by Mark Ibigbami GreatMark | Aug 30, 2017 | Uncategorized |
Whenever I see curves, beauty, brain and brawn, and elegance of a person, I am spurred by an adrenaline rush that brings to remembrance my vivacious youthful exploits, and of course my mistakes. Hey, don’t imagine things for me; I’ll tell you. I’ll share with you what I mean by the beauty of undoing your mistakes.
I always tell myself that I am still a youth, and even in my forties, I am still as strong as I was twenty years ago. In my journey so far, my experiences has shown that we face peculiar challenges as youths, and that only a few of us survives and are bold to raise our shoulders high. The various challenges we face as we journey through life has a way of affecting our efficiency especially when they are not properly handled.
So, this was where mine started from; yes, from teenage. Growing up, I suffered from peer pressures (I know many of you can relate with this). How we did those nasty things because we had friends that did it, and who convinced us it wasn’t a bad try. How we lied so we could fit in and be accepted into the group of the famous and notorious gangs. Oh! the thought of what we do for acceptance startles me!
I allowed myself to be pressured by my mates because they all had girlfriends and were doing stuff with them. It was said to be fun, and because I wanted to experience the ecstasies that the “big boys” enjoyed too, I got involved and entangled. I never thought there could be anything as enjoyable as satisfying my sexual passion, neither did it occurred to me that there could be a regrettable outcome until I got a girl in the family way.
I became a father at age 17 shortly after my SSCE. Like my mates, I was then awaiting the result of the high school exams, and was also preparing to write the Jamb exams for the university admission when this news broke out. I did not only killed my ambition but also shattered the dreams of an innocent girl, all in a bid to become a “big boy”.
Did I mention that I wasn’t from a well-to-do family? I was only fortunate to attend a top rated school because of the scholarship I got in my elementary school. Of course, all the ‘big boys’ that I wanted to be like had fathers that were either Managing Directors and CEOs of multi-national companies, politicians or astute businessmen.
After this first stage you think I would have learnt my lessons, right? But the opposite was the case; in my frustrations, I did drugs, womanized, and was part of a robbery gang. I was only lucky to have escaped the prison, an event I considered a divine intervention. After I had it very rough, I decided to make sense of my life, but it was difficult. Initially I thought It was too late to make any sense of my life because of my many hurtful mistakes until I experienced a divine transformation.
I was assured that if I could undue my mistakes, my life will be beautiful again, and I would be able to recover the lost opportunities. It was difficult because I tried hard on my own to put things right, however, the turning point was when I surrendered to the life-changer, Jesus Christ. My life was beautified and restored by the blood He shed on the cross. Trust me, I have no regrets anymore because I let him give me the courage to undo my past mistakes.
At this time, I was already disowned by my father, who could no longer put up with my disgraceful life. I took up the courage to pursue my career and to fulfill my dreams of becoming a Chattered Accountant. Even though, I struggled through school, but I was determined to stand out and make my family proud again.
God was faithful and His loving kindness kept me. Finally I graduated from the university at the age of 29. And I completed my National Youth service (NYSC) before I clocked the age of 30. Then, I became a Chattered Accountant at the age of 33, and by the age of 37 I was the Group Managing Director of a private indigenous Oil and Gas firm.
I have reunited with my family, and my lovely son. And of course I married my girl friend, who has also become the CEO of a top fashion firm. Dear friend, my life is beautiful and I am proud I learnt how to undo my mistakes. I have learnt that there is beauty in every age, and that mistakes aren’t fun, but they are powerful teachers. If we could keep all of the lessons that we have gained from our mistakes, while also freeing ourselves from the guilt or regrets of our painful pasts, we would become a masterpiece in God’s hand and become a beauty for the world to behold.
Many youths today have faced different challenges at one point or the other from victimization to abuse, peer pressure, single parenting, pre-marital sex, substance abuse and addiction, early maturity, violence, obesity, education disparity, poverty, unemployment, juvenile delinquency, racial discrimination, sexual pervasion, pregnancy, materialism and so on. Many may have come out shinning like me, while many others may have been consumed in their mistakes.
You may have experienced any of these issues in your journey through life, but that doesn’t give you a reason to be lackadaisical. or give in to a frustrated and regretful life. Sit up and shake off the snake into the fire! Even though life is full of troubles and everyone bears the pains of mistakes or victimization, yet if you, like Paul, put your faith in the promises of the Lord and believe Him for the help you need, He will come to your rescue and neutralize the poisons! Acts 28:5.
