HOW TO HANDLE ADVERSITY.

I once heard the story of a donkey some people didn't like. These people did everything in their power to get rid of this donkey, including digging up a big pit and pushing the donkey into it.
We are in such times today. We are in perilous time because there are perilous men out there. The Bible talks about perilous times in the latter days, and I believe these are the times we are in.
As we journey through life, its not everyone who will like us.
If you are on the path to your success and your dream not everyone will support you, in fact that is when adversity will arise most. Adversity might occur due to jealousy and envy or ignorant people misunderstanding you.
Liken yourself to that donkey I mentioned. The story goes on that those who pushed the donkey into the pit were upset the donkey didn't die after it was pushed into the pit. So they decided to bury it alive.
They started dishing dirt on the donkey, hoping to fill up the pit with the donkey buried in it.
You can liken the dishing of dirt on the donkey as criticisms, verbal attacks, sarcasm, being lied about and perhaps physical attacks all with the intention of making you give up, 'drowning' and distracting you.
But the donkey handled the earth and dirt being shoveled at him the right way.
Each time the donkeys 'enemies' threw dirt and mud into the pit, the donkey simply trampled them under his feet, he kept doing that until he was rising higher. The mud and earth served as platforms for the donkey to rise higher.
This is how we should handle criticism and adversity. Use every effort of the enemy as a platform to rise higher by rejecting their efforts, trampling it under your feet and ignoring them.
The 'enemies' of this donkey eventually wore themselves out filling up the entire pit, by the time the pit was filled up, the donkey emerged on top of all the earth and mud which was enough to bring him to the surface and he walk away, going his way peacefully as his enemies watched him walk off. They were too tired to even run after him because they had spent all their strength trying to bury him.
Right before their eyes the donkey walked off!
If you handle adversity with wisdom, just like that donkey, your enemies will watch you walk off freely and they will be powerless to do anything because they had spent all their strength trying to bring you down.

The Dreamers Journey To The Dream!

'The dreamers Journey To The Dream' is the newest work of the author Olutosin Ogunkolade.
Published through feedaread, it is an interesting small volume that can be easily carried around in today's busy and hectic world.
The book is  inspiring and encouraging, intended to awake the dream and the dreamer in every one who purchases a copy.
Written in words that are easy to understand, it cuts across every age group, and can encourage anyone at any level and stage of life.
Written by an author who has life experience, an author who has journeyed and is still journeying on that road to the dream, an author who has seen many of his own dreams become tangible manifestations. It is a book that will enlighten, inspire, educate and motivate the reader through insights, wisdom and knowledge gathered from study and applied practically in life.
GET YOUR COPIES TODAY!

http://www.feedaread.com/books/The-Dreamers-Journey-To-The-Dream-9781784073466.aspx

Of Christmas and Pagan Roots.

