Cristiano Ronaldo has been named as the winner of the FIFA Ballon d’or

Ronaldo: “I’m very happy. It’s very difficult to win this award. Thank you to everybody who has been involved.”

Cristiano Ronaldo has been named the 2013 Ballon d’Or winner by FIFA ahead of Lionel Messi and Franck Ribery.

A bumper year for Ronaldo saw him scoop football’s most prestigious individual award at FIFA’s gala evening in Zurich. The Real Madrid winger was heavy favourite prior to the announcement on Monday, having scored 66 goals in 56 games for club and country throughout the year as well as sealing 2014 World Cup qualification for Portugal by scoring a brilliant hat-trick against Sweden in their play-off match.

Messi missed the last six weeks of the year through injury but had scored 42 goals in 45 appearances for Barcelona and Argentina as well as winning La Liga and the Copa del Rey. Ribery enjoyed a treble-winning season with Bayern Munich, completing the Bundesliga, German Cup and Champions League trio and also helped France qualify for the World Cup.

Pele, who opened the golden envelope to announce Ronaldo as World Player of the Year, earlier won the first ever Ballon d’Or Prix d’Honneur award.

Elsewhere, Former Bayern boss Jupp Heynckes was presented with the Coach of the Year award by England manager Roy Hodgson, beating Jurgen Klopp and Sir Alex Ferguson to the trophy. Heynckes guided Bayern to a 2013 treble including Champions League triumph over rivals Borussia Dortmund.

All three Ballon d’Or nominees were included in the FIFPRO World XI, otherwise known as the team of the year. No Premier League players featured for the second successive year, but the Bundesliga and Ligue One had players included for the first time in the award’s history.

The team was made up of Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich and Germany) as goalkeeper while Dani Alves (Barcelona and Brazil), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich and Germany), Thiago Silva (Paris Saint-Germain and Brazil) and Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid and Spain) made up the defence.

Xavi (Barcelona and Spain), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona and Spain) and Ribery (Bayern Munich and France) were named in midfield with Ronaldo (Real Madrid and Portugal), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Paris Saint-Germain and Sweden) and Messi (Barcelona and Argentina) completing the line-up.

Elsewhere, former International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge picked up the Presidential Award, while Germany coach Silvia Neid was named Women’s Coach of the Year.

Ibrahimovic collected the Ferenc Puskas award – given to the player who scored the best goal of 2013 – for his 40-yard overhead kick against England. Afghanistan was given the Fair Play award and Germany goalkeeper Nadine Angerer was named Women’s World Player of the Year.

well deserved, can’t remember seeing a more complete player and a freak of an athlete in any other sport.. well done CR7..

Source: 247nigerianewsupdate.com

What happened here Today?

A man came home from work and found his 5 children outside, still in their pajamas, playing in the mud, with empty food boxes and wrappers strewn around garden, The door of his wife's car was open, as was the front door to the house and no sign of the dog, walking in the door, he found ...an even bigger mess. A lamp had been knocked over, the throw rug was against one wall, In the front room the TV was on loudly with the cartoon channel, the family room was strewn with toys and various items of clothing. In the kitchen, dishes filled the sink, breakfast food was spilled on the counter, the fridge door was open wide, dog food was spilled on the floor, a broken glass lay under the table, and a small pile of sand was spread by the back door.

He quickly headed up the stairs, stepping over toys and more piles of clothes, looking for his wife. He was worried she might be ill, or that something serious had happened. He was met with a small trickle of water as it made its way out the bathroom door. As he peered inside he found wet towels, scummy soap and more toys strewn over the floor.

Miles of toilet paper lay in a heap and toothpaste had been smeared over the mirror and walls. As he rushed to the bedroom, he found his wife still curled up in the bed in her pajamas, reading a novel... She looked up at him, smiled and asked how his day went. He looked at her bewildered and asked, 'What happened here today?' She again smiled and answered, 'You know every day when you come home from work and you ask me what in the world do I do all day?... ''Yes," was his incredulous reply.. She answered, 'Well, today I didn't do it.LoL.

