Most teenagers want to feed their video game habit, and don’t think about future. But not Temper Thompson. When he was in eighth grade he decided not to ask his parents for money. So he started a business online. His goal was to earn $100 every month.
Now Temper is 17-years-old and the courses on Kindle publishing that he sells from his website are earning him… $30,000 a month. That’s more than many Americans make in a year.
How is he doing it?
Temper Thompson shared his five rules of success.
1. Take action.
“A lot of people talk about what they want to do but they never actually do it,” Temper says. “If you don’t take action, you’re never going to have success.”
2. Don’t fear a failure.
The second lesson is to persevere.
Too many people try, fail, and give up, Temper says. “No wonder they never achieve success. Failure is an advantage. You learn from your mistakes and you get better.”
“The most powerful thing you can do is just focus on one thing,” he says. “You can grow much bigger when you stay focused.”
4. Surround yourself with positive people.
“If you surround yourself with negative, unsuccessful people, they’ll drag you down with them,” says Temper. “Positive people will support you and help you stay focused.”
Motivation is a phenomena that can impact an individual’s mood, behavior, and productivity for the day. People always hear that eating breakfast in the morning is a good way to start out your day. However, the same can be true for taking a few minutes out of your day and wishing someone else a good morning. The below listing of good morning motivational messages is intended to help bring some cheer and productivity to someone else’s day.
A smile is a language everybody understands. It costs nothing but creates much. It happens fast but its memory may last forever. Keep smiling.
A smile is a way of writing your thoughts on your face, telling others that they are accepted, liked and appreciated. So here’s a big smile just for you.
A warm “hello” doesn’t come from the lips, it comes from the heart; doesn’t have to be told, it has to be shown; doesn’t have to be given, it has to be sent.
All mornings are like a painting, you need a little inspiration to get you going, a little smile to brighten it and a message from someone who cares to color your day.
Count your good deeds every morning and fill your mind with positive thoughts.That is secret to being happy and inspired all day long.
Do your best everyday and the results will follow. You need to create that mindset not at sunset or night but at the earliest morning after prayers.
Don’t blame God for not leaving you gifts. He gives you the gift of a new day with every single morning.
Don’t wake up with the regret of what you couldn’t accomplish yesterday. Wake up with the inspiration of what you will be able to achieve today.
Even the smallest of deeds have the potential to create the biggest of successes.
Every great movement starts with a simple thought in the mind. It begins with a little step forward. Never discount what you are doing right now and call it small – as long as you are moving forward.
Every morning has a new beginning, a new blessing, a new hope. It’s a perfect day because it’s God’s gift. Have a blessed, hopeful perfect day to begin with.
Every morning you have two choices, continue your sleep with dreams or wake up and chase your dreams. Choice is Yours.
God smiled at me just this morning thru the rising sunrays. I’m sharing the same courtesy with you by sending you a warm smile that your heart can feel even without seeing.
Every sunset gives us one day less to live! But every sunrise gives us, One day more to hope. So, hope for the best!
Good morning is not just a word, its an action and a belief to live the entire day well. Morning is the time when you set the tone for the rest of the day. Set it right!
Good thoughts precede great deeds. Great deeds precede success. Have a great day.
Helping people, being kind, doing something new is my new agenda every day. That is the way I build up my morning and stay vibrant all day long.
Rise and shine! As you open your eyes to greet the morning sun, I wish that you would be well and fine.
I woke up today smiling as I recall our friendship because I know that years from now, I will still be waking up smiling for the same reason every morning.
According to Harvard psychologist Amy Cuddy, the best thing to do when you’re in a position of power is to listen.
His book “Presence: Bringing Your Boldest Self to Your Biggest Challenges” argues, among other things, that when we feel powerful, we also have the ability to bestow that power onto other people, either by building them up to feel powerful or by tearing them down.
“When you walk into those situations that have a lot of conflict in them,” Cuddy says, “the first thing to do is to be present enough to allow the other person to speak first. You’re not giving power away; you’re actually allowing them to feel seen and understood.”
