Who are your affiliations?

Who are your affiliations?

2 Samuel 23:8-39, 1 Chronicles 11:10-41

In the passage above, the names and exploits of David's mighty warriors were outlined.

They were nobodies and mere men before meeting following David. They had no records or exploits. If anyone had told them they will do exploits and become mighty warriors, they won't have believed.
They never imagined that they would be the right hands of a King, because then it was Saul who was the king of Israel.

But, they chose to follow this young man, David who God has anointed (I think that must have been rumoured)
They became vagabonds and fugitives with him, when Saul was after his life.
They aligned themselves with David.
These nobodies, vagabonds and rejected followed David.

As they aligned themselves with David, the anointing/spirit in David came upon them.
David was a giant killer, they became giants killers
David was a mighty warrior, they became mighty warriors.

2 Samuel 17:10,"Then even the bravest soldier, whose heart is like the heart of a lion, will melt with fear, for all Israel knows that your father is a fighter and that those with him are brave."

Lesson!

Anointing rubs off...it is communicable or contagious, permit me to use that term.
So,
Be careful of who you spend time with. Be careful of those you affiliate yourself with.
When you move with people that smoke a lot, even though you don't smoke it rubs on you and you smell.

Who you are affiliated to determine your destiny. Who you follow determine who you will become.

When you follow the Lord, His spirit comes upon you. You are (at that juncture) empowered to do greater works (exploits you have never thought of)

Align yourself to His purpose,
Align yourself to the right individuals He will send to your path in life,
Align yourself to Him and prosper!

You don't know it yet, you are designed for exploits and greatness!

#meditate

I pray that God open your eyes to see the beautiful rose beneath that bud, and make you willing to come closer to Him and to the people assigned to your life, in Jesus name!

Remain blessed!

Happy Sunday!
Apostle Julius Ikhide-Iyke Etaifo
Nation Of Grace Ministries
LiveOutLoud

Your Destiny Is In Your Hand

A young chap went to a soothsayer to inquire about the hope of his future.

Right before his eyes, the soothsayer drew two circles. One in white and the other in black.

He then put a millipede in between the circles, saying "if the millipede crawls into the white circle, your future will be bright and very great,  but if it crawls into the black circle,  then you are finished and doomed! No future at all!".

As soon as the insect was dropped in between the circles, it began crawling towards the white circle.

This chap was super-excited.

But suddenly, as it got to the edge of the circle, it turned back and began crawling away from the white circle towards the black one.
The boy watched as the insect progressively moved farther away from his desire to his doom.

Then, just when the insect got to the edge of the black  circle,  this chap steetched his hands, picked it up and quickly but carefully dropped it in the white circle.

The soothsayer in shock, never seen anyone intervenes in his own matter, watching all the while, asked the chap what he did and why he did what he did.

The boy smiled and simply replied by saying, "I cannot sit and watch my destiny go down the gloom doom! While I can still  do something about it and  to change its course.  My destiny is in my hands".

He got up and left.

Many of us are behaving like the flip side of this chap.

We leave too many things to chance.

We are laid back.

We Watch things messed up right under our nose and we do nothing to change the course of what we can help.

*Many pray without a corresponding and conscious effort,  forgetting that faith without works is dead.  (it's not my quote !!)*

What you don't want, you don't watch.

*If you do nothing, nothing will happen.*

There's a time for everything under the sun..

There's a time to close your eyes in prayers and a time to open them in action.

May God give us understanding, ameen.

*Take authority over what you can and leave the rest to God.

Have a great week!

Shalom!

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How to Have a Successful Teenage Life

You may look at me and think, “What can a man his age know about being a teenager?” or “What can the instructors today know about being a teenager?”

Well, believe it or not, I once was your age, and, believe it or not, someday you will be as old as I am now.

Teenage life - the most exciting, challenging, dramatic and perplexing phase of our life.

Teenage is the life changing phase of our life, what we are in the future depends upon who we are in our teenage life. The decisions you make between now and then will determine the quality of life you have. Every decision you make right now is affecting your future — the attitude you have toward family, school and church; the kind of friends and the type of entertainment you choose; the role models you follow and the heroes you admire and imitate — all these have lasting results.

Teenage life is like your second birth, you drastically change both emotionally and physically - puberty; and the weirdest and scariest part is that this phase of your life fetches you with a new era of pressures:
Peer pressure, Parents pressure, Popularity pressure, weight pressure, Skin pressure and Future pressure.

They are not fleeting things without impact on the rest of your life. So you have to be prepared to face them the right way.
Everyone wants to succeed in their life, don't they? Even as a teenager, you can achieve success in your life; it really isn't that hard. Follow the steps below, and successful teenage years will follow suit!

Accept the teen life and learn.

Be glad to be a teenager. You can't turn back the hands of time. You can never be a toddler again. You are developing. Accept the teenage life and grow in/through it!

Teenagers are no different from anyone else. They have many of the same problems adults have, but they are less equipped to deal with them simply due to lack of experience. So, you have to learn or be brooded upon as mother hen do to her eggs before the good ones hatch.

Have a good relationship with yourself.

Do you spend more time with yourself than with anyone else? If you think about it, you literally never get away from yourself — so you had better like yourself.

We are not supposed to love ourselves selfishly, but we do need to love ourselves properly.

We are not to spend our time comparing ourselves with others and competing with them because we will never get to know ourselves.

Never compare yourself to those images of models, actors, actresses, musicians, on magazines, posters or TV. They are falsified images - after series of photo-shop effects and make-up by professionals. What you see is not the true person.

You have tremendous worth and value. In fact, you are a great person to get to know. But like everyone else, you have strengths and weaknesses. I encourage you not to major on your weaknesses but to turn them over to Jesus and let Him be strong through them. His strength is made perfect through our weakness.

Learn to get along with yourself. If you don't, you will always have difficulty getting along with others.

When you meet someone who seems to hate everyone and everything, you can be sure that person's self-image is rooted in self-hatred.

