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Indeed, We Owe God Thanks: I Pause to Say, Thank You
By Tolulope A. Adegoke
“Man becomes foolish the moment he is full of himself! No one is self-made! we all are recipients of a series of favours (benefits) to have arrived or attained any height whatsoever through phases of divine orchestrations or interventions in our daily human endeavours. An ingrate is a hateful soul, and will be destroyed in no time! A grateful soul is unchained, unbounded, illimitable, irrefutable, indefatigable, indispensable and irresistible! It is Gratitude that increases our Grace level, and it is by God’s Grace that we are not consumed! Gratitude is the debt we owe the Maker as living souls, which must be paid or the source of supply is cut! Therefore, gratitude aligns us with divine orders beyond mortality void of immorality! Therefore, I have resolved to paint my “depth of gratitude” on the canvass of the submission below, with the effective quill of sincerity and utmost humility, dipped in the durable ink of love, kindness, health and wholeness on the royal pedestals of sanity sanctity and safety as given by the Maker, God Almighty! – Tolulope A. Adegoke
“Thank You!
I am grateful!
Thanks for being there!
You are so much appreciated!
I recognize & acknowledge you!
In fact, YOUR SWEAT IS WHAT WETS THE GROUND FOR ME TO BLOSSOM IN WONDERS!
I am not self-made!
I have been helped to be ‘who’, ‘what’, ‘where’ I am today! And would continue to enjoy Your Unconditional Love.
I can do nothing by “myself” without Your Grace!
Thank you for empowering me.
I am a product of infinite God’s Presence and Grace through His Unconditional Love!
Thank You (God) for being in love with me.
I Love You too!
In Your Love, I love!
In Your Light, I shine!
In Your Life, I live.
On Your Wings, I soar!
I could give, because I have been given. Just as revealed in the Book of Life: “It has been freely given to be freely GIVEN” – Matthew 10:8b!
It is a common knowledge that ignorance is not an excuse in law! When the law of life is broken, we become victims. My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge – Hosea 4:6!
Many destinies are grounded today because they take gratitude to God for granted!
When you take God for granted, you get grounded!
Anyone you show favour to and does not know how to respond would attract constraint from getting other favours from you- it is natural!
The word “Thank you” is what qualifies you for the next act of favour!
Many people have had great times sometimes in the past, but the great time has turned into gloomy days because they didn’t acknowledge the SOURCE of the great times! So, the one behind it withdraws and turns its back- May God not turn His back on us!
Every living soul should be addicted to thanksgiving, just like alcoholics are addicted to wines and beers, and smokers to cigarettes.
Destiny opens up to us on its own accord when we gladly subscribe to Thanksgiving as lifestyle! It envelops and cocoons us in God (Divinity)! The Creator does not need our material endowments, or pleasures of this world; if He were hungry, all the flocks in the field and beasts of the wild are His, but He doesn’t eat, nor sleep! The only thing God cannot give to Himself is to praise Himself! And this is all He requires of us as the works of His Mighty Hands to lavish unto Him as long as our hearts beats.
God inhabits the praise of His people – Psalm 22:3.
Nothing is more valuable in life than Divine presence! It what you need to have a most triumphant ride on journeys to heroic destiny – Romans 8:31. When we give God praise out of the abundance of His Love in us, we qualify for His Divine Presence- which is what makes all the difference.
When give, it is simply out of what we have been given by Him (God Almighty)! Therefore, I pause to say Thank You: for everything, every time and everywhere;
I am nothing without YOU (GOD ALMIGHTY)!”
Goodly and Godly Reminder:
The Book of Life in Psalm 100 : 3-5 (KJV) reveals :
“3. Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 4 Enter his gate with thanksgiving and into his court with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. 5 For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.”
The Supremacy of God!
“Man is way too expensive to be maintained by Man. Only God Almighty has that capacity in place. Without GRACE, we all are dead beings! Gratitude to me is fashioned out of the characteristics below, for without them, it is incomplete:
The
Grateful heart is deliberately cultured
Resourcefulness and Responsiveness
Authentic Personified
Teachable and Tolerant
Indefatigability
Trustworthiness and Worthy of Emulation
Understanding
Developed developer
Enterprising and Experienced!
Only the Finger of God can instill the above qualities in a man to maintain his existence as a living being on this plane called Earth! No man has the capacity to maintain himself, all by himself! Therefore, as living beings, we owe God everything, especially our GRATITUDE!
Nobody runs away from a grateful person. You can run away from a gifted person, but not a grateful person. It is gratitude that increases our level in all realms of life as a being.
Gratitude is an attitude of the wise which determines our altitude in every facet our lives. A grateful soul is hate-free, and such life would eventually be hitch-free as he or she hatches the “shells” of ego, and brings down the “walls” of “self” and avarice in the affairs of their being as a being privileged by God with a soul, so to become.
Man’s Response-Ability (Responsibility)!
