Living Lectures Inc.

I Am Set to Remarry

2017-12-30T09:53:00.000+00:00

Dear lovely people,

“Inside your soul is the ability to survive even the toughest storms, and that paradise can always be found--even in the middle of a hurricane-if you are willing to look” ― Denise Hildreth Jones

At one time, I was invited to deliver a keynote address at a conference regrouping over two hundred Christian youths. When I stepped onto the podium, my opening statement was “I am Set to Remarry.” Behold! The facial expression of a majority of my audience including that of the organizers metamorphosed. The organizers were instantly worried about what could happen next. I hope yours was not same when you read the title of this article? Read on...

I had been discussing for a while with Jacob that afternoon and the excellent wine he served was keeping the conversation going. At one point, I decided to move onto a more delicate subject, I told myself he was sufficiently excited to face such a topic and so I asked suddenly, “When are you remarrying Jacob?” the mention of the word “remarry” instantly cut off the smile on his face, I panicked a little noticing the different expressions that crossed his face. After what looked like an eternity, he cursed and ended up laughing at me, honestly, I did not know what to feel but told myself I asked for it so was ready to face it. He kept on laughing and cursing and at some points, doing a combination of the two. It was already a year since he was subjected to a painful divorce and it sounded like that was the last thing he expected to hear from me. There are high chances that if you ask any friend that same questions, you will likely get the same treatment I had or a combination of it.

With Jacob’s frosty reaction, my mind was busy thinking of existing statistics which suggest that second marriages are more likely to fail than first unions so, it was easy for me to figure out why my friend was nervous about the idea of walking down the aisle after saying “I do” one more time. As if I read his mind, his explanation was not different from what I was thinking and so I asked him “instead of dwelling on the hurdles facing the person marrying again, what if we focused on the ways spouses could work to create stronger marriages the second time around?”

Jacob’s face seemed to light up with my question and I was surprised by his next statement “I think you have a point there because actually, I think an unsuccessful first marriage doesn’t necessarily mean you’re destined to divorce again right?” I smiled and told him, “Now you are talking.” I was happy that I was getting somewhere with him.

Well, many are those who think because of various reasons including religion that divorce should not happen in the first place and so, there is no question talking about remarrying. But then the question is, why nobody marries to divorce, I mean it’s not the desired finality of any marriage but then, what happens when it does happen? What happens after all options have been duly considered and that’s the better option?

Getting married and divorcing later sounds like working hard for success and failing again isn’t it? I know of people who have achieved unbelievable success, I mean the kind of financial success you would never imagine them poor again but sooner than later, you find them completely fallen from Grace to Grass. Successful footballers, businessmen, and megastars have fallen. The question is if you are one of such, do you resign to failure or get up and work for your comeback? Here is my take:

1. What happened with Jacob might never happen with somebody else. In some cases, one or both of the couples were simply young and made a dumb mistake. As they get older, they get incapacitated to make better judgements. This hold same when you fall from grace to grass. Each time you fall, get up, dust yourself and work it out again because failure is not engraved in your DNA.

2. Only give love another shot when ‘the one’ walks into your life. Sometimes, you don’t feel like you are ready when the person you were meant to be with came into your life. When you ditch all the pain and regrets that come with divorce and failure generally, you open up and eventually see the right person or opportunity coming into your life as a gift. Rising to the summit again whether it’s a second marriage or your business, is just like the first...it is work. But when you’ve found ‘the one,’ you aren’t all alone in your life and the payoff is incredible.

3. It’s healthier to be paired up. If you conduct your marriage the right way, your spouse can play an incredibly supportive role in your life. In the same way, failing and getting back on your feet give you the opportunity to attract the right people who can play a supportive role in your life.

4. Being married to one person can be a completely different experience than the one you had with your first spouse. If you learned from the last experience, you will find that you are a different and better person in the next. As we age and learn from situations in life, we mature and hopefully learn to become a better partner. It isn’t necessarily just being with the right person, it’s also being the right person. In the same way, each time you fail and get back on your feet, you learn, get better and do better.

5. If you clean up your own baggage first, it can work. Your partner needs to as well. Whether it’s your first or last marriage, this is essential. Marriage is more about sharing ideals, values and goals. If you don’t have those as your foundation, nothing else will work. Same goes with achieving success once again after a major failure.

6. Because when you know you just know. Many are those who say “never again” after a painful divorce, then comes forgiveness and allowing your heart to feel again. You learn to trust again and to put your heart on the line. Sometimes, success is more meaning full after a major failure and if you learn the lessons that failure always teaches.

7. Finding the right partner is demanding work just like developing the right dream. If you’ve found someone that you feel lucky and blessed to have in your life and he or she feels the same, why not give marriage another shot? Walking your way back to success after a major failure means keeping some options open even if it takes you down new paths.

Dream in the Present Tense

2017-12-27T09:33:00.001+00:00

Dear lovely people,

“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not: nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not: the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.” - Calvin Coolidge

What does it mean to dream in the present tense? If you thought that was not possible, let’s learn from Vero’s story…

From the shade of the giant tree at the summit of the village hill, Vero was enjoying the amazing scenery, the undulating hills, the reflections from the winding streams far below and the greenery was unbelievably beautiful. The serenity of the hilly environment was soothing to her body and spirit but that was not all she had come there to do. With eyes closed, Vero was working on getting herself totally relaxed by breathing in and out slowly, feeling the oxygenated air filling and leaving her lungs for over five minutes.

Vero went up the hills that afternoon to write how she wants her life to be. She was convinced that writing and imagining with emotion is so powerful to anybody’s subconscious mind. Once she felt relaxed, she started writing in her notebook. Her opening sentence was very interesting “I am so grateful now that I have brought myself to focus on the important things I want in life.” Before long, she was on the fifth page of her notebook and the amazing thing was that she was writing everything as though it is happening in her life at that very moment. She actually let herself to feel it and so she kept on writing not wanting to stop writing. She was writing in as much detail as she could. At the end of what seemed like an hour of writing her life story, she started re-reading it over and over, a few times out loud slowly and with feeling.

In Vero’s story, she demonstrates that she clearly understands the power of writing her dream in the present tense. The simple act of re-reading her write-up over and over, feeling every bit of it equally programs her mind to start attracting those circumstances to herself through events and people. You might have heard or read about the law of attraction, if not you better read it.

After you write your life story or dream just like Vero did make it a point of duty to read your story and affirmations once in the morning, once in the afternoon, and a few times at night before you go to bed. This is the powerful prescription that will work the magic. The important point to remember as you read it over and over is that all of it needs to be done with the feeling that it is already happening in your life. If your written dream is to own a house, you actually have to feel and visualize yourself already reading in that house. That is the only way you will change your old archetype.

