DEVELOPING FRIENDSHIPS

"A friend loves at all times." Proverbs 17:17

Dr. John Maxwell writes: "If you want deep lasting friendship, you cannot always be the strong one.  And that can be frightening; especially if you have had someone hurt or manipulate you.  But you must let a friend see you in your weakness.  Some of us have never done this, and we wonder why we are lonely.  We are going to have to get vulnerable to have a true friend.

"Friends serve each other.  When was the last time you performed an act of servant-hood for a friend to whom you are devoted?  If you cannot remember, you are probably living with a core of loneliness.  A friend is someone you commit to not because of what they can do for you, but just because they are your friend.  And friends listen, even though they are busy.  Listening is an act of love.  It says, "I am going to put my own agenda on hold and devote myself to knowing and caring for you."  Friends are not generally looking for someone who can talk very impressively or cleverly or with great wit.  Mostly what they are looking for is a world-class listener.  Furthermore, when something goes right, friends celebrate.  Do you do that?  When was the last time one of your friends had God bless them - and you threw a party?

"If you are not in this kind of friendship right now, you cannot make it happen, but you can open yourself up to it.  You can start pursuing it.  You can ask God to guide you.  You can take little relational risks.  And if you already have friends like this, prize them, protect them, enrich them in every way, and take that friendship as deep as you can."

PERSONAL FINANCIAL PLANNING 2013 [PART TWO]

SOURCES OF EARNING INCOME

•      There are several sources of earning such as salaries, rent, interest, dividends, etc.

•      There are basically two types of income:

1. Earned Income: Salary
2. Passive Income: Real Estate, Rent and Capital Appreciation, Royalties, Businesses run by others, Stocks, bonds, mutual funds.

Employee’s Primary Income

•      Reviewed salary–a new financial empowerment

•      Monthly salary.

•      Annual Bonuses

•      Promotion differentials.

•      Loan schemes, Advances, Housing Allowances, Personal Loans etc.

•      Estacode, training allowances, per diem.

•      Share of profits, share of dividend etc

Employee’s Other Streams of Income

•      Interest from fixed deposits or savings accounts.

•      Dividend from stocks and shares.

•      Rental income (from flats, houses, market stalls and shops etc.)

•      Land and Buildings (buying and selling).

•      Angel capital (investing in small businesses).

•      Farming/Poultry/Fish Farming.

•      Trading Joint Venture (JV)

•      Importation (JV) amongst others.

•      Bonus shares from existing holdings.

Creating Multiple Streams of Income

•      Start today to develop many sources of income.

•      Leverage on core talent, skill, job or business. Get organised!

•      Diversify one stream, or use income from one to create others

•      Never jeopardize your employment i.e. your core stream of income

•      Use /leverage services of professionals/others to develop multiple streams,  e.g. stock brokers, estate agents, friends etc.

•      Get involved in the up-coming Fidelity Co-operative Society.

•      Choose your multiple streams development partners very carefully. Persons who are serious/like minded with integrity.

•      Get started, no matter how small. From little acorns really big oak trees grow.

Becoming a Landlord

•      Choose your area of interest 

•      Do your search – Legal Dept. will assist

•      Funding – Outright, installment or counterpart funding (i.e. two people paying for a plot of land jointly)

•      Start gradually – monthly, quarterly etc. Remember little drops of water make a mighty ocean.

•      Be focused and determined – You will get there!

Summary Rules of Acquiring Money

1. Pay yourself first
2. Control your expenditure
3. Invest your money where it will labour for you and increase your wealth
4. Invest wisely – where it is safe and consult with wise men
5. Own thy home – it reduces your cost of living and makes available more of your earnings for the gratification of your needs
6. Ensure a future income – provide for your future retirement

CADBURY BOURNVITA YUMMY LIFE PROMO

The Life Enriching Journey of Cadbury Bournvita Yummy Life Promo

Cadbury Nigeria Plc., the leading company in manufacturing food drinks in Nigeria embarked on a National Consumer Promotion Scheme 3 months ago for its flagship brand - Bournvita tagged “Cadbury Bournvita Yummy Life Promo” to excite and reward its loyal consumers across the country. It was aimed at delighting, rewarding and providing a superior life for the consumers of the brand in Nigeria.

