Winning Wisdom – Spiritual Growth: The Effects 1

Winning Wisdom – Spiritual Growth: The Effects 1

Author: Ese Ehimare Dave

Topic – Spiritual Growth: The Effects 1 [Saturday, 11th Mar. 2017]

And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. John 17:3

While it is good for us to grow spiritually, it is very important for us to know what is really entails, or the end product of spiritual growth. Most times, people measure spiritual growth with the wrong indices. People measure spiritual growth with how much theoretical knowledge you have about God, that is, how much scriptures you know. There are others that measure spiritual growth by how long a person have been a Christian. While these are good, they are the wrong indices to measure spiritual growth.

One very important indices to measure spiritual growth is an increase in your fellowship with the Lord. You will have an increased desire for fellowship with God's Spirit. Your love for the Lord and for all that He stands for, will increase. In Philippians  1:9, Paul prayed that our "love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment." This is a key indices to measure spiritual growth.

Spiritual growth increases the god-likeness in you. It makes you have the same feather with God. And birds of the same feather flock together. You and God will flock together more intensely than ever, if you are growing spiritually. If this is not happening, then it is safe to say that you are not growing spiritually, even if you can quote the scriptures from cover to cover. But it is God's desire that we draw closer to Him in fellowship (James 4:8), even as we grow spiritually.

Keep winning daily.

Prayer:

Dear Lord, thank You for an increased desire to know You more intently. I ask that You increase my passion for fellowship with You by Your Spirit and help me draw closer to You, in Jesus' Name. Amen.

Our Daily Bread Devotional, March 10, 2017 - Home

Our Daily Bread Devotional, March 10, 2017 - Home

Topic: Home [Friday March 10, 2017]

Read: Ephesians 2:11–22, Bible in a Year:Deuteronomy 11–13; Mark 12:1–27

You are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people.Ephesians 2:19

A young African refugee who goes by the name of Steven is a man without a country. He thinks he may have been born in Mozambique or Zimbabwe. But he never knew his father and lost his mother. She fled civil war, traveling country to country as a street vendor. Without ID and unable to prove his place of birth, Steven walked into a British police station, asking to be arrested. Jail seemed better to Steven than trying to exist on the streets without the rights and benefits of citizenship.

The plight of living without a country was on Paul’s mind as he wrote his letter to the Ephesians. His non-Jewish readers knew what it was like to live as aliens and outsiders (2:12). Only since finding life and hope in Christ (1:13) had they discovered what it meant to belong to the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 5:3). In Jesus, they learned what it means to be known and cared for by the Father He came to reveal (Matt. 6:31–33).

Paul realized, however, that as the past fades from view, a short memory can cause us to forget that, while hope is the new norm, despair was the old reality.

May our God help us to live in security—to know each day the belonging that we have as members of His family is by faith in Jesus Christ and to understand the rights and benefits of having our home in Him.

Prayer: Lord, as we remember how hopeless we were before You found us, please help us not to forget those who are still on the street.

Hope means the most to those who have lived without it.

Insight:

It’s easy to feel lost. The apostle Paul knew some of his readers felt that way. In his letter to the Ephesians, he wrote to them about being part of God’s family. They were no longer “foreigners” and “excluded” (2:12) but were “fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household” (v. 19). How does knowing you are part of God’s family help when you feel lost and alone?

This message was written By Mart DeHaan [Our Daily Bread Ministries.]

RTD MJR GEN ROBERT ADEYINKA ADEBAYO ( 1928-2017 )

RTD MJR GEN  ROBERT ADEYINKA ADEBAYO ( 1928-2017 )

Adeyinka Adebayo was born in 1928, the son of a Public Works employee from ERA AREA IN OKETORO QTR , IYIN EKITI and his mother is also from OKELAWE ,IYIN EKITI .
He was educated at All Saints School, Iyin-Ekiti, and later attended Eko Boys High School and Christ's School Ado Ekiti. He was taken to ilorin by chief meboloshirin  and He later joined the West African Frontier Force in 1948 as a regiment signaler and later completed the Officer Cadet Training Course in Teshie, Ghana from 1950 to 1952. After passing the War Office Examination for Commonwealth cadets in 1952 as well as the West African qualifying examination in 1953, he was commissioned as an officer in the Royal West African Frontier Force (RWAFF) as the 23rd West African military officer with number WA23 and 7th Nigerian military officer with number N7 after completing the War Office Cadet Training in Eaton Hall, England. He later attended the Staff College course in Camberley (Surrey) in 1960 and the prestigious Imperial Defence College, London in late 1965 where he was the only African officer.

Career -

Adeyinka Adebayo became an officer in 1953.

Platoon Commander, 1954-1955
Regimental signal officer, 1955-1957
Between 1957 and 1958, he was an aide-de-camp to a British governor-general (the last British governor-general of Nigeria- Sir James Robertson-1957) Company and Detachment Commander, Ikoyi, 1958 to 1960
First Nigerian general staff officer, Grade 2 (Intelligence) at the United Nations Headquarters in 1961
First national general staff officer, Grade 2 Nigerian Army Headquarters, 1961–1962
First Nigerian to be appointed general staff officer Grade 1, 1962–1963
Commander, Nigerian contingent in the Congo, 1963
He served as staff officer in the United Nations peacekeeping force during the Congo crisis, 1961–1963
Chief of staff, Nigerian Army Headquarters, February 1964 – November 1965 (He was the first indigenous chief of staff of the Nigerian Army)
Chairman, Organinization of African Unity (OAU) Defence Planning Committee, 1963–1965
Head of Nigerian delegation to the OAU Summit in Ethiopia, November 1966
Military governor, Western Nigeria, 1966–1971
Commandant, Nigerian Defence Academy, 1971–1972
Ceremonial military duties, 1972–1975
Retired from the Nigerian Army with the rank of major-general, July 1975
One of the founders of and vice chairman of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN), 1979–1983
Governor of Western State of Nigeria

As governor of the Western region he promted agricultural extension services in particular the establishment of the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, Moor Plantation, Ibadan.

