STAY ALIVE

HOW TO WEAN YOUR BABY

2011-09-12T08:33:00.001-07:00

Weaning is simply the process of gradually stopping feeding a baby with the mother's milk and start feeding him or her with solid food.

When to Wean the Baby:

Medically or traditionally, there is no precise time at which the baby should be weaned. There are certain conditions that indicate when weaning should be undertaken.

It is desirable to wean the baby between the tenth and twelfth months.

A month or two, one way or another will not make much difference if the mother and child are in good condition. But the child should be weaned between the periods of dentition rather than when he is actively teething.

The time of year is important. It would be better to wean your child before the hot weather if it is strong and he has been accustomed to taking other food than the breast milk. On the other hand it would be decidedly better to suspend the weaning until the weather is colder, rather than risk weaning at months of hot weather.

Methods of Weaning:

The best way to wean is to do it gradually. It is not desirable to take the mother's milk away suddenly unless there is a very good reason for it.

The child should be fed small portions of suitable other food at the beginning of the tenth month. By the end of the tenth month he should be taking a feeding two or three times a day of food other than the breast milk.

This feeding may be given in a bottle. In some cases the mother may be able to feed the child with a spoon instead of the bottle.

Times When Rapid Weaning is Necessary:

There are times when the child must be weaned suddenly, as, for example, at the death of the mother, serious sickness of the mother, or in cases where for any cause the mother suddenly loses her milk.

In these cases it is best to wean at once. If an infant refuses to take the bottle under such circumstances, the best plan to adopt, and the wisest one in the long run, is to starve the child into submission. If he gets absolutely nothing but the bottle he will soon take it without protest.

If a meddling or interfering individual attempts to feed the child some other food and tries to coax it to take the bottle in the meantime, much harm may result. It is safe only to fight it out for a day or two and win than to half starve the child and lose in the end.

The child should be weaned if it is not gaining in weight. This may indicate a deficient quality of the mother's milk, or it may indicate a lack of proportion between the child and mother. If a robust child is depending upon the nourishment furnished by a mother who is not in good physical condition the milk may not be adequate in quality and quantity. The child will not therefore develop normally and it may be necessary to wean it.

SELECTING A NURSERY MAID FOR YOUR CHILD

2011-09-12T08:26:00.001-07:00

Most nursing mothers usually require help especially at the early stages of child birth. But is having a maid the best option?

When a helper, or maid, is employed to assist in caring for the baby, much precaution should be exercised in selecting her.

The association, relationship or friendship of the nursery maid and the child is necessarily an intimate one, and she should be willing to submit to a medical examination to prove her physical, mental and spiritual fitness.

Her lungs should be examined thoroughly, so also should the condition of her mouth, throat and nose be known.

An observant and tactful mother will also find out if there are any other objectionable conditions existing, which would render the maid unfit for the position.

A nursery maid should be naturally fond of children. She should be industrious and sensible; of quiet tastes and good disposition. This is necessary because children learn habits fast from those nearest to them.

The maid should see her work as firstly pleasure not a task. Tasks elicit hard, tense feelings. This is why many such maids develop and manifest strange characters.

These suggestions are not exhaustive. Thoroughly find out as many details as you can about the person you want to expose your child to. Your baby is precious and you must to do all it takes to ensure his or her safety and sound development.

SIMPLE CARE OF THE NURSING MOTHER’S NIPPLES

2011-09-12T08:20:00.000-07:00

As soon as the mother has had a good sleep after the delivery period, the nipples should be washed with a saturated solution of boracic acid, and the child allowed to nurse.

The milk does not come into the breast for two or three days, but the child should nurse every four hours during that time.

There is secreted at this time a substance called colostrum. This is a laxative agent which nature intends the child should have as it tends to move the bowels and at the same time it appeases the hunger of the infant. It also accustoms the child to nursing and gradually prepares the nipples for the work ahead of them.

After each nursing the nipples should be carefully washed with the same solution and thoroughly dried.

