NOT MY WILL BUT YOURS…… PART 1

 - October 11, 2016

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(picture from Just following Jesus).

Life can be tricky sometimes with unpredictable turns along the way. At first it may seem smooth but along the way you realise there are diversions, distractions and junctions that may affect whether or not we will arrive at our desired destination. It is  funny how we may think we are in the right direction or that the journey will not have (m)any challenges but it turns out, things happen that may appear as spoilers and ultimately change the direction of your life.

At least at one point in our lives we may have had dreams for our lives. Anything seemed possible. We would believe that the dreams are within our reach. We start the journey happy, full of hope and along the way we are pelted by doubt, discouragement and hopelessness. This may make our dreams look more distant each time we meditate on reasons why we cannot achieve what we dream. Soon, those dreams remain a fantasy that seem unrealistic and unattainable. At the end of it, all we are left with is nothing.

God gives us dreams. He wants us to dream big. He wants us to believe in the dreams that we have and chase after them. Afterall, He gives us the dreams and desires that we have for our life.

God speaks to us sometimes through dreams. He gives us the ability to see the impossible. A dream gives us goals and purpose. It gives us drive to achieve what was thought as impossible. Notice that sometimes the dreams may seem so grand to the point where you feel scared simply because something extraordinary has been revealed to you.

Dreams are a way God reveals his will for our lives. He gives you the end result but may not give you a sneak peak of the obstacles you may face.

Joseph in the Bible told his family his dreams. His brothers got jealous of Him, conspired to kill him but instead ended up selling him to foreigners into slavery. He was falsely accused, imprisoned inspite of his innocence and by a drastic turn of events, he eventually became a powerful leader in his time. A long inspiring story from the pit to the palace. But, what was revealed to Joseph was that he was going to be a respected person of influence and none of the obstacles were revealed at the beginning.

Not everyone will be happy for you when you tell them about your God given dream(s) . Some may want to prevent you from achieving your dreams or kill the vision altogether.Therefore one has to be prudent when they share their dreams with others.

You will face problems commensurate to the size of your dreams. Opposition is not uncommon if you are walking in God’s will for your life. Sometimes, unfair things happen as you are chasing your dreams. Other times things may not add up and you think that you are being driven away by circumstances from your God given destiny yet, it may be a way of God preparing you for the blessing He has for you…. He may be building our character, teaching us lessons that will help us stand out, helping us see His provision in hopeless and helpless situations ….. Remember, God will never leave you alone; even when you feel abandoned and forgotten, He is always
there…….

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(Picture from Pinterest. the world’s catalog of ideas )

As always, be awesome , stay awesome.

Regards,

Kiria.

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In inspiring thoughts

YOU ARE VALUABLE.

 - October 10, 2016

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(Picture from The Quotepedia).

Everyone has a purpose, a calling, a destiny. Each person has value as purposed by the Creator of the universe. Sometimes we may place our worth on other’s opinions which is potentially damaging.The hard truth is that not everyone will appreciate you, understand you or value you. Some may even want to put you down or discourage you from progressing in life. When we decide to put our value in other’s opinions, it shifts our focus from God and His ultimate plan for our lives. We start living based on other’s perceptions and opinions which can be very misleading. We waste our time trying to fit into other people’s boxes and at the end of it we may end up getting damaged because the fit is not right. God never intended people to be the same. Each person is unique and has abilities that come naturally to them. God created human beings as independent beings with the freedom to make decisions and at the same time interdependent beings in order to rely on each other’s strengths. That is the beauty of diversity. You may find one person is gifted in a certain area and someone else in another area that is completely out of your capabilities. Yet in order to progress or succeed we may need their abilities.

God gave each person abilities. Some may be given more talents than others. However, this does not make  anyone less valueable. What is important is what you do with the talent(s) God gives you.

When we realise the amazing things God has given us, we will realise that we are priceless and valuable to Him. We should place our value on what God thinks of us instead of what others think. We should see ourselves the way God sees us as a masterpiece full of value. You are valueable to God. Never forget that.

