HAPPY NEW YEAR

Let us make New Year resolutions and keep them; Let us promise each other to stay together with love, friendship and happiness, in all the times of laughter or tears. Happy New Year to all my besties!

With messages like these, you can wish your loved ones, a Happy New Year and also show them your love, and tell them how much they mean to you. What can be a better start of the year than this. So write your own New Year messages this year and convey your wishes to all the important people of your life. 


And yes, a very Happy New Year to all!

LIVING OUT OF THE WRONG BAG

"Make sure you understand what the Master wants." Ephesians 5:17

Have you ever mistakenly picked somebody's luggage off a conveyer belt at the airport and taken it home?  Two seconds after opening it up you discovered - you cannot live out of somebody's bag!  You cannot wear their clothes or fit into their shoes.  So why do we try to?  Parents!  Dad says, "Son, your granddad was a farmer, I am a farmer, and someday you will inherit the farm."  Teachers!  A teacher warns a young girl who wants to be a stay-at-home mom, "Do not squander your life.  With your gifts you could make it to the top."  Church leaders!  "Jesus was a missionary.  Do you want to please Him?  Spend your life on foreign soil."  Sound counsel or poor advice?  That depends on what God packed in your bag.  What if God made the farmer's son with a passion for literature or medicine?  Or gave that girl a love for kids and homemaking?  If foreign cultures frustrate you while predictability invigorates you, what are the chances you would be a happy missionary?  "All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be" Psalms 139:16.  God gives us eyes for organization, ears for music, hearts that beat for justice, minds that understand physics, hands that love care giving, legs that run and win races.  Secular thinking does not buy this.  It sees no author behind the book and no purpose behind or beyond life.  It says, "You can be anything you want to be."  Wrong!  Do not make their mistake.  Do not live carelessly or unthinkingly.  "Make sure you understand what the Master wants."

BECOMING THE RIGHT CANDIDATE FOR PROMOTION

What is Promotion?

A promotion refers to the advancement of an employee's rank or position in a hierarchical structure.

It usually includes:

• New job title
• Greater number of responsibilities and
• Pay increase.

It may also include an expansion of benefits and managerial authority over other employees.

Job promotions are usually based on performance and tenure.

Effect of Promotions

A promotion is viewed as desirable by employees because of the impact it has on:

• Remuneration
• Authority
• Responsibility, and
• The ability to influence broader organizational decision making.

A promotion raises the status of the employee who receives it which is a visible sign of esteem from the employer.

Are there techniques and strategies to being promoted?

• Concentrate on just doing the best you possibly can in your current position: Excellent performance reviews are critical to get you a promotion.  Also important are punctuality and willingness to go the extra mile when the job demands needs it.
• Make sure people know you are doing a great job: You don't want to toot your own horn too much, but you can't always expect your merits to speak for them. Keep in good contact with your supervisor, and make sure he or she knows what you've been up to.
• Be known: In an ideal world, promotions would be based solely on merit. We don't live in an ideal world, though, so: use and develop your people skills, speak up at meetings, initiate conversations in the break room and at lunch time and participate in group conversations between coworkers in order to get noticed. Always be mindful of the relevance and appropriateness of your input.
• Make sure the right people know you want a promotion: Don't be afraid to tell your supervisor about your career goals--most good supervisors will ask you about them and try to be helpful.
• Seek out new skills: If you become the best customer service person of all time, you are well on your way... to remaining a highly regarded customer service representative for the rest of your career. It is not enough to be great at your job; you also have to develop marketable skills that prepare you for more responsibility. Develop yourself  (additional qualifications), learn other skills by attending training, seminars, conferences etc and learn a second/third language.
• Groom a successor: Some people are afraid that their direct reports may take their job if they do this, but as long as you are a great employee and continue to develop your skills, the only way you will lose your current assignment is by getting promoted. Training another employee (or several others) shows that you have management skills and that you care about helping others grow.
• Assume a leadership stance: This means taking full responsibility for your autonomy on the job in order to set an example for your co-workers. Your supervisors will notice that your actions encourage those around you to work harder and more efficiently and, as a result, you could be presented with opportunities for climbing up the ladder.
• Contribute useful ideas: Before scheduled meetings, research the issues to be addressed and determine how you can provide input. To move up the ladder, you must be able to prove your value as an employee, by making suggestions that improve the company's fortune.
• Work hard: There is no substitute for effort. It will take some personal sacrifice to move up the corporate ladder, such as coming in early, working overtime, taking on extra responsibilities and being accountable for difficult tasks.
• Diversify your position: Identify areas in your workplace where your strengths could be useful and think of ways in which you could expand your job description to encompass those areas. Present your ideas to your supervisor and volunteer to adapt your current functions to the broader scope.
• Network among industry professionals: Do this by attending industry seminars, trade shows and networking clubs. As your reputation grows, so will your chances at climbing the ladder. Moreover, forging associations with a positive outlook with those in your industry, will assist you to learn the industry’s best practices.
• Focus On The Bottom Line: Profit orientation is the key to your future. Intense bottom-line focus is the key to growth, success, and rapid promotion. The very best people in every organization are thinking constantly about what they can do to increase the profitability of their companies. The greater impact your work has on the company’s bottom line, the more you will be recognized and rewarded.

