Who said It?

‘Who Said It’

As you go through life, as you go about on your daily business you are bound to come across various pieces of information from all walks of life. It could be directions, news passed on to you or it might just be random stuff you pick up along the day.
As human beings, we absorb a lot of information but the question is this - Can we trust the source?

If you’re like me, you might have several social media accounts i.e. twitter, facebook, instagram and a lot of information is put out there. At a time, you could take this for face value but it is always best to get the truth from the person who said it or shared that piece of information.

                                              

Many relationships and friendships are often destroyed because we often choose to believe 3rd party gossip rather than listening to the person that made that statement. At times, someone may tell you something about a particular individual and just like that, a rumour or a lie has been created and if you don’t verify what the person has said then that is how trust is broken. I have seen many instances where people have believed a lie rather than seek the truth of the situation, its rather unfortunate to see but that i reality. 

Let’s address a passage which encompasses this... John 21:22 is a perfect example of this. When Jesus and Peter are having a heart to heart, Peter sees John and enquires about him so Jesus tells him that it’s not any of his business and that he should concentrate on following him. The disciples heard this and the rumour started all because they thought they heard Jesus say something where he didn’t. It can be so hard but it is wise to get the truth from the real source, the person who said it. 

Let’s endeavour to find the truth. Let’s endeavour not to listen to gossip or third party information. At all times, seek the truth and speak the truth. 

Be blessed

Who cares for you?

Around 3 years ago, I went for a routine visit to my GP so I can have my annual check up. My GP asked me how I was feeling so we had a discussion and then he said this - “You care for so many people but who cares for you”

At first, I didn’t really want to answer the question but after I left, I had time ponder on it and I really struggled at answering the question until I came to this conclusion which was If I don’t care for and look after myself, no one else will. It sounds selfish but in reality, it is the truth.
When I was studying and also teaching at the same time, I only had like one day to myself and even then I was always on call, I rarely had time for myself. When I did have time for myself, I always found myself looking after other people before myself. When my body broke down in August last year, that was when I learnt the harsh reality that I really need to be caring for myself more.

There will be times where you will need to be there for other people and if caring is your nature then it will be something that you do naturally however you can’t do care for other people if you are not in the best of conditions. Don’t wait until your body breaks down in order to start looking after yourself, Don’t wait until you become ill in order to start looking after yourself.
I have’t been the best in looking after myself because I had wanted to care for everybody else but 3 years later, I’ve taken a huge leap in finally caring for myself.

Recently, I saw a post via social media and there was a carer who devoted himself to care for other people but eventually it got too much and he took his own life. He cared for so many people but who was caring for him?

Below are a few tips at which you can care for and look after yourself
- Have regular check ups
- Eat healthily / have a healthy diet
- Have time for yourself
- Regular exercise (this could be going for walks or even going to the gym)
- Have a regular sleep pattern
- Set Boundaries

There are more tips I could provide but maybe you could write yourself a list and put them into practice......

Now i’m On the road to recovery, i’ll Be sharing a lot more of story with you all. Be intentional about yourself, be intentional about how you care and look after yourself.

See you all soon.

Your environment #growth

Growth takes place in stages. You can't go from being a small boy into being a man overnight, it doesn't work like that. If something is to grow, it has to be given time and also the right environment to grow in. 

On the church bus home, I was in conversation with a fellow brother about potential and why certain footballers don't progress from being just a 'potential talent'. If we are to look at the state of the footballing world, there are many footballers who no doubt have a lot of quality and the potential to become great. The only problem is that they will never go past potential if they don't manifest themselves and grow into who they can become. 

It is considered to be one of the greatest moments of someone's life when they are given a great opportunity but in front of you, there is a lot of people in the way who are pretty much more advanced that you and henceforth you can't grow at the expected rate. 

Now, I believe that as much into lies with the person alone to want to grow, to want to move past potential, it also lies with their environment. The reason why I say this is because there are some environments that will be not conducive to their growth, in fact it will stagnate their growth. It will grow but just not as it's expected rate. 

Having potential is not enough to live on, you need to be who you were created to be. There's no doubt that we all have a lot of potential but we must go from potential to manifesting who we really are. 

Be strong, go from 'You could be great' to 'I am great'

The testing phase

For a while, I hated doing tests in school. If anything I was scared of them.
The first time I took a test, I got the results back and  it showed me what I was good at and what I needed to work on. It was a blessing to me, I saw what I needed to work on and gave me targets.
Moving forward, I'm longer of tests or exams because I know it will highlight what I'm good at and what I need to work on. 'Everybody is strong until they get tested'
Consider a joy when you go through tests. Tests are there to make you stronger............. This morning, test yourself and check the results.
#tests #examseason #testyourself #strength #weakness #checkup #education #life

Tests also reveal what you need to work on and what you need to improve on. It may also detect how strong something is. Being tested is often seen as a bad thing and can sometimes feel like you are not liked but that really isn't true. It's so they can assess where you are and what you need to do going forward.