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(Picture from Pinterest. the world’s catalog of ideas ).

As always, be awesome, stay awesome.

Regards,

Kiria.

 

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In inspiring thoughts

NO CHEAT SHEET.

 - September 26, 2016

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(Picture from You Tube. Student caught using  10 – meter long cheat sheet in exam).

There is no cheat sheet in life. Each person is unique. The circumstances faced by each individual are different although there maybe some similarities with other people’s experiences. There is no quick fix to problems faced, no short cut in life that will guarantee success. We often imagine that if we do things the exact way someone did them, then, we are bound to succeed. But here’s the part that’s hard to swallow…. the circumstances faced may be similar but there are differences. We are dealing with different people, different times and different circumstances. Although the tricks one may have been given worked then, there is no guarantee that it will work now.

Each day we are sitting our own exam. The questions are applicable to our lives  and the circumstances are different. You go through a set of challenges and problems as you move through life. Yes, having someone who went through similar circumstances can make things easier. The guidance from those who have been there before us can equip us with the right principles to tackle the challenges faced. That is where mentors come into play.

Mentors are leaders in their own right. They help make the path easier as you walk through life together. Through their experiences and knowledge in a certain area, they can teach you and aid in your development as you grow in your desired area of interest. But, we are to take the advice given to us, synthesize what is applicable to our circumstances and use it for our benefit. What could have been applicable to them may not necessarily be applicable in the current circumstance faced. Knowing that you have someone who conquered the challenge faced gives you the comfort and courage that you too can overcome and emerge victorious.

The principles are what we ought to synthesize from the experiences of others. It is only by using those principles and applying them appropriately that we can see the much desired change we seek. Can you remember a time when you were in school sitting a paper in mathematics? The problems to be solved are different but the formula needed may be the same. It is the application of the principles that will aid in arriving at the correct answer. Yes, you may be equipped with the right principles but you have to do the dirty work, go through the problem step by step until you arrive at the right solution. This principle is applicable in whatever area of life you are interested in… Whether it is school life, work, relationships, business, spiritual life….. The list is endless.

As we go through life, always know that there is always someone who has overcome the problem, always know that you can emerge victorious.But remember,  the worst thing anyone can do is to copy paste and realise at the end of the paper that the answers they wrote were for a different paper. Live your life, pass your test.

As always, be awesome, stay awesome.

Regards,

Kiria.

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Picture from BoatersBond.com)

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In inspiring thoughts

THE MULTIPLIER EFFECT.

 - September 19, 2016

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Picture from creative zone.

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Picture from Pinterest. the world’s catalog of ideas.

Often times we may look at what we have and not see the potential that lies within. We all have abilities that lie dormant within us and it is upto us to nurture what we have been given. At the surface it may not look like much but the potential to effect positive change in the lives of others that lies in the little you have can be exponential. As mentioned in the earlier post ‘ IN YOUR HANDS‘ each of us have gifts, talents and attributes that are unique to us. We have seeds of greatness within each of us that have the potential of evoking positive change in the lives of others.

God gives us dreams and vision coupled with gifts and abilities that give us a sense of direction as we navigate through this world that is full of tests and trials, victories and disappointments. The dreams, the abilities and the vision you have for your life are seeds. With each passing day, we have the responsibility to nurture those gifts within us, strive to fulfil our dreams. Whenever you invest time into pursuing your dreams and developing your abilities, you are watering these seeds of greatness. Everytime you seek wise counsel from an experienced person or a mentor you are nuturing your seeds. Everytime you pray and dedicate your dreams to God who openned your eyes to discover your purpose on earth, you are building your faith thereby enriching the environment for sustainable development of your seeds.

A seed that has not been planted cannot thrive or grow. One must plant it and provide a condusive environment for the growth of the plant. We have to play our part in developing our abilities and this takes time and effort.

