What drives you? What determines your actions in life? It is important to understand why you do what you do. In many cases why you do something is more important than what you do. I'd rather struggle with what to do than why I am doing it.If i do not have a clear why, then I live my life on the surface. My actions are dictated by what goes on around me as opposed to what is on the inside of me.
The best life is lived by those who have decided what they want out of it and who have clear persuasions behind all their actions. With the right why's you are able to decide what is good for you and what isn't. You will know when to chase something and when to hold your peace. It is said if you cannot answer the question why at least five times concerning something, then you do not have sufficient reason to rush into it.What are your why's in life? To be Continued,
Thursday, September 8, 2016
Thursday, September 1, 2016
Core Value No.3:Creativity
I believe in exercising all what I have been endowed with. When I read the word of God, one of the things that comes out very clearly to me is the fact that I am made in God's image and likeness. Gen 1:26. What that means to me is that God has put in me creative ability just like he has it. I consider it a grave failure not to put this creative ability to use.
I have made a point of demanding it of myself and others as well. I do not subscribe to the status quo. I believe in pushing boundaries everyday in every way possible. I believe that the world is made better by the creatives in whatever field. Imagine what a world we would have if there were no creatives anywhere. There would be no Mobile phones, no handheld computers and very many other things.
The world owes creatives its fun and ease of life. If people did not think of how to improve the way things are done, we would still be in the Stone Age. What a boring world this would be? What a sad state of affairs we would have to contend with?
I believe in creativity in everything I do. When I am working, doing ministry, taking care of family or whatever you would think of. I strive to make my processes better. I believe in invention and innovation.
Is creativity significant just for people in the arts and writers like me? I don't believe so. It is for everyone and we must all strive to do things better.
That will be all for now. Go out there and create! create! create! invent! invent! invent! Innovate! Innovate!Innovate!
I have made a point of demanding it of myself and others as well. I do not subscribe to the status quo. I believe in pushing boundaries everyday in every way possible. I believe that the world is made better by the creatives in whatever field. Imagine what a world we would have if there were no creatives anywhere. There would be no Mobile phones, no handheld computers and very many other things.
The world owes creatives its fun and ease of life. If people did not think of how to improve the way things are done, we would still be in the Stone Age. What a boring world this would be? What a sad state of affairs we would have to contend with?
I believe in creativity in everything I do. When I am working, doing ministry, taking care of family or whatever you would think of. I strive to make my processes better. I believe in invention and innovation.
Is creativity significant just for people in the arts and writers like me? I don't believe so. It is for everyone and we must all strive to do things better.
That will be all for now. Go out there and create! create! create! invent! invent! invent! Innovate! Innovate!Innovate!
Thursday, August 11, 2016
Today like promised I share my core value number two. Which one do you think it is?
Beyond integrity the one other thing i value is excellence. Whatever it is I am doing, if i cannot give my all to it, then I would rather not do it. My work is laced with the touch of excellence irrespective of whether anyone is watching or not.
Excellence for me means doing all that is within your power to produce the very best results there can be on any project you are working on. What this means is that you can not settle for anything less than the best you can offer. It means studying to understand what best practices are there in whatever you are doing and pursuing them wholeheartedly. It means going out of your comfort zone and pushing yourself beyond your limits to get it right.
Excellence is not perfection, it is making sure you live yourself on your work. It means making sure there was nothing more you could do.
I apply this to my life, my work, my ministry, my parenting and virtually everything I do. if I cannot do it well, I'd rather not do it. What is excellence to you? Do you value excellence in others? Do you value it in yourself?Are you being excellent at what you are doing?
Our God is an excellent God and He made us in His image. How is your life reflecting that excellence? I choose to do it in everything that I do. I invite you to join me.
Sam.
Beyond integrity the one other thing i value is excellence. Whatever it is I am doing, if i cannot give my all to it, then I would rather not do it. My work is laced with the touch of excellence irrespective of whether anyone is watching or not.
Excellence for me means doing all that is within your power to produce the very best results there can be on any project you are working on. What this means is that you can not settle for anything less than the best you can offer. It means studying to understand what best practices are there in whatever you are doing and pursuing them wholeheartedly. It means going out of your comfort zone and pushing yourself beyond your limits to get it right.
