PRAY AND FAST

TheBETTERLife Post
Week of December 29, 2014-January 3, 2015

It is true that how we finish is more important than how we start. But sometimes if we start out on the wrong side we may never get to the finish line. For this reason, it is important that we start well by inquiring from the Lord who knows the end from the beginning. One of the best ways to do this is through prayer and fasting.

Prayer is the official communication means between man and God. When combined with fasting, prayer properly positions us to receive signals and direction in the form of ideas, insights, concepts and discernment from God.

Why bother to ask God?

Because most of us have plans for tomorrow. Yet, none of us knows tomorrow. What appears to us to be the right way and the right plan at first can lead to disaster in the end. But if we commit our ways to the Lord God and trust in him; if we acknowledge him in all our ways and do not lean on our own understanding or plan, he will direct our steps. No one will argue that prayer of inquiry is better than a prayer of rescue because many are the plans in a man;s heart but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails.

That is why our loving Father God who knows the end from the beginning declares to all: "Call to me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things that you do not know. For I know the plans that I have for you. They are plans for good and not disaster, to give you a future and a hope".

So, before we set out to do anything we have planned for the coming months in new year, let us heed God's call. Let us inquire from the Lord and trust him with all our hearts to lead us. We are free to make our plans but let us not rely on what we know. Rather let us acknowledge God and ask him to direct our paths in the new year. With God leading, we believe that 2015 shall go down in history as our year of undeniable DOMINION.

#PastorPeterOkaka, #TheBETTERLife, #FreshwaterChristianHouse, #Fastingandpraying, #newyear, #dominion

FOLLOW YOUR HEART? IT DEPENDS...

TheBETTERLife Post
Week of December 22-27, 2014

FOLLOW YOUR HEART?  It Depends...

"Just follow your heart” is a common advice we give to friends and people we know without thinking of what might be resident in their hearts.

Following our hearts is only as good as what lies in our hearts.
~ Adolf Hitler followed his heart and he brought war and death to the world.
~ Martin Luther King Jr. followed his heart and he brought life and freedom to the world
~ Judas Iscariot followed his heart and ended up with suicide.

For our hearts to lead us in the right direction, we must first put the right stuff in there.

So next time you want to advice a friend to follow their heart, it might be good to first ask them “what’s in your heart”? Or more appropriately: “who lives in your heart”?. And before you follow your own heart, ask yourself the same question. There is a way that appears to be right to a person but in the end it leads to death.

But God has a better way - The JESUS WAY.

Jesus does not just know the way to go, he is The WAY!

On JESUS WAY, there is no night, darkness or confusion corners because Jesus is the LIGHT - a lamp for our feet by night and light on our paths by day!

On JESUS WAY you do not need directional signs because Jesus will not just show you the way, he will walk with you and lead you along.

As the good shepherd, he feeds, guides and shield us. When he leads, we do not lack because he makes us to lie down in fresh tender, green pastures.
~ He leads us beside the still and restful waters.
~ He refreshes and restores our souls.
~ He leads us in the paths of righteousness just to honour his name.

Yes, though we may walk through the scary and sunless valleys of the shadow of death, we will fear no evil. Why? The Almighty is with us.
~ His rod and staff is there to protect and guide us, and that brings comfort!
~ When the enemy comes our way, Jesus rises to the task and spreads a red carpet for us to have a feast while the enemy watches in frustration and afar off.
~ He honours us by anointing our heads with oil while his angels fill our cups with overflowing blessings.

Following this shepherd guarantees that only goodness, mercy, and unfailing love shall follow us all the days of our lives.

This is why we have made a covenant to follow this shepherd and live in his house forever.

JESUS WAY is the big WHY of Christmas. So choose to follow the JESUS WAY this Christmas and always

Merry Christmas!

#PastorPeterOkaka, #FreshwaterChristianHouse
#TheBetterLife
#JESUS, #Christmas, #life, #reflections

IS TRUTH RELATIVE?

TheBETTERLife Post
Week of December 15-20, 2014

Some have informed us that there is no such thing as truth and that if truth does exists, it cannot be known. Others asserted that everything is true and nothing is true, insisting that truth is whatever the individual chooses to call truth and that 'what is true for one is not necessarily true for another' Does that sound familiar?

Well, if you carefully listen to the argument you would realize that much of the confusion lies in information overload. In our technologically advanced Information Age, there appears to be too much to browse and too many options to choose from. As a result many have become confused about the truth.

THE WAY I SEE IT

In nature, some things are similar while others are opposite. Opposite things are usually easy to distinguish but not so easy with similar things. In both cases however, we do have  common grounds.

First, similar things are not the same things. For example, in some of our nocturnal cities, midnight may look exactly like midday. It's as bright and busy as noonday. But no one will argue that midnight - no matter how bright and busy - is not the same as midday.

