Don't forget the landing platform

Don’t forget the landing platform

 

As arrows in the hand of a mighty man

Last week I was invited by one of the local junior secondary schools to speak to their senior students who will be writing junior certificate exams and graduating from junior secondary school later this year, about 130 students. I find nothing more exhilarating than getting an opportunity to plant a seed, shape a life and put a smile on somebody’s face. This was an audience of young teenagers who are at a very critical stage in their lives; young teenagers who are on a launch-pad, about to be catapulted into their destinies. ‘As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth’ (Psalm 127 v 4). These young boys and girls were, to me, like arrows in the hand of a mighty man ready to be catapulted into the future. I am pretty sure that I may never meet face to face with a good number of them but the seed I planted will follow them for the rest of their lives; for some the seeds will germinate and blossom while for others the seeds will be eaten by the birds and rot.

 

You’ve got to begin to live your life

I pray that the transformation that began in the lives of those young people may be permanent and that they may go far in life. I pray that all of them may make it out of the launch-pad and shape their own destinies. I pray that, someday, the handwriting on their obituaries may explain that these were used up lives; lives that were lived to the limit and gifts and potentials that were fully exploited. Many people never get out of the launch-pad or never even go onto the launch pad from which they should be catapulted into their destinies. Many people spend all their lives preparing to live and never get to live their lives. Many people spend their lives reading history and never get to make history. Many people spend half their lives accumulating and amassing degrees and diplomas that will never contribute to what they were made for. I abandoned a third degree I was about to pursue when I realized that it had nothing to do with what I am wired for. I have to invest my time and resources in things that add value to the one life I have. How is your life? Is your life out of the launch-pad? Is your life exploiting what you were created to achieve; I mean have you begun to pursue or exploit your calling, your ambitions or your visions? Don’t be like Methuselah who lived all his life and achieved nothing more than just getting into the Guinness book of records as the oldest man who ever lived and he died. ‘And all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred sixty and nine years: and he died’ (Genesis 5 v 27).  Remember that at some stage you’ve got to begin to live your life; and fulfill your calling.  

 

Life is not a roller-coaster

As you leave your launch-pad to pursue your dreams, visions and calling don’t be like a punctured balloon; flying vigorously, directionless and uncontrollably only to land deflated, dejected and exhausted. Don’t live your life like you are on a roller-coaster; riding the crests and valleys of life and pumping high adrenaline only to land on the same place from which you got the ride. Take it easy. Wait upon the Lord. Understand yourself, your calling, your ambition and your vision. Prepare yourself for the long-haul. Like Elijah, you may need supernatural strength along the way. Elijah had to be fed by the angel. ‘And the angel of the Lord came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee. And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God’ (1 Kings 19 v 7 & 8).  ‘But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint’ (Isaiah 40 v 31). When you are ready, pursue your calling with vigor and zeal!

 

Don’t forget the landing platform

This week we have been celebrating the men and women who have been working for the organization I work for, for many years and who have just gone on retirement and some on voluntary separation (retrenchment). Some of these people had worked for this organization for as much as 40 years. You don’t find such loyalty, dedication and stickability in this day and age. I salute and respect their hard-work. But as I look at them I wonder if all of them ever made it out of the launch-pad in all these years. I don’t doubt their contribution to this organization but I wonder, in all those many working years, if they ever got to contribute profitably to this life and to their purpose for living. I leave it to them ponder. But here are man and women who have come to the end of the road. Everything that flies has to land at some stage. What did they build in all these years which they will find as they go back home? If you have been catapulted from your launch-pad, remember that someday you will have to land. As you pursue your calling, your ambitions, your career or your business ventures with vigor, don’t forget to prepare your landing platform, for some day you will need to land. Don’t pursue your calling at the expense of those that matter in your life. When the job is finished and done and the farewell party tables have been cleaned and stacked, it’s your family that you will be left to face. Will they open their arms to accept you to land in their lives?  When your time-slot for this life is expired, it’s your Creator that you will be left to face. Will He open His arms to allow you to land in His eternity?

 

Don’t forget the landing platform!

 

Calvary love 

Peter Mbada

 

Support the work; acquire your copy of the book! 

