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GENERAL

The Reason behind the stage successes and tragic endings.

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Whitney Houston was undoubtedly one of the most skilful musicians in entertainment history. From her unparalleled song lyrics to her high-pitched voice, She was certainly one who made great impact in the entertainment industry.

Her concerts were sold-out. Her songs were unique and quite appealing to the emotion. Without sentiment or bias, I still say till date, that we have never had a musician as innovative and skilful as Whitney Houston.

This musician, who started music as a young adult, achieved a lot of success in music.

But she had a problem.

Her problem was not a singing problem, as she had one of the best voices in history. Neither was her problem finance, as she was equally among the richest musicians of his days. Her problem was not fame and popularity.

It was a struggle that was invisible to the eyes of her fans, followers and even close friends. In February 11, 2012, Whitney Houston was found dead in her room at Beverly Hotels. Valid reports showed that she died from severe drug addiction.

The five-star singer, who was one of the most admired singers in history, passed away at 48, because of drug addiction.

Although, her death was shocking to the world, it was not the first of its kind. Neither were her personal and emotional problems, the first of its kind. History has always let us know, that despite their huge successes on stage, there are several American singers with very terrible personal lives.

From divorces, to promiscuity and even drug addictions, they are able to maintain balance on stage, and act goody-goody, yet, when the fans are gone, and the concert is over, and they are back to their hotel room, a negative reality of who they really are, beclouds their reasoning again.

This leads them to take several doses drugs, painkillers as well as sleep inducement drugs, thereupon damaging their body systems due to the frequent intake.

What caused these things in their lives? – The lack of a life guide.

Most of them who died tragically and prematurely, had medical advisers, musical advisers, professional instrumentalists, loyal and dedicated staff, but there was no record of them ever having a Life Guide or a Life Coach. No matter how talented or skilful you are, if you do not have a Life Coach, you will have fame, popularity and wealth, but you will lack inner tranquillity and stability of mind.

The purpose of a life coach is not to make you a better professional; it is to make you a better person. It is not to give you vocal training, but give you the training required to sustain your inner tranquillity. A life coach’s job is not to make you better on stage; it is to make you better off-stage.

A Life Coach is one who will love you for who you are, and not for what you have. One of the truths that we have to accept about life, is that most people who claim to love us do not really love us; rather, they love what we carry.

They do not really love you; rather, they love your voice. If you had no voice, you would have no fan. They love the gift, and not the gifted. No matter how cool the love of the fans may be, they can never suffice for the love which you will get from your family, and the encouragement which you will get from your Life Coach.

Do you have a Life Coach?

Your Life Coach is that person who can teach you how to balance between your tight schedule as a performer, and your personal life.

Your Life Coach is the one who is able to look beyond the costume and makeup, and see the real you. Oprah Winfrey once said a life coach or mentor is, ‘One who is able to make you see the hope inside of yourself’.

Medical personnel can only prescribe drugs to reduce your body pain, but there is no drug that can heal your emotional pain. They can prescribe drugs to help one sleep past the inner anguish, but no amount of sleep can help one to permanently escape such anguish.

The only personnel who can help you heal your emotional hurts, overcome your fears, and build a strong spirit; is your Life Coach.

Your Life Coach can be your pastor, youth pastor, pastor’s wife, father, mother, friend, teacher etc. But he/she must be one who you can confide your pain and struggles with, and who can help you overcome these things.

Ecclesiastes 12:11: The words of the wise prod us to live well. They’re like nails hammered home, holding life together. They are given by God, the one Shepherd.” (MSG)

Ministry

‘I have seen several Miracles, but I think the greatest of them all is the miracle of Salvation’ – Wesley Luther

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Wesley Kayode Luther is the founder and senior pastor of The Revival Train International Ministry.

His ministry, which once began from preaching to secondary school students, has rapidly grown to becoming a global revival ministry.



