RUNNING THIS NEW YEAR WITH DETERMINATION AND DILIGENCE

RUNNING THIS NEW YEAR WITH DETERMINATION AND DILIGENCE

It is plausible to attest that living to journey in this life without principally practicing principled determination and diligence is the inability to fix our eyes on Jesus Christ; a risk indeed.

The matter of determination and diligence which is taken for granted by many, has become a matter that has led many people to failure in life. If then, is determination and diligence worth it?

The question, ‘is determination and diligence worth it?’ Crystallize and catapult our hope from hopelessness and our optimism from pessimism. It gives us light when we are covered with darkness. It shapes our mindset for a better future when we are down-casted about life and the future. It gives us joy when the veil of tears envelops our eyes. It brings us to life so that we can fight for a just cause. Determination and diligence are like twins that are inseparable; they are like the two kidneys in man which are needed to work for proper functioning of the human system, when the two kidneys develops fault, the human system is at risk. Determination and diligence are two words that have made many to set the world alight in their time and make them leave worthwhile legacies, even when they are no more alive. Many people are hopeless about life simply because their diligence and determination is unquantifiable and non-qualitative. Everyone has a task in life to meet and accomplish, hence, without diligence and determination, it’s dicey to accomplish it.

Determination is based on something special, which is, what you want to achieve at each stage of life. Several people are diligent and determine to achieve wrong things. Is that worth it? For others, they have positive view to the future, but yet, they never put on the garment of diligence and determination. Is that worth it? Many have failed severally but want to succeed, yet they have not worn permanently the cloth of diligence and determination. Is that worth it? All these illustrations are happening right here before our very eyes, but yet, we see nothing wrong with them. If so, what next? Are we to sit in our comfort but greatly dangerous zone waiting for miracles to be done? Are we to expect much failures, defeat and complains than success, victory and comply in our lives? If we put on the full garment of determination and diligence, can we truly be happy at the end? These are but questions that should serve as flash backs to our lives.

With the power of determination, one can be what he wants to be. One can stand among the high caliber of people he wants to stand. It is a unique feature of life that can stand one out from the crowd and bring one into the special few persons that are positive and optimistic. The bible confirms that in proverbs 22:29 which says, ‘Hast thou seen a man diligent in his work? He shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before the mean”. Your work determines how you will be determine and diligent. Your work through determination and diligence determines your end product, your passion to be diligent tells you whether you can stand among men of relevance, class, wealth and purpose or not.

It is in diligence and determination that our desires are truly acknowledged to bring about success. Without a driving force to compel us to victory, how can success be achieved? That driving force is the diligence and determination that ought to be applied in every area of our lives. That is why I confidently say that ‘When diligence and determination is on the increase, failure can never take away the chance of success. So, success is very much certain with determination and diligence.

It is a realistic assertion that our hands being in our pockets when we want to climb the ladder is very much difficult and impossible, therefore, to make the sky our limit or even our starting point, we must be determined in our heart and be diligent. Hoping to reach a greater height in life will be much more unguaranteed when we lack determination and diligence. In view of that, diligence and determination is worth it. That is why Proverb 10:4 says ‘Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth”. To attain wealth, determination is a key prerequisite.

Many try to reach the apogee stage, but end up at the nadir stage, because of the inability to put on the garment of diligence and determination. On that milieu, determination and diligence makes one climb another rung of one’s ladder; for success is a ladder that one must climb to reach the top. A failure should never blame life when he has never made effort to ask if he his determine to rise from his failure. A man confused about life should not confuse life, because life gives us what we give to it. Therefore, we must take full advantage of this diligence and determination available to us on a platter of gold. This full advantage is taken by understanding, need for hard work and a step of faith from where we are now.

Failure is impossible when true diligence and determination is in practice, likewise, success is of greater possibility when diligence and determination is put into practice. With diligence and determination we can do whatever thing we want to do, we can move from where we are to where we want to be, and can live the life we want to live. My echo of wisdom to you this New Year is that, “You can rise from your fall when determination and diligence is put into work. Take the step to journey through the life of fulfillment and victory with diligence and determination. Never keep sitting, stand to your feet and run the race of life with determination, diligence, desire, discipline and devotion (faith) in God”. Even in the quest of winning souls for Christ this New Year, without determination and diligence, boldness and courage, it is very difficult to execute that responsibility. Let us arise therefore from our slumbers and shine the light of God with determination and diligence.  “Let us run this 2014 with determination and diligence.” You can follow me on twitter using @samsondan38.

