Choose Your Second Name Carefully

Neither this man (a man born blind) nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God may be revealed in him. ­– Jesus (speaking to his students).

It is easy for people to define you based on conditions you know nothing of. Situations beyond your control can leave a name that you detest attached to you for the rest of your life. Imbecile, Albino, Black, White, Third world, Poor, Short, Thin, and much more are used to place a definition on folks. Of a truth it is impossible to completely severe yourself from all of these – somehow one (or more) gets you.

This is so because we are all born with situations beyond our control. It was like the story of two famous twins in the Bible – Esua and Jacob. At their births, the first came out hairy and so he was named Esua (hairy). The second came out holding unto the heel of Esua and was named Jacob (usurper). These kids did not have a choice over what the world defined them with - they were born with it. They did not have a say as to what their name, and henceforth identities, would be. 

Later in their lives they both had the opportunity to be further defined based on their actions. Esua sold his first born rights to Jacob for a plate of red stew and based on this action was named “Red”. Jacob troubled an angel and fought for a blessing and based on this action was named “Israel”. This second set of names were binding and have lasted centuries beyond their lifetimes.

My point is, what we are born with is not as important as what we do with it. You may have been born into a family that defines poverty at a glance but you can leave a great inheritance and legacy for your children’s children. You may have been born out of wedlock but you can be the best parent, husband or wife that the world around you will ever see. Hold on to Jesus’ priceless words when he said of a man born with blindness: Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God may be revealed in him, and let the works of God be revealed in your life. 

How to Locate God's Provision for You...

So Abraham called the name of that place The Lord Will Provide. And it is said to this day, On the mount of the Lord it will be provided.

Provision is key to achieving your goals. If you are to achieve the things you dream to achieve you need to find provision of the resources required to do it. 

     In considering this thought line I recall my teenage year’s addiction to the computer game, Super Mario. Three things will ensure you succeed in taking Super Mario to the end of each stage; the amount of life he has left, his degree of invisibility, and the weapons he has at his disposal. Mario does not have these things all through his adventure and you will have to get to certain stages of each level to get the provision of more life, invisibility, or better weapons. Whenever you have the three combined you feel super indeed until the time it wears out.

     As it is with Super Mario so it is with your success journey. If you would receive God’s provision you must be at the right place. This is important. If Mario does not arrive at the stage in the game level where he can get more life or weapons, he will receive no provision, irrespective of how much dire need he is in.

     On God’s instruction, Abraham set out on a strange journey that would redefine his entire life and that of the nation that would come after him. He followed instructions to a specific mountain of which he was told to make a big sacrifice. At the very moment that he was to strike his son, he heard a call that showed him the real sacrifice. Don’t you wonder what would have happened if he had gone to the wrong mountain?

      A similar thing happened to Elijah. In the heat of a famine he received this instruction: “Get out of here fast. Head east and hide out at the Kerith Ravine on the other side of the Jordan River. You can drink fresh water from the brook; I’ve ordered the ravens to feed you there.” It was important he followed all these instructions on location because there and there alone is the provision. 
      If you would receive provision you must be at the right place. 

BIG Thieves Stoning small Thieves

All right, hurl the stones at her until she dies. But only he who never sinned may throw the first! – Jesus (the Christ)

Have you noticed that, more often than not, we have solutions to other people’s problems but are perplexed by the same problems in our own lives? Somehow it is easy for me to solve my problems than it is to solve mine.

Sequel to this when people do things they are plainly improper and wrong but when I do the same things I have a reason why it happened the way it did.

This happens because we all think logically towards other people but emotionally toward ourselves. When relating to folks we use our heads and when we are handling ourselves we use our hearts.

In truth – if we would make progress with ourselves and be of help to folks – we need to reverse the process. We are to handle folks with our hearts while we handle ourselves with our heads.

Develop the habit of cutting folks some slack. The same reason why you do improper things may just be theirs. Some time ago I broke a driving law because I was trying to get to my father in the hospital who needed my help. Whilst doing it I wondered what the other law-abiding folks were thinking. They probably were thinking the things I think of folks I see breaking the same law.

