Me And My Thoughts (By Wilson Ileogben).

Thoughts are very important and we all need to be careful of what we think about.  If you know what many people think about as they walk on the streets, sit in the office, listen to you and relate with you, you would be marveled. People’s actions are mostly affected by their thoughts and these thoughts build up as a result of the things we see, hear, experience, encounter, read, watch and so on. If you want to live a good life, one of the things you need to work on is your thought pattern. Job said in the book of Job 3:25 that “What I feared has come upon me; what I dreaded has happened to me”. Job’s experience is not strange to many of us because many times the things that give us sleepless nights and worries eventually happen to us. This shows that our thoughts pattern affect and influence our lives, our ways of doing things and relating to people. Many times thoughts come to mind that we can’t control, while we have control over others that come to mind. We can choose what we think about and also rebuke some thoughts that come to us because some thoughts can precede what happen to us.

On the 18^th of November, 2014, I went for a job’s induction training. I was still skeptical about accepting the job but I had to go. The training was supposed to be for some days but I told myself that I would go just to see what the company has to offer because I didn’t want to make the mistake I made some time ago regarding changing jobs. On my way back on that fateful day (18 November, 2014), there was a serious traffic on the road and the place I was, was just five (5) minutes away from my bus stop. I was so tired that I needed some rest, so I became uncomfortable in the bus. A call came in and I could not speak with the person that called because of the noise from the number of cars in the traffic and for security reasons. I told the person that I would call in 10 minutes thinking the traffic would subside in no time and I would get to my bus stop and call the person.

Thirty (30) minutes past and I was still in the traffic. At this point in time, I was thinking what action I should take because it was getting late and people have started walking and others have crossed to the other side to take bikes and buses driving one way.  Suddenly, a terrible thought came to mind and I was surprised. The thought that came was evil and annoying because it had to do with death. It came to my heart that I should change the picture of my Displayed Picture (DP) on my blackberry phone to my picture and change the status to Rest In Peace (RIP). This was bizarre because the thought wanted me to display my own RIP picture while I am alive. It thought was so strong that I struggled with it for some time. I later rebuked it and it went away. Minutes later, I decided to alight the bus and cross over to join any bus going one way to my destination. When I got to the other side, there were no buses any more but I saw a few bikes. I flanked at a bike and it stopped to pick me. As we started going I was like finally I would get to my bus stop soon and call the earlier caller. Then, the unthinkable happened that made me realize that our thoughts are very powerful. A man with a heavy load on his head just crossed without looking and the bike in front of us suddenly swerved to avoid hitting the man. This led to an accident of the bike I am on because the biker tried to swerve and he applied the break almost immediately because the man throw the heavy load on his head at us. The bike threw me and I flew in the air and landed with my left hand. I broke one of my fingers as a result of it.

People came rushing to rescue us and guess what, the biker picked up his bike and sped away when he saw me on the road thinking I was dead.  One of the persons who came to rescue me picked up my money and walked away with it. I was just looking at him as he was walking away with it and I shouted out to him to bring back my money. He came back, brought my money and left me. Other people came and assisted me to stand up. Two of them helped me to massage my already swollen hand and broken finger. I ended up in the hospital that day where I was given some injections and tablets of medicine. I flashed back to the thought I had had earlier and I realized that this is how people die and this is how powerful our thoughts could be. The finger that got broken has remained bent since the incident happened over a year ago. I am happy that I am still alive and that I rebuked the evil thought that enveloped my mind.

My experience taught me that one’s thoughts can shape one’s life. They are so powerful that they can influence you in many ways. Someone once said that your thoughts are louder in heaven that what you say. If this is true, then your thought is recognized as well as what you say in the spiritual realm. No wonder many people are ensnared by their thoughts and others get healed and saved by theirs.

One good way of influencing and controlling our thoughts is by being mindful of what we see, read, watch, friends we have and so on. Also, we need to renew our minds daily since we cannot control all the thoughts that come to it. Romans 12:2 says, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will”.

Lastly, we have to be deliberate about what you think. Also, we should be conscious of what we think about if we want to have a fruitful life. Philippians 4:8 says “ Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things”.

 Wilson Ileogben

Picture Of The Day: "Kindness".



Picture Of The Day: "Attitude".



WHEN GOOD PEOPLE DO STUPID THINGS ( By Wilson Ileogben).

People do stupid things daily in different places and at different times. A musician sang a song and titled it “Stupid Song”. What a song and title…. Guess what, many people love it and dance to it any time they hear the song being played on radio and party. Stupid things get some people excited, happy and it also freaks some people because it is dumb and pointless.Some people do stupid things for fun while others do them unconsciously.  At times when I flash back to the stupid things I did in the past, I feel so ashamed of myself and I also laugh as well.