“Men who accomplish great things in the industrial world are those who have faith in the money producing power of their ideas.” (Charles Fillmore)

Conclusion

Henry L. Doherty

Plenty of men can do good work for a spurt and with immediate promotion in mind, but for promotion you want a man in whom good work has become a habit.

DISCOVER WHAT IS INSIDE YOU

"Let us just go ahead and be what we were made to be." Romans 12:6


Forty years ago The Golden Buddha was discovered in the city of Bangkok, Thailand.  For years a huge, ugly, concrete Buddha sat in the middle of town.  Visitors put empty soda cans and other trash on it.  Then one day a priest decided to take the old statue to his temple.  In the moving process it cracked.  As the pieces crumbled the priest noticed something underneath the concrete shell.  He gathered some helpers.  They pulled the shell away and inside they found the world's largest chunk of sculptured gold, standing 8 feet high.  For years it had been there - but no one knew it.  


And you are a lot like that statue.  Your real value is inside, if you do only stop and take inventory of it.  You cannot consistently perform in a manner that is inconsistent with the way you see yourself.  You will perform at a level that reflects your perspective of yourself.  If you think you are average, you will perform in an average way.  Once in a while you may have a really great day and perform higher.  You might even think, "That was awesome, I really outdid myself!"  


However, unless you discover your God-given gifts, value and potential, you will retreat to your old level of living because you think: "That is not the real me."  What a loss.  Paul writes, "Since we find ourselves fashioned into all these excellently formed and marvelously functioning parts in Christ's body, let us just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we are not." Romans 12:6                                  

THE MOST INCREDIBLE BOOK EVER WRITTEN

“The Word of the Lord will live forever.”  1 Peter 1:25

William Gladstone, Prime Minister of England, stated: “I have known 95 great men in my time.  And of these, 87 were followers of the Bible.”  President John Quincy Adams declared: “The Bible is the book above all others, to read at all ages, and in all conditions of human life.”  Suppose a museum of art commissions a painting to be painted by 40 different artists.  They work in their respective studios knowing nothing of each other’s efforts.  Yet when all these many canvasses are assembled on one wall they create the perfect landscape.  What are the odds?  Or suppose 40 architects set out to design one building.  Some know what others are doing – others are unaware anyone else is doing anything at all.  When they gather to compile notes, the result is a magnificent blueprint.  Could it happen?  It did with the Bible.  No publisher commissioned it.  No Committee outlined it.  No earthly editor oversaw it.  Though separated by 16 centuries, and penned by an unlikely assortment of kings, soldiers, shepherds, farmers and fishermen, from Moses in the Arabian Desert to John on the windswept island of Patmos – one theme threads the Bible together.  That theme is salvation through Jesus Christ.  Your Bible is the most incredible book ever written.  Every passing day validates Peter’s prophecy: “The Word of the Lord will live forever.”  The question is: does it live in your heart?  Does it determine your conduct?  Does it set your priorities?  Do you hunger for it?  Can you say “Oh how I love your law!  I meditate on it all day long.” Psalm 119:97.

Your Bible is the most widely published and translated book in history – available in over 2000 different dialects.  Why? Because it works!  Apply its principles to any part of your life and see what happens.

• Apply it to your finances.  Manage your money the way the Bible says: tithe, save, provide for your family, and give to the needy.  Test God’s Word and prosper.
• Test God’s Word on your job.  Follow the Bible’s code of work conduct.  Be honest.  Be on time.  Be efficient.  You may get a promotion.
• Test the Bible on your relationships.  Forgive your enemies.  Refuse to gossip.  Do all you can to be at peace with all.  Be quick to listen and slow to speak.
• But most of all, apply the Bible to your soul.  “There is nothing like the written Word of God for showing you the way to salvation.”  2 Timothy 3:15.