Cracked Nipples

Cracked nipples often result from lack of care and cleanliness. If they are not cared for as described above they quickly crack during the first few days.

The nipples should never be left moist. They should be washed and dried after every feeding. If the breasts are full enough to leak they should be covered with a pad of sterile absorbent gauze.

Nursing mothers should guard against cracked nipples, because they are exceedingly painful; frequently necessitating a discontinuance of breastfeeding, and it may produce sore or swelling of the breast.

Treatment of Cracked Nipples:

In addition to washing the nipples, drying them thoroughly, and placing a pad of dry gauze over them after each feeding, the nipples should be painted with an 8 per cent solution of nitrate of silver twice daily.

Before the next feeding, after the silver has been used, the nipples should be washed with cooled boiled water. If the cracks are very bad it may be necessary to use a nipple-shield over them while nursing for a few days.

THE DIET OF NURSING MOTHERS

2011-09-12T08:12:00.000-07:00

As a nursing mother, eat exactly the same diet you have always been accustomed to before you became pregnant.

If any piece of diet disagrees with your system, give up that particular piece. Don’t experiment. Simply stick to what you know agreed with you in the past.

Eat more of what you are used to, especially more liquids as they favor milk-making. It is sometimes advisable to drink an extra glass of milk in the mid-afternoon and before retiring.

If milk disagrees with you, or is not liked, you may take clear soup or beef tea in place of it.

In a general way, milk in quantities not over one and half litres daily, eggs, meat, fish, poultry, cereals, green vegetables, and stewed fruit constitute a varied and sufficient food to select from.

Every nursing mother should have one daily movement of the bowels.

She should get three or four hours' exercise in the open air every day; and she should nurse her child regularly during the entire period of nursing.

Drugs of every variety, or for any purpose, should never be taken unless by special permission of her physician.

ARE YOU READY TO EXCEL?

2011-09-12T08:02:00.000-07:00

No one is born with the gift of excellence. Rather you work it out. You develop and imbibe the spirit. For a man to become outstanding, he must be ready to stand out.

This is what David did when he volunteered to confront Goliath. He did not hide in the crowd like the soldiers of Israel who hid from Goliath.

“The man who follows the crowd will usually get no further than the crowd. The man who walks alone is likely to find himself in places no one has ever been” - Alan Ashley Pitt

If you follow bandwagon or be a copycat, or refuse to be unique, you can never excel.

If you are not ready to stand out or excel, you cannot truly command respect where it matters.

If you are not ready to excel or take responsibility for your life, nothing would respond to your abilities.

Simple Tips To Identify Your Gift & Potentials

2010-08-21T06:45:00.000-07:00

1. What things do you have flair for?
We all have a natural ability to do something very well. For instance, Samson was gifted with physical ability and power to fight. This has to do with how you were shaped by God. Are you very tall, with long arms, and can run? You might be a good basketball player if you horn those natural ability.

2. What are the things you excel at?
There are times when we roll our sleeves to do certain tasks, and we do exceptionally well even without preparation. Samson could fight without training, and David the psalmist was summoned to sing to King Saul without prior notice, and he did well.

3. What are the things you are generally recognized as good at?
Usually, where there is a general or objective consensus that you are good at a thing or task, it is a pointer that you have potentials in that area of endeavour.

4. What things thrill you emotionally?
For instance, what tasks would you readily do free of charge and still be glad to do them? If you want to relax, what do you regularly do? If you are offended, discouraged or sad, what do you habitually do that rekindles your joy? Perhaps it is singing? You could very well have potentials to sing.

5. What areas do you ultimately have the capacity to deliver?
When you are pushed to the wall, or when the chips are down, in what area can you be trusted to perform? At what situations and in what areas can your initiative be trusted? And when the best is to be chosen, in what areas can you be chosen? All these are indicators to where lies your gift and potentials.