Stupid things are things that people do which are tediously dull, (especially due to meaning or sense), inane and pointless.  People do stupid things like a man who jumped into a lion’s den in a zoo to see if the lion will eat them. Some people jump into a moving car to see if it will kill them because there is a wrong mentality in our generation that cars no longer kill people and that what kills people in a car has been removed. Many people do stupid things to destroy their lives daily and they are ignorant of it. If a student who is preparing for exams does not read and he thinks he will pass the exams, then what he is doing could be harmful to him later. When someone who is mentally ill does something stupid, people may not say much about it. But when a good, sane and educated person does things, it becomes disappointing and frustrating. There are over one million stupid things people do and if you hear about them, you will feel like spanking them though they are adults. If i may ask, have you done any stupid thing before? Please i would like you to ponder over it before you continue reading.

One thing I notice about stupid things people do is that it is faster and they put in more energy to it than they put in to the normal things they do. Stupid things people do could bring shame, disrespect, disappointment and frustration. 2 Samuel 18: 20-30 say,

“²⁰ And Joab said to him, “You shall not take the news this day, for you shall take the news another day. But today you shall take no news, because the king’s son is dead.” 

²¹ Then Joab said to the Cushite, “Go, tell the king what you have seen.” So the Cushite bowed himself to Joab and ran.²² And Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said again to Joab, “But whatever happens, please let me also run after the Cushite.” So Joab said, “Why will you run, my son, since you have no news ready?”²³ “But whatever happens,” he said, “let me run.” So he said to him, “Run.” Then Ahimaaz ran by way of the plain, and outran the Cushite. ²⁷ So the watchman said, “I think the running of the first is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok.”And the king said, “He is a good man, and comes with good news.” ²⁸ So Ahimaaz called out and said to the king, “All is well!” Then he bowed down with his face to the earth before the king, and said, “Blessed be the Lord your God, who has delivered up the men who raised their hand against my lord the king!”²⁹ The king said, “Is the young man Absalom safe?” Ahimaaz answered, “When Joab sent the king’s servant and me your servant, I saw a great tumult, but I did not know what it was about.” ³⁰ And the king said, “Turn aside and stand here.” So he turned aside and stood still”.

When you do stupid things, people may lose respect for you. Ahimaaz was known by King David as a good man (Verse 27), but he was put and turned aside because he did a very stupid thing. He was not sent to the king and he didn’t have any news for him but he insisted on going and he got to the king before the Cushite who was sent. I believe the king was very disappointed in him by turning him aside. As a good person, the king felt he was coming with good news. He also would have expected so much from him but his action proved otherwise. Hence the king turned him aside. Ooops, Ahimaaz would have felt stupid when he was set aside by the king for the stupid thing he did. When you live below the standard people have and expect of you, it may lead to disappointment and also change people’s perspective and impression of you.

Genesis 1:31 says, “Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day”.

When God made man and every other thing, he said they were good. Man was topnotch, created in perfection and top class because he was made in the image and likeness of God. Man’s ability was put to test when all the animals were brought to him so that he could name them. He named them accurately and the names he gave to them remained. However, man later sinned, committed murder and there was oppression, violence, disobedience and corruption on earth and God regretted ever making man.

 Genesis 6:5&6 says, ”Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart“.

Man was good when God created him and he later did stupid things that made God regret ever making him. He expected so much from him but he deviated from the nature giving to him when he ate the apple. His actions led to more stupid actions and the stupid things brought pain and regret to God. This reminds me of a girl that was brought up in a descent home and who was given the best but ends up becoming pregnant. This will bring shame, disappointment and regrets to her parents. The pain any parent will have when the son they have invested in and giving the best of education ends up being a thief, fraudster and a drug addict. When things like these happen, they bring frustration, pain, disappointments and shame. If a thing that is certified good like a phone, television and so on becomes bad or does not work according, then it brings disappointment.

I believe what God had in mind when he saw that everything he made was good was that they all met the requirements, standards, features, qualities and characteristics he had in mind. He felt bad about the stupid things man started doing the way some people will feel when others do stupid things. When you do stupid things, people will lose respect for you and will not regard you anymore. Whether you do if for fun or unsciously, Stupid things make you look stupid. They may not be avoided completely because of people’s state of mind at times but there are things we need to do to avoid doing stupid things.