If you can bring yourself to do this for 21 days straight without skipping, you are well on your way to achieving it. You must NOT skip a day because that is how long it takes for the wiring in the brain to be changed to what you actually want. If you skip a single day, you will have to start all over again and have to repeat it as long as you skip a day. Persistence is the key to having this work.

Just As It Happened

2017-09-19T09:30:00.000+01:00

Dear lovely people,

That morning, it was Joy’s plan to surprise her husband and the lady. She left home early before her husband and telling him she will not be back before 8:00 PM. Off she went and from their bedroom window upstairs, her husband confirmed it. Joy drove on for about 20 minutes, stopping by a bakery to get all what she needed. She branched off and onto a secondary road, stiltedly headed back home. She got to her newly found hideout just opposite their millennium mansion and settled down to wait for the right moment to pounce.

Thirty minutes later, she watched her husband come out of their front door and drove off. As expected, he drove back home being followed by a black sedan about an hour later while Joy was still on the spot munching a chunk of banana cake. The two cars pulled up side by side in front of their main entrance and the long awaited lady stepped out of the black sedan. She had this fluffy hairdo falling to her shoulders and dangling in rhythm to her curvy body. Joy could tell she was quiet a figure to look at. Her husband embraced her and holding hands, they both walked into the house.

Joy gave them no time, she winged into action like an FBI agent and was over to the house in no time. She bummed into the sitting room unannounced and just in time to find her husband still buried in the skintight embrace of the woman. Joy rushed over to them like a thunderbolt to welcome her mother-in-law. What did you expect?

I got you right? What did you expect? That there will be a clash of titans? It must not always be a negative ending dear one. Are you disappointed? Calm your nerves? Maybe it’s time to edit the functioning of your mind such that you just follow the story as it unfolds without jumping ahead to expect a particular line of action on the part of the protagonist. This is exactly what holds down many people from attaining the very success they seek in life.

My Beauty, My Problem

2017-09-05T11:23:00.002+01:00

Dear lovely people,

We all typically know within our communities that beauty opens many more doors. The more a woman is embellished with sculpted cheekbones, ideal firm breast, gorgeous legs with well-molded ankles to go with a generous backside – what some describe as figure 8, the more she gets a red-carpet reception and pulls a crowd wherever she goes.

How inconsistent it is then to imagine that a woman could actually have many more problems in her life just because she’s amazingly beautiful. The Bible lets us to understand that the subject is necessary and legitimate, because beauty is not in fact problem-free.

Rachel’s experience as recorded in Genesis 29-32 elucidates this further. Rachel missed out on some usefully difficult experiences to start with. Anyone in here community would have been thrilled to be her lover and so couldn’t have faced rejection in any serious way in her adult life. Yet, weirdly, it’s often through difficult experiences that we grow to maturity. They’re painful, but necessary. They force us to develop compensating resources: we become stronger, more resilient; we learn compassion; we get more appreciative of small things. It was not Rachel’s fault, but she was a little spoilt.

Let’s take a look at how Heather Creekmore analyzes it further: Beauty lies to us. It deceives us into believing that it will make our lives easier, better. Rachel shows us this isn’t true. Rachel’s beauty was verifiable–her status as “gorgeous” is recorded in the inerrant word of God. And, yet, Rachel struggled. She thought being married to the man who swept her off her feet would make her happy. It didn’t last. She struggled with infertility. Her husband dealt with her harshly. And though she had clearly “won” the beauty contest with her sister, she still eventually found reason to envy her and let jealousy lead her into a bad case of the crazies.

Physical beauty never equates to fewer difficulties. Being physically “perfect” doesn’t guarantee you a pain free marriage (or a wedding ring), an easy family, or a stress-free life. In fact, being physically beautiful gives exactly zero bonus points redeemable for a better life here on earth.

Beauty falls short on all of its promises. If you don’t believe me, just ask any celebrity or model. Ask any woman renowned for her gorgeous looks if she never feels hurt, rejection, or disappointment. Her answers may surprise you.

The truth is: Leah wasn’t cursed by God with dim eyes that ruined the otherwise fabulous trajectory of her Old Testament life. Rather, God used her, weak eyes and all, to accomplish his purpose. He called her, blessed her, loved her, and redeemed her–paying no mind to her perceived physical flaws.

I believe he does the same for us. And, I think that’s what Leah would want us to know: satisfaction doesn’t come from winning the beauty rat race, earning your husband’s love or bearing a house full of children. Instead it comes from finding fulfillment in God’s purpose and embracing his love.

Beautiful or Not, It’s God’s Plan

2017-09-01T09:11:00.000+01:00

Dear lovely people,

I have written a lot and made videos about self-image and still feel like keeping on. Have you comprehended the desperation in those women who want to be rated top on the beauty scale?

Think of the downright slavery some put themselves through in order to have smashing looks. Go on social media and see the level of anxiety in those who showcase their self-crafted magnificence to the world. Have you asked yourself why God made you the way you came into the world?

When I read Genesis 29:17, I realized God himself dealt with this already but some especially women just refuse to get the lessons. While reflecting on how to put this through, I came across what Heather Creekmore (and author and speaker I admire) wrote with regards to Genesis 29:17 and had nothing more to add but to give you as she wrote it…

Leah married Jacob only because her father pulled a bait and switch on her sister’s would-be groom. And yet, what happens? Leah bears Jacob many sons, one of whom is in the lineage of Jesus Christ. God uses the “uglier” sister, a twisted wedding night deception, and a whole lot of crazy competition between the “sister wives” to establish a home for the eventual twelve tribes of Israel, one of whom was Judah (the forefather of the Messiah).

When Leah names Judah, she says, “This time I will praise the Lord” (what Judah literally means). She reveals to us that her heart is in a different place after this baby’s arrival. The names of her other sons reflect a desire to have her husband see, hear, and pay attention to her, but, when Judah comes along it seems Leah has finally realized that fulfilling God’s purpose is more satisfying than the attention of any man.

God is sovereign (Romans 9). He uses whom he wants, when he wants, according to his purposes. The blind man was born blind to accomplish God’s purpose (John 9:2-3). Leah was born with “weak” eyes also to accomplish God’s purpose.

Isn’t it possible that some are given great physical beauty as a part of God’s plan for their lives and others are not and that doesn’t really matter? Why is it not okay that physical beauty be just another attribute that doesn’t carry the weight of ultimate importance in our lives…just like some are blessed financially or others are given great musical talent or administrative gifts?

Maybe God doesn’t apologize to us for not making Leah as beautiful as Rachel because it doesn’t really matter what she looks like, he still knows how he will use her to accomplish his purpose and that, alone, will bring great fulfillment.

The Moonlit Room

2017-08-12T15:30:00.000+01:00

Dear lovely people,

When you set your mind to achieve your fondest? Give it your best and never give up no matter the circumstances until you get what you set out to achieve.