The Yummy Life Promo which was hinged on the basis that everybody who participated in the promo is a winner fulfilled its promise of rewarding and enriching thousands of participants across the country.

Speaking regarding the Promo, the Corporate Affairs Manager, Cadbury West Africa, Mr. Kufre Ekanem expressed great satisfaction with the participation of the esteemed consumers of the brand in the promo which he said was evident in the several millions of entries received within the 11 weeks duration of the promotion.

Kufre revealed that Cadbury Bournvita Yummy Life Promo has produced a total of 11 Millionaires doling out N1 Million grand cash prize to eleven lucky winners in 11 weeks, eleven others won N250, 000.00 each, 65 consumers won N100, 000.00 each and a total of 300,000 consumers won N500 worth of airtime for the entire 11 weeks duration of the promo, taking the total worth of prize won to over N200, 000,000.

With the Cadbury Bournvita Yummy Life Promo, Cadbury Nigeria Plc has once again reinstated its commitment to giving back to our loyal consumers by rewarding them and touching their lives more than ever before. So far, more than 300,000 consumers have won prizes in the promo”

Also speaking at the draw, the Brand Manager, Cadbury Bournvita, Mrs. Adebola Williams expressed the company’s sincere appreciation to the consumers for making Bournvita their preferred beverage drink and for participating in the Cadbury Bournvita Yummy Life Promo.

She further reinstated the company’s commitment to continue to reward and give back to its loyal consumers which she said will continue to build a lasting brand affinity and engender deeper connection between the brand and the consumers.

Commenting on the promotion, the Legal Officer, Lagos Lottery Board, Miss. Mayowa Okuyiga commended Cadbury Nigeria Plc for its high sense of integrity and transparency of process throughout the 11 weeks duration. She applauded the company’s sincerity in the way and manner in which the draw was conducted openly, free and fair, stating that “everybody was truly a winner in the promo”.

She further encourage consumers to continue purchasing either the 450g, 900g or refill packs of their favourite food and beverage drink and enjoy its offering of non-stop vitality.

VALENTINE’S DAY - LOVE IS NOT JUST FOR COUPLES!

Who says that this day should be restricted only to romantic love?  No other day can conjure such powerful imagination of love.  It is a commercially driven day that provokes strongly divided reactions to the perplex display of hearts, and fanciful wishes of romance.  For those in stable, loving relationships, the day offers a wonderful opportunity to express or reaffirm their love.  For those who are recently bereaved, divorced, or single, this is a day that can trigger feelings of overwhelming loneliness and grief.

While Valentine’s Day is merely an arbitrary day that we use as a light hearted way to express our feelings to our partners, it is also true that this day sustains the myth that all couples are happy.  With divorce rates where they are in Nigeria, it is apparent that not all couples are “loving”.  Without intending to bash this “feel-good” day, after all, we can all benefit from an expression of love, it seems that Valentine’s Day may be more widely accepted if it was truly a day for love.  Not just romantic love between couples, but love in all of its forms. 

Many people who find themselves alone on this day, struggle with past hurts, grief, and feelings of inadequacy.  While they are bombarded with images of happy couples, it is important that they remember that their identity is not defined by their relationship status. A person’s worth comes from who they are, not who they are with.  While most would agree that this is true, it doesn’t dull the inevitable feelings of self-doubt and inadequacy that arise when surrounded by the existing love heart at every turn.

So how to deal with these feelings when colleagues receive flowers, lovers seem to be everywhere and romantic cards take over every store front?  While some may choose to avoid the day by staying at home, or just take steps to avoid “happy couples”, it seems that a different approach might offer a more gratifying result.