We always assume that we have something wrong with us if someone rejects us, but that may not be true — the other person could be the one with the problem.

Sincerely, rejection from peers and adults will come. That shouldn't cause you to hate yourself. We have different ideas, different hair and clothing styles, taste, etc. With all of your heart accept yourself. Don't forget, you are accepted by God and blessed with God-ordained destiny.

Ovecome your past.

This stage you are in right now is a gift from God. So overcome your the past. Are there things in your past that threaten your future, things of which you are ashamed? Have you made mistakes? Have you failed at something in your primary school days? Are there subjects you hate or found difficult in the past?

This is a new stage to change all that.

Being stuck in the past, whether it is the past from ten years ago or the past from yesterday, is just like being stuck in the mud. You may put out all kinds of effort and yet go nowhere. Why? Because God does not want you to drag your past into your future. He knows your past will poison it.

Your past is called the past because it has passed. There is only one thing you can do with your past — forget it! God has forgotten it, and so can you.

Do well in school and Manage your studies

No matter how boring it is now, education will help you be a productive member in society. Strive for excellence in school; try your best, listen to the teachers, do your homework, study, and get good grades. Doing so will help you get into a better college/university, which will enable you to get a great job in the future. School sets you up on the right track!

So, Manage your studies. Your studies is all that matters in the end. Nobody in your school will care to ask you how many friends you had when you were in school or your skin texture. They will just ask you your marks or grades. If you are dreaming of having a good college degree then focus on your studies rather than your popularity.

Figure out your goals in life and work toward them.

Start thinking about careers you would like to be in, but make a good choice based on your interests and strengths. This could be your job for the rest of your life! You could also work towards non-career-related goals, such as creating your own fundraiser, getting good grades in school, joining a team sport, etc. Challenge yourself and you'll be surprised what you can accomplish!

Don't get into any trouble, legal or otherwise.

It could ruin your future plans. Avoid the peer pressure and ditch the cigarettes, alcohol, and drugs. Abide the law and avoid ending up in the back of a police car. If you're being pressured into anything, walk away. If you can avoid these things during your teen years, they're a lot easier to avoid once you're out of high school and away from peer pressure.

Avoid places and situations that make you uncomfortable. By avoiding situations that might tempt you, you can avoid peer pressure altogether. For example, be weary of going to a party without adult supervision or meeting up with people you know do drugs, immoralities, etc.

Be nice to your parents and teachers.

Many foolishly crave for independence and privacy thinking they are adult already. This results to clashes - in school and at home.

You may complain: I get told to act more mature but I still tend to get treated like a kid. No privacy and independence?

Alot of the mollycoddling is necessary. Don’t get offended, accept and appreciate it. So many children out there have no one to protect them. Be happy to have them. Remember, they're there to help you be the best that you can be. Respect them and value their opinions, even if they annoy you sometimes. Keep in mind that they do the things they do because they care about you and want you to succeed in life. You don't get to choose your teachers or your family, but you still have to put up with them. Learn how to deal with people now, because when you're an adult, you don't get to choose your boss or your co-workers, so learn how to respect them now.

Have good friends to help you out!

Friends are there to support you and lift your spirits. Be with people who make you happy, and ditch the ones who don't. Create a group of supportive, loving friends that can help you succeed in life and live your dreams. Find a few really good friends that will stick with you once you leave high school.

Ask yourself if the people you are around are saying anything worth listening to or are doing anything worth your involvement. If not, make some changes in your lifestyle.

Do what you love.

Adopt a hobby; reading, writing, sewing, singing, dancing, playing a sport, making pottery, etc. It will pass time and help you develop your personality. Experiment and discover new things; you might be surprised to find that you really like them!

Get active! Join a sports team at school or out of school.

Believe in God!

Christ lives in you! He commands your destiny. He is your comforter. He is your Father. Remember, He made you, so He knows you better. If you believe in Him, if you stand on his power, no schemes of men or power of hell can hurt you.

Let analyse this:

1peter 1:24-25,For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

If the word of God is in you, you live forever and fulfil destiny!
If God is by your side you will find life easy.

Live life to the fullest!

You're only young for a short time, and before you know it you'll be an adult that will be lying around saying, "I wish I had done this when I was younger."
Be daring, go out into the world and live life! Life is short, so enjoy it while you can.

EndNote:
… you have a God-given right to enjoy your life and to become all that you can possibly be in Christ.
So enjoy the growth process!

Even as [in His love] He chose us [actually picked us out for Himself as His own] in Christ before the foundation of the world… Ephesians 1:4.

Apostle Julius Ikhide-Iyke Etaifo
LiveOutLoud
Nation Of Grace Ministries

Look The Other Side!

A father was reading his favourite magazine and his little daughter every now and then distracted him.

Trying to keep her daughter busy, he tore out one page on which was printed the map of the world. He then tore the page into pieces and asked her to go to her room and put them together to make the map again.

Having done this, the father was now convinced he would read his magazine without any disturbance and also that it would take her daughter the whole day to get it done. But the little one came back within two minutes with the perfect map.

The curious and confused father asked her daughter how she could do it so quickly??
She giggled and said , "Oh… Dad, there is God's face on the other side of the paper, I made His face perfect to get the map right."

Satisfied with the answer, she ran outside to play leaving the father surprised.

In life there is always the other side to whatever you experience.
Too bad, often times we fail to look at the other side.
This other side can be the other’s perspective or the other’s circumstances.
We look not because we are afraid to look at things differently. Or, we allowed ourselves to be so clouded with the situation - groaning ad moaning - to the extent of losing our very selves to fear, doubt, failure and hopelessness.

Regrettably, we miss the opportunity of looking at the other perspective, probably a perspective that is more favourable to us either in the short run or the long run. A perspective that translates into solution.

Always remember this, there is always the other side to whatever you experience.
Whenever we come across a challenge or puzzling situation, look at the other side. You will be surprised to see an easy way to tackle the problem.

