Keep Aiming

"An arrow can only be shot by pulling it backwards. When life is dragging you back with difficulties, it means it's going to launch you into something great. So just focus, and keep aiming"

Take A Step

 Let your Idea grow, let it pervade your mind. let it become a child of your brain; and like a normal child,  it would grow when you are least conscious of it.

HIS GRACE IS SUFFICIENT

What does the grace mean to you?

What A Mess!

A guy (Names withheld) dated a girl for 2 years without sexual intercourse. Even after the Introduction, the girl did not allow him to touch her so a wedding date was fixed. The day before the wedding  was the bachelors eve so all his friends were in attendance with their girlfriends and fun rented the air. It was wild and captivating, in time he became horny from watching his friends and their partners and again his Fiancee turned him down begging him to wait a little longer. At last the D-Day came and the groom was patiently waiting for the wedding to come to an end. Finally they became Man and Wife!

Back in their matrimonial home, the man invited his woman to the bathroom but she refused that she is too shy to take a bath with him.  After that he made passes but she complained of tiredness and needed some rest. He got mad and left her alone. At 10pm, a 5 man armed robbers attacked the neighborhood and their apartment was not spared. They robbed them and decided to rape the wife. The first devirginized her and others took turns in ravaging her. She lost  her consciousness and was rushed to the hospital. After she regained her consciousness, her dear husband sent her packing.

Did he do the right thing by sending her away? What would you do if you were in his shoes?

Getting Ready for MARRIAGE

Every woman's dream is to get married someday, even the divorced wants to remarry. Despite the number of separation and divorce daily, many are still dreaming of their wedding day. It's beautiful and encouraging but how many of these women and of course men have really taken their time to prepare for MARRIAGE? Do they even realize that marriage is worth preparing for?

Marriage is an institution, yes but unlike other institutions, no one ever graduates. But you can earn your  certificates as the years roll by in many forms- raising wonderful kids is one. In this institution, you are expected to be the lecturer and not the student so ill preparation leads to frustrations, fight, heartbreaks and poverty in many cases.

GUIDELINE

1) Invest your time and resources in yourself as a single man/woman. Formal Education is a very good way but to be double-sure, learn a trade, craft, bead making  anything that will boost your income.

2) Attend seminars on marital issues, learn from the experienced. You don't have to get burnt to learn. The best way to learn is by observation especially in this case.

3) Find someone, do not attempt to change that man/woman into your idea of a spouse. study them. Can you tolerate him/her?

4)  Understand that your Love for each other may take a leave sometimes, be prepared to keep the family together until Love gets back.

5)  Money Managment. This is very very important as the lack of money causes friction in a marriage. Enroll for some causes in finances and better learn how to manage the family income and expenditure.

6) Create a forgiving heart because in Marriage, you'll find many reasons to throw in the towel.

7) When the going gets tough, get tougher. Seek marital therapy not divorce.

Ask all the hard questions before marriage. Know the difference between Marriage & Wedding. Unite your goals and watch them grow in a few years when the time seems right, then settle down.

 If you prepare yourselves adequately before going into marriage, the burden will be minimal and you will experience the Joy of Marriage. You will never have to ask the question  'Are you the woman/man I married?' ------------Joe Ochei

Strength Within

Someone once said that 'There are no secrets to Happiness; Happiness is the Secret'. LOL. I pondered over that and came to the conclusion: He/She is right. Happiness is the secret that opens all other doors of success. It prepares you for everyday and every task. It brings you to the right people and at the right places. It prevents cardiac related diseases and makes TODAY worth living and TOMORROW  worth seeing. There is never an overdoes of it and the BEST part of it is that its not for SALE. It's free!!! and based on choice so if you don't already have an overdose of it, then it's time you take it. It won't kill but keep you. Do this: Ignore YESTERDAY'S problems because they belong to yesterday; Do not be troubled by TODAY'S challenges, they are there because you can handle them; And think not about what TOMORROW brings, for its always better than Today.



