EXCELLENCE IS NOT A DESTINATION

EXCELLENCE IS NOT A DESTINATION

Adesina Abegunde

1 Corinthians 15:58 (AMP) 

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be firm (steadfast), immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord [always being superior, excelling, doing more than enough in the service of the Lord], knowing and being continually aware that your labor in the Lord is not futile [it is never wasted or to no purpose].

Beloved, I hope you are becoming a more excellent person in all that you do by now.

Accidental success is not excellence, excellence is not a one-time thing that never happen again. In fact the ability to master and repeat your success over and over again is what makes you excellent. Excellence is achieved daily and not in a day, it is gradual but sustained over a long period of time.

Apostle Paul, having being impressed with the excellence of the people in Corinth, encouraged them to pursue true excellence. True excellence is a continuous consistent commitment to good qualities in anything that you do. It is not a destination but a journey, a journey into discovering the better you and better ways to do things, always having a superior fresh and dynamic approach to doing something.

Just imagine, what was excellent years ago is no longer excellent again. Typewriter was excellent decades ago, a big screen desktop computer was wow several years back, but now they are nowhere near excellence. Excellence is not static, it requires newness, discoveries and exciting adventures that can only leave you astonished. Excellent people are never boring at work, they have fun setting free their creativity and discovering new things.

What new information have you acquired the last one week?

What new skill have you consciously developed the last one week?

Have you thought of solution to what is not working in your life the last one week?

Did you think of improving even what is working fine in order to get things done faster, cheaper and better in the last two months?

You are created to be excellent, you are to become better and brighter as the day go by.

Receive prophetic intelligence for outstanding performance in Jesus name.

Your path will be ever brighter in Jesus name.

Have a lovely week.

Weekend Gist

Good Morning Guys and Happy Weekend to you!

Some days ago, during my Quiet time, I told God to take away everything and anything that distracts me from listening to him. I knew immediately as I prayed that God wanted me to start paying less attention to my phone and more to him. As I stood up from the bed, I felt like God poured upon me the anointing for quietness (which is quite unusual since I’m an extrovert). 

I immediately felt like sewing and listening to music at the same time. So, I started my work, not talking to my roommates, minding my business. Few hours later. after staying away from the phone for some hours, I finished my work and decided to play with the phone only to discover that my phone had wiped of itself. My pictures, contacts, messages, candy crush game that I had advanced well in, cooking fever game, BBM, WhatsApp and my wonderful Instagram had all disappeared leaving just my songs and some applications that I didn’t even know that I had. I was so upset. Infact, my spirit was vexed and in my mind I started to scream and began to say, “God, I asked you to take things from my life that were taking your place, I didn’t ask you to take my pictures, social network accounts and my games. Did you have to do this”. As I turned to face the wall, one of my roommates collected my phone and returned it almost immediately telling me that my phone was ok now. True to her word, my phone was back to normal. My countenance was brightened immediately. Turns out I de-activated something. But I learnt very important things which I’d like to share with you.

     1.     God is interested in our relationship with him and he wants us to fix our gaze on him. He wants to be the center of our lives.

     2.     We all know deep in our hearts those things that take us away from God. Little gods or thin gods as we all call them.

     3.     We also know that God wants us to get rid of them so  that our lives will be all about him and not about our phones, clothes, toys etc.

That day, I made a decision to take completely from my life, everything that has been taking my life from God but since my life is not just about me alone, I want you also to make a decision as regards what you have just read. But I must warn you, if you have truly made a decision about what you have read, God is going to do somethings that you might not like. But be rest assured that it's for your good.

From now on, by the grace of God, whatever has been taking God’s place in your heart is taken away in Jesus name. Lines are falling for you in pleasant places in Jesus name. Doors are opening for you. It is well with you in Jesus name. 

Shalom

Adiji Precious  

DOUBLE “H” WAR: Holiness vs Hormone (Part 12)

DOUBLE “H” WAR: Holiness vs Hormone (Part 12)

Living right, feeling right

 Adesina A. Abegunde

It is a War not a Pleasure(2)

Beloved, I believe that you are enjoying God’s grace to live right for His glory.

