A Glorious 2019

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

Dearly beloved:

I appreciate your visits to this blog. Thank you for reading through the posts, supporting the adverts on the blog through clicks on the products and services which appealed to you. I am also grateful to all of you who purchased my books. 

God bless you and reward you with the blessings of heaven above, the blessings of the deep that lies beneath, the blessings of the breasts and of the womb. May God in His infinite mercies and great love for you fill your lives with the hidden riches of secret places, the treasures of darkness and the treasures hidden in the sand. May God open your eyes of understanding to uncover these blessings in your lives so that all the days of your lives, you flourish in God’s overflowing abundance in Jesus mighty name.

I also pray that you enjoy great generational wealth in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.

May God also satisfy you with long lives, so that you will see your children’s children as it is written in the Holy Bible in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. May God Who is always good and kind grant you divine health to enjoy these blessings in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.

It is written in Isaiah Chapter 54 verse 17 that no weapon fashioned against you shall prosper. That is your portion in 2019 and beyond in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. May God to Whom all power belongs destroy every weapon of the enemy fashioned against you irrespective of what format it is shaped in; in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. May God overrule every tongue that rises against you in judgment in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.

The Lord strengthen you, comfort you and expand you on all sides to the glory of His holy name in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.

Thank You and God Bless You all. Shalom.

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The Truth about Money

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

One of the truths about money is that money always has to be earned. The widow of the indebted prophet trading oil in packed vessels to earn the money which was required to pay off the family debt as well as earn additional money to live on for the rest of their lives. Please read 2^nd Kings Chapter 4 verses 1 to 7. Also, please take note of the command from Elisha to the widow in verse 7 “Go and sell the oil and pay off your debts; you and your sons live on the rest”. Selling the oil implies trading a much required resource useful in majority of homes for the urgently required money to free her sons from debt bondage. It is also instructive to note that the prophet commanded her to sell and not to do free distribution – SELL and make the money urgently required to pay off the debts and have money to live on. This is very very instructive and significant. SELL! SEEL!! SELL!!!

The virtuous woman of Proverbs Chapter 31 verses 10 to 31 made linen garments which she sold. She also supplied sashes to the merchants. Please read verse 24. The Bible also records that she bought a field and planted a vineyard from the profits she made. The vineyard was planted to earn and make additional money. This implies that a virtuous woman earns and makes money to augment the payment of the family bills.

Lydia in the Bible is described as a seller of purple – the expensive clothes of her day. The Bible also records that she sold them. She did not give them away for free. Rather, she accommodated and hosted the ministers of God with money earned from her trade that gave her a decent accommodation and good feeding money. Please read Acts Chapter 16 verses 14 to 14.

Aquila and Priscilla made tents and sold them to earn and make money for their upkeep. The Apostle Paul who was also skilled at tent making joined them or became their partner and also earned his upkeep from tent making. Please read Acts Chapter 18 verses 1 to 3. It is therefore not surprising that the Apostle Paul did not permit idleness in the Church. He instructed everyone to work and earn money for their upkeep. Please read 1^st Thessalonians Chapter 2 verses 11 to 12.

Something of value always has to be traded for money. It could be physical such as brute physical strength in working the land, lifting weights, participating in sporting activities and anything that requires physical strength. It could also be intellectual prowess where a person’s intellectual prowess is traded for money. It could be military prowess or expertise, or any great talent such as acting, singing, drawing, sculpting, painting, drawing, dancing, sewing, designing, etc.

Recognizing Wealth 2

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

Beloved, isn’t it ironic that a person so blessed and so endowed with wealth despised the wealth, sold it for peanuts and went in quest of poverty? Could this be akin to what Esau did? Significantly, and this is quite instructive. A great many of us; including me are no different from Ali Hafed. How often do we disdain real wealth and throw it away completely for what glitters that is nowhere near gold. I recall my early days in the jewelry business when I collected stock from any aunt to sell. She had capital and could bring in large quantities of real stuff – corals, pearls, gold and costume and quality costume and regular everyday jewelry. I preferred to sell corals and pearls because I understood and knew how tell the real from the fake. But when it came to gold and costume, I was a rookie. So when my aunt gave me some earrings to string corals and pearls earrings with, I returned them when I saw another set that had a greater glitter. My aunt tried to prevail against my decision to return the gold in favor of the glitter. I ignored her and insisted on the glitter.