Second, similar things may be identical in looks but opposite in composition.
Some identical twins are difficult to distinguish. Again, you'll agree that no matter how identical such twins may look, they are different people. Often, they are different in gender, temperament and other important compositional make up.

Third, whatever is true must  of necessity be constant or eternal in nature. It must be affected by variable conditions. Making truth the reference from which all others take their bearings.

From these we may simply conclude that:

1. TRUTH does exist and can be known. Just because we don't know which one is true does not mean that none is true or that all is true.

2. TRUTH is not relative. For anything to be relative it must take its bearing from a constant. Whatever that constant is must also be the truth. Therefore, truth cannot be relative to itself.

The only one that meets all these conditions is JESUS.

JESUS declared and demonstrated that he is the TRUTH. "I am the way the TRUTH and life" he said. Some may sound like the TRUTH but are not the same as TRUTH. Some may act like the TRUTH but they are in fact lies.

JESUS demonstrated by his birth, death, resurrection, Holy Spirit as well as his promised return, that he is the TRUTH that was, is and ever will be. Some may claim deity but none transcends time and change like JESUS.

To know JESUS is to know the truth and to know the truth is to look intently and reverently into the WORD of God.

May this be for you a week of discoveries and blessings! In Jesus' name.

#PastorPeterOkaka, #FreshwaterChristianHouse
#TheBetterLife
#JESUS, #Christmas, #life, #reflections

DEATH DONUTS ~ THE UNIDENTIFIED KILLER [5]

~ DEATH DONUTS ~ THE UNIDENTIFIED KILLER [5]
[the case of the good life and the better life]

DEATH DONUTS are the delicious and desirable sweet things we eat, see, hear, think and do regardless of our conscience alarm that these are not good for us. Death donuts may be pleasant to see and sweet to taste at first but in the end they will cause chaos, confusion, disaster and death.

Death donuts have been sold and served by the Serpent Restaurant since the days of Adam and Eve and is still here today. With one hand the Waiters serve death donuts and with the other hand they flag a sign: "did your father say you should not eat death donuts? Don't mind your mom, death donuts won’t kill you right away"
While the foolish son takes, eats and pays the high price, the wise son walks away free remembering what The Father said:

 "My son, obey your father’s commands, and don’t neglect your mother’s instruction. Keep their words always in your heart. Tie them around your neck. When you walk, their counsel will lead you. When you sleep, they will protect you. When you wake up, they will advise you.

 For their command is a lampand their instruction a light; their corrective discipline is the way to life. It will keep you from the immoral woman, from the smooth tongue of a promiscuous woman.

 Don’t lust for her beauty. Don’t let her coy glances seduce you. For a prostitute will bring you to poverty, but sleeping with another man’s wife will cost you your life.

 Can a man scoop a flame into his lapand not have his clothes catch on fire? Can he walk on hot coals and not blister his feet? So it is with the man who sleeps with another man’s wife. He who embraces her will not go unpunished”. (Proverbs 6:20-29) nlt

Think and Talk about It:
1. Can anyone live on a meal of sugars and not suffer health problems?
2. In ways are we commonly tempted to eat, see, think and do things that we know are bad for us?
3. How can we arm ourselves to make good choices on the day of temptation?

#PeterOkaka
Freshwater Christian House - KW -ON
#Sacrificeandstrategies, November 2014
#theBETTERlife © 2014 -

~ Thief Guard ~ THE UNIDENTIFIED KILLER [3]

TheBETTERLife Post
November 26, 2014

THE UNIDENTIFIED KILLER [3]
[the case of the good life and the better life]

Who is looking after your valuables?

THIEF GUARDS do not come as thieves but as good-nature guards who would look after your valuables and guarantee your safety. They convince you with their credentials of competence and oil of eloquence to leave your goods in their care but they are actually after your valuables.

Judas Iscariot was a competent and caring companion of Christ the Messiah - competent enough to be appointed a disciple and caring enough to be put in charge of the welfare treasury. But Judas knew more than a thing or two about money and people. While entrusted with the responsibility of looking after the treasury, Judas was pulling strings of politics and power. He was negotiating and sealing deals at the back door. His mission was not just to rob his master but to kill him. He did it with a kiss on his master's face.

No matter your argument there are still Judas Iscariots with us today. We need to be wise and strategic. Good news is if they repent Christ's arms are wide open to receive them but if they don't repent the field of Akeldama is waiting for them.

Who is your trusted guard? Who is looking after your valuables? Who promised to protect your precious? Who has the key to your heart, your house and your hot tub? - where your money, children, privacy and future lies? Sometimes the Guard is the thief you need to watch. We cannot eradicate thief guards but we can protect ourselves and mitigate their effects with the word of God and divine strategies..

Think and Talk about It:
1. What are the common signs that a buddy or cherished companion could be a thief?
2. What should be our first response when we discover that our trusted keepers are the killers?
3. How might we protect our valuables and future of those coming after us?

