasm with which this woman travels around the world encouraging mothers to pray for their seeds. This woman sowed seeds of faith, Christian and godly conduct in my life as an individual about 20 years ago, and I cannot thank God enough who caused my path to cross hers.

 

Where are you in life? What difference can you make in the lives of those around you? Do you procrastinate about the things you need to do today to make a difference? Do you count the cost too much to make a difference? God is a God of principles and He will honor His principles in the life of whoever follows them. Obedience is the shortest way to blessings. What are you measuring out? Goodness, kindness, love and support are fast becoming scarce even at the altar where everyone has become a hoarder and hugger. A man of God says; "you cannot be a star forever" that does not mean your star will grow dim but in the face of age, natural decline etc, you are not likely to be able to do the things you do in your stride today the same way in another 30 years no matter how strong you are. Are you measuring out anything to bless others? If you help fan someone else's fire to flame, be sure there will be someone else waiting to help you blossom. 

We prayed some dangerous prayers at the Mothers summit, one of the prayers was that "our children will not marry their enemies", also, "that they will not marry our enemies". So if you are a daughter in-law and you have been an enemy, how do you reverse that prayer? The world runs on seeds and you cannot pattern the way you live your life after how someone else lives theirs. It is not easy to be on the receiving end especially if what is being dished out is not palatable. Whatever God does shall be, do you attempt to crush dreams, ideas because they do not originate from you? Do you compete endlessly because you too must be heard, seen even in your marriage?

Whether you are a man or woman, you do not need to make life miserable unto others. Ps. 133:1 "Behold how beautiful it is for brethren to dwell together in unity". How often do we neglect the way of peace if it does not massage our egos? When in the family, church or among friends, it is very easy to throw caution to the wind if we are not the centre of attention. The world is a great place when all works well around us but if for a minute we fail to get the desired result, our utterances change...hmm.

Luke 6:38b, For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” In your relationship, among colleagues at work, among brethren at church, from your spouse or family members, what you dish out will be measured back to you. If you find it difficult to say amen, then you might want to watch your actions. If you are not worried but eager to say amen, keep the good work. 

Everything we do in life is a seed, when it germinates, it brings back more than we sows Keep sowing and with the same measure, expect harvest!

By Omo Ishow

SOME LOVELY & SOPHISTICATED: CLASSY ASO EBI STYLES

When it comes to wearing gorgeous traditional attires, some people know the nitty gritty of how well to go about it, how to combine the colors, gorgeous accessories that will complement the amazing attire and how to especially tie the ‘Gele’. Enjoy and have fun….

See more photo below--->>>

HOW TO HANDLING DIFFICULT OR LIFE-THREATENING SITUATIONS

I was pondering on the story of Esau and how he handled what seems like a difficult situation for him. He threw caution to the wind and just thought about the now forgetting tomorrow. Let us look at the story of Esau together from

Genesis 25: 27-34:

27 As the boys grew up. Esau became a skillful hunter. He was an outdoorsman, but Jacob had a quiet temperament, preferring to stay at home. 28 Isaac loved Esau because he enjoyed eating the wild game Esau brought home, but Rebekah loved Jacob. 29 One day when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau arrived home from the wilderness exhausted and hungry.

30 Esau said to Jacob, ‘I’m starved! Give me some of that red stew!’ (This is how Esau got his other name, Edom, which means ‘red’.) 31 ‘All right,’ Jacob replied, ‘but trade me your rights as the firstborn son.’ 32 ‘Look, I’m dying of starvation!’ said Esau. ‘What good is my birthright to me now?’ 33 But Jacob said, ‘First you must swear that your birthright is mine.’ So Esau swore an oath, thereby selling all his rights as the firstborn to his brother, Jacob.

34 Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and lentil stew. Esau ate the meal, then got up and left. He showed contempt for his rights as the firstborn.

Before we begin to find faults in Esau’s actions, how do we handle life-threatening situations? Do we hold on to our rights as daughters of the Most High knowing that come what may, He will never leave us nor forsake us or do we look for alternative options thereby showing contempt for our rights as daughters of the Kingdom?

Humanly speaking, in the face of such situations, we tend to look out for alternative options because we feel God is too slow or He is probably sleeping or has gone on leave. The truth is even though it seems as if He is not acting, He is definitely working behind the scene. I asked myself, what would have happened to Esau if he didn’t eat that stew at that point? I don’t think he would have died anyway but gratifying the now made him act the way he did.