Biafra War

Adebayo advised against the use of force in resolving the Biafran crisis. In one of the most prescient and articulate quotations of the war, he declared:-

I need not tell you what horror, what devastation and what extreme human suffering will attend the use of force. When it is all over and the smoke and dust have lifted, and the dead are buried, we shall find, as other people have found, that it has all been futile, entirely futile, in solving the problems we set out to solve

At the onset of war, Colonel Adebayo, then governor of the then Western State ordered all bridges into the West be demolished to prevent the Biafran rebels from reaching Lagos the capital of Nigeria via his state. The rebels went as far as Ore in present-day Ondo State about 100 kilometres (62 mi) from Lagos.

After the war, he was appointed by the head of state, General Yakubu Gowon, as the chairman of the committee on the reconciliation and integration of the Ibos (Biafrans) back into the Nigerian fold.

Farmers Revolt

Major General Adebayo was the governor during the infamous farmers' "Agbekoya" revolt over taxation which was eventually resolved peacefully and harmoniously. Robert Adeyinka Adebayo retired from the Nigeria Army as a major general in 1975.

Later life

As of 2011 Adebayo is the chairman of the Yoruba Council of Elders. His eldest son Otunba Niyi Adebayo was a governor of Ekiti State in Nigeria from 1999 to 2003. Another son, Adesola Adebayo was the Commissioner for Works and Transport, Ekiti State under Dr Kayode Fayemi led Administration from 2010 to 2014.Another son, Adedayo Adebayo, played rugby for Bath and for the England National team winning six international caps between 1996 and 1999. Another of his children, Leke Adebayo is an actor, writer and producer in London and has appeared in and scripted various productions.

May his soul rest in peace

Standing Ovation for International Woman of The Day

As culled from Modern Ghana, according to Kenneth! Today is International Women's Day .As a youth activist I have taken it upon myself to celebrate young African women who are making impact in their communities and countries. Today I celebrate a change maker, entrepreneur and a mentor of thousands of young leaders in Africa. Her name is Adepeju Jaiyeoba from Nigeria.

Adepeju Jaiyeoba is a skilled community advocate with experience in women’s right and maternal and child health in Nigeria. She is the founder of Mothers’ Delivery Kit, a company that manufactures and distributes birth kits for purchase. In this capacity, she coordinates business development for the organisation and works to continually develop an effective distribution line that will see women across Nigeria connected to lifesaving supplies irrespective of their location at childbirth.

Adepeju is an award winning entrepreneur, trained lawyer, public speaker and maternal and child health enthusiast passionate about innovation and creating simple lifesaving solutions.

She is the founder of Brown Button Foundation which trains birth attendants and Mothers Delivery Kit which provides ultra affordable sterile supplies for women to use at childbirth while also increasing access to quality healthcare services.

With hundreds of thousands of kits sold, Adepeju is a:

•White House Emerging Global Entrepreneur in 

2015.•Research Fellow of the Coady International Institute•2016 PATH Innovation Champion•D-Prize Awardee in Global Health•Cordes Fellow

•2014 Mandela Washington Fellow
•Fellow, Georgia Tech Ivan Allen College Global Women's Entrepreneurship Institute

•Young Innovator of the World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH)

•Member of Women in Successful Careers (WISCAR)

•She Leads Africa’s top 10 female entrepreneur for Diaspora Demo day

•2015 YNaija top 10 most influential Nigerians under 40 (Advocacy)

•Global Change Leader awardee, Coady International Institute, Canada.

Upon her great achievement and contribution to reducing maternal Health in Africa, Adepeju is very humble, selfless and an epitome of leadership. Many young African leaders are looking up to her .She has mentored thousands.

Winning Wisdom: Remember Not

Winning Wisdom: Remember Not

Topic: Remember Not [Wednesday, 8th Mar. 2017]

Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Isaiah 43:18

The brain, we've been told, is like a big basket, and whatever thing that enters stays. This means that we have the ability to recall every experience, every memory, every pain, every hurt, every sin. This can get really wearisome, as we'd wish to forget some experiences, but they just keep coming back to weigh us down. The devil also uses these experiences and sins to make us feel guilt and condemn us. Our Father in heaven, however, tells us to remember "not the former things, neither consider the things of old" (Isaiah 43:18).

You may ask why we should forget these sins and experiences.

First, God has forgiven our sins, and He doesn't remember them. Isaiah 43:25 says "I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins". Now the Sovereign God has said He would not remember our sins, why then do we call them to mind. Whenever the devil tries to condemn us with such sins, remind Him that they've been blotted out, and God remembers them no more.

Secondly, in place of our hurt and pain God has promised to do a new thing. Isaiah 43:19 says, "behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert." Of a truth God wants the absolute best for you, and He has promised a fresh beginning in accomplishment of that. Now, it is left to you to forget the former things, do away with the old things and look forward to the new things God promised.

Keep winning daily.

Wise Action:

Whenever you're faced with pains of the past or condemnation for past wrongs, remind yourself with scriptures that God has forgotten them, and ask Him to help you trust in His Word for a new beginning.