Excellence is not perfection, it is making sure you live yourself on your work. It means making sure there was nothing more you could do.
I apply this to my life, my work, my ministry, my parenting and virtually everything I do. if I cannot do it well, I'd rather not do it. What is excellence to you? Do you value excellence in others? Do you value it in yourself?Are you being excellent at what you are doing?
Our God is an excellent God and He made us in His image. How is your life reflecting that excellence? I choose to do it in everything that I do. I invite you to join me.
Sam.
Thursday, August 4, 2016
Core Values-Integrity
Today I will begin like promised to share my core values. What are core values? They are what a person or organization is all about. They are what is found in the deepest part of a person or company. They are what is second nature to a person or organization. That is my simple definition of core values. They do not simply reflect what you aspire to. They belong in the realm of things you have internalized and they come like second nature to you. At least that is what core values should be in my understanding.
There are many people walking and living today who have no clue what their life is about. Their core value is they have no values at all. Their lives are shallow at best. Is this the best way to live your life? I wouldn't say so. It works out well for someone when he has certain guiding principles in life. We are not under any obligation to mimic the values of others but we are at liberty to embrace the good we find in others and and make it part of our values. The truth of the matter is that we all learn from the example of others and the values we hold dear are shaped by the people we have grown up with and interacted with over a long period of time.
One of the primary core values I hold on to is integrity. Integrity comes from the English root word integer. What is an integer? It is a whole number if you can remember your basic mathematics. Integrity therefore means wholeness, oneness and fullness. It means you do not say one thing and do another. What you preach, you practise. Your positions do not shift with the shifting ground. You remain true to yourself and others irrespective of what it will cost you. Psalm 15 talks of a man who swears to his own hurt but does not change his word. That means when you promise to get something done for someone you do all you can to fulfill your promise without thinking what it will cost you It also means being careful not to offer empty promises in the heat of the moment. You must fully understand what you are getting into so that you get to do what you promised. However in situations where you do not have full information, the fact that you promised to get it done means you are bound by your word to do it. The only thing that should stop you is death or incapacitation. Any other thing is an excuse and people of integrity do not hide behind excuses to fail others.
What does all this mean for me? It means I am careful to do what I promise without giving lame excuses or even some seemingly justifiable excuses. Integrity is key and a lack of it is costing us a ton as individuals, organizations and nations. Think about people and organizations breaking their promises. What would this world come to? Think about if your service providers lied to you about the reliability of their services? How much damage would it bring you? That is why integrity is something we must all hold dear and aspire to.
Have a week of Integrity.
See you next Thursday
To a better life,
Sam.
There are many people walking and living today who have no clue what their life is about. Their core value is they have no values at all. Their lives are shallow at best. Is this the best way to live your life? I wouldn't say so. It works out well for someone when he has certain guiding principles in life. We are not under any obligation to mimic the values of others but we are at liberty to embrace the good we find in others and and make it part of our values. The truth of the matter is that we all learn from the example of others and the values we hold dear are shaped by the people we have grown up with and interacted with over a long period of time.
One of the primary core values I hold on to is integrity. Integrity comes from the English root word integer. What is an integer? It is a whole number if you can remember your basic mathematics. Integrity therefore means wholeness, oneness and fullness. It means you do not say one thing and do another. What you preach, you practise. Your positions do not shift with the shifting ground. You remain true to yourself and others irrespective of what it will cost you. Psalm 15 talks of a man who swears to his own hurt but does not change his word. That means when you promise to get something done for someone you do all you can to fulfill your promise without thinking what it will cost you It also means being careful not to offer empty promises in the heat of the moment. You must fully understand what you are getting into so that you get to do what you promised. However in situations where you do not have full information, the fact that you promised to get it done means you are bound by your word to do it. The only thing that should stop you is death or incapacitation. Any other thing is an excuse and people of integrity do not hide behind excuses to fail others.