Because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
James 1:3‭-‬4 NIV
http://bible.com/111/jas.1.3-4.NIV

A new Level #openthoughts

Lately, I've hated the idea of getting older and older *sighs* however that idea has now subsided and I am very much looking forward to what is going to happen next.
If you are like me, I always want to know what is happening next or what will take place so I can plan for it properly or put some contingency plan in place but lately I have just been resting in God and allowing him to take control.

I turned 29 on 1st April and I was quite excited because I had entered a new age and with that comes new opportunities but also it pushes me closer to the big age of 30.................and by this time you would expect that one would be married, have a nice house or at least be financially stable but sadly that's not the case. Pondering on that, I had a chat with God and he said that I need to trust him more and that I shouldn't worry about it too tough. With that, I am moving onto a new level and I am very excited at what God has in store.

The past year had been a year of trials, tribulations and a lot of challenges. It had it's up and downs, it had it's high and lows and there was a time I thought I wouldn't even make it to the end of 2016 but God turned it around. Those times where I couldn't see a way out, God would always make a way.

As I spent time thanking God for seeing me through another year this is the word he delivered to me

Get ready to move because I am getting ready to move to you a new level. I am getting ready to elevate you, to enlarge you, to stretch you, to challenge you and to give you new visions, ideas and dreams.

I am still celebrating my birthday however so If you would like to bless me lol God will bless you also.

Thank you for tuning in and I am looking forward to the opportunities that are going to come my way. Sooo, let's network and let's build together

#openthoughts - There's work to be done

On this very date last year, Brussels was the subject of a terrorist attack. It shook to the world to it's very core. In the follow up to that, I released a blog piece on fear and faith and how we need to have unshakable faith.

Today, about a year on, London was the subject of a terror attack as a police offer was stabbed at the entrance to the Houses of Parliament whilst on Westminster Bridge, around 26 people were mowed down by the car. I received a messsage on my phone via one of the disciple groups i'm part of. Looking at that, it took me back to something I pondered on. There is work to be done.................

I understand that the world can be a fast moving world and it's not always possible to keep up however the places you are in and the areas you live need work. For a long time, we as a nation have been sleeping, oblivious to what is going around us. There are things happening around us every single day but because we choose to be ignorant, we don't know what is happeneing.
It's time that we opened our eyes and unblocked our ears so we know what is exactly going on.

You may be thinking 'Well, what needs to be done' or 'would anyone listen to me'. Look outside your window, look on the TV, look on social media, look in the newspaper and you will see that there is work to be done.

9 times out of 10, people are waiting for someone to do something but what would happen if you got up and did something about it. The things you complain about is what you are called to fix.

Leaving college today, I went to starbucks with my friend so we can sit down and take in today's news. Whilst we were talking about it, there was a lady who was interested because she wasn't aware of it. It really showed me how we know so much but if we don't reveal it to the world, no one will be none the wiser.

You might be reading and be thinking that you don't have a role to play, but you really do. Wherever you go today, wherever you live. It doesn't matter abaout your faith, race, gender, background. This message is generic and is for anyone - There is serious work to be done

Folks, there is serious work to be done.

I pray that you are blessed by this. Message me if you feel provoked to undertake this work..........

#openthoughts -- Identity: Don't get Lost in the Crowd

I work in the security industry and all throughout my time as a steward, I have been taught how to manage crowd behaviour. Within crowd behaviour, there are the three d's - Dynamic, Density and Distress. Within that, we were told to watch out for people who seem to be lost within the crowd or conforming to their surroundings and also those who seem to be in distress.

If you have attended a football match before, you will be aware of the masses of people that attend on any given day. If you are not careful, you could end up getting lost in the crowd. The question we should ask ourselves is why?

It's a question that I have often asked myself and pondered for a while now. One of the things is that we can sometimes conform to our surroundings and try our utmost fit in because it's the easiest way or if we see most people acting in a certain manner, we think it's perfect to act in that way.
We can also get lost in the crowd when there are emergencies or problems, within that you're not thinking rationally and your fight or flight mode kicks in. At that moment, nobody in the crowd is thinking, they just want to get out of the exit so they can be safe.

9 times out of 10, we are like that. Whenever we face problems, we too tend to take the easy way out. We follow everybody and when we see someone heading in a direction, we will head that way also not knowing where it will lead us.
When we do this, will eventually get lost to the point of no return.

