Friday 29 November 2013

MY THANKSGIVING CALENDAR FOR 2013



“Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits” Psalm 103:1-2
            My God and my Father, I will never cease to celebrate your faithfulness in the way you father me. When I look around my life in retrospect since 2013, all I see is how your love has decorated my destiny. My biggest blessings have always come not by my labour but as a gift from you. I write to say a big thank you Lord.
            In January, you kicked off the year for me with a New Year Service at Faith Tabernacle in Canaanland. It indeed marked the beginning of a ‘Double Portion’ year for me. I was so excited because a lot of interesting things were happening. You took me on the ‘Double Portion’ flight with 21days fasting and prayer in which I kept asking for divine guidance. Thank you for the strength to participate fully from day one to day last and for the spiritual fortifications that came along. With my National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) programme nearing its end, you helped me as the State President of my fellowship, the Winners Corpers Fellowship (WCF), Kogi State, with the wonderful support of my co-leaders to organize our 4th State Conference which was tagged, “BORN TO WIN”. I will forever remain grateful to you for the success and impact recorded. Dear God thank you for the privilege to serve as a leader both in the fellowship and in my Community Development Service (CDS) group, it gave me wonderful exposures and connections.
            In February, my Passing out Parade (POP) was fast approaching. You set everything in motion to work in my favour as the leader of my fellowship and the secretary of my CDS group. Successful passing out activities held in my CDS group and especially in my fellowship, WCF, we were able to organize a very successful Banquet in honour of the outgoing corpers. It gladdens my heart because I saw grand style supernatural providence at work.     
            On 14th February precisely, you handed me my NYSC certificate stress free. And when I went back to my place of primary assignment for my send forth occasion, you blessed me with material and financial gifts and a job offer. Indeed, it was a service year full of exposures, connections impact and ‘next levels’ blessings. I give you all the glory.
            When the month of March came, it was my month of ‘I am destined for exploits’. You kept advancing my life, giving me opportunities to impart lives while blessing me financially. You took me on a trip to Abuja for the Easter holidays where I met my friends and had opportunity to visit Goshen City on Easter Sunday for an exceptional encounter in your presence.
            Then came April, the month of ‘Godliness Engenders Greatness’. I was still at Abuja on tour, visiting interesting places just like I enjoy doing. Once again you took me in the company of a friend to Ladi Kwali Hall of Sheraton Hotels Abuja for a praise program. It was a powerful moment for me and Father I am thankful for the wow! experience. Though the devil kept throwing pellets at me, your grace kept me going and I am alive and strong to say thank you.
            In May, my month of ‘Divine Guidance Guarantees Breakthroughs’, you kept blessing me with opportunities to impart lives while meeting my needs. In quest for higher studies, you gave me a non-conditional admission into the University of Sheffield and you have been preparing me for that ‘next levels’ experience.
            Then came June, my month of ‘I shall see the Glory of God’. You kept improving my living standards. I saw your hand at work in providing my every need. You offered me a more comfortable accommodation in an enviable part of the city of Lokoja. I write to say thank you very much for how you have treated me.
            Father, I also want to give you high praise for rescuing my friend Chibuzor Innocent from a ghastly accident which took the life of the bike man carrying him. May the soul of that man rest in peace.
            When July came along, it was indeed my month. I had opportunity to write a scholarship test at Abuja. Thank you for my being able to make it to the test that morning even though I got the invitation late. After my test I had another opportunity to visit City Chapel Abuja, after which I worshipped at All Saints Chapel, Wuse Zone 5 on the Sunday. I am glad about it all because you keep taking me on these tours which I enjoy so much. Thank you Father.
            When July 29 came, it was my birthday and you brought my friends around to celebrate me like never before. I give you all the glory for it was indeed a ‘next level’ experience for me
            While I was still in the euphoria of all you have been doing for me since the year began, I had to cease the ending tern to resign from my job in Lokoja so as to obey a leading you gave me to move from Lokoja to Lagos.
            It happened in August, after the ‘Altar of Sacrifice’ service at Canaanland, you supernaturally delivered to me my ‘Double Portion’ apartment in Lagos. It was indeed my month of ‘Sudden Visitation’. I give you all the glory.
            When September came, my month of ‘I will bring you health and cure’, I was believing you for a miracle job in Lagos and had to reject some offers because I expected greater ones. Meanwhile you have continued to prove your faithfulness to me by the way you kept me supplied. I give you all the glory Jehovah over-do.
            In October, ‘My season of Encounter with Power’, I started a job which I had to resign after two weeks because the working conditions were not favourable. I thought to myself and declared, ‘I can never have a better yesterday!’ Meanwhile, I thank you Father for that experience. Your faithfulness to me is ever flowing and I am glad to have you as my Father. In the course of the month, I learnt about my cousin’s wedding which I attended. It was quite a gorgeous one and I am so glad because it availed me the opportunity to connect with lots of my relatives and town’s people. Father receive my praise.
            Then came November, my month of ‘Praise works Wonders’. You have brought me to understand that ‘Praise warriors’ win greater battles than ‘Prayer warriors’. It is quite an exciting new experience for me because my fellowship with you is taking a new dimension. This month happens to be the month I am writing this my thanksgiving calendar. And I think it is a most appropriate time to send you my thanks and praise. Accept my gratitude everlasting King of Glory.
            As December fast approaches, and while am still basking in the euphoria of all you have done for me since the year began, you are already packaging another set of wonders for me as SHILOH 2013 event comes nearer. This time you have tagged the package ‘EXCEEDING GRACE’ and I can see clearly that even greater things are still ahead. Bring it on LORD, I can’t wait to experience what you have for me; accept my thanks and praise Jehovah God.