When the seed is planted, it sprouts if the right conditions are provided. This is the beginning of the journey to maturation. At the beginning, it may be exciting seeing the progress made, but it takes much more growth for the fruits to be seen. We may find ourselves getting discouraged because we may not be seeing much progress in our lives. We may feel dissatisfied because we may not be growing to our expectations and may end up feeling as though we have stagnated; we may get frustrated because we are not gaining as much height as expected. You probably feel as though you have plateaued. At this point, you need to change your strategy and do various things that will help promote growth. Sometimes a change in attitude or outlook of life may be the change you need, sometimes change of associations towards people who have similar vision to you may be the change you need. It means that it is time to change something in the enviroment.

With persistence, perseverance and constant care given to the plant, we enjoy the fruits that the plant produced. From one seed, we can get many fruits that will not only benefit us but also others. Each of those fruits have seeds which have the potential to grow. This is the multiplier effect. If each of us strive to be the best that we can be and do the best that we can do with our abilities, we can look foward to bigger and better things. Being faithful in the smallest of things can open doors to a better and more productive future.

As always, be awesome, stay awesome.

Regards,

Kiria.

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In inspiring thoughts

THE END FROM THE BEGINNING.

 - September 14, 2016

 

Life at birth is like an empty canvas, with all the potential to become a masterpiece. At that point in our lives, we are all innocent with a lot of love, hope and trust unaware of the trials and tribulations this world has to offer. God has a purpose for each of us. He already knows our destiny. He already has the complete picture in mind and knows what will shape our destiny as life unfolds before our eyes. Nothing is an accident to God. He guides us in every aspect of our lives such that what may seem accidental in your eyes may have been divinely  orchestrated by the Creator in order to push you into your purpose. With each passing day, with each decision made, we are making progress on the canvas of our lives. Depending on the decisions that we make, we can be moving closer towards the desired vision God intended for us or further away from it. God gives us free will to choose. The decisions made in the past determined our present. The present decisions determine our future. Soon what is present becomes past and what we look foward to becomes present. What has passed will be no more than a distant memory. This is the natural progression of life. We only have one chance to make it count. One chance to complete the picture as per the vision of the great artist.

What is interesting is that each person has a unique destiny, therefore the picture God intended is different for every individual. Everyone has value and purpose. Your purpose is unique to you and may be intertwined with another. Another interesting fact is that purpose is time bound. God created you in this generation for a particular reason to impact positively on someone else. We have only an unspecified period of time to complete the vision God intended for our lives. We have only one chance to get it right, to make our lives count. Would you want to let this incredible opportunity slip through your hands by allowing doubt, fear and discouragement take you further away from your God-given destiny? Each day is a gift given to you to make a masterpiece of your life as God intended. He truly is the greatest artist who determined the vision from the beginning and put dreams in us that aid in fulfilling our purpose.

As always,  be awesome, stay awesome.

 

Regards,

Kiria.

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In inspiring thoughts

THE PERIOD OF EXPECTANCY.

 - September 5, 2016

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Picture from depositphotos

We all go through times in our lives when we feel impatient and tired of waiting. We feel as though time is running out (in the area of interest whether it is social, professional, financial) . We get anxious about waiting for the blessing to come; at the end of it frustration builds up and we end up being unhappy because things are not unfolding according to our expectation. God sees everything and knows everything. He sees the whole picture whereas we see a portion of it as life progresses. The period of expectancy is one that is filled with excitement and uncertainty. We all want the blessing and sometimes press for it.  There are times when what we really want may be in our field of view but beyond our reach at that particular time.