By listening to the other man’s side, you’re giving him the chance to become a part of the conversation.
If the other person is saying something objectionable, “I think you have to bite your tongue. I do. I think you have to wait,” Cuddy says. “First of all, when you respond in that moment of anger you’re not going to respond well. And if you let them get through it, you’re going to get a little more information about what that is really about. Maybe then you do pause and say, ‘I need to step away from this for a moment.'”
Even if you don’t get new information relevant to the fight itself, there may still be nuggets of wisdom for how to handle later situations.
Subtle insights can only be found once we shut our mouths and actually try to understand the other person, not crush them.
This article expresses the author’s opinion only.
Your own opinion articles, feedback, suggestions, complaints or compliments are welcome at sirkings1990@gmail.com or call: +2348187344252
Feel free to send in your opinion, suggestions, comments, and complaints...
Today we are looking at how the Internet is altering the lives of Nigerian children and where technology fits in traditional African child-rearing model.
The annoying love the youths have for social media networks is unprecedented. If these vibrant teenagers took studies to heart this diligently, WAEC, UMTE and other examination bodies would definitely be singing a different song. If undergraduates spent more time studying than chatting strangers, lecturers would deal less with Internet abbreviations and acronyms in written examinations. Most students have probably forgotten the real spelling of some words.
Addiction is a disease. People naturally join social networking sites to catch up with old and current friends, to share life events and opinions, and to be part of a community in general. However, these online communities are not safe for nascent minds. Apart from academic decay, social media networks have promoted sexual immorality and covert prostitution to an alarming level. Social media are killing the child in our children, it is corrupting their innocence and affects positive relationship culture among youths.
Young girls feel more and more pressured to be sexually promiscuous while online in order to get attention from boys. Online chats encourage sexual bullying. Interactions on social media are sexualized, so is posting and self representation. Nude pictures on social media are no longer frowned at. Bloggers have worsened the trend as they regularly post pornography pictures and videos just to get the attention of Internet users.
Social media are not friends to your child. Facebook, WhatsApp, BBM and other allied platforms reduce their users to a common denominator thereby allowing kids to interact with people old enough to be their parents in a careless manner. These treacherous adults respond by engaging unsuspecting children in adult talks. Shamefully, amoral men are using social media networks to scout for young innocent girls, with promises as bait. Fraudsters lure children into despicable acts. Raw videos and images are easily transferred and children watch these items in their rooms and classrooms, unbeknownst to parents.
The Internet, the universal set of social media networks, has created a distinction between indoors and street-level prostitution. Street prostitutes have leveraged on word-of-mouth advertising using social media and online dating websites to run more efficient business. Dating sites are notorious in grooming young girls for pleasures.
Inasmuch as we cannot stop the growth of Internet-related technologies, we must make effort in mitigating their negative effects. Parents and guardians are advised to eschew the pressures and pleas by children to acquire an Internet-enabled phone. This is because the easiest way to protect children is to deny them unrestricted access to the Internet.
Nevertheless, each family should have an Internet connection via a computer or through a general phone meant for everyone for the purpose of completing school assignments or surfing for information. The computer must be stationed somewhere in the sitting room. The practice of allowing children below the age of 18 uncensored access to the Internet is morally and psychologically unhealthy.
The Western concept of giving minors unnecessary privacy is unafrican. Parents should monitor what sites children visit, who they chat with, if at all such privileges are allowed. The log history should always be checked regularly noting what might have been deleted. The untimely death of Cynthia Osokogu is still fresh in our memory. If an adult and well-exposed lady like Cynthia can be lured to her death, imagine the vulnerability of a minor! There are many young girls who have gone the way of Cynthia, since we only know of her case because of the media coverage.
The child needs help if he or she is more glued to the phone than studies. A child’s upbringing is a herculean task and the Internet environment has made it more strenuous. Children learn new character traits from strangers through chatting and then turn rebellious at home.