What do you do when your house rent is almost due and you have been praying and probably fasting and nothing is forth coming but there is this boss of yours who has offered you 5 times the amount of your house rent if you just spend one night with him? Do you settle for less or wait for God to act?

As difficult as these scenario seems, there is always a blessing attached to waiting and holding on to God. I love the way the Psalmist put it in Psalm 37:25:

I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor
his seed begging bread.

No matter how slow God seems, the good news is, He is always on time, on point and ever reliable. I want to encourage us this morning, that holding on to God in the face of life-threatening situations may not make sense but it is always the best of every other option available so that we can take full delivery of the blessings of waiting. We know that when Esau earnestly coveted his father’s blessings as the firstborn, he lost it because he had treated his birthright with contempt. May we not miss our blessings because of a careless decision in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

No matter how inviting that option seems, it may hold nothing but regrets at the end of the day, why not hold on for God’s best instead of future regrets. I know beyond a doubt that God will come through for us in that very situation. The year is running to an end, bills are piling, expenses are increasing and there seems to be no way out, my darling friends, never settle for less, wait for God’s very best and you will never regret you did.

My pray is that may the Lord, give us  double grace to hold on in the face of challenges, not to loose focus or be discouraged but to wait and be patient, amen. God bless you real good!

By Onome kunle-Oyedokn

 

THINK BIG!

A man was caught and thrown into a pit of about "40 feet" deep, just because he was a stranger. He struggled trying to get out of the pit, but the more he tried, the weaker his muscles became.

He said to himself, "I don't know how to get myself out of this. Maybe I should just die instead of enduring these miserable struggles and pains."

Just then, he heard a voice screaming, "Help! Help!! Help!!!" The shouts were coming from another pit, which was "10 feet" deeper than the one he was in.

He thought to himself, "Wow, so there is somebody else like me trapped here too."

Listening carefully, he heard some cracking and sand dropping from the wall of the pit of the other victim.

Immediately he summed up his courage and with his last bit of strength, started crawling little by little until he made it out of his pit.

Morals of the Story:

That pain you think you are passing through, there are people worst off than you.

Always say something sweet to yourself. Always smile at your pains. Let them be; they are just there for a while and also to challenge you.

Today may be your darkest hour, but your joy will come in the morning.

Try to encourage yourself. Look at yourself in the mirror, beat your chest and say, "I can make it and I can stand the test of time."

Always try to face your worst fear because nothing GOOD comes easy.

You must be UNCOMFORTABLE to get to your COMFORT ZONE.

Think BIG!
Hi friends, Do you share the same view with this? Let's hear your thoughts/comments on the above topic. Remember, your experience will motivate someone reading this article to move to the top. Stay blessed!!

Hmmm, ITS THANKSGIVING TIME!!!!

Bible says everything we should give THANKS!!! Wishing you all a blessed THANKSGIVING, And to the reader's from countries that do not celebrate Thanksgiving today, or at all...

There is still so much to give thanks to God for.  So from Adenike Salako Blog’s World we Happy Thanksgiving to us all and do have FUN :)

A FOOD FOR THOUGHT!!

My Wife DOES NOT WORK!!! Conversation between a Husband (H), and a Psychologist (P):

P: What do you do for a living Mr. Bandy?
H: I work as an Accountant in a Bank.
P: Your Wife?
H: She doesn't work. She's a Housewife only.
P: Who makes breakfast for your family in the morning?
H: My Wife, because she doesn't work.
P: At what time does your wife wake up for making breakfast?
H: She wakes up at around 5 am because she cleans the house first before making breakfast.
P: How do your kids go to school?
H: My wife takes them to school, because she doesn't work.
P: After taking your kids to school, what does she do?
H: She goes to the market, then goes back home for cooking and laundry. You know, she doesn't work.
P: In the evening, after you go back home from office, what do you do?
H: Take rest, because I’m tired due to all day works.
P: What does your wife do then?
H: She prepares meals, serving our kids, preparing meals for me and cleaning the dishes, cleaning the house then taking kids to bed. Whom do you think works more, from the story above???The daily routines of your wives commence from early morning to late night.

That is called 'DOESN'T WORK'??!!Yes, Being Housewives do not need Certificate of Study, even High Position, but their ROLE/PART is very important! Appreciate your wives, because their sacrifices are uncountable. This should be a reminder and reflection for all of us to understand and appreciate each other’s roles.

All about a WOMAN

* When she is quiet, millions of things are running in her mind.

* When she stares at you, she is wondering why she loves you so much in spite of being taken for granted.