Binta Yoyo Aboyeye are my names and here is my story… I was standing by the window of my dark bedroom gaping into the moonlit night. I was not listening to the whistling sounds from insects and other nocturnal creatures neither was I listening to the crackling sound of a stream nearby winding its way through rocks into the darkness. None of these natural endowments were of interest to me that night. My mind was preoccupied with some disturbing internal reflections.

I was asking myself why things where the way they had become with me? Why me? Why would every single thing I touch melt away? What have I done, which crime did I commit to merit such an outcome? It all started ten years back when I was tricked into sleeping with my supervisor’s daughter and got framed up for rape. Luckily for me, I did not end up with a prison sentence, but I lost my job. It was devastating for me as a young man who was at the beginning of a career you know, the embarrassment of passing around as a rapist. I cried, I prayed then came a new job one year later.

I had barely served for three months at this new position before being framed up once again but this time, for embezzlement. I was finally acquitted of all charges but again, I lost my job. This time, it was painful. I went for four years without a job, a time during which I thought I could invest in a business.

I started a provision store with the little I had saved and the store picked up really fast until I got up one morning to find that it had been burgled overnight. I cried, I prayed and painstakingly restocked it.

Eight months later, that black day, I was in the market buying provisions when my phone rang and I was told that my shop caught fire. I got there at the end of it all just to find that it had been reduced to ashes. Not even a tablet of soap was saved. The loss was enormous, I cried for weeks and prayed for God’s divine intervention in my life.

The worst form of hardship set in and I could barely eat. I decided to get a job again and after some months of job hunting, I got recruited. A few months into my new job, I told myself providence had finally smiled at me and I was once again picking up. I came back from a field trip one day only to be served a letter. My employer’s budget had so dwindled caused by the global slowdown to the extent that they were downsizing. I was one of the twenty who had been asked to leave in order to save the organization salary expenses.

I shock myself out of those reflections and decided to go back to sleep. As I moved back to bed that night, I told myself how tired I was of the happenings in my life. I had been plunged into some voracious loop of damnation. I told myself no matter how many times I failed, no matter what the devil was up to, I will not give up, I will emerge even if it means starting over and over again. Just before dosing off, I told myself that my rise to prominence was inevitable and that I will work on a new strategy, then I will bank on God and shame the devil.

Success can only come if you refuse to accept the momentary failures that are almost always sure to come your way.

Success or Failure, You choose

2017-06-09T08:44:00.000+01:00

Dear lovely people,

I have learned that no matter how much you want to control the final outcome of everything that happens to you, you can’t. All that you can do is control the controllable, take responsibility for doing all that you can and leave the outcome up to God.”

Let me tell you a story distilled from an unknown author. A jobless man applied for the position of ‘office boy’ at a very big company. The HR Manager interviewed him then watched him cleaning the floor as a test. “You are hired.” – the employer told him at the end of the test. “Give me your email address, and I’ll send you the application to fill, as well as when you will start.” Surprisingly, the man replied, “I don’t have a computer, neither an email.”

“I’m sorry,” said the HR Manager, “if you don’t have an email that means you do not exist. And who doesn’t exist, cannot have the job.” The man left with no hope. He didn’t know what to do, with only $10 USD in his pocket. It occurred to him that whether you register success or failure in your live, you choose.

He then decided to go to the supermarket, bought a 10kg tomato crate, then sold the tomatoes door to door. In less than two hours, he succeeded and doubled his capital. He repeated the operation 3 times and returned home with $60 USD. The man realized that he could survive by this way, and started to go everyday earlier, and returned late. Thus, his money doubled or tripled everyday. Shortly later, he bought a wagon, then a truck, and then he had his own fleet of delivery vehicles.

Five years later, the man’s company was one of the biggest food retailers. He started to plan his family’s future, and decided to have a life insurance. He called an insurance broker and chose a protection plan. When the conversation was concluded, the broker asked him his email. The man replied: “I don’t have an email.”

The broker replied curiously, “You don’t have an email, and yet have succeeded to build an empire. Do you imagine what you could have done if you had an email?” The man paused for a while, and replied: “An office boy!”

First thing first, I don’t want to sound as if there is no point having an email address, far from it. I rather want to send home the message that you can’t afford to allow the lack of an email address to come between you and the future you want for yourself. The internet is not the only solution to your problems in life. If you don’t have an email address and work hard, you can still be a millionaire.

More importantly, you should NEVER ever be discouraged if something does not work in your favor today. Better opportunities are always waiting ahead if you stay through to your cause and learn from every single mistake you make along the way.

When All Hope Seems Lost

2017-05-17T12:29:00.002+01:00

Dear lovely people,

When David’s bus left Douala that morning, it was clear in his mind that it was over with Dorothy. He relaxed in the comfort of a 72 seater bus and allowed his mind to wonder back to some of the difficult moments he had been through with Dorothy. He remembered clearly that a lot had happened between them added to the distance and that all his efforts to save the relationship was futile.

David, knew he was part of the problem. He had never found a way to forgive Dorothy since the day he met her embracing another man at the entrance of a hotel in Douala. To him that was the foundation of their chain of difficulties. He was still pensive when a waiter shook him to remind him that they arrived the bus stop in Yaounde, it was amazing to realize he had been buried in thoughts throughout the four-hour journey.

Boarding a taxi, he decided to go straight home, take a bath before going to his automobile spare parts shop. On the way, his phone rang and when he answered the call, he felt like jumping through the window of the taxi to end it all. His brother was at the other end of the line, telling him that his shop was subject of an ongoing conflagration. By the time he got to the scene, everything he had so worked for was reduced to ashes.

From all counts, this was another tough blow on David in one day, his emotional and professional worlds were crashing in on him at the same time. I am not sure what is up with you now but does David’s story sound familiar? You might have gone through such, going through such or know somebody who has gone through or is going through such evidently horrible trials.

Whatever the situation you might find yourself in, let me talk to you about three things essential in bouncing back after a major setback as the one David found himself in after all, bouncing back is what makes the difference between losers and winners.

Firstly, you should let yourself fully feel the emotions. Faced with a major failure in your life, you may be overcome with disappointment, and despair. Holding in your painful feelings can have negative effects on your health, your relationships, and your future success. Rather take time off to notice each emotion as it comes to you. Take time to name the emotion, be it anger, sadness, fear, or shame. This will enable you to work through it without blaming it on yourself or others. It’s equally important that you take time to process your feelings. If you try to fix or move past your disappointment before knowing how you feel; you may act rashly.

Secondly, work to address the cause of the failure. What went wrong and how did it go wrong? Could it have been prevented? Think about possible solutions you could have put into action, and what their consequences would have been. Were your initial expectations unrealistic? For example if you were disappointed in love as was the case with David, ask yourself if you were putting unusual pressure or expectations on your romantic partner. Did you understand how they were feeling throughout the relationship? Did you support their projects and friendships?

