YOUR KINGDOM

...For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mothers' womb; and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men; and there be eunuchs, which HAVE MADE THEMSELVES eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake... Matt. 19:12 KJV

Every glorious destiny will place a personal demand on its owner. It is therefore no coincidence that some will end up as huge successes and others end will up average. 

The 'c' part of the above text is so instructional. In every individual lies the power to make relevant changes for the sake of their dreams, purpose or goals. Success is deliberate and its pursuit is very intentional. No man can guess his way to any destination, neither can a driver assume a route to a location. 

The question is 'What are you making yourself'

A wise man once said, 'Failure to plan is planning to fail'. This simply implies that our activity or inactivity is a preparation for a destination or an outcome (positive or negative).

If a student studies, S/he is planning to pass their exams and if a student refuses to study, S/he is also planning to fail their exams.

If you decide to read one book a month, listen to tapes and CDs relevant to your assignment, What would you have made yourself in the next one year in relation to your dreams?

If you decide to work-out 30 minutes a day for the next 6 months and keep an eye on your diet, What would you have made yourself in relation to your fitness dreams?

If you keep listening to those who have failed marriages and relationship by keeping them as close allies, watch it, your relationship might just be on its way down. Interestingly, this is a circle I have witnessed a lot of times.

Those who push for higher degrees and Diplomas, if you look closely, their inner circle is filled with friends/family members with the same goals or have achieved the same goal.

Those (men and women) who eventually walked out of their marriages, most times have been in close ties with people who don't have value for qualitative family life, this could be through direct contact or TV Shows. 

It's the same for a man who hits his wife and a woman who shows disrespect to her husband. 

What are you making yourself?

I charge you today, to start being conscious and aware of the lifestyle you lead. Some people desire to be financially stable but they keep engaging in unhealthy shopping lifestyles. Would their dreams be realised? Your guess is as good as mine. 

WAY FORWARD

1. Keep your eyes continuously focused on the 'Kingdom of Heaven' (Your ultimate goal, vision, dreams and aspirations)

2. Consciously build habits that will enhance the actualisation of that Kingdom. 

The good news is, IT IS IN YOUR POWER to make the relevant changes you need. So why not accept personal responsibility and take charge of your destiny?

You will not fail!

Till when next we come your way...focus on YOUR KINGDOM.

THE DEMAND: AVERAGE OR GREAT?

The race of life comes one inch at a time; there are those who stay in the race just for the records and there are those who want to win the race; both parties think differently and hence they commit to different types of discipline.  

The question here is, are you just in the race FOR THE RECORDS or are you in the race so as TO WIN? 

In other to win in whatever race you find yourself, be it financial, career, spiritual or marital, all you need to do is to stay ahead of your competition. Competition does not suggest some other person in the race, it simply suggest staying ahead of what you consider your best. If 100% seem to be your best, stay ahead by giving 110%. You need to become your own competition. 

Someone said, it is not easy...Yes! I wish I could tell you living average is easy, I wish I could tell you being an underachiever is easy. Friends, there is always a price to pay, whether you want to live average or you want to be great. The only difference is one price comes before the other. 

When you live easy, life will turn our hard but when you commit to seemingly hard but rewarding disciplines, your life will turn out easy. 

If you choose to live average, you would enjoy pleasures today and get the pain tomorrow. If you choose to live great, you will get the pain today and have endless pleasure tomorrow. 

So in whatever way you look at it, you must pay something for whatever you decide to do. 

How do I then stay ahead of the Competition?

Get tough on yourself! Place the demand of greatness on yourself! Great people are ordinary people who just seem to put great demands on themselves and average people are ordinary people with average demands on themselves. 

Can you imagine an orange juice without the process of 'squeezing' of the juice? Can you imagine keeping fit without going through the rigors of exercising and working out? It is time to stay ahead of your competition. It is time to leave your average lifestyle and aspire for something more than average. 

You would amaze yourself if only you knew, how much of your potential that could be realised by placing great demands on your self. 

Paul Said:

Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown....therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly...I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize... 1Corinth. 9:25-28 (NIV)

Paul said, 'I strike a blow to my body...that I will not be disqualified for the prize'

It is time to place new demands on yourself...demands to make you stay ahead.

Do you feel overweight? Place a new demand on your lifestyle that would empower your being fit.

Do you feel financially down? Place a new demand on yourself for services that can generate income.

Are you struggling with that subject? Place a demand on yourself that would increase the number of hours you study which will in turn address the challenging areas of the subject. 