Don't pretend as though other option never existed or is never seen.

What people see as obstacles are what some reap as miracles.
What others see as stumbling blocks should be seen by you as building blocks.
The stones thrown at you by others can be your stepping stones when the ground is mudding.

Don't see failure but success.
Don't look at the problems, look at the other side there lies the solution.

I have told people this:
The angels or solutions you seek from heaven, are just beside you here on earth. They are on the other side of the exaggerated problems.

Beauty is all in the way we look at things.
Our lives shall be filled with good people and things, when we change the way we look at situations.

Also, why craving for things that don’t belong to you or that you don’t need? Why crying over that situations? Why complaining?
Do you know that on the other side of that predicaments are greatness, solutions, and suchlike that are meant for you?

All that you may need to do is to change our perspective and look at what you have, differently.

The question is not what you look at, but what you see.
Look beyond what you see http://liveoutloudng.blogspot.com/2017/07/look-beyond-what-you-see.html

We all look up at the same stars in the sky but see different things.
You hear, but are you listening,
You exist, but are you living,
You look, but are you seeing?
You read, but are you learning?
That’s what matters.

Things don’t change, only the way you look at them. Most things that you consider complex in life are actually simple things.
Just try a different way of looking at them.

"The art of being happy lies in the power of extracting happiness from common things." - Anonymous
So, train your mind to see the good in everything.
Positivity is a choice.

The happiness of your life depends on the quality of your thoughts,
and the quality of your thought depends on what side of life you look at.

God shall open your eyes to see beyond what you see!

Be blessed!

Apostle Julius Ikhide-Iyke Etaifo
LiveOutLoud!
NOGM

August Message For You

Ezekiel 47:12
"By the river on its bank, on one side and on the other, will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither and their fruit will not fail. They will bear every month because their water flows from the sanctuary, and their fruit will be for food and their leaves for healing."

August is an awesomely powerful time each year as God's power blazes us into a fiery new phase. After, His works has been perfected, what follows is the materialization o manifestation of the new phase - which will happen in August.

Isaiah 43:19, "Be alert, be present. I'm about to do something brand-new. It's bursting out! Don't you see it? There it is! I'm making a road through the desert, rivers in the badlands."MSG

In this fiery new phase,
Build the future,
Learn from the past and forget it!
(Isaiah 43:18 "Forget about what's happened; don't keep going over old history"MSG)

God's delight, what kind of future do you want to see for humanity, yourself and family?
God honoured His children - He is a promise keeper!
So, don’t worry about the how or when, focus on it!
The how and when as it applies to you will surface in your heart and mind and inspire you into creation.
"Don’t worry about anything, but pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks for what you have.
And because you belong to Christ Jesus, God’s peace will stand guard over all your thoughts and feelings. His peace can do this far better than our human minds." - Philippians 4:6-7 ERV

In with the new. It’s in you.
Live it, breathe it into your world.

Jeremiah 1:10,"see, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms,... to build, and to plant."KJV

So, plant it!
Be it.
Renew your focus on what you want to create.
Start within.
We have more support for this than it seems.
God is about to surprise you!
So,
Ignite YOUR Soul in August with His words and essence daily.
Spend some time each morning to focus on your desires for the future, yours and humanity’s future.
This is your time, special one.
Be present and gift the future with your Love.

These are the times you've been preparing for.
These are the times you've been made for.
These are your times
Powerful times, indeed.

Awesome August to you!
Apostle Julius Ikhide-Iyke Etaifo
Nation Of Grace Ministries
LiveOutLoud

HOPELESS LOVE

Once upon a time all feelings and emotions went to a coastal island for a vacation. According to their nature, each was having a good time.
Suddenly, a warning of an impending storm was announced and everyone was advised to evacuate the island.
The announcement caused sudden panic. All rushed to their boats. Even damaged boats were quickly repaired and commissioned for duty.

Yet, Love did not wish to flee quickly. There was so much to do. But as the clouds darkened, Love realised it was time to leave. Alas, there were no boats to spare. Love looked around with hope.
Just then Prosperity passed by in a luxurious boat. Love shouted, “Prosperity, could you please take me in your boat?”
“No,” replied Prosperity, “my boat is full of precious possessions, gold and silver. There is no place for you.”
A little later Vanity came by in a beautiful boat. Again Love shouted, “Could you help me, Vanity? I am stranded and need a lift. Please take me with you.”
Vanity responded haughtily, “No, I cannot take you with me. My boat will get soiled with your muddy feet.”
Sorrow passed by after some time.
Again, Love asked for help. But it was to no avail. “No, I cannot take you with me. I am so sad. I want to be by myself.”
When Happiness passed by a few minutes later, Love again called for help. But Happiness was so happy that it did not look around, hardly concerned about anyone.
Love was growing restless and dejected. Just then somebody called out, “Come Love, I will take you with me.” Love did not know who was being so magnanimous, but jumped on to the boat, greatly relieved that she would reach a safe place.

On getting off the boat, Love met Knowledge. Puzzled, Love inquired, “Knowledge, do you know who so generously gave me a lift just when no one else wished to help?”
Knowledge smiled, “Oh, that was Time.”
“And why would Time stop to pick me and take me to safety?” Love wondered.
Knowledge smiled with deep wisdom and replied, “Because only Time knows your true greatness and what you are capable of. Only Love can bring peace and great happiness in this world.”

The important message is that when we are prosperous, we overlook love.
When we feel important, we forget love.
Even in happiness and sorrow we forget love.
Only with time do we realize the importance of love.
Why wait that long?
Why not make love a part of your life today?

Author Unknown

Good morning!
LiveOutLoud
NOGM

Life truth!

In life,
some may walk,
others may run,
but remember the Lord gave the tortoise and the horse the same days to reach Noah's ark.

Your journey might be rough and tough but you will definitely get to your destination.