What does all this mean for me? It means I am careful to do what I promise without giving lame excuses or even some seemingly justifiable excuses. Integrity is key and a lack of it is costing us a ton as individuals, organizations and nations. Think about people and organizations breaking their promises. What would this world come to? Think about if your service providers lied to you about the reliability of their services? How much damage would it bring you? That is why integrity is something we must all hold dear and aspire to.
Have a week of Integrity.
See you next Thursday
To a better life,
Sam.
Tuesday, July 26, 2016
Hello beautiful people. it's been a while since I was last here. Mostly it is because I have been doing a lot of running up and down since I last said anything here. Beyond that I have also been thinking hard about how to make this valuable to anyone who happens to pass by here. I would love to make this more about all of us and I am shifting the focus to speaking words of encouragement, motivation, correction and inspiration.
starting next week I will be putting up weekly posts every Thursday to uplift your soul and challenge you to be the best version of yourself there can be.I will be sharing from my struggles, successes, high and low points just so you know that you are not alone on this journey of life. I will also be putting forth some great ideals which we should all aspire to because at Asenaville I.e my ideal world, there is quite a number of things that need to be hallmarks. in the first few episodes,I am going to be sharing my core values with you and why I hold them dear. I hope you will be inspired.
watch out for great stuff next Thursday.
In the meantime, remember 'Life is never about how long you lived but how well.' Live well.
Asena.
starting next week I will be putting up weekly posts every Thursday to uplift your soul and challenge you to be the best version of yourself there can be.I will be sharing from my struggles, successes, high and low points just so you know that you are not alone on this journey of life. I will also be putting forth some great ideals which we should all aspire to because at Asenaville I.e my ideal world, there is quite a number of things that need to be hallmarks. in the first few episodes,I am going to be sharing my core values with you and why I hold them dear. I hope you will be inspired.
watch out for great stuff next Thursday.
In the meantime, remember 'Life is never about how long you lived but how well.' Live well.
Asena.
Saturday, May 23, 2015
Already but Not Yet
When I heard people talking about the imperfections of those who call themselves Christian it used to bother me a great deal.The same goes for all the times I heard that Jesus had defeated Satan at the Cross of Calvary.Or that the kingdom of God had come and that Jesus reigns.
The reason why I was bothered is that these people claimed to be christian and followers of Christ yet their lives were so full of inconsistencies. I would also ask myself why there was still so much evil in the world and Satan seemed to still have the upper hand irrespective of all the claims of the bible about his defeat and conquest at the Cross.
That was until I understood the principle of already but not yet. This principle informs us that the Kingdom has come but its fullness has not yet been realized.That the earth has not as yet been filled with the knowledge of the glory of God. That there are large pockets of the world which have come under the influence of the kingdom just as there are large portions that are far from any knowledge of the kingdom and its influence in the lives of men. That even those who are under the influence of the kingdom are still embracing its fullness and as such the kingdom is already active but not yet fully operational in their lives.
The bible says in the Book of Daniel that the kingdom of God is like a stone carved out of nowhere that comes and breaks to pieces all the other kingdoms and grows to be a mountain that fills the whole earth. Looking at the beginnings of Christianity, one notes that they were indeed humble, remember the baby in a manger? How Jesus lived an ordinary life. Though He was of the Royal House of David, He didn't come as a prince but a servant who was mocked, reviled, abused, spat upon and suffered every form of degradation and humiliation a man could endure.He gathered around him ordinary, uneducated folk who didn't hold any office in the priestly order of those days. He was in essence a 'nobody' who had 'nobodys' around him and with these he expected to turn the world upside down. Indeed he came out of nowhere and took the world by storm. Over 2000 years later, what started as a group of 12 ordinary folk has grown into a behemoth that is still sucking many more in and its only a matter of when not if the kingdom's fullness will be encountered.
While we are in the already, it will look like not much progress is being made but the careful eye will see the march of the church towards the close of the age. More territories are being conquered for the kingdom that is already. Every technological advancement and everything that happens has an unseen hand guiding the world towards its certain end. God has and He will continue to use all what He created to bring forth the fullness of the kingdom.