What about a perspective change?  What if we were to adopt the idea that Valentine’s Day is not just for couples, but for everybody?  While your friends might be buying flowers for their partners, consider the people in your world that you love, and that love you back.  Something special for your mother and a telephone call to your father, perhaps your daughter including siblings will appreciate flowers as much as any lover will.  Maybe spending the evening with your son watching a game would be one way to express your particular brand of love.  Random acts of kindness can bring a surprisingly wonderful sense of well-being.  

For those who struggle with this day, it might be helpful to spend time with friends or family - people with whom you have already established positive, loving relationships.  It could be a time to focus on what you have, rather than on what you feel you are missing.  Create new traditions.  Invite your single friends over for dinner and take foods to your neighbors who are always there for you. 

As with anything in life, being prepared for a challenging situation can make all the difference in the world.  Do not let another Valentine’s Day sneak up on you and leave you feeling badly.  Take control. Plan how you want to spend it.  Plan how you can create a day that actually makes you feel good.  Incorporate all the normal, healthy coping strategies that are useful in all situations.  Get enough sleep, maintain your normal routines of diet and regular exercise draw upon your inner strengths, and above all, surround yourself with people who comfort and sustain you.

Valentine’s Day offers us a unique opportunity to undertake a new perspective on how we choose to celebrate love.  The traditional approach with flowers, cards, and romance works beautifully for some.  For others, a display of love towards children, parents, or friends can be equally rewarding.  But in the midst of all the various means of displaying love to others, let us not forget the benefits of looking after our own needs.  This Valentine’s Day, offer yourself the same thing you give to all of the loved ones in your life, and make the effort to show yourself a little love!

Somebody said the difference between courtship and marriage is like the difference between the pictures in a seed catalog and what actually comes up in your garden.  But it does not have to be that way.

PERSONAL FINANCIAL PLANNING 2013 [PART ONE]

Home Truths

·         Whether you are tired or not, you will retire or be retired from your job.

·       Whether you want to or not, you will grow old & feeble if you live long enough.

·     Whether you want to or not, your family, relatives and friends will need your financial support.

·         Whether you like it or not, you will either live under a roof or under the skies; you will eat whatever you have to eat and wear whatever you have to wear.

·         Whether you like it or not, nobody can love you more than you love yourself.

What is Personal Financial Planning [PFP]?

•      A committed interest in managing your financial resources.

•      Distinguishing between needs and wants.

•      Making plans for satisfying your needs.

•      Making provision for times of lack.

•      Taking charge and responsibility for your finances.

•      Foregoing current benefits for future benefits.

•      Investments.

What Does PFP Involve?

•         Pay yourself first by saving

•         Educate yourself.

•         Think Long Term.

•         Give reasonably.

PFP Principles – Pay Yourself First By Saving

•      This is indispensable! It is also the most difficult thing to do!

•      Start with the “rule of ten” – Save 10% - 20% of your monthly income and work up as your earnings increase.

•      Set up a Standing Order TODAY!

•      Open a separate account (Savings or Fixed Deposits)

PFP Principles – Educate Yourself!

•      Read financial pages, read books and articles on financial planning

•      Talk to like minded people who inspire and challenge you.

•      Deepen your skills on the job.

•      Attend training programmes.

•      Acquire new skills.

•      Acquire new academic and professional qualifications.

PFP Principles – Think Long Term  

•      Raise financially responsible children

•      Teach them early to learn to save and manage wealth.

•      Don’t over protect your children from the valuable experience of lack - Raise them so they can compete and survive.

•      Make investments for them in their names from an early age.

•  Invest in the improvement of your children (and your spouse) educationally and professionally.

PFP Principles – Give Reasonably

•      Give a Portion of your earnings to God (tithes etc.). The scriptures says there is blessing in giving.

•      Set aside an amount as a monthly charity budget and ensure you stick to it.

•      In Personal Financial Planning, where friends and relatives are involved, always practice restraint – give reasonably.

•      Be careful when giving. You have a responsibility to your family as well.

Ponder This?

Of 100 people who started working at age 25, by the time they were 63 years old:

•      63% were dependent on their off springs, relatives, friends or charities.

•      29% were dead.

•      3% were still working.

•      4% had accumulated adequate capital for retirement.