Please carefully ruminate over the following eye-opening words from Proverbs;

“23 For these commands are a lamp,

     this teaching is a light,

and the corrections of discipline

     are the way to life,

24 keeping you from the immoral woman,

     from the smooth tongue of the wayward wife.

25 Do not lust in your heart after her beauty

or let her captivate you with her eyes,

26 for the prostitute reduces you to a loaf of bread,

     and the adulteress preys upon your very life.

27 Can a man scoop fire into his lap

     without his clothes being burned?

28 Can a man walk on hot coals

     without his feet being scorched?

29 So is he who sleeps with another man's wife;

     no one who touches her will go unpunished” (Proverbs 6:23-29 niv).

Don’t be naïve to call sex ordinary pleasure, immoral sex has pleasure but it is more than a pleasure, it is a poison of destiny. Sex is a powerful gift for marital fulfillment and a deadly poison outside marriage; a deadly weapon to flee from. Delilah did to Samson what a thousand soldiers could not do to him, and that is exactly what I am talking about.

The book of Numbers chapters 22-25, hold an amazing battle story of how the Israelites could not be defeated physically and spiritually, but got caught up in the self-destroying web of fornication and adultery. Balak was advised by Balaam to use this sexual immorality battle strategy when their entire military and spiritual power failed.

^“21 With her enticing speech she caused him to yield, With her flattering lips she seduced him.
²² Immediately he went after her, as an ox goes to the slaughter, Or as a fool to the correction of the stocks,
²³ Till an arrow struck his liver. As a bird hastens to the snare, He did not know it would cost his life.
²⁴ Now therefore, listen to me, my children; Pay attention to the words of my mouth:
²⁵ Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways, Do not stray into her paths;
²⁶ For she has cast down many wounded, And all who were slain by her were strong men.
²⁷ Her house is the way to hell, Descending to the chambers of death” (Proverbs 7: 21-27 nkjv).

Seeing the true picture of sexual immorality will help you understand the devil’s devices. The devil is behind every immoral behavior, and John 10:10a revealed his aim, “to steal, and to kill, and to destroy”.

In all of these, just remember that a person in Christ is more than a conqueror. God has given us everything necessary to win this war of immorality and winning, we must.

You will win in Jesus name.

Every error of your past hunting you will have no effect over you again in Jesus name.

Live right, feel right.

AMBITIOUS OR OBEDIENT (Part 2)

AMBITIOUS OR OBEDIENT (Part 2)

Are you obedient to God’s leading or ambitious for human applause?
Adesina Abegunde

1 Samuel 15:22 (TLB)
²² Samuel replied, "Has the Lord as much pleasure in your burnt offerings and sacrifices as in your obedience? Obedience is far better than sacrifice. He is much more interested in your listening to him than in your offering the fat of rams to him.

Beloved, I believe you are making some serious checkup on your life already? The LORD will guide you to make critical life adjustment in Jesus name.

In the first part of this series, I gave few scriptures for the readers to think about, I hope you did? Perhaps you didn’t see the last post, you may take time later to read it up.The question for you is “Are you living an ambitious life or an obedient life?”

We certainly have ambitious leaders and obedient leaders, while ambition is not bad, we are called to be obedient or let me say God want us to be obediently ambitious.

To be ambitious means to have an ardent drive for achievement or success, most times by all means. A strong desire to achieve one’s esteemed desire not even minding whether it pleases God or not.The essence of what I am saying here is that the origination of ambition is never God. When we are ambitious, we do what we want the way we want it, or we do what God want the way we want it. Below are the two ambition equations:

Ambition = human will + human way

Ambition = God’s will + human way

Obedience on the other hand, has only one equation:

Obedience = God’s will + God’s way

As Samuel challenged Saul, "Has the Lord as much pleasure in your burnt offerings and sacrifices as in your obedience?” There is no amount of ambition that can replace obedience, however impressive the ambition is. Ambition only move men but not God, and remember that He has the last say on the last day.