For your copy of  'Destined to Succeed: unstoppable and unlimitable'.  Check any online bookstores or contact me directly!

 

Check other articles on: www.pmbada.org  and www.pmbada.blogspot.com

 

 

 

 

Every dark cloud has a silver lining

Every dark cloud has a silver lining

 

The waters will not overflow you

This week we visited a young woman who lost her husband in a terrible car accident in which he burnt to ashes; a very heartbreaking situation for a young couple who had just been married. It’s not easy to comfort and encourage someone in that situation but it only takes the grace of God. No one can claim that they understand what she is going through unless they have gone through a similar situation themselves; and besides every situation is unique. Such is the nature of life. Sometimes it brings situations that are not palatable; situations that are overwhelming and heavy. But I shared with her what God says about such situations, ‘When you pass through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you: when thou walk through the fire, you shall not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon you.  For I am the Lord your God’ (Isaiah 43 v 2 &3a). Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you felt like your world is crushing on you; or in a situation where you felt nobody understands you and your situation better than yourself? Or do you feel trapped in your situation and do not know what to do and you feel like there’s or no way out? Or there just seems to be nobody to lean on. Here’s what I retrieved from my archives to encourage you on, what to do when you do not know what to do.

 

1. Trust God.

If you feel overwhelmed and depressed; if the burden if heavy and you do not know what to do, simply let go and trust God. Do not give up on yourself and do not give up on your situation. Giving up on yourself drops your shield of protection. Even if you don’t understand why it has happened to you just trust God. When the children of Israel found themselves in front of the Red Sea, with the Egyptian armies pursuing them from behind, and to the right and to the left was the wilderness. They found themselves trapped between a rock and a hard place. With nowhere to go for their situation, God said to them, ‘Fear not, stand still and see the deliverance of the Lord which He will show you this day: for the Egyptians you see today you shall see them again no more forever’ Exodus 14 v13. Don’t panic in your situation, just trust God.

 

2. Encourage yourself in the Lord

Sometimes friends and the people we normally depend on are not there when we need them the most. Many times, even myself, I have found myself alone and lonely in moments when I most needed the support and encouragement of those that are supposed to be my friends. Sometimes their absence is not necessarily because they do not care about you; but whatever the case might be you must learn to draw encouragement from inner resources. Learn to encourage yourself in the Lord. When David came back to Ziklag with his men, he found that the city had been invaded, burnt down and the women and children taken captive including his own wives. The same men that had been with him (David) turned against him and accused him and planned to stone him to death. The same people he had expected to stand with him in a difficult moment like this turned against him and spoke against him, ‘but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God’ (1 Samuel 30 v 6 b). Even if those that are supposed to be on your side rise up against you and stab you in the back, just learn to encourage yourself in the Lord. Is it easy? No! But even with tears on your cheeks just dig deep within your inner resources and encourage yourself in Him.

 

3. Do not let go of the Lord

When all the other disciples departed from Jesus because the going was getting tough, Jesus turned to the twelve and said, ‘Will you also go away?’ and Peter answered, ‘To whom shall we go Lord? You have the words of eternal life’ (John 6 v 66 – 68). Whatever situation you find yourself in do not let go of the Lord, even if you have erred, he is willing to understand you and restore you. In Isaiah 1 v 18 He says “come let us reason together,’ and in Hebrews 4 v15 and 16 He assures us that He is a High Priest who is touched by our feelings because He was tempted in all points as we are, yet without sin.

 

4. Continue to do good and look for opportunities to do good

When you are overwhelmed by situations its easy to feel as if you have come to the end of the road; to feel as if there is no more reason for leaving; to feel as if the curtain is coming down. Don’t let your garment of mourning overshadow your abilities. When you are hard-pressed and everything around you does not make sense, find an opportunity to do good. In a time of famine Isaac did not sit back and mourn together with everybody else and feel pity for himself, but he sowed. ‘Then Isaac sowed in that land and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the Lord blessed him. And he prospered and continued prospering until he became prosperous,’ (Gen 26 v12). Isaac did not wait for the famine to subside before he could sow; he sowed. Don’t wait until your problems are over before you can sow; sow! Don’t let your discouragement or pains pull you down, but seek for opportunities to do good, and give God a chance to lift you up and bless you.

