Thriving Words

A poor boy was in love with a rich man’s daughter. Overcome with his love for the girl, the boy proposed to her. However, the rich girl derisively rejected him and said, “Your monthly salary is equivalent to my daily expenses. How do you expect me to marry someone like you? I can never love you so forget about me. Go find and marry someone else of your level.” Despite being rejected so hurtfully, for some reason, the boy could not forget her so easily. Roughly 10 years later, they ran into each other accidentally in a shopping mall. She immediately recognized the man and said, “Hey, how are you? I’m now married to a very smart man, and his salary is $15,700 per month! Can you beat that?” he man, hearing those painful words from the woman he used to care for, held back his tears and said nothing. Not a few moments passed when the woman’s husband came back to her side. But before the lady could say a word, her husband immediately recognized the man she was talking to and said, “...

Many see no need for a religious figure who lived two millennia ago. He did not help them get their first job, buy their first house, or find their first wife. They ask, “what has he ever done for me?” He does not provide entertainment, cure sickness, distribute money, grant the wishes of dying children, or lower taxes. They think, “why would I need Jesus if he does not help with the things most important to me?” Even Christians who claim his name, appoint him their co-pilot, or use him as Saviour don’t feel they need him once they have him in their pile of possessions. While they express praise for him, they can go days, weeks, and months without a single thought of needing Christ for anything. Even ministry work and Bible study can distract us from the need for Christ if it is done as busywork and not with Christ as the goal. It is a worthwhile question to ask why you need Jesus Christ. Especially, if you think yourself a Christian who already believes in him. Here are 11 ...

You’ve probably heard of the best selling book by Norman Vincent Peale called “The Power of Positive Thinking”.  Originally published in 1952, more than 20 million copies have been sold in 41 languages!   In his book, Mr. Peale helps people improve themselves and their situations by improving their thoughts, emphasizing the power of positive thinking.    This leads me to ponder… If positive thinking is powerful for improving ourselves, imagine how the power of positive  speaking  can improve situations with others! Does that mean we can only say positive things and not say anything negative?  You know, like the old addage, “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all”.    Not exactly.  Sometimes, especially as parents, it’s necessary to say things that are negative for the purpose of instructing or correcting.   However, when we do so, we’re not to speak in a criticising manner, but in ...

It’s always great to have a cheerful heart and laugh with family and friends. There’s a time to laugh I want you to laugh along with me as you read this joke: Can a Man ever do a wrong transaction with God? My friend invited me to his church for a thanksgiving service, and I sat at the front row. When it was time for offering, the offering basket was passed around. Despite the Pastor's charge for good offering, I still hurriedly and secretly pulled out N50 from my pocket and dropped it. Just then, the person behind me tapped me on the shoulder and handed me a N1,000 note. I smiled, sow generous. Then majestically, I looked around and put the N1,000 in the basket and passed it on. Then I turned and thanked the man seriously for being so generous. He replied "don't mention'' be more careful next time, it fell from your pocket" Whaaaat!!!!!???????......." "Usher please wait, wrong transaction!!!!!!!!!." Don't laugh alone, share it an...

The Truth About Prayer: What It Is and How It Works by Joyce Meyer Smith Wigglesworth was a great preacher. But before he was a preacher, he was a plumber who wasn’t a Christian—nor a very nice man. Fortunately for him, he had a godly wife. He didn’t want her to go to church, but she went anyway. When she did, he’d lock her out of the house, and when she came home, she’d have to sleep on the back porch. In the morning he’d unlock the door and she’d come in and say, “Good morning, Smithy!” and make him breakfast. She was a godly example for him. She prayed for him and God gave her the grace to be good to him in spite of his rude behavior. And because she continued to be so good to him, he eventually came to know the Lord and was radically changed. As a result, he became one of the greatest preachers who ever lived. That’s the power of prayer. Understand What Prayer Really Is Prayer is simply conversation with God. It’s asking Him to meet your need or someone else’s. It’...

Smiling may seem like an involuntary response to something cute or  funny , but it is much more than that. Studies suggest that smiling, forced or not, can have a positive effect on your mood, decrease stress levels , and even make everyone around you feel better. What happy news! Smiling and laughing can have a positive effect on your well-being, but as you make the transition from child to adult, you often tend to lose the habit of indulging in these behaviors. A good example of this is a children’s playground: You often see the kids running around, constantly laughing and smiling as they enjoy living in the moment, while the parents sit around the edge, full of the stresses that modern life can bring, with the occasional grin breaking their otherwise serious facial expressions. Adults can benefit from taking a lead from children and making more room in life for smiling and laughter. Research has shown that there a number of health benefits contributed to smiling and lau...

