by Mark Ibigbami GreatMark | Nov 30, 2018 | Articles |
When someone tells you to “Get up and eat!”, ‘it means the food is prepared and ready to eat. “Get up and eat.” may also imply that the beneficiary may be fast asleep whilst the food was being prepared, or simply unaware that a meal is being prepared for him.
It may also suggest that the benefactor has been busy preparing a meal for someone who is tired and sleeping or just helpless but famished.
Sometimes, life’s challenges can hit us so hard that we become so helpless to lift ourselves up to face it. It takes a person with inner poise and a strength of character to be self- motivated in the face of severe hardship or depression.
Many people easily give in or give way to depression when confronted with seemingly hopeless situations. Some do impulsively make wrong assumptions and conclusions that it isn’t going to ever get better. Such attitude has led many to engage in despicable acts or at worst commit suicide.
Mr. Elijah was a very powerful and influential man whose words were always divinely ordered. He stood vehemently against the idolatry and injustice in the land, and was well respected for his uncompromising lifestyle.
He soon became a very powerful figure, an oracle of God, and a threat to the government of the day. He was feared, and dreaded by evil perpetrators, who neither acknowledge God or respected human rights.
King Ahab and his wife, Jezebel had a deep hatred for Mr. Elijah, and sought different avenues to get rid of him. But Elijah survived many attacks and assassination attempts, and continued to be a beacon of hope.
One would think that a powerful man who is so much feared and respected would continue to dominate the scene, and spread his positive influence on the citizens. But, for a moment, Mr. Elijah allowed himself to be wearied by moral depression, occasioned by threats from the Government.
He simply took to his heel, wishing just to die, when he got an inkling that he was going to be killed! He was downcast, and lost the strength to fight on. He gave in to the challenge, and was ready to die anyway.
He cried, “Enough is enough! God, take my life—I’m ready to die!” Amazing how a once brave man, by reason of the hardship never saw any justification to stay alive . He didn’t think life was worth living again. He never thought survival was worth the while.
Exhausted, famished and devastated, he got a call from an angel who instructed him to get up and eat because his journey of life was far from being over (1 Kings 19:3-5).
By divine intervention, Elijah got his strength back, and his motivation was rekindled. His vision was sharpened and his courage was restored. Then he stood up, ready to face life’s battle again, and empowered to face his fears.
When you are down and out, and it seems there’s no more chance to succeed, God gives you a life-line. He never fails to help the helpless who trust in Him.
Perhaps, your failed expectations have become a reoccurring decimal which have drained your mental capacity to believe in your ability to excel, I challenge you to get up and eat!
This is the time to summon up courage, rekindle your zeal and revive your hopeful expectations. Time, age, position is not a barrier. It may look so bad now, but if you can rise up from the ashes, and stretch your optimism, you can still win.
Dear friend, it is far from being over. There’s hope in your tomorrow. Get up and eat! You’ve got a long journey ahead of you. Don’t give up yet. Face your fear. Stretch yourself, push forward. Life’s beautiful!
You are winning! Yes, we are winning!
Also read: “THE PRESENT IS THE KEY TO THE PAST; BUT THE PAST IS NOT THE PRESENT.”
Greatmark
by Mark Ibigbami GreatMark | Nov 14, 2018 | Articles |
Life is good but things do fall apart! Life still offers beauty in all its ramifications, even though it sometimes presents ugly and seemingly impossible situations.
Life is a good teacher, but sometimes teaches the hard way. Trust me, it can be really rough and tough. Life is a good friend but sometimes it can be unfair and annoying. Oftentimes, things just never go the way the way you want it. Sometimes it is OK, other times, it is unbearable.
In life, things are in transit: today, you are here; the next moment you are there. In a moment, the rich becomes poor, and by a stroke of luck, the unfortunate becomes a celebrity.
Life is dual in nature: it offers one side to me, and another side to you, and many times, not the way we plan it. In one location it is cold, in another place it is warm. It is bright here, and dark there.
Nothing ever sums up in the way we like it to be. Things fall apart when the apparent center cannot hold. In life, the center doesn’t always hold, so things would always not be as expected.