When I read the bible, I am reminded that when King David came to Ziklag, he found that all his family had been taken. At that moment you would expect him to forget everything and go after them but that is not what he did. He sat down and inquired after God. He soon got his answer and he was able to recover all that he had lost.
If King David had followed the crowd and went after them without listening to God, it could have been costly.

So, we know why we can sometimes get lost in a crowd. The next question - how can we ensure that we don't get lost?

One major key is to listen. I have found that if I ask a policeman or someone official like a steward of a response team steward, I am assured that they will tell me the best route to exit the place. Because they know the layout, I am able to find my way out if I listen and obey instructions.

The next key is to be calm. Whenever there is a crowd problem at games, there is never anything calm about the whole situation but whenever one person in the crowd is calm, it will rub off on everybody else. When you know and listen to the people in charge, you will definitely be calm about the situation. It's not going to be easy when you are in fight or flight mode but take some time out and listen to what is being said.

Another major key is to read the signs. When all else fails, follow the signs. Exit This way, Fire Exit, Emergency Exit, all of these exits will eventually help you get back to your starting place and will help you keep moving but when you don't read signs, confusion kicks in. Signs are there to guide you, signs are there to help you. Don't dismiss the signs.

It is very possible to stand out from the crowd when you know who you are and where you are. Stand out from the crowd, don't get lost. God needs you to stand out

Be blessed

#Openthoughts - There is room for everyone

Each and every day, people will rush about trying to fit in or even push people out the way so they can have space. It's a sorry sight, it's also very dangerous as people can get hurt in the process.
Trying to rush about will only delay your journey. Relax, be still, be at peace because there is room for everyone.

If you picture a typical train journey in the morning, you will see a mass of people either walking to work, getting the bus or train, taking children to school or just going from A-B. 9 times out of 10, they will all be worried about how they will get there henceforth why many people try to push past people but will find that they will end up being late and missing out.

Life will bring many demands which we will have to meet but we can negotiate those demands by being calm. Not everyone will have that same mindset but you can dictate how you react by realizing that your time will come. There will be a time when the train will be empty, when you will get a seat on the bus and when the roads are less busier than usual.

Having the 'there is room for me' mindset will ensure that you don't conform to society and the ways of the world. Failure to have this mindset will only result in frustration and then lead to the point where you copy how others react and what others do.

The key to breaking this habit is to know your identity and be confident in yourself. Be confident in what you have to offer and the impact that it will bring. You also need to know that you are unique and that you have something different. Only then will others realize that there will room for everyone to operate.

It's very possible for two strikers to play together, it's very possible for two left footers to play in one team and it is very possible for two captains to be on the pitch at the same time. Be yourself, be good to others, don't rush around and you will be able to breathe properly.

When I was young, I always thought that to be accepted by society I had to be like certain people so I can reach the top. So, that meant me trying to become a footballer or wanting to make music. Oh, how wrong was I............ I failed spectacularly but when I walked down the path of being a writer and also security I soon found out that I could walk a different path and still get to the top. This was an important lesson and one that I will never forget.

There's something a wise man used to say to me and my friends when growing up which was "You will eat, there is enough food for everyone to eat, be patient"

You will get your food and you will have enough to share with people around you. Be calm, wait your turn. There is room for me and you, There is room for everyone.

#Openthoughts - The right time

Everybody loves to talk, in fact, they say that talking is good for the soul but what happens when you start talking too much? What happens if you say things at the wrong time?

It's a well-known fact that when people need to talk, at times it is done just so that they can respond. Are you the type of person to listen just so you can talk back?
Are you the type of person who waits for their turn and talks when they need to talk?

In life, we are required to respond to every situation but how you respond is crucial. Being silent is not an option, it may work for a while but at some stage, you will have to say something but when you say it has a significant cause to it. What you say can make or break you.

When someone declares something good about themselves, 9 times out of 10 it will come to pass but when someone says something bad or makes a decree, it will take place. No matter what stage of life you are at, you have to be careful with your words.
Your words can either kill someone or give someone life. People who work in key areas such as education, social care etc have a responsibility to be careful with their words. What they say to their students, service users can have a huge bearing on what happens to them.

Your words contain so much power, your words contain so much life, your words have meaning. People may not remember what you did but they will remember what you said. Many people will not admit that what you said either blessed or hurt them, but be assured but it did. Whenever a word has an impact on someone's life, they will always remember it.

I want to tell you that whilst you may think that what you say is not important, you have to release what you want to say. Not saying anything can cause you problems but also saying things at the wrong time can cause you problems.