One of my mentors compose a song, the lyrics goes thus "don't give up, its not over when you give up, then its over. Hold on to your God, struggle not anymore even when it fails, its not over" We all long for rest from the fatigue of living. God placed the desire for rest in our souls, and he promises to fulfill it: “I will satisfy the weary soul, and every languishing soul I will replenish” ( Jeremiah 31:25 ). Wars are exhausting — especially long ones. That’s why you are often tired. Many soldiers, who experience the fierceness of combat, want to get out of it. That’s why you’re tempted to escape. That’s why you’re tempted to give up. Don’t Give Up But don’t give up. No, rather “take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded” ( 2 Chronicles 15:7 ). Don’t give up when that familiar sin, still crouching at your door after all these years, pounces again with temptation. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common t...

Depending on God is basic to the Christian life. We trust in, or depend on, God for our salvation ( Ephesians 2:8–9 ). We depend on God for wisdom ( James 1:5 ). In fact, we depend on God  for  everything ( Psalm 104:27 ) and  in everything ( Proverbs 3:5–6 ). The psalmist teaches the Lord’s reliability with the three-fold description “the LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer” ( Psalm 18:2 ). Depending on God alone does  not  mean we act foolishly. Jesus did not need to jump off the pinnacle of the temple to “prove” that He depended on God ( Matthew 4:5–7 ). There is a difference between trusting God and putting God to the test. Depending on God alone doesn’t mean we dispense with God’s gifts. For example, a person with strep throat may refuse to go to the doctor, saying (hoarsely), “I am going to depend on God alone to heal me.” Or a person driving a car may close her eyes and release the steering wheel, saying, “I am going to depend on God alone to ...

Listen to any funeral sermon and you will soon realise that what we value is not how rich or how independent we are, how far we travelled or how much we hoarded. It is how much we gave, how much we loved, how much we were loved.                         Nick Spencer Read any number of headstones, obituaries or funeral sermons, and you’ll quickly learn what humans really value when it boils down to it – they rarely say ‘He was very rich’, ‘She sealed some good deals for the company’, ‘He had a lovely car’ or ‘Her face had very few fine lines, and her hair stayed its natural colour right till the end.’  Have you ever seen a gravestone marked ‘In loving memory of mother. She was very thin’? The things we strive for and spend so much time, effort and money on are not, we discover, the things people treasure about us. ‘He/she was kind, generous, caring, positi...

“I was born in the ghetto. AJ! Ajegunle! I was born in Ajegunle”  Odion Ighalo reiterated proudly. “It was difficult to live, difficult to eat and that is why I thank God when I look where I am now, we didn’t always have what we wanted or needed, we had to struggle,”  he told The Guardian. It was early morning somewhere in the ghetto of Ajegunle, Lagos state, the center of commerce in Nigeria – West Africa. The sunrise came quickly on that fateful day, the weather was already blowing hot. Madam Ighalo carried her wares and rushed to hawk ‘pure water’ so that her son, Jude can play football. “So, my mum, with her small shop where she sold sachet water and soft drinks, she’ll save some money to buy shoes for me, give me transport money to go play with my team or play friendly games,”  Odion Ighalo said. Madam Ighalo shrugged off hunger, forgot to eat and rushed down home to ensure she made some money which her son Jude can use to travel locally to a football...

If I’m happy with my life, why do I need Jesus? I hear that from a lot of folks. They say to me, “I just don’t feel the need for Christ.” As if Christianity were something that were packaged and sold at shoprite! That what we’re trying to communicate to people is “Here’s something that’s going to make you feel good, and everybody needs a little of this in their closet or in their refrigerator,” as if it were some commodity that’s going to add a dash of happiness to our lives. If the only reason a human being ever needed Jesus was to be happy and a person is already happy without Jesus, then they certainly don’t need Jesus. The New Testament indicates, however, that there’s another reason you or somebody else needs Jesus. There is a God who is altogether holy, who is perfectly just, and who declares that he is going to judge the world and hold every human being accountable for their life. As a perfectly holy and just God, he requires from each one of us a life of perfect ...

The first chapter of the Bible tells us that God created humans "in his own image". Men and women are created "in the image of God". Obviously, we are not in God’s image in terms of height or weight or skin color. God is spirit, uncreated, and we are created of matter. Still, God has made humanity in his own image, which means that there are essential ways in which he has made us to be like him. We are self-aware, we can communicate, plan, think creatively, design and build, solve problems, and be a force for good in our world. And we can love. We are to be "created like God in true righteousness and holiness". Yet, often in those very ways, people are not much like God at all. In fact, people can often be rather ungodly. In spite of our ungodliness, however, there are certain things we can be sure of. For one thing, God will always be faithful in his love toward us. You were born for a great purpose. Until you realize this purpose, Your life might...