 

When you don’t know what to do with your situation, do something.

 

Calvary love

 

P.M.

 

Calvary love 

Peter Mbada

 

Support the work; acquire your copy of the book! 

For your copy of  'Destined to Succeed: unstoppable and unlimitable'.  Check any online bookstores or contact me directly!

 

Check other articles on: www.pmbada.org  and www.pmbada.blogspot.com

 

 

 

 

Every dark cloud has a silver lining

Every dark cloud has a silver lining

 

The waters will not overflow you

This week we visited a young woman who lost her husband in a terrible car accident in which he burnt to ashes; a very heartbreaking situation for a young couple who had just been married. It’s not easy to comfort and encourage someone in that situation but it only takes the grace of God. No one can claim that they understand what she is going through unless they have gone through a similar situation themselves; and besides every situation is unique. Such is the nature of life. Sometimes it brings situations that are not palatable; situations that are overwhelming and heavy. But I shared with her what God says about such situations, ‘When you pass through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you: when thou walk through the fire, you shall not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon you.  For I am the Lord your God’ (Isaiah 43 v 2 &3a). Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you felt like your world is crushing on you; or in a situation where you felt nobody understands you and your situation better than yourself? Or do you feel trapped in your situation and do not know what to do and you feel like there’s or no way out? Or there just seems to be nobody to lean on. Here’s what I retrieved from my archives to encourage you on, what to do when you do not know what to do.

 

1. Trust God.

If you feel overwhelmed and depressed; if the burden if heavy and you do not know what to do, simply let go and trust God. Do not give up on yourself and do not give up on your situation. Giving up on yourself drops your shield of protection. Even if you don’t understand why it has happened to you just trust God. When the children of Israel found themselves in front of the Red Sea, with the Egyptian armies pursuing them from behind, and to the right and to the left was the wilderness. They found themselves trapped between a rock and a hard place. With nowhere to go for their situation, God said to them, ‘Fear not, stand still and see the deliverance of the Lord which He will show you this day: for the Egyptians you see today you shall see them again no more forever’ Exodus 14 v13. Don’t panic in your situation, just trust God.

 

2. Encourage yourself in the Lord

Sometimes friends and the people we normally depend on are not there when we need them the most. Many times, even myself, I have found myself alone and lonely in moments when I most needed the support and encouragement of those that are supposed to be my friends. Sometimes their absence is not necessarily because they do not care about you; but whatever the case might be you must learn to draw encouragement from inner resources. Learn to encourage yourself in the Lord. When David came back to Ziklag with his men, he found that the city had been invaded, burnt down and the women and children taken captive including his own wives. The same men that had been with him (David) turned against him and accused him and planned to stone him to death. The same people he had expected to stand with him in a difficult moment like this turned against him and spoke against him, ‘but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God’ (1 Samuel 30 v 6 b). Even if those that are supposed to be on your side rise up against you and stab you in the back, just learn to encourage yourself in the Lord. Is it easy? No! But even with tears on your cheeks just dig deep within your inner resources and encourage yourself in Him.

 

3. Do not let go of the Lord

When all the other disciples departed from Jesus because the going was getting tough, Jesus turned to the twelve and said, ‘Will you also go away?’ and Peter answered, ‘To whom shall we go Lord? You have the words of eternal life’ (John 6 v 66 – 68). Whatever situation you find yourself in do not let go of the Lord, even if you have erred, he is willing to understand you and restore you. In Isaiah 1 v 18 He says “come let us reason together,’ and in Hebrews 4 v15 and 16 He assures us that He is a High Priest who is touched by our feelings because He was tempted in all points as we are, yet without sin.