Sadly, not too many people even realize that they have potentials. And equally worse is when nobody sees anything good in you. But I want to reiterate that there is no one without a gift. It may yet be sleeping; but it is there.

Don't ever let any one despise you or make you believe that what you are now is all that you are worth. There is still a lot more in you than you think.

See “The David in You… Making Your Gifts & potentials Work For You” by Ben E. Efe for more tips.

10 VITAL VITAMINS TO TURN YOUR LIFE AROUND!

2010-07-16T08:04:00.000-07:00

12 MEN & THEIR WIVES

2010-07-16T07:56:00.000-07:00

WINGS OF A DOVE ...OVECRCOMING FEAR & DISCOURAGEMENT

2010-07-16T07:31:00.000-07:00

THE SUCCESSFUL BELIEVER

2010-07-16T07:16:00.000-07:00

REDEEMED FOR GLORY

2010-07-16T07:12:00.001-07:00

...MANAGING THE CHALLENGS OF PART-TIME MINISTRY

2010-07-16T07:06:00.000-07:00

SIMPLE WAYS TO SILENCE THE VOICE OF THE ENEMY

2010-07-16T07:02:00.000-07:00

KILL THAT god... SIMPLE WAYS TO OVERCOME BAD HABITS

2010-07-16T06:52:00.000-07:00

ABC ...BIBLICAL STEPS TO SUCCESS & FULFILLMENT

2010-07-16T06:47:00.001-07:00

10 VITAL VITAMINS TO TURN YOUR LIFE AROUND!

2010-07-16T06:25:00.000-07:00

2010-07-02T02:50:00.000-07:00

WALKING IN ABUNDANCE - 2

It is a fact of life that we cannot change our past or re-write our history. You can’t change your background or what you have been through in life. But with the grace of God, you can get to where you are destined and become what God wants you to be.

In spite of what you are passing through in life, the Lord wants you to become blessed, fruitful and satisfied in all areas of life. See what He says in Jeremiah 31:13-14,

“…I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow… and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness, saith the LORD”.

That we may have abundant life is the reason God chose you and I. We did not choose Him, He chose us. Because He wants us to rejoice and enjoy His goodness, He said He has opened a door of grace and goodness onto us which no man or circumstance can shut (Rev. 3:8)

But this can only happen on your life if you are ready to walk in the abundance and overcome the challenges of your life, if you are willing to your sorrows to joy and failures to victories.

To do this, you need:

1. Create confidence - Be bold!
Don’t live in fear or doubt the greatness of God’s power and ability to turn your life around.

When Nehemiah attempted to build the walls of Jerusalem like you may want to rebuild your dream, his enemies attempted to frustrate him; but he was bold. They told him he would fail and never achieve anything. But he responded as you must do to challenges,

“Then answered I them, and said unto them, The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build: but ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem” (Neh 2: 20)

You can create confidence to face the challenges of life by prayer, talking to God as a Father, and by praying in the Holy Ghost – Jude 20

2. Help others to solve their problems and share love
For the abundance of God to be restored to Job after he had lost all his possessions, he had to first pray for his friends.

When you share love to your neighbours and people around you, it does not only open the heavens to you, it builds your circle of influence. This is why the Bible say, “whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free” (Eph 6: 8).

3. Expect opposition
Life is never meant to be stress free. They shall always be adversaries. If the devil can’t stop doing evil, you just have to moving ahead of him. In the forest, the antelope stays alive for as long as it can outrun the fastest lion.
Nehemiah was severely opposed; but he was determined to win. Hear what he said: “Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them” (Neh 4: 9)

Beloved, Joseph, Moses, David and even Jesus was opposed. You would too. But you must realize that in spite of the mounting opposition, you “have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1John 4: 4).

4. Recognize and accept who you are: You are God’s property – Eph 2: 10.
Don’t let anyone to rubbish you or despise you. Don’t associate with those who don’t value you or refuse to take you for who you are as fit in the Lord.