* When she says I will stand by you, she will stand by you like a rock.

Never hurt her or take her wrong for granted… DO NOT BEAT YOUR WIFE, IF YOU DO YOU ARE LESS HUMAN. Respect to you women, wives & mothers out there.  By yomifabiyi

DRESS TO KILL?

 Your dressing says a lot about you. As a matter of fact, it helps us tell a bit about an individual's mental status...If you wear summer clothes in winter, you will be considered mentally unstable. I have also heard this line "dress the way you want to be addressed". I am hoping that you will add your dime and nickel on this. However, if I do not get any response, I will still put what was laid on my heart on this page.

A lot of single women dress to look good for themselves and some others to gain attention. If you are single and you dress to get attention, if your cleavage is not leaving anything to the imagination, where is the place of dignity? If your skirt or dress is so short that your decency runs the risk of exposure to all and sundry if the wind blows, what does that say about your level of decorum?

I have seen married women who show cleavage, all in the name of "still there". Some expose yammy, fatty legs because they still want to "feel among" or considered "being in the market" which of the markets please?. For non Christians maybe it is ok, but if you are a Christian woman and you think you have to flaunt it because you've got it, other men find it disgusting and distracting, so help people to focus by dressing with respect for yourself  in mind.

In the secular world where everything goes, there are standards when you are to attend an interview. You are told to dress in your sunday best, conservative and not to be overly loud, revealing or inappropriate at all. If the people of the world understand the place of decency, what excuse do you have as a godly woman to dress provocatively?

There is a show of dressing for every occasion, if you wear a skirt suit to a club house, you are likely to be out of place, and also if you wear a jogging suit to a black tie dinner you are likely to be denied entry. If you will not go to a corporate meeting in your t-shirt and shorts why would you go about dressing in ways that will not glorify God in your life. A very close darling sister of mine bought cargo Capri pants some years back. She got her size and did not bother to check the style, well, they were low rise and she was so scared the pants were going to fall off at a point when she went out. When you buy low rise pants and your panties show when you bend down, what message are you sending out?

As a married woman the only time you are allowed to wear skimpy, revealing clothes is when you are at home with your husband! A man of God, Pastor Sam Adeyemi said in a message one time, "some women dress to kill, so make sure you dress to kill your husband before he goes outside and sees those women". Our home is where we fail to dress appropriately at times. Your husband should be the number one person you dress to kill! Every man would like his wife wearing skimpy, revealing clothes at home to please him. Please tell me if am wrong all ye men. A personal example, I like wearing t-shirt and lounge pants when at home because they are comfortable. My hubby came in one day and he said; "what's up with you and this velour all the time?" I made sure he never repeated that statement. Throughout the warm months, I ensured I wore skimpy skirt/shorts any time he is at home.

When we were growing up, you are never to wear your native attire without a proper under wear that covers you up nicely. These days with organza lace showing everything you find a lot of women who wear nothing to cover up under the net laces and so on. If a man wore lace with big holes in those days, you were boxers, but now, men and women alike, everybody is attempting to outdo the other by taking outrageous to a whole new level! Life happens and we get busy with more important things that wearing skimpy skirts and stuff. However, we owe it to ourselves to appear decently in or outside our home. For the single ladies you can dress appropriately and still turn heads. It is not the exposure that attracts the right people, it is much more than that; comportment, appearance, cleanliness and so on. Dress the way you would like to be addressed. It may be fashionable to dress exposing yourself, it is not godly or decent to dress revealing your breast and exposing your thighs!

So is it only women that do not dress appropriately you ask? Well, some men do not dress well too, you are constantly wearing a t-shirt with frayed collar and your wife tells you but you do not listen because you have been dressing before she was born.

A lot of young men get into trouble because of where they place their pants. It does not look cool to sag your pants, please pull them up! Do you wear clothes that are too big, too tight or unnecessarily expensive so you can come across as cool? As a matter of fact when you dress the wrong way it send out a wrong message to those who see you. I was at a conference not too long ago and I noticed a man come in looking like a magician because of the loud way he dressed. My days as an undergraduate gave me the opportunity to see some kind of dressing that I pray I do not see again, some as a result of poverty others as a result of lack of exposure. Regardless of your state in life, your appearance says a lot about you.

