''Public Brand and Private Reality'' by Dr Tunde Bakare

In this era of personal branding and all, I heard this timely message today and wanted to share:

Queenola Kalu To That Cunning Young Man

To: That cunning young man,
I want to let you know that this time.....

YOU HAVE PICKED ON THE WRONG GIRL
You charmer,
With eyes lit by moonbeams,
You are every maiden's dream
Your perfect smile makes hearts leap,
But I've strapped myself so i don't trip

You deceiver,
You sing to me rhymes you haven't heard
You paint for me pictures you can't even see
Your vile intentions now glaring
Flashes of lust, so easy to tell
Flee far from you, I would
Clinging to The One who wishes me well

You destroyer,
Your words are smooth as butter,
But as ready as Fire -
Ready to wipe out everything in sight
Ready to leave the land desolate
Ready to bring pain and tears
But I'll run, I'll run before it's too late

You brewer of lies,
Your sugar coated tongue produces foul scents,
Packaged in attractive candy wraps
I certainly will not BUY THEM
For within lie dangerous traps
As I was told by my father,
What is sweet in the mouth becomes, in the belly, bitter

You giver,
I want not your BBs please
You say it's just a blackberry
But i know your ways,
You'll give much more
A Big Belly and a Bastard Baby,
What else do you have in store?

Spare me the floods of sweet forged messages,
Spare me those clichés "sugar in my tea",
Spare me those precious gifts in pretty packages
Spare me, I beg, and let me be

I'm sorry for you, my dear
I hope that quickly you realize,
All efforts are futile, move on
Go and pick on someone your own SIZE!

-QUEENOLA @Queenola_Kalu

Redeemed

"Who do you think “spoke and it happened”?
It’s the Master who gives such orders.
Doesn’t the High God speak everything,
good things and hard things alike, into being?
And why would anyone gifted with life
complain when punished for sin?"
Lamentations 3:37-39

"You drew near on the day I called to You; You said, Fear not.

O Lord, You have pleaded the causes of my soul [You have managed my affairs and You have protected my person and my rights]; You have rescued and redeemed my life!"

Lamentations 3:56-58

Scripture reference: Bible Gateway

People's Participation. Make Change Happen, Volunteer #IVD2014

Happy International Volunteers Day [IVD]!

For this year, I thought I should share this short video-- actually it was an interview for "On The Street", a youth program aired on TVC.

I hope you will encourage young people around you to start early? For more insight on how it might work with combining full time education and volunteering, you can read a copy of my new book "Half a Loaf and a Bakery." You can also download it from Okadabooks app on your android device or buy copies from Terra Kulture Bookstore Lagos, Florence and Lambard bookstore Lagos, or the Media Store, Silverbird Galleria, Abuja. The book covers youth volunteering, education, entrepreneurship and transitioning.

I am excited about today and tomorrow! On how the non-volunteer journey has been so far since... you can see the second video below:





For anyone who might have failed while attempting something this year, hey, cheer up! Failure is a good opportunity to do something differently in an improved way next time.

Here is wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a lovely 2015 of magical thinking and fruitful exploits!

There is a God.

I Tried To Climb The Mountain Today (By Gary Barnes)

I tried to climb the mountain today. As I inched my way up the path, I felt overwhelmed, so I had to turn back.

I tried to climb the mountain today. On my journey, darkness started to fall, and I was full of fear, so I had to return to a safe place.

I was ready to climb the mountain today. But it was so hot outside, I thought I better stay in my nice air-conditioned house and rest up for tomorrow's attempt.

I was about to climb the mountain today. But I had so many other things to do, so instead of climbing the mountain I took care of much more important tasks. I washed my car, mowed the grass and watched the big game. Today the mountain will just have to wait.

I was going to climb the mountain today. But as I stared at the mountain in it's majestic beauty, I knew I stood no chance of making it to the top, so I figured why even bother trying.