You must understand that nobody controls you! Never look on the negativity of life so as not to power (activate) the negativities. Focus on the positive vision!
You must deeply understand that there is need to continue to renew your mind by renouncing and rejecting the negative vibes or energies of what could happen – it is the feelings that draws the happenings.
Create the positive feelings that begins to draw the happenings. The thoughts would simply broadcast the feelings and the feelings would bring the happenings. The Book of Life reveals that: “with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. And in the that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted (Isaiah 12:3-6 KJV)”. It is our sole responsibility as a people created by God to intentionally create the atmosphere for Gratitude, come what may!
If we can monitor our feelings, we can determine what could happen. Change the feelings by changing the thoughts. Get over the feelings of helplessness or that creates a reality of negativity (against your desires).
The goal is the Gratitude of the past, present and future to override the weaknesses and limitations. Keep feeling your desires against self-defeating thoughts. You prosper where ever you are planted with Humility, Gratitude and Contentment. We have been wired by God to be solutions to problems and challenges where ever we are. Until you come to that affirmation where you are, where ever you go remains the same.
Every positive things comes to me. I connect to vision, it connects me to people, and I return all the glory to God Almighty in the Highest for depositing in me the actual solutions that the world needs per time. Whatever you thank God for keeps flowing, stays preserved and improves. That is why timely thanksgiving unto God Almighty in the Highest is mandatory of our continuous relevance!
Thanksgiving is the sacrificial requirement for receiving the fullness of God and maintaining the blessings that comes from it. It fills our spiritual tanks with gratitude to God for Who we acknowledge Him to be in our lives, such that our lives becomes channels of blessings to the world around us. When God accepts our thanksgiving. He blesses it to bless us and also enables us to become blessings unto others, such that even the blessed calls us blessed!
Thanksgiving renews our spiritual strengths. It honours God.
Thanksgiving must be engaged with joyfulness of heart.
Thanksgiving shakes the Heavens, and earth in our favour. It commits the earth to continuously yield her increases unto us. As Children of the All-Wise God, we must engage in timely thanksgiving to God Almighty.
Delayed gratitude is bad attitude. It’s a show of utmost disregards to The Maker of All Beings and Things! It is wisest to be wise enough to engage timely gratitude. Wisdom demands that we engage in timely gratitude to the Maker for wholeness, case study of the Ten lepers – Luke 17:17
Timely and sincere thanksgiving is sweet smelling savour unto God Almighty.
Please, note that, no man, no other being nor thing should share in the glory due to God Almighty! -Exodus 23:25. When we pray, angels picks them up, then present them to God, but when we praise God, the whole Heaven comes down, then such a man or woman enjoy what is termed as Heaven on Earth, simply because of the absolute Presence of God in and around is entireties.
Give God thanks in all situation! Praise Him in all season, without ceasing!
Dr. Tolulope A. Adegoke is an accredited ISO 20700 Effective Leadership Management Trainer.
E-mail: adegoketolulope1022@gmail.com;
Impeached Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, has described the corruption allegations against him as “fictitious and unsubstantiated”.
Speaking during a welcome rally at his residence in GRA, Ikeja on Saturday, Obasa maintained that he was not afraid of being impeached but emphasised that due process was not followed.
The former Speaker alleged that his removal was orchestrated while he was away, and accused the state commissioner of police of aiding the process.
He claimed security agents, led by the police commissioner, invaded the assembly complex and his homes in Agege and Ikeja, locking his family indoors with over 200 officers present.
Obasa dismissed allegations of misappropriation.
He mocked claims that a gate construction had cost N16 billion, saying, “Is it the wall of Jericho?”
He said: “I am not afraid of being removed, after all, it is not my father’s chieftaincy title. I am representing my people and they have returned me six times. If you want to do anything, do it well.
“They did the removal all because I was out of the country. Lagos is a special place, we cannot denigrate the state.
The former Speaker cited the case of the former speaker, Rt. Hon Jokotola Pelumi.
He said when Pelumi was removed, he was in the assembly and “we did not invite policemen.
“When my sister, former deputy speaker of the House, Hon. Adefunmilayo Tejuosho was removed, we did not invite the police.”
Obasa said an innocent person should not be discredited, and there must be proof of allegations showing exactly what he has done.
“The Lagos State House of Assembly is above common standard of excellence.
“I appreciate the members of the governance advisory council and Governor Babajide Olusola Aanwo-Olu of the state. He is my brother and he always calls me his younger brother.”
Obasa was impeached on January 13 by more than two-thirds of the 40-member legislative house over alleged misconduct and sundry offences.
His Deputy, Mojisola Meranda, was immediately elected the new speaker, becoming the first female to take charge of the legislative body in the State.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has confirmed that 38 persons, including seven crew members, were injured when a United Airlines plane made an emergency landing in Lagos on Friday morning.
The Boeing 787-8 flight with 245 passengers was en route to Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), in the United States, from the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, when it developed problems midair and was forced to return to the airport.