 

4. Continue to do good and look for opportunities to do good

When you are overwhelmed by situations its easy to feel as if you have come to the end of the road; to feel as if there is no more reason for leaving; to feel as if the curtain is coming down. Don’t let your garment of mourning overshadow your abilities. When you are hard-pressed and everything around you does not make sense, find an opportunity to do good. In a time of famine Isaac did not sit back and mourn together with everybody else and feel pity for himself, but he sowed. ‘Then Isaac sowed in that land and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the Lord blessed him. And he prospered and continued prospering until he became prosperous,’ (Gen 26 v12). Isaac did not wait for the famine to subside before he could sow; he sowed. Don’t wait until your problems are over before you can sow; sow! Don’t let your discouragement or pains pull you down, but seek for opportunities to do good, and give God a chance to lift you up and bless you.

 

When you don’t know what to do with your situation, do something.

 

Calvary love

 

P.M.

 

Calvary love 

Peter Mbada

 

Support the work; acquire your copy of the book! 

For your copy of  'Destined to Succeed: unstoppable and unlimitable'.  Check any online bookstores or contact me directly!

 

Check other articles on: www.pmbada.org  and www.pmbada.blogspot.com

 

 

 

 

There is no reward for effort

There is no reward for effort

 

Appraisal Time

We have just completed the performance appraisal cycle for all the middle to senior management employees at work. I have never had any problems with the appraisal process because it’s a time to determine whether employees have been producing according to or exceeding their contractual agreements. At the beginning of each year everyone signs output agreements with their boss from which they will be measured. Everyone is measured on output and not on effort; and hence no one signs any effort agreements. The results of the appraisal process will be put together and calibrated so that it fits in a statistically normal distribution curve. In other words the appraisal scores are adjusted until their profile fits in a normal distribution curve. That’s were the problem begins; the calibration process – adjusting one’s performance to fit a common curve! The appraisal process presents some interesting life principles.

 

There is no effort agreement

We are living in a world that rewards the results and not the process; a world that recognizes the end without looking at the means to get to the end; and a world that celebrates the output and not the effort. We live in a world that believes that you can rig an election and win as long as you are not caught in the act; you can play foul and score as long as you are not given a red card; you can copy and pass as long as you are not caught. But we need to raise a different generation; a results-oriented generation that respects fair-play! A generation that has an active conscience; a generation that says ‘I will not offer burnt offerings unto the Lord my God of that which doth cost me nothing’ (2 Samuel 24 v 24). I agree that effort without results is worthless; but also the end does not justify the means. ‘And we desire that every one of you do show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:’ (Hebrews 6 v 11). You must produce results but with a clear conscience.

 

You must have an internal locus of control.

The appraisals calibration process dictates that all employees must fit in a predetermined performance curve. A panel of people determines where you fit relative to others and make a decision on you. It’s not my intention to attack a process but to make you understand an important principle. You are not made by what people think of you; but you are made by what you think of yourself. ‘For as he thinketh within himself, so is he:’ (Proverbs 23 v 7). Your success is not dependant on the failure of others but is dependant on what you do with the dreams and the potential that is within you. You are not a relative person but an absolute person. Don’t measure your victory in comparison to another person’s performance. You must have an internal locus of control; you must learn to be driven from within. You must be driven by your own calling, your own passions, your objectives and your ambitions. Don’t be driven by what the world expects of you. The world expected Christ to vie for a political position - for presidency; but he refused to be swayed by popular demand. He knew his calling and his purpose. If you know your calling, your purpose and your mandate you will stop crying on how the world calibrates you because you know that whatever their opinion – you are destined to succeed! Real leaders are not made by the masses but they make the masses.

 

The best reward for achievement is achievement itself

After the appraisal everyone wants to know what is in it for them. Don’t be mistaken – I definitely look forward to be rewarded for my contribution. But just imagine how much we could achieve in this world if we never minded or never worried who got rewarded or who got the credit after our innovative performance. We are a transactional generation. We never go an extra mile unless we know ‘what is in it for me’. The best reward for any achievement is the achievement itself. It may not be an easy one to swallow; but we perform best when we do it for the love of the game; and not necessarily for the love of the reward.

 

You are destined to succeed; and you are not made for the curve. Whatever people may say, keep the performance high!

 

Calvary love 

Peter Mbada

 

Support the work; acquire your copy of the book! 

For your copy of  'Destined to Succeed: unstoppable and unlimitable'.  Check any online bookstores or contact me directly!