One day the imperfect will be made perfect, the mortal immortal and the tables will be turned upside down as surely as God promised. One day every kingdom that exercises dominion anywhere on earth will be crushed underfoot and only one kingdom will remain standing. The kingdom that is already but not yet. One day the struggling saint who can't seem to have it all together will put on the completeness of his divine nature and sin will have no power over him again. You won't see him fall and rise again, he will have risen forever to sit by His King's side. The devil who seems to have the upper hand now will have been silenced forever and put in his place. The kingdom will have reverted to Shiloh(Him to whom it belongs). Death will be no more except for the followers of the devil who won't escape the second and eternal death. Every enemy will have been put under the feet of Jesus Christ who will reign as king forever and ever under the sovereignty of the Almighty Ancient of Days.
The only time you have to cross over to the right side is now when we are in the dispensation of already. once we cross over to the dispensation of it is done, it will be too late for anyone. At Asenaville, we look for a world where every soul is on the side of Yeshua the giver of life and the Ancient of Days. your time is now. Welcome to Asenaville where we stand on the Side whose victory is a foregone conclusion.
The reason why I was bothered is that these people claimed to be christian and followers of Christ yet their lives were so full of inconsistencies. I would also ask myself why there was still so much evil in the world and Satan seemed to still have the upper hand irrespective of all the claims of the bible about his defeat and conquest at the Cross.
That was until I understood the principle of already but not yet. This principle informs us that the Kingdom has come but its fullness has not yet been realized.That the earth has not as yet been filled with the knowledge of the glory of God. That there are large pockets of the world which have come under the influence of the kingdom just as there are large portions that are far from any knowledge of the kingdom and its influence in the lives of men. That even those who are under the influence of the kingdom are still embracing its fullness and as such the kingdom is already active but not yet fully operational in their lives.
The bible says in the Book of Daniel that the kingdom of God is like a stone carved out of nowhere that comes and breaks to pieces all the other kingdoms and grows to be a mountain that fills the whole earth. Looking at the beginnings of Christianity, one notes that they were indeed humble, remember the baby in a manger? How Jesus lived an ordinary life. Though He was of the Royal House of David, He didn't come as a prince but a servant who was mocked, reviled, abused, spat upon and suffered every form of degradation and humiliation a man could endure.He gathered around him ordinary, uneducated folk who didn't hold any office in the priestly order of those days. He was in essence a 'nobody' who had 'nobodys' around him and with these he expected to turn the world upside down. Indeed he came out of nowhere and took the world by storm. Over 2000 years later, what started as a group of 12 ordinary folk has grown into a behemoth that is still sucking many more in and its only a matter of when not if the kingdom's fullness will be encountered.
While we are in the already, it will look like not much progress is being made but the careful eye will see the march of the church towards the close of the age. More territories are being conquered for the kingdom that is already. Every technological advancement and everything that happens has an unseen hand guiding the world towards its certain end. God has and He will continue to use all what He created to bring forth the fullness of the kingdom.
One day the imperfect will be made perfect, the mortal immortal and the tables will be turned upside down as surely as God promised. One day every kingdom that exercises dominion anywhere on earth will be crushed underfoot and only one kingdom will remain standing. The kingdom that is already but not yet. One day the struggling saint who can't seem to have it all together will put on the completeness of his divine nature and sin will have no power over him again. You won't see him fall and rise again, he will have risen forever to sit by His King's side. The devil who seems to have the upper hand now will have been silenced forever and put in his place. The kingdom will have reverted to Shiloh(Him to whom it belongs). Death will be no more except for the followers of the devil who won't escape the second and eternal death. Every enemy will have been put under the feet of Jesus Christ who will reign as king forever and ever under the sovereignty of the Almighty Ancient of Days.
The only time you have to cross over to the right side is now when we are in the dispensation of already. once we cross over to the dispensation of it is done, it will be too late for anyone. At Asenaville, we look for a world where every soul is on the side of Yeshua the giver of life and the Ancient of Days. your time is now. Welcome to Asenaville where we stand on the Side whose victory is a foregone conclusion.
Sunday, May 10, 2015
Depravity
At Asenaville, we believe in the depravity of Mankind and The Empowerment of Christ against this depravity. We believe in a redeemed world that lives free of the shackles of sin and all its attendant consequences. Welcome to Asenaville.