#PeterOkaka

#FreshwaterChristianHouse - KW -ON

#Sacrificeandstrategies, November 2014

#theBETTERlife © 2014 -

THE UNIDENTIFIED KILLER [2]

TheBETTERLife Post
November 25, 2014

THE UNIDENTIFIED KILLER [2]
[the case of the good life and the better life]

Who among your ‘good friends is the EVIL ONE?

EVIL FRIENDS do not come as enemies but as good friends. They come with open arms to hug but tied underneath their arms are deadly explosives. They smile when we face them and stab when we back them. They say the nicest words that twinkle our ears but in their words are lies and emptiness that leave their victims helpless, hopeless and busted in the end. Evil friends were there yesterday, they are here today and they will be there tomorrow. They can be anywhere at home, school, work, church or community.

The advice of Jonadab, the evil friend of Amnon which led to the rape of innocent Tamar and the death of Amnon and eventual collapse of David’s family is a case in point that history will never forget (Read full account 2 Samuel 13). As it is in all cases with evil friends, their “love” quickly turns to hate once they have accomplished their objectives; they usually survive and live on after their victim’s tragedy. Does this sound familiar or does it amaze you?

Truth is, once-upon-a-time evil friends can change their ways after encountering God and become authentic friends with proofs. When this happens, we are to forgive them, accept them and love them as if they never erred. But if they would not change, we must identify, quarantine and treat them as evil friends with explosives under their arms. We must sacrifice their friendship on the altar of our destinies before they murder our future. Is there a ‘good friend’ that you need to disconnect with in order that you might connect with better friends?

Each of us has an evil friend. The one who cares nothing about our good and progress; and yet the ones to whom we run to hug and report our progress.

Think about it and share your thoughts:
1. What are the traits of evil friends?
2. How might we identify evil friends among our authentic friends?
3. What practical steps can we take to safely salvage the situation of an evil friendship?

#PeterOkaka

#FreshwaterChristianHouse - KW -ON

#Sacrificeandstrategies, November 2014

#theBETTERlife © 2014 -

DRIFTING or SAILING?

There are two main ways to do this LIFE VOYAGE: by sailing or by drifting.

Life is like a mighty ocean with vast fluidity and endless possibilities.

Unlike the rail tracks or land routes, the ocean of life does not impose many boundaries and restrictions - either from above, below or sideways. This leaves the man or woman in the boat to choose to sail purposely or to drift aimlessly.

Whichever option you chooses, one thing is certain: your final DESTINATION will tell.

While we may be free to choose to drift through life, we are not free to choose the destination our drifting course will take us.

On the other hand, if we choose to sail purposely with a map, a compass (GPS) and communication devices that can connect us to the Control Tower, there will be no wind or storm powerful enough to stop us until we get to our final destination.

So, are you drifting or sailing? I pray that you will choose to sail and as you do, you will get to your desired destination and finish your life voyage well - in JESUS name.

Have a blessed day!

#PeterOkaka

#FreshwaterChristianHouse

THE ONE WHO GOT HIRED BY THE KING

The KING has a Special Recruitment Program and the KING is God.

God selects people in every GENERATION to be his Special Assistants and Ambassadors on FOREIGN (earth's) affairs.

No, God does not select by colour, age, gender, nationality, luck, profile or popularity - It takes more than brains and a degree from Harvard or Princeton to work for the KING of kings.

THIS IS HOW GOD RECRUITS

Once, God sent Samuel to recruit a Special Assistant for him in the nation of Israel. Samuel put out a job ad and all screened candidates were invited for interview.

"When they arrived, Samuel took one look at Eliab and thought, “Surely this is the Lord’s anointed!” But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:6-7) NLT

The same thing happened for all the seven candidates that were interviewed by Samuel that day. None of them met the KING's qualification.

In one last attempt, Samuel asked if there was anyone else who's not been interviewed. It turned out there was one left out during the screening and selection process. His name was David Jesse

DAVID WAS BROUGHT IN

And the Lord said, “This is the one; anoint him.” 1Samuel 16:12

DAVID did not have a tall resume.

DAVID was a reddish skinned young man- the type you'd ignore in a beauty contest but he had a positive attitude.

DAVID was the errand boy for the Big boys at home

DAVID was not qualified to sit with special guests at the family table.

DAVID was the one left to feed the livestock - or should we say house chores when the rest went to party and movie theatres.

YET DAVID GOT THE JOB

After David was selected, he got his first job in the King's Palace as musician
And that was re beginning of David's ascent to the throne.

Why did David get the job he did not apply for and literally not qualified for?

DAVID had a GREAT HEART for God and people.  His internal affairs was in order.

"I have FOUND David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him: With whom my hand shall be established: mine arm also shall strengthen him" Psalm 89:20-21

The ONE who gets the KING's job could be any one from any nation - white or black, male or female, bond or free, beautiful or ugly, educated or illiterate. But THAT ONE must have a great HEART for GOD and GOD's PURPOSE on earth.