We need to start using our Brains. The brain is meant for thinking and we need to start thinking. Before you do anything, you need to think about it to know if it will bring disappointment and pain to you and others later. You also need to examine your actions so that you will not do that stupid thing again. Also, you need to start listening and obeying to the Holy Spirit as he speaks to, instructs and corrects you so as to avoid bringing embarrassment to yourself. Lastly, you need the word of God because it instructs, corrects, it gives wisdom and guidance. We can’t avoid doing and saying stupid things but we can work on ourselves to limit doing them.  Stupid things make good and interesting people look stupid but we can deliberately avoid them though it may not be easy. Wilson Ileogben

Scriptures Of The Day: "1 Corinthians 10:1-33".

1 Corinthians 10

New King James Version (NKJV)

Old Testament Examples

10 Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, 

² all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea,

 ³ all ate the same spiritual food,

 ⁴ and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. 

⁵ But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.

⁶ Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. 

⁷ And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.”

 ⁸ Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell;

 ⁹ nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; 

¹⁰ nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. 

¹¹ Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.

¹² Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. 

¹³ No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

Flee from Idolatry

¹⁴ Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. 

¹⁵ I speak as to wise men; judge for yourselves what I say. 

¹⁶ The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?

 ¹⁷ For we, though many, are one bread andone body; for we all partake of that one bread.

¹⁸ Observe Israel after the flesh: Are not those who eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar? 

¹⁹ What am I saying then? That an idol is anything, or what is offered to idols is anything? 

²⁰ Rather, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons. 

²¹ You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord’s table and of the table of demons. 

²² Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He?

All to the Glory of God

²³ All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify. 

²⁴ Let no one seek his own, but each one the other’s well-being.

²⁵ Eat whatever is sold in the meat market, asking no questions for conscience’ sake; 

²⁶ for “the earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness.”

²⁷ If any of those who do not believe invites you to dinner, and you desire to go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no question for conscience’ sake.

²⁸ But if anyone says to you, “This was offered to idols,” do not eat it for the sake of the one who told you, and for conscience’ sake; for “the earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness.”

 ²⁹ “Conscience,” I say, not your own, but that of the other. For why is my liberty judged by another man’s conscience? 

³⁰ But if I partake with thanks, why am I evil spoken of for the food over which I give thanks?

³¹ Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 

³² Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God, 

³³ just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.



Picture Of The Day: "God Has Got It".

No matter what, God has got it in control. Just step back and let him have his way. The battle belongs to him and his ways are not our ways. The foes, wolves, snakes and sharks can move around you but they cannot touch you because you are hidden in Christ in God. He is your hiding place and shield. So just let go and let God.

“HALLA”, DON’T GET IT TWISTED (By Wilson Ileogben).

The animal kingdom is filled with so many animals that man has not discovered all of them yet. If you watch the animal world and national geographic stations, you will come to appreciate God for creating them and Adam for naming them all. In the animal kingdom, there are both the big and small, fat and thin, and fat and slow animals. All the animals have their unique features, qualities, their strengths and weaknesses.

God does not make a mistake and he didn’t make a mistake by making the slow, fast, big, small, large and tiny animals. As slow as an animal is, it is very important and useful on earth and as fast as an animal is, it is also useful on earth. This brings me to the Ark built by Noah.  God told him to build an ark and that when he completed it that he should bring in the animals into it in twos, male and female.

Genesis 6:16-19 says, “¹⁶ you shall make a window for the ark, and you shall finish it to a cubit from above; and set the door of the ark in its side. You shall make it with lower, second, and third decks. ¹⁷ And behold, I myself am bringing floodwaters on the earth, to destroy from under heaven all flesh in which

 is the breath of life; everything that is on the earth shall die. ¹⁸ But I will establish my covenant with you; and you shall go into the ark—you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you. ¹⁹ And of every living thing of all flesh you shall bring two of every sort into the ark, to keep them alive with you; they shall be male and female. ²⁰ Of the birds after their kind, of animals after their kind, and of every creeping thing of the earth after its kind, two of every kind will come to you to keep them alive.

If the animals were not important, God would have ignored them and allowed them to perish in the flood. But he sent them in twos to Noah so that they could be preserved. Amongst the animals were the Lion and Tiger, Elephants, Hippopotamus, Giraffe, monkeys, donkeys, snakes, crocodile, Tortoise, snails and sloths.

The fastest land animal is the cheetah which has a recorded speed of 109.4–120.7 km/h (68.0–75.0 mph). The peregrine falcon is the fastest bird and the fastest member of the animal kingdom with a speed of 389 km/h (242 mph).  While the Sloth is the slowest animal and mammal which averages a distance of only 0.15 miles per hour and it is so slow that algae grow on them.

The name sloth is actually a synonym of slow motion to show how slow a sloth is. Other slow animals are the snails, the sea-horse, tortoise and so on. Guess what, they all enter the ark that was built by Noah and God waited for all the animals in twos (both male and female) to enter the Ark before he shut it.