PERSONAL HYGIENE

Personal Hygiene is the basic concept of cleaning, grooming and caring for our bodies.

One of the most effective ways we have to protect ourselves and others from illness is good personal hygiene.

This means washing our hands (especially), but also our bodies.

It means  being careful not to cough or sneeze on others; cleaning things that you touch if you are unwell; putting items such as tissues (that are covered in germs) into the dustbin; and using protection like gloves when you might be at risk of an infection.

Some personal hygiene tips for women

• Menstruation: Wash your body, including your genital area in the same way you always do. Change your tampons and sanitary towels regularly, at least four to five times a day. Always wash your hands before and after handling a tampon or pad.
• Cystitis: is an infection of the bladder. This is common in sexually active young women. Urinating after sexual intercourse can help flush out any bacteria that may be in the urethra and bladder.
• Thrush: Some soaps and detergents can irritate the skin of the private parts and make thrush infections more likely. Some people find they often get thrush when they use antibiotics. Use mild soap and unscented toilet paper. Avoid tight , synthetic underwear. Try cotton underwear and change them regularly.

Some personal hygiene tips for men

• Men generally have more body hair than women; this body hair traps bacteria, dirt and odors. In fact, it is the bacteria built up on the skin and within hair follicles that smell, and not the sweat.
• Sweat does not have an odor. A man’s natural sweat helps to release a chemical only found in men that actually triggers sexual arousal in women. The foul odor of bacteria masks the scent of this natural chemical.
• Most men have a bad habit of soaking themselves in hot water and barely toweling off before dressing. Instead, you should rinse yourself in cold or tepid water and dry your body completely, especially under your arms and around your groin where moisture is a foregone conclusion.

Personal Hygiene tips for children

• As a parent, you can motivate your child to take a bath by making bath time fun by including bath toys, fun-shaped soaps and bubble bath.
• While bathing your child, you can inspect him for any injuries, sores or rashes.
• Show your child how to clean himself by washing his entire body, including his face, armpits, feet, hands and genital area.
• Schedule bath time at the same time every day so it becomes part of your child's routine and not an activity that is experienced as an interruption of playtime.
• Your child should brush his teeth twice a day --- once in the morning and then before going to bed.
• Good oral hygiene can keep cavities at bay, and by assisting your child in brushing his teeth, he will learn how to do it himself.
• To encourage good oral hygiene, have your child pick his own toothbrush in the store. You can find soft toothbrushes with cartoon characters on them right in your neighborhood supermarket.  Age-appropriate toothpastes in various child-friendly flavors can also help make tooth brushing an enjoyable experience.
• Get your child used to going to the dentist at an early age so that regular checkups become routine.
• Encouraging your child to wash his hands before eating, after using the restroom, after playing or petting animals, is essential.
• Place a stool in front of your sink to give your child easy access to soap and water.
• Provide paper towels to dry hands after washing them.
• Reward your child for practicing good hygiene. It will motivate him to continue.
• Your child's hair should be washed once or twice a week.  You can purchase tear-free shampoos to make the process somewhat easier.  After washing your child's hair, you should comb through your child's hair. Good hair care will make early detection of head lice easier, so you can treat it accordingly.

Spread the word, not the germs

SECRETS OF FAMILY SUCCESS

    1. A Firm Foundation

• Preparing for a successful marriage can be likened to constructing a building.
• Constructing a building requires careful preparation, so also is preparing for a successful marriage.
• A marriage must have a strong foundation if it is to last and be satisfying.
• Just like a solid structure needs a firm foundation, a strong family also needs a firm foundation.
• Have a realistic view of both the blessings and the cost of being married.

    2. The Right Priorities

• In a successful marriage, each spouse puts the other’s needs ahead of self, possessions, jobs, friends and other relatives.
• Husband and wife spend plenty of time with each other and the children. This may sound difficult for bankers but doable.
• Both are willing to make sacrifices for the interest of the family. 

    3. Commitment

• Successful couples view their marriage as a permanent union.
• When problems arise, they strive to solve it rather than using it as an excuse to abandon the marriage.
• A sense of commitment makes the couple to feel secure and trust that the other will continue to honor the union.
• It is motivated by sincere, heartfelt love and is a reflection of respect and honor for each other and for God. So never undermine your sacred marital relationship by flirting; have eyes only for your mate. 