No matter what you do, do not just be in the race...STAY AHEAD of the competition and you can only do so, by placing the relevant demand as it applies to your objective. 

Till when next you visit this blog, place a demand on yourself FOR GREATNESS and NOT FOR BEING AVERAGE!

DRIVE YOUR DREAMS 4

A baby requires milk at birth and then graduates to solid food after some months. You don't use a Safety Helmet as a Baseball cap, neither can you drive a ship on a motorway.

What does your dream require and what are you feeding it? What environment does your dream require to blossom, what environment are you creating. 

It's not enough to have a dream, it's not enough to know what you want...if you aren't feeding your dream right...that dream will never see the light of day. It's okay to do something but it's even more important to do the appropriate thing. 

Are you suppose to be working out 5 times a week and you are just doing 3 times a week?

Are you suppose to be studying for 3  hours a day and you are just studying for an hour a day?

Are you suppose to be saving 30% of your income monthly and you can barely save 10%? 

There is no such thing as, I have done my best...if you are not giving it what is required, you aren't giving your best. 

You cannot short change the process. 

You can try to talk everyone to believing you are doing your best...but the process will find you out.

Stop waiting and expecting to be congratulated when this is something you are supposed to be doing; Whose dream is it by the way? So, who else was suppose to be doing the work? 

If you are suppose to dial an 11 digit number, and you dial just 10 digits correctly...you will never reach your destination. Stop looking for short cuts. 

If you claim you want it so bad, then commit FULLY to the price.

Don't complain about the results you didn't get by the work you didn't complete. 

You will not fail!

Good morning and Happy New Week!

WHAT DO YOU SEE?

As a very active child whiles growing up, I love to play a lot. I always looked forward to the next half term holiday and the next end of term holiday. It was so interesting because right from the first day of the term, I will ask my older sister about the closing date of the term and from then on, the count down begins. 

One day, the long vacation just began and I woke up very excited knowing I had 8 solid weeks to play; my sister got into the room and said to me "I know it is your right to play out the whole holiday because it is a holiday but when you get to the last day of the holiday, what would you reflect on as an achievement during this 8 week period"? 

We both saw the same thing but interpreted it differently. One of the fundamental differences between an achiever and a non achiever is "interpretation". They both have the same challenges, faced with probably the same economic circumstance but their independent interpretation of their situation is what informs what actions they both take. 

When you LOOK (vision) at a challenge, circumstance or situation, "what do you SEE (interpretation)"?

Jesus was told of a girl who was dead, in response he said, "she is asleep" Matt. 9:24

David was before Goliath, whiles everyone was scared because they saw a giant, David was excited because he saw "a bird", no wonder he told Saul, "I don't need all of your armoury, a bird only needs a sling and a stone". I Sam. 17:39

Have you just lost your job? What do you SEE?

Are you having any difficulty with your wife? What do you SEE?

Does it seem like your pay cheque is not good enough? What do you SEE? 

...but be transformed, BY THE RENEWING OF YOUR MIND... Rom. 12:2

YOU CANNOT SEE BETTER THAN THE QUALITY OF THE RENEWAL OF YOUR MIND! 

Till when next you visit this blog, PAY ATTENTION TO HOW YOU SEE (interpret) what you look!

YOU CAN DO MORE

Self appreciation is a very good tool for inspiration; it is great to look at how far you have come and then take time out and digest that feeling of accomplishment. The biggest challenge is dwelling there for longer than necessary. 

It is time to think a step ahead of your last success...it is time to DO MORE! 

You can choose to be a Conqueror or "more than a conqueror" 

You can choose to be just an employee or be "more than an employee"

You can choose to be just a student or be "more than a student"

The key is DO MORE! 

...By faith Abel offered unto God a MORE EXCELLENT sacrifice than Cain,  by which he obtained witness...God testifying of his gifts...Heb. 11:4

O boy! Did you see that? 

They were both excellent but Abel was MORE excellent...and God also attested to it.

When God attests to your DOING MORE, your promotion will be unstoppable. Can a man (boss/manager) stop an employee whom God has approved from being promoted?

It's time to do more...

In your business...DO MORE

At your work place...DO MORE

In your relationship...DO MORE

With your Children...DO MORE

With your keeping fit...DO MORE

With your Personal Discipline...DO MORE

With your drive for excellence...DO MORE

In your relationship with God....DO MORE

Till when next you visit this blog...keep DOING MORE!

PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR GARDEN

Every farmer or gardener has a fundamental challenge. The challenge of weeds. So beyond the preparation of the soil and planting of the seed, there has to be a constant fight against weeds. 