•      Only 1% was truly “wealthy”.

•      It is not how much you earn that matters but how much you can save and invest.

YEAR OF GRACE AND FAVOR

“The Lord longs to be gracious to you.”  Isaiah 30:18

On December 31, the clock strikes midnight ushering in another New Year.  Another 365 days to fan the flames of your unfilled hopes and dreams.  A new beginning and gift full of promise.  But you must accept it, unwrap it and use it.  Not everybody does.  Maybe you dread what the New Year holds; retirement, the empty nest, chronic illness, unemployment, life without a loved one.  Well, God loves to take people at the end of their rope and set them on the road to peace, joy and victory.  He is the expert at drying tears, calming fears, injecting courage into anxious hearts and removing the sting of old memories.  He “makes all things new” Rev. 21:5.  But He never leads you back, just forward.

Listen: “The Lord longs to be gracious to you.”  What do you want to see happen this year?  Does it include having your own business?  Losing some weight?  Reuniting with your family?  Only you can complete the question, “What if I could…?”  You alone know what makes your heart leap.  Stephen Covey says, “Begin…with the image of the end of your life as your frame of reference…Each day will then contribute to the vision you have of your life as a whole.”  Seek God.  Determine your goals.  Write them down, and then release the outcome to Him who “longs to be gracious to you.”  To be gracious means “to show favor.”  The desire of God’s heart is that you walk in His grace and favor every day of this year.

THE IMPACT OF EVERY WORD YOU SAY

I am sure you have heard someone say, “You are going to eat those words.”  It may sound like a mere phrase to us but in reality we do eat our words.  What we say not only affects others, but it also affects us.  Words are wonderful when used in a proper way.  They can encourage, edify and give confidence to the hearer.  A right word spoken at the right time can actually be life changing.  Proverbs 15:23 says, “A man has joy in making an apt answer, and a word spoken at the right moment” – how good it is.

Personally, I must bless with my words and not curse because whatever I say stands and happens the way I said it.  One of the powers the Almighty God bestowed on me.  We can literally increase our own joy by speaking right words.  We can also upset ourselves by talking unnecessarily about our problems or things that have hurt us in relationships.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE SPEAK?

The words that come out of our mouth go into our own ears as well as other people’s, and then they drop down into our soul where they give us either joy or sadness, peace or upset, depending on the types of words we have spoken.  God desires that our spirit be light and free so it can function properly, not heavy and oppressed.  We can learn to choose our thoughts, to resist wrong ones and think on good, healthy, and right ones.  I have often said, “Where the mind goes, the man follows.”  And it could also be said that where the mind goes, the mouth follows!

PLAN TO SAY SOMETHING POSITIVE

Having a positive outlook on life and speaking positive words based on God’s Word is one of the most wholesome things we can do.  You do not even have to be talking to someone to increase your joy with your words.  The mere confession of good things is enough to cheer you up.  When you get up in the morning, if there is something you need to attend to that day that you are not looking forward to, you can say, “I dread this day,” or you can say, “God will give me strength today to do whatever I need to do and to do it with joy.”  Which of these two statements do you think would better prepare you for the day?

Anyone who wants to be healthy is careful to choose quality food that will provide good nutrition.  If we want to be healthy in our soul and spirit, we should also choose to take in words that will build us up and increase our peace and joy.  Fortunately, we do not have to wait for someone else to cheer us up!  We can do it with own words by what we choose to talk about.  When we understand the power of words and realize that we can choose what we think and speak, our lives can be transformed.

WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT IN 2013?

We talk a lot and quite often pay no attention to what we are saying, let alone think seriously about the impact of our words.  If we are honest with ourselves, we may find that some of our bad moods are directly linked to our conversation.  Even some of our problems can be linked to bad choices we make about what we say.  I want to encourage you to take some time and think about the types of things you usually talk about.  What kind of conversation do you enjoy and participate in?