You may be small today, not yet arrived; but the Bible say, “being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Phil 1:6)

5. Protect your relationship with God
The devil will attempt to tempt you to make you go against God. Refuse to compromise!
Shun sin, ungodliness and evil associations.

If you choose to be like Daniel, Shedrach, Meshack and Abdnego, you would definitely be promoted by God. If you don’t bow to the enemy and life’s challenges, you would stay alive and live in abundance of God’s grace.

6. Stay Focused of Jesus
It is difficult to navigate through life with the ever mounting pressures and challenges. But if you look away from this and concentrate on the Lord and His promises for your life, you won’t and can never be defeated.

You are unique and wonderfully made. Though you may yet be small, be in lack, be sick and still waiting for the Lord to intervene in your situation, I want you to know that your latter end shall be one of testimonies.

I pray that as you take bold steps to Stay Alive, your life and blessings would continually confuse the enemies of your life, in Jesus’ name!

I urge you to remain on top and STAY ALIVE!

Ben E. Efe is the Senior Pastor of LivingWater Int’l Ministries
(GRACE CENTRE), 3/5, Odozi Street, Ereke Bus Stop, Ojodu,
P. O. Box 22626, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria.
Join him on Sundays: 7:30am - 9am; 9:30am -11am, and Wednesdays: 6pm.
+ 234 -8035125496, 8058666643
stayalive_intl@yahoo.com, grace.centre@yahoo.com
www.livingwater.viviti.com

2010-06-30T00:44:00.001-07:00

WALKING IN ABUNDANCE - 1

One basic truth in life is that God alone makes a man to become blessed. And He provides for His people. He meets our needs. But God blesses us so that we can bless others. This is what the Bible says.

“And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work” (2Cor 9:8)

God wants us to be happy and be prosperous (3John 2). He wants us to eat in plenty and rejoice in His goodness (Joel 2:26). This tells us that, no matter your condition or who you are, God is able to give you the desires of your heart beyond your expectations.

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us” (Eph 3:20)

So how can we walk in His abundance and enjoy the life Jesus Christ has ordained for us?

1. You can determine or decide the amount you desire:

Be committed to giving, to the needy, to the poor, to the things of God, and to the men of God. The quality of the blessing you receive is determined by the measure you give. This is the message of Luke 6: 38 – “Give and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you"

Whatsoever a man sows, he receives!

2. Get in agreement with the God

You cannot enjoy the grace and blessings of God if you are united with Him in purpose. Can two ever walk together without agreeing?

If you align your life with the will and purpose of God, no evil can ever trample upon you. So, get in agreement with the Lord. Agree with Him in evangelism, in faith, in speaking the Word over your life. Don’t live in fear or entertain it. You may not be where you want to be at the moment. Just keep believing God and speaking that desire to manifestation. Jesus says,

“"For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will h

To resist means refuse to go along with; while to bind means to disallow, prevent and or to arrest. You cannot afford to let the enemy have his way in your life. Stand up to resist him. And to resist him, you must first submit to God. Hand your life and affairs over to the Lord.

3C/i>

3. To ready to resist and bind the devil

The enemy will always come to tempt and frustrate your efforts to enjoy the blessings of god. It is your responsibility to stand up and resist him, because whatever you don’t resist has the right to remain.

To resist means refuse to go along with; while to bind means to disallow, prevent and or to arrest. You cannot afford to let the enemy have his way in your life. Stand up to resist him. And to resist him, you must first submit to God. Hand your life and affairs over to the Lord.

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4: 7)

4. Shun strife and unforgiveness

If the enemy cannot get you steal or commit one open sin, don’t ever think he would give up. Beside pride, the devil knows that unforgiveness will keep the blessings of God far away from you, and he would continually fan the embers of bitterness, anger and hatred. And with such feelings, forgiveness is difficult.

Whenever such thoughts and feelings about anyone cloud your mind, know that the enemy is trying to limit and reduce your blessings and goodness. Don’t let him have his way.

“Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven” (Luke 6:37)

Please remember that, among the truly hate is, “A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren” (Proverbs 6:18-19)

On the Cross, Jesus said “it is finished, all is finished”! This is why I can boldly tell you that you shall walk in the abundance of the Lord. As you live your life for God, according to His counsel and do what is expected of you to rise in glory, more of God's grace would be released to you, and you would continually overcome the enemy and be the star God has ordained you to be! See you at the top and STAY ALIVE!

Pastor Ben E. Efe is the Senior Pastor of LivingWater Int’l Ministries

(GRACE CENTRE), 3/5, Odozi Street, Ereke Bus Stop, Ojodu,

P. O. Box 22626, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria.

Join him on Sundays: 7:30am - 9am; 9:30am -11am, and Wednesdays: 6pm.

+ 234 -8035125496, 8058666643

stayalive_intl@yahoo.com, grace.centre@yahoo.com

www.livingwater.viviti.com

2010-06-15T06:19:00.003-07:00

BE DETERMINED STAY ALIVE - 2

A lot of people desire to be great in life. But God will not give you what you are not qualified for. And before He would promote you, He would pass you through an examination or the wilderness test. This test is an inevitable experience designed by God for your training, for learning, and sometimes to humble us.

But this is where many people allow the devil to deceive and discourage them to backslide, to give up on God, and to divert their blessings.

Many people die with their dreams in the wilderness – in times of challenges. But a real man is not known in times of pleasure, but in moments of pain. A real Christian is not known only in times of praise, but in times of lack and hardship.

The wilderness experience could be a big financial challenge, sickness, delayed conception, repeated failure, opposition, persecution and or oppression. But no matter how long such situation may persist, you would outlive them.

Note also that no condition is permanent. And the wilderness is not a place where people stay – you only pass through it. David said in Psalm 23, “Though I walk through…” He did not say stay or sit in the valley. This is why I know that whatever you are passing through now, you would surely overcome!

The wilderness is a school you must pass through in life. It is your attitude and mental state that will determine whether or not you will survive.

So what do you need to do to overcome and stay alive when challenges come?

1. Let your attitude be one of praise: because God is working out something for your good. Romans 8: 28 say, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose”.

2. Let your attitude be of expectation – Be expectant! You may be down now, reach for the top. Don’t let any situation kill your hope. Behind every closed door is a world of opportunities – keep pushing. Always expect the best from God.

In Numbers 13: 25-33, we find how Israel lost faith in God and failed the wilderness test because of fear. Note that if any thing can make you give up on your dream or blessing, then that dream does not belong to you originally.

Don’t let the enemy quench your light… Stay Alive!

2010-06-15T06:19:00.002-07:00

BE DETERMINED STAY ALIVE - 2

A lot of people desire to be great in life. But God will not give you what you are not qualified for. And before He would promote you, He would pass you through an examination or the wilderness test. This test is an inevitable experience designed by God for your training, for learning, and sometimes to humble us.

But this is where many people allow the devil to deceive and discourage them to backslide, to give up on God, and to divert their blessings.

Many people die with their dreams in the wilderness – in times of challenges. But a real man is not known in times of pleasure, but in moments of pain. A real Christian is not known only in times of praise, but in times of lack and hardship.

The wilderness experience could be a big financial challenge, sickness, delayed conception, repeated failure, opposition, persecution and or oppression. But no matter how long such situation may persist, you would outlive them.

Note also that no condition is permanent. And the wilderness is not a place where people stay – you only pass through it. David said in Psalm 23, “Though I walk through…” He did not say stay or sit in the valley. This is why I know that whatever you are passing through now, you would surely overcome!

The wilderness is a school you must pass through in life. It is your attitude and mental state that will determine whether or not you will survive.

So what do you need to do to overcome and stay alive when challenges come?

1. Let your attitude be one of praise: because God is working out something for your good. Romans 8: 28 say, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose”.