Continued ....

#PeterOkaka

#GetRightWithGod

#FOOTSTEPSofGREATNESS

#Freshwater Christian House

WHY SOME DON'T GET THE KING'S JOB

I know by experience that interviewing candidates and making hiring decisions can be an intense dilemma not only for the candidate but also for the Recruiter.

I'd been in situations where "I knew" that the perfect-looking-perfect-sounding candidate would not get the job. At first, I could not easily describe the reason for refusal other than "chemistry" or "best fit".

Of course, I know now that there is more to rejection of candidates than "physical chemistry" and "team fit".

No, its not colour, age, gender, nationality, luck or the profile on resume. Only the incompetent and ill-hearted Recruiters would reject the best candidate on such grounds.

Rejection of "perfect candidates" happens and it's really more about the "internal affairs" of the candidate in relation to the job.

By Internal affairs, I mean the things going on in the life and mind of the candidate which she/he is desperately trying to hide from the Recruiter.

For reasons that the seasoned Recruiter can't fully explain, he just knows that the candidate is:

> Lying though she/he appears to be saying the truth.

> anxious and desperate about something she/he is afraid you would find out

> re-emphasizing and exaggerating the obvious while avoiding the question asked - a sign there's something under sleeves

> not interested in the job but in money to pay bills

> plus other possibilities.

Are there things going on in your life that might be standing in your way of living the life of your dream? The first step to taking care of them is taking care of your internal affairs.

#PeterOkaka

WOULD THE KING HIRE YOU?

WOULD THE KING HIRE YOU?

Every generation has key leaders - outstanding people who command the attention, admiration and emulation of their generation and generations after them by the positive impact they make.

These leaders could be selected to lead in business, politics, religion, education, family, communities, nations and the world.

As Athletes compete for prizes and politicians campaign for positions, so each of us strives to attain these celebrated "leadership positions".

Our striving begins from the day we are born and continues till the day we die.

We want to stand out and be heard in business, politics, religion, family, communities, nations and ultimately rule the world.

We want to stand out and be heard in our respective fields of endeavour and ultimately rule the world.

In our quest to become "the chosen leaders" in our generation, we may employ various strategies and tactics:

> Criticize those in position of leadership and authority or look for ways to support them.
> Compete with those who seem to be rising out of obscurity and emerging into leadership positions in their various fields or compliment them.
> Identify those we consider to be bad examples in our world and beat them or join them.

Yet, there are those who stand out in every generation without a fight.

> They mysteriously rise from obscurity through obstacles and oppositions to emerge trans-generational leaders.

> They emerge as to become our Role Models and Change Agents who creat the social, economical and spiritual atmosphere of our societies.

> They build  old waste places and transform our culture.

> They see opportunities and dangers ahead and mobilizes their people to maximize the opportunities and avoid the dangers.

> They lay foundations for future generations to build upon their successes and achievement.

> They literarily determine how the rest of the world live, work and relate with man and God.

Without these generational change agents, our world will be far less than what it is today.

BUT HOW DO THESE LEADERS EMERGE?

Who is the KING? How does the KING hire generational leaders and change agents?

Continued.....

#PeterOkaka

#GetRightWithGod

#FOOTSTEPSofGREATNESS

#Freshwater Christian House

GET RIGHT WITH GOD

GET RIGHT WITH GOD

The MOST IMPORTANT THINGS in life are often overlooked and taken for granted:

> the air we breathe, friends and family who love us, the future that is yet to come, our hearts that beats daily, the day we'll die or depart this world, the value we are adding to others and most importantly --- our relationship with GOD

In contrast, the least important things in life are often overvalued and given the most attention ---

> the colour of our skin and how we look, enemies and other people who don't like us, today's seasonal pleasure, the day we were born, the reputation we try to protect with career, clothes, social connection, position, power and unfortunately --- our approval of certain evils just because they are popularly accepted.

In my study of TRULY GREAT MEN, I have discovered that TRUE GREATNESS is impossible without first putting the MOST IMPORTANT THINGS in their proper places.

CHARACTER is more important than charisma.

INTEGRITY is more important than intelligence

DEPENDABILITY is more important than people skills

IMPACT is more important than influence

FORGIVENESS is more important than justice

LOVE is more important than hate

WHO you are is more important than what you have.

VISION is more important than sight

FULFILMENT of purpose is more important than enjoyment of seasonal pleasures

LIFE, ETERNAL LIFE is more important than death- eternal death.

A major step towards a great life is getting our PRIORITIES right.

THE TOPMOST IMPORTANT CHOICE you will ever make in your priority list is to BE RIGHT WITH GOD. You start this process by responding to God's love for you through JESUS CHRIST.

GOD, not man has the FINAL WORD on every matter in life including LIFE itself

Continued---

Have a blessed day.