Life has in its path to success, many hurdles to cross. Sometime, it can be quite easy, at other times, it would seem impossible and hopeless. Yet, life offers goodness and contentment if you have a sure connection to the true center of life, God.
Things do fall apart when the apparent center cannot hold them. The center that holds the things that gives happiness is in itself feeble. When the things that makes us happy is lost, life becomes unfriendly.
Here’s the sure thing: “GOD holds the high center, He sees and sets the world’s mess right. He decides what is right for us earthlings…GOD’s a safe-house for the battered, a sanctuary during bad times. The moment you arrive, you relax; you’re never sorry you knocked.”-Ps. 9:7-10
Life offers abundant joy, but this joy is beyond human comprehension. It is supernatural. It is divinely inspired and endowed. Life is beautiful when peace floods your soul from the river of life.
When things fall apart, don’t lose your heart. It just means they are about to be put back together in a new and better way. When everything seems like it is falling apart, that is when God is putting things together just the way HE wants it.
So, keep calm; don’t be afraid, God is at work to put your center together again. When things fall apart, don’t fall! Be strong!
You’re winning! Yes, we are winning!
Find out how to live a raidiant life below:
https://yeswearewinning.com/2018/01/11/heres-one-sure-way-to-live-a-radiant-life/
GreatMark
by Mark Ibigbami GreatMark | Oct 18, 2018 | Articles |
The YWAW foundation in collaboration with the an Alumni of The Our Lady of Apostle Secondary School (OLASS 1986/1987 set), Yaba, organized an advocacy forum to mark the International Day of the Girl Child.
The 1986/1987 Alumni of the school, headed by princess Adeola Ogunlewe, provided us a platform to educate the Girls on the need to be empowered with skills that would guarantee their future.
October 11 has been observed as the Day of The Girl Child since 2012. The day aims to highlight and address the needs and challenges girls face, while promoting girls’ empowerment and the fulfillment of their human rights. The Theme of the 2018 edition is WITH HER: A SKILLED GIRLFORCE.
The focus of the 6th international Day of the Girl child is to work alongside all girls to expand existing learning opportunities, chart new pathways and calling on the global community to rethink how to prepare them for a successful transition into the world of work.
Furthermore, it is expected that the theme of the International Day of the Girl child will mark the beginning of a year-long effort to bring together partners and stakeholders to advocate for, and draw attention and investments to, the most pressing needs and opportunities for girls to attain skills for employability.
Our Projector consultant, Babs Afonriwo, was very articulate as he anchored the advocacy forum, and our amiable and eloquent speaker, Abimbola Ololade Abimbola spurred the over 800 students of OLASS to greatness. The positive impact of the panel discussion was visibly seen on the Girls as they ask severally related questions and sought counseling and Guardians from the YWAW team and the Alumni.
“On this International Day of the Girl, let us recommit to supporting every girl to develop her skills, enter the workforce on equal terms and reach her full potential.” — UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
Enjoy the pictures…
#YesWeAreWinning #Unitednations #SDGs #girlchild #School #Empowerthegirlsa
by Mark Ibigbami GreatMark | Oct 17, 2018 | Articles |
I can’t but wonder what would be the implication of the Boko Haram’s statement about Leah Sharibu becoming their slave. They speak with so much authority forgetting that they are mere grasshoppers before the creator.
Today’s post from OpenDoors is especially disturbing. Perhaps, because it is a reality I can closely relate with. It is the news about Leah Sharibu, the abducted Christian Chibok school girl and other aid workers whom the Boko Haram have announced that they would keep as slaves.
This was contained in a recent video released after one of the abducted aid worker, Hauwa Liman was executed, having being kept in captivity since March 2018. It’s ridiculous and saddening how this evil genius would continue to perpetuate their wickedness with no iota of fear for God or respect for human life.
As I think about what seemed like a hopeless situation, the miraculous escape of Apostle Peter from the prison in Acts 12 gives me some respite and assurance that indeed God is at work and He’s able to deliver these helpless captives in a way that seemed humanly impossible.