2. Let your attitude be of expectation – Be expectant! You may be down now, reach for the top. Don’t let any situation kill your hope. Behind every closed door is a world of opportunities – keep pushing. Always expect the best from God.

In Numbers 13: 25-33, we find how Israel lost faith in God and failed the wilderness test because of fear. Note that if any thing can make you give up on your dream or blessing, then that dream does not belong to you originally.

Don’t let the enemy quench your light… Stay Alive!

2010-06-15T06:19:00.000-07:00

BE DETERMINED STAY ALIVE - 2

A lot of people desire to be great in life. But God will not give you what you are not qualified for. And before He would promote you, He would pass you through an examination or the wilderness test. This test is an inevitable experience designed by God for your training, for learning, and sometimes to humble us.

But this is where many people allow the devil to deceive and discourage them to backslide, to give up on God, and to divert their blessings.

Many people die with their dreams in the wilderness – in times of challenges. But a real man is not known in times of pleasure, but in moments of pain. A real Christian is not known only in times of praise, but in times of lack and hardship.

The wilderness experience could be a big financial challenge, sickness, delayed conception, repeated failure, opposition, persecution and or oppression. But no matter how long such situation may persist, you would outlive them.

Note also that no condition is permanent. And the wilderness is not a place where people stay – you only pass through it. David said in Psalm 23, “Though I walk through…” He did not say stay or sit in the valley. This is why I know that whatever you are passing through now, you would surely overcome!

The wilderness is a school you must pass through in life. It is your attitude and mental state that will determine whether or not you will survive.

So what do you need to do to overcome and stay alive when challenges come?

1. Let your attitude be one of praise: because God is working out something for your good. Romans 8: 28 say, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose”.

2. Let your attitude be of expectation – Be expectant! You may be down now, reach for the top. Don’t let any situation kill your hope. Behind every closed door is a world of opportunities – keep pushing. Always expect the best from God.

In Numbers 13: 25-33, we find how Israel lost faith in God and failed the wilderness test because of fear. Note that if any thing can make you give up on your dream or blessing, then that dream does not belong to you originally.

Don’t let the enemy quench your light… Stay Alive!

2010-06-09T04:06:00.000-07:00

Be Determined to Stay Alive!

The difference between those who are failures and successful people is the choices they make in life. The difference between those walking in God's grace and those living in sin and the grip of the devil is in the choice they make.

Indeed there are challenges in life; but the attitude you choose to have determines what becomes of you.

In the book of Ruth, we find the story of two women who were faced with calamity and had to choose between two alternatives - to go forward or backwards; to trust the Living God, or to surrender to problems.

Ruth was committed to choosing and following the best path. The wind of life may not be favourable all the time; but note that you are not alone.

In the case of Ruth and Oprah, we learn the following lessons:

1. They had the same opportunities to be blessed; but only Ruth chose to stick to Naomi and God' plan and purpose. And her life was transformed. That there is a set back in your life now does not mean you can never make it again.

2. They were both faced with the same affliction. Many people have passed through the challenge you facing now and they survived. You have no excuse to give up.

Note that, commitment and dedication to staying alive or sticking with God in spite of your challenges is not a gift. It is a choice!

You either choose to stay on God's side or you let the devil continue to toy with your life. Don't allow that to happen to you.

"... God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted (tried) above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it" - 1 Cor 10:13

No matter what you are passing through, don't lose focus of what God has promised to do in your life. Joseph refused Portiphar's wife because he was focused on fulfilling his destiny the way of God. Shedrach, Meshack and Abednego refused to bow to idols. Don't compromise your faith.

Even Jesus was tempted and faced trials as we do; and "...He Himself has suffered being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted" Heb 2:18.

Beloved, let not your trials and travials bend you. You can and will win again and again. The Bible says, "Blessed is the man that endures temptation, for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised..."

What this simply means is everything shall work out for your good...even the challenges you experience now. Only be determined to stay alive. Refuse the plan of the enemy concerning your life. He may come to steal, kill and destroy. He can only succeed if you let him.