From your beloved Son,
Lotachukwu Azubuike

Wednesday 28 August 2013

LET'S HEAR WHAT FARRAH GRAY HAS TO SAY



5 Success Tips from a Young Millionaire
--Millennial entrepreneur Farrah Gray shares how to overcome fear
Many students and young professionals fail to fully realize their dreams because of fear. Some of the top fears are:
  • Fear of the unknown
  • Fear of rejection
  • Fear of embarrassment
  • Fear of success and the expectations that come with it
  • … and the No. 1 fear is “the fear of failure”
An interview with a young professional who has attained the type of success that a lot of young people dream about pursuing in 2013 reveals a lot of things about overcoming this “fear of failure”. Twenty-eight-year-old Farrah Gray was raised on Chicago’s impoverished South Side, and by age 14, was one of the youngest teens to become a self-made millionaire in the United States.
As a result of his amazing business and philanthropic successes, he’s been featured by Oprah Winfrey, BET, CNN, Good Morning America, USA Today, as well as the Tom Joyner Morning Show and Michael Baisden Show—to name a few.
Here are tips that he wanted to share with readers on how to overcome the fear of failure:
  • Depersonalize failure and rejection: Don’t view yourself as a failure. Failure and rejection are just somebody else’s opinions of you. Embrace the concept of failure and use it as a learning experience because it’s not over until you win.
  • Become self-made and never give up: When you feel like giving up think about the reasons why you’ve held on so long. Remember that when you face your breaking point your breakthrough is right around the corner because persistence is the best way to overcome resistance. Be mindful that you have to walk and knock on 1,000 doors before one will open.
  • Operate to the beat of your own drum and don’t take no for an answer: As young people and professionals, we’ve been told “no” all of our lives—’No, it’s not your turn,’ ‘No, you’re not old enough,” ‘No, you don’t have enough experience,’ or ‘No, you can’t get a loan.’ But now it’s time to for you to say, ‘Nobody will stop me!’
  • Be your own Chief Executive Officer (CEO) or Only Operating Officer (OOO): You have to make things happen for yourself. You are your own product and service. You must continue to develop and refine yourself so you will be nimble, therefore you’ll be able to adapt to the ever-changing business and job markets.
  • Don’t wait. Hustle: Abraham Lincoln once said, ‘Things come to those who wait, but only the things left by those who hustle.’ We are a generation of hustle, and we should never forget that. If one does it for the right reasons, hustling will bring about many positive rewards and benefits. Don’t wait, start hustling now.
Adapted from BlackEnterprise.com a renowned site for those who are enterprise inclined.
Those who know create more opportunities than the number of opportunities that come to them.
See more insights for online money @ www.profitclicking.com/?r=NcKFEZ3pVU&p=ff