Thirdly, change your approach and try again. Brainstorm ideas and select the one that seems durable. Ask yourself if you have the resources to put your new plan into place. What new problems are likely to come up? How will you solve them? What needs to be in place before you begin? This is the time when you must avoid repeating the same mistakes. Your new approach should not include any of the strategies that may have caused your last approach to fail.

It is equally important that you create a plan B. Even well-executed approaches can fail due to unforeseen complications. With your new goal set, and your new plan solidified, set out to achieve your goal. Take the time to reflect on your progress as your steps take effect. Feel free to change your approach. You are learning as you go, and a natural part of this process is to adjust and tweak your approach.

Face The Music

2017-04-23T23:37:00.000+01:00

Dear lovely people,

Salmonella was downcast when we met that afternoon, her physique bore all imprints of a soul that had been psychologically stressed almost beyond limits. We had just been served two glasses of carrot juices, and I asked her what the problem was. I wanted to know why she looked like somebody who had been through a round rubbing tournament with all the devils in hell.

Unexpectedly, she burst out into tears, bawling terribly and almost going into fits. I sat there as if cast out of cement and struggled to give her a napkin at the same time, wondering why such a beauty would break into tears when I thought life was treating her well.

She told me, she’s read almost all of my articles, she’s attended my motivational speaking events and was trying her possible best to implement what she had learned but paradoxically, she’s been through all the troubles one can imagine. Her businesses are crumbling every day, her workers are disappointing her one after the other, her family is on her throat with all versions of disputes and worst still, she’s been through some relationships that were fashioned to ruin her than uplift her.

It all sounded like I was bracing up for motivational championship. I began with a question that brought the tears streaming down her cheeks to a complete stop. “What kind of life have you been leading?” she looked at me, deemed her eyes and ask the obvious “Do you mean living or leading?” and my response was instantaneous “both are correct”.

It turns out that Salmonella is one of those who think that when your income base starts increasing, it means you should forget some principles you had set for yourself when you were still struggling. She no longer did her check and balances, she would give-in to the least pressure and though every issues could be settled with banknotes. Her businesses no longer had the same attention she gave it in the past, was no longer that critical, matter-of-fact person she used to be. The outcome was that she allowed seemingly little things to build up overtime to become major barricades to the extent she could no longer manage them.

The fact is that we all want success in life but most people often forget that success is not necessarily measured in terms of the banknotes we have stored away in bank accounts. When the success you seek comes, you don’t have to forget about that once focused and in-control-person that you had always been. You just have to maintain your operations under control least they start working to your own disfavor. If you marry your quest for success with blind-rocking and docility, you will at one moment face the music you have intoned.

Your climb up the mountain of success and personal achievement can be tough and bone wrecking but once up there, you must keep it at the center of your mind that your fall down even beyond the bottom can be so quick and lethal that you will left with no nerve to bounce back. Maintaining yourself at the summit then becomes a full-time job.

I Will Grow

2017-04-13T09:03:00.001+01:00

Dear lovely people,

Someday, yes someday,

I will get there, I will be there,

No matter the odds, I will grow.

Someday, yes someday,

When the bells of triumph ring,

I will live the life I cherish so much,

No matter the odds today, I will grow.

‘I will grow’ sounds like a promise from a mustered seed isn't it? Maybe but its equally an affirmation especially to the self for them that want to work for a transformation in their lives. I do believe the phrase you are what you think and I think many other people too. I think that life truly stems from one’s thoughts but how we experience it, is different for both losers and winners. While losers rely purely on thoughts, winners translate such thoughts into words and eventually into concrete actions in order to manifest their intentions.

One secrete about winners is that they are very careful with their words, choosing to speak only those which work towards their benefit and cultivate their highest good. Affirmations such as ‘I will grow’ help purify their thoughts and restructure the dynamic of their brains so that they truly begin to think nothing is impossible. One of my greatest affirmative statements is “I possess the qualities needed to be extremely successful.” And I reinforce it with “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)

Florence Scovel Shinn has this to add “You will be a failure, until you impress the subconscious with the conviction you are a success. This is done by making an affirmation which 'clicks.'”

The Use of Your Mouth

2017-03-19T13:49:00.000+00:00

Dear lovely people,

Recently, I asked a pertinent question on Facebook “Of what use is a mouth that is not connected to the brain?” The question invites you to reexamine the way you use your mouth and how that affects your quest for personal success.

Descriptively, a mouth that is not connected to the brain says just anything at any time. It is quick to speak before reason is applied and at such it’s often good at undercutting, gossiping, intoxicating and demotivating just to name these few.

Knowing exactly when to open your mouth and when to keep it shut is valuable wisdom. Fact of the matter is, we all sometimes don’t speak up when we should, and do speak when we shouldn’t. But successful people do a lot less of this and know the value, particularly, of keeping quiet.

Do you or know someone who gossips? When you want to say something negative about someone behind their back, don’t. Just don’t. It’s such an energy consuming task and trust me, there is almost never a good reason to gossip. It makes you look petty, childish and spiteful. In most cases, it gets back to the person you’re slandering with twists and turns.

It’s equally true that sometimes someone might do something truly terrible and you might need to discuss it to decide what course of action to take. But this is rare and so it’s really a question of knowing the value added in opening your mouth before you do.

Another main reason not to talk without using your brain is because when you’re talking always, you’re not listening. Listening is the most important thing you can do on your path to success.

Just a few years back, I thought of starting a bakery business and before long, most of my friends knew my detailed plans. The landlord of the house where I planned to lodge the business equally knew the details of my plan and guess what, that business never went beyond the planning phase. The owner of that house today runs a bakery business there.

That’s when I learned that you should set your goals and make your plans, but spend less time talking about them, and more energy actually carrying them out.

Your Basement Complex

2017-03-15T12:16:00.000+00:00

Dear lovely people,

Do you know what a Basement Complex is? It might mean different things to different people but during my study of geology, I learned that a Basement Complex, is actually the thick voluminous rocks that form the foundation of ancient, and oldest metamorphic and igneous rocks. These particular rocks in turn, form the crust of continents, often in the form of granite.

Well, don’t ask me the definition of all these big terms so that I can spare you all the geological jargon but I must tell you that the Basement complex is contrasted to overlying sedimentary rocks which are laid down on top of the basement rocks after the continent was formed, such as sandstone. At least you know what sedimentary rocks are.

Nonetheless, the idea here is not to plunge you into a geological presentation but rather to let you know the world of strength and insight buried in you. In a layman’s sense, The Basement Complex is simply the foundation on which every other thing on earth stands be it the massive mountains, the seas or the continents in which case, it actually provides the solid platform on which every other thing stands. How do you like that? Therefore if there was no basement complex, there will be no rocks, no soil, no vegetation etc.