#PeterOkaka

#GetRightWithGod

#FOOTSTEPSofGREATNESS

#Freshwater Christian Houseu

DO GOOD TO PEOPLE ANYWAY

#FootstepsofGREATNESS [5d]

SECOND, DO GOOD ANYWAY & CLING TO GOD

I call this the rule of GODLINESS.

The most important thing to keep in mind when doing good is that your reward will not necessarily come from the people you once helped.

Truth is, some people that you've helped will get up and forget you. But if you are in God's plan for your life and have allowed godliness to direct your actions, you good deeds will produce good harvest. God can raise up total strangers as Angels to reward you.

PERHAPS the hardest group of people to deal with are those who will not only refuse to help you but are determined to hurt you for no reason.

This is what happened in the case of Joseph.

Joseph's envious brothers sold him off to slavery. His only crime was that he had a BIG PLAN. As a result, Joseph faced several mistreatment, humiliation and even unjust jail term.

But Joseph survived.

He did more than survive; he thrived and became a prime minister in the same land he suffered injustice.

In the end, those who sold Joseph into slavery became slaves who relied on Joseph for survival. But as is characteristic of great people, Joseph remained godly. He said to his brothers "you meant it for evil but God turned it around for good"

That's the point:

If you mean to do good for others and they turn around to do you evil, God will always turn it around for your good.

So, don't worry about people users, make big plans and be godly. Never repay evil with evil. Instead conquer evil with godliness.

In conclusion,

ONE KIND WORD for those who may have been hurt by people and have resolved to hurt other people in return.

Did you know that one of the reasons many people remain small is because they have ill intentions towards others no matter how justified they may feel?

Having ill intentions towards people will force you to not only withhold your hand from helping people but to also keep them grounded.

Truth is, the person you are determined to ground may not rise and you wouldn't either. A wise man said "to keep a man on the ground you would have to stay there with him"

LIFE is an association and the goal of every association is to help each other rise to greatness and not to keep each other grounded.

That's why the bible says two are better than one because when one falls the other can help him to rise.

So whatever you would that men do to you do so to them. Your actions are your seeds waiting for a harvest
People will sooner or later reap whatever they sow unless they repent.

The was the path the Great men and women ahead of us walked. If we walk the same path it will lead us to GREATNESS.

The End

Have a blessed weekend

#PeterOkaka

MAKE BIG PLANS

#FootstepsofGREATNESS [5c]

How about people who return evil for good and innocent people who get hurt for helping other people or people who get up by your help and forget you?

These type of people are around us everywhere - schools, workplaces, churches, markets, neighbourhood, etc. They were there before you and I were born and will be there after us. BUT

There is a way to go  and it has two lanes.

FIRST, MAKE BIG PLANS
I once came across this quote: "make big plans; do not make small plans. Big plans attract big people,  small plans attract small people and small people cause big problems"

Let me say upfront that big people are not always the top executives in board boardrooms of blue chip organizations and small people are not always the inconspicuous nobodies in the corner of low class neighbourhoods.

It is possible to be 'small' and yet be a 'conspicuous' leader of an organization and it is possible to be 'big' and yet look like a no-name guy at the corner of the street.

BIG PEOPLE are big because they solve BIG PROBLEMS and small people are small because they cause big problems.

Beware of small people particularly when you are desperate for a job, spouse, money, friends, class, anything.

Small people use people and leave them hurt no matter how well they pretend to be helpers.

=They use people as human shields for defence against attacks

=They use people as human machines for mass production of goods

=They rely on people as human cows for their milk and meat

They depend on people as human sacrifice for their atonement and enjoyment.

They walk on people and ignore human needs in their search for self satisfaction

People users may appear conspicuous for a period but they eventually fade away. History has seen many of them as dictators, warlords, and task masters. People users never become outstanding or truly Great.

The best way to avoid small people and to manage them if you are currently caught in their web is to make BIG PLANS
Big plans swallow up small people.

The BIGGEST plan you can ever make is the plan to line up with GOD'S PLAN for YOU. Such plan will attract the ALMIGHTY GOD and his HEAVY WEIGHT on your side.

That brings me to the second lane.....

continue at [5d]....to finish

#PeterOkaka

HELP PEOPLE - GENUINELY

#FootstepsofGREATNESS [5b)

The TRICK about helping people is that the help you need is in the help you give

Some of the people who appear to need our help are those who have the power to help us down the road.

God would bring us problems to solve for others in order to promote us. You know you are truly helping when your focus is on solving the problem rather than on the promotion you'll get.

There is a huge difference between stepping on the shoulders of people to rise and being lifted by the people we once carried on our shoulders. One is using people and the other is helping people and they don't yield the same results.

Are you looking for shoulders to step on so you can rise or are you looking for people to sit on your shoulder so they can see farther?

I challenge you to walk in the footsteps of Abraham:

Look for opportunities to genuinely help people starting with your immediate family, extended relatives and people around you.