I in no way suggest that you break laws for just any reason but am saying that when we know the reasons people do some things we may have a paradigm shift. This means that we may see the same things differently because we are now looking from a different perspective.

I know that you sincerely want to help. You indeed can help folks to make progress in their success paths but I would encourage you to use these words as guideline:

Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures,

Criticize their faults – unless, of course, 

You want the same treatment.

That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging.

It’s easy to see a smudge on your neighbors face

And be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own.

Do you have the nerve to say,

“let me wash your face for you,”

When your own face is distorted by contempt?

… Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face,

       And you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor. 

Winter of my Discontent

It’s not time for despair, but for repair. – Gary Montecalvo

 I am at that point where you look carefully at what you are doing and where you are headed and wonder whether you know, in heavens name, where your life is going. (It isn’t that I am experiencing this for the first time – just that every time feels new in its own right.) I had a long talk some hours ago with my better half (that’s an overused humble way of simply saying wife) and we questioned every way I feel can move me to the next level of goal achievement. Good part of being married is that you can no longer make solo decisions. At the end of our talk I cannot categorically say we made progress.

Deep within my heart lies a discontent – a feeling that there is much more to lay hands on, much more to do and experience. Logically, it would suffice to say, “Young man you have a long life to live so please be still,” but if you have been young you would attest to the feeling of desperation that frequently keeps it company.

While drifting along in thoughts my mind went to Adam with his wife, Eve, in the garden. No history books. No folk tales. No songs. Just the two of them and all of creation. How did they overcome their winters of discontent? What did they result to when it was looking obvious that their dreams (and the whole of mankind) would die with them? Did they despair? Did they fall into the gloomy pit of depression as many of us would?

Just the way I cannot answer my own questions, I also have no certain answers to these questions. Instead, I look to another man who was left all alone at his time of despair. At one time, David’s camp was raided and all the women, children, and their possessions were taken. His men were in despair and debated if the best action was to kill their leader and friend, David. David was found himself in a winter of discontent. He would have stayed confused and depressed but instead we read that, “David encouraged and strengthened himself in the Lord.” May that be where Adam received strength? Most probably.
                          [Also Read: Tired? Take a life leave]

At your times of trouble I implore you to look to the Lord. It is there that you receive encouragement that strengthens.

Dream-Maker

I just now remembered something – I’m sorry, I should have told you this long ago … there was a young Hebrew slave whom we told our dreams and he interpreted them for us. – Pharoah’s Cupbearer (speaking of Joseph)

 I am not one of those who believe in the “Self-made” man. I read gazillions of articles that use words like, “Self-made millionaire,” “Self-developed speaker,” and lots more but I don’t think that in practice there is anyone that can described as such.

That is simply because I don’t believe that the governor in a great governor is solely accountable for the greatness of the governor. I strongly believe that the friend, the foe, the neighbor, the stranger, the seller, the buyer, the speaker, the listener, the teacher, the learner, the receiver, the giver, the lover, the hater, the ex-lover, the marketer, the consumer, etc. in the governor, also play an imperative role.

All the people and factors that surround our lives collectively make us. They help you succeed in succeeding or succeed in failing. I believe that Moses wouldn’t be Moses without Pharoah and Jethro, David wouldn’t be David without Samuel and Saul, Jesus wouldn’t have been the same Jesus without Joseph and Mary.

You can be part of the another’s success story. I met a friend after a long time apart. I discovered that he was now a pilot. I was noticeably in awe of this. The closest I have come to a pilot was the public address they give before take-off and landing. So I dug deeper as to how he became one. He briefly narrated how his father called him up and asked if he still wanted to pursue his childhood dream of flying and offered to support him actualize it.

When folks tell you of their dreams and aspirations, search your heart to see how you can help them bring it to pass. No person grows appropriately as an island. We all need others to survive and to thrive. My success is tied to you and so is yours to me. There is a song that goes:

I need you

You need me

We’re all a part of God’s body

Stand with me

Agree with me

We’re all a part of God’s body

It is his will that every need be supplied

You are important to me

I need you to survive

I won’t harm you

With words from my mouth

I love you

I need you to survive…

…

Decide today that you will be a part of someone’s success story. You will be glad you did.

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