Depravity is wretchedness. It is being out of control. It is being left to the elements to lead you whichever way they choose. Depravity is the savagery that lives in all fallen ones.All of us apart from the saving grace of God are depraved.
We might come out as exemplary, straightforward or any other desirable quality but for as long as our nature is still that selfish, fiendish one, we come out as we really are. It is said you can't keep a good man down. That is indeed true just the same way you can't keep an evil man down. He comes to the surface at the appropriate time. I have come to understand that we don't need to sin to be called sinners. This explains why a perfectly normal individual will do some unthinkable, unfathomable thing out of nowhere!!!! Not really the truth is that we harbor in us savage tendencies that left to ourselves, we are capable of the worst that can be imagined. Our sinful nature is inborn. we are born sinners and it is only the choices that we make that can change our status either for the better or the worse.
The day you acknowledge your depravity is the day you allow God to turn your life around and make you somebody worth writing home about. It is at the point of acknowledging that you need God's help that you are able to turn around and begin to truly live the good life.
I have also noted that no one is more aware of Depravity than a practicing christian. It really makes sense because the closer you move to the light the clearer you see the stains on your garments. As long as you are sitting in the dark, you will be comfortable about who you are. Light truly exposes the darkness and depravity of our souls. That Light is Christ and once we draw close to him, we are all made painfully aware of just how far we are from the truth.
This therefore means that our coming to Jesus does not exempt us from failing, only that we know who to turn to for strength when we are failing. We know who to appeal to for grace and empowerment to live the right life. Our depravity can only be conquered in Christ and no other. this is what no other religion will offer you. You will be asked to clean up your act to receive redemption. Jesus picks you up in your filth, cleans you up and presents you to His Father blameless. He doesn't sit on a high horse and calls you to go the distance. He goes the distance. In fact He has gone the distance by his death on the cross. All that remains is for you to stretch out your hand like a drowning man asking for help and He will take you and make you what he envisions you to be.
Therefore drop your depravity in His hands and let him give you a new heart, mind and soul to do that which is right for you,Him and everyone else.
Shalom.
Depravity is wretchedness. It is being out of control. It is being left to the elements to lead you whichever way they choose. Depravity is the savagery that lives in all fallen ones.All of us apart from the saving grace of God are depraved.
We might come out as exemplary, straightforward or any other desirable quality but for as long as our nature is still that selfish, fiendish one, we come out as we really are. It is said you can't keep a good man down. That is indeed true just the same way you can't keep an evil man down. He comes to the surface at the appropriate time. I have come to understand that we don't need to sin to be called sinners. This explains why a perfectly normal individual will do some unthinkable, unfathomable thing out of nowhere!!!! Not really the truth is that we harbor in us savage tendencies that left to ourselves, we are capable of the worst that can be imagined. Our sinful nature is inborn. we are born sinners and it is only the choices that we make that can change our status either for the better or the worse.
The day you acknowledge your depravity is the day you allow God to turn your life around and make you somebody worth writing home about. It is at the point of acknowledging that you need God's help that you are able to turn around and begin to truly live the good life.
I have also noted that no one is more aware of Depravity than a practicing christian. It really makes sense because the closer you move to the light the clearer you see the stains on your garments. As long as you are sitting in the dark, you will be comfortable about who you are. Light truly exposes the darkness and depravity of our souls. That Light is Christ and once we draw close to him, we are all made painfully aware of just how far we are from the truth.
This therefore means that our coming to Jesus does not exempt us from failing, only that we know who to turn to for strength when we are failing. We know who to appeal to for grace and empowerment to live the right life. Our depravity can only be conquered in Christ and no other. this is what no other religion will offer you. You will be asked to clean up your act to receive redemption. Jesus picks you up in your filth, cleans you up and presents you to His Father blameless. He doesn't sit on a high horse and calls you to go the distance. He goes the distance. In fact He has gone the distance by his death on the cross. All that remains is for you to stretch out your hand like a drowning man asking for help and He will take you and make you what he envisions you to be.
Therefore drop your depravity in His hands and let him give you a new heart, mind and soul to do that which is right for you,Him and everyone else.
Shalom.
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