To be obedient means to do nothing other than what God want done and in no way other than how God want it done. It is passionately pursuing what you can trace clearly to divine directives. Sometimes we begin in the LORD and wrongly end in flesh, we begin with obedience and wrongly end with ambition.

Ambitious people pursue there will or even God’s will in their own way, they want to get what they want done anyhow, even when it will not glorify God. Can you analyse some things that you did recently and how you did them? Can you check out your plans for the next ten years? Can you check your career goals? Did they portray obedience or ambition?

John 5:19 (NLT)
Jesus replied, "I assure you, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does.

Receive grace this day to see what the Father is doing in Jesus name.

Your life will not end in frustration and failure in Jesus name.

God bless you.

DEALING WITH THE CURRENT ECONOMIC CRISIS 5

DEALING WITH THE CURRENT ECONOMIC CRISIS (Part 5)

Morning Guys.

Hope your week has been wonderful? Last week on this business segment, we all saw how correct leadership and prophetic revelation delivered Egypt and Israel from famine.

Today, we’ll be concluding this series as it relates to Joseph.

As we have always noted that the bail out in all of the famine that we have studied has always been covenant relationship with God. Note that during famine, currency (money) does not matter. You enjoy and feast on God’s covenant and not currencies.

Money will definitely fail as seen in time of Joseph, but God’s covenant to his children last forever.

Hallelujah!

Note also that Joseph rose to power through the workings of God’s Spirit and his efficient use spiritual gift. Never underestimate the gift God has given you, because when your time comes it is what you have that men will be looking for.

Unlike other people that we have studied that exhibited underhanded characters during the famine, Joseph’s character was tested in various ways and he passed (Genesis 42 – 47).

Joseph's life was full of God’s presence and he was found utilizing the gifts God gave him.

May God find you at the place of your gifting and not in a wrong place trying to be someone else in Jesus Name.

Till next week!

The Lord bless you real good and may His presence be with you always.
God’s grace and favor be with you always and your family in Jesus Name.

In this difficult time, receive prophetic intelligence to know what to do to break free in Jesus name.
You are blessed!

Adesina  Abegunde

EXCELLENCE IS NOT COMPARISM

EXCELLENCE IS NOT COMPARISM

Adesina Abegunde

Daniel 6:3 (AMP) 

³ Then this Daniel was distinguished above the presidents and the satraps because an excellent spirit was in him, and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.

Hello, Your Excellency.

I believe you have improved on something remarkable between the last post and now. I will be glad to know what you have done and how you feel about it.

In the last post, I spoke about the fact that excellence is not perfection, and today we are looking at the fact that excellence is not feeling better than someone else in an unwise comparison.Some people think that they are excellent because they compare themselves with other mediocre or those who have no aspiration for excellence. To compare yourself with another person will either end in pride or inferiority complex that will both hinder genuine excellence.

2 Corinthians 10:12 (TLB)
¹² Oh, don't worry, I wouldn't dare say that I am as wonderful as these other men who tell you how good they are! Their trouble is that they are only comparing themselves with each other and measuring themselves against their own little ideas. What stupidity!

Deceptive comparison can never led to excellence, it can lead to unhealthy competition, getting static as a local champion whose failure will get illumined at the light of global standard and practice, and it will also lead to ill-feelings such as bitterness, schism, sadness and weakness. Never compare yourself with another in any way, be yourself but be your best-self. Excellence is not becoming like someone else, excellence is becoming the best of yourself that God has created.

Am I saying that you should not learn from more excellent people? No!

In fact while excellence is not determined in comparison, excellent people are collaborative, they learn from one another, they strengthen others and are also strengthened by others. Daniel was supernaturally excellent and highly collaborative, he never compared himself with other guys, but he was always walking with his other Jewish brothers. While he encouraged them to be excellent, he also drew strength from their togetherness. Daniel’s focus was his duty not the other guys, don’t look for how to outsmart other, look for how to release the best in you and the best in others.

Don’t think you are excellent because you think you are better than the other guy in your school or office, very soon another person will come that will be truly excellent, and if you try compare yourself with that person, you may get the shock of your lifetime. Excellent people are excellent because they are constantly improving, not in competition with their colleague but in competition with their own last record, not to be better than the other guy, but simply to be a better person.