Fortunately, I kept some of the non glitters for myself, just four of them and till date, I am ever grateful to God who led me that way as all the glitters have since faded. Talk about knowing the worth of what you own. Well, I have learnt and I am still learning that there is great wisdom in unearthing the blessings of God for one’s life daily enriching one’s life with the word of God. This is because the word of God will open your eyes of understanding to the hidden riches of God in you so that you can skillfully by the help of the Holy Spirit mine your true wealth.

Recognizing Wealth

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

If you have no idea what wealth is, you will not recognize wealth when it comes to you. Wealth is not necessarily tons of money paid into your bank account; or given to you in sack loads of diverse currencies such as the United States of America dollars, the British Pound, The European Union Euro, Canadian dollars, the Japanese Yen, Chinese, Russian Ruble, Nigerian Naira, Ghanaian Cedi, Indian Rupee or Indonesian Rupiah or any currency of the world. It is also not gold or diamond or other precious metals and stones. It is also not real estate which you are blessed to inherit or acquire on your own.

While all of these account for wealth, they do not completely make up wealth. They are to some extent the appearance of wealth. This is why people who are truly blessed with wealth are not negatively impacted when they lose money in unfavorable business deals, when real estate is lost to natural or manmade disasters or poor bargaining powers; or precious stones and metals are lost to people who specialize in stealing such resources. This is because true wealth is in the mind; strategically situated in you so that no one can steal it from you except you decide to give it away for free through indiscretion.

True wealth is usually a divine gift or divine gifts from God to you, specifically deposited in you for you to prosper, earn money and acquire what money acquires and what people erroneously refer to as wealth. That is why a number of people ignorantly pursue money; slave for money without ever getting real money because the true wealth which is resident in them and can all money speedily to them is ignored at the expense of chasing money.

Focus on Solutions 2

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

Beloved, you can request help of God to overcome whatever challenges you if only you will focus on solutions rather than on stewing over whatever assails you. Are you sick and in need of healing? God still heals and will gladly heal you if you ask Him to do so. King Hezekiah of Judah cried to God for help when he was sick unto death. God not only healed him; He also gave him additional years to live on planet earth. It is also quite instructive that King Hezekiah was advised on what medications to use and he used them. This implies that God’s healing come in diverse ways; sometimes with His word and the ailment disappears as in a number of cases in the Bible, sometimes with medications as in the case of Hezekiah, the blind man Jesus ministered to with sand and other materials; sometimes by anointing with oil after prayers by the elders of the Church as instructed in the Bible in the book of James. Beloved, God is new every day and will direct you on how to get healed if you focus on receiving healing from Him rather than on the ailment and its pain.

Are you in debt? Take your focus away from the huge amount of debt and ask God to show you how to earn great income with which you can pay off the debts. Worrying about the debts and the consequent actions of servitude that will be taken by your creditor will not solve the problem. What will solve the problem is, you turning to God for solutions. Please quickly do so now if this is the challenge you are experiencing. You will be pleasantly surprised to discover that God will not only help you pay off the debts, He will also empower you to become a lender to nations. The case of the indebted widow of the prophet in 2^nd Kings Chapter 4 verses 1 to 7 is instructive and faith inspiring.

Focus on Solutions

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

Every problem has a solution. That is why it is said that problems or challenges are stepping stones to greatness. Therefore, it always best to focus on solutions and not problems. Besides, when you focus on finding solutions to a problem, you are actually taking sides with God to deal the enemy a blow. This is because God the Creator and Owner of the heavens and the earth in His infinite wisdom has solutions to every problem or challenge, whether named or unnamed. Significantly, God loves to give this wisdom to His children who seek solutions to challenges that come their way. Besides, creative people always have divinely received ways to navigate difficult circumstances and satanic obstacles placed in their pathways.

The Bible records that Daniel’s young life was threatened by a hasty death sentence from King Nebuchadnezzar who said that all the wise men in Babylon should be killed on account of their inability to tell him the dream he dreamt and forgot. Rather than stew on dying young at the hands of whom everybody probably referred to as a wicked king, Daniel sought solutions to the problem. He ran to God to reveal King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream alongside the interpretation to him. God honored Daniel’s request and the dream alongside its interpretation was revealed to Daniel. As soon as Daniel told the King his dream and interpretation, the killings stopped.