 Words from the great men of diligence and determination.

“The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a person’s determination”(Tommy Lasorda)

“Decision and determination are the engineer and fireman of our train to opportunity and success”(Burt Lawlor)

 “Determination is the wake-up call to the human will’ [Anthony (Tony) Robbins]

“Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education alone will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan “press on” has solved and always will solve problems of the human race” (John Calvin Coolidge)

 ‘He who labors diligently need never despair; for all things are accomplished by diligence and labor” (Menander)

 “Patience and Diligence, like faith, remove mountains” (William Penn)

“To be idle is a short road to death and to be diligent is a way of life; foolish people are idle, wise people are diligent” (The Buddha)

Remain Blessed as you Journey through 2014…….!

YOUR LIFE BEFORE YOUR GIFTS

OFFER YOUR LIFE BEFORE YOUR GIFTS

There is no uncertainty that the deepest attachment of Christmas to man can be the highest detachment to God almighty. To break this statement into a more simple language, our Christmas would never make meaning if we have not opted to view and apply the celebration of Christmas as from Gods perspective. Hence, what are our already desired thoughts to Christmas this year? Are they of good or of bad? It should interest us that no matter what/how it might be, if there is no understanding to the genesis and meaning of Christmas, celebrating Christmas is thus meaningless.

Many years ago, I was meant to believe that Christmas is a time to get new clothing, a time to eat and drink to the fullest. A time to visit places like zoo’s, wild life parks, museums, PRTV, NTA among several other recreational activities. I was meant to believe that the season of Christmas is a time to say ‘happy Christmas’ to somebody and expect money in return, if need be, go from houses to houses ‘aiming at money’ in the name of happy Christmas. Though it is not bad, but, is that the true meaning of Christmas? That should be a celebration of the new born king without an encounter.  It is indeed period without understanding what Christmas really meant. But now, I realize that even though Christmas is a moment of celebration, it must have to be celebrated with meaning. And this meaning can only be actualized when we give positive answers to certain germane questions as to whom this new born king is; a reason for commemorating Christmas.

Do you have anything to offer to Jesus Christ this Christmas?

Offering your life this Christmas precedes the offering of your gift. The 3 wise men did not only visited Jesus but they offered something precious (gifts) to the new born king. They did not only offer precious gifts, but they offered good worship to the new born king. What do you have to offer to this new born king this year’s Christmas? The bible says, “And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.(Matthew 2:11). These 3 wise men didn’t offer their gift before the fell down and worshiped the new born King; instead they offer their life through worship before offering their gifts. What do you have to offer to Jesus Christ this Christmas celebration? That is why I said that, ‘If you don’t have gold to offer to Jesus Christ, offer good worship, if you don’t have frankincense, offer fervent fellowship and love for others, if you don’t have myrrh to offer to Jesus Christ, offer your mellifluous (sweet-sounding) body’. Also note that if you don’t have anything to give, you can give yourself to Jesus. Offer yourself to the service of God can be the best way to celebrate your Christmas this year.  When we offer our body to Jesus Christ, we would live to enjoy this year’s Christmas with meaning. Instead of people to offer their bodies to God, they offer it cheaply for immoral activities. God expect us to offer our body as a living sacrifice. The only way to bring meaning to this year’s Christmas is to offer ourselves to God Almighty. What have you prepared to offer to this new born king this year, your life or your gifts?

A room for the new Born King

            Christmas is a moment of creating a room for the new born King in our hearts. Many years ago, a man (Inn keeper) misses the opportunity of being the first earthly host of Jesus Christ. When Joseph and his pregnant and in-labour wife approached the inn keeper, he said that there was no place in the inn. This made the messiah to be born in the manger. The bible says, “and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” - Luke 2:7. Make room for Jesus this Christmas. Everywhere you go this Christmas, represent Christ. There is benefit that accompanies creating room for Christ. This was what the inn-keeper miss and he became the greatest looser in history. Let us not be like the inn-keeper this season. Create room for Jesus and your celebration of Christmas this year will be meaningful.          