Jacob looked at Joseph and saw a good son!
The ten brothers looked at Joseph and saw a useless dreamer!
The travellers looked at Joseph and saw a slave!!
Potiphar looked at Joseph and saw a fine servant!!
Potiphar's wife looked at Joseph and saw a potential boyfriend!
The prison officers saw in Joseph a prisoner!
How wrong were all of them! God looked at Joseph and saw a Prime Minister of Egypt in waiting!!
Don't be discouraged by what people see in you!!
Be encouraged by what God sees in you!!
Never underrate the person next to you because you never know what the Lord has deposited in that person.
Your maid may be a Chief Executive Officer in waiting for a company which shall employ your child.
Your garden-boy may be a president in waiting.
Remember David got the anointing of becoming a King while he was a simple youth herding sheep.
Esther was a simple orphaned girl yet she was a Queen in waiting.

IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW PEOPLE SEE YOU.
IT MATTERS HOW GOD SEES YOU!

God is God:
🏽He doesn't care about *age*, no wonder he blessed Abraham.
🏽He doesn't care about *experience*, no wonder he chose David.
🏽He doesn't care about *gender*, no wonder he lifted Esther.
🏽He doesn't care about *your past*, no wonder he called Paul.
🏽He doesn't care about *your physical appearance*, no wonder he chose Zacchaeus (the shortest one).
🏽He doesn't care about *fluency in speech*, no wonder he chose Moses.
🏽He doesn't care about *your career*, no wonder he choose Mary Magdalene; a prostitute.
🏽He doesn't care about *your past*, no wonder He chose Rahab and Ruth as ancestral mothers of Jesus - a prostitute and stranger.

All I know is that my God never changes
🏽He never made *a promise he wouldn't keep*👌🏾
He never saw *a person he wouldn't help*👌🏾
🏽He never heard *a prayer he wouldn't answer*👌🏾
🖼He never found *a soul he wouldn't love*👌🏾
🏽He never found *a sinner he wouldn't forgive*👌🏾
This is the kind of God I would like to commune with every day the moment I wake up. I strongly recommend Him to you.

Look beyond what you see

Look beyond what you see, because our eyes are shortsighted, we can't see beyond our nose. Look beyond what you see, because beneath what you see lies the treasures of the earth. Look beyond the rose buds, because after which comes the Rose. Look beyond the muster seed because out of that tiny seed is a gigantic tree. Look beyond what others see - for their paths ain't yours , their sights ain't yours too and they ain't God! Remember, "Not everybody want to be a somebody!" Look beyond the sight of men, for what God sees concerning you is beyond any human conclusion. Look beyond the knowledge of men, for ye are gods! Look beyond the flesh of a man, the enemy is not him but the spirit in him that we wrestle against. They are your source of income! Look beyond the colour of any man - by so doing, you accept the wonderful and diversification of God's work and see them, black or white as a channel of blessings to you! Look beyond the eyes of humans...for through these one can see the very heart of men and know their desire and needs which are your business clues. Look beyond the locality of any place - for beneath the dungs and debris lies your gold and silver. Listen beyond what you hear, because beneath the lyrics, tones, beats and rhythm and suchlike lies the inspirations. Read beyond what you read, for beneath the letters lies TRUTH and power!

Look, Listen, Read, beyond what you see, hear and read - for beyond them lies the: intuition for that invention, answer to your questions, solutions to your problems, ideas for that business, innovations and transformation for growth, progress and longevity. Look beyond what you see - for beyond what you see lies the ideas and your first ten(10) billion dollars.

Two men visited India sometime ago. They saw that the people there don't wear shoes - they walk on bare foot. Maybe, they are fond of doing so. The two men returned to USA with different view. One went about telling people of the strange people he saw that don't wear shoes. "Do you know what I saw in Asia?...People without shoes..." The other didn't just see people without shoes but shoe-making business. He thought and started making easy-to-wear sandals that will be suit their taste. And, that was it - His business empire worth billions of dollars.

You don't know why others are going ahead of you. Do you know why? They looked beyond what you saw! Well, You may have the eyes of a man, see the world with with eyes of God, You may have the mind of man, but think with the mind of God. You may have the brain of a man, but reasoning like God! And live as your Father on earth! Now, look around you again...look around your vicinity again....look at the people around your environment again...tell me what you see? Do it over and over again, if you see nothing! Well well, Look, listen and read beyond what you see, hear and read! And, Hit your limelight! To Live Life Loud and to the fullness. Apostle Julius Ikhide-Iyke Etaifo Nation Of Grace Ministries LiveOutLoud

Look, listen and read beyond what you see, hear and read!

Look beyond what you see.

Look beyond what you see, because our eyes are shortsighted, we can't see beyond our nose.

Look beyond what you see, because beneath what you see lies the treasures of the earth.

Look beyond the rose buds, because after which comes the Rose.

Look beyond the muster seed because out of that tiny seed is a gigantic tree.

Look beyond what others see -
for their paths ain't yours ,
their sights ain't yours too and
they ain't God!
Remember, "Not everybody want to be a somebody!"

Look beyond the sight of men, for what God sees concerning you is beyond any human conclusion.

Look beyond the knowledge of men, for ye are gods!

Look beyond the flesh of a man, the enemy is not him but the spirit in him that we wrestle against. They are your source of income!

Look beyond the colour of any man - by so doing, you accept the wonderful and diversification of God's work and see them, black or white as a channel of blessings to you!

Look beyond the eyes of humans...for through these one can see the very heart of men and know their desire and needs which are your business clues.

Look beyond the locality of any place - for beneath the dungs and debris lies your gold and silver.

Listen beyond what you hear, because beneath the lyrics, tones, beats and rhythm and suchlike lies the inspirations.

Read beyond what you read, for beneath the letters lies TRUTH and power!

Look,
Listen,
Read,
         beyond what you
see,
hear and
read -
         for beyond them lies the:
intuition for that invention,
answer to your questions,
solutions to your problems,
ideas for that business,
innovations and transformation for growth, progress and longevity.