Monetize Your Contacts 3

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

The place of appearance in making, maintaining and sustaining contacts that could be monetized is important. The Biblical Joseph was properly groomed and dressed to meet with Pharaoh. The Bible records that Joseph shaved – apparently they did not shave regularly in prison; that is if they had anything to shave with in prison. Do not forget that sharp objects are not allowed in prison. He also had a change of clothes from prison clothes into decent clothes that could make him presentable to Pharaoh. Please see Genesis Chapters 41 verse 14.

Ruth was instructed to shower, apply cream or oils; of course sweet smelling ones as well as wear her best garment before going to see Boaz at the threshing floor. Her appearance that night which was different from the appearance she put on while gleaning made a considerable impact on Boaz as he quickly went to settle the case of the inheritance so Ruth could become his wife.

The virtuous woman was always well groomed and regally dressed. Though she made clothes for sale and made a fortune out of making and selling clothes, she ensured that she and every member of her family including her maids were well clothed. Please see Proverbs Chapter 31.

The queen from Sheba was awed by the splendor of Solomon’s court. She took note of virtually everything and everyone in Solomon’s court and noted that God indeed blessed Solomon with unrivaled wisdom and wealth. Please read 1^st Kings Chapter 10 verses 1 to 10 and Matthew Chapter 6 verses 28 to 29.

Give Him Thanks

 ^1-3 Thank you! Everything in me says “Thank you!”

    Angels listen as I sing my thanks.
I kneel in worship facing your holy temple
    and say it again: “Thank you!”
Thank you for your love,
    thank you for your faithfulness;
Most holy is your name,
    most holy is your Word.
The moment I called out, you stepped in;
    you made my life large with strength.

Monetize Your Contacts 2

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

David was on a find and rescue mission without a clue as to how and where to catch up with the raiders who burnt down Ziklag and took hostage the women and children. As David and his men searched the wilds, they stumbled upon or I dare say God ordered their steps to a sick Egyptian slave of one of the Amalekite raiders who burnt down Ziklag. Abandoned because he was sick and too weak to cope with their pace, the young man lay helpless in the wild. Surprisingly, David and his men cared for the young man and when he was strong enough, he gave David and his men details of their raid and where the raiders were headed. With an exact description, David and his men pursued the raiders and caught up with them; and recovered everything that was stolen as well as additional bounty. The young Egyptian stuck with David.

Monetize Your Contacts 1

 Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

 

Contacts are intangible assets that become tangible assets when they are translated into economic relationships through economic partnerships and collaborations. You can therefore monetize your contacts by creatively translating them into economic partnerships and collaborations. Your contacts include people, institutions and nations that you come in contact with, interact with on a daily basis. Over time you will come up with a huge contact list that you may actually not know how to manage to profit. In the days when business cards held sway, you probably pilled them up in a big office basket if you are an organized person; you arranged them either by names or institutions. Whichever you did, the ideal is to segment your contact base into institutions, sector by sector. Thereafter, you can have an alphabetical categorization of names for ease of calling up your contacts. This is to say that you will need a contact management system at some point. 

Pharaoh’s butler was an economic relationship to Joseph despite the fact that they met in prison. This is because the butler was to an extent pivotal to Joseph’s release from prison. The butler was the one who mentioned or recommend Joseph to Pharaoh and when Joseph was brought before Pharaoh, multiple transformations occurred. Joseph became a free man granted royal pardon. Quite significant is also the fact that he received astronomical promotions; from being a prisoner to a free man, a citizen of Egypt as well as second in command to Pharaoh. Amazing because Joseph was not an Egyptian but he was next in command to Pharaoh. In addition, Joseph had never worked in the palace before and had no connections to Pharaoh. Yet, in just one day, in point of fact, less than a day of meeting Pharaoh through the butler, Joseph became second in command to Pharaoh. This was because God gave Joseph divine contacts and fortunately, Joseph realized this and took advantage of the divine linkage. He assisted the butler and asked the butler to remember him. The butler became Joseph’s connection to Pharaoh. He was a divinely arranged contact.