Are you truly excellent?

I destroy every seed of insecurity in you in Jesus name.

Receive grace to live a peaceful, growing and excelling life in Jesus name.

You are the best!!!

Unleashing Unusual Worship

Unleashing Unusual Worship

Tewogbade Abegunde

“Though the fig tree may not blossom,

Nor fruits be on the vines

Though the labor of the Olive may fail

And the fields yield no food

Though the flock may be cut off from the field.

And there be no herd in the stalls

Yet I will rejoice in the LORD

I will joy in the God of my salvation.”

(Habakkuk 3: 17-18)

Brethren, you are welcome to another atmosphere of worship beyond the walls of the sanctuary.I hope you had a great time in corporate worship yesterday, if you were in church? I will be sharing with you today about Unconditional Worship.

God is always looking for unconditional worship most especially in the day-to-day busyness of lives. There may be distractions all around,you may have challenges, unsettled bills, ailment and the likes, be rest assured of this that you will never see shame.

So, are your conditions all pointing to worry, inspiring only murmuring and complaining? Kindly choose to rejoice and make heaven smile as you offer your sacrifice of praise.Just because there is no reason to praise God is the only reason God will settle you. Say like Habakkuk the Prophet;

Though the fig tree may not blossom,I will exalt you.

Though the rivers run dry, I will proclaim your goodness.

Though business may be down, I will celebrate Jesus.

Though the result may not be good, I will thank God for life.

Though salary is not paid, I will exalt God’s faithfulness.

 Don’t forget worship is beyond the low tempo songs you were led by the choir to sing on Sunday. It is everything you do that pleases God, your attitudes, thoughts, words, everything. In every situation make the right choice to worship God.

Give up worry and give God praise, as you do you will see amazing divine intervention in Jesus name.

God bless you.

Enjoy this week of unconditional worship.

THE BANANA

THE BANANA

The Banana is a very wonderful fruit that almost everybody loves to eat. Some take it as a whole meal, some take it as smoothies etc. And by the way, bananas are rich in Vitamins and Minerals which are really good for the body, so you better start eating some bananas. Juice them if you like. A Banana a day keeps……………away. LOL.

I’m sure you’re wondering why there’s all this sudden talk about Bananas and all. Well, I found out something really beautiful about it which some people might have discovered too. So, let’s get straight to the point.

If you go to the market, would you buy an unripe banana? And if you did, would you ever eat an unripe banana? Also, how do you know if a banana is ripe? By the colour of its peel and the softness of its flesh. You would agree with me that whatever happens inside the banana affects the outside of the flesh. So also, our Spirit man affects us in so many positive ways. 

I’ve heard Christians say God looks at the heart using 1 Samuel 16:7 as their reference point. But the truth is, “a correct heart” affects our outward living. Romans 12:2 tells us to be ‘transformed by the renewing of our mind’. Transformation means a thorough or dramatic change in form or appearance.  Renewing of our mind is within and Transformation is without. That is why when a man gives his life to Christ, his Spirit is re-born, and through a consistent walk and work with the Holy Spirit, people around him begin to see physical changes (Transformation). 

A correct Christian journey changes you from inside to outside. And trust me, just like the banana, you and the people around you begin to notice the changes. You find yourself not being able to do the things you were popularly known for because sin becomes difficult for you to commit. So please, don’t be carried away thinking that God cares only about your heart, he cares about every other thing concerning you too. And by the way, Renewal and Transformation are two unending processes. Till Jesus comes, we have to keep renewing our minds while the transformation continues to happen.

The Lord bless and keep you and yours. May Heaven reach down upon you and guide your ways. May the Lord light up your paths in Jesus name. It is easy for you in Jesus name.

God bless you

ADIJI PRECIOUS. 

DEALING WITH THE CURRENT ECONOMIC CRISIS

DEALING WITH THE CURRENT ECONOMIC CRISIS

What a beautiful Thursday it is. Hope you’ve had a beautiful week so far? It is well with your soul in Jesus name.