By Esun Tekeme

The Foundation for an Enviable Marriage

Foundation for an Enviable Marriage by Pastor Faith Oyedepo

Author: Pastor Faith Oyedepo

Topic: Foundation for an Enviable Marriage

Dear Reader,

It is a good day and a glorious month!  You are blessed in Jesus’ name.  I welcome you to another refreshing time in God’s presence.  This month, I will be teaching on the Foundation For An Enviable Marriage.

God’s Word says: If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do? (Psalms 11:3).  It is important for you to know that marriage is not a promise, but a covenant relationship.  An enviable Christian marriage is neither a promise from God, nor does it come by wishing.

The marriage covenant involves two parties: God on one hand and the man (and his wife) on the other.  God is the initiator of the covenant and His terms of agreement are sealed up in His Word.  Man, on his part, is required to obey God’s terms of the agreement.

God instituted marriage and family life.  He made the terms and limits of the marriage covenant available to us, through His Word in the Bible.  Thus, you can enjoy an exciting marriage, if only you understand the terms of the marriage covenant, and live within the limits of the covenant.

God’s Word says: God upholds all things by the Word of His power (Hebrews 1:3). All things here include marriage and family life.  This Scripture clearly reveals to us that God’s Word is power.

If you want God to uphold your marriage so as not to crumble, if your marriage must succeed and become outstanding, you need the power in the Word of God.  This is because all things are upheld by it.  You can’t put God and His Word aside, and expect to have an enviable marriage.  The foundation for this is following what God says about marriage and doing it.

Man’s hardness of heart towards God’s instructions has been a major reason for marital and family failure, all over the world.  The Lord Jesus said … But from the beginning it was not so…

God’s design for marriage and family life in the beginning was set towards fruitfulness and multiplication; it wasn’t designed for failure, heartaches or sorrow.  Even now, you don’t have to suffer marriage failure.  In fact, you can experience a great married life, if you open up to God’s Wisdom.

The foundation of an enviable marriage is God. Do you want to enjoy a most successful marriage?  If yes, then give your life to Christ.  This entails confessing your sins and accepting Jesus as your Lord and Saviour.  If you are ready for this new birth experience, please say this prayer: “Dear Lord Jesus, I come to You today as a sinner. Forgive me of my sins. I believe You died and rose on the third day for my sins.  I accept You as my Lord and Saviour.  Make me a child of God today. Thank You for accepting me into Your Kingdom.”

Congratulations! You are now born again! All-round rest and peace are guaranteed you, in Jesus’ Name. Call or write, and share your testimonies with me through contact@faithoyedepo.org; OR 07026385437 and 08141320204.

For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores: Marriage Covenant, Making Marriage Work, Building A Successful Home and Success in Marriage (Co-Authored).

Our Daily Bread Devotional, March 6, 2017

Our Daily Bread Devotional, March 6, 2017 - Loving Perfectly

Topic: Loving Perfectly [Monday March 6, 2017]

Read: 1 Corinthians 13:4–8, Bible in a Year: Deuteronomy 1–2; Mark 10:1–31

[Love] always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. 1 Corinthians 13:7–8

Her voice shook as she shared the problems she was having with her daughter. Worried about her teenager’s questionable friends, this concerned mum confiscated her daughter’s mobile phone and chaperoned her everywhere. Their relationship seemed only to go from bad to worse.

When I spoke with the daughter, I discovered that she loves her mum dearly but is suffocating under a smothering love. She longs to break free.

As imperfect beings, we all struggle in our relationships. Whether we are a parent or child, single or married, we grapple with expressing love the right way, saying and doing the right thing at the right time. We grow in love throughout our lifetime.

In 1 Corinthians 13 the apostle Paul outlines what perfect love looks like. His standard sounds wonderful, but putting that love into practice can be absolutely daunting. Thankfully, we have Jesus as our example. As He interacted with people with varying needs and issues, He showed us what perfect love looks like in action. As we walk with Him, keeping ourselves in His love and steeping our mind in His Word, we’ll reflect more and more of His likeness. We’ll still make mistakes, but God is able to redeem them and cause good to come out of every situation, for His love “always protects” and it “never fails” (vv. 7–8).

Prayer: Lord, our intentions are good but we fail each other in so many ways. Thank You for being our model in showing us how to live and love.

To show His love, Jesus died for us; to show our love, we live for Him.

Insight:

Do you ever find yourself hurting those you love, and maybe even forgetting in the emotion of the moment how much you really do care about them? If so, keep in mind that long before Paul wrote 1 Corinthians 13 he was an angry man who was mindlessly hurting the God he thought he knew and loved (Acts 9:1–6). So what brought about Paul’s change? First he needed to see how wrong he’d been about Jesus. He also needed to see that knowing the law is not the same as keeping it—and that he himself needed not only mercy but also the help of the Spirit of God to love others as God loved him. The Spirit who brought him from law to grace now invites and leads us into the loving patience and kindness that our Lord wants to express in and through us.

This message was written By Poh Fang Chia [Our Daily Bread Ministries.]

AMCVA Award full list of the winner

The 5th annual Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards (AMVCA) has just wrapped up an the African film lovers witnessed as film and TV talents from across the continent etched their names into the record books. Take a look at the full winners list after the cut..