I have forgotten about climbing the mountain today; until a friend came by and asked me what I was up to lately. I told him I was thinking about climbing that mountain some day. I went on and on about how I was going to accomplish this task.

Finally, he said, "I just got back from climbing the mountain. For the longest time I told myself I was trying to climb the mountain but never made any progress. I almost let the dream of making it to the top die. I came up with every excuse of why I could not make it up the mountain, but never once did I give myself a reason why I could. One day as I stared at the mountain and pondered, I realized that if I didn't make an attempt at this dream all my dreams will eventually die."

"The next morning, I started my climb." He continued, "It was not easy, and at times I wanted to quit. But no matter what I faced, I placed one foot in front of the other, keeping a steady pace. When the wind tried to blow me over the edge, I kept walking. When the voices inside my head screamed "stop!" I focused on my goal never letting it out of sight, and I kept moving forward. At times, I was ready to quit, but I knew I had come too far. Time and time again, I reassured myself that I was going to finish this journey. I struggled to make it to the top, but I climbed the mountain!"

"I have to be going," my friend said. "Tomorrow is a new day to accomplish more dreams. By the way, what are you going to do tomorrow?"

I looked at him, with intensity and confidence in my eyes, and said, "I have a mountain to climb."

Written By Gary Barnes.

Originally posted by "Light A Lamp"
April 22, 2012 at 11:09pm ·

The Human Nature You Must Also Ignore

Thanks to Mrs Nelson ( @SaltMatters7 ), I have been learning how to slow down and study my Bible :-) instead the usual marathon-pace read. I actually study with a pen and a pad by my side, using the 5X5X5 plan she recommended. It is amazing how different stages exists in our Christian walk with God. I thank God for grace.

Today my study point was John 2:21-25. It basically focuses on Christ's response to people trading in the Temple of God. The previous verses made me pause to evaluate how I have been treating the Temple of the Holy Spirit (my body).

Back to my reading... I noticed how people got excited by Jesus Christ when He performs miracles. They believed in Him more.

"But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all men. He did not need man's testimony about man, for He knew what was in a man."

That caught my attention. The human nature always likes to associate with "clout/klout" and all. Until they see you in a certain way or doing certain things, they will not want to associate with you. But the moment you do something big, they notice you. And some even become your official praise singers.

Not to compare myself to Christ but I can totally relate to His way of life here. It is something I must adopt-- to stop entrusting myself to people and living by their approval.

The human nature cannot be trusted. It is even written clearly in the book of Psalm 118. "Do not put your confidence in princes..."

What is that assignment God has placed inside of you? Are you holding back because people don't accept you or believe in you? Are you holding back because you think by human standard you don't have enough "clout" (klout)?

All you need is to have faith in God and commit it all to Him. If you put your trust first in humans, they will dump you the minute someone with a bigger clout breezes in.

I know, sometimes the desire to be accepted by others is stronger. Sometimes the desire to work with men's approval is more exciting. But should we choose that over God's approval or testimony of us?

Stay focus. God's grace is sufficient.

Shalom.

Photo source: Social Share (Internet)

Live! #TheSecret

"I've seen it all in my brief and pointless life—here a good person cut down in the middle of doing good, there a bad person living a long life of sheer evil. So don't knock yourself out being good, and don't go overboard being wise. Believe me, you won't get anything out of it. But don't press your luck by being bad, either. And don't be reckless. Why die needlessly?

It's best to stay in touch with both sides of an issue. A person who fears God deals responsibly with all of reality, not just a piece of it." Ecclesiastes 7:15-18

Amplified:
16 "Be not [morbidly exacting and externally] righteous overmuch, neither strive to make yourself [pretentiously appear] overwise—why should you [get puffed up and] destroy yourself [with presumptuous self-sufficiency]?
17 [Although all have sinned] be not wicked overmuch or willfully, neither be foolish—why should you die before your time?
18 It is good that you should take hold of this and from that withdraw not your hand; for he who [reverently] fears and worships God will come forth from them all." Ecclesiastes 7:16-18

Selah.