This means that after all the noise that rivers make while eroding down mountains, all the force exerted by the seas and oceans, all the explosions of volcanoes, there is something much deeper down into the earth crust unseen but on which they all depend. You might not know how secured it is on the ground until you find yourself hanging with no balance on the 2oth floor of a building.

Just imagine what will happen if you adopt the nature of the basement complex in your life. Then, the world can be boiling up, the volcanoes of social life can be exploding, failure can knock you on the head hundreds of times over and you will be unruffled. You will have your peach because after all, you are mightier. Your ways give you unbelievable stamina, you take your time to do the things you have to do and so despite all the challenges, all the negativity, you come out victoriously clean and clear.

The good news is that “you are wonderfully and fearfully made” God took time off to create the masterpiece that you are and gave you the same stamina of the basement complex. You have all what it takes to step on to higher grounds each time in your life already build into you. But often, you allow fissures to develop within your basement complex and consequentially succumbing to the pressures and volcanoes of social life to the extent they sometimes demotivate you, weaken your vision and expose you to the dictates of external forces. At such times, you are tempted to give up.

Fortify your basement complex with visionary thinking, resolve, tenacity, insight and hindsight. Be an emitting station of enthusiasm rather than a receiving station and above all, be a lighthouse then, success will smile at you when you come knocking.

Your Power To Succeed

2017-03-13T13:13:00.001+00:00

Dear lovely people,

Irrespective of what you consider success to be, we all want to succeed. Every one of us wants to be a winner. So, what is it that holds back many people?

In the Gospel of Matthew (Matthew 13:31–32) I read as follows: He set another man before them, saying, "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field; which indeed is smaller than all seeds. But when it is grown, it is greater than the herbs, and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in its branches."

My understanding of this as I have detailed it previously in The Mustard Seed Within You is that deep within every single person on earth without distinction dwells some infinite dormant powers and abilities that you never dreamed of possessing. I am talking about powers that would revolutionize your entire life if awakened and put into synchronized action.

Here then are the big questions you have to answer to yourself: Are you ready to take your life to the next level? Is it time to overcome any limiting beliefs that have held you back by awakening the infinite powers within you?

A great starting point is to Stop blaming others and making excuses. It really doesn’t make a difference if the problems in your life were caused by someone else. It really doesn’t matter if circumstances in your life make it difficult or almost impossible for you to succeed. You are the only person you can rely on to fix your problems. If you want things to be better, you have to make them better.

Then you have to fire up your change process by thinking really big. Learn from Michelangelo Buonarroti who said: “The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low, and achieving our mark.”

Be a Lighthouse

2017-03-12T09:12:00.000+00:00

Dear lovely people,

I wouldn’t have said it any better than Leah LaBelle “Work hard for what you want because it won't come to you without a fight. You have to be strong and courageous and know that you can do anything you put your mind to. If somebody puts you down or criticizes you, just keep on believing in yourself and turn it into something positive.”

It’s my experience that everyone loves the idea of strength, of being strong, in all its many forms, of resisting the many things they have decided they will not do and most importantly, of being able to make up their mind about something and stick with it.

Becoming strong is far from being easy otherwise, everybody would be. It’s really that simple. Your daily tasks will not complete themselves, and no one but you can make you get out of bed early on a cold dark morning to make yourself do what you said you wanted to do so that you can move onto another level on your success ladder.

Too many people are struggling on a daily basis with an attitude of defeat in their walk to success, unable to gain the victory over failure in areas where they would easily if they had a changed mind.

The Bible in Joshua 1:7 - 9 says “But you must be strong and brave about obeying the commands my servant Moses gave you. If you follow his teachings exactly, you will be successful in everything you do. Always remember what is written in that book of law. Speak about that book and study it day and night. Then you can be sure to obey what is written there. If you do this, you will be wise and successful in everything you do. Remember, I commanded you to be strong and brave. Don’t be afraid, because the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

There is a great prize for those who can, and those who do take the risk—the feeling of being strong. Of living in the world strong. Of knowing if they want to achieve something, they can put their all to it. The ability to create force, which is strength, is in their capacity.

Mehmet Murat ildan sums it all up in a beautiful way “To be a lighthouse, you must be strong enough to resist every kind of storm, to every kind of loneliness and you must have a powerful light inside you!”

The Meandering River

2017-02-20T22:53:00.000+00:00

Dear lovely people,

Why would a river go meandering instead of just flowing straight? Have you ever ask yourself that question? I always asked myself too. I know, I know the obvious answer anybody will give is that the river is escaping obstacles that is why it has to go winding looking for the easiest path.

On another scale, a geographer will go further explaining that a meander forms when moving water in a stream erodes the outer banks and widens its valley, and the inner part of the river has less energy and deposits silt. A stream of any volume may assume a meandering course, alternately eroding sediments from the outside of a bend and depositing them on the inside.

But I have known rivers that instead of meandering, rather braved the odds and had to erode their way through huge obstacles including mountains creating their own unique path in the process. Sure you have seen rivers flowing through what seems like bottomless towering gullies.

In today's world where global issues are so important, many people feel a sense of powerlessness and resignation; a feeling that no individual's efforts can change the way things are. The question then considering such a context is; what approach have you adopted? That of the meandering river or the one that breaks through obstacles?

Every day, life says to us, “You say you want this? Prove how much. Fight for it. Earn it.” Overcoming obstacles is a big part of earning it. Every day, we face small or large hurdles that can make us want to give up or give in. You have to fight to keep going.

For those who break through obstacles, it’s important to note that it’s not enough to merely address what we know, we need to address how we know something. Because we know things on multiple levels (conscious and unconscious) a systemic approach takes us into those deeper layers of how we know.

In all you do and no matter how difficult the going gets, you must remember that at any one point, you could be just one small adjustment away from a major success.

Ferocious Determination

2017-02-19T16:29:00.001+00:00

Dear lovely people,

Craig D. Launsbrough says “To find one's purpose is to discover one's worth, discern one's direction, wholly dedicate oneself to the journey, and forge an unbending determination that I will not leave the world the way I found it…”

When Ngwabifuh left his house that morning, he knew it will be a long while before he will be back. He was headed for a new location, a new beginning and a new future. On his way, he stopped over at what was once the Ngwabifuh Supermarket. Looking at the mounts of cinder, he let the painful memories of that faithful day replay in his mind. It all happened when he received an anonymous phone call that his supermarket was on fire and before he got there, nothing was left to be salvaged. All what was left on burned, was looted.

It was clear the economy had not treated him fairly, the gargantuan tax system dealt him several blows many times over. He recalled all those times thieves made away with huge sums of money from his shop and the many other times he had to close his shop for weeks because of frequent civil unrests. All these did not deter his resoluteness to keep on keeping on.

There he stood, looking at the ashes of his many years of toil. Despite the many huddles, he had worked so hard to transform his business from a small roadside vendor to the proud owner of Ngwabifuh Supermarket that attracted hundreds of customers daily.