 

Check other articles on: www.pmbada.org  and www.pmbada.blogspot.com

 

 

 

 

Stickability is your way to victory

Stickability is your way to victory

 

If they have no authority to say yes; then they don’t have authority to say no either.

Last week I attended a very powerful and life transforming conference with my family. On the day when we were supposed to depart for the conference we were told by the embassy that they could not put a visa on my son’s (Shabach’s) travel documents because they were about to expire. The pleading and begging did not assist. The following day was a public holiday, and so we only had less than 5 hours to process new travel documents for Shabach with the Zimbabwean embassy (an impossible task in itself) and still try and get a visa processed before end of working day. We were determined to go therefore we set ourselves to do the impossible. We went to the Zimbabwean embassy to start the process and were told that we did not have adequate papers. We ran around and finally managed to submit the application forms by 3pm amidst the multitudes who were also trying to process their papers. By any standards it was almost unthinkable to think that the trip was still going to materialise; but I asked my wife to firm up the flight bookings for the following morning. God is faithful. Against all odds and miraculously we were served at the Zimbabwean embassy and got the new travel documents in 45 minutes; and had only 15 minutes to go and process the visa.

 

When we got to the other embassy for the visas, guess what? They had closed! I said to my wife, even though we don’t have a visa for Shabach we will proceed with our trip and trust God for a miracle at the airport. We flew out the following morning. On arrival at the airport the immigration officers would not let us through because Shabach didn’t have a visa but we insisted that we were going for a conference. I believe that if don’t have authority to say yes; then you don’t authority to say no either; and so the immigration officers referred me office to office until I got to the highest office at the airport. The highest office processed Shabach’s in a few minutes. The conference experience explained why there was resistance; but perseverance breaks resistance. We met a lot of the powerful men and women of God that we have always just seen on television and we thank God for the experience. If you are experiencing resistance in any area of your life don’t quit; you never know how far you are from the goal!

 

You are not a quitter

Quitting is the easiest way out of any challenge; it is the easiest way out of a prickly marriage; it is the easiest way out of a challenging degree programme; or of getting away from a difficult boss. It requires less energy and less effort to walk out than to remain in the game. In a generation where there are so many options it is becoming more and more difficult to raise men and women with a staying power; people who are willing to hang in there despite the pains, the resistance and the sweat. If you don’t get your way you can get another job, or you can get a divorce in 24 hours and get another husband or wife; or you can change the programme at the click of a remote control button and move on. I am here to let you know that there are certain breakthroughs and victories that belong to those that have the staying power; those that are prepared to endure the heat and hang in there; those that are willing to wait to the end. This is not about tolerating abuse and giving in to injustice but this is about raising a generation that that has a backbone to stand. You are not a quitter!

 

The spirit of a finisher

But you are not of those that look back; you do not have a banana backbone that crumbles in the face of pressure. Staying power is the mark of a champion; the ability to remain in the fight despite the stinging blows. It’s not over until it’s over; don’t die until you are dead. Quitters have no crowns and don’t have a place among the champions. Learn to hold on. Stickability will produce your victory. TD Jakes said ‘grasshoppers don’t eat grapes’. Christ our hero and our role model is a finisher. He fought the full bout and proclaimed ‘It is finished!’ (John 19 v 30). God is a finisher; He completes what He begins! I am ‘confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:’ (Philippians 1 v 6). Paul was a finisher! He ran the race to the finishing line and completed the fight. ‘I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:’ (2 Timothy 4 v 7). You must be a finisher; you must complete what you begin. Don’t keep too many lose ends in your life; or too much unfinished business. It’s not about finishing first or in record time; but it’s about getting to the finishing line. You might stumble along the way and find yourself lying on the floor in the ring; but rise up and fight on. The devil is not about to enjoy a TKO (technical knock out). You are a finisher and a victor!

 

See you at the finishing line!

 

Calvary love 

Peter Mbada

 

Support the work; acquire your copy of the book! 

For your copy of  'Destined to Succeed: unstoppable and unlimitable'.  Check any online bookstores or contact me directly!

 

Check other articles on: www.pmbada.org  and www.pmbada.blogspot.com