Bible-reading; 1 Timothy 2:9 "in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing". Blessings. By Omo Ishow

 

MOVING FROM ORDINARY TO OUTSTANDING

To move from an ordinary person to an outstanding person, you must own yourself. Know who you are and accept yourself. Matthew 16:18 says, “And I also said unto thee that thou are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” God can use anyone who has owned himself. He will not use an artificial person (a hypocrite).
Ways in which people avoid their real person;

(1) The crutch mentality: people with this mentality keep looking for a wall to lean on. They depend on others to solve their problems.

(2) A Cover up: Many people cover up with a pretentious lifestyle. The life span of a hypocrite is short. Your covering can never make you outstanding.

(3) Comparing themselves with others: Those who live their lives in comparison will either develop a superiority or inferiority complex. Stop comparing yourself to another person. You are unique.

(4) Subjecting themselves to criticism. This starts with self-criticism. When you criticize yourself, you forget that God is a God of varieties. Rather than bruising yourself with criticism, go from condemnation to gratitude by being thankful to God for who you are.

(5) Conforming: Some people conform to the ways of the world. Be a transformed non-conformist. When you conform to everything around you, you have nothing to show for your uniqueness. Celebrate your distinctiveness.
As you go out this week, decide to be your real person. Our life is a puzzle but when that puzzle meets with Jesus, we become complete in him. 'You' with Jesus, are complete! Have a great week.
BY Prof. G. E. Erhabor

ARE YOU FEELING LIKE SECOND BEST?

Ever been in a situation where someone left you or choose someone else over you? You're attacked with the thoughts:

1. Why wasn't I good enough??
2. Why didn't they make the effort with ME but made it with them?
3. God, will I ever meet someone that will love me for me?
4. What could have I done differently to make the relationship work?
5. Whatever else

Honestly sister (sis), NO matter WHAT-- GOD closed that door. Yes, GOD was protecting you!! I know it didn't feel good, I know you didn't feel loved. I know you felt used, abandoned and rejected but let’s be honest sister; God had to close a door that YOU should have never opened. Ask yourself where you were when you started that relationship with him. You had butterflies, you texted that random all day but deep down in your heart... you had this check that said "danger."

But he was fine, said he loves Jesus and whatever else but you know DEEP down that HE wasn't right for you! Maybe you told God, "I'm going to make this work, I'm tired of being single & lonely" or whatever else.

Or maybe you KNEW homeboy wasn't saved in the first place but you wanted you some sex, hoping that it would make you feel good again, but you KEPT coming up EMPTY. Then, dysfunction took place (as if it was a surprise) and NOW you're dealing with the consequences of ignoring God-- which is a broken heart.

WHILE YOU WERE BUSY CRYING; GOD IS SMILING!

While you were busy crying; GOD is smiling! HE is smiling because HE knows where your story will end. HE is smiling because HE knows the story of your life is about to change. HE is smiling because HE knows it’s your turn to be happy for life.

 HE is smiling because HE is about to put a stop to your suffering and put a permanent smile on your face. GOD is smiling because it’s your turn, It is your turn to get those things that seems impossible. HE is about to turn your pains to gain, your tests to testimony and your painful story to an envious glory.

Remember delay is never a denial. It is your turn right now because it’s GOD's time. Those who rejected you and loose hope on you will be forced to rejoice with you. Never lose hope on GOD, because HE never gives up on you. It’s never over if you are still alive. Always remember that your present situation is not you final destination.

GOD HAS A PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE! GOD WILL SEE YOU THROUGH IN JESUS NAME. -

SOME 11 COMMON THINGS THAT GIRLS DO AND THEIR MEANINGS

Guys there very many things that girls do and say and we fail to understand what they mean or what they want us do. So here are some of the few things girls do, say and there meanings

1. When a GIRL is quiet when you’re together, Millions of things are running in her mind, some are about her future, the love you have for her, her family, the goals in the relationship…

2. When a GIRL never argues with you when you make a mistake, she is hurting inside & thinking deeply, why her being hurt, why you that she trusted so much hurting her? and many more…

3. When a GIRL looks at you with eyes full of questions, She is wondering how long you will be around with her and what are you aims of loving her?

4. When a GIRL answers “ I’m fine, Okay, Never mind…” after a few seconds, She is not at all fine may be something is twisting her mind may be from you, a pal, another guy dating her, relative, money, her boss, her job, or other stuff like studies. So dig deep and get to know why? Don’t leave that hanging.