In this interview with Koinonia Art Founder, Nwodo Divine, Wesley Kayode Luther shares with us, important information about his life and his thrive in ministry.

Interviewer’s Questions in Bold Italics



(Interviewer’s Questions in Bold Italics)

Evangelist Wesley, thank you very much for agreeing to this interview. Could you give us a brief biography about yourself and your background, as well as how you got into the faith.

I was born into a Christian family. From childhood, I was taught about purity by my Sunday school teacher. I grew up living my life in purity and chastity.

But I was goodly, yet, not godly. To be goodly is to be morally upright. It is different from being Godly.

Being Godly is a step further from being goodly. Godliness is living the God-kind of life on Earth.

One day, I came across John 3:3. It really astounded me. I read it audibly. Fortunately, my mom was there with me. She explained it in details to me, in a manner which convinced me deep in my spirit.

My mom led me to Christ that day. That is how I came into the faith.

How did you discover that you were called into the ministry. Also, what was your response to the call.

Well, after I gave my life to Christ and got born again, I pursued the things of God with a lot of zeal and fervency.

My eyes were blind to the calling of God upon my life, until the Lord began to give me instructions to carry out.

I took counsel from different fathers in faith in regards to my divinely ordained purpose.

Amazingly, they all gave answers that were aligned. One thing that was common in all their counsels, was that I was called into ministry.

What was the initial stage of your call like?

I started by going from school to school, especially secondary schools, preaching the Gospel and introducing students to Christ.

My ministry was centred on secondary school students until the Lord extended my borders.

What has been your greatest battle in ministry

I have had a lot of battles in ministry, but I think the greatest of them all is consistency. I battled with being consistent in whatever project, Spiritual and otherwise that I engaged myself in. I believe I’m gaining grounds in that battle now.

What would you describe as the greatest miracle of God in your ministry?

God, in His infinite mercy has done a lot of great things in my Ministry. We’ve seen several drastic Miracles. Yet, none of this enrapture me as much as the miracle of salvation.

I love it when men receive salvation and get totally transformed. It is always a great experience. I consider the miracle of salvation to be the greatest miracle of God on Earth.

And I am grateful to God, that I am seeing that miracle happen frequently in my ministry.

What has kept your ministry thriving?

Love and affection to see people change and most importantly, spending more time daily to God and hearing God before action is taken.

I had many opportunities that came my way as a minister. Although, they seemed to be attractive and glittering, I rejected them because of the counsel of God to me.

The secret to success in ministry lies in ones ability to always hear from God before making decisions.

How do you balance between your ministry and other aspects of your life?

I live with vision and focus. Those two things are very important in having a balanced Christian Life.

What is your final advice to ministers?

Let every minister be patient with God. Patience is virtue. It is golden. The Voice of God must equally be prioritized in a minister’s life. You must not do things haphazardly.

Love must also be the lifestyle of the Minister. He must love with all his heart. The transformation of people must be his priority and his joy, and not mere material resources.

GENERAL

Modifying Your Temperament

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Image credit: Meltwater



The Temperament refers to the makeup, inner attributes and composition of a person. It is one’s sum total of one’s character, behaviors, attitude and preferences.

Your Temperament is your personality.

The Temperament of a person can rarely be changed. This is because, it is mostly a determined by birth factors, rather than influenced by environmental factors.

Yet, you can modify your Temperament in such a way, that you become the person that God wants you to be.

You might not be able to wholly change everything about you. Yet, you have the ability to prune away some attributes of you that are uncultured, and engraft those qualities, that though alien, are needed in the society.

This is important, because your Temperament is the foremost reason why a buyer would want to do business with you repeatedly.

It can be a fragrance which attracts people to you, and can also be a stench, which separates people from you.

Even as Born Again Christians, we find elements of our temperament surfacing in our daily lives, hindering us from living the God-life.

Some Christians are short-tempered.
Some Christians are very timid.
Some Christians are very impatient.