            In our today’s world, Christmas is coined to be something different. It is a time when evil and frivolous activities are on the increase. It is a time when many people visit their churches for the first time in a year. It is a time when many people have to travel to their villages for the first time in a year. It is a time when people wash their carpets for the first time in a year. It is a time when people eat and drink to satisfy their bellies. It is a time when the Church is filled to capacity. It is a time when people visit places like zoo, people’s houses, wild life parks, amusement parks or even museums. It is a time when people will say ‘happy Christmas’ to expect money in return. It is a time when people compete on who will first finish plenty bottles of alcoholic drinks. It is a time when people make their hairs for the first time in a year. It is a time when people opt for new shoes, dresses and do all sort of make-ups. If all these are they thoughts of many people about Christmas, is it truly the Christmas? If no, what then is the real meaning of Christmas?

            Christmas is an annual commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ and a widely observed holiday celebrated generally on the 25th of December, yearly. It’s a red-letter-day that must remain indelible in our lives as Christians. The Gregorian calendar is not complete if 25th December is not given due recognition, hence, the birth of Christ must be highly recognized in our lives. Of a truth, ‘Christmas celebration will never make meaning if we have not received and recognized Jesus Christ into our lives’. About 60% and above of people who celebrate Christmas, celebrate it without understanding the meaning of Christmas. They celebrate it blindly because people are equally celebrating. They eat because people are eating. They practice lust instead of love and later get lost, and at the end of the day, they call it the spirit of Christmas.

How much love would you give this year’s Christmas?

It was love that made it possible for our almighty God to send His only begotten son (Jesus) to save us from our sins. We must love as Christ loves. Love entails giving and sharing. So therefore, we must share that which we have with others this Christmas. We must learn to love other people this Christmas with sincerity. The expenses that we opt to make, please we should include that of those who cannot be able to afford. When we practice true love this Christmas, we would make many people happy. We should meet a need this Christmas. Therefore, we should find a need and meet it. Youths of today, have devised ways to practice lust instead of love, a lust that leads to their lost. If we must enjoy this Christmas, we must love with good motive and not with wrong motive. Love is of the essence, and we must love to make this Christmas lovely. How have you decided to love this year’s Christmas? a question that must not be left unanswered this season of Christmas..

                What have you already thought of Christmas?, have you thought of another routine and normal Christmas?, have you thought of doing unholy things this year’s Christmas again? How have you programmed your Christmas this year? If this is your reason, please pause, and check very properly before celebrating this year’s Christmas. Offer your life before your gifts has come to challenge us to celebrate a meaningful Christmas. Therefore, we must realize that Christmas is a moment of love and sharing. It is a moment of encounter that should be contagious. It is a moment to find a star that should lead us to where God only designed it to stop. It is a moment of renewal of the heart. It is a moment of opening our hearts while Christ himself is standing at the door knocking very hard. It is a moment of taking the good news of the new born king to the world. It is a moment of joy and happiness. It is a moment of celebration. It is a moment to grow to find favour with and God. We must bring light to this Christmas, and to do that we must have Christ in us. Christmas is a moment of reaching the unreached; like the poor n t he widows. Christmas is a moment to care for those who are sick, a visit to the hospital can make a lot of difference. And I can boldly say that ‘Christmas celebration without Christ is a waste of time’, ‘Christmas celebration without Christ is meaningless’, ‘Christmas celebration without Christ is disaster’, ‘Christmas without Christ nothing but crisis.’ Christmas is come again, and we should celebrate it well. Never celebrate a Christmas without meaning, for a meaningless Christmas is an unhappy Christmas. This write up has come to stir our hearts on how to offer ourselves to Jesus Christ before offering our gifts. You must first know the new born king (Jesus) before you can celebrate this Christmas very meaningfully.

“God is here. This truth should fill our lives, and every Christmas should be for us a new and special meeting with God, when we allow his light and grace to enter deep into our soul”.

Happy Christmas and a prosperous Happy New Year to you all.