BEST SHORTFILM - OGO OKPUE - CAT FACE

BEST SOUND TRACK/ORIGINAL SCORE MOVIE/TV SERIES - MICHAEL 'THE TRUTH' OGUNLADE - THE ENCOUNTER

BEST SOUND EDITOR (MOVIE/TV SERIES) - GUY STEER – VAYA

BEST PICTURE EDITOR (MOVIE/TV SERIES) - NNODIM CHIGOZIE & PAULA PETERSON - OLOIBIRI

BEST COSTUME DESIGNER PAT EGWURUBE - 76

BEST MAKE UP ARTIST (MOVIE/TV SERIES) - HAKEEM ONILOGBO AJIBOLA/PEREKEME ODON - OLOIBIRI

BEST ART DIRECTOR (MOVIE/TV SERIES) - PAT NEBO - 76

BEST WRITER MOVIE/TV SERIES - CRAIG FREIMOND/ TSHABALIRA LEBAKENG/ ANTHONY MAFELA / DAVID MAJOKA / MADODA NTULI / HARRIET PERLMAN / ROBBIE THORPE – VAYA

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHER (MOVIE/TV SERIES) - LANCE GEWER - HAPPINESS IS A FOUR LETTER WORD

BEST LIGHTING DESIGNER (MOVIE/TV SERIES) - ELLIOT SEWAPE - 93 DAYS

BEST DOCUMENTARY - UGA CARLINI – ALISON

BEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA - DAVID JONES DAVID

BEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA - MEG OTANWA

BEST DRAMA – TINSEL

BEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY - DEBORAH ANUNGWA

BEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY             - SAMUEL AJIBOLA

BEST COMEDY - THE JOHNSONS

BEST MOVIE (SOUTH AFRICA) - ELVIS CHUKS - ALL ABOUT LOVE

BEST MOVIE (EAST AFRICA) - SARIKA HEMI LAKHANI - KATI KATI

BEST MOVIE (WEST AFRICA) - ROGERS OFIME - OLOIBIRI

BEST TELEVISION SERIES - FUNKE AKINDELE - JENIFAS DIARY

BEST INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE MOVIE OR TV SERIES – SWAHILI - DAUDI OTIENO ANGUKA - ZILIZALA

BEST INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE MOVIE OR TV SERIES – IGBO - CREY AHANONU - AMONYE-BU-ONYE

BEST INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE MOVIE OR TV SERIES – HAUSA - TIJJANI SHEHU YAHAYA - YAKI DA ZUCIYA

BEST INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE MOVIE OR TV SERIES – YORUBA - ABIODUN JIMOH, JUMOKE ODETOLA - SOMEWHERE IN THE DARK

BEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY MOVIE/TV SERIES - IMEH BISHOP UMOH - THE BOSS IS MINE

BEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY MOVIE/TV SERIES            FUNKE AKINDELE - JENIFAS DIARY

BEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA MOVIE/TV SERIES - SAMBASA NZERIBE - SLOW COUNTRY

BEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA MOVIE/TV SERIES - RITA DOMINIC - 76

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DAMA MOVIE/TV SERIES - ROTIMI SALAMI - JUST NOT MARRIED

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DAMA MOVIE/TV SERIES - EBELE OKARO ONYUIKE - FOUR ONE LOVE

BEST DIRECTOR (MOVIE) - IZU OJUKWU - 76

BEST OVERALL MOVIE - ADONIJAH OWIRIWA / IZU OJUKWU - 76

Our Daily Bread Devotional, March 3, 2017 - Two Portraits

Our Daily Bread Devotional, March 3, 2017 - Two Portraits

Topic: Two Portraits [Friday March 3, 2017]

Read: John 16:19–24, Bible in a Year:Numbers 28–30; Mark 8:22–38

Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. John 16:22

Clutching two framed photographs, the proud grandmother showed them to friends in the church foyer. The first picture was of her daughter back in her homeland of Burundi. The second was of her grandson, born recently to that daughter. But the daughter wasn’t holding her newborn. She had died giving birth to him.

A friend approached and looked at the pictures. Reflexively, she reached up and held that dear grandmother’s face in her hands. All she could say through her own tears was, “I know. I know.”

And she did know. Two months earlier she had buried a son.

There’s something special about the comfort of others who have experienced our pain. They know. Just before Jesus’s arrest, He warned His disciples, “You will weep and mourn while the world rejoices.” But in the next breath He comforted them: “You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy” (John 16:20). In mere hours, the disciples would be devastated by Jesus’s arrest and crucifixion. But their crushing grief soon turned to a joy they could not have imagined when they saw Him alive again.

Isaiah prophesied of the Messiah, “Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering” (Isa. 53:4). We have a Savior who doesn’t merely know about our pain; He lived it. He knows. He cares. One day our grief will be turned into joy.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for going to the cross for us. We certainly know trouble in this world, but You overcame the world and took our sin and pain for us. We look forward to the day when our sorrows will be turned into joy and we see You face to face.

When we put our cares into His hands, He puts His peace into our hearts.

Insight:

It was necessary for Jesus, who is fully God, to be made in every respect like us—fully human—so that He could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people. Only by becoming a human being could He die, and only by dying could He break the power of the devil, who had the power of death. While on earth, the Lord Jesus “walked in our shoes” and, therefore, He fully knows and understands us. We are now to walk in His “shoes” and imitate His example of compassion and care. “In your relationships with one another,” Paul tells us, “have the same mindset as Christ Jesus” (Phil. 2:5). How can you bring comfort to others today by walking in Jesus’s shoes?

This message was written By Tim Gustafson [Our Daily Bread Ministries.]