Today, we will continue with our study on Famine as it relates with this present economic crisis. We shall be examining the lives of Jacob and Joseph from Genesis 41-47. The severity of the famine in the land was so terrible that even Egypt that Abraham and Isaac fled too also experienced it. But, God intervenes through a man called Joseph and a whole nation is preserved. Genesis 41:1-8 shows us a very important point that we must take note of.

·        Leadership is about dreams of the future. Pharaoh saw by God’s grace what other subjects could not see and he took immediate and appropriate steps.

·        vs 25-32 shows us that Pharaoh and Joseph didn’t waste time on asking why or blaming anyone. They were ready for “What next”.

·        vs 33-34 shows a very important famine closure which is Prophetic Intelligence. The Lord inspired Joseph on the strategy for the way out.

·        vs 34 shows us that 20% of the produce was collected in the time of plenty. It is important to note that the 20% that was gathered from people was sufficient to last the people of Egypt and even outsiders throughout the 7 years of famine, they lived comfortably on a 20% percentage and still survived. This means that while they lived on 80% there could have been wastage.

Somebody once said "Live simply so that others can simply live."

Next time on Business Thursday, we will continue this particular study. Until then continue to meditate on what you’ve learnt and do more study.

As you continue to look up to God in this time of economic crisis, your faces will remain radiant. God will intervene divinely in everything that concerns you in Jesus name. You are blessed.

Shalom

ADESINA ABEGUNDE   

EXCELLENCE IS NOT PERFECTION

EXCELLENCE IS NOT PERFECTION

Adesina Abegunde

Daniel 6:3 (AMP) 

³ Then this Daniel was distinguished above the presidents and the satraps because an excellent spirit was in him, and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.

Hi beloved, I believe God that you are making efforts to be the best you can as the day goes by. In two months and two weeks’ time, this year will be gone and whatever you have become in quality is what you will carry over into next year. Your excellence and quality in your work this year will determine your promotion, progress, contract opportunity and so on next year, so be the best that you can be.

Many are discouraged about being excellent because they mistake excellence for perfection. Because there is one flaw or the other in your work does not mean you cannot become excellent. Somebody said “excellence is what we have when we reach out for perfection,” I agree perfectly with that statement. When you become man or woman that loves to give effort to perfectly do a thing you will become excellent, but note that if you are always waiting to do perfect things before you do anything, then you will never get anything done.

Excellence according to the WordWeb dictionary is, “The quality of excelling; possessing good qualities in high degree.” Perfection is defined by the same dictionary as, “The state of being without a flaw or defect.” Excellence is developed overtime, by continuously doing things well, looking for ways to do the same thing better even if people said the last one you did was the best.

Excellent people are those who have consistently improved their weaknesses and failures overtime. Whatever anyone do excellently today, he or she must have done shabbily before. Don’t be fooled by the dexterity that people you admire have now, they never began like that.

A perfectionist mindset can delude you of improving and it can discourage people around you from freely improving over time. All you need to do is to know the good qualities that make whatever you do excellent and gradually master those things. For example, a fashion designer should know the good qualities that will make his or her work wow, such as the neatness in cutting, sowing, design, finishing, packaging and so on. Just find out what is required in whatever you do and then do it with your best effort.Know what is required in your office and do it excellently. Don’t be In a hurry to improve many things at a time, take it one by one or in similar groups.

Daniel knew what was required of him and he gave his best in a way no other person did. It was that excellence he displayed that qualified him for promotion, your today’s excellence is what determines your tomorrow’s promotion, because the Bible says “he who is faithful in little is faithful in much” (Luke 16:10).

Your season of elevation is here in Jesus name.

Your efforts to be excellent will speak for you and above it the grace of God will speak for you.

In this month your labour will be rewarded handsomely in Jesus name.

God bless you.

A SCHOOL FOR GROWTH 2

A SCHOOL FOR GROWTH 2

Adesina Abegunde

Proverbs 19:8 (MSG)
⁸ Grow a wise heart—you'll do yourself a favor; keep a clear head—you'll find a good life.

Beloved, how are you today? I believe God that you are doing fine. Your marriage will succeed in Jesus name.