It is significant to note that the circumstances under which Joseph became acquainted with the butler were not exactly pleasant. Joseph was serving an unjust prison sentence that was not defined. So there was no possible exit date from prison yet Joseph was not bitter. Therefore, when the opportunity presented itself for Joseph to be of service to the butler; he did so with joy. That singular action done without any monetary or material compensation opened the doors into Pharaoh’s court as well as final exit from prison.

Prepare for Abundance 3

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

Do what God asks of you and He will supply the abundance you require in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. The keyword is PREPARE.

Jesus Christ asked the servants at the wedding feast in Canaan to fill the water pots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. Six water pots filled to the brim speaks of adequate preparation for abundance as the Bible records that the six water pots were about one hundred and eighty gallons of water, albeit, one hundred and eighty gallons of wine. Quite significant and instructive is the fact that the only task assigned the servants in preparation for the forthcoming abundance was to fill all six water pots to the brim. The turning of the water into wine was the task and responsibility of Jesus Christ for as soon as the water pots were filled to the brim, Jesus asked them to draw some “supposedly water” out to give to the Master of the feast. Upon tasting the supposedly water now turned wine, in point of fact very good wine, the master of the feast commended the bridegroom for reserving the good wine till the end of the feast. Please read John Chapter 2 verses 1 to 10. It is significant to note that what appeared to be a situation of lack that was about to bring disgrace and reproach to the family turned out to be a situation of surplus, overflowing abundance because God in His infinite mercies intervened and quite instructive is the fact that the people obeyed the divine instruction to prepare for abundance. The result was the miraculous supply of abundant wine at the wedding feast.

Prepare for Abundance 2

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

Naaman commenced preparation to abundant divine health when the information his wife’s maid gave about the prophet in Israel got to him. Though some of the preparations were not necessary, they took him to Israel where he eventually went to see the prophet. Though Elisha did not come out to see Naaman immediately, he gave Naaman instructions to go wash in the Jordan seven times through a servant. Naaman initially despised the instruction which in reality was the major preparation to divine health for him. This is because as soon as Naaman dipped in the Jordan seven times, adequate preparation; the Bible records that Naaman was made whole. 

Blind Bartimaeus had heard about Jesus but the notice to meet with Jesus was short, in point of fact, very short. Yet, Bartimaeus quickly prepared for a divine turn around encounter with Jesus by harnessing the resources at his disposal to reach Jesus. He used his voice, significantly in a very loud manner. Jesus heard him and stopped to ask Bartimaeus what he wanted. Again, Bartimaeus was mentally and spiritually prepared. He requested to receive his sight which Jesus gladly gave him. Beloved, Bartimaeus was physically, spiritually and mentally prepared for abundant health and received it. Physically, he exerted himself crying out loudly to be heard above the din of the multitudes around Jesus talking and walking and even some people tried to shut him up, he cried louder. Spiritually, he referred to Jesus Christ as Lord; that is to say that he acknowledged the Lordship of Jesus Christ over his life. Mentally, he was more than prepared. His priority was to receive his sight and that was the only request he made in response to Jesus’ question. Beloved, Bartimaeus worked within the resources at his disposal even at very short notice. He did not make excuses despite the challenges which stared him in the face. For instance, he did not know Jesus physically and he could not see therefore he had no idea what Jesus looked like. He could also not tell exactly where Jesus stood and even if he could, how was he to walk up to Jesus unguided with the crowd around Jesus. Yet, Bartimaeus strategized effectively even at very short notice and received divine abundance. He could see, see to learn a trade or get an education to earn an income and stop begging. Please read Luke Chapter 18 verses 35 to 43.

Prepare for Abundance

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

Preparation for abundance is not idling away because God promises overflowing abundance. Please read Deuteronomy Chapters 15 verse 6, 28 verses 12 to 13 and Malachi Chapter 10 verses 10 to 12. Rather, it is obeying the voice of God to carry out whatever divine instructions He gives through the Holy Spirit, in His word or through His anointed servants. The biblical case studies who prepared for abundance and received abundance were productively engaged in the divine tasks assigned to them that would bring about the required abundance. Therefore, take up your tools and work the divine tasks diligently so that your great expectations of overflowing abundance would not be cut short. Also, preparations for abundance are as diverse as people and professions are diverse. 