These blood thirsty grasshoppers bragging about their control of precious human lives, and assuming the place of God shall soon be as dust before the wind, and their end shall be worst than their beginning! Let’s keep hope alive and pray for all the captives.
Beyond, the rescue efforts of our Government, God is more than able to deliver them. He certainly has a plan, and it will ripen up faster than they think.
We are winning! Yes, we are winning
Read more about this story below:
https://www.opendoorsusa.org/christian-persecution/stories/boko-haram-sect-vows-to-keep-leah-sharibu-slave-for-life/
Boko Haram Sect: ‘From today, Leah Sharibu will be our slave.’
We are reporting difficult news today.
One month to the day since releasing a video of an execution of a kidnapped aid worker and threatening to kill three other hostages, including 15-year-old Christian schoolgirl Leah Sharibu, militants have released another video.
In it, the Boko Haram faction, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), executes a second aid worker and issues a threat to keep Leah and the third kidnapped aid worker, Alice Ngaddah, as “slaves for life.”
ISWAP fighters had specific words for Leah and Alice, also a Christian. Click the link below to read the full story and find 10 specific prayer points. |
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| I know this seems like a hopeless situation. We share this news to help you understand what young Christian girls and women in Nigeria face, as well as to help you connect deeply with your persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ. And, most important, to ask you to fervently and urgently pray, invoking our most powerful weapon against the darkness.
Open Doors has worked in Nigeria for many years, partnering with churches there to offer support for persecuted believers like the Sharibus. As part of the global Open Doors community, we can continue to join our hearts and voices together through our prayers.
You can even participate in the prayers of hundreds of Christians who are also praying for Leah and her family on our Prayer Wall. |
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| And finally, we can learn from and follow the example of Leah’s mother, Rebecca Sharibu, who continues to plead, “Please don’t give up hope. Please continue to lift up Leah and our family. Please continue to stand with us.”
Thank you for standing…
Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! (Ephesians 3: 20-21) |
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Best,
Lindy Lowry,
Open Doors Weekly editor |
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For more stories on Hauwa Liman, click https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/oct/16/nigeria-islamist-militants-kill-aid-worker-red-cross-after-deadline-expires
by Mark Ibigbami GreatMark | Oct 1, 2018 | Articles |
Every October 1st marks the independence of Nigeria, but not many Nigerians really get excited about it perhaps because of the growing harsh economic situations and the failure of the Government to meet the basic needs of the citizens.
In reality, waiting to hear the President’s Independence Day speech is the least of the worries of many Nigerians who thinks that the Government has not only politicized people’s overall welfare but have made so many empty promises and as such have disappointed the expectations of many.
Since I became knowledgeable about the state of the nation, I have seen that every independence day celebrations always reminiscence the “Good old days”, with regrets about the past; how things have degenerated so much despite the hope and faith that Nigerians continues to have in the future of a greater country.
An average Nigerian has lost hope in the promise of a better nation since for more than fifty years instead of celebrating developments and progresses, things have rather worsened. I’m not saying there hasn’t been developments in some areas of the country but the truth is our progress isn’t commensurate with our age.
There are more individual prosperities than the prosperity of the entity called Nigeria. Many leaders and citizens have invested in their own welfare more than working for the interest of the nation. This is not so in developed nations. Political powers, economic growth are been concentrated in certain areas to satisfy personal, ethnic or tribal interests instead of national interest.
The Nigerian flag symbolizes a prosperous and peaceful nation inhabited by people of diverse culture and ethnicity but who are united by a common interest. The national colors indicates a nation whose land is wealthy and it’s people live in affluence and peaceful coexistence.
The flag of Nigeria which was designed in 1959 and first officially hoisted on 1 October 1960 has three vertical bands of green, white, green. The two green stripes represent Nigeria’s natural wealth, while the white band represents peace.
Contrary to what the national colors represents, Nigerians, in spite of the abundant natural resources have since independence continued to suffer from corrupt and self-serving leaders. Our situation is such that we live in the orchard yet we eat sour grapes. We have so much natural resources yet majority of the citizens live like paupers while the wealth is been boarded by a privileged few.