The period of expectancy can be compared to pregnancy. A time when mothers and their loved ones are enthusiastic about welcoming another member of their family into the world. They have hopes and dreams for the unborn baby. It is a period of happiness for many who have dreamed about it but anything can happen in this period.It is a period when both mother and baby are at the mercy of nature. God may be putting us in the waiting period because we are not ready for the blessings He has for us. When a baby is born too early, its lungs are not well developed and the baby may not be able to survive outside the mother’s womb or if he or she survives, they may do so with difficulty. The reason being that they were not prepared for life beyond the womb. It is the same concept with us. The waiting period is a time intended for us to grow, mature and prepare ourselves for the much desired blessing. It is during this period when character is built, when our faith is strengthened and when our relationship with God is deepened. The waiting period is when we are to grow and mature so that when we receive the blessings that we desire, they will not be a burden or lead to the death of the blessings. God may be deliberately withholding what we desire to protect us from impending disaster because we may not be prepared for it. During this waiting period, we may be tempted to complain, we may even question ourselves or God , we may get discouraged and even doubt whether we will get the blessings we long for, but instead of complaining, thank God for the opportunity He has given you to grow, become more and get prepared for the blessing. Thank God for His protection, provision and His promises because He wants what is best for us.

 

As always, be awesome, stay awesome.

Regards,

Kiria.

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In life experiences

IN YOUR HANDS.

 - August 30, 2016

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Picture from You Tube   Hope International.

We often fall into the comparison trap. We sometimes  find ourselves looking at what others have and end up feeling deficient. This serves as a distraction by taking away our focus from what God gave us. Everyone is equipped with the gifts and talents that are in line with their purpose. No one lacks gifts. When you compare yourself with others, you end up forgetting what you have and you do not nurture the amazing gifts God gave you.

When you walk in your calling and use your gifts according to your purpose, your abilities shine. What we see in those who have won our admiration is a sum total of years of developing their abilities. It is a painstaking process that requires deliberate effort and consistency to reach the level they are at.

Sometimes we get confused and even wonder whether we have unique abilities. It can be discouraging especially when you have not discovered the purpose God has for you. Our gifts and talents are those God-given abilities that come forth naturally through us. We do not have to struggle. Here are some good examples: some people are naturally exemplary singers; others are naturally intelligent and shine in the world of academia; while others are amazing at athletics. However, we have the responsibility to be good stewards of our gifts and talents. The gifted singer has to practice to be excellent; the intelligent person needs to keep reading in order to improve in knowledge and understanding; the talented athlete has to train hard in order to win a gold medal in major competitions like the recently completed Olympics. One may have gifts, but in order for them to be beneficial not only to themselves but also others, they have to develop them. You could be sitting on treasure but you have to dig deep into the ground to get it. The gifts and talents are buried treasures within each of us that have to be developed to be of benefit.  After all, what good will come out of having treasure if it is not discovered and utilized?  We all have our part to play in this world, but we need to discover what exactly our purpose is. If you are not sure about your purpose or calling over your life, who better to ask than the one who created you? It is all in your hands.

As always, be awesome, stay awesome,

Regards,

Kiria.

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In life experiences

IN THE GREY………

 - August 23, 2016

 

The grey zone is often looked upon as an area of solace. An area of common ground whose abstract boundaries are defined by political correctness (being neutral or not being offensive to others). There is no absoluteness in the grey zone. Therefore, anything goes in this zone as long as you can make reasonable comprehensive arguments. But, the grey zone is tainted. It is not pure. Therefore, as one treads in this zone beware of the potential dangers that lurk.

The grey area is like walking on thin ice. On the surface it may seem solid, but the further you go in this zone the more danger you are exposed to. All one needs to do is walk on an area where the ice is too thin and they plunge into destruction. The reason why the grey area is very dangerous is because of its potential to cause confusion which eventually leads to destruction. The grey area lacks definition and one may justify their actions. However, the consequences that are associated with the grey area are absolute. The grey area should thus be looked at as an area to avoid, rather than to run towards.

What is your grey area?

 

Be awesome, stay awesome.

Regards,

Kiria.

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In inspiring thoughts

PERFECT LOVE.

 - August 16, 2016

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Picture from Pinterest. the world’s catalog of ideas.

Have you ever wondered why love is considered the greatest virtue? Why Jesus said that the greatest commandment is love for God followed by love for others? Why is it that love or lack of love is one of the most talked about topics as seen in the media? Why is there a day dedicated to love? Why is it that human beings have this desire to be loved and accepted? What is the true definition of love? Why does love hold so much significance in this world? What is it with this four letter word that captures the attention of many?