    4. Teamwork

• Two are better than one, if one of them should fall, the other one can raise his partner up.
• Both husband and wife should view their marriage in terms of ‘ours’ and ‘we’ rather than ‘mine’ and ‘me’.
• When there is teamwork, husband and wife are no longer single at heart but married to be an entity.
• When disagreements occur, you work out practical solutions instead of wasting time and emotional energy blaming and accusing.

     5. Respect

• Both troubled and successful families have disagreements but successful families discuss matters without resorting to insults and other forms of abusive speech.
• Ask yourself – when I speak to my spouse or children, do I resort to using insulting words such as “stupid,” “idiot,” or something similar?
• Family members treat one another as they themselves would like to be treated.

    6. Forgiveness

• Successful couples learn from the past but they do not keep track of old grievances and then use these to make sweeping assertions (like, you are always…, you never listen…).
• Keep past grievances out of any present disagreements you may have with your spouse.
• Settle any misunderstanding you have before going to bed.  Do not carry it over till the next day.
• When couples disagree, each one needs to be swift about hearing, slow about speaking and slow about wrath.  After listening carefully, they might see the need to apologize.  Saying with sincerity, “sorry for hurting you” takes humility and courage.

Important Points to Note

For a Successful Marriage

• Make time for your marriage and your mate.
• Promote warmth, love, and affection.
• Be trustworthy and committed.
• Be kind and respectful.
• Share the workload at home.
• Contribute to mutually satisfying conversations.
• Share humor and relaxation.
• Keep working at strengthening your marriage.

When You Need to Discuss a Problem

• Schedule a time when neither of you is tired.
• Avoid criticizing; be positive toward each other.
• Avoid interrupting; take turns listening and talking.
• Acknowledge your spouse’s feelings.
• Express empathy for each other, even when you disagree.
• Be reasonable and flexible.
• Humbly apologize when you are mistaken.
• Express appreciation and affection.
• Turning off the TV allows more time for communication.

THE BLAME GAME

“The woman you put…with me…gave me…the fruit, and I ate it.”  Genesis 3:12 – 13

A man smokes 3 packs of cigarettes a day for 40 years, dies of lung cancer and his family sues the tobacco company.  A woman crashes while driving drunk then blames the bartender.  Your kids are out of control so you blame violence on TV, lack of discipline in school or the influence of their friends.  Excuses – we have got hundreds of them!  Our parents failed us…our friends let us down…somebody gave us bad advice…our mate does not understand us.  The blame game is not new; we have been playing it since the dawn of creation.  In Genesis the first couple offered God every excuse in the book to avoid responsibility for their actions.  Adam actually blamed God by saying, “It was the woman you put…with me.”  And Eve was no better; she said, “The snake tricked me.”

Solomon says, “The wise are glad to be instructed…fools fall flat on their faces” [Proverbs 10:8], because the ability to accept responsibility is the measure of your character and maturity.  But more importantly, God cannot forgive and restore you till you acknowledge and turn away from your sin.  Nowhere in Scripture does He ever excuse your sin because of somebody else’s behavior.  In fact, when you make a habit of blaming the other guy you will never reach the place of honest repentance.  The Bible says we will all “appear before Christ and take what is coming to us as a result of our actions” [2 Cor 5:10].  Acknowledging your sins and shortcomings here and now frees you to receive God’s forgiveness and move on to maturity.

Blaming others for our shortcomings and mistakes is usually the way we avoid facing the truth about ourselves.  Dr. Wayne Dyer says, “All blame is a waste of time.  Regardless of how much fault you find, it will not change you.  The only thing blame does is keep the focus off you when you are looking for external reasons to explain your unhappiness or frustration.  You may succeed in making another feel guilty but you will not succeed in changing whatever is making you unhappy.”

The Israelites spent 40 years in the wilderness, making a journey that should have taken 11 days [Deut 1:2].  That is because they blamed God, and Moses, and whatever, for all their problems; everything that happened was somebody else’s fault.  Sound familiar?  Solomon says, “Do not try to disclaim responsibility by saying you did not know…God…knows all hearts…and he will reward everyone according to his deeds.”  The truth may be hard to face, but hiding from it does not make it go away.  In fact, until you are willing to admit your mistakes you will keep having problems and fixing blame.  

Remember, Satan will never stop trying to engage you in the blame game through your thoughts and emotions.  And when you go there he wins and you lose!  Paul said, “Do not let yourself be overcome by evil…overcome…evil with good” [Romans 12:21].  Did you get that?  You get to decide how much ground you will give to “the accuser” [Rev 12:10].  Winston Churchill once said, “The price of greatness is responsibility.”  So stop passing the buck, get honest with God and begin to correct the things in your life that are out of order.