Surprisingly to bystanders, Ngwabifuh smiled to himself and drove off. Unknown to those who were gaping at him completely bewildered, Ngwabifuh told himself at that instant - all is not lost. He affirmed that it might have taken him many years of hard work to get where he was but at that very instance, he resolved to start all over again and to do it in a better way.

Many are the times when the dreams we have crafted for ourselves get tested through unthinkable ways. Such trails might originate from your own very conscious or unconscious making or from external factors in the society beyond your control. Irrespective of the source, you’ve got one choice only to be ferociously determined to break through even if it means starting all over again.

Objectively Leading Change

2017-02-09T14:37:00.001+00:00

Dear lovely people,

Some leaders are made to lead any change process and stand out as objectively convincing leaders even in the face of all aridity. They strive to become better each day while helping everything and everyone around them to become better too. Yet, others are just there by design to make life unbearable for those they are charged with the responsibility to lead. Where do you stand?

As a true leader, understanding the substantive reasons for indecision is fundamental in affecting change. Pushing the eternal optimist to accept reality or convincing the consternated analyst that the data at hand is conclusive, is fruitless. You must define an alternate route. The only avenue to address the issue is your ability to objectively lead.

It takes a leader to make effective decisions. The person's position or rank is irrelevant. The leader is identified, in part, by their ability to make and be accountable for decisions, to assemble a team to assist in the definition, execution, and continued critical evaluation of the decision.

Accountability, though, is the most critical trait. It earns trust from the team and the stakeholders. It is contagious. Peers and subordinates will step up and model the behavior. In short, accountability subverts a superior's indecision. It imbues leadership below the consternation and drives the organization forward.

John C. Maxwell states that “A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way,”

When Providence Speaks

2017-02-05T10:11:00.000+00:00

Dear lovely people,

Conscience is the part of your mind that tells you whether what you are doing is morally right or wrong. Conscience is of importance because, if we pause and listen to our conscience we often get answers for the questions which troubled us. Answers based on conscience are generally ethical.

Crisis of conscience develops when it becomes very difficult to decide what the right thing to do is. When you start to worry because you think you have consciously or unconsciously done something unfair or morally wrong, you know you are facing a crisis of conscience. When there is a crisis of conscience, the individual fear that his action may be against the voice of conscience and hence ethically wrong.

Sounds like what some people in power dabble with almost on a daily basis especially when power gets them so drunk they are plunged into an ethical dilemma vis-a-vis the governed right. You find them energized each time situations subject the masses to undeserved suffering. Joseph’s experience in the Bible has much to teach us today and comforts the masses with regards to the obvious end. Read on…

Providence seems to be a spiritual law of nature wherein good is rewarded and evil punished in a perfect system of divine justice.Joseph through his life and predicaments demonstrated that the lives of people and nations are under the control of a caring God. Indeed, the theme of God's guiding hand underlies the entire story. When Joseph is lost he meets someone who knows exactly where his brothers are (Gen. 37:15). The trading caravans happen to be going down to Egypt (Gen. 37:25, 28). The Lord is with Joseph in Potiphar's house (Gen. 39:2) and in prison (Gen. 39:21 f.). God's name comes readily to Joseph's lips at critical moments: when he confronts Potiphar's wife (Gen. 39:9); when he interprets dreams (Gen. 40:8; 41:16 ff.); and when he tests his brothers (Gen. 42:18). Joseph gives the ultimate interpretation of events at the dramatic conclusion: "God has sent me ahead of you to ensure your survival on earth, and to save your lives in an extraordinary deliverance. So, it was not you who sent me here, but God" (Gen. 45:7-8).

When Joseph says, "although you intended me harm, God intended it for good" (Gen. 50:20), he is not simply arguing that God can transform wicked actions to bring about some gracious end. He is saying more than that. He is arguing that although you sold me, from the beginning it was really God who sent me here (Gen. 45:5, 8). The tension remains as to how the brothers' wickedness and God's intentions work together. Although harmonization of these ideas may be humanly impossible, the divine intention is what should be the focus. Only that can enable reconciliation.

Joseph descends into Egypt as a powerless slave and eventually ascends to freedom and power. The Joseph story starts a chain of events that leads to the Israelite captivity in Egypt and their eventual freedom and empowerment at Mount Sinai. This paradigm of oppression and redemption, which is the central motif of biblical theology, flows naturally from the Israelite idea of divine providence. It is a karmic universal law of gravitational reversal: What goes down, must come up. Darkness will always give way to light. God will always redeem the oppressed.

Certainly, in any conflict, both parties must admit wrong for their own misdeeds, and must struggle to feel remorse for the harm they caused, without rationalizations or justifications. Each party should empathize with the victimization of the other, a lesson Joseph taught his brothers in prison (Gen. 42:21). Yet each party should show compassion towards the other, as they expect it for themselves. Acceptance of mutual responsibility does not, however, mean admission of equal guilt. Joseph's crimes were far less severe than those of his brothers.

Probably the most powerful element in conflict resolution, however, is the belief in divine providence. The Joseph story shows that it is possible to frame past evil within a paradigm of a divine plan. The belief in Providence allows Joseph and his family to transform the way in which they deal with suffering and those who caused it: "Besides, although you intended me harm, God intended it for good" (Gen. 50:20). Providence is part of a perfect divine plan for our lives. Despite their evil intentions, those who caused our suffering were agents of God's will. Providence not only has the power to provide inspiration and hope to those who suffer, it actually can redeem suffering.

Once Joseph realized the part his brothers played in God's plan, he forgave them. It is said that not to forgive imprisons one in the past and yields control to another, whereas forgiveness frees the forgiver and allows one to change the circumstances of one's life. This was certainly true for Joseph, who was not consumed by anger and desire for vengeance.

From the viewpoint of divine providence, some of our mistakes are not simply crimes awaiting punishment. They are lessons to be learned. God prefers repentance and human moral and spiritual growth to punishment. If we change ourselves, we can change our future and transform how we view the past. But are we then simply actors on a divine stage, unaware of the roles we are playing? This is an ancient paradox: "All is foreseen (by God), but freedom of choice is given."

On the trails of JF Kennedy

2017-01-29T22:03:00.001+00:00

Dear lovely people,

Permit me to get unwise for a while but then, what kind of a woman gives birth to a President? It would appear some take their time to wash their hands clean before entering the delivery room while others go in with dirty hands soiled with all what bedevils a human being. In fact just read on good people, read what a President born of a women took time off to tell his citizens. This matter is above me if you can clearly get my point… but, I have a dream…

“For of those to whom much is given, much is required. And when at some future date the high court of history sits in judgment on each of us—recording whether in our brief span of service we fulfilled our responsibilities to the state—our success or failure, in whatever office we hold, will be measured by the answers to four questions:

First, were we truly men of courage — with the courage to stand up to one’s enemies — and the courage to stand up, when necessary, to one’s associates — the courage to resist public pressure, as well as private greed?