Winning Wisdom: Fine Your Relevance

Winning Wisdom: Fine Your Relevance

Author: Ese Ehimare Dave

Topic: Fine Your Relevance [Thursday, 2nd March 2017]

Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? 1 Corinthians 12:29

One thing about the members of the body of Christ is that they are all relevant. Most times, some folks feel that they are not relevant to any course. They come to a gathering, sit and listen and then go home. Even in their private lives outside the church, they portray this same 'i-am-not-relevant' attitude. Most times, this is a function of their mindset or inferiority complex. But that does not remove anything from the truth that every member of the body of Christ is relevant.

Not everyone will be a pastor. Not everyone will do great miracles, not everyone will be a prophet. But most times, we set that as the benchmark every Christian should be operating with. And this has left so many folks thinking that they don't have anything to offer the body of Christ, especially when they don't "measure up". How untrue this is! Everyone is important and relevant, no matter how less grand we think them to be. You just need to find out what you are good at and use it to be a blessing to the body of Christ.

There are other things which might not bring us to the 'spotlight', that we can do in the body of Christ. It is this craze for the spotlight that have actually broken the resolve of people, especially when they are not gifted to always be in the 'spotlight', to find their relevance. But that should not be the aim. The aim should be to use your gifting to add value to the body of Christ, and you can only do that when you find your relevance.

Keep winning daily.

Wise Action:

Put your giftings to use and be relevant to the body of Christ, even if it does not bring you under the spotlight. There you will find your relevance.

DON'T CONFUSE *_MENTORING*_ *WITH BEING* *_USED*_

*DON'T CONFUSE *_MENTORING*_ *WITH BEING* *_USED*_

Most young people are being *used* thinking they are being *mentored.* The fact that someone gives you a job or a political appointment doesn't make him your *mentor*. At best, he is just a *benefactor*.

A *mentor* is simply someone who is grooming you to become like him, take over from him and become a better or best version of him.

For instance if the Governor of a state appoints you as *PA* or *SA* that doesn't mean he is *mentoring* you to be like him. How will you know that? Through your job description, the kind of assignments he gives you and what he exposes you to.

If as a *PA*, your job description is to insult people online, then you are not being *mentored* for leadership position. You are being *used* as a *thug* and in *thuggery* you shall excel. You are only good for insulting and when a man to take up higher leadership responsibilities is needed, the governor will recommend and support someone serious and ready and by pass you.

The simple truth is that if someone is not giving you the opportunities, challenges, exposure and resources to be, at least, like him, then he is not *mentoring* you. Watch it, he might just be *using* you.

Omoloye Oluwatuyi

happy new month to all my readers

New month prayer to all my esteemed readers.
As February ends today, remember Obed-edom did not seek for the ARK of God, Joseph did not contest for position of prime minister in Egypt, Mary did not even pray to be the mother of Jesus and Peter did not invite Jesus into his Boat, but Divine Favour, Mercy and Grace of GOD located and found them all. I decree and declare by the wonderful and powerful name of Jesus, that Divine Help, favour, Mercy, and Grace of God will find and locate you wherever you are and your household  in Jesus Mighty Name.


ARA

Thin Tall Tony escapes eviction week

Thin Tall Tony escapes eviction week after winning the Big Brother Naija Head of House Task
All the housemates in the Big Brother Naija show, except Bisola and Bally, are currently up for eviction. Thin Tall Tony was however able to secure immunity for the week after winning the Head of House Task this evening. He reached the final round with only Tboss and Marvis, but eventually won.


LIB

President Donal Trump and Oscar 2017

President Donald Trump was on people’s minds – if not on everyone’s lips – at the Oscars on Sunday night. He was the subject of a protest non-appearance by an Academy Award-winning director, an oblique introduction by last year’s supporting actor winner and several of host Jimmy Kimmel’s jokes. But the president’s name was kept out of most of the references. Iranian filmmaker Asghar Farhadi, winner of the Oscar for best foreign film, boycotted Sunday’s ceremony, citing Trump’s travel ban of several predominantly Muslim countries, including his own. He sent Iranian astronaut Anousheh Ansari to read a statement for him.

”Dividing the world into the `us and our enemies’ categories create fear,” Ansari said, adding it’s ”a deceitful justification for aggression and war.” All six directors nominated in the category issued a statement two days before the ceremony criticising the ”climate of fascism” in the U.S. Kimmel referred to Trump specifically in a joke that brought in the Academy Awards’ past controversy over a lack of diversity in nominees. ”Remember last year when people were saying the Oscars were racist?” he said.

He made an elaborate show of talking about the ”overrated” Meryl Streep, who was given that tag by the president in a tweet after she criticised him in a speech at the Golden Globes last month. Kimmel joked about her dress, saying ”by the way, is that an Ivanka?” And Kimmel also alluded to White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer’s banning of some reporters from a briefing on Friday, saying that reporters from CNN, the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times and others needed to leave. ”We have no tolerance for fake news,” he said.

Financialexpress

8 Ways to Deal with Sweaty Armpits

It can be very uncomfortable - even agitating - to get dressed, looking all smart and appealing, only for something as little as sweat under your arms to ruin it all. There is something unarguably embarrassing about having the underarm of your dress, blouse or shirt drenched in sweat, and it gets worse if it’s the only sweat-stained part of your clothing. Asides this, there is also the unpleasant odour resulting from such underarm sweating to deal with. It could all be a frustrating experience indeed.

Jumia Travel shares 8 ways to help you deal with sweaty armpits and avoid such uncomfortable situations.