THE TEN LAWS OF SUCCESS

1st Law: Be an Ardent Follower

•       Follow those whom you help develop so you may learn how to help them become better human beings. In the process you become a better human being, too.

•       Your ability to help others achieve their purpose enables them follow you as their leader.

•       Teammates and Employees are bigger bosses. They help you meet deadlines and budgets, deliver quality products or services on time, and do that thousand-and-one little extra, out-of-the-box, beyond-the-rule things that make your daily life so much easier and more productive.

2nd Law: Reflect Humility

•       Put others first.

•       See yourself as the vehicle for others’ growth and enrichment.

•       Get passionate about helping others grow their souls – Put everything you have got into anything you do.  Halfway measures usually produce no-way results.

•       Share the glory and be willing to take the blame when you are wrong.

3rd Law: Grace and Honor Others with Your Words

•       Your words paint a picture: Be sure they are a Rembrandt.  Your language can help others grow their souls and become finer people.  Let your words enrich the receiver.

•       Speak only those words you truly mean: Words spoken in jest sometimes reveal more than we want them to.

•       Take the time to acknowledge another’s contribution to you. Personal acknowledgement is the ultimate gratification for you both.

4th Law: Always Be a Student

•       Learn your lessons well: Mistakes are great teachers.  They are life’s trial by fire. Be ready to walk across the “hot coals.”

•       Learning doesn’t happen to you; it happens through you. You are not an empty vessel that some teacher fills with learning. You must be an actor on the stage, completely immersed in the play of your life, not a spectator in the second row. Learning is scary and takes a strong dedication.

•       Beware of the “I’m-too-busy” trap. Many people talk about wanting a better-paying job, more education, or a brighter future. Not all however, truly dedicate the time and energy to learn what it takes to grow their skills and competencies.

5th Law: Honor Your Relationships

•       Treat others – Employees, Customers, Suppliers, Community Members – as you would your father and mother.

•       Put family first – they and you deserve it.  If you think there is no time for your family, then there’s something clearly out of balance.  Make time to be with your family, particularly your primary family. It’s a soul-satisfying experience.  Your work-place family is also very important as you tend to spend most of your hours with them.  Cultivate a filial relationship with your colleagues at work and it will enhance the growth of the organization.

6th Law: Be the Instrument for Others’ Soul Growth

•       Coach others to grow their minds and develop a more fulfilling life.

•       Create the theatre, the stage, and the rehearsal sites for your coaches’ great performance.

•       Be the emotional bridge to the future: Give affirming support. Be there for the person you are coaching. Be an ear, a smile, an encouraging word, and some sage advice to the younger ones in your ranks.

7th Law: Keep Your Commandments

•       Commitment is the foundation of all relationships.

•       Choose first

•       Commit second

•       Give up Options third.  When you have made up your mind on getting a task achieved and have chosen the best way to go about it, you need to get focused and do away with the other options so as not to get distracted from achieving your goal.

•       Be true to yourself.  Commit to those actions that live your values.

•       Align actions so that all members of your family can achieve their personal commitments.

This is especially true of good leaders.

8th Law: Always Deliver Your Best

•       Great performance, doing your best every time, is the key to personal fulfillment.

•       Focus on helping others fulfill their destinies: It also helps you fulfill yours.

•       Engage your bosses to identify great performance for you.

•       Measure against the best – anywhere. Whom you choose to measure yourself against will determine how great your performance is.

•       Always deliver your best to your bosses – as defined by them. Do it to enable them to live their dreams while enabling you to fulfill yours.

9th Law: Be an Open Book

• Your private words and actions are your true testimony of whom and what you really are. Your words and actions are the messengers from your inner self. They reveal the truth about you, what you stand for, and what you really believe.

•       Get to know the expectations of your bosses.

•       Get to know the needs of your customers and their business.

•       People need facts to make good decisions. Build the systems that get actionable facts to the people who need them.

•       Let your courageous words and actions be testimony for who your really are.

10th Law: Build a Community Of People Dedicated To Achieving A Higher Purpose

•       Build the “We” Community based upon mutual, other oriented commitments.

•       Park your ego at the door. Great people “abandon their ego to the talents of others.” It takes a very special person to see their joy in other people’s achievements, particularly when their name is not attached to the achievement.