Look beyond what you see - for beyond what you see lies the ideas and your first ten(10) billion dollars.

Two men visited India sometime ago.
They saw that the people there don't wear shoes - they walk on bare foot. Maybe, they are fond of doing so.
The two men returned to USA with different view.

One went about telling people of the strange people he saw that don't wear shoes. "Do you know what I saw in Asia?...People without shoes..."

The other didn't just see people without shoes but shoe-making business. He thought and started making easy-to-wear sandals that will be suit their taste. And, that was it - His business empire worth billions of dollars.

You don't know why others are going ahead of you.
Do you know why?

They looked beyond what you saw!

Well,
You may have the eyes of a man, see the world with with eyes of God,
You may have the mind of man, but think with the mind of God.
You may have the brain of a man, but reasoning like God!
And live as your Father on earth!

Now, look around you again...look around your vicinity again....look at the people around your environment again...tell me what you see?
Do it over and over again, if you see nothing!

Well well,
Look, listen and read beyond what you see, hear and read!
And,
Hit your limelight!
To
Live Life Loud and to the fullness.

Apostle Julius Ikhide-Iyke Etaifo
Nation Of Grace Ministries
LiveOutLoud

WHY TODAY MATTERS?

Today is not just any ordinary day.

Today is a day that matters.
Today you will have the choice to make a difference in your life and those around you.

Today you will have the choice to smile rather than frown, be grateful rather than selfish, lift up rather than put down, accept rather than reject and love rather than hate.

Today you will have the choice of seeking hope for the future or remain in the hopelessness of the past.

Today you have the choice to laugh or cry. Both will make you feel better.
Today you will have the undivided attention of the King of the Universe.
At that time you can ask Him anything you want.
You can ask for help, plead for a friend or just enjoy His presence.
It all depends on you.

Whichever you choose, today matters.

Make the choice to make it a day worth living.

And don't forget, tomorrow is another day.
Copyright © 2015 Tom Krause

Good Morning, God's Delight!
Apostle Julius Ikhide-Iyke Etaifo
Nation Of Grace Ministries (NOGM)

THE MYSTERY OF BLESSINGS (part 1) ...what you also need to know about blessing...

Life is full of contradictions; with every blessing comes a burden which I choose to call: Responsibility.
It’s a blessing to get that bigger house; it’s a burden to have more to clean.
Its a blessing to get large congregation, customers, or followers; its a burden to handle or manage them rightly.
It’s a blessing to have that baby; it’s a burden to get up in the middle of the night and so on.

The mistake we make is wanting the blessing without the burden. That's not reality!
Many want the blessings but want to skip the responsibility. They forget that our Father will not give you 100 when you have not been faithful in handling 20.
He can never give you something that is bigger than you because if He do, it will crash you and you will blame Him.
He looks at your capacity and "shock absorber".

That's the reality!

Until you've the capacity to accept the burdens or responsibility and to handle the blessings, the blessings won't be given.
They come as a package which you have to carry!

Do you know that He only can tell when you are ready? It may seem to you that you are perfectly in shape but in reality (and to God) you are not ready for the next level. You still need to be brooded.
It may look like you aren't ready but to God, you are fully ready!
So just take every stages in life serious and be diligent!
Learn to grow and build yourself there before the next can be showered on you.
Learn from Abraham, David, Paul, Gideon, Moses, Elisha, Joseph etc.
Learn how they develop their capacity - intellectually, spiritually, geographically, etc before God found them worthy.
They had the capacity for the enlargement.

When planning and preparedness meet with Divinity touches, the sky is just the beginning.

The key is to be ready to enjoy the blessings with the responsibility and, to be fully prepared to accommodate the enlargement of coast the blessing will cause.

Don't be that pastor or store owner that seek more members or customers but don't know how to handle 10 members or don't have enough goods to sell and even plans to acquire them.

Get prepare for that which you are believing God for!
Enlarge your capacity and leave God to do he rest.
When He sees your diligent and readiness, He won't hesitate to open the floodgate of Heaven on you!.
He is rest assured that you will not fail and it will not crash and be wasted!

Before the advent of blessings, Divinity touches must meet preparedness - inward or outward.

Make yourself ready because no one pour new wine into an old wineskin or bottle! Those were the words of Jesus.
Be ready for the opportunity!

Stay blessed!

Happy Sunday!
Apostle Julius Ikhide-Iyke Etaifo
Nation Of Grace Ministries
LiveOutLoud!

why you didn't die in your sleep

Do you know why you are awake?
You sleep at night and wakes up every morning?
You sleep every night. Closed the eyes as if dead - save the heartbeat. While dead in sleep, the hearts and other organs worked without our effort and knowing.
Suddenly, our eyes open into the dawn of a new day.
And the breath of life kept us alive once again.
Why didn't the heart stops beating?
Why did the eyes open at the early hours of the day?
Why didn't the eyes remain shut?
Who told the eyes to open up? You? You planned it? Nope!
It was God!
But why?
Why you?
Why you everyday?
Many have gone like. They are dead and gone in their sleep. But why you?

You are special!
That to me is an indication that God has a plan for you here. If a device is no longer useful to us, what do we do with it? We disposed it, right?

God wakes you up every morning because He sees something in you. I rephrase: because He have something in you that must be established for all to see.

Do you know what/who you are?
You are a manuscript of a divine letter.
You are a mirror reflecting a noble face.
This universe needs you.
You are a carrier of DIVINITY and His GLORY.
Do you just remove a good bulb from the lamp-holder? You leave it there to fulfill it days gloriously.
God has to ensure you are alive daily so that that GLORY can be fulfilled.
You should rejoice because He is not done with you! No one can predict your movie.
Glory!
Look inside yourself!
You are special!

Enjoy the ride of life!

LiveOutLoud!