Effectiveness In God's Work

Key verse: “Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee. Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God” (Exodus 18:19).

We take so much on ourselves that it is a miracle in itself that many of us do not break down often. We see ourselves as champions or superstars and come to the inexplicable conclusion that we alone are capable of handling things. In the process, however, we often create more problems than we tend to solve.

Moses thought he was doing a great job as he sat daily from morning to evening, judging the cases brought by the Israelites in the wilderness. He didn’t know any other way to handle the matters they brought to him, and thought it was his responsibility to personally attend to their needs. But his father-in-law, Jethro, came on a visit and promptly told him: “The thing that thou doest is not good”. But not stopping at mere criticisms, Jethro advised that Moses learn how to delegate responsibilities to other “able men such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness”. Their role was to handle the small issues affecting the people in sets of thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens, respectively. Only the difficult and delicate matters would be brought to Moses. This way, the assignment God had given him would be easier as he shared the burdens of leadership with others.

Jethro then told Moses: “If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so, then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people shall also go to their place in peace.” Quite promptly, Moses, heeding the advice of his father-in-law, chose other capable men and assigned tasks to them at different levels, thereby lightening the burden of his work both on himself and on the people of Israel.

It is not a mark of effectiveness to concentrate responsibilities on oneself. If anything, we run the risk of failing to live up to the expectations both of those who gave us the assignment and those we lead. We must never get to a point where we begin to think that without us, nothing can be done well. When we take so much on ourselves, we risk burning out. Worse still, we become ineffective and therefore, unsuited for the responsibility given to us.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: God does not need superstars; He needs servants.

Bible reading: EXODUS 18:13-27

The 7 Love Actions to Show Your Spouse

Romantic movies often trick us into thinking that grand gestures equal big love. They tell us we need to write a message in the clouds or paint words on a billboard or shout it from the top of a mountain.
However, I’d suggest that many small acts of love add up to a lot more than one big gesture. It’s the little things, day in and day out, that show your unwavering love and commitment.
So, I’d like to share with you seven love actions to show your spouse:

1. Write a note. Surprise your spouse with a long love letter and put it on their pillow one morning. Or leave sticky notes with short words of encouragement on the bathroom mirror or the kitchen table.

2. Bring flowers. Bringing a bouquet of flowers to your spouse is a great way to show you were thinking of her. Set the flowers in a vase of water on the counter or by the door. This way, they will be there all week long, and every time she passes them, she’ll be reminded of your love.

3. Make the bed. Mornings are constantly a rush to get out the door. But I promise you, the 60 seconds it takes to make the bed is always worth it. When my wife, Susan, comes in at night from a long, hard day to find the bed made, she smiles knowing I made the effort to make her happy in this small way.

4. Cook dinner. There’s nothing like good smells from good food cooking in the kitchen when we get home. So take over one night and make a meal for the whole family. Love your spouse well by trying a new recipe or just sticking with one of their favorites.

5. Plan a creative date. Get creative by planning a simple date that fits your lifestyle. Go for a picnic in the back yard, go to a pizza diner down the street, go for a walk, watch the stars come out at the park or go out for morning coffee. Whatever you do, be intentional in making your spouse feel special on the date.

6. Hold hands. After being married a few years, it’s easy to forget the simple things in your relationship. Holding hands is one of those things. When you’re out to dinner, driving in the car together or just sitting on the couch at home, grab your spouse’s hand.

7. Call and text. Even if daily schedules have you and your spouse in different places, don’t go all day without communicating. Give them a call during your lunch break just to see how they’re doing and to tell them you love them. A quick call or text will reassure them that they are important to you and on your mind.

What are some other love actions you take to love your spouse?

-By Mark Merrill

Prayers For New Week, May God Bless YOU!!!