Love is an expression of affection for self or others in words or deeds. It is a word that expresses our deepest thoughts and feelings for another. Human beings usually have this innate need to be loved, recognized and accepted. When we say or claim we love someone what does it really mean? What does it mean when someone does something out of love? Well, it means a whole lot. Even doing small things that would otherwise seem insignificant to another out of love would bear more significance simply because the action was motivated by love. Knowing that you are loved makes life easier. Knowing that you are appreciated gives one comfort especially through the tests and trials, the ups and downs usually encountered in life.

When we look at this four letter word that bears significance in the hearts of many, we can contemplate on some of the attributes that comprise love.

Love is the willingness to give up your own desires or comfort for another. It is the ability to sacrifice your own desires for the benefit of another. Going the extra mile to do the best for another for their benefit.

Love is forgiveness. We can appreciate that we are imperfect beings in an imperfect world who  have the tendency of seeking perfection. No one is perfect. When we expect perfection we get frustrated when slip ups occur. The ability to recognize imperfection gives us the strength to forgive those we hold dear.

God is perfect and His love is perfect. He loves us unconditionally in spite of our faults and imperfections. Sin separates us from God. In order to bridge the gap He sent His only son to die for us. Through acceptance of this free gift of salvation we can live in His presence. God readily extends grace to us in spite of the countless times we make mistakes. He is ready to forgive us if we truly repent. He wraps us with His kindness, goodness and favor even when we do not recognize it. He is patient with us and is willing to work in us in order to be the best that we can be. He will extend His love to us but He will never force anyone to accept His love. He gives us free will to choose.  He will never leave us or forsake us. He is always there for us. He is love in its purest form.

When you know you are loved by someone, whether it is a parent, a sibling, a friend or a spouse, you are not afraid to be open. You can afford to be vulnerable and open up about issues disturbing you without fear of judgement or rejection. This is because where true love is, fear cannot exist. Because God is love, and His love is unconditional, we should not fear going to Him with our requests.

 

Be awesome, stay awesome,

Regards,

Kiria.

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In inspiring thoughts

CATAPULTED INTO YOUR DESTINY.

 - August 9, 2016

bow and arrow 1Picture from pixabay.com

We all go through discouraging times at one  point in our lives. Sometimes it may feel as though the situation has set you back several steps. You feel as though you were literally being pulled back and you are currently lagging behind while those around you seem to be going ahead in life. You may have lost your job and yet you thought that by this point in your life you would have moved ahead in your career. You may have a failed relationship and when you look around your friends or the people you know are either in a stable relationship or are getting married. You probably get discouraged wondering, ‘Why me?’ ; ‘Will I ever get my breakthrough?’; ‘I have to start from square one!’ It can be very frustrating especially when you did not see these things coming. But I have good news for you….. God sees the whole picture…… What may seem as a set back now could be a blessing in disguise. Losing your job could be the opportunity you need to start your own business and be more successful than you would have been if you had stayed in that job. You probably would have been restricted. It is during this period of discouragement; when you feel stretched to your limit, when your buried potential is unleashed. It is during hard times when we discover our strengths and potential we did not know ever existed  within us. God could also be intentionally shutting doors that may mislead us thereby diverting potential disasters that may have set us back further.

I was just thinking about archery. The principle of how the bow and arrow work. The archer positions the bow and arrow towards the target. He or she pulls back on the string on the bow and the arrow until sufficient tension is developed in the string. This tension (the potential energy) is what is converted to kinetic energy and is what propels the arrow to the desired target. God sometimes allows us to go through discouraging times. But He may be positioning us to hit the desired target, which is His will for our lives. It may be painful, it may be discouraging but once you have discovered the potential that lies deep within you, God will open doors for you and will accelerate your progress to achieve His goal for our lives.

 

Be awesome, stay awesome.

 

Regards,

Kiria.

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