•       Get everyone on the same page, singing the same tune.

•       Focus on helping other people become the captains of their fates and the masters of their souls.

*   All members of the community are better than one member alone – and no one is ever alone.

Conclusion

The future is yours to have and to hold if…

•       You care

•       You believe

•       You learn

WHAT ARE YOUR CONVICTIONS?

“Do not let the world…squeeze you into its…mould.”  Romans 12:2

Howard Hendricks says, “A belief is something you will argue about.  But a conviction is something you will die for.”  Knowing what to do [knowledge], when to do it [wisdom], how to do it [ability], is worthless without the conviction to actually do it [obedience].  People without conviction follow the crowd, which is why Paul wrote, “Do not let the world… squeeze you into its…mould.”  If we do not take a stand for something, we will fall for everything!  Ironically, a lot of us have strong convictions about weak issues such as football, fashion, etc., while having weak convictions about major issues such as what is right and what is wrong before God.  Conviction helps us grow spiritually.  But growth requires time and effort.  Without a deep conviction of our need to grow spiritually, we become discouraged and give up.  No one stays with a task that is difficult unless they are convinced there is a good reason for doing so.  Jesus’ life was dominated by the conviction that He came to do His Father’s will – nothing else!  This conviction kept Him from being distracted by the agenda of others.  Check the number of times Jesus used the phrase “I must.”

Why do cults attract so many people?  This is because we all want something to believe in, something to give our lives for.  Without clear, strong convictions we will never attract the level of commitment that Christ deserves.  We must burn with a conviction that advancing the Kingdom of God is our calling and reason to live.  Vance Havner said, “Jesus demands greater allegiance than any dictator that ever lived.  The difference is, Jesus has a right to it!”

THERE IS HOPE FOR YOU

"I have...plans to give you the future you hope for."  Jeremiah 29:11

In Jeremiah 29:11 we have a great promise in a not-so-great chapter.  So if things are not going too well in your life at the moment, this verse is for you!

God's people were living as slaves in Babylon.  Why? Because of disobedience to God.  And worse, Babylon was about as pagan as you could get.  It was not the kind of place Christians hung out; it was a moral and spiritual wasteland.  And on top of that, the Israelite own preachers were leading them astray.  So God told them, "Don't let all those so-called preachers and know-it-all...take you in with their lies" (Jer 29:8-9).  Yet in the midst of all this, along comes the God of hope saying, "I still have a plan for you.  It is not over till I say so.  I am going to turn things around for you.  Your best days are ahead."

You say, "How do you know that God still has a plan for me?"  Because you are still breathing!  He has a plan for every single person He ever created, and it never goes out of date.  Unlike the milk in your supermarket that has an expiration date on it after which it cannot be used, God's plans do not have expiration dates.  Even if you have missed His plan entirely for years, that plan can still swing into operation the moment you turn your life over to Him and fall in line with His will.  Now, your plan might be somewhat modified from what it would have been 20 years ago if you had paid attention, but that does not stop God.  He can adapt to fit anything that comes up, in any life that has ever lived - including yours.  So, there is hope for you

THE BENEFITS OF HUMILITY

"All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another." 1 Peter 5:5

Peter writes "all of you, clothe yourselves with humility...for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.  Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you" 1 Peter 5:5 - 7.  Peter expressed 4 very important thoughts.  And he combined them for a reason.  Let us look at each:

1. "All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another."  Peter's expression "clothe yourselves with humility" referred to a white scarf or apron typically worn by servants.  Did you get that?  We are called to be servants, not celebrities!  "All" let us know we all stand on an equal footing before the cross.
2. "God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble."  Those who are self-centered find themselves at odds with God, while the humble enjoy His blessings.
3. "Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time."  The phrase "The mighty hand of God" is used in Scripture to symbolize 2 things: God's hand of discipline, and His hand of deliverance.  And you need both.  So submit to His discipline today and you will experience His deliverance.
4. "Casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you."  Peter addresses the core issue - worry that if we do not look out for ourselves nobody else will.  But if we really believe that God "cares for us," we need not worry about serving our own interests.  We can focus on the needs of others, confident that God will spare nothing when it comes to meeting our needs. 

MAKE YOURSELF AT HOME, LORD!