Prophet Elijah had prophesied abundant rain in the midst of a drought that was well on in its third year. Such audacity! But Elijah did not speak by his own spirit. He did not speak cleverly devised lies to massage the ego of the people. He spoke as directed by God and by the Spirit of God. However, some preparations had to take place such as the restoration of the altar of God and worship of God in Israel; the elimination of the prophets of Baal as well as destruction of their altars. The moment Elijah accomplished these tasks, he instructed King Ahab to go eat and drink; in essence, celebrate the abundant rain. He also advised Ahab to hurry home so that he would not be drenched by the heavy downpour. While Ahab was feasting, Elijah who was not with the divine preparatory tasks commenced his multi level intercession for the heavenly release of the abundant rain. He did not give up until he saw results. Thereafter, he sent word to Ahab. The land was drenched in abundant rain. 

Innovate to Leapfrog

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

The Holy Spirit gives the ability to be creative, innovative and enterprising. Believers have more potential to make more money if only they will ask from God. This is because the Holy Spirit who resides in every God fearing and obeying believer is the One Who gives illumination for innovation. He gave Joseph the fourteen year plan for ensuring food security in Egypt.

There had been surplus harvests in the past just as there had been famines in the past. In the days of Abraham, there was a famine. In point of fact, it was famine that made Abraham move from Bethel to Egypt. But for the intervention of God, Abraham would have lost his beautiful wife, Sarah to Pharaoh. Fortunately, Abraham was enriched and left Egypt. Please read Genesis Chapter 12 verses 8 to 20. Yet another famine made Isaac, the son of Abraham want to move from Gerar. But God instructed Isaac to stay on in Gerar despite the famine. Isaac stayed on and God gave him the requisite wisdom to innovate on existing best practices that leapfrogged the famine in the land.

Isaac was subsequently enriched, in point of fact, so rich that the Philistines envied him. Isaac did not run away from the challenges in the land. Rather, he innovated on existing best practices to circumnavigate the challenges in the land. He was successful. This implies that challenges are sometimes stepping stones. Please read Genesis Chapter 26.

Refuse to be Idle

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

God hates idleness because idleness often leads to or results in sinful actions and utterances which do not add value to the life of anyone; to the kingdom of God and do not bless God. A number of biblical case studies attest to this. The highly immoral wife of Potiphar had far too much time on her hands. She began to seek ungodly entertainment because she had absolutely no idea of time and the value of time. If she did, she would have made herself useful to her fellow women particularly the less privileged ones and children. Instead, she capped her folly by telling lies against Joseph who refused to fritter time with her in sin. Please see Genesis Chapter 39.

Jezebel – murderer and idolatress, liar, (1^st Kings Chapter 21 verses 1 to 25); Herodias – murderer and adulterer, (Matthew Chapter 14 verses 1 to 13); Delilah – hypocrite, deceiver, betrayer, and liar had far too much time on their hands; they did not know and understand the value of time so they frittered time in sinful activities which led to the death of many innocent people.

Also, if you compare the widows described in the book of 1^st Timothy Chapter 5 verses 1 to 16 to the widows of Zarephath, Prophetess Anna (Luke Chapter 2 verses 36 to 37); the wonderful mothers of Timothy (2^nd Timothy Chapter 1 verse 5); Mary, the travailing mother of John Mark who opened up her home as a prayer cell for kingdom work (Acts Chapter 12, Romans Chapter 16 verse 6); the very beautiful and hospitable women who supported the ministry of Jesus Christ (Luke Chapters 8 verses 2 to 3, 23 verses 55 to 56, 24 verses 1 to 11); the industrious and artistic women who prepared materials for the building of the tabernacle in the wilderness ((Exodus Chapter 35 verses 25 to 26); the wise mother of Moses who ensured the safety of her son and nurtured him in righteousness (Exodus Chapter 2); wise Priscilla in Acts Chapter 18 verses 1 to 3, Romans Chapter 16 verse 3 and of course the very industrious but unnamed virtuous woman of Proverbs Chapter 31 whom the Bible describes as someone who does not eat the bread of idleness, you will discover that anyone who does not know and understand the value of time will fritter time in activities which have no eternal value.