Children are not as helpless as we think, but this new form of communication is making it difficult for them to be young and innocent in heart and thought. Parents are losing control of their children, and the government should as a matter of necessity pass anti-pornography laws, especially child pornography. Let’s protect the Nigeria child from wield wild online community because a stitch in time save nine
This article expresses the author’s opinion only.
Your own opinion articles, feedback, suggestions, complaints or compliments are welcome at sirkings1990@gmail.com.
Feel free to send in your opinion, suggestions and complaints...
A graduate of Yaba College of Technology, Eluagu Williams, designed this fascinating artwork, titled “Your Destiny Is In Your Hand’ as his final year project.
We shall base this study upon the question asked by Saul of Tarsus at the very moment of his new birth: “What shall I do, Lord?” Did Saul’s conversion just “happen”?; was it by “chance” that he was suddenly converted on the Damascus road, or was it according to a divine plan and purpose? Acts 9:15 tells us that it certainly was “according to plan” – God’s plan. But has God a plan for my life? If so, how may I know it and what is involved in finding it? These and many other questions demand an answer.
THE LORD HAS A DEFINITE PLAN AND PURPOSE FOR THE LIFE OF EVERY ONE OF HIS CHILDREN
There are three strong reasons for believing this:
It is reasonable to expect it. God is a God of order and method. If we are building a house or designing a dress, we work according to a plan, a pattern. God does the same.
It is according to experience. Think of Abraham (Hebrews 11:8-10); Moses (Hebrews 11:24-27); David (1 Chronicles 17:7); Isaiah (Isaiah 6:8); Jeremiah (Jeremiah 1:5-8); Paul (Acts 9:15).
God’s Word teaches it. Look up Ephesians 2:10, and compare Psalm 27:11; 37:23; 73:24; 148:8; Proverbs 3:6; 15:19; 16:3; Isaiah 6:8-9; 30:21 and James 1:5.
Notice the following three characteristics of God’s plan for our lives:
It is a personal plan. Notice the personal pronouns – “you” and “me” in Acts 9:4. There is no one else in the world like you, and therefore God’s plan for you is unique and personal – just for you! He has a purpose to fulfil in and with your life which cannot be fulfilled in and with the life of any other person.
It is a perfect plan. In Romans 12:2 (which should only be read in conjunction with Romans 12:1), we are told that the will of God, or God’s plan and purpose in the lives of His children, is “his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
It is a practical plan. It is workable and it is thoroughly related to everyday living and service. It is not a plan which only sounds “good, pleasing and perfect” in a theoretical sense, but it proves to be so in experience!
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN LIFE, THEREFORE, IS TO DISCOVER GOD’S PLAN AND PURPOSE FOR OUR LIFE
This is obvious, but it is sadly true that some Christians fail to discover God’s plan and purpose for their life, and in consequence their whole life is filled with disappointment and defeat, frustration and failure. How wonderful to feel that we are achieving something really worthwhile and to know that we are doing it, not for ourselves, but in accordance with the will of our loving heavenly Father! Every unconverted person is living a self-planned life, as Saul was up until the time of his conversion – see Acts 9:5; but it is also sadly true that many Christians plan their own lives. We make decisions and choices which afterwards prove to be so wrong – compare John 21:3. There is nothing greater or more comforting than to know we are in the centre of God’s will, and every one of us can know just that.
WE ENTER GOD’S PLAN WHEN WE ACCEPT AND ACKNOWLEDGE JESUS CHRIST AS OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR
Saul entered the plan of God when he submitted to what the Lord told him to do – Acts 9:6, and compare with verse 8. The Lord Jesus revealed Himself to Saul, saying, “I am Jesus…” – that is, “Saviour” – look up Matthew 1:21. This is not to say that God was not interested in Saul and watching over him prior to his conversion, but it is true to say that Saul only really entered into the plan of God when he bowed at the feet of Jesus Christ and accepted Him as his Saviour and Lord.