What are weeds?

Weeds are unwanted growing plants in the farm or garden. Most times, they fight the healthy growing of the plants and if the farmer does not constantly take them off they will eventually take up as much ground as they can. 

Putting the above in perspective, in life we all have "weeds" to deal with. Don't watch sudden negative thoughts which are inconsistent with your Vision/training/conviction to settle. If you do, they will choke your set goals (plants) and your pursuit of them. 

Weeds come in several forms: through thoughts (excuses), sudden decline in our resolve (procrastination), negative influences from old friends(engaging in things that don't enhance the achievement of our goals), etc. 

Why am I not at the level of discipline I have always envisaged? Why can't we keep up with our daily workout routines? 

There are certain habits that all of a sudden has altered your way of life...it is time to cut them off. Habits like being irritated by everything around you for no reason...wasting time on Facebook...desire of things you don't necessarily need but just because everyone else has it, you can't help but get one...how come we lie and don't feel disappointed in ourselves anymore? 

But from the beginning it was not so...

These things came in unnoticed, and because we didn't pay attention to see that it is choking up our "destiny plants", they have kept us at a low level. It's time to make a change. 

Gal. 5:9 says:

A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump

It always starts with just "a little" (just for this once). Some people are now alcoholics because of they wanted to have "a little" for their stomach sake. 

There are certain friends we need to let go...they are not necessarily bad friends, but they don't enhance our focus. They keep coming up with time wasting ideas in a bid to have fun; there are certain TV shows we need to stop, it corrupts our faith...attacks our mission consciousness. These are weeds.

The tricky bit is, most weeds look so nice that, one can mistaken them for actual plants. But to spot them we need to know definitely what plants we are trying to grow.

When most distraction comes they don't necessarily look like one.

Till when next you visit this blog, KEEP PAYING ATTENTION TO YOUR GARDEN.

LIVING LIKE A SPORTS MAN

 A wise man once said, 

"Champions are not made in the ring, they are only recognised in the ring...champions are made in their everyday rehearsal" 

In the world of sports, aiming for trophies is the biggest goal for all. This is why, they submit to coaches (mentors), personal trainers (teachers), personal discipline, etc. They live everyday of their lives with a major tournament in focus. 

They sweat it out on a daily basis on the field, ring, or in the gymnasium. They might be in pain, but for the glory ahead, they endure. Some of them give up friendships and social habits that does not enhance the quality of their preparedness for the tournament. You can see it clearly in the tone of their body muscles. 

The truth is we can live the philosophy of the sports man in our pursuit of destiny.

Paul said...

Know ye not, that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 1 Corinth 9:24

It's time to set your goals as major sports tournament. Desire winning like a sports man. Enough of living like a spectator or a sports analyst. 

WHAT ARE YOU REHEARSING FOR? What disciplines would you commit to daily that would make you the best in your area of specialty. These days, people talk less of excellence and celebrate being average. Don't be caught with in that web. 

It's time to run like you want the medal. My teacher once told me, the key to unending success is PREPARE! PREPARE!!PREPARE!!! 

Some of you say, you want to be the best you can be but, the friends you keep close make you sound like a joker, your eating and sleeping  habit is contrary to the objective, what you commit to socially is amazingly ridiculous for the goals you have.

It's time to wake up! Greatness is upon you stop wasting away! Stop living like a spectator, all they know to do and all they prepare for is fun. Stop being an analyst, all they know to do, is to talk and judge those who are actively engaging in the field/ring. 

In the following week, month, quarter or year, set yourself daily goals that will make you the best. Yes! The best! Commit to the discipline that will make you become or achieve that goal, put an end to every friendship that will not feed that objective... Get a coach/mentor/Personal trainer and COMMIT TO THEIR INSTRUCTION AS IT APPLIES TO YOUR ASSIGNMENT and watch yourself become an amazement to yourself. Do you remember, it took a driving instructor to get you your Drivers License?

Believe it or not...IT WILL ALWAYS TAKE A COACH. Show me a man who is committed to a coach, I will show you a man on his way to the top. Only spectators and analysts live without one. 

You too can be celebrated! You too can be given an award! You too can make global headlines!

THERE ARE THOSE WHO MAKE THE NEWS, THERE ARE THOSE WHO REPORT THE NEWS! YOU WILL ALWAYS BE ONE OF THEM...Have you been reporting? It's time to switch roles. RUN THAT YOU MAY OBTAIN!

Till when next you visit this blog, keep LIVING LIKE A SPORTS MAN!