Have a Glorious Day!

MONEY-How Important?

Encyclopedia Britannica Online described the recession that hit the world recently as ''The worst economy in a generation.'' It was so severe that it has been given a unique name, the Great Recession. Economists came to the conclusion that it was caused by 'A frenzy of irresponsible borrowing.' Not many of us escaped that recession. I too, was affected and still have some scars from that burn.

I've just started reading a book by Chris Farrell titled The New Frugality. In it he states that

Help May Not Come

Today I feel different. A vibrant hardworking young man and today I feel useless, helpless and hopeless. It's like I've lost it. My drive for excellence have been overtaken by anger and destructive ideas. I don't understand me anymore. Feels like a wasted year- January to November, what is left? Yet another year of ideas gone down the drain. How many more failures, How many more delays and How many more heartbreaks. No one understands even when they say 'I understand'.  This day was my future some years back; Did all I could to make this Future a bright one but look where I am. I am done hearing testimonies. When am I going to become the man of my dreams? How am I supposed to help when I am in need of help?
I welcome 2014 in fear and distrust...So many Expectations, Challenges. Plenty of ideas with no means to bring them to life.

Now that I've poured out my heart, life must go on, I believe every Champion faced a handful of challenges. Help may not come so I have to pick up myself, dust and carry on.   -----Joe Ochei
                                                                                 

The Greatest Listener

When your hope lies in God, nothing can move you. I sat down this morning calling back to mind so many days of distress and how God delivered me even before I asked for it. Although sometimes, it seems he pays  deaf ears to my calls, making me wonder if he is still with me. But at the end of the day, I do come to understand him better. He is never far off from his people. He is simply a 'FAITHFUL FATHER.'

Be Liberal-Ready to LEARN

I came to understand that one learn more when you open your heart to new ideas,leaving what you already know at bay. Kids surprisingly teach me a lot without they knowing it. No matter how educated you may be,there is always something to learn from an illiterate because in another way less formal, he/she is a literate. A man once said ''Everyman is my superior in some way,in that I learn of them''. Be liberal and keep learning.

VALUE OTHERS

Snake feeds on ants while alive but as soon as it dies its vise visa versa. Time can turn at any time, Don't devalue anyone in life. You may be powerful But time is more powerful than you are. A tree produces millions of match sticks, while a match stick can burn hundred of trees". One Negative Thought can Burn down ALL  POSITIVE THOUGHTS. Be mindful how u relate wit people.life is full of drama.

Remain Blessed, Joe Ochei

Contentment

Everything that man needs to lead a fulfilled life is embodied in loving oneself and others.So many have never laughed, and so many have died before they could understand the sole purpose in life- HAPPINESS, which is actually a CHOICE. There are reasons to frown 24 hrs a day through out one's life time but your ability to solve some and ignore the rest means a lot. I see no reason why I will develop a heart attack, high blood pressure when I know that the keys to my happiness are in my hands. Challenges must come but we have everything it takes to trample them.

I am no Saint but a man who have had his fare share of life and have come to learn valuable lessons that I wished Ive learned earlier. Life is simple: eat when you have, laugh when you can, blame no one for your problems, solve the ones you can and think less of the past but let your heart be filled with hope for all the goodies that tomorrow brings.Shalom

When The Going Gets Tougher

'ANGER'- The easiest escape from frustrations. Blaming others for our problems is another way but none solves the problem. Problem or challenge as some of Us choose to call it are part of our daily lives. They are the fuel we need to drive our hopes and aspirations skyward. If you believe this, then its time you take advantage of every problem you have or will ever encounter. With every problem comes a solution, they go hand in hand. Some challenges stay with Us longer than anticipated but that is because they are there to take Us to a Whole New Level in life. So whenever 'ANGER' crops into your heart, convert it to happiness, one best way is to share your problems by talking about it with a listening ear.- Joe Ochei