One might think that the regeneration of a Christian, would birth in Him, a new temperament. A new character. A new disposition.

From experience and observation, this does not happen often.

Moreover, there is no way the Bible explicitly promises an automatic transformation of the Christian’s character at rebirth.

If a person as an Unbeliever was Melancholic, salvation will not automatically transform that person into a very happy Christian.

In fact, his favorite character in the Bible might end up being Jeremiah, and his favorite book, Lamentations.

This is the reason a lady can pray to God fervently for hours, in the church, yet, still engage in idle talk the moment she is outside the church.

This is equally the reason you must be sensitive in your dealings with men. There are very anointed preachers with terrible personalities.

Some have propensities of pride and superiority outlook.
Hence, once you step on their toes carelessly, you’ll face their wrath.

Their character problems should not make you doubt the Anointing of God upon their lives.

He truly is anointed. But your actions stirred up the untamed temperament in him.

Even in the church, you find things like these.

That is why you hear the phrase, ‘Satan dwells mostly in a church gatherings’.

It’s not that the devil is heavily manifest in the church, it’s just that several Christians haven’t modified their personalities and temperaments to match with the faith which they profess.

There are many factors that can influence one’s character and even temperament. Some of them include;

Environment,
Gene,
The things one is exposed to at early age,
Experience etc

Yet, your personality can be modified and well cultured.

Do not say, ‘This is who I am. Love me for who I am’, when who you are is not worth loving.

When you purchase a phone, it comes with its default settings. Some of the default settings were chosen based on the preferences of the phone’s maker.

One of these default settings include the Phone’s ringing tune. Every phone usually comes with its own default ringing tune, which is often unattractive to the user.

Would you buy a phone with an unattractive default ringing tune and not change it?

Or would you resolve to let the default tune remain, since it was what the phone was programmed with at production stage?

I believe the first option would be your choice.

Similarly, you can also modify your personality to fit to the Christian conduct the Bible prescribes for believers.

There are many ways to do these. I’ll sum it up in one word; SELF ACCOUNTABILITY.






Change comes from within not from without. 





Internet writers can provide for you, a hundred methods for modifying your Temperament, yet, it all comes down to being accountable to yourself.

I will explain this in three processes.









1. You must be Honest with Yourself










Stop excusing your excesses and weaknesses. You must come to a point where you admit that you need to modify your character. 

You must come to the point where you agree with yourself, that your Temperament needs some refining, repainting and pruning.

It was Richard Bach who said; 










How can we resent the life we’ve created for ourselves? Who’s to blame, who’s to credit, but us? Who can change it, any time we wish, but us?









Your change is not responsibility. Take it as your responsibility.

One of my favorite sayings of Les Brown is,










Accept responsibility for your life. Know that it is you who will get you where you want to go, no one else.







You ought to accept responsibility for your Temperament and its refining. Do not shift the blame to anyone anymore. 









2. Highlight the Pros and Cons of your Temperament.










Do this with thoughtfulness and absolute sincerity. Make sure it is written on a piece of paper.

Afterwards, in few sentences, write a note on the kind of person you want to be.

Let the picture of you being that person be formed in your conscious and subconcious mind.









3. From that day, decide that the person you wrote down, is you. 











Every morning you wake up, take a look and that note, and remind yourself that, that is YOU.

This will take time and effort. There is nothing as tasking as Character development. Yet, there is nothing as attractive as a well developed character.

The main secret of the Influential men of the society, is their ability to keep modifying their temperaments even as they advance in pursuing their dreams.

Great men evolve.

Sometimes, when provoked, you can find your old attributes manifesting again.

Yet, do not be dismayed.

Rsolve that it won’t happen again. Go back to that note, and keep living the way you wrote there.

I do not guarantee perfection.

But this method will certainly transform a lot of things about you.

It will make you accountable to yourself.  Other than your God, you become in full control of your Temperament, and not your Temperament in full control you.