Secondly, were we truly men of judgment —with perceptive judgment of the future as well as the past—of our mistakes as well as the mistakes of others—with enough wisdom to know what we did not know and enough candor to admit it?

Third, were we truly men of integrity — men who never ran out on either the principles in which we believed or the men who believed in us—men whom neither financial gain nor political ambition could ever divert from the fulfillment of our sacred trust?

Finally, were we truly men of dedication — with an honor mortgaged to no single individual or group, and comprised of no private obligation or aim, but devoted solely to serving the public good and the national interest?

Courage—judgment—integrity—dedication—these are the historic qualities … which, with God’s help … will characterize our Government’s conduct in the 4 stormy years that lie ahead.

Did you notice that throughout his speech as quoted, there is a passionate concentration on the first person plural? That should be the exact contrast of Africa’s time honored syndrome – an over concentration on the first person singular.

What more would a citizen ask for under the rule of a Kennedy-styled President other than just washing their hands clean so they can dine with the kings?

#Abongta

Ayengti And The Politics Of Suffering

2017-01-23T09:14:00.000+00:00

Dear lovely people,

You seem as surprised about the things that happen in this country as Ayengti sitting here with me. To tell you the truth, I am as overwhelmed as ever before to find that you are surprised. But Ayengti, let me ask you, why is it that after five decades of liberal thinking, the suffering and grief in the Anglophone communities become worse? Where else in the world have you seen a country in which the governed know nothing else but undeserved suffering at all levels? Don’t you know it is common place in this country for a child to be born in a neglected health center with unthinkable infrastructure, no equipment and half-baked medical staff? I have seen pregnant women travel over 50 kilometers to go for antenatal consultation.

My God! Ayengti, so you don’t know that there are children in this country who travel lengthy distances and some crossing dangerous lakes to study in the most precarious situations of infrastructureless schools and half-backed PTA Teachers. In situations of luck, a child is taught by a teacher who studied under the right system but if you are as unfortunate as Anglophones in this country, you get taught by teachers who knows nothing about your educational system.

Of cause Ayengti, should you brave it all to the University, you are reduced to more or less a beggar because not only are you to face an educational system you know nothing about, your peasant parents are peeling off their skin to afford the exorbitant cost of housing and school needs. To make ends meet, some university students like Nchangwin engage in prostitution for money while the guys like Nebashi join gangs or get introduced into homosexual networks manned by some of the bigwigs in the country.

It’s curious Ayengti that in the midst of all these atrocities, it is said that the proletariat have no justified reason to complain and should you decide to make your voice heard by exercising your legitimate inalienable right, you become extremists mostly manipulated by individuals said to have selfish intentions and who don’t want national unity especially in diversity. Of course these same extremists become patriotic nationals when they come begging you for your votes so they can be maintained at the summit.

I must tell you Ayengti that the concept of pregnancies with infinite duration have become the best strategies used to keep the masses on the waiting bench, think of the decentralization process that has been in gestation for over two decades now or should I mention the Yamende – Abakwa road? What about the Abakwa ring road? I am sure you are thinking of the Victoria deep seaport too and the list continues.

Back to the growth path of our children Ayengti, you certainly know that if you come out victorious at the end of university studies, you are plunged into an entire new world of job hunting that by itself is a vicious spiral where you have a proliferation of sexually awarded jobs and outright corruption with money. Well, it goes without saying that in most case scenarios, you end up a bike rider, taxis driver or bayam-sellam. I know many Master degree holders who serve as housekeepers not because they love the job, they have no choice. Of cause some get hooked up with more chains in the name of micro-entrepreneur loans. Loans that can only maintain you as a vulnerable hand-to-mouth citizen.

By the way Ayengti, should I mention moral decadence and evaporation of values? Do you know the destruction that bike-riding has brought onto our youths? Have you taken note of the quality of taxis we have in this country? How many times to you go to your bathroom just because you entered a taxi?

Now tell me Ayengti, is this the reason why you were created, were you born to play second fiddle to group of overzealous undermining bourgeoisies? What exceptional thing did they do to remain glorified as masters while the rest are permanently enslaved? Certainly the God that we all serve was not part of that kind of plan for your life.

God reminds you and I today as he did in the days of Jeremiah and the others “I know the Plans I have for you, plans to prosper you” and plans to make you an overcomer. You’ve got to take your destiny into your hands, you have to rise up to the challenges, the injustices, the oppression placed on your path to growth because it has become a duty and because nobody is more of a citizen in this country than you.

Determination Even In The Face Of Oppression

2017-01-21T10:39:00.001+00:00

Dear lovely people,

Anglophones in Cameroon have been subjugated for more than five decades but then as a people, if we are going through tough times, we need to know why, and what we should be doing while in it such that we don’t become confused, frustrated and disillusioned. In the Psalms we see David go through so much and still trust and obey more than most of us could ever do. And he does this without the New Testament at his disposal, or the scores of resources and places to seek help that we have. Yet David does ask God the hard questions, but he did not stop there. David also knew God intimately and trusted him wholeheartedly even in times of severe trials, and even going through them again and again.

In times of crisis, we have to seek God’s power. Proverbs 20:13 says “Love not sleep, lest you come to poverty; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of bread.” and so I am certain that the great plans we all have for 2017 whether as individuals or a people are justified. In fact, I told myself at the very beginning of this year that 2017 is my year of action and my year of breakthrough. I pray same for you and for us as Anglophones in Cameroon but the question is what are some of the things you are doing to ensure that such a wish comes true? In order that wishes do not become horses for beggars to ride, you need to arm yourself with a technique called determination. Collective determination can mean the world for you and for us all.

Determination is a word you often hear in today's world about athletes or people overcoming complications in life. The Bible has instructions on the types and reasons for Christians to be equally determined. As followers of God and believers of Jesus Christ, we are to persevere through trials, use self-discipline, allow God to give us strength, and give God all of the glory. Are you finding it hard to endure today whether as a global citizen or as an Anglophone in Cameroon?

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 says “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Irrespective of the oppression brought to bear on Anglophones in Cameroon, our prize is sure. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we as a people are imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. If every Anglophone will in Cameroon will so same, victory will be ours for ours is a just course before God and man.

Whether you are in or out of Cameroon at this particular moment, whether you stand for or against the Anglophones in Cameroon, I encourage you to lean on God and pray that as you read through this post, He gives you the strength to endure whatever form of oppression and injustice you are subjected to. Remember Galatians 6:9 which says “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”

The Language Of Violence in Cameroon

2017-01-19T10:55:00.001+00:00

Dear lovely people,

What is this country wherein the only language that moves the government and some of its citizens to action is violence? Why must it get to breaking, burning, blocking roads before the government can do what it should normally do in the first place? The people can complain for ages and nothing will happen, nobody will even notice them but the moment they are fed-up of waiting and go out of themselves, the government wakes up from sleep, starts calling people to order and blaming the people for not respecting them.