Please note again that it is dangerous for you to keep God out of your life. With Him, you can never be fulfilled. May He perfect all that concerns you as you surrender all to the Lord Jesus Christ.

I urge you to Stay Alive!

Ben E. Efe

Pastor, Grace Centre

PO Box 22626, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria

stayalive_intl@yahoo.com

2010-05-20T07:59:00.000-07:00

THE WATERS OF DISCOURAGEMENT - 2

When you are faced with discouragement or when there is little or no support coming your way, maintain a good attitude and the phase would soon pass too.

The waters of discouragement may be bitter and soar; but with a right attitude, your thirst would be quenched and your spirit revived. This is what you must do:

1. Believe that God is always there to guide and bless you. No matter how dark your circumstances may be, the Lord would lead you to where blessings would come to you. Note that it is not the number of people you meet that matters in life, but the right ones God has ordained to bless you. I pray that everyone that has a role to play in your blessings, life and destiny shall locate you, and God will make them favour you, in Jesus’ name!

David was very sure of the presence and hand of God in his affairs that he declared in Psalm 23: 4 that, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me”.

2. When you are confused or discouraged, trust your relationship with God. Be confident that He is there for you always. He will never fail you.

You may pass through tough times; but can overcome them if you focus on what God says about you rather than what the enemy is saying through present prevailing circumstances. On inherent truth in the scriptures concerning our relationship with God is recorded in Isaiah 43: 2. It says,

“When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee”.

God loves you too much to allow life and its evils to swallow you. Just be determined to concentrate on the bright side of John 10: 10. Truly, the challenges of live may be awesome; but they would not overwhelm or defeat you.

Gideon’s army was reduced from 32,000 to just 300. But God sent help from above to give him victory as He would for you. Trust Him. The little that you have now is more than enough for God to bless you with.

“He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters. 17 He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me” (Psalm 18: 16 -17)

2010-05-17T06:05:00.000-07:00

THE WATERS OF DISCOURAGEMENT - 1

If a person who is thirsty drinks water, it refreshes, energizes and revives his spirit. But what do you do when the “water” that is supposed to be a blessing leads to discouragement and fear?

What do you do if the people you look up to for help strangely disappoint you, even when you are sure they can help you? What do you do when your friends and family desert you in times of trouble? Sometimes in life, it is when you really need people to support you, to help you that you find that everybody has deserted you. You may look around and see nobody to turn to for help. You may not find anyone to believe your dreams, and they get afraid to support you or even pray with you. They may say, “Can he ever make it?”

But truly you can never get anyone to help you unless God intervenes. This is why as Christians, our prayers should be, “Lord, lead me to my point of breakthrough and connect me to those you have ordained to bless my life!” This is important because you cannot waste time counting on people who have nothing to contribute to your life.

This is what Gideon discovered when God made his “helpers” pass through the water test – the water of discouragement (Judges 7: 4 -8). Gideon chose 32,000 men to help him prosecute a war; but God cut down the number to just 300. How discouraging that could be. But he pressed on to victory. The lessons we learn when we are faced with such situations are:

1. When your problems are many and really tough, that’s when you know who really is relevant to your life. Though Gideon chose 32,000 men, only 300 were relevant to his life (Judges 7: 12). Whenever you have very few people to turn to for help, don’t worry. Turn to God (Psalm 121: 1).

2. Don’t let your immediate challenge make you lose focus. You must know who are - a child of God. And you must be aware of where you are going. This was why only the 300 men of Gideon, who lapped the water, putting their hands to their mouth, were chosen ahead of all the rest that bowed down upon their knees to drink water.

In spite of what you may be experiencing in life, you must be sober. This will help you to see your enemy approaching and see your problems in their true perspective. Don’t kneel or bow down to challenges or give up.