IN BUSINESS- look for opportunities to solve problems for people and not opportunities to make money. Money will be a by product.

IN RELATIONSHIPS - Look for opportunities to serve others and not opportunities to be served. Others will serve you.

IN CAREER - look for opportunities to add value to your employer and not opportunities to be promoted. Promotion will follow.

IN LEADERSHIP - look for opportunities to empower people and not opportunities to be empowered by the people. Empowerment will follow.

Remember:

You may rise to a temporary mediocre height by stepping on the shoulders of people (use people) but you can never attain lasting GREATNESS until you are prepared to carry people on your shoulders (help people).

Only people who help people get help from people.

How about people who get up and forget you or people who return evil for good and innocent people who get hurt for helping other people?

I will answer this question in my next post....

#PeterOkaka

GREAT PEOPLE CARRY PEOPLE ALONG

#FootstepsofGREATNESS [5a]

Abraham took his wife, brother's son and all the people that were with him to Canaan. Genesis 12:5

Great people help people.

Contrary to common belief, great people do not help people because they are great. Great people became great because they helped people.

Ruth -a poor immigrant lady from Moab became a great ancestor in the Messiah's earthly lineage because she helped Naomi succeed

David - a little shepherd boy in the field became one of the greatest kings Israel ever had because he helped Israel defeat Goliath

Rebecca, an originally no-name young woman became the Princess of "Prince Isaac" because she helped Eliezer water his camel

Naaman's Maid - a no-name little girl with aprons as garment became a trans-generational hero of super intervention and rescue because she helped her master get cure for leprosy

A poor widow with her last meal became an oil-merchant because she shared her humble meal with a man of God.

Martin Luther King Jr. became a world hero because he helped black people in America

The list goes on....

But millions of people have missed great opportunities to rise because they are searching for help from "big people" and have ignored small opportunities to help people.

The path to GREATNESS is walked by people carrying people on their shoulders.

Unfortunately many more will continue to miss these opportunities until they learn that LIFE is governed by the law of MUTUAL EXCHANGE or what my bible calls SEED and HARVEST.

The reward we get from our endeavours are often in exchange for the problems we solved for others or the value we add to people.

What we do for others is our seed. What we get in return is our harvest.

Continued...in [5b]

#PeterOkaka

IF YOU BELIEVE IT YOU WILL BEHAVE IT

#FootstepsofGREATNESS [4]

No amount of seeing and believing will lead to GREATNESS if we just sit still with our dreams and faith.

We must take ACTION.

Lazy pessimists never achieve greatness because they would always find reason WHY IT CANNOT BE DONE.

I once heard a wise man say this: "the world is moving so fast these days that the man who says it can't be done is generally interrupted by the man doing it"

Show me one pessimist who climbed a great height and I will show you a thousand men and women of great faith who launched out in faith, conquered darkness and achieved true greatness.

Don't let anyone fool you to believe that  vain confession without action, self-psyching and empty motivation will make you great. A motivated fool is still a fool and if he does anything great it will be a show of great foolishness.

Great people do not only SEE and BELIEVE that all things are possible with God - to proof that they believe - they STEP OUT in the direction of the GREATNESS they saw and believed.

This was what Father Abraham did.

"So Abram departed as the Lord had instructed, and Lot went with him.... (Genesis 12:4 NLT)

If Abraham saw and believed but never DEPARTED he would have been grounded in Haran.

Since the days of Abraham many more people have walked in the footsteps of Abraham and achieved greatness.

Martin Luther King Jr. saw and believed in a free and united America. He stepped out and his great dream came true.

Mother Theresa saw and believed in the great future ahead of the poor dying children on the streets of Calcutta. She stepped out and achieved greatness.

Nelson Mandela saw and believed in a free South Africa. He stepped out and achieved that great dream.

David Oyedepo saw and believed in liberated world from all oppressions of the devil through the preaching of the word of faith. He stepped out and hundreds of thousands are being liberated in many nations across the world.

Seeing and believing is only a part of the equation. What we do with what we see and believe is what determines our outcome.

The man who stumbled into greatness will soon be  crumbled into smallness. Believe that. No one drifts into greatness by chance and remain there.
You cannot believe what you cannot see and you cannot become what you believe but failed to act upon.

Has anyone ( Parent, Guardian, Teacher, Friend, Whoever) told you that you cannot do anything meaningful in life? Don't believe them. With men some things may be impossible but not with God. With God all things are possible no matter how unlikely it may seem at first.

Do you see GREATNESS ahead of you? BELIEVE it. If it can happen for one it can happen for anyone. If Father Abraham did it it, you can do it too if you walk in his footsteps.

Do you truly believe that you too can make a difference in the world? Take ACTION. The bridge between a dream and reality is ACTION. You don't have to start big to end big. You can start small and grow big.