	

	
	




	
	

			
	

				

			POETRY
		

			
Marriage in Christ

		

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So beautiful yet our desires must be contained,
So blissful yet our tolerance is needed.

So glamorous yet we need knowledge to sustain it,
So fruitful yet we must reveal him.

So greatly adorned yet we need endurance,
So perfectly equipped yet we need  forbearance.

So powerful yet we must be humble,
So creative yet we must be always be connected.

So colorful yet we must be hardworking,
So impactful yet we must be submissive. 

So productive yet we must give attention,
So peaceful yet we must be patient.

So loving yet we must give resources, 
So lovely yet time is needed.. 

Marriage is a hardwork you must give yourself to God and be fully ready to take the responsibilities for it to work perfectly.








Written by Greenhills Emmanuel Amarayahweh

	

	
	




	
	

			
	

				

			POETRY
		

			
I KNOW YOU NOT

		

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The call of duty,
Tramples of beauty,
What was your work while you were here,
Sayeth the master,
Be gone from me for I know you not.

The Harvest is large,
But yet the labourers are few,
How many fields did you plough,
Sayeth the master,
Be gone from me I know you not.

Thou unfaithful servant,
How long will you wait,
How long will you engage your desires,
Sayeth the master,
Be gone from me, I know you not.

Thou covetous servant,
How long will you crave,
After things that wage war,
Against your very soul,
Sayeth the master,
Be gone from me I know you not.

Thou worker of inquity,
How long will you walk in darkness,
How long will you give yourself to sin,
How long will you desroy your temple,
Sayeth the master,
Be gone from me,               you workers of inquity.

Thou carnal servants,
How long will you preach gold and silver,
How long will you give yourself to idols,
How will you give yourself to human craftiness,
Sayeth the master,
Be gone from me, I know you not.

He that have an ear,
Let him hear hear,
What the spirit says,
To the churches..

Greenhills Emmanuel Amarayahweh






	

	
	




	
	

			
	

				

			GENERAL
		

			
A Virtuous Man

		

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The Virtuous Man

A Virtuous man is God’s heritage
A man whose carries God’s expression
A man whose words catches the heart of his Lord,
A Man who has traded his weakness for strength

A Virtuous man has a pure understanding,
A man whose Insight comes from the holy fountains,
A Man whose character is firm and standing,
A man who knows how to plain mountains

A Virtuous man is a man of Honor and dignity,
A Man whose desires are filled with Goodness,
A man who has a lot of wealth despite in his poverty,
A man who detest every form sin and lukewarmness.

A Virtuous man is steadfast and Holy,
A man who is magnificent and noble,
A man who is an epitome of beauty and glory,
A man who gives hope to the weak and feeble.

A Virtuous man is sensible and stable,
A man who is delightful and perfect,
A man who gives the needy from his table,
A man who is useful and corrected.

A Virtuous man is a joy to many Generations,
A man who holds ultimate power and never use it for his anger,
A man that who will always triumph in every tribulations,
A man whose desires is not power to trigger fame.

Greenhills Emmanuel Amarayahweh

	

	
	






	
	

			
	

				

			GENERAL
		

			
THREE QUALITIES OF A MOTHER

		

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Picture Credit:- The News Minute









God made man into two unique and distinct personalities, the male and the female. This two personalities are to work together and complement each other. The female is given the ability to carry a being in her and give birth.





A human female who gives birth to a baby and parents a child is called Mother. You now get to know that it’s not just about giving birth but parenting. It’s much simpler to give birth than to go through the process of parenting.





Many ladies have chosen to give birth and leave the children to fate and chance.





If you don’t want to go through the process of parenting a child, birthing him doesn’t fully make you a mother. Should the child grow up, whoever he sees as his mother is the one who parents him.