What is this house-on-fire system of governance in this country? When the common-law lawyers tabled their grievances followed by the teachers, government dismissed them. When they went to the streets, police officers were sent to break and maim them. When breaking and burning started, the government now called for dialogue, the OHADA document got translated overnight. Will it have to take violence to get what government in its superlative duty has to offer its people?

It goes without saying that dialogue between any two parties should start when one party tables a complaint to the other, not after the complaint tabled is rubbished, dismissed and the complainers starts exploring all possible ways to have the-powers-that-be listen to their complain. If the government did not officially wave aside the Anglophone problem, labeling the teachers and lawyers as a group of manipulated extremists, things would not have escalated.

Currently, the government is highlighting its duty to bring things under control even it means using force and of cause we all know that the use of force in Cameroon means beating up and maiming peaceful protesters, abducting and killing innocent citizens from their homes. How do you justify the fact that a hypothetical illegal organization is banned and its leaders arrested for what they did before the ban? Only in Cameroon will that happen.

Cameroon is one of the only countries wherein it takes an entire village blocking a road to have electricity reinstated in their community, it takes common-law lawyers going on rampage on the streets before important texts can be translated in a language they understand. It takes a painful interruption of school to get the government listen to the plight of teachers, it takes a syndicate of medical personnel engaging in a wild verbal exchange with the Minister of health for their working conditions to be looked into. Why must the people go out of themselves and resort to violence in order to get what they are entitled to naturally by virtue of their citizenship?

If you don’t want your citizens rioting, if you want to stay clear of civil unrests etc., you have to take ample measures to ensure the people don’t frequently get into outbursts of pent-up anger. Because as you must have heard repeatedly since the days of the American Revolution and brought to the limelight again recently by Hon. Wirba; “When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes a duty.” The people have a universal duty to resist any form of oppression especially from a government they helped put in place.

It’s my experience that the only way to resolve PROBLEM ONE, is to face it, decompose and break through it completely because if you evade it, go around it or stifle it by looking for shortcuts, you are only working hard at creating a more dangerous PROBLEM TWO. You can trust that PROBLEM TWO will rise in the future to become a more powerful problem that will run you down.

#Abongta

Be Prepared By Thinking Ahead

2017-01-17T06:50:00.000+00:00

Dear lovely people,

Experience has taught me and continue to teach me that the more we are prepared for what we have to face in life, the better we’ll be able to run the race that God wants us to run. One way to do this is by thinking ahead.

I read the book of Nehemiah chapter 2 in which I found out that Nehemiah did his homework. He had not only been praying for four months, but had equally been planning and preparing for his expected meeting with the king.

Well, many people often ask the question whether it’s really that important to be prepared. Such people will tell you, “I like to live life one moment at a time. I like life to be spontaneous and fun, not broken down into little pieces on a day timer!"

In answer to that, let me assure you that whether we prepare or not, we have no choice but to take life one moment at a time, because we never know if things will happen like we’ve planned them.

Proverbs 19:21 says it clearly that “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” Another verse: Proverbs 16:9 says “In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps”

Dear lovely people, as you join me in declaring and in working to make this 2017 your year of action and breakthrough, remember the advice of Psalm 37:4 “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

With such assurances, what more do you need to burn the midnight candle?

Remain blessed.

Soar in 2017

2017-01-16T06:39:00.002+00:00

Dear lovely people,

At the start of this beautiful year, I call on you all to spread the wings of your imagination wide and let your mind soar? Don’t let the wear and tear of the day (or the years) clip your wings or bog you down. Let’s dream big for big dreams light your inner fire and provide the ongoing fuel for your burning desire

There are times throughout our lives when we need to call on a higher source for the courage and strength to face the challenges that test our body, mind and spirit. 2017 is one such year especially as we take the commitment to make it a year of action and a year of breakthrough.

I particularly love Isaiah 40:31 as it says “but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

I read somewhere that “A bird sitting on a tree is never afraid of the branch breaking, because her trust is not on the branch but on its own wings. Always believe in yourself.”

While we plan to soar throughout 2017, we need to hold a positive self-image and so I pray that Lord, sometimes when I look in the mirror I’m not too happy with what I see. Please let me see me the way you made me, beautiful and perfect just as I am. Help me to hold this image in my mind and heart as I follow my life’s path. Allow others to witness your light shining through me as I walk with confidence, grace and a smile on my face.

Amen.

Moments Of Reminiscence

2017-01-11T11:47:00.000+00:00

Dear lovely people,

While you foot the path to your success in life, there come the times when all sorts of obstacles, challenges and difficulties star at you in the eye. You twist and turn trying to break through but it get to a point where you actually feel you are chocking and there seem to be no way out. You feel you have hit a stone wall and contemplate giving up altogether.

Well certainly, you’ve heard over and over that you should never give up. That is often the moment when success is just around the next bend requiring you to pump some more adrenaline into your muscles and negotiate that bend.

The fact is that we all have dreams but we equally have to understand that some can be easily achieved, while some would take years to happen. But all of these dreams require one thing to become reality, decisive action. Many are the people who want their dreams to become reality right away. They want to skip the action part and just get into enjoying their reality. But the bottom-line truth is that there are no shortcuts in life.

While converting your dreams into reality may seem tough most of the times, the results are always worth the trouble. It took me time to come to this realization and that’s how I came up with my Moment of Reminiscence. Each time I didn’t do something right or failed in achieving a major objective, I would take a walk into the woods, around fresh water streams taking in the aromatic air into my lungs and reflecting over my failures to identify the cause.

It was during such moments that I realized all you need to do on your path to success is to step up and take decisive action. It is really quite simple if you think about it. Your dream will remain a dream if you don’t do anything about it. But once you start doing something to reach your dreams, you begin to live it. These dreams become part of your reality.

I equally realized during my moments of reminiscence that it would take some time to make our dreams come true, so we must be patient and persistent. We mustn’t give up on our dreams even if we encounter challenges. Challenges will always be there, often testing and preparing us for the best that is to come. They are also part of the process of making our dreams into reality. Successful entrepreneurs can attest to going through many challenges before they got to where they are. They went through several difficulties but they didn’t stop until they reached their goals.

In the same way, the leaders of the American Revolution went through untold challenges for America to become a free nation as it is today. That is why I think that The Anglophones in West Cameroon will come out victorious at the end of their struggle but they should be prepared for worst times and be ready to face those challenges, not giving up until the sun rises with golden beams on them.

Whatever our dreams are, no matter their nature, they may not be a stone-throw away yet, but it will be if we start doing something about them. The first step is to take decisive action; do something about your dreams and make them happen.