Use the Appropriate Product for Your Problem

You can’t stop your body from perspiring because if your body stopped excreting sweat and toxins through the skin, you would die. You thus can only manage and try to control your bodily perspiration. One of the ways to do this is to use deodorants and topical anti-perspirants. Deodorants do little or nothing to stop underarm sweating; but they help to mask the odour. Deodorants that use gentle and natural ingredients will work well.

To avoid sweat stains, you can use commercial anti-perspirants that use aluminum chloride hexahydrate. They are effective in controlling the amount of sweat your armpits produce. Also, consider seeing a dermatologist to discuss possible prescription anti-perspirant products that can be advised for your use.

NOTE: It is important you apply these products properly for them to be effective. Deodorants or anti-perspirants should be applied to clean underarms, not already sweaty ones. It is best to apply these products first thing in the morning after your bath, and any other time after bathing. Always wash your underarms with clean water and soap (be thorough about it and dab with a towel until dry), then apply a thin layer of anti-perspirant or deodorant to your dry underarms. If you can’t wash your underarm with soap and water, alternate the use of a wet and dry cloth to clean your underarm until it’s dry.

Use Natural Remedies

Though there are all-natural commercial deodorants and anti-perspirant products at your disposal, you can create your own natural ones. One of such natural remedies is to mix equal parts of baking soda and water to create a paste. Apply the paste on both of armpits and let it sit for 20 – 30 minutes, before rinsing off the mixture.

Another remedy to consider is using apple vinegar, or other malt vinegar, on your armpits to neutralize the armpit’s natural odour-causing bacteria. This helps to create a drying effect in your underarm, which helps you sweat less and stay dry. A mixture of lemon juice and tomato pulp can also be considered. You mix them together until a paste is formed, then you apply the paste in your underarms and allow to sit for 15 minutes.

Practice Good Hygiene

Asides using products and remedies, managing and controlling underarm sweating require the practice of good body hygiene to aid the effectiveness of such products and remedies. It is important to shower regularly to keep your body clean and dry. You should shower your body, or at least your underarms, once or twice a day. If you are someone who remained active throughout the day, it is advisable to add to your morning shower and shower before bed so you can wash off the sweat produced during the day’s activities.

You should also shave your armpit hair regularly. This will help to prevent sweat from collecting in your armpits which helps to make sweat stains less pronounced and odours less prevalent. In addition, you should try to wash your shirts and dresses after every use or as often as possible. This will greatly help those dealing with underarm body odor. Washing your shirts and dresses often will keep bacteria from building over time and acting on the dried sweat to produce unpleasant odours.

Let Your Body Cool Down Before You Put Clothes On

It is important to let your body cool down before you put clothes on, if not you may immediately start sweating. Even after you have just had a bath, you should learn to relax and let your body cool down before you put on clothes. Regardless of where you are rushing to, remember that it is better to take a few seconds to calm yourself down than skip that step and rush to your destination with an unsightly underarm sweat stain.

Be Selective About Your Clothing

Go for clothing made of natural, more breathable fabrics like cotton, wool, hemp, silk or linen, because of their looser weaves. The fibers of these fabrics help to absorb moisture well, make it possible for accumulated moisture to evaporate easily and are less inclined to trap heat and make your body sweaty. Some man-made fabrics like banbook, lyocell, modal and some microfiber fabrics can be considered because they function similarly to natural fabrics.

Consider Changing Your Clothes Often

You can also consider changing your clothes often, or avoid wearing the clothes you intend to use for an outing around the house. You can keep a change of clothing handy from time to time.

Layer Your Clothes

You can consider layering your clothes so sweat won’t come through to your outer cloth easily. It is important to choose the right clothing material for this. Breathable fabrics are the best choice. You should also keep these inner wears washed and cleaned regularly to avoid unpleasant odours.

Manage Stress and Anxiety

Stress and anxiety tend to lead to excessive sweating and effusive underarm sweating. Practicing relaxation techniques, deep breathing and meditation exercises can help produce the calming effect needed to manage this situation.

By Damilola Ojo
08101556883

Our Daily Bread Devotional, February 26, 2017 - Complete Access

Our Daily Bread Devotional, February 26, 2017 - Complete Access

Topic: Complete Access [Sunday February 26, 2017]

Read: Ephesians 3:7–13, Bible in a Year:Numbers 15–16; Mark 6:1–29

Through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. Ephesians 3:12

A few years ago, a friend invited me to join him as a spectator at a pro golf tournament. Being a first-timer, I had no idea what to expect. When we arrived, I was surprised to receive gifts, information, and maps of the golf course. But what topped it all was that we gained access to a VIP tent behind the 18th green, where we had free food and a place to sit. I couldn’t have gained entry to the hospitality tent on my own though. The key was my friend; it was only through him that I had complete access.

Left to ourselves, we would all be hopelessly separated from God. But Jesus, who took our penalty, offers us His life and access to God. The apostle Paul wrote, “[God’s] intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known” (Eph. 3:10). This wisdom has brought Jew and Gentile together in Christ, who has made a way for us to come to God the Father. “Through faith in [Christ] we may approach God with freedom and confidence” (v. 12).

When we put our trust in Jesus, we receive the greatest access of all—access to the God who loves us and desires relationship with us.

Prayer: Father! Just being able to call You Father is an incredible gift. Thank You for Your Son, Jesus, who has made it possible for me to come into Your presence, to know You personally, and, yes, to call You my Father.

Because of the cross of Christ, we can become friends of God.