"That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith."  Ephesians 3:17

The word dwell means more than just to move in and take up residence.  It means to make yourself comfortable, to spread out and have the run of the house. When it comes right down to it, how many of us are willing to give Christ complete control?  You see illustrations of this in popular television programs where people allow someone else to come in and redo their homes or yards.  Sometimes two sets of friends or family members agree to trade houses and redo a room in each other's place, without any prior approval or guarantees.  The participants give their house keys to the show's host, and they hand them over to the other party.  Then they go to work and tear out the other family's carpet, take down the drapes and pictures, discard furniture, repaint, and do whatever they decide needs to be done.  One show called "Radical Home Makeover" even demolishes the house and rebuilds it from the ground up.  The family is sent on vacation while this takes place.  When they return it is a scene of wild celebration as the neighbors gather and the family breaks down weeping with joy at the result.

Now, if we can demonstrate that kind of faith in other people, surely we can allow Christ to come in and make Himself at home in our hearts.  One thing is sure, we will not be unhappy with the results.  When you give Jesus the keys to your heart He "decorates" it with love, joy and peace, etc.  He rewires it to tap you into the Holy Spirit's power.  What could be better?

BREAKING THE APPROVAL CYCLE

“If God is for us, who can be against us?”  Romans 8:31

Self respect has nothing to do with reputation or the approval of others.  People-pleasing is a miserable way to live.  You turn yourself inside out for them and just when you think you have succeeded, they change their minds.  Apart from stealing your peace of mind, approval-seeking makes it impossible to follow God’s directives, and ultimately that is your greatest loss.  But changing the habits of a life time is not easy; it requires an act of real faith and asking God for the courage to follow through.  David said, “I know…you are with me…I…am not afraid.  No one can harm me” Ps 56:9 – 11.  And Paul asks, “If God is for us, who can be against us?”  Understand two things:

• Breaking the approval cycle means risking rejection by saying no when others expect to hear yes.  When people are used to meek, complaint responses, they will react negatively till they get used to the “new you”.  Certainly navigating uncharted waters is intimidating, but is it really any worse than living the rest of your life in fear of other people’s reactions?
• You may have to explain to others that in the past you sought their approval because you felt insecure, but that is no longer the case.  The important thing is to act now.  Breaking any addiction involves discomfort and suffering, but the only other option is spending your life feeling trapped.  You can choose to suffer short-term on the way to freedom or long-term by continuing to engage in the struggle to please others.  So, which will it be?

Approval seeking cost Saul his kingdom.  God had told him to wait for Samuel to come before offering the evening sacrifice, but because Samuel was late and the people were getting impatient, Saul disobeyed.  And when Samuel questioned him, he replied, “When I saw…the people…slipping away from me…I…offered the burnt offering….  Samuel said, “You have done foolishly…The Lord would have established your kingdom…now it will not continue” 1 Sam 13:11 – 13.  Saul compromised his future because he feared man more than God.

Paul says, “Express truth in all things” Eph 4:15.  Approval seeking is basically dishonest, because people pleasers are not candid about their feelings.  You are telling people what they want to hear, rather than what you need to say!  You do not have to be rude, but you do not have to be a wimp either.  Just because somebody does not want to hear the truth does not negate your responsibility to speak it.

Have you often felt torn about things people are asking you to do?  One way God leads is through a sense of peace.  Isaiah talks about being “led forth with peace” Isa 55:12 and Paul says, “pursue…things which make for peace” Rom 14:19.  When you do not have peace about doing something it is OK to say so.  In fact, people should not expect you to proceed till you do.  But that rarely happens when people want your help to fulfill their agenda!  Jesus told His disciples that when people will not “receive…nor listen to your message, as you leave…shake the dust…from your feet” Matt 10:14.  So, when somebody’s reaction threatens to stop you from doing what you feel God wants you to do, be courageous, shake it off and move on.

LEFTOVERS

"I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten." Joel 2:25

Some of your reading this are old enough to remember hard times, shortages on cash, and limited menus.  You lived on a food budget, which meant you sometimes saw the same dish more than once.  Although, due to your Mom's incredible talent in the kitchen it did not always have the same face.  It might show up as mashed potatoes and peas on Monday, then shepherd's pie on Tuesday.  It might even come back a day or two later as something no one but your Mom herself could recognize.  She did chop it, dice it, mix in some cheese, splash Cream of Mushroom soup over the top, dress it up with some parsley, put it on a fancy tray, give it a French-sounding name and you thought it was something brand new!  Could not Mom work miracles with leftovers?