There were also 11 crew members – eight attendants and three pilots – on the plane.
The FAAN Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Obiageli Orah, who confirmed the incident through a statement, said all passengers and crew disembarked safely.
She, however, said four passengers and two crew members sustained serious injuries.
According to her, 27 passengers and five crew members had minor injuries.
The statement read: “The United Airlines Boeing 787-800 departed Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, at 11:59pm on Thursday, but made air return and landed safely at 3.22am on Friday.
“On board were 245 adults and 11 crew members.
“The team of Aerodrome Rescue and Fire Fighting Services, Aviation Medical, and Aviation Security were already at the gate when the aeroplane parked for deboarding at D31 without incident, and the door was opened at 3:37am.
“While all passengers and crew disembarked safely, four passengers and two crew members sustained serious injuries, and an additional 27 passengers and five crew members had minor injuries.
“The rescue team responded swiftly and effectively, having been on alert and standby.
“Aviation medical ambulances transported the injured passengers, some to the MMA Clinic and others to the headquarters clinic.”
By Henry Ukazu
Dear Destiny Friends,
There’s no doubt that human beings by nature are insatiable. When we get one opportunity, we always look for another. When we attain one height, we always look for another accomplishment. Isn’t it true that the end of one mountain is the beginning of another.
However, I don’t think it’s selfish for anyone to dare to succeed.
Being ambitious doesn’t make one an opportunist or disloyal. It all depends on one’s perception or outlook to life. It’s just natural for one to dream big. It’s only ugly when the process one chooses to achieve his desires becomes dirty and nasty.
According to a former Nigerian presidential candidate and seasoned Economist, Mr. Peter Obi, “if you must be referred to as “Your Excellency”, then the process through which you arrived in office must be excellent”.
If you desire to be reckoned with on the journey of existence, you must be legitimately hungry for success. One’s hunger for success will facilitate the drive to accomplish great tasks despite daunting obstacles posing as challenges.
When one has this mindset, one will not be bothered by the noise which serves as obstacles and challenges along the way. Negative and weak minds are always concerned on why something won’t work. They tend to focus their energy and reasons on the obstacles facing them. But great and productive minds always focus their energy on the reasons why it will work. This is the spirit of an insatiable mind who is a goal- getter.
It’s instructive to note that we can’t please everyone. According to Bill Cosby, a famous actor, “I don’t know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everyone.” Isn’t it true that when you talk, people will still talk about you, when you don’t talk, people will talk about you, so whether you talk or not, people will still judge you, so, do what’s best for you. There’s nothing you can do to please human beings. Your best option is to live your best life.
To understand how the insatiable nature of man works, one must be oneself. You don’t have to “please” anyone. Be yourself, and don’t try to be like anyone just to curry favour. It’s important to note that when you are yourself, the people that matter will come through for you, and the people that don’t matter will gradually find the bearing in another space because those that truly care don’t bother and those that bother don’t really matter in the grand scheme of things.
Life has truly taught me to focus on the important things of life as opposed to the mundane things. It’s truly sad to see people spending more time on the little things of life, and spending little time on the important things of life. That’s just a misplaced priority.
When you are yourself, the best people can do is to copy or imitate your style. They can never imitate your creativity nor can take your originality from you.
We live in a world or society where people don’t generally care or show empathy. Most people tend to live around themselves, their family, and close associates. They generally find it hard to lift a finger to assist others for reasons best known to them. Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka once said, “we live in a wicked generation”, re-echoing the voices of a lot of people of the world. Some people in authority just have criminal expertise in amassing wealth of opportunities meant for the citizens without thinking of the citizens they are meant to serve.
It’s worthy of note that not everyone will like you nor support your work, but when you find people who truly care about you; please hold them tight. This is because despite having family members you have shown love and compassion, they might not still appreciate you even if you lay your life for them, they will still find something to say. Again, this is the insatiable nature of man.
It’s okay for everyone not to like you, normalize living your life for God, yourself, family and those that care about you. If everyone likes you, you have a problem.
Did you know that you can get a new family from friends, strangers, and acquaintances? These sets of people might appreciate you more than your own family members. They might not demand or under appreciate you like your family members and close friends or associates. Any little support you give them will be highly appreciated. Their focus is to see you do better.
In conclusion, as you desire to succeed in life, never give in to failure until you have made your last attempt, and never make your last attempt until you succeed. This literally means whatever you desire, dream it, think it, say it, and believe you can achieve it. This principle is generally applicable to relationships, businesses, family, personal and professional development.
Henry Ukazu writes from New York. He works with the New York City Department of Correction as the Legal Coordinator. He’s the founder of Gloemi. He’s a Transformative Human Capacity and Mindset coach. He is also a public speaker, youth advocate, creative writer and author of Design Your Destiny Design Your and Unleash Your Destiny . He can be reached via info@gloemi.com