In our times of trouble, we have some very precious promises. (His presence, Heb. 13:5; His victory, 1 Cor. 15:57; His purposes and plans, Rom. 8:28; 2 Cor. 4:17; His power, Eph. 3:20, Matt. 28:18. He will move Heaven and earth to meet your need if only you can trust Him.
Never be comfortable with mediocrity. Create, Maintain and Improve on your life. Never forget you can always re-write your story with God. No matter what the mistakes were, your life can be beautiful again. Control-Z (CNTRL-Z) it! You’re winning! Yes, we are winning!
#cntrl-zit
Story by Afolayemisi Ogunwale
by Mark Ibigbami GreatMark | Aug 24, 2017 | Uncategorized |
Once upon a time there was a bunch of tiny frogs who arranged a running competition. The goal was to reach the top of a very high tower. A big crowd had gathered around the tower to see the race and cheer on the contestants. Honestly, no one in crowd really believed that the tiny frogs would reach the top of the tower, left alone see anyone of them win the race.
The crowd yelled statements such as: “Oh, WAY too difficult!!!” “They will NEVER make it to the top!” “Not a chance that they will succeed. The tower is too high!”, and so on.
As the race continues, the tiny frogs began collapsing one by one. except for those, who in a fresh tempo, were climbing higher and higher. The crowd continued to yell, “It is too difficult!!! No one will make it!” More tiny frogs got tired and gave up. But ONE continued higher and higher and higher. This one wouldn’t give up!
At the end of the race everyone else had given up climbing the tower except for the one tiny frog who, after a big effort, was the only one who reached the top! Then all of the other tiny frogs naturally wanted to know how this one frog managed to do it?
A contestant asked the tiny frog how he had found the strength to succeed and reach the goal? To his amazement, It turned out that the winner was DEAF!!! Yes, it was deaf to all the discouraging comments of the crowd. The frog was insensitive to the pessimists who were out to frustrate its dream of reaching to the top of the tower.
Whether you like it or not, people will attempt to dissuade you from reaching your goal, whether intentionally or unintentionally. You must know that the word is potent to build and destroy. Everything you hear and read will affect your actions somehow. Therefore, you need to be determined and always exude an optimistic demeanor in the race of life.
Never listen to other people’s tendencies to be negative or pessimistic because they take your most wonderful dreams and wishes away from you — the ones you have in your heart! As you run the race of life, be positive about life, even if it appears to be seemingly difficult. Your life will follow your thoughts!
Some people have remained permanently incapacitated by the words of discouragement that people speak. And to others, it has become difficult to break out of limiting thoughts of their environment. However, God offers total healing to such minds that have been corrupted by afflicting and stagnating thoughts. Modern medicine can heal bodily afflictions but can definitely not heal the mind. It is only God that can heal the mind!
In talking about the power of our thoughts, T.D Jake wrote, “Your thoughts are often the product of damaged emotions, traumatic events, and vicious opinions forced upon you by the bodacious personalities of domineering people who continually feel it necessary to express their opinions about you.
One of the great challenges of our walk with God is to resist temptation to allow what happened in the past determine who we are today. We each must begin to understand and declare; “I am not what happened yesterday. I endured what happened. I survived what happened, but I am not what happened yesterday!”
He further said, that many people are plagued all their lives by memories of failed marriages, broken promises, and personal calamities… these negative impressions, armed with memories and flashback “movies”, strengthen themselves by rehearsing past failures and wounds over and over again. It is somehow like bad television reruns- we don’t even enjoy watching them yet we find ourselves transfixed to the screen…
In the same sense, you must remind yourself that you don’t have to watch the “movie” in your mind if you are not enjoying what is being played. That’s right-hit the remote control. You do have control over your thoughts. The bible teaches us that if we are going to be healed in our own mind, then we must occasionally reprogram ourselves to “think on better thoughts.”
In order to be guarded by positive thoughts, he counseled, “You must choose what you are going to meditate upon. Choose carefully, though, for you will ultimately become whatever you meditate upon. The enemy knows this, so when he wants to destroy your morality, he doesn’t start with an act; he starts with a thought. A thought is a seed that, if not aborted, will produce offspring somewhere in your life.”