Well guess what?  God works the same way too!  If you bring Him what you have left over, He can turn it into something you never would have thought possible.  You just need to step away, turn it over to Him and let Him do His thing.  You did not hover over your Mom when she was reinventing your dinner.  You were smart enough to know that everything would come out a lot better if you just kept your hands off it.  This is not to say you should keep your hands entirely off your own life.  You just need to step back far enough to let God work without hindrance.  When you do, the promise that "All things work together for good" suddenly becomes a reality in your life.

PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS

This is also known as Respiratory Tuberculosis or Koch’s disease.

Pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) is a contagious bacterial infection that mainly involves the lungs, but may spread to other organs. It has a worldwide prevalence of 1.5 billion people infected with the disease. 10% of these infections are drug resistant and therefore harder to treat.

Pulmonary tuberculosis is caused by bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis). You can get tuberculosis by breathing in air droplets from a cough or sneeze of an infected person.

The initial stage of the infection is usually asymptomatic (without symptoms). Most people will recover from primary TB infection without further evidence of the disease. However, in some cases, the disease may become active within weeks after the primary infection, or it may lie dormant for years and later reappear.

Risk Factors for TB

The following people are at a higher risk for developing active TB:

·         The elderly- because their immune systems are failing.

·         Persons with weakened immune systems, for example due to AIDS, chemotherapy, or anti-rejection medicines given after organ transplant.

·         Infants- because they are yet to build up a strong immune system.

The risk of contracting TB also increases if you:

·         Are in frequent contact with people who have the disease.

·         Live in crowded or unsanitary living conditions.

·         Have poor nutrition.

The factors that may increase the rate of tuberculosis infection in a population include:

·         Increase in HIV infections

·         Increase in number of poor or homeless individuals (poor environment and poor nutrition)

·         The appearance of drug-resistant strains of TB

Symptoms of TB

·         Chronic Cough

·         Fever

·         Fatigue

·         Loss of appetite

·         Unintentional and often drastic weight loss

·         Coughing up of blood 

·         Phlegm-producing cough

·         Wheezing

·         Excessive sweating, especially at night

·         Chest pain

·         Difficulty breathing

Treatment

The goal of treatment is to cure the infection with drugs that fight the tuberculosis bacteria. The initial treatment may involve a combination of many drugs. It is continued until lab tests show which medicine works best. You may have to take a number of drugs daily for a long period of time.

Treatment usually lasts for 6-9 months, but longer courses may be needed for persons with AIDS or whose disease responds slowly.

You may need to be admitted to a hospital (quarantined) to prevent the spread of the disease to others until you are no longer contagious. In some cases admission is to ensure compliance and the medical personnel ensure the drugs are taken daily (daily observed therapy).

The Nigerian government provides subsidized drugs and treatment for people with TB in some specialized facilities nationwide. In some of these facilities the drugs are totally free.

Incomplete treatment of TB infections (such as failure to take medications for the prescribed length of time) can contribute to the emergence of drug-resistant strains of bacteria.

Prognosis

Symptoms may improve in 2 to 3 weeks. A chest x-ray will not show this improvement until much later. Prognosis is excellent if pulmonary TB is diagnosed early and treatment is started early.

Complications

Pulmonary TB can cause permanent lung damage if not treated early. Medicines used to treat TB may cause side effects, such as hepatitis and an orange or brown coloration of tears and urine. This change in color of tears and urine can be very dramatic and many Nigerians have been fooled into unnecessarily buying anti-TB drugs to “cleanse their blood” by road side drug hawkers.

When to seek Medical Advice

·         Visit your hospital if you have been exposed to tuberculosis, or if symptoms of TB develop.

·         Visit your hospital if symptoms persist despite treatment.

·         Visit your hospital if new symptoms develop, including indications that complications are developing.

Prevention of TB Spread

·         TB is a preventable disease, even in those who have been exposed to an infected person. Skin testing for TB is used in high risk populations or in individuals who may have been exposed to TB, such as health care workers.

·         A BCG vaccination to prevent TB is given in most countries with a high incidence of TB including Nigeria; this vaccine is one of vaccines that Fidelity Bank provides for newborns. It is not routinely used in the United States and other countries where TB is not prevalent. People who have had BCG may still be skin tested for TB and results of testing (if positive) should be discussed with one's doctor.

·         Prompt treatment is extremely important in controlling the spread of tuberculosis for those who have already progressed to active TB disease.

·         If you notice a family member or work colleague has developed the symptoms of TB contact Human Resources so we can ensure they receive adequate care and also prevent the spread to others.

Remember Prevention is better than cure.

Dr. Olukayode Williams