I was chatting with a young christian friend of mine about two days ago through my phones WhattsApp. As a kind gesture which is appropriate for the season I sent her a Christmas carol recording with some classic Christmas tunes. One of the songs, I believe it's by Bony M says "Mary's born child Jesus Christ was born on Christmas day".
Being an intelligent, young, zealous christian lady, my teenage friend was ready to debate me with regards to the song.
'Jesus was not born on the 25th of December' she argued, and she doesn't believe in the Christmas celebration because Christmas has pagan roots. 'It was started by Pagans she claimed'
I understood her view, and I knew where she was coming from. I'm a 35 year old man, I have experienced quiet a number of Christmas celebrations in my young lifetime (I still consider myself a young man).
These are the typical discussions and debates that go on in the christian circles during this time of the year.
I tried to share and explain a few insights with her regarding this topic of discussion, and I tried to let her know I didn't want to bore her with details.
She asked me to go on, 'because I am the one who will educate you' she said.
Our discussion commenced.
At this point I must state that I celebrate Christmas, I appreciate the season and I love the motivation behind the giving of cards, gifts and spending time with family, loved ones and friends.
I tried to let my young friend understand that it is not only Christians God uses to establish things here on earth. That the Christmas date was 'picked' and started by people she sees purely as Pagans and not God's creation does not mean God may not have been the one orchestrating behind the scene. After all 'times and seasons are in His hands'
Many Christians make the mistake of thinking its only Christians God uses in this world, and if it is not made, created, put together, orchestrated or decided by a Christian it is wrong or evil in some way.
This is an erroneous way of thinking.
The Bible tells us 'God leads sinners in the way'. God can use a sinner, direct a sinner and bless a sinner as His ways are far different from ours. The Holy Scriptures and history is full of examples of people God used for great and specific purposes in the earth.
These are the things I was sharing with my friend as we exchanged texts back and forth.
I mentioned people like Nebuchadenezzer, King Cyrus as scriptural examples and I mentioned Julius Caesar as a historical figure as people who were not godly by Christian standards but God used them. They were Pagans and heathens in their time.
Nebuchadenezzer was the founder of the Babylonian empire, King Cyrus was the founder of the Persian empire and Julius Caesar is the man we have to thank for the calender structure we use in the world today.
The Bible informs us that God gave Nebuchadenezzer the glory he had and allowed him to build and establish Babylon, King Cyrus was specifically called a heathen, a wild 'crow' that God picked and anointed for a specific purpose. He released the Jews in captivity and supported the building of the temple in Jersualem, which was in line with prophecy.
The point I was trying to let my opinionated friend see is that the Christian celebration may have been started by Pagans but they may have been used by God to pick a date for the celebration of the birth of God's dear son.
'But Christmas is not mentioned in the Bible' she said.
Just the same way there are many words not used or mentioned in the Bible, I replied.
'If celebrating the birth of Jesus is that important, it should be mentioned at least once in the Bible' she said.
I went on to explain to her that that the Bible is clear about it- there was a celebration in heaven when Jesus Christ was born. The earth didn't celebrate it at that time because people have always been slow in catching up with God and spiritual realities.
'But it wasn't December the 25th Jesus was born' she said.
I replied giving an illustration that if she was to celebrate a son's birthday 3 months after his real birth month, does that mean the day she chose to celebrate her sons birthday should not be called her sons birthday? I wanted her to understand that it's the happiness of her son and the joy of the day that mattered and not whether that was the specific day and month.
She was beginning to understand my perspective but she still held on tenaciously to her views.
The spirit of love, unity, giving, and remembering the birth of Jesus is what is important. And this is what the Christmas season does. I don't know any other time of the year when people show so much love and demonstrate such kindness like Christmas. That is the essence of it. God gave His son, He demonstrated love.
The only issue I have about the season is that many people have lost the focus of what Christmas is about. The values from the season are good but the focus can be wrong. It's about Jesus!
The meals, the gathering, the good works and the music  is purposeless in my opinion without the focus of the day being about Jesus. Jesus is the reason for the season!
Its about the Man, not so much the festivity.
So as we remember the birth of His son, we should give and demonstrate love like God has done.
Merry Christmas everyone!

We Need Dreamers.

The world needs people who have a dream! 

It is those that have a dream that become leaders, it is leaders who have influence, and it is those who have influence that are positioned to change the world.

 Dreamers are important, dreams are vital because dreams and dreamers are necessary in the equation of  success and progress. Your dream is your vision. Your mental picture and visualization, the standard you have set for yourself, for a product, a person, a people or an organisation. Dreams give you hope, they help you not to settle for less, dreams give you something to look forward to, dreams keep you excited, dreams keep you motivated, dreams keep you expectant, dreams keep you moving, dreams help you maintain a positive mindset and dreams help you earn respect and love. Good leaders are simply good dreamers. A President of a nation should have a dream for that nation. If he doesn't have a dream for that nation he/she should have no reason or basis to aspire for the Presidency in the first place. When you have a dream to lead people, a positive dream to do well for people it helps to keep you in love.In love with those you want to lead. One of the challenges of countries that are not as developed as they ought to be is the fact that their leaders don't love their people. If their leaders loved them, their leaders would lead them better and make decisions in their best interest.

History attests to the fact that those who have a dream and keep their dreams alive against all odds are the ones who make it to the top.. Dreamers are the ones who carry the answers!

 Dreams help you endure and give you a reason to keep going when times seem rough.

No country gains prominence or rises any higher than the ability of it's leaders to dream and think.

No business grows and moves with the change of time than the ability of it's leadership to dream and think!

A family cannot be any better or happier than the ability of its head,and the ability of the parents to have a dream for that family. Men who have a dream are very few and far between. The bane of most countries regarded as third world countries has been it's leadership. Unfortunately most of those who have found themselves in power in such parts of the world are people who have no dream,and are therefore not moving with the progressive 'spirit' of the times. Because they have no dream,they are busy focusing and wasting wealth on things that won't last to the next generation, issues that have no long term value and spending on selfish and vindictive purposes. They lack ideas because they don't have any dreams. Ideas are rooted in dreams and dreams work with the mind. When a dream is received by an individual or a people, the means, they way and the resources to make that dream manifest begins to take place in the mind. Our minds begin to work to see to the manifesting of the dreams we have chosen to embrace. In other words dreams keep our mental faculties working and fully functional.