Good Morning,
Apostle Julius Ikhide-Iyke Etaifo
Live Out Loud

Don’t label events

You take things you don’t control and define them as ‘good’ or ‘bad.’
And so of course when the ‘bad’ things happen, or the ‘good’ ones don’t, you blame the gods and feel hatred for the people responsible, or those you decide to make responsible.
You can strip away many unnecessary troubles which lie wholly in your own judgment.

That all is as thinking makes it so, and you control your thinking. So remove your judgments whenever you wish and then there is calm.

Culled from "Meditation" by Marcus Aurelius

Remember, all things work together for our good! And the thought God have toward us are of good, not of evil to give us our expected end. He maketh all things beautiful in their times and seasons.

Nothing that happen to a christian is bad. You know why? Good things are allowed to come to us. When thins come to us to shape us, we should be sad but glad that we are been refined.
Most times we term it ill luck or bad. That is only bad in your mind, not in the mind of our Maker!

Our perceptions matter!

Live Out Loud!

Good Morning
Apostle Julius Ikhide-Iyke Etaifo
LiveOutLoud

Your own vineyard - Christ-centred life against Service-centred life

You labour tirelessly among the vines (the house of God) as a Chorister, Bishop, Priest, Sunday school teacher, pastor, Apostle, Deacon, Elder, Deaconess, Youth leader, Usher, Protocol, Security, Cleaner, Teacher, Committee member, Father-of-church, Mother-of-church, etc.
You serve as keeper of the vineyards. Maybe you are now retired like many others that are now "retired Most Senior Apostle" or "retired Bishop-of-the-whole-world". Perhaps like some, you have successfully handed over to another keeper, and so on.

"They made me take care of the vineyards; my own vineyard I have neglected” - Song of Songs 1:6

Do you know that the one who confesses her neglect in the passage you just read was not neglectful of her duties. She had been made black by the sun as she she was the keeper of the vineyards – but:

She had neglected her own vineyard.

Too often public profession and activity are accompanied by inward neglect and spiritual declension.

How very easy it is to serve the Lord zealously, to be on the job all the time, and yet to neglect our own inner life, our personal communion with the Lord Himself, our study of His Word and our fellowship in the secret place!

Study also the case of Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38-42)

We may be inclined at times to let our busy lives of service distract us from spending time with Jesus and listening to his word.
Someone wrote: It's significant to note though, that Jesus gently admonished Martha for being "worried and upset," not for serving.
Serving others is a good thing. Service is good, but sitting at Jesus' feet is best.
You must remember what is most important - The condition of your heart.

Good works should flow from a Christ-centered life; they do not produce a Christ-centered life.

Our good works only will never take us to heaven. I am this and that in the vineyards will never take you anywhere, when our attention is shifted from Jesus. You may say how possible? It is possible! Have you check the instrumentalists in Church lately? Some don't flow... Unknowingly to many, they drift away from Christ because they have lost it within.

When we give Jesus the attention he deserves, he empowers us to serve others.
When you as an instrumentalist, chorister, pastor, bishop, wife, husband (because your home also is your vineyard), usher, educator and suchlike give yourself to, and focus on Jesus, He empower you to serve others. He pours His quality on you. You flow ceaselessly and swimmingly!

How easily possible it is for the shoemaker’s boy to be the poorest shod,
How easily possible for the tailor’s son to wear the shabbiest clothes.
How sadly possible it is for the preacher to proclaim the unsearchable riches of Christ, but to fail to adorn the doctrine in his own personal and private life! – look up Titus 2:10.
This is the danger which is faced by every servant of the Lord.

It is the possibility of neglecting the cultivation of one’s own inner life of communion with the Lord Himself.

Always remember this: you can never lift others above the level of your own spiritual experience; it is, therefore, a very sad, as well as a very solemn thing, to neglect your own spiritual life.

Many people have failed the Lord in this respect?
They have been so zealous in serving the Lord in your church, in your home, or as you have sought to witness for Him in the office or in the open-air meeting.

What about your inner life? Do you need to make the confession: “My own vineyard I have neglected!”? Or are you on track - body, spirit and soul? For many, in their private and personal life thorns have come up everywhere and the ground is covered with weeds…?
Proverbs 24:30-31 - "I went past the field of the sluggard, past the vineyard of the man who lacks judgment; thorns had come up everywhere, the ground was covered with weeds, and the stone wall was in ruins.”

This is why many Pastors' children are nothing to write home about. What about believers' children that are not believers? How can the children become believers when they are the ones that have to deal with your private life at home?
Well thank God for those that always keep their vineyards and nurse the vines. More Grace!

We all need to avoid the danger of neglecting our own vineyard. We don't have to be too busy with service to neglect His word and our vineyards. We don't have to neglect our growth and righteousness. We don't have to neglect our homes. One thing is certain - If your services outside is not directly proportional or equivalent to what you do in your private there will be trouble!
So, we must take action and apply the remedy - what we prescribe to others - and we must do it immediately and frequently.

Also, you have to put your priorities in check. Many priorities are fleshly or worldly.
Always put devotion to Christ and his word first. Good work in the house of God is good but when the heart in line with His word, it is equivalent to zero!

Your work in the house of God is good but sitting at Jesus feet to listen to his word and keeping your own vineyard is the best!

Beware of the barrenness of a busy life!

Let us beware of the danger of neglecting our own inner life while serving in His vineyard.
Let us live in holy and happy fellowship with the Lord from day to day, and thus become more and more fruitful in His service.
This is it!

Remain blessed!

Apostle Julius Ikhide-Iyke Etaifo
Nation Of Grace Ministries
LiveOutLoud

The mind and the thoughts

*THE MIND AND YOUR THOUGHTS*

*The mind is a well of abundance, a well of success.

*Battles are won or lost in the realm of thoughts before they are acted in the physical arena.

*The mind is the center for the storage of knowledge, where understanding and wisdom find their residence.

*A man without a mind has no worth.