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by Mark Ibigbami GreatMark | Sep 14, 2018 | Articles, Lifestyles, Politics |
“He (Mugabe) is not even supposed to be alive because people of his age are all dead” — Matemadanda. Even though this statement by war veterans secretary general Victor Matemadanda sounds too harsh for the former Zimbabwe president, Robert Mugabe, I am still disappointed he died.
“The mouth of an elder may stink but out of it comes wisdom.”—Mzee Elvis. This Tonga proverb brings to mind the words of wisdom of King Solomon who having relished the riches and pleasures of the world gave an eternal verity about the brevity and vanity of life (Ecclesiastes 1:12).
Sometimes the pains I feel about some dead persons comes from the concerns that they were unable to transit with their wealth and accomplishments. Even though worldly achievements are temporal and vain, it is a defense to those who have them. Yet, such a defense cannot still prevent death which is the highest common factor of man.
When I heard about the death of Robert Mugabe, I was moved with pity, but more importantly I was disappointed that he couldn’t resist death like he fought to rule over Zimbabwe as President for 37 years. I had wondered that perhaps if he was not pressured to resign, he might still be alive.
The 93 years ex-president of Zimbabwe would have live much longer to enjoy the fruits of his labor for which he has worked since he served as the first prime minister of Zimbabwe from 1980 to 1987 and then as President from 1987 to 2017
The longest serving President, Robert Gabriel Mugabe, as of August 2016 was world’s oldest and one of the longest serving Head of State. His achievements are huge; he is the most educated President the world has ever seen. His literacy pride and those of millions of Zimbabwe’s is undoubtedly worthy of commendation. But of what advantage will this be to him in his grave?
I seriously think
[muɡaɓe] shouldn’t have died. He should have still remained the President of Zimbabwe for as long as he could resist death. He should have imprison death and make himself an undying god over Zimbabwe and the world, seeing that he was able to continue ruling even when it was obvious that he has lost his strength and vigor. What a shame?!
Whilst we await autopsy report to ascertain the cause of Robert Mugabe’s death, it was said that he may have died from severe prostrate cancer which he had battled with for a while.
The leader of the Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU–PF) since 1975, and a father of four was a revolutionary leader who gave the West and the so called “white skinned” a rough criticism and apparent hatred for western control and colonialism.
One of his major achievements was taking lands from white colonizers and giving it back to its original owners, the formerly disadvantaged black people. He constantly stood up to western powers and Western propaganda (including sanctions) has failed to achieve its objectives of destabilizing the country under his rule.
Whilst I am sober about the demise of the 93 years old dictator whose 37-year rule was characterized by gross human rights violations, and greed, I’m very much concerned about many wealthy and influential political big wigs who have turned themselves into political gods and strongholds. Those who believe they are the godfathers of politics and that no one can attain any political office without their approval.
They are defiant and power-drunk; they pursue only their interest and are ever ready to get rid of any obstacles on their path by any means whatsoever. They don’t mind to subject their citizens to hardship and sufferings because they want to remain in power.
Many, like the Syrian President, Bashar Al-Asaad, have destroyed their country’s political and economic structure because of their power obsession. What will become of such power-drunk when they die? What would become of their wealth and accomplishments? Do they ever consider that life is vanity, and vanity upon vanity? Do these tyrants ever worry about losing control someday? Search me!
A day in which they would close their eyes in death and those they have afflicted and oppressed would scorn their helpless bodies and trampled upon their graves!? You wonder too? Yes, what happens to the riches amassed by selfish and ruthless leaders when they are consumed in death?
If we think we can ignore God in our lives and treat God’s creation with contempt, we should remember that life is as brief as the flower that flourish in the morning and dies in the evening. Life is brief no matter how long we live.
God is always the first on the scene and also the last to leave. God doesn’t play hide and seek game. He’s not remote; he’s near. We can’t get away from him. Therefore, let us draw near to him and live for him—for by so doing, we will be fulfilling the purpose for which we were created.
Another Icon of African politics is gone; Robert Mugabe has completed his trade in the market of life, whether he has done good or bad, God will judge. May his soul Rest In Peace.
But for those of us still breathing should take it to heart that life at its best is very brief!
We are winning. Yes, we are wining!