LIVING WITH A DIFFERENCE

Have you ever wondered why...two people will start something on the same level and yet end up at different degrees of success? What is the difference between the average achiever and the super achiever? Why do some kids do well at school and others don't? 

In my little study, I have discovered one fundamental answer that answers all the above questions and many more of such questions. 

THOSE WHO MAKE THE DIFFERENCE COMMIT TO DIFFERENT TYPE OF DISCIPLINE UNLIKE EVERYONE ELSE.

Paul said...

"I have the right to do anything, you say-but not everything is beneficial. " I have the right to do anything-but I will not be mastered by anything. 1 Corinth. 6:12

Have you ever sat down to evaluate the outcomes at your academics, career, business or finances? Why are you not reaching your goals? It is time to review your personal discipline. Some people started well, and for some reason discontinued along the way, some people are non-finishers, if they start 10 things,they can not see 5 through to the end...it's a lack of personal discipline. 

I dare you to commit to a course (FULLY), a process or even a personal program for 3 (FULL) months and see how wonderful your life will turn out. STOP WALKING AWAY, STOP GIVING UP AND ACTING ALL OVERWHELMED! 

Someone say, but it's hard...Yes! It was not designed to be easy. Anything of value comes with a price...you don't buy a Bentley with a few dollars, do you? 

The good news is...WHEN TOUGH TIMES COME, IT WILL TAKE YOUR PERSONAL DISCIPLINE TO KEEP YOU GOING. Those who breakdown during tough times do so because prior to that time they don't have any level of personal discipline. Life circumstances is ALWAYS A WAKEUP CALL TO RESPONSIBILITIES WE HAVE IGNORED. That's why you pray more when challenges come...

Crying, nagging and self pity does no good to you. Laying blames, and giving excuses for the average results in and around your life makes you unfit for your next level. 

The funny part is not being disciplined is also a discipline in itself.  

Wake up! Address yourself...look into the mirror and challenge the person you see in there. Ask him/her...

WHAT DISCIPLINES ARE YOU COMMITTED TO?

WHERE WILL YOUR CURRENT DISCIPLINE LEAD YOU? If you keep doing what you are doing now, how you are doing it, and continue for the next 3 months, where will you arrive? 

It's a shame that the trend these days is...someone who has the capacity to deliver a 95% outcome, only delivers 40% and yet, they celebrate themselves and give themselves a 'treat'. I see adults put themselves on a self destructive pedestal all in the name of "rewarding themselves" for what? A mediocre lifestyle? Being an underachiever is now laudable. 

The seventh month is coming to an end...

Decide today to step up your discipline...

Discipline your thoughts...ALWAYS STAY OPTIMISTIC!

Discipline your Temperament...anger is a choice, it's not the circumstance but your choice.

Discipline your appetite...

Discipline how you speak to people: learn to communicate, stop being cynical or verbally offensive.

Discipline your Time management...if it is 10a.m. be there 30 minutes earlier. 

Discipline your expenditure...a man's wealth does not consist of how much he acquires but how much he can save and invest.

Discipline your sleep...if you sleep 8 hours a day, you are living an average life.

Be studious...LIVING WITHOUT READING IS DYING WITHOUT KNOWING 

Do the work...increase your input and check what becomes of your output.

How often do you pray fervently in a week? Do you even study the Word..? Decide to do better from today. 

Till when next you visit this blog, DECIDE TO START LIVING WITH A DIFFERENCE!

GROWTH METRE

Every time something looks impossible to us, every time something looks overwhelming to us, there is a simple explanation we give to such tasks: it is hard...it is too difficult...maybe it is not for me.

Give a 3 year old a 10 litre of oil in a jar to move for 100 metres. The child might not even be able to lift it up from the floor. Bring another child who is 12 year old to do the same task, he does it comfortably. Have we changed the task? No! So, what happened? The difference in the level of growth and development between both children. 

I tell you the truth, for everything you think is a problem, challenge or difficulty...someone somewhere is currently triumphing over the same situation. Challenges come to measure our level of growth in life (as it applies to that challenge); but most of us instead of RESPONDING to those challenges, choose to REACT to them. When we respond, we simply ask yourselves, HOW CAN I..? When we react, we simply give ourselves reasons to justify why we are in such difficulty. 

It is time to grow up!

Your negativity towards life and the challenges that come with life is definitely taking you nowhere. Enough of your complaining, enough of the self pity and endless reasons for you not being where you want to be or achieve what you want. Your level on the growth metre is just too low. 