Insight:

Paul was humbled by memories that left him feeling unworthy to be writing on behalf of Christ and the community he once hated (Eph. 3:8). How could he ever forget the harm he had done to the people of Christ? (Gal. 1:13–14, 23). With his conversion, the Spirit of God gave Paul a heart for the Gentiles he once regarded as outsiders to Israel’s covenant of faith (Eph. 2:11–12). Paul and his readers could now celebrate together the honor of being accepted by God in the name of Christ. Do you wrestle with what it means to not measure up? To feel like an outsider, not welcome in the love of God? If so, then Paul’s letter has great significance. Together we can recall what it means to be welcomed into the presence of God in the full sponsorship of the Son—who lived and died to bring outsiders like us into His Father’s family.

This message was written By Bill Crowder [Our Daily Bread Ministries.]

Reno Omokri writes on PMB absentism

With President Muhammadu Buhari's lawyer's ₦500,000 'gift' to Justice Adeniyi Ademola while the certificate case was being tried before that judge and with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation's Grasscuttergate scandal, can we all stop pretending and accept that the anti corruption war is dead?

I believe I now know the reason why God allowed President Buhari to come back to power. It was to expose him for who he really is. Not a saint, but a hypocrite!

A hypocrite of the highest order. A so called anti corruption crusader who writes letters to cover his corrupt Secretary to the Government of the Federation and whose lawyer gives gifts to a justice that is being tried for collecting gifts from others. Do as I say, not as I do!

Things were already bad enough until the President's spokesman released his statement trying to justify the 'gift'! 

When Femi Adesina, President Muhammadu Buhari's spokesman, says PMB's lawyers ₦500,000 payment to Justice Ademola was a 'gift' not a bribe he must think that Nigerians are on the bottom of the ladder in the rational thinking food chain!

So if I take a bribe and call it a 'gift', according to Femi Adesina, it automatically transforms from corruption to 'gift'? So President Buhari believes in the Transformation Agenda after all! Who would have thought so! 

So why can President Buhari's lawyer give gifts but Andrew Yakubu cannot accept 'gift'? The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission should just release everybody they are trying because they took 'gifts' not bribe. After all, President Buhari and his lawyer have shown us the way!

The Justice Ademola that is currently being tried is accused of taking bribes because people gave him gifts. So why were their gifts proceeds of corruption and Lawyer Awodein's (Buhari's lawyer) a proceed of friendship?

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, a bribe is defined thus:

bribe

brīb/

verb

1. 1.
   persuade (someone) to act in one's favor, typically illegally or dishonestly, by a gift of money or other inducement.

Now if you consider the favorable way the certificate case against the President has being going for him in the matter before Justice Ademola, you may be forgiven if you quote Proverbs 18:14 and say "a man's gift makes room for him". 

With all apologies to the publishers of the Oxford English Dictionary let me say that they have to alter the meanings of some words in their dictionary. 

With Nigeria's situation on my mind, I suggest the following edits to the definition of the word gift

gift

noun

1. New word for BRIBE as approved by the current President Muhammadu Buhari led Nigerian government for exclusive use of All Progressive Congress members.

And while we are at it, I am feeling some generosity to my readers. If any of my readers will like a GIFT, then they should send me an email. But if they would prefer a BRIBE, then they should send me a hand written letter instead. If you as my reader does not know the difference, then contact President Muhammadu Buhari's lawyer! 

Everybody gives gifts but some gifts are more equal than others. For tips on giving EFCC approved gifts, see President Buhari's lawyer! The DEODORANT has been sprayed on Lawyer Awodein and the INSECTICIDE is being sprayed on Justice Ademola. Now I understand Shehu Sani!

But this President Muhammadu Buhari knows how to code better than Mark Zuckerberg! Look at the code word his team used for the payment made to Justice Ademola. The 'gift'! 

I am tempted to ask what else they have coded? Is the 2017 budget codedly (I invented the word codedly since we are all making edits to the Oxford English Dictionary) padded? Have they coded INEC to produce only inconclusive elections? Is Babachir's grass cutting contract a means to get more resources to provide future coded gifts? 

In fact, I am reliably informed that APC members give GIFT while PDP members give BRIBE but if you were once a Peoples Democratic Party member and you are now in the APC you give GIFTED BRIBE! Now we understand why Rotimi Ameachi said he never gave nor received bribes. As an APC member, maybe he gave and received 'gifts'. After all, there is nothing wrong with that! Our leader has shown us the way!

And President Buhari is not the only hypocrite in town. His mini me, Nasir Elrufai, the unofficial Vice President and Khalifa of the Buhari personality cult is as hypocritical as they come.

Many Nigerians were shocked to find out that Malam Nasir Elrufai, the Governor of Kaduna state, instigated the arrest of Audu Maikori, Nigeria's version of Jay Z and the CEO of Chocolate City, a man who has made many stars including Africa's number one rapper, MI Abaga.

What is Maikori's crime in Elrufai's eyes? That he erroneously tweeted false information that he had been by his driver who misled him for the purpose of obtaining financial favours from him. 

When Maikori realized he had been duped, he immediately apologized. But that was not enough for his Governor. He was accused of incitement because of his tweets!

But the thing is that the Elrufai that is now so sanctimonious is actually by far guiltier than Audu Maikori in what he accuses him of. In fact, Elrufai is the grandfather of making false an inviting comments on Twitter and other social media platforms and I will prove it.