In his writings, “Imitation of Christ” Thomas A. Kempis noted, “The testimony of a good conscience is the glory of a good man. Have a good conscience and thou shalt ever have joy. A good conscience is able to bear exceeding much, and is exceeding joyful in the midst of adversities; an evil conscience is ever fearful and unquiet.”
Some persons may have told you that you will never amount to anything in life. Unfortunately, over time you have inculcated these thoughts and have allowed it to form your attitude such that when you are faced with difficulties you quickly affirm the thoughts that you would never succeed.
Thoughts are powerful and if not well fashioned it can destroy ones destiny. Gladly, the scriptures offers a solution out of captivating thoughts. It says, “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” 2 Cor 10:4-5.
Don’t be tied down by your hurtful past. Get rid of the thoughts that limits you, and move forward to greater things. If it has been difficult for you to forgive your past, then you need to allow God to heal your mind and open new doors of opportunities and breakthroughs. You need a relationship with God your maker. Pray for a renewed mind, pray now!
“Whatever things are good and of good reports, think on these things…Yes you’re winning! Yes, we are winning!
GreatMark
Source
Rishika Jain Inspiration
“Hopes for Every Moment”, by T.D.Jakes
Imitation of Christ by Thomas A. Kempis.
by Mark Ibigbami GreatMark | Aug 18, 2017 | Uncategorized |
Yes, I am not afraid, but I’m very much concerned about sundry issues happening around me. I’m Concerned about us; our nation, and our generation, our world. The issue of how it will all end, bothers me.
I’m concerned because it looks like we don’t have enough time to recover from one event before the next event strikes. I’m concerned that people’s souls are been stretched by reason of hardship.
I am really perturbed with the way we treat each other and we don’t care for each other as we want to. I’m alarmed by the height of man’s in-humanity to man; and the dog-eat-dog attitude that has taken over our society.
That we live in a world where people are terrorizing and killing each other, and yet celebrates such heinous crime as an achievement makes me sad.
Is there a new devil or it is still the old satan that is perpetuating these evils which is on such an imaginable scale? The fact that evil has become so fashionable, and unabated gets me agitated.
Yes, you can be concerned over a matter and yet you are not afraid.
I’m not afraid, am only concerned! And my concerns wakes up my faith, and tells me these things must happen as the end is near.
We are constantly reminded by the spate of ungodliness, wickedness, perversion, and wars, that the earth won’t last; and that man is only a passerby. The hope of a new heaven therefore, gives me consolation.
Yes, I know I’m not afraid because I believe that God is Sovereign (Luke 1:37). I am certain that no matter how difficult it is, good will prevail over evil, and that love will win over hate!
I believe that with faith in God, I will surmount life’s difficulties, and be distinguished for excellence in spite of the hardship.
Though there are so many things that I’m concerned about but I am not worried because I know am winning. Yes, I’m Winning!
GreatMark
by Mark Ibigbami GreatMark | Aug 15, 2017 | Uncategorized |
It is amazing how unforgiveness can steal a person’s health, happiness and peace. Whenever Christine heard someone talk about forgiveness, she just always zoned out just so that she won’t be persuaded to forgive her father.
Guess you are wondering if he ever violated, molested or victimized her? He did none of these; she just hated him and was determined never to forgive him. She always feels like if he did one of these she might have forgiven him long ago and moved on in life. To her, he did way more than these.
She hated him not just because he married another woman long before she was born, but because he didn’t take care of her older siblings; her step siblings and extended family, such that the family welfare became a burden for her mother alone to bear.
The father was irresponsible; and led a shameful life. He became a drunk, a drug addict and a cheat. Christine was never proud of his father, and has she grew up, she hated her father for all of these and more.
For 16 years, Christine lived in unforgiveness for her father, she tried to love him but the secret tears and pains that her mother had to endure couldn’t let her. She couldn’t make friends easily; couldn’t trust people- especially her male friends. she lived in total misery, her social life was a mess too.
What did you expect? She had a default of frowning most of the time, she found smiling to be a very difficult thing to do. In all of these, she was appeared Pius in the public, acting like she’s really cool but deep down she wasn’t at all.