The Value of Time

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

Time is one God’s divine investment on humans which like other divine investments such as skills, talents and expertise demands a return, in point of fact a hundred percent and over return on investments. Time properly utilized or invested translates into mental and intellectual prowess, divine health, academic and economic achievements, spiritual growth, parenthood and as many successes as you can think of. Time promotes and uplifts if time is properly and promptly deployed into divine purposes.

An idle person has absolutely no regard for time because s/he does not understand the value of time. S/he does not know and understand that time is a gift from God, a divine resource distributed to everyone equally for the actualization of divine purpose. Time should therefore not be frittered in idleness such as excessive sleep, rest, chatter, gossip, jesting, outbursts of anger, indecision on issues or actions to be promptly taken and acted on (Proverbs Chapters 19 verse 15; 14 verse 23, 6 verses 6 to 11, 24 verses 30 to 34, 21 verse 25, 1^st Timothy Chapter 5 verses 1 to 16, note verse 13. Time should not be frittered in giving of excuses for not investing time and other resources when you should. Please see Proverbs Chapter 22 verse 13, Mathew Chapter 25 verses 1 to 46 for the very interesting and revealing accounts of the wise and foolish virgins as well as the faithful and unfaithful servants in the parable of talents. It is rather unfortunate that while the wise virgins invested time by planning ahead, the foolish ones frittered time and were consequently barricaded from the meeting with the bridegroom. How do I know that they frittered time? Perhaps you should ask them what they were doing while the wise virgins were taking extra oil in their lamps. That would settle the issue of whether they frittered or invested time. Significantly, the wicked, lazy and unprofitable servant chose to fritter time. What exactly was he doing while his master was away? Did he look for any kind hearted master to serve since he considered his master a heartless person who reaped where he did not plant? Rather the wicked servant chose the path of wickedness by hiding the talent in the ground. Beloved, which is easier to do; banking the talent or digging the ground to hide the talent? He just did not want to be a blessing to anyone. He preferred to just fritter time because time meant nothing to him. He chose the path of idleness.

The Power of No

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

The word NO is one of the most empowering words that you need to use sometimes if not most times. Saying NO may not make you a people person but the truth is that you were not divinely designed to be a people person and people pleaser. God designed you to please Him so that in pleasing Him, you become a blessing to the people He designed you to bless other people. 

Saying NO TO WHAT IS NOT PRIORITY, does not have eternal value empowers you to focus on what is priority and focusing on what is priority empowers you to accomplish God’s divine objectives for you. It also empowers you to quit the vicious circular dance referred to as busyness or what I dare to call the rat race of life which keeps you eternally engaged in fruitless and unprofitable activities that lead you nowhere. Apart from the fact that such activities are fruitless and unprofitable, they drain you spiritually, physically, mentally, financially; and sometimes impact your most prized relationships such as the relationships between you and God; you and your family negatively. Scrutinize such activities thoroughly to determine whether they are divinely ordained for you otherwise you delegate them to someone else who is divinely assigned to carry them out, that is if they have eternal values. But for those activities which are bereft of eternal values and tantamount to fruitless and unprofitable activities, a sheer waste of God’s rich deposit of time and talents as well as expertise in your life, beloved, the sensible thing to do is to thrash them in the bin where they belong. This frees up quality time for you to focus on what is priority so that you can allocate prime time, attention and resources to what is priority. 

Saying No to what is not priority also gives you speed. This is because as you focus on what is priority and give priority prime attention, your efforts translate into accomplishments. 

Saying No to what is not priority also gives you favor before God and humans. Why and how? You are focused on divine tasks and focus on divine tasks gives favor before God Who assigned you the tasks and Who will also instruct your fellow human beings to favor you. Esther focused on the divine task of representing the Jews before King Ahasuerus. God gave her favor before the King and the Jews were spared annihilation. Please read the book of Esther for details. Joseph enjoyed uncommon favor from Potiphar, the Keeper of the prison, Pharaoh and his court because he focused on divine tasks. When he was focusing on non divine tasks in his homeland, he attracted envy and hatred which fortunately took him to the place of divine tasks, albeit in what you may refer to as negative circumstances. But the positive outcome of those supposedly negative circumstances was great. Please read Genesis Chapters 40 to 41.