Like Martin Luther King Jr.  said: if you cannot fly, then run. If you cannot run, then walk. If you cannot walk, then crawl. But whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.

You will get to that great destination, I pray in JESUS name

#PeterOkaka

SEEING THE FUTURE AND CREATING IT

#FootstepsofGREARNESS [3]

Before the artist painted the  flower he saw the flower and believed in it.

Before the architect drew the house he saw the house and believed in it.

Before the young man married the young woman he saw a wife in her and believed in it.

Before the farmer brought in his harvest he saw the harvest in the seed and believed in it

Before you and I accomplish anything great, we must first see the possibility of that GREATNESS and believe in it.

The future we do not see and believe can never  become a reality.

The question is...

How do we "see" the future?

Through the LENSes of IMAGINATION and the PROCESS PLANT of MEDITATION. (See Gen. 11:6, Josh 1:8)

Through imagination and meditation we can paint pictures of a great future from the scripture by the help of the Holy Spirit.

God has given every believer his Holy Spirit to guard us through life. Those who know how to listen to that inner voice by meditating on the scriptures, start to imagine the realities of what he says and believe in it.

Abraham left us his footprints to follow.

Genesis 15:5-6 Then the Lord took Abram outside and said to him, “Look up into the sky and count the stars if you can. That’s how many descendants you will have!” And Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord counted him as righteous because of his faith.

Abraham became the father of many nations by first seeing nations in the stars and believing in the possibility. Then God made it happen.

Nothing grounds a person in mediocrity more than lack of vision and faith in future possibilities.

Notice also that Abraham did not see the stars until he came outside of his house

Your imagination is as fertile as your EXPOSURE. We are limited by how far we can see, imagine and meditate

Therefore, if we truly desire GREATNESS we need to learn to open the windows of our imagination,  EXPOSE ourselves to the endless sky of POSSIBILITIES and believe in the GREATNESS we can see.

Abraham did it and so can we if we walk in his footsteps.

#PeterOkaka

WHAT KIND OF FAITH?

Agreed, nothing great happens without FAITH. BUT what kind of faith?

We can climb to some heights by having faith in:

1. OURSELVES.
Motivational speakers have told us that we could become whatever we want if we have enough faith in ourselves. Sure enough, many people have climbed temporary heights with resilience and faith in themselves but no man has ever climbed a GREAT HEIGHT and remained there by having faith in himself.

2. QUALIFICATIONS. Knowledge, skills, abilities, degrees, certifications, experience and skills have taken many people to many positions. But history shows that the farthest heights ever attained by man were not attained by the most qualified people.

3. PEOPLE.
We have seen many rise by powerful people. If you are popular, connected and skillful in politics you can rise by riding on the shoulders of people. But you can also be brought down by the same people. People who rise by the people fall by the people.

The only kind of faith that leads to GREATNESS is FAITH in GOD.

Self confidence, qualification, people, government, money, family, career, beauty and social groups are all good but cannot guarantee greatness.

You can motivate yourself to work harder and more intelligently throughout the day but when you retire at night to sleep, faith in yourself CANNOT wake you up from sleep the next morning. You need faith in a higher power to wake up each morning. That's faith in God who gives you breath.

You may acquire top qualifications and yet be subject to those who have no qualifications at all. God has used many unlikely people without qualification to transform the world. Have faith in God

You can rise if you know people. Truth is, if it took a thousand men to take you up, it will only take one man to bring you down. But if God takes you up, a billion men cannot bring you down.

Do your best to build confidence, acquire qualification and know people but walk in the footsteps of the Great Abraham. Hebrews 11:8-12

HAVE FAITH IN GOD

#PeterOkaka

FOOTSTEPS OF GREATNESS

One of the most outstanding examples of GREATNESS the world has ever know is The Great ABRAHAM -the Father of all who believe in JESUS Christ. Gal 3:26-29

Walking in the footsteps of Abraham is walking into GREATNESS and that means walking by FAITH.

Nothing great ever happens without Faith. To accomplish anything significant we must FIRST BELIEVE that with God, nothing is impossible. No matter how unlikely it may first appear.

Have a good morning and a great week!

JESUS is lord.

WRONG WAY? TURN RIGHT

"It is foolish to be shameful of what is gainful" Dr. David Oyedepo

Only a fool will continue to go the wrong way because he does not want people to think or say that he missed his way.

Question: How do you know you are on the wrong way? If everything you do seems right to you and you never seem to need correction, you are definitely on the wrong way. I know that because “There is a way that seems right to each of us but it leads to death” (Prv.1625). How then do we know right from wrong? BY TAKING OUR BEARING FROM THE NORTH.