 Words do more than convey information. The power of our words can actually destroy one’s spirit, even stir up hatred and violence. They not only exacerbate wounds but inflict them directly. Of all the creatures on this planet, only man has the ability to communicate through the spoken word.

There will be a right time to talk. Wait for your turn................

#openthoughts - Stay at the top

If you are like us, you would have noticed that the Olympics were on. During the Olympics, we saw many athletes win either Gold, Silver or Bronze.

There were two images that blew our minds. The race between De Grasse and Bolt. In that race, Bolt coasted down the field but De Grasse was focusing on Bolt as if to say, 'I want to be like you'. In this first image, i'd imagine that Bolt was saying 'I'm still number one, if you want to be the best, you have to beat the best'
Right now, Bolt is at the top of the world in the 100 metres and 200 metres, if people want to take that crown, they have to beat Bolt. It's as simple as that but as long as Bolt is at the top of his game, no one is reaching the top.

Now, let's look at it for ourselves. Some of us are fighting to get the top and there will come a time where you will reach the top. Question is - Are you able to stay at the top?
Once you're at the top, you will find that there will be people who will want to challenge you each and every day, people will be looking at everything that you do. In order for you to stay at the top, you are going to have to improve yourself. I remember Usain Bolt said that he was disappointed with his time in the 200 metres final because he could have gone faster.

If you are not improving yourself and updating yourself, you risk losing everything you worked so hard for. Those that watch football will know the kind of season Chelsea had last season, it was a case that they didn't update themselves, they didn't fight to stay at the top. As a result there is a new name at the top - Leicester City.

Stay Focused, keep improving yourself, fight to stay at the top. At all costs, Stay at the top

#openthoughts - Ready, Steady, Go

Earlier today, I was walking home when I saw a lady run across the middle of the road, no concern for the safety of herself and others. So as I approached the traffic lights, this thought came to mind, there are some things we have done without waiting and as a result of that, we enter problems. What if we could of just waited that little longer, listened to God more and were more patient?

There's no doubting that everyone needs to get somewhere but there are times we it is wise that we stop and wait for the signal to keep going. 

So, let's take this from two different perspectives. You're in a car travelling at a decent speed, everything is well but then you see a red light in the distance so you start to brake and stop until you are told to go. Now, there are some instances where your journey is delayed or you are told to divert to another path. Do you obey or do you go the way you always know? Not obeying could have some serious consequences, it might even prolong your journey. 

It may benefit you in the long run to go a different path. Remember, there are many routes to reach a destination, not everyone will go the way you are going.

 Let's take a train. Just like a car, it travels at some fast speeds. On occasions it is required to stop. Failure to stop could cause it to crash into another train which can have deadly consequences. It's better to stop than to pass and cause an accident which could have been avoided. 

Now, let's look at the person waiting at the traffic lights. We know that the 'red man' sign signals we should stop, and the 'green man' sign signals we can cross. Many of us might be at a red light where have to wait and many of us have the green light to go ahead and go on our journey. However, there are some people who don't like to wait, they will cross at any moment. Doing that could cost them their life as they risk getting hurt by the onrushing traffic. Think of that as the different problems in your life or the things that have not been designed for you, you are at a red light so you can let them pass without you becoming engulfed in a harmful situation. 

Where are you in your life right now? Do you feel some parts of your life is on hold right now? There probably is a reason for it, wait patiently. The time to go is on it's way. 

The next dimension to this is the following - When you have the green light, are you actually ready to go? Are you ready to move onto the next part of your journey? 

Think about it..........................................

Ready, Steady, Go........................................

#openthoughts - Change

Change is necessary, change is needed but what do you do when you lack the ability to change?

Let's look at what the word change means -

To give a completely different form or appearance to; transform
To undergo transformation or transition:

There are plenty more versions but we like these two specifically. Reason being is that when there is a change, you will notice it. It will be visible for all to see.
When we say that we are going to change, there should normally be a visible transformation but let's address why sometimes it may not happen.

One of the reasons is down to your mindset. Yes, everyone thinks you can just embark on a journey and expect your mind and body to adjust to it straight away. Unfortunately it doesn't work like that, you must first train your mind and let it adjust to the changes but sometimes you won't get a chance, you will have to adjust. How do you train your mind? You can speak to your mind, tell it good thoughts, repeat the changes that are set to come into effect and most importantly give yourself time.

There are instances where change takes place such as - Changing schools, moving houses, starting a new job, deciding to become more healthier.
In these instances it will be common that you won't like the change but once you become consistent and you become comfortable with it, the change won't actually affect you.
When you was at school and you moved into a new year, you were forced to change and adjust to the new year. Change is never meant to be easy but the process can be calm if we allow it to be.