In a day and age when developed countries are into space exploration and discovering & developing technologies, countries regarded as third world countries are still struggling with power failure. 
It's a shame because the finances are there to make things happen! 
It's the visionary leadership that is lacking. 
We still practice 'bread and butter politics' and are surrounded by 'owambe' politicians who are bereft of ideas.
Religious institutions also have a responsibility to do more for their followers. Platforms should be created not just to 'glorify' the leader/shepherd but to develop & promote talents among us. The citizens of a country are the glory of that country!The solution to such a rot is to see to it that men who have a dream are the ones who are voted into power.
Dreams give you a goal.When you dissect your dream you will be able to see short term goals and long term goals to make that dream happen.

R.I.P Nelson Mandela

The prince of African leaders is gone.
That is what I choose to call him.
It's sad, but we can only hope he is in a better place. He should be in a better place, after all he exemplified love. Love lifted up this great man and leader. Forgiveness, rooted in love is part of what lifted this man who is an asset to Africa and the entire world head and shoulders above other African leaders.
Without any argument this humble and brilliant man who is the son of a South African tribal chief rose to become a prominent voice in his own nation South Africa and eventually the world.
His life demonstrates to us that there are still some few good men in this world worthy of emulation who are role models to the coming generation.
His perseverance, patience, endurance and indomitable spirit evolved him into a powerful revolutionary who concepts, ideas and effort broke the backbone of apartheid in South Africa.
His voice and spirit lives on, he will not be forgotten.
The book 'Long Walk To Freedom' is his beautifully written autobiography which is a delight and inspiration to read, and the newly premiered film with the same title as Mandela's autobiography starring Idris Alba will serve as means of remembering this great creation of God.
My book 'GREAT WORDS FOR GREAT LIVING' will be one of those materials out there that will serve as a means of remembering and honoring this great son of Africa even for many generations to come.
I encourage you to get copies from www.authorhouse.co.uk or www.amazon.com

THE SPIRIT IN A MAN!

The word 'man' is a generic word that is used in referring to humanity as a whole, both male and female.

But in this article I am using the word 'man' purely in reference to the male gender. In using the word 'spirit' I am referring to the make up, heart and being' of the male gender.
It is very important that the world knows the man is different from the woman in many respects. A proper understanding of this will bring about more peace between the sexes on the job, in platonic friendships, in romantic relationships and marriage.
In a man's innermost being he is a warrior. He is equipped to fight spiritually, mentally, psychologically and even physically if he has to protect what he regards as his own.
In the Bible, every man God's spirit came upon became a warrior of some sort. Men have always been created to 'fight' and take territory. From Gideon, to Samson, from Abraham to Jacob, from King David to wise King Solomon whose battles where largely 'wisdom battles' which he excelled in above all the Kings of the earth there has always been battles carved out for men to engage in.
Women are nurturers and cultivators. They are not designed or cut out to do battle with men, especially their husbands. Their role is to support the man in his many battles in life. The woman was created for and because of the man.
Unfortunately we live in an age and time where men are becoming women and women are trying to become men. Roles are being reversed due to a lack of understanding of each sexes uniqueness, no wonder the world is in a mess.
There will be more peace in the home if the woman understands her man and the man understands his woman. More women will understand their husbands if their fathers had taught them who men are.
A lot of wives see think their husband is another woman, it leads to them getting into arguments with him and fights, which break down the family unit.
The spirit in a man is such that men show compassion to those who are submitted to them or lower than them, they fight and do battle with those who are on the same plane with them and they respect and reverence that which is superior or higher than them. This is the reason the Bible encourages women to be submitted to their husbands. Not because they are inferior, but its for the sake of structure and order in a home and because  of the way the man is 'built', because of the man's spirit.
When a woman rises up against her husband, she has signaled to him that she is not under his authority, when she does that she has signaled to her husband that they are equal in authority, when she rises against her husband she has declared he isn't her lord. That way she presents herself as someone he should fight, because there is no order between them. This type of stance and attitude robs a woman of her beauty in the man's eyes. He begins to see her as another man not a woman he should protect. It is the cause for a lot of physical abuse in many homes, men who hit their wives were not seeing her as a woman at the time he hit her. He was so upset, he was seeing her as another man he was in battle with. This is a psychology about men many women need to understand.
And when a man starts seeing his wife as another man, he will fight her, instead of fighting for her, for there cannot be two masters in a 'ship'.
Single ladies who have the privilege of having their fathers or who have male mentors with them should find out from him who a man is before they get married, it will save them a lot of heartache.
In the marital union, a wife can never 'prevail' against her husband in any form of battle. She can't because she has been placed under the authority of her husband.
 If she doesn't understand this she will fight battles with her husband she will never win and remain in misery.

We "must" be Born Again- BORN FROM ABOVE

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