Motherhood is a good thing that comes with a great responsibility. A true and real mother possess certain attributes other than being the entrance gate of the child. You as an upcoming mother or a mother presently should see to it, that you possess these qualities;









1) ABILITY TO NOURISH – 










Nourishment is not just about providing food with the necessary and healthy nutrients. It is to cherish and comfort, to promote growth and supply means of increase.





You cherish your seed (child), possess a strong affection and love for him, you are always there to comfort him when facing challenges and issues in life. You are interested in the things that brings about his growth, this is who a mother should be. These are characteristics found in a mother who nourishes her children.





As a mother, you shouldn’t leave your children in the hands of strangers like domestic home workers e.g maids.





You should know the kind of food and snacks they consume to know if it’s good for their health. You should know when your child is having struggles and challenges, be available, you are a mother.





The ideal mother should be able to provide healthy food and snacks made by her for her children. You shouldn’t expose your child to eat things from outside that are poorly prepared with no nutrient value. Make time, put your own made snacks and food in his lunch box. Be responsible for what your child consumes.





There are jobs that you shouldn’t get involved in as a mother. Any job that will take you away from your child, make you an alien to your child is not worth it. You might work your ass out daily to provide enough for the child but what happens to the mother child bond?





You notice that there is a big gap between your child and yourself. You loose your child to frustration and sadness. Every child wants that motherly attention and affection, he need a mother who will be there to understand and comfort him. Are you fulfilling this role? Do you possess this quality? Is your child, the child put into your care being nourished??









2) TENDER LOVING CARE –










This means to look after, be mindful of, pay close attention and concern towards a child. It is a considerate and compassionate care, being fond of, loving and gentle towards a child.





Why would you be proud to answer ‘mummy’ to that cute baby girl, yet, you aren’t mindful of her, you pay no attention to her, anything can happen to her for all you care That is not a good quality of a mother. If your child can be going through a situation but you don’t notice or have a knowledge of it, it means that you pay no attention to the child.





Whatever you are fond of and love so much, should always be your priority.





Do not say to Carl “I love you my angel, kiss, kiss” when you do not show any evidence of your love.





How will she believe that you love her when you are so fond of your phone and laptop?





Are you compassionate and considerate towards the child, do you care for the child? Are you aware of your child’s problems and what are you doing to solve it? Do you observe your child? Can you answer the question, who is your child?





A mother should know who her child is, you should be deliberate and consciously observe your child, get to know your child. Create that bond and closeness. Care for your child , be soft on the child even when giving correction and disciplining him.





Calmly, mildly and gradually deal with his flaws and faults. Be gentle with him.









3) ABILITY TO TRAIN –










To train is to teach, to bring up one according to right laid down principles, to impart knowledge. A mother spends greater time with the child than others. She is responsible for the child’s upbringing .





Your love for your child is not evident in the over pampering the child to destruction but it’s in the teaching and guiding the child to know what is the right. The manifestation of any child shows the if he was trained or not. Training also involves educating your child formally and informally.





You shouldn’t train your child according to what you feel is right but what is absolutely right in the sight of God. Your mistakes should be a reference point of guidance. Fan to flame the potential and skill that you have discovered in the child.





1 Timothy 1:5 (TPT)
5 as I think of your strong faith that was passed down through your family line. It began with your grandmother Lois, who passed it on to your dear mother, Eunice. And it’s clear that you too are following in the footsteps of their godly example.





You can understand how important it is for a woman to know what it is to be a mother. The faith and salvation of Timothy was as a result of his mothers, from his grandmother to his immediate mother. These mothers laid down godly example to train Timothy bringing him up in the way of the Lord.





Timothy’s mother and grandmother understood his talent, his calling and guide him through till he became a teacher of the word. It’s your responsibility as a mother to know your child’s talent, potentials and calling. This will be a blueprint for your counsel, guide and prayer for your child.





Proverbs 22:6 (TPT)
6 Dedicate your children to God
    and point them in the way that they should go,
    and the values they’ve learned from you will be with them for life.