Change doesn't change overnight, it takes place over a period of time. Don't get upset if you don't see a change straight away, keep doing what you are doing and you will soon start to see changes.
Once you have planted the seed or the idea, it takes a process or you can call it the watering stage or even the hibernation period. During that time, is when the change starts to take place and only when it's finished is when you will see a visible change.

Some destinies are short, some dreams are dismissed because of the inability to wait for change. To see change, you need patience, you need to give it time. Because you can't see a visible change, this doesn't mean that change is taking place.
Change will always start from within before it effects the outer appearance.

Do you have the ability to change? Are you prepared to allow the change to take place?

I pray you are blessed by this and may you see the change that you desire in your life

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made

Over the past few weeks, I have begun to love myself again. It's not easy when you have people constantly telling you how short/tall you are, how big/tall you are, what you wear isn't acceptable. During that time, it can be possible to fall out of love with yourself.

In that time, I have decided to bring myself back to the place where I can love myself again, I have been meditating on these particular scriptures - Psalm 139:13-14 ' For you did form my inward parts; you did knit me together in my mother's womb. I will confess and praise you for you are fearful and wonderful and for the awful wonder of my birth! Wonderful are your works, and that my inner self knows right well'

Looking at this scripture gives me so much life, I am reminded that even before I was born God had knitted me together, he was the one who formed me in mother's womb.
It's almost been a year since I decided to change my life, not because of what people was telling me about my weight but because I wanted to make a change, I started the journey of self love because to be honest, I couldn't see how beautiful I was but now I know that God loves me and that I should learn how to love myself. I won't pretend and tell you that this journey has been easy because it hasn't, there are still days that I question whether all this is really worth it and there are days I feel on top of the world.

When you compare yourself to others, it's known that you will be depressed with the way you look and will do anything to look like them. I have been in that place thinking to myself why don't I look like someone else. It was then that I realised that I am not like them, I can never be like them. It was at that point I gave up trying to look like other people and decided to focus on myself for a change. I started to buy myself clothes, treat myself to fresh haircuts and everything else that comes with it. I even booked nights away where I could reconnect with myself.

If you are struggling with confidence, with issues relating to image, just know that you are not alone. There are many people out there who go through the same issues and there are many people who have overcome that fear.
Love yourself well. Love your perfections and imperfections, love everything about you.

You are fearfully and wonderfully made, You are beautiful, You are unique, You are original.
There can only ever be one of you.

Stop Worrying, Rest your mind

What will I eat, what will I drink, what will I wear. When will this happen, when will it arrive………. 
When will I get married, when will I get a house, a car…………….. Your mind will be racing with thoughts and worry when really these are questions that can not be answered. 

These are questions that we all ask and generally we get upset when we don’t know. I’ve often caught myself asking these questions and when people can’t answer me, I get upset and feel lumbered with the decision of making it myself. 

Let’s look a few scriptures which tell us about worry 

““Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6:34‬ ‭MSG‬‬

“Therefore I tell you, stop being perpetually uneasy (anxious and worried) about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink; or about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life greater [in quality] than food, and the body [far above and more excellent] than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father keeps feeding them. Are you not worth much more than they? And who of you by worrying and being anxious can add one unit of measure (cubit) to his stature or to the span of his life? [Ps. 39:5-7.] And why should you be anxious about clothes? Consider the lilies of the field and learn thoroughly how they grow; they neither toil nor spin. Yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his magnificence (excellence, dignity, and grace) was not arrayed like one of these. [I Kings 10:4-7.] But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and green and tomorrow is tossed into the furnace, will He not much more surely clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not worry and be anxious, saying, What are we going to have to eat? or, What are we going to have to drink? or, What are we going to have to wear? For the Gentiles (heathen) wish for and crave and diligently seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows well that you need them all.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6:25-32‬ ‭AMP‬‬

In both passages, we are seeing that Jesus is telling us to stop worrying about the finer things in life. Lets provide ourselves with a eye opener – Babies are the most relaxed people I know, they don’t have a care in the world because they know that their mother and father will always provide for them. If babies can be peaceful, why can’t we be peaceful? 

God knows what you need, worrying about it won’t help you get it any quicker. Be calm, be relaxed, just focus on God and the rest will follow. 

“But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6:33‬ ‭AMP‬‬

All things will be given to you when you seek Gods face. Don’t worry about it, God has it under control. When you pile up your mind up with worry, you will never be able to enjoy rest and peace, instead you will be anxious, fearful and always cautious. 

Don’t allow worry to take over your life, instead be safe in the knowledge that God has everything under control.