In the last post, I believe you agreed with me that marriage is a serious training ground for everyone. No one has ever and will ever have a good marriage without a remarkable change in character, whether from bad to goo, or good to better. Personal growth is inevitable for successful marriage, it is directly proportional to one another. The Yoruba tribe of the Southwest Nigeria has a saying that “Ile oko, ile eko ni” meaning that marriage is a school for a lady, but the truth holds for a correct man that desire a good home too. Men have erroneously thought that it is only the women that must change to make the union work.

Remember that if you are not growing at home, you are not growing at all. Only the growth that your spouse and children can confirm is real growth. According to Proverbs 19:8, wiser heart in dealing with your family and clearer head in handling issues are two great signs of growth.

So now, how can we maximize the growth potential of our marriage? Examine the following tips:

      1.      Have a humble and teachable spirit. Learn to say sorry and improve yourself

      2.      Honor your partner as God’s agent for your growth

      3.      Believe that your marital realities is the manifestation of your current growth level

      4.      Believe also that you can improve your marriage by growing. It is applied knowledge that gives good marriage

      5.      Be  lifelong learner, study your Bible, read good books, attends seminars and rob minds with mentors and growing colleagues

      6.      Humbly accept the sincere constructive comments of your partner, no one else know you better. Avoid unnecessary arguments

      7.      Be excited about your personal growth and development into Christ-likeness

      8.      Always identify your pains or groaning and find out what is lacking in your growing

      9.      Always pray for yourself and your partner

      10.  Fear God. For the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom

Your effort will not be vain in Jesus name. Celebrate every little progress you see in one another.

If you are not growing at home, you are not growing at all.

Your home will flourish and shine for Christ in Jesus name.

Keep growing and glowing.

DOUBLE “H” WAR: Holiness vs Hormone (Part 11)

DOUBLE “H” WAR: Holiness vs Hormone (Part 11)

Living right, feeling right

Adesina A. Abegunde

It is a War not a Pleasure 1

Good morning beloved, I hope you have realized by now that living right feels right and not living right can make one temporarily good and then miserable for life. I personally desire a beautiful, lovely and chaste life for you.

At this stage of our journey on sexual purity and our victory of holiness over hormone, I want you to do lots of meditation and application of the Word of God to your life personally. In the view of that, I will not send you post weekly, but fortnightly so that you can have time to process the lessons and discover the victory of Jesus already given to you in His Death and Resurrection.

Meditate on the scripture below;

“Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul” (1 Peter 2:11 niv).

“Friends, this world is not your home, so don't make yourselves cozy in it. Don't indulge your ego at the expense of your soul” (1 Peter 2:11 msg).

“Beloved, I implore you as aliens and strangers and exiles [in this world] to abstain from the sensual urges (the evil desires, the passions of the flesh, your lower nature) that wage war against the soul” (1 Peter 2:11 amp).

“Dear brothers, you are only visitors here. Since your real home is in heaven, I beg you to keep away from the evil pleasures of this world; they are not for you, for they fight against your very souls” (1 Peter 2:11 tlb).

Sexual activity outside God’s will is a war against your soul and not a pleasure. You need to know how miserable, horrible and irretrievably wretched it has made many destinies. A powerful straight-to-the-point example is the story of Samson and Delilah. It is a war! A subtle strategy to destroy your soul.

The battle field of sexual purity is a ground every champion must pass through and everyone must make a decision to win that battle. Note that it is a battle against your SOUL and also a molestation of your body.

Sweet lies kill! Bitters truth will make you better. Swallow bitter truths and your life will be better, refrain from sweet lies. Many have damaged their health with sweet things; they grow old to become sick. Today’s pleasure may bring unending pains tomorrow.

 Swallow bitter truths and your life will be better

Decide not to be deceived, don’t be ignorant of devil’s devices (2Cor. 2:11), don’t let emotion suspend your intellect, be wise. You are a champion.

As you go this week, God will keep you in Jesus name.

Every molestation in your dream and demonic manipulation will fail in Jesus name.

Great doors of favour will open for you in Jesus name.

Keep living right and feeling right.