In Numbers 13 (the story of the 12 spies): Every one of them saw giants, but 10 of them were REACTIVE and only 2 of them were RESPONSIVE. The interpretation we give to life's seeming challenges is a reflection of our growth level. If we feel overwhelmed it is an indication that we need some growing up to do. 

Every giant is kill-able; every mountain is surmountable. The question is ARE YOU READY TO PAY THE PRICE FOR GROWTH? ARE WE READY TO GIVE UP OUR CRAVINGS FOR PLEASURE AND FUN AND SUBMIT TO THE PAIN OF DISCIPLINE THAT MAKES US FIT FOR THE CHALLENGES OF LIFE. There is only one reason, why someone who is overweight would remain the way they are...not simply ready to give up their unhealthy but comfortable lifestyle for the pain that comes with working out, in order to keep healthy.

The pain of discipline is temporary but HIGHLY REWARDING, the fun of not accepting responsibility for growing up is also temporary but SPEEDILY DESTROYING 

I say to you today, that marital challenge, relationship challenge, financial challenge, career challenge, etc are all surmountable. Yes! They are surmountable. How?

Growing up is a DELIBERATE and CONSCIOUS action. GROWTH CAN NEVER BE ASSUMED. 

Here are a few basic steps: 

1. Stop justifying your current attitude towards the problem. Complaining and blaming everyone and everything does not solve the problem.

2. What new disciplines (reading, studying, working out, praying more, being more positive, etc.) do I need to commit to for a positive change in my world? List them.

3. GO ALL OUT AND DO what you have listed in number 2.

WE CAN NOT FIX THE WORLD, WE CAN ONLY FIX OURSELVES

What is your reading on the GROWTH METRE..? It is time to grow up a bit more. Every challenge is not there to kill you but an indication that there is some growing up to do.

Till  when next you visit this blog...keep WELCOMING CHALLENGES and BE RESPONSIVE not REACTIVE. 

JUNE THEME: UP YOUR PERSONAL EXPECTATIONS

Dear Friend,

Congratulations and welcome to a brand new Month!

If you accidentally find yourself on the 3rd floor of a 7 storey building engulfed in a fire outbreak; what are some of the things that would come to your mind? 

Amongst alot of things...one thought will be so loud in your head "I DON'T EXPECT MYSELF TO DIE TODAY" and with such a thought, escape ideas will start flooding your mind. 

When you have LOW EXPECTATIONS of yourself, you will hardly push yourself; when you have HIGH EXPECTATIONS of yourself, you will amaze yourself.

In this new month we will be considering the theme, UP YOUR PERSONAL EXPECTATIONS.

Show me an Individual who is Driven, I will show you an Individual with High and Powerful Personal Expectations of Himself. 

Welcome to a brand new Month!

NO WEEKENDS 5

"The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest and have nothing". Pro. 20:4 (KJV).  

Anything that excuses you from being diligent today, will destroy your economic future tomorrow. I don't care if it is an inheritance gotten, a privileged upbringing, a loving parent, the weather, the Government of the nation where you reside, etc. 

If it excuses you from exerting yourself productively both physically and mentally, it will soon reduce you to a beggar.

Some people will tell you, "at your age, you should not be doing this"..."considering you are a Masters degree holder, you should not be working at such an establishment"...Friends ignore such counsels because soon, when you are in need..they will not be there for you...trust me...if you listen to them...soon you will be a beggar. 

I have one advice for you...you that think, you are over qualified for where you are today...

Whatsoever (Big, small, temporal, menial, casual, oil company, Government worker, hair stylist, barber, fashion designer, store keeper, painter, cleaner...job)...whatsoever (positive and value adding job)...whatsoever (your degrees and qualification notwithstanding) thy hand findeth to do, DO IT WITH THY MIGHT...Eccl. 9:10 (KJV paraphrase are author's). 

Stop being lazy...go out there and do something...go and get busy! Or else...soon...you will start to beg...look around you...take a careful look around...are you seriously happy with your finances? Those who advice you otherwise, when last did they send you money? 

For you spending hours online...burning useful cash on Data bundles...and yet you don't have a job, my prayer is you will lose your phone...so you can focus. How has Social Media helped you? What value has it added to you? How much are you earning and how much are you blowing on Data? 

Something might be cool...doesn't necessarily mean, it adds value to you. 

Before you start to beg with your swag...before...you start to blame everyone and everything...before it looks like you are under a curse...

Humble yourself now and tell yourself the truth! 

NO MORE WEEKENDS!

You will not fail!

Good morning and Happy New Week!