*The largest room in the world is the room for self-improvement.

*The degree of your thinking determines the quality of your lifestyle - Prov. 23:7

*You are essentially your thoughts.

*The entrance to the house of wisdom begins through thinking.

*If you refuse to think you fail to find a way out.

*You must think differently in order to succeed differently.

*The future you cannot think through is future you cannot see.

*Until your mind is changed your circumstances never change.

*Human mind is the most intricate.
FEED YOUR MIND THE RIGHT INFORMATION...
FEED IT WITH THE *WORD*

*The mind must be developed. Knowledge is to the mind what light is to the eyes

*Counsel is vital to the mind - Prov. 11 :14

#AbigailPromiseOse-ken...
#NationOfGraceMinistries

The true story behind CRISTIANO RONALDO's UEFA Top-Scorer Glory

In the race of top scorers in 2016/2017 UEFA Champions League before the quarter final games Cristiano Ronaldo had only 2 goals while Lionel Messi had already score 11 goals.
All thought it was over. Many believed Messi has won the prize. 2 goals against 11 goals. How can any player meet that.

Well, let me hit the nail here.
Leading a race does not mean you will win it.
That's a Zambian proverb.

Cristiano Ronaldo's comeback truly reflects this proverb.
The current world footballer of the year, is couple of matches made up.
5 goals in quarterfinal games against Bayern Munich, 3 goals in semi-final games against Atletico Madrid and 2 goals in the final game againt Juventus.
These made him the top scorer of the 2016/2017 UEFA Champions League.
Such is life.

ITS NOT OVER UNTIL IS OVER

It is not over until it is over.
In the race of life you don't rejoice prematurely, you don't underestimate anybody, and you don't pass final judgement on people.

The fact that you are ahead of someone doesn't mean you are better than them.

Being ahead does not mean you have reached your destination.

The fact that you're leading doesn't mean others are losing.

The fact that you're winning doesn't mean others can't beat you.

Or the fact that you're leading doesn't mean you'll win.

Life can change instantly. You can always have more or less than what you have if you still living on earth.

In Tanzania, it is said: "KUTANGULIA SIO KUFIKA"

All that matters is discipline in your run, before the race is over don't count yourself a winner, if you don't maintain your discipline you are as good as a laughing stone.

Be sober!

A great start doesn't' always mean a great finish.

Live Out Loud!!!

Apostle Julius Ikhide-Iyke Etaifo
Nation Of Grace Ministries

Lose your life to live it at it's best

Our vigour is fleeting;
Our years are brief,
Our youth passes quickly-
Time's ever a thief;
But hope yet becomes us -
death's sting hold no power,
We have a REDEEMER - an unfailing tower! - Gustafson

Life at its best is very brief.
Though people say life has three stages:
The morning (Prime)
The afternoon (middle age)
The twilight (old age)

There is no guarantee that a person would live through all the stages. Life can terminate at anytime.

Psalm 103:15-16 - "As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more."

James also compares the ephemeral existence of life to a vapour or steam. It is steaming this moment and disappear the next moment.
James 4:14-15 - "Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then away."

Also, because life is short, doesn't permit you to lose your hands and look!
You can’t control the length of your life, but you can control its depth.
You can't control the breath, you can live every moment at its best.

Surrender is the secret to life at its best!
To whom do you surrender? To Materialism, Instinct, Fear, Humans, Family, Death, Career, Money, or God?

Study the life of Abraham. His heart must have pounded as he stood on Mount Moriah with his son Isaac. He has given all to follow God.
Remember, God asked him to place his promised son on the altar and yet retain his confidence in God’s love and integrity. Imagine!

Jesus said in Matthew 16:25,"For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it."

You must be willing to give to Christ what is most precious to you.
He wants more than your spare time and leftover possessions;
He wants to be Lord of everything in your lives.
Only when you are willing to let go of what you love the most can you experience the freedom that comes by yielding to Him.

All to Jesus I surrender,
All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him,
In His presence daily live. —Van de Venter

When it was clear that Abraham was ready to slay Isaac, an angel stopped him and provided a ram instead. Abraham had totally surrendered his all to the Lord. And his son Isaac was returned to him. He became that which God has spoken - the father of nations.

"I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me." —Genesis 22:12

Let God have your life; He can do more with it than you can!

He is the architect.
He is the creator.
He knows why He put your soul in that container (body). He has a reason for it. He has a plan if only you can let Him have his way!
Did you choose to be born?
Did you choose the daily you were born into?
Did you choose to be you?
Can you have your yesterdays?
Can you tell the outcome of tomorrow?
What wakes you up when you sleep?
Do you know that there is a thin line between life and death?
Who are you?
Someone is out there who knows all.

He knows the beginning before the beginning began!

You are alive, huh?
Your life matters because birth is God saying,“You matter.”

Let Him have your life so as to live that life at its best!

A spiritual truth: If you are alive, your life matters. Here are 50 reasons why:

I have no Yesterday in my bay,
Time hastily swept it away.
Dead, gone and lost in the wave,
A price I have to humbly pay.

Tomorrow nobody knows,
It may not be mine to own.
A mystery darken with coal,
with presents or woes ready to unfold.

Today, to me was a sweet gift,
On the lap, I humbly receive.
"Open the package!" my heart bleat.
Its mysteries - I feared - are revealed,

But, with the Creator of all lives,
Faithfully by my earthy and lonely side,
Everyday I enter with blinded strides,
Is conditioned to favour me in all sides.

As myself and I approaches any day -
dim, dark, lighted, blue or stale -
Yesterday, tomorrow and today -
They have no choice but to pay,
And bear fruits for my insatiable clay. - Apostle Julius Ikhide-Iyke Etaifo

Apostle Julius Ikhide-Iyke Etaifo
Nation Of Grace Ministries

Juggle Balls - balancing in your life

Juggle Balls

Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling some five balls in the air. You name them – work, family, health, friends and spirit and you’re keeping all of these in the air. You will soon understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. But the other four balls – family, health, friends and spirit are made of glass. If you drop one of these, they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged or even shattered. They will never be the same. You must understand that and strive for balance in your life. How?