Invest in People

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

The strength of a family, a Church, institutions, communities and nations are the people numbered with and committed to the family, Church, institutions, communities or nations. While brick and mortar as well as other resources matter, what really holds families,, institutions and nations together are the people. Therefore, primary investment should be in the people. Families, institutions and nations, who know and apply this supposedly secret; which indeed is an open secret are in the forefront of development and prosperity globally.  

The late Sam Walton invested in people thereby birthing the ever faithful missionary customers of Walmart, the dedicated staff of Walmart as well as the suppliers of commodities. Sam loved people and made it a point to always invest in people. The result was that people shopped at Walmart; the staff of Walmart enjoy working at Walmart and giving customers the most unique but satisfying customer experience. Suppliers also enjoy supplying or distributing their goods to Walmart. Why? They loved and appreciated Sam’s concern and love for people. Sam enjoyed making people happy and it is no surprise that people made him happy and are still making him happy several years after his exit from planet earth.

People matter to God and anyone who puts people ahead of personal desires and profits is a friend of god. God demonstrated His love for people by sacrificing His only Son for the salvation and redemption of humanity, so that humanity can be free of satanic slavery and entrapments. God’s love for humanity governed the decision to give Christ for the world. Please see John Chapter 3 verse 16. In like manner, a person’s love for people and the desire to add value to the lives of people; to give people a better and richer experience on planet earth should greatly inform the quality of services rendered to humanity; the quality of products produced for people in addition to the way we handle the earth and the resources God blessed the earth with.

Push the Boundaries of Excellence 2

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, [which] shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence,  And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.Isaiah Chapter 62 verses 6 to 7.

You can be a praise in the earth. Therefore, do not give God rest; do not give yourself rest until you become a praise in the earth by the Spirit of God and the doing of the Lord. You can do this through the prayer of importunity as instructed by Jesus Christ in Luke Chapter 18 verses to 8, 1st Thessalonians Chapter 5 verse 17, Romans Chapter 12 verse 12. As you do so, God in His infinite mercy will give you the knowledge, understanding and wisdom that you require to always push the boundaries of excellence.

The multitudes sought and followed Jesus of their own volition. No one was compelled or coerced to do so. Please see Luke Chapters 8 verse 4, 9 verses 10 to 11. The question to ask is why did the people come from their cities, towns, villages and houses to seek Jesus even when Jesus severally sought anonymity and privacy by taking off to deserted places? The simple answer is that a city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Jesus had something of great value to offer them therefore like a city set on a hill, He could not be hidden regardless of where He was. The people took time and trouble to seek Him in order to be blessed by Him. 

Are you a city set on a hill? If yes, what blessings are you offering to people? Do your products and services bless humanity? Do you give counsel that brings about transformation in the lives of people? Do you speak words of wisdom or you consistently utter folly, wickedness, bitterness and resentment? Do your words and actions bring healing and health, encouragement, life, transformation and even inspire faith to people so that when people spend time with you and leave you; they are happy and fulfilled? Do your words and actions help people find their bearing in life so that when people spend time with you, they can take quality decisions which put them on the right track in life? The Bible records that the tongue of the wise promotes health (Proverbs Chapter 12 verse 18); uses knowledge rightly and the lips of the wise disperse knowledge (Proverbs Chapter 15 verses 2, 7) which explains why the Bible records that a wholesome tongue is a tree of life. 

Push the Boundaries of Excellence

 Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

God rewards excellent work that is done diligently with the help of the Holy Spirit. This is to say that excellent work is a function of working closely with the Holy Spirit as some Biblical examples like Joseph, Daniel, Nehemiah, Bezalel and Oholiab as well as many others testify. 

Excellence is a culture of consistent quality that is devoid of haste whether in thought, speech and actions. People who operate under a culture of excellence are not hasty. They are diligent, thorough, knowledgeable, analytical, careful, patient, dependent on God and strive above everything else to please God and not anyone. Please see Ephesians Chapter 6 verses 5 to 9.

The boundaries of excellence are elastic. They can be stretched to as far as God wants them stretched. That is to say that they have the capacity to bring God’s best out of you, unleash your potentials, latent and active to the best use they can be put to. That is why an excellent minded person continuously stretches the borders of excellence; always improving on what has been done, continuously evolving. The late Sam Walton was always coming up with new and great ideas about making Walmart great. 