You were born for a purpose! God created each of us for a reason—and we are happiest when we are living in harmony with the purpose he has given us. You need to know what it is. Many people have no idea what life is all about. They live, and they die, searching for some kind of meaning, wondering whether their lives have purpose—where they fit, whether they really matter in the grand scheme of things. They may have put together the finest things of life, or they may have been voted "most popular" in high school, but all too soon, youthful plans and dreams evaporate into anxiety and frustration over missed opportunities, failed relationships or countless other "if-onlys" and "might-have-beens." Many people lead empty, unfulfilled lives, lacking in solid purpose and meaning beyond the short-lived gratification of money, sex, power, respect or popularity, none of which means anything, especially when the darkness of death approaches. But life could be mu...

I don't subscribe to weekend bloging but due to  increasingly views on the blog. I know folks are expecting a word this morning. I want to drop some words on Health and Wealth. It is a common saying that you gotta health to get wealth when we are young, then as we grow older, we try to sacrifice wealth to have health. To some extent, it could be true. So how do one balance it, being wealth and staying healthy. A majority of studies have proven that over half of Nigerian isn’t very good at making healthy decisions. Whether it is someone dying a premature death, 30 to 40 year olds being diagnosed with diabetes, or maybe even having health complications yourself.  One of our most important assets is our health. If we don’t feel well, we can’t do well. How can you expect to get the absolute most out of life if your energy levels are below average, carrying around excess fat, and feeling like complete crap? You can’t! Looking good is just a benefit. It is so much deepe...

Innocent keeps dying everyday, Men killed at the prime of their lives. Children killed by hunger and famine. Wars here and there. United nations was created to bring peace but since its inception, peace has eluded the world. everyday, the situation keep getting worst. Maybe you are one of those wondering, where is God in all this? Where is God when It Hurt? Maybe you just lost your job, lost a loved one, lost your home, failed in your academic pursuit. You have struggled and struggled, yet you see some undeserving folks enjoying. I will post a video below that will explain why all this evil still continue despite God being the creator and still exist. And to answer the question: God is still where He is even when it hurt. He is Unchangeable Changer. God in the good times is still God in the bad times. Good Morning beloved and do have a wonderful Friday. #TGIF Don't forget to share this post with others. Do enjoy the video below:

Why do the so-called 'non-religious' people performed better than the so-called 'religious' people?  I will be sharing some wise words I came across from Chine Ezekwesili: "We want spiritual salvation and also earthly one. While doing nothing but praying to achieve both. We are not ready. What is the point of God creating you and giving you free will, if you're using the free will to ask that she/he decides everything for you? It's the reason why irreligious countries/people perform better. They don't leave their responsibilities to God, or ask that s/he decides for them. Prayer helps with assurance that you can do it, but that's it. God isn't going to come tinkering around your destiny. You control that. People praying to be Mark Zuckerberg & Bill Gates, difference is they both didn't pray to be become who they are, they worked to become it." Good Morning and do have a thriving day...

Still on FACTS And FAITH. Difference between facts and faith if facts is what it seems it is while Faith is what it should be. Facts are based on what the world say and Faith is based on What God say. Facts if of what is seen while Faith is of what is not seen. Facts could be pessimistic while faith is optimistic. You have got a choice to have facts or have faith. Today, I urge you despite all the negative facts you have, despite all what the facts are indicating, still have Faith, don't give up. It's a lovely morning. Do have a blessed Day!

We started a FactAndFaith Series Yesterday: What the world says might be a fact but what God says is what matter most. Let your Faith positively quench the negative facts. Statistics shows more folks will die, more diseases will come. But the truth is Faith says, You will not die but live to declare the works of God in the land of d living. Faith say not even pestilence or disease will have dominion over you. Are you so concerned about the negative facts around you. Use your Faith to move on.... Faith is the catalyst for the journey of life. Good Morning beloved and do have a beautiful day! =) 

Situation in the world is getting worst  by day. #FACT. Dollar is going up. #FACT More folks are becoming poorer. #FACT but when others are saying they are cast down, we shall say we are lifted up. #TRUTH #FAITH. Beloved, your life shouldn't b based on a mere foreign exchange. Your life should be based on the word of God. What matter most in your life shouldn't be the government policy not the price of commodities or the high inflation or exchange rate of the dollar; What matter most is What God Says. The Word of God is forever settled. Not a single dot of His Word wouldn't come to pass. Government might promise and fail but God will never fail... As you start this week, know that he/she/they that have Jesus as the BACKBONE will never be cast down. Good Morning and Have a Great Week!