WE GO ON TO DISCOVER, AND WE CONTINUE IN GOD’S PLAN, BY A DAILY SUBMISSION TO HIM AND TO HIS REVEALED WILL
He has the whole plan of our life in front of Him, but He only reveals it a bit at a time – look up Psalm 37:23. He knows the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:9-10). But the human condition which has to be met, if we are to know and to do God’s will, is complete submission to Him and a strong desire to obey Him – see Acts 22:10. This enquiry as to what God’s will is involves four things:
Communion with Him in prayer. A suitable prayer is recorded in Psalm 27:11; and it is when we know what it is to go regularly into the secret place that the Lord graciously reveals His plan to us step by step.
Studying and searching His Word. How wonderfully all the saints of God have been led as they have read and submitted their lives to the commands and guidance of the Word of God! – look up Psalm 119:105.
Prompt and unquestioning obedience. God reveals His will as we obey Him – look up 1 Samuel 15:22. He only does it a step at a time; Saul had to go into the city before the Lord told him the next step He wanted him to take (Acts 9:6).
Complete and implicit trust. We can rarely trace God’s working in our lives, for we are living by faith and not by sight. This means that we have to trust Him. The Lord chose Saul to be “a chosen instrument”, and Saul had to trust Him in all that He permitted in his life – sufferings, privations, stonings, imprisonments… (2 Corinthians 11:24-28). We must remember that God’s plan includes His permission of life’s testings – look up 1 Peter 4:12-13 and 19.
GOD’S PLAN FOR OUR LIFE IS AN ETERNAL ONE
Perhaps, as you have reached this last point in our study, you are saying, “What a thrilling theme for young people who have the whole of life before them!” But it is an equally thrilling theme for the most aged Christian, for all of us who belong to the Lord have a glorious eternity before us, and God’s plan has an earthly and a heavenly part. The earthly part is like the foundation of the building; the heavenly part can be likened to the structure of the building. We are apt to have a very limited conception of God’s plan. When a Christian dies at the age of 30 or 40, we say, “What a tragedy!” – which it is from earth’s limited viewpoint; but God’s loving plan for His children is an eternal plan – look up Ephesians 2:10; 1 John 2:17 and 2 Timothy 4:7-8.
When the Lord visits you, regardless your condition, the first thing He will say to you is REJOICE just like the Angel said to Mary. You need to know that you are highly favoured. Perhaps, you are reading this piece and it’s like you are weighed down or downcast and aren’t sure of what tomorrow holds for you. Let me say these to you that, He who knows the thousand days and the thousand years ahead looks at you and says you are favoured.
Though, you can’t see the favour right now. I stand here to represent Him; I declare to you that you are favoured in Jesus’name. You will see the manifestation this year in Jesus’ name.
Verse 36. After the Lord said this to Mary, He added that even her cousin, Elisabeth, whom the world called barren will conceive and bear a child. In fact, she is in her sixth month now. Without any doubt, it was good news the Angel brought to Mary. The same applies to Ministers of the Word of God. They receive messages from God for His people. They are to rebuke, encourage and direct the people as to following God’s will. God doesn’t do things anyhow. He works according to His purpose. I declare to you that favour will drive you and announce your arrival in Jesus’ name.
When the Angel declared God’s Word to Mary, she wondered how it will be fulfilled since she was a virgin. But, the Angel said to her that, the Power of God, the Holy Spirit will overshadow her.
I don’t know what you have been through or what you are going through. There is an awesome Power and He will overwhelm your overwhelmer in Jesus’ name.
He will come upon you and when He comes, you will do what naturally you can’t do – the impossible. That’s why He is called the Enabler.
There was a name associated with Elisabeth before now, that is, “Barren”; simply because, she could not conceive. There was a condition that seems to hang on her neck that will not go and she had done every thing possible, even fasted and prayed of which her husband is a priest. Not just a priest, one of the highest priests, yet nothing changed.