On November 25, 2014, Nasir El-Rufai, the current Governor of Kaduna State, in a tweet questioned whether then President Goodluck Jonathan was traveling to Chad to plot attacks with the Chadian President. On September 8, 2014 Elrufai, via a tweet accused then President Jonathan of funding Christians who masquerade as Boko Haram and accused the then President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor of being the commander of the so called Christian Boko Haram. On the same day he also tweeted that pastor Ayo had been paid ₦50 billion and a jet for the purpose of his Christian Boko Haram whose purpose was to "tarnish the name of Islam". 

On July 24, 2014 Elrufai, via another tweet, accused then President Jonathan of meeting with his terrorists from Nasarawa state. On January 2, 2014, Elrufai alleged that he was number 6 on a list of politicians to be assassinated by then President Jonathan. He also claimed that the current President, Muhammadu Buhari, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Rotimi Amaechi was on that list.

On November 9, 2013, as then President knelt praying to his God, Elrufai tweeted a picture of the President and said (and I quote) "many prayers of the lazy, docile, incompetent, clueless, hopeless, useless leader!"

On July 15, 2012, shortly after then President Jonathan had issued an Executive Order to the military to fish out killer Fulani herdsmen that had turned some parts of Plateau state to a theater of war, Elrufai tweeted the following:

"We will write this for all to read. Anyone, soldier or not that kills the Fulani takes a loan repayable one day no matter how long it takes."

On January 28, 2013, this same Elrufai had tweeted thus:

 “If Jesus criticises Jonathan’s government, Maku, Abati or Okupe will say that he slept with Mary Magdalene”.

On October 2, 2010, Elrufai posted on facebook the lie that the Jonathan administration had spent 64 billion Naira celebrating Independence Anniversaries during its time in office. His exact words were as follows:

“This is the APC/PMB change wevoted for. Independence anniversary expenditure for the past five years: 2011 – N13bn; 2012 -N15bn; 2013 – N14bn; 2014 – N22bn; 2015 N70 million"

Well, a Freedom of Information request was made by activists to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and even though this administration hates the guts of former President Jonathan, they were forced to admit that Nasir Elrufai lied and that the Jonathan administration spent only N333, 600, 000 for four years to hold independence day celebrations. An amount that is less than 1% of what Elrufai claimed was spent.

As I write this to you, Nasir Elrufai HAS NOT apologized for shy of these strings of lies!  

Yet, this is the same Elrufai that has now instigated the arrest of Audu Maikori for allegedly inciting the public by spreading lies. This the biggest act of HYPOCRISY I have seen and I urge you my reader to individually Google these tweets and facebook posts. Do not take my word for it.

When a man who has a history of falsely attributing such deviousness to Christians (as he did with his September 18, 2014 tweet accusing Christians of being behind Boko Haram) becomes Governor of a state, should we be surprised at the fate that has been visited upon the Christian people of Southern Kaduna?

If you can believe that Christians were behind Boko Haram to "tarnish the name of Islam" as he himself tweeted, who can tell what he would do to get revenge on them when he finds himself in a position to do so as Governor?

If without power Nasir Elrufai showed open bias for the Fulani people as he did in his tweet of July 15, 2012, can any reasonable person expect him to be objective while he is in power? That would be like expecting a man who cannot keep his hands off a woman when he is dating her to become chaste with her after he has married her. It is not possible!

Knowing the manipulative tendencies of Nasir Elrufai and his Machiavellian, the end justifies the means approach to power, I will not be surprised if he starts sponsoring articles against me as a Fulani hater, so let me be preemptive.

I love the Fulani. They are perhaps the most beautiful Black people on planet earth. I am now a pastor and have been faithfully married for the last thirteen years to the same woman who I expect to stay married to until Jesus returns or I die, but before then I was in a relationship with a Fulani from Taraba state. I do not need to go into too much detail but suffice to say that I did what most young people would do in a relationship (this was before I re dedicated my life to Christ).

In the course of that relationship, I visited and spent time in Taraba, in Gembu and Nguroje to be specific. My time was spent with a beautiful clan of Fulani people who would not have minded having me as an in-law. They taught me some Fulfulde and I remember them and my time with them with nostalgia. I still have pictures from that time. 

There is no way I could have gotten so close to the Fulani and even contemplated becoming their in-law if I did not and do not admire them.

Moreover, perhaps my best friend while I was in Law School (1999-2000) was Abbas Ibrahim, a pure Fulani from Maradun in Zamfara state who now works in the Federal Ministry of Justice, Abuja.

This article is not targeting the Fulani. No. rather, it is identifying one of them who has, perhaps more than anybody else in Nigeria today, sown seeds of discord, hate and division by his words, actions and writing.

Nasir Elrufai is not an example for Fulatanci and this may explain why he tries so hard to show loyalty to virtues and traits that are a given to the well brought up Fulani I have come to know and respect intimately. His Pulako is doing great harm to the Fulani Peoples of Nigeria.

Finally, let me end this piece by saying that I was so glad to hear President Muhammadu Buhari's voice as he spoke to Governor Ganduje of Kano state the other day. I hope by this call, people can leave the man to "rest" in London and not disturb him with their eye service visits to him.

To those who have done so and to others who are contemplating doing so, I hope and pray you get treated like the Guardian Newspaper reporter who was almost arrested when the residents of Abuja House (President Buhari's current residence) called the police to help get rid of him. But just in case you do not get arrested, permit me to write a new version of an Old Nursery Rhyme for you.

Old Version:

Pussy Cat, Pussy Cat Where Have You Been?

I've Been to London to See The Queen

New Version:

Sycophant, Sycophant, Where Have You Been?

I've Been to London to See Buhari!