May God Bless you with Happiness! May God Bless you with Hope to live! May God Bless you with Joy to share! May God Bless you with Live in peace! May God Bless you with Sweet dreams! May God Bless you with Kindness to care! May God Bless you with Beauty and long-life! May God Bless you with family/friends to love you! May God Bless you with a cheerful heart to give! May God Bless you with a Shelter to protect you! May God Bless you with every Good thing in life! 

May God Bless you with Food and Water to fill you! May God Bless you with a Family to be proud of you! May God Bless you with people to share love and charity! May God Bless you with Smiles to cheer you on days you feel alone! May God Bless you with Sunshine to warm your day when the world seems cold! And May God Bless you with Beautiful Bright Stars in the sky to show you the way when it is dark! For God says 

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”. ~ God Bless You!

Happy new week from ASB-WORLD

The 10 Foods Every Healthy Kitchen Needs

When it comes to eating healthy, you need to set yourself up for success. A kitchen filled with cookies and chips, for example, won't help you reach for that piece of fruit instead. Be smart by stocking up on healthy items that keep for a while and help you whip up a healthy meal no matter how time-pressed you are. Read on for 10 of our favorite healthy foods every kitchen should have.

Apple Cider Vinegar: While the merits of drinking apple cider vinegar to lose weight may be debatable, what is true is that the unfiltered vinegar can help relieve digestion or congestion-related woes and is a popular ingredient in energy-boosting detoxes. Keep a bottle in your cupboard to whip up tasty, health-boosting recipes like this honey apple cider vinegar dressing.

Baby Spinach: You can toss a handful or two of nutrient-rich leaves into almost any meal, from smoothies to soups to pastas. You won't really notice the taste, but since the leafy green is packed with iron, magnesium, vitamin A, vitamin K, and more, your body will thank you.

Chia Seeds: Add a tablespoon of these tiny black seeds to your breakfast smoothie or bowl of oatmeal for an energizing start to your day. When mixed with liquid, the tiny black seeds swell up, which helps you feel fuller longer, as does the fact that chia seeds are an excellent source of fiber and protein.

Fruit: Easy-to-eat fruits make for a convenient snack when you're ravenous and ready to reach for anything. Keep fruits like apples, bananas, pears, and oranges stocked in your kitchen so you can reach for a healthy and portable snack whenever hunger strikes.

Greek Yogurt: Whether you're enjoying it with a few fresh toppings or using it as a cooking substitute to cut calories (try it instead of sour cream, butter, mayonnaise, and more), nonfat or low-fat Greek yogurt is a healthy fridge essential (unless, of course, you are vegan or lactose intolerant).

Lemon: Squeeze it in your water, on top of your salad, or into your tea: having a lemon or two on hand is an easy way to add dimension (as well as detoxifying properties) to your home-cooked meals.

Nuts: While they may be high in calories, a handful of nuts helps keep you full while giving you a much-needed dose of heart-healthy omega-3s. Make sure your nut habit is a healthy one with this chart of nut serving sizes and nutrition.

Protein Powder: If you're trying to lose weight, getting enough protein to build strong muscles should be just as important as the time you spend in the gym. Adding a scoop of protein powder to smoothies, baked goods, and more will help you up your protein intake for the day without over thinking it. Whether you're gluten-free, vegan, or lactose intolerant, here are protein powder picks for every diet.

Quinoa: A healthy diet includes many types of whole grains, but keeping a bag of quinoa in your cupboard is always smart. The versatile grain cooks up quickly for a hot dinner, while leftover quinoa blends well with almost any salad to keep you satisfied during lunch. These quinoa recipes for breakfast, lunch and dinner show just how indispensable the grain will be to your healthy-eating routine.

Spices: A well-stocked spice rack can cut your dependence on salt and sugar to flavor your food. Add immune-boosting, blood-sugar-regulating cinnamon to your coffee, for example, or a sprinkle a teaspoon of anti-inflammatory turmeric into your hearty dinners.

Source: shine.yahoo.com