You dedicate your child to God but it doesn’t end there. Direct your child, train him up in the way he should go. Your child will be very observant, learning the little and big things you do, will you be proud if he displays such publicly?
Remember, the values they’ve learned from you will be with them for life.





Being a mother comes with extra carefulnes because you are moulding and patterning the life of a person, all you do and say is being inculcated into the child. Learn what is right and sound as a mother, your child has to have good values.





Psalm 127:3 (TPT)
3 Children are God’s love-gift; they are heaven’s generous reward.





You as a young lady is a mother and should take the place of a mother towards the children around you. Treat the children like you would treat you own child. These children are gifts from God. If you are a guardian to any of them, treat them right. Stop the maltreatment and wickedness you met out on them.





These children are blessings to you, when they are grown you will see the fruit of your labour.





Pray for help to carry out the responsibility of a mother. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you build in these qualities.





Scripture credit – The Passion Translation (TPT)





Written by: Ejiofor Chidimma Blessing.














	

	
	




	
	

			
	

				

			GENERAL
		

			
The Happy New Year

		

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The sounds of joy fill the air,
A new dawn has emerged,
The new man must be seen,
The countdown has begun.









The new light is shining,
God’s love must be rekindled,
A new shift has occurred…
Destines must be rediscovered.









Happy New Year, they say,
New things is what we want,
New wineskin is what we need,
New days ahead is what we seek.









In the new, be renewed,
In the you, be the new you,
Be not conformed to the world, but,
Let the kingdom transform deep in you.









Darkness must be subdued,
Through the new you.
Kingdoms must be dominant,
Through the great you.









In you lies the new,
The new lies in you.
There’s no new without you,
There’s no you without the new.









Greenhills Emmanuel Amarayahweh

	

	
	




	
	

			
	

				

			GENERAL
		

			
IMPORTANCE OF GOAL SETTING

		

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We all have goals but only few has taken time out to map out and set their  goals. 





Goal setting has become a very important part of our everyday life as humans and as a matter of fact, we will get little or nothing done if we don’t set a goal for ourselves.





Take a look at an athlete who is currently training for one of the biggest race of his life, hoping to win the gold medal but for that hope to become a reality, he must have plans, plans to finish the race at the lowest time possible, plans to wake up early in the morning for exercises and so on. 





The goal is the gold medal but every goal without a plan(setting) will only end up as a mere dream. 





Even God, during the creation made plans for each day starting from the first day to the seventh day.





The greatest importance of Goal setting is the fact that it brings our goals into reality, it makes visible our dreams and imaginations.





Goal setting makes the impossible possible. It might look so hard, so difficult but trust me, when you have right plan, it becomes easier to achieve your goals.





One thing a proper plan needs is PATIENCE. In order to make progress with your goals, always have it in mind to take baby steps and not a huge leap. With each step, we get closer to our goals. 





Don’t be too anxious or impatient, remember slow and steady wins the race but at the same time, don’t be inactive. 





You don't climb a mountain by taking a huge leap neither do you climb a mountain by sitting around its bottom, doing nothing.










 Youou start by taking a step and gradually you get closer until you are finally at the top.





Any goal without a proper planning could end up making the goal owner feel he or she isn’t capable thereby making them think low of themselves. 





Embarking on a journey without making plans for it could end up in a total disaster or disappointment. 





We need to make plans, set our goals in order not to get disappointed, broken and frustrated at the end.














“And God saw everything that he had made, and behold it was VERY GOOD. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day” – Genesis 1









It says in that passage above that all God made was very good meaning perfect, flawless, beautiful but it was all the outcome of a beautiful plan. 





When you take time to set your goals, you will end up having a perfect and wonderful result.





You want to have a great result? Take time out to set your goals PATIENTLY  and remember to include God in your plans for he is the master planner. 





Let him be inactive the first and the last in your plans and trust me when I say you will have a perfect, beautiful and flawless result. 









Written by Tolu-Taiwo Victor