Don’t undermine your worth by comparing yourself with others. It is because we are different that each of us is special.

Don’t set your goals by what other people deem important. Only you know what is best for you.

Don’t take for granted the things closest to your heart. Cling to them as you would your life, for without them, life is meaningless.

Don’t let your life slip through your fingers by living in the past or for the future. By living your life one day at a time, you live ALL the days of your life.

Don’t give up when you still have something to give. Nothing is really over until the moment you stop trying.

Don’t be afraid to admit that you are less than perfect. It is this fragile thread that binds us each together.

Don’t be afraid to encounter risks. It is by taking chances that we learn how to be brave.

Don’t shut love out of your life by saying it’s impossible to find. The quickest way to receive love is to give; the fastest way to lose love is to hold it too tightly; and the best way to keep love is to give it wings.

Don’t run through life so fast that you forget not only where you’ve been, but also where you are going.

Don’t forget that a person’s greatest emotional need is to feel appreciated.

Don’t be afraid to learn. Knowledge is weightless, a treasure you can always carry easily.

Don’t use time or words carelessly. Neither can be retrieved. Life is not a race, but a journey to be savored each step of the way.

By Coca Cola CEO Brian Dyson

How well are you growing in faith!

Galatians 4:1 "Let me show you the implications of this. As long as the heir is a minor, he has no advantage over the slave. Though legally he owns the entire inheritance," MSG

KJV says, "Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;"

The cases of many Christians are not related to devil. Devil was not there when God was making covenant with you and your family. The devil is just a spectator and an accuser. He can do nothing! I am not here to discuss him anyway.

The problems of many Christians is rooted in the passage above. As long as the heir of a powerful man  is a minor (child) he has no advantage over the slave (the rulers of darkness and nature itself). What can a heir (who chosen not to grow) do?
Most Christians are not growing. They have left growth to pastors, Prophets, Bishops etc. Is it only clergies that want to go to heaven?
They even desire to be spoon-feed. And, they desire liquid food!

Come on!
How can they have a say in the conduct of their lives? A child don't have any say. For instance, what do a child of 5years know in respect to his inheritance if parents are no more? Whatever he was told by the servants is what he or she will believe. He can be told that he is the son of a servant and he will believe.

So, whatever most Christians are told by the devil and the world, they believe like that baby heir. They know not so, they die like mere men - Psalms 82. That is why prophets and other clergy manipulate them and make merchandize of them.

Galatians 4:3,"That is the way it is with us: When we were minors, we were just like slaves ordered around by simple instructions (the tutors and administrators of this world), with no say in the conduct of our own lives." MSG

That is baby Christians for you!

Spiritual growth is a continuous process. There is no limit!

The more you of Him you have in you, the more your growth.

Our growth is directly proportional to our relationship with God.
Our growth is directly proportional to how much we have Him in us (if it can be quantify).
How well do you "know" God?
What kind of relationship do you have with God? Is it casual, official, infatuated, crushed, seasonal, give-me-but-keep-your-words, give-me-goodies-only, I-speak-you-listen, (you can add others).

How can you claim to be a good friend when you don't want to listen to that your friend?
Friends know each other!

Grow up!
Baby Christians are casualties in the war.
Can they defend themselves?

Eat more of God's word. Know more of Him through His word in the bible.

Your growth is important - just as your repentance. It is part of the salvation process! Can a baby survive on it own in this world.
As a heir, try to know your father and grow up!
Your inheritance is great! Ye are gods! Read the bible passage again.

Galatians 4:1-11,"Let me show you the implications of this. As long as the heir is a minor, he has no advantage over the slave. Though legally he owns the entire inheritance,
he is subject to tutors and administrators until whatever date the father has set for emancipation.
That is the way it is with us: When we were minors, we were just like slaves ordered around by simple instructions (the tutors and administrators of this world), with no say in the conduct of our own lives.
But when the time arrived that was set by God the Father, God sent his Son, born among us of a woman, born under the conditions of the law so that he might redeem those of us who have been kidnapped by the law.
You can tell for sure that you are now fully adopted as his own children because God sent the Spirit of his Son into our lives crying out, "Papa! Father!"
Doesn't that privilege of intimate conversation with God make it plain that you are not a slave, but a child? And if you are a child, you're also an heir, with complete access to the inheritance.
Earlier, before you knew God personally, you were enslaved to so-called gods that had nothing of the divine about them.
But now that you know the real God - or rather since God knows you - how can you possibly subject yourselves again to those paper tigers?
For that is exactly what you do when you are intimidated into scrupulously observing all the traditions, taboos, and superstitions associated with special days and seasons and years.
I am afraid that all my hard work among you has gone up in a puff of smoke!"

Apostle Julius Ikhide-Iyke Etaifo
Live Out Loud
NOGM

Stop waiting for the 'right time.'

Success is a numbers game: the number of times you take a shot."

You'll never create the perfect business plan, never find the perfect partners, the perfect market, the perfect location, but you can find the perfect time to start.

That time is now.

Talent, experience, and connections are important, but put your all into enough new things and some will work.
Take enough shots, and over time you'll grow more skilled, more experienced, and more connected. And that will mean a greater percentage of your efforts will succeed.
Take enough shots, learn from what didn't work, and in time, you'll have all the skills, experience, and connections you need.

Ultimately, success is all about taking your shot, over and over again.
Sometimes you may win, sometimes you will definitely lose, but the more things you try, the more chances you have of succeeding.
Put the power of numbers on your side.
Take as many shots as you can.
There's no guarantee of success, but when you don't take a shot, there's a definite guarantee of failure.

Copied
By Jeff Haden

Good Morning
Apostle Julius Ikhide-Iyke Etaifo
Live Out Loud!