Excellence speaks loudly through the quality of the finish, the quality of materials used, the close attention paid to details, the cut and design, and what have you. Excellence does not do things just for the sake of doing things; does not render service for the sake of rendering service but to bring out improvements, enhance the quality of lives of people, build to improve on what had been done before on products and services. 

Prepare for the Future

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

Every position you are in today is an opportunity given to you by God to effect future changes in your life. Please see John Chapter 9 verse 4. Therefore invest well by utilizing the opportunity of your present position to invest well for your future because every opportunity given to you is to effect a change. Every street they say is lined with gold but that gold can only be seen when your eyes are opened to see the gold.

Joseph utilized the opportunity of his present position in prison to prepare for his future by being kind and compassionate to his fellow prisoners, obedient to the leadership of the prison. Additionally, he interpreted the dreams of the baker and butler of Pharaoh who were also imprisoned in the royal gulag. Coincidence you may say but I dare to say, divine arrangement for the future God promised Joseph. Any position you find yourself in may be an opportunity which though disguised as a challenge or even an affliction is for a purpose. Joseph’s case is instructive as it buttresses Scriptures in Romans Chapter 8 verse 28. Joseph became a slave in Egypt not because the family lacked the resources to care for him but because his brothers sold him into slavery because they envied him. They capped up their wickedness by deceiving their father that Joseph was probably killed by a wild animal after dipping Joseph’s cloth in the blood of an animal. Also just when Joseph should have shouted hallelujah, it turned out that it was not yet uhuru as Potiphar’s wife lied about Joseph and Joseph was thrown into prison albeit, events orchestrated by God to bring Joseph before Pharaoh. Instructive and significant is the fact that Joseph took advantage of the opportunity of every position he found himself in and became great. You can also do same.

Birth the Divine Ideas

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

Divine ideas are ideas given to you by God to bless humanity with; either as products or services which add value to the lives of people in order to enhance the quality of lives that they lead and live. Additionally divine ideas help you to excel above your peers, propel you into relevance, wealth and honor but that really is not the primary objective of divine ideas. The primary objective of divine ideas is to enhance the quality of lives of peoples and the nations; to bring about positive transformation. Joseph for instance was blessed with the divine of providing the solution to mitigating the impending famine which threatened not only Egypt but the nations around Egypt. Joseph’s divine idea staved off the famine and many lives were saved. That same idea birthed the culture of saving from surplus harvests, building up storage facilities to house the surplus harvest as well as developing techniques to preserve the surplus produce from rot. Additionally, the divine idea of Joseph also created employment opportunities for many people such as the people who built and maintained the storage facilities; people who transported the harvested produce from the farms to the storage facilities, people who treated the harvested produce for preservation, people who sold and managed the books as well as other jobs that were created.

A single divine idea from Joseph, a former slave and prisoner transformed the economy of Egypt; ensured food security globally so to speak and gave Joseph honor, power and affluence. A single divine idea gave rise to economic boom in Egypt and Egypt became the food basket of the world, earning income from several nations who bought food from Egypt. This means that an idea can be turned into a big business, a business that transcends you to create jobs and wealth for many people. Beloved, what is or are your divine ideas? What has been deposited in your heart to transform the peoples and nations of the world that you are unable to unearth; or possibly cannot unearth because your mental processes are cluttered with what should not be there. All that clutter is crowding out, obscuring real wealth and blessings to humanity. Have you ever taken off time to identify them and process them so that you can be a blessing to humanity and in the process attract wealth, fame and honor to yourself?

You are endowed and blessed with great ideas that will richly bless and transform humanity. In addition the ideas are divinely designed to propel you to the realm of limitless overflowing abundance. However, you need the Holy Spirit to help you unlock and implement the ideas. How willing are you o spend quality time with the Holy Spirit so you can hear Him clearly, ask the pertinent questions like Mary the mother of Jesus Christ did, get the  right understanding and divine partners to work with so that you can hit the ground running? Is the Holy Spirit dear to you and is His presence more important to you than all the voices and seeming attractions beckoning to you? Is the Holy Spirit your final authority? Then create room and time for the Holy Spirit. Do not crowd Him out of your thoughts, emotions, time, relationships and activities.