5. When a GIRL stares at you so much, She is wondering why you are lying to her or you are serious with what u tell her

6. When a GIRL lays on your chest, She is wishing for you to be Hers forever and ever

7. When a GIRL calls you every day, She is seeking for your attention so that you also feel her. In other wards she is showing some care

8. When a GIRL sends u messages every day, She wants you to reply at least once

9. When a GIRL says I love you, She means it so don’t let her down if she is worth your love

10. When a GIRL says that she can’t live without you, She has made up her mind that you are her future and she has much hope in you. Make it real guys

11. When a GIRL says “i miss you”, No one in this world can miss you more than that. Try to feel and understand that

Guys, Hope now u can picture what you have gone through and what your girls have been doing all long, If they happen to do them again, be extra brilliant and act like a real man, never lose those open chances again when a girl tries to show u green lights for you to enter her heart. C’mon go on and shower her with endless love and you make her forget all the pain she has ever gone through. Trust me if you’re serious with her she will give you all her best.

PLEASE NOTE: Not all Girls/Ladies out there who do this that mean everything that I listed above. Some are players, cheats and time wasters. They are all about draining our wallets. They well know that those are the things that can melt a guy’s heart to do everything she wants. So have an eagle eye to some of them.
Source: Xtian-Dela.

NB!!! Girls/Ladies please let know your views and comment, is this true?

A SLUGGISH SOLAR ACTIVITY SURPRISES THE SCIENTISTS!!!!

Calm solar cycle prompts questions about impact on EarthWashington (AFP) –

The surface of the sun has been surprisingly calm of late -- with fewer sunspots than anytime in in the last century -- prompting curious scientists to wonder just what it might mean here on Earth. Sunspots have been observed for millennia -- first by Chinese astronomers and then, for the first time with a telescope, by Galileo in 1610.

The sunspots appear in roughly 11-year cycles -- increasing to a daily flurry and then subsiding drastically, before amping up again.
But this cycle -- dubbed cycle 24 -- has surprised scientists with its sluggishness.
The number of spots counted since it kicked off in December 2008 is well below the average observed over the last 250 years. In fact, it's less than half.

"It is the weakest cycle the sun has been in for all the space age, for 50 years," National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association physicist Doug Biesecker told AFP.

The intense electromagnetic energy from sunspots has a significant impact on the sun's ultraviolet and X-ray emissions as well as on solar storms.

Solar storms can interrupt telecommunications and electronic networks on Earth. Sunspot activity can also have an impact on the Earth's climate.

Cycle 23 hit its maximum in April 2000 with an average of 120 solar spots a day. The cycle then wound down, hitting bottom around December 2008, the point at which scientists marked the start of the current cycle.

The minimal solar activity at the end of cycle 23 led astronomers to predict a slow cycle 24. But the reality fell even below expectations.

In the first year of the cycle, during which solar activity should have risen, astronomers counted 266 days without a single sun spot.

"The forecast peak was 90 sunspots," Biesecker said, noting that even though the activity has risen over the past year, "it's very clear it is not going to be close to 90."

"The sunspots number peaked last year at 67, almost half a typical cycle," he added.

The last time a sunspot cycle was this slow was in February 1906, the peak of cycle 14, with just 64 spots a day.

The "very long minimum: three years, three times more than the previous three cycles of the space age" was a major surprise, said University of Montana physicist Andres Munoz-Jamillio.

 A magnetic switch

Cycle 24 has also diverged from the norm in another surprising way.

Typically, around the end of each 11-year sunspot cycle, the sun's magnetic fields switch direction. The northern and southern hemispheres change polarity, usually simultaneously.

During the swap, the strength of the magnetic fields drops to near zero and reappears when the polarity is reversed, scientists explain.

But this time, something different seems to be happening. The north pole already reversed its polarity several months ago -- and so it's now the same polarity as the south pole.

According to the most recent satellite measurements, "the south hemisphere should flip on the near future," said Todd Hoeksema, director of the Wilcox Solar Observatory at Stanford University.

He didn't seem concerned about the phenomenon.

But scientists are watching the sun carefully to see whether cycle 24 is going to be an aberration -- or if this solar calmness is going to stretch through the next cycle as well.

"We won't know that for another good three or four years," said Biesecker.

Some researchers speculate this could be the start of a prolonged period of weak solar activity.

The last time that happened, during the so-called "Maunder Minimum" between 1650 and 1715, almost no sunspots were observed. During the same period, temperatures dropped sharply on Earth, sparking what is called the "Little Ice Age" in Europe and North America.

As the sunspot numbers continue to stay low, it's possible the Earth's climate is being affected again.

But thanks to global warming, we're unlikely to see another ice age. "Things have not started to cooling, they just have not risen as quickly," Biesecker said.

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 Source:YahooNews