3. When God reduces your of help and support, it means He wants to give you a miracle – the glory would be His alone. When your friends and family cannot pass the pruning water test of God as He did Gideon’s men, don’t worry. Let them go and trust God! Remember that David said, “I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. ⁵ They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed” (Psalm 34: 4 -5)

4. Stay wherever God puts you! Sometimes, the challenges we pass through are God ordained. Don’t ever look for another light or create your own, if God has decided to hide you in darkness for awhile. Whenever you create or seek your own light, you end up in sorrow – Isaiah 50: 11. This is what made Moses to sojourn in the wilderness for forty years.

5. Sometimes, it is in your worst moments and conditions that God gives the best revelations and insights. It took trials and difficulties for Job to see God in His true light. He said, “I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee” (Job 42: 5).

David suggested this too when he said, “Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word” (Psalm 119: 67), “It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes” (Psalm 119: 71)

There are some truths in life that you can only learn in hardship, and when you overcome them, you can encourage others. So don’t be afraid even now. God, your God, is in control!

It is my prayer that, in place of fear and discouragement, God would grant you favour and open every door of goodness the enemy has closed to you. I also pray that every mark of the enemy making you a target of affliction be wiped off by the Blood of Jesus, in Jesus’ name!

Don’t be discouraged. Your help is near! I urge you to Stay Alive (John 10:10).

2010-05-14T08:45:00.000-07:00
HOW TO COMPLETE WHAT YOU START!

The birth of a baby usually comes with excitement, joy and loads of expectations. It is the same with our dreams, projects and the many great ideas that flood our hearts. Many people start out with zest and fizzle out before they even get to the verge of the Promised Land.

But why do we really have many half-done or abandoned projects and dreams, even if it involves just doing little cores such as the dishes, having a scheduled hair cut, painting your apartment or big ones such as running for that office?

24 hours doesn’t seem to be enough for so many people. For some, the challenges of life just slow them down. They continually go back to start afresh, being busy without moving forward. But you can truly FINISH whatever you start. Here are few tips to help you.

1. Prayer About Your projects / Dreams: Hand them over to God. Some things in life are achieved by grace, not by wisdom, educational qualification, political connection or power. You would be wise to enlist the help of God through prayer. Remember that the race is not always won by the swift or the battle by the strong.

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths” (Pro 3: 5-6)

2. Stand Up To Fight For What You Want – Resist The Enemy:
Know that the devil, your enemy hate good things. He rejoices when you procrastinate and defer what you ought to do now because it postpones your joy. Be determined to stop him he comes, for he sure will.

Life is usually filled with tough times, challenges and loads of unexpected happenings. But many people cheat themselves by allowing these situations to overwhelm them. Many people give up on their dreams and on God.

But if you do this, you indirectly close the door to all the blessings that are available to you as a child of God.

But what can you really do when you’ve lost all hope? When you’ve come to your wits end?

What do you do when you can’t cope with life any more? What do you do when your life is opposite of what you dream of, opposite of what God wants you to become?

The simple answer that would bring great result is to turn your life over to God. Your ability to change your focus and put your trust in God determines how much you can turn your life around.

Here are simple ways:

1. Create time to always quietly pray to God.
Fellowship with Him. Prayer draws you closer to God and it helps you understand His plans and purpose for your life. It would build your confidence.

2. Build your faith by confessing God’s word and promises.
If your worry or fear is surpasses your belief in God, you can never progress in life. Do what David did in Psalm 23: 1- 4.

3. Refuse to live as you are now.
God desires the best for you. He wants to do greater and better things in your life. Release yourself – marriage, finances, spiritual walk and everything to Him, and He would lift you up as He did David (Psalm 40: 1-3).

4. Ask God for a new meaning, purpose and vision for your life.
Ask God to change your life. If your focus changes, your values and expectations will change. It would move you from doubt and fear to peace, hope and faith.

Please note that it is dangerous for you to keep God out of your life. With Him, you can never be fulfilled. May He perfect all that concerns you as you surrender all to the Lord Jesus Christ. Stay Alive!