Here, we are talking about the ministry of the Holy Spirit. We are talking about the Power and message that comes from above.
Verse 38b. Mary finally answered the Angel that, “May it be to me as you have said.”
If you call your name just as the Lord has called you, situations or the world would have no choice than to call you by the same. If you see your names in the Bible and call yourself by same, you will have them manifest in you. Names like, “I am blessed”, “I am highly favoured”, “I will be above and not beneath”, “I am an example of a believer to everyone I meet”, and so on.
These are the ways the Bible defines you. When you define yourself in this manner, the world will give way and things will change. Contrariwise, if you allow the world to change your name, you will become miserable. May the name God has not given you that the devil is trying to put on you and those men want to christen you; you will not bear in Jesus’ name.
Verse 42-46. Where am going is this; I don’t know what your condition is. Some are young just looking forward to their marriage life, while some think that they should have married about 5 years ago or thereabout. That’s alright. But you see, God’s time is always the best.
Why? Because had Elisabeth given birth long time before she conceived John, I wonder what her child or children would have been. Elisabeth’s destiny was to bring forth John, the forerunner of Jesus’ Christ. That’s all. All the other children would have been addendum. Where as, in the case of a woman like Leah, she would bring out almost all the Princes of Israel. You will also wonder why her sister, Rachael would not bring forth so quickly, having tried severally. God only needed Joseph from her. Without Joseph, all the children of Israel would have died miserably in Egypt – the land of captivity.
When God’s time was due, He opened the Heaven’s gate and spread His curtain and visited Mary. When it was His time, He visited Zechariah too. When He visits you, He wants you to agree with whatever He says or tells you. Have faith and never doubt His word. Don’t disagree with divine instructions. Maintain a consistent confession of faith.
I declare to you now, if you desire to get married in a few years from now you will get it in Jesus’ name. Perhaps, you think yours is past acceptable year, God will do it for you in Jesus’ name.
You are the one calling it past; God is not calling it past. Therefore, your time is just starting not past.
People allow the devil to frustrate them so easily. Having tried for some times, they gave up and abandoned God. Such people then turned to the devil for help.
When the Angel came to Mary, it was not a marriage situation, but a miracle situation. Though, when He came to her, she was preparing for her marriage, being espoused to Joseph. When the Angel interrupted her life and marriage plans, He delivered God’s message to her. She told him she was a virgin and not married yet. Then, she asked, “How is it going to be possible?”
Maybe you are like Mary. You are still single, but right now preparing for marriage. What is the thing in your life that is making you to ask the question ‘how’?
Or perhaps, you have heard so many messages in the Church, attended several conferences, seminars and forum, yet you ask the question ‘how’. Is it because you are quite old and past puberty? Is it because you have problems with your womb and medical reports say you cannot conceive? Is it because two or more men have come around to you and later abandoned or left you at the point of deciding for marriage? And now, you are past 30 years? Is it that you carry a curse on your head? I don’t really know what constitutes the ‘how’ in your life.
The Angel of the Lord is saddled with the task to deliver God’s words to His people. Likewise, Pastors are God’s Servants too. They are Angels of the House of God. What this implies is that I have a message for you.
Don’t think your life is over anymore. The best of you is just beginning in Jesus’ name.
If the experience of Mary with the Angel is to happen now and you are to be Mary, will you believe like she did? This is something that will precipitate a revolution in your life.
Mary’s story is quite sweet to read today and talk on, what if it applies to you?
Whatever that will happen to you that men will talk about will be beyond your ability. It will be by God. That is where you find the Holy Spirit helpful and indispensable. I pray that the tangibility of God whom you serve will follow you somehow through this year in Jesus’ name. Not that you don’t have Him, but I mean evidences, the reality of Him.
Verse 34a. So, she said, “how?”
The Holy Spirit is at work in your life, therefore, nothing is impossible. I need your faith. God needs you to believe and absolutely trust Him.