Genesis 7: 13-16 says, “¹³ On the very same day Noah and Noah’s sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth, and Noah’s wife and the three wives of his sons with them, entered the ark— ¹⁴ they and every beast after its kind, all cattle after their kind, every creeping thing that creeps on the earth after its kind, and every bird after its kind, every bird of every sort.

 ¹⁵ And they went into the ark to Noah, two by two, of all flesh in which is the breath of life. ¹⁶ So those that entered, male and female of all flesh, went in as God had commanded him; and the Lord shut him in”.

Although the lion and cheetah might have gotten into the ark first and long before the sloth (male and female and other slow moving animals) entered it, they all still got in in time and there was room for all of them both the elephants, giraffes, birds, crocodile, snakes and the shrew, the smallest animal in the world. If it was in athletes’ games, the cheetah would have won the race and if God had said that the first fifty animals to get in would be the only animals that would be allowed to get in and preserved, the sloth would not have entered. But God actually waited until the fast and the slow entered before he shut the door. This is good news to all mankind whether you are fat, thin, short, tall, thin, and fast or slow because God is waiting for you patiently and there is enough room for you in him. However, do not take his patience for granted.

The Bible says in Ecclesiastes 9:11 that, “ I returned and saw under the sun that—the race

 is  not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to men of understanding, nor favor to men of skill; But time and chance happen to them all”.

Though you might not be where you think you are supposed to be and you may also think that others have gone ahead of you, you should not give up because it does not matter how slow you go as long as you do not stop. It is said that a room is not built in a day, so you should not expect to reach your goal and build a house in a day. Just like the cheetah, many are very fast in the things they do. They are goal getters and they pursue every idea, visions and things fall in place quickly for them as they move up on the ladder of life. Some of them put some things in place and in motion that enhance their speed, while others are just favoured in life because everything they do works out fine.

However, if things are not working according to your plan and desire, you should not stop. You can sit down and learn from those who are running fast and also look at the places you have made mistakes in life. Try as much as possible to correct them by not making the same mistakes again. You should also realize that being slow is not synonymous with failure and being fast in life is not synonymous with success. But I think that it is good to be fast and steady while running a race.

In the bible, Ahimaaz got to David before the Cushite in 2 Samuel 18:19-32, He did not have a message, hence David turned him aside. The Cushite had the message and left before Ahimaaz but he who did not have the message left later and got to David before the Cushite. This is very instructive because someone may get to the goal before you though you have the real vision, talent, ideas and advantage. This does not mean that your vision, ideas and knowlegde are useless. Your process in life is different from that of someone else and what you carry on your inside is different from what someone else is carrying. So, try as much as possible to run the race accordingly because we all will get to the finish line. Your message, vision and purpose are unique to you and you are not a failure because others have achieved things in life before you. There is no failure in God and being slow and steady does not make you a failure just that it will take you more time, pain, endurance and energy. The most important thing is that you get to the finish line and that you fulfill God’s plan and purpose for your life.

The Sloth was perfectly created by God and so were you. It being slow was not a mistake by God neither was a Cheetah being fast was also a mistake. There was a reason God made one fast and the other slow. Also, if you are moving on the ladder of life in a fast way, you should not think that you are better off than others because it does not make you so special. The reason being that God made both the cheetah and the sloth and both of them have a purpose like all the things God created. David succeeded before his siblings but it was through Judah our lord Jesus Christ came. So, do not get it twisted that your pace in life shows that you are more successful than others or you are a failure. The truth is that the fast does not always win and the slow does not always lose. Wilson Ileogben

Scriptures Of The Day: "Matthew 6:1-34"

Matthew 6

New King James Version (NKJV)

Do Good to Please God

6 “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven.

² Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 

³ But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,

 ⁴ that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.

The Model Prayer

⁵ “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.

 ⁶ But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

 ⁷ And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.

⁸ “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. 

⁹ In this manner, therefore, pray:

Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.¹⁰ Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.¹¹ Give us this day our daily bread.¹² And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.¹³ And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

¹⁴ “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

 ¹⁵ But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Fasting to Be Seen Only by God

¹⁶ “Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 

¹⁷ But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 

¹⁸ so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

Lay Up Treasures in Heaven

¹⁹ “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 

²⁰ but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.

 ²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

The Lamp of the Body

²² “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. 

²³ But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

You Cannot Serve God and Riches

²⁴ “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

Do Not Worry

²⁵ “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?

 ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 

²⁷ Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?

²⁸ “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 

²⁹ and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 

³⁰ Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

³¹ “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 

³² For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 

³³ But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is  its own trouble.