On August 4, 2010… Chrisitine was going to be stepping into a new milestone of her life and she knew so well that she didn’t want to continue the way she had started. She wanted to be like every other normal young teenagers in the university who were happy and always cheerful. She wanted to be able to trust and keep friends, have an awesome social life and if possibly fit God in, but most importantly, she wanted out of her misery more than she wanted to breathe.
Days went by… September 2010, she found a solution. Though she had struggled for a while but she needed God to intervene somehow? So she surrendered her helpless self to Christ for a total regeneration. Yes… she became born again… what a joy!
But sadly, she still couldn’t break away from the shackles of unforgiveness. She thought she had let it go but somewhere she knew she had to consciously let it go. Becoming born again was just a step of her healing process. She needed to make frantic efforts to let go of the hurts, and allow the God break her.
A new year is here. January 2011… she met a friend that was interested in her well-being, her spiritual growth, academics, social life, family and so on. It was easy for her to crush on this guy because he was everything her dad was not. But little did she know that he was the angel sent to her to help her heal and really let go of her painful past.
She forgave her father, got healed quickly and regain sound mind and health. Today, they are happily married with and blessed with four lovely kids.
Unforgiveness is a strong chain that holds you down and won’t allow you breakthrough in the place of prayer. It incapacitates and weighs you down so much that life gets unbearable. Imagine if Christine hadn’t made up her mind to forgive her dad and let go of her past, she wouldn’t have gotten that gift of her one true love and a happy family.
Unforgiveness holds u down from getting to that gift pack that contains your promotion, your spouse, happy family, a successful life in Christ and so on. You are tied to the person you refused to forgive. The person who is offended is as bound as the offender. It is only forgiveness that frees both. In fact, the person who is offended is more at the risk of unforgiveness.
According to Worthington et al. (1999), unforgiveness can be defined psychologically as the emotional imbalance due to delayed response towards a transgressor. However, the expression (anger, hatred, frustration or violence) depends on the mental state of a person. Worthington and Scherer (2004) in the research study concluded that as unforgiveness is a type of stress response, it has a direct impact on the mental health and psychology of a person. The study also suggests that unforgiveness can be viewed as a state which a person is confined in a stressful state of mind. 1
Good news! You can break the chain by letting go of the chain of unforgiveness just like Christine did. Forgive yourself and forgive others who may have wronged you. They don’t always have to come and ask for forgiveness before you forgive freely. You don’t have to maintain your pride and integrity because they were the ones who wronged you.
You have to follow the standard of Christ. “Do not be conformed to this world…” (Romans 12:1-2). The greatest price and miracle Christ did on earth wasn’t healing the sick, raising the dead or supernatural provision; it was choosing to come and be slain for you and I to be forgiven and reconciled to the God. And if he forgave us freely when we didn’t merit it, how much more should you forgive those who willfully maltreat you.
If there is one thing Christine learnt in her life it is, “letting go is much easier than holding on”. If you can forgive today, you will sure enjoy peace and joy and health that can’t be humanly comprehended. You can’t do it in the energy of the flesh; you have to hand it over to God for him to carry out a spiritual “heart surgery” that would usher you into a new life.
“Unforgiveness is an extra burden let it go.”
You’re winning! Yes, We’re winning!
THE DAY HATE KILLED A MAN!
1April 28, 2014 04:55 by Theravive
by Mark Ibigbami GreatMark | Aug 9, 2017 | Uncategorized |
Whenever you counsel Iyke never to get worried over a situation, he will retort saying, “”Who worry help!? I guess the rhetorical question helps him to quickly put off the things that could put him in despair. Truly, does worry help anyone?
Have you ever wished to get taller and standing before a mirror you did? Impossible? So, If you cannot by worry add a cubit to your height, then you can by worry lose your mind. Consider for a moment; the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description yet God feeds them and cloth them with beauty. How much more you who is counted far more to God than birds.
If it worries you, then it’s beyond you! That’s my philosophy about the issue of worry. I have learnt to give my fears to God and turn my worries into prayers. My experience with God is such that before the need arises, the supplies is already waiting. Therefore, I can confidently say, like the Psalmist, “The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want.” (Psalm 23:1).
Dear friend, Be careless in the care of God and you sure needs will be met. You are winning, yes we are winning!
GreatMark
by Mark Ibigbami GreatMark | Aug 3, 2017 | Uncategorized |
One raw winter night, a religious skeptic who worked as a farmer, heard an irregular thumping sound against the kitchen storm door. He went to a window and watched the tiny, helpless shivering sparrows beat in vain against the glass. Touched by the drama, the farmer bundled up and trudged the fresh snow to open the barn door for the struggling birds.
He turned on the lights and tossed some hay in a corner. But the helpless sparrows, which had scattered in all directions when he emerged, from the house, hid in the darkness, afraid. The man tried various tactics to get them into the barn. He laid down a trail of saltine cracks crumbs to direct them.
Then he tried circling behind the birds to drive them toward the barn, nothing worked. Being a huge, alien creature, had terrified them; the birds couldn’t comprehend that he desired to help. The farmer withdrew to his house and watched the doomed sparrows through the window.
As he stared, a thought hit him, like a lightening from a clear blue sky. ‘If only I could become a bird –one of them –just for a moment. Then I wouldn’t frighten them. So I could show them the way to warmth and safety’.
Truly so, but a man becoming a bird is nothing compared to God becoming a man. The concept of a sovereign eternal being that created the universe, confirming to himself a human body was –and is –too much for some people to believe. Sadly so!
Just like the compassionate farmer, God had watched the fallen, helpless and wretched man struggled to be saved from satan who has subjected him to tyranny and oppression. Like the farmer too, God had sedulously attempted in so many ways to save man from his cruel adversary.
After the fall of man, God had sought to bring man into a cordial and practical relationship with him. In doing this, God chose various ways to reveal himself. But the final, complete self-expression culminated in his son -Jesus Christ. This, of course, is still difficult for some to comprehend.
Noah, one of Israel’s colourful Prophet found favour with God amid a crooked and perverse generation. He was told to build an ark of escape for those who cared to be saved from the impending flood. Many disbelieved him and declined his warning, except for Noah’s family and the animals. And just like the birds in the story were doomed, many were doomed in the flood that saw the end of the then world.
Despite man’s sin and rebellion, God’s unflinching effort to save man was unwavering: He sent Prophets to proclaim His love, and He showed His potency through signs and wonders. He did all these to draw man to himself. These Prophets never gave up. Yet nothing worked!
Could it be that, like the helpless sparrows, man couldn’t comprehend that God desired to save him? No doubt, man needs deliverance from his arch-enemy, satan. But, why does he constantly resist his creator, who can save him? It is ridiculous to have the clay struggle with the potter about what object is going to be made of it. Likewise, it is foolishness for the created to contend with the wisdom and sovereignty of the creator!
If only the farmer wish was fulfilled, the sparrows wouldn’t have been doomed. if he could become a bird, he would have showed them the way to warmth and safety. But unfortunately, the helpless sparrows were frightened by the farmer’s appearance, and as such mis-interpreted his actions, which was to help.
God could have sent a love note, may be drop it from heaven in an unprecedented manner that would marvel the world. What difference do you think that would make? Apparently, nothing different from what befell the earlier prophets who were murdered for carrying God’s message. This love note would have perhaps be torn and even burnt.
But thanks be unto God for His wisdom, Knowing that the only way He could get through to man was to come down Himself; become a man for a moment, and then show him the way to safety –freedom from sin and satan.
Jesus is all God wanted to say to the world. He is God’s word and the way to the Father who love us with an everlasting love (John 1:1; Jer. 31:3). “He sent his son last of all, saying they will respect my son,” But the tenant said to one another, ‘This is the heir, come let us kill him…so they took him and killed him” (Mark 12:7-8). Jesus was sent for the very purpose –to be killed as a ransom for our sins. He was sent to bear the consequence of our disobedience.
He became the propitiation for our sins on the cross so that we will be saved from God’s wrath. The blood he shed on the cross was for our cleansing and forgiveness (Eph. 1:3). He came to show us the way to the father. He says, “I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the father but by me” (John 14:6).
Jesus is calling you to come to him now before he withdraws to his house like the farmer in the story. He never desires to watch you doomed!
Don’t be doomed like the helpless sparrows. Speak to him right now, say: Lord Jesus, I acknowledge you as my savior and Lord. I confess that I am a wretched sinner; I repent of my sins today. Save me and give me the grace to follow you to the end. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
You are winning! Yes, we are winning!
GreatMark
IF FIVE SPARROWS ARE SOLD FOR TWO PENNIES, WHAT ARE YOU WORTH?