We all have challenges in life, but we can make them better or worse by the way we talk about them.  I am not suggesting at all that we deny reality, but we can choose what we talk about.  Instead of feeding ourselves a steady diet of “bad news”, we should choose to read, watch and talk about good things.  Your words may not be the cause of all your problems, but they can cause a lot of them and they should be given a good deal of consideration when we are looking for answers to the problems we encounter in life. 

I believe there are many good things happening in the world and there is probably more good than bad, but the evil is magnified in a way that often seems overwhelming.  Turn on any news magazine and you will find it filled with reports of murder, theft, wars, famine and all kinds of horribly tragic events.  One thing is for sure, speaking negatively could hurt you and speaking positively never will, so why not go with the positive and see what kind of results you get?

FOR THE ONE WHO HAS EVERYTHING

“They…presented him with…gold…incense and…myrrh.”  Matthew 2:11

It is Christmas.  Jesus’ birthday.  But what can you possibly give to the One who only has everything, but created it all?  The wise men probably asked the same question.  As scholars they were astute enough to navigate thousands of miles guided by a star, influential enough to warrant an audience with King Herod, and rich enough to undertake such a long journey carrying expensive presents.  But in addition to “gold…incense and…myrrh,” they gave Jesus some gifts that are priceless – note what they gave:

1. Their Time.  Long before his birth they had invested years researching and preparing for it – not counting the two years it took them to travel to where He was born.  Do you know what?  You are as close to God today as you want to be, planned to be, and took time to be.  Want to get closer?  Spend more time with Him.
2. Their Worship.  Once they found Him, “They fell down and worshiped Him” Matthew 2:11.  Worship changes us profoundly because when we stand in God’s presence with an open heart and let His Spirit work in us, “We are…changed to be like him” 2 Corinthians 3:18.
3. Their Hope.  While those around saw only darkness these men recognized, “The Light shines in the darkness” John 1:5.  And that has not changed.  God’s healing love shines brightest in the darkness of our dashed dreams and broken hearts.  So in the midst of your family celebrations, take time out to be with Jesus: and how about a special gift to His Work?  After all, it’s His birthday.

What the Birth of Christ Represents To Us

1.  His Birth Gives Us Faith To Believe In God.

Many prophets and others in the Old Testament prophesied the Birth of Christ and many other things concerning Christ the Messiah and His Church.

Isaiah 7:14 “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.”

What special meaning does the fact that the prophecies concerning the birth of Christ being fulfilled have for our lives today?

It gives us faith to believe that what God has written in His word is true.  It helps us to believe in the reality of the birth of Jesus Christ and all that comes with it.

The prophets of the Old Testament prophesied many wonderful and awesome things including God's destiny and purpose for the church today as well as the eternal kingdom.  If what they said about the birth of Christ came to pass, then that which has been prophesied for today and the future will also come to pass.  This gives us faith to believe in all that God has for us.

2.  His Birth Meant Joy Coming Into The World.

Much joy was brought into the world as a result of the birth of Christ and this joy has now entered into each one of our lives as a result of His coming into our lives.

Luke 1:14   "And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.”

John 15:11 "These things I have spoken to you, that My [joy] may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.”

Acts 2:28    “You have made known to me the ways of life; you will make me full of [joy] in Your presence.”

3. The Birth Of Jesus Meant That A Savior Was Provided.

Mark 10:45 “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

A friend once received a Christmas card that had a special significance. It went something like this:

"If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent us an educator. If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist.  If our greatest need hand been money, God would have sent us an economist.  But since our greatest need was forgiveness, God sent us a Savior."

4.  His Birth Provided Hope of Eternal Life and a Way for us to Enter Heaven.

John 14:2   "In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

John 14:6   Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

We celebrate the birth of Christ, Who has given to us a great hope.  We can be comforted and walk in tremendous joy and peace, knowing that Christ our savior was indeed born over 2000 years ago.  Therefore we have access to Him through faith.

Romans 5:1-2 “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”

Romans 15:13 “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Thanks to the birth of Jesus Christ, we have the hope of eternal life and a wonderful life here on earth filled with all of the blessings that God continually bestows upon us.  Let us give glory to God for all that He has given to us through the birth of Christ.