Every true direction takes it bearing from the north. The North is the is WORD of God because everything was made and are upheld by the WORD. (John 1:1, Heb 1:3, Col 1:17). If Eve had kept her bearing from what God said to them, she would not have missed her way in the Garden. Unfortunately the path she took led to death. Of course Eve did not set out to take the path leading to death, she simply chose the path that seemed right to her. Unfortunately that "good path" led to death. (See Gen. 3, Deut 2:3)

So, even if the way you are traveling on seems right to you – and we all do what we do because those things seem right to us –still, you need to check with the word and be sure that your bearing is from God’s WORD. You can never miss your way if you take your bearing from God’s word and you can never be right going against God’s word, So, no matter how right it seems if it’s against the word of God don’t rationalize it and don’t do it. Just as the GPS or compass needle rests in the north direction, so our SPIRIT rests on the WORD direction. The word is TRUTH. Get the WORD of God into your heart. Before and in the course of whatever you are doing, constantly look into the word of God in your heart with a mind that is open for correction and redirection.  

Friend, do you know where your path (relationship, career, finance, health, etc) is leading? Do you feel you need to stop to enquire from God (TRUE NORTH) or are you just going to keep travelling this path just because it seems good to you or because you are afraid of what others might think or say? Don’t forget that just because it looks right does not mean it will end right. No matter how much time and resources we have invested in doing what is wrong, we will benefit more by turning right and doing what is right.  

It is never too late to TURN RIGHT. If you find yourself on the wrong track of life, STOP and ASK for direction and then turn RIGHT. The right is always north and the north is always right. It matters little if everybody think you are on the right track when you know you are not. No deception is greater than self deception. Why would you get lost and die just to prove nothing to nobody?

Remember, "It is foolish to be shameful of what is gainful" I pray that you will not miss your way in this life journey

#FollowingGod

God, Can I Trust You?

If you are like most people who desire to walk with God, you would have had one or two honest conversations with God that progressed like this:

"God, Can I really trust you? "Yes, the preacher told me you are good "all the time" and I have read it time and again in your Word that "you love me unconditionally and that you would never leave me". But when I look back at the summary of my experiences, there have been many low moments in my life when you seemed far from me and I felt all alone.

These were times that my prayers seemed to hit the roof and bounced back at me. Times I waited desperately for you to show up and I did not see you. God, can I really trust you with my life? Can I depend upon your promises to be fulfilled all the time? God, I’m not saying you are not trustworthy it's just that I’m sometimes overwhelmed by my experiences and the difficulty in understanding you and how you act. I’d love to walk with you Lord, please help me?"

If you have had one of those conversations, you are not alone. One of the toughest questions most people have about God is the question of TRUST. The ways of God are too deep for the human mind to comprehend. God himself said so: “I don’t think the way you think. The way you work isn’t the way I work.” God’s Decree. “For as the sky soars high above earth, so the way I work surpasses the way you work, and the way I think is beyond the way you think. Isaiah 55:8-9 MSG

Well, I’m smart enough to know that just because something is deep and difficult for me to understand does not mean it is not true. Our challenge, therefore, is not that God's ways are not true or that God cannot be trusted to fulfil his promises. Our challenge, really, is that GOD'S WAYS ARE BEYOND US. We tend to be more comfortable with what we can see, reason and figure out. Therefore, our first step toward building TRUST in God is to understand that we do not have to understand it all to believe it.

But there is good news: God is willing to reveal his ways to us. God's ways can be known, at least in parts and in phases. "He showed Moses how he went about his work, opened up his plans to all Israel" (Psalm 103:7. MSG). Our business is to focus on the "revealed things" in other to have a better perspective of "hidden things". “God, our God, will take care of the hidden things but the revealed things are our business. It’s up to us and our children to attend to all the terms in this Revelation” (Deuteronomy 29:29 MSG). For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God (Romans 1:20 NLT).

How do we begin to trust God?

Start with what you have seen and can see. 
This is the basic level of faith or experiential faith. No one doubts what they can see. The basic things of everyday life such as the sky, moon, trees, breeze, ocean, birds and mountains not only testify of the existence of God. The indisputable regularity of night and day and the stability of the sky over the earth testifies of God’s integrity and faithfulness. (Rom 1:20). The reports of those who trusted God and were not disappointed are proofs of God's faithfulness. Accept these as the expressions of God's love to humanity and thank him for them daily. For now, learn to be satisfied with the things you can see and leave the things that you cannot see or understand. If you cannot believe what you have seen how would you believe things you have not seen?

God will reveal more to those who have learned to admit that they can't figure it all out and are willing to believe God on the basis of the works of God they have seen and heard. 
Things will never make sense until we start believing that all of God's word is true (Psalm 119:160) even when we do not understand what's going on. God is not opposed to us having an honest conversation about our doubts and fears with him. He knows that we need to understand. When we are really confused or afraid, we can tell him. All God desires is a heart that is confident in him as the father of truth. Without faith (or confident heart) it is impossible to please God. A double-minded person is unstable in his ways and will not receive anything from God. Believe that and you will see.

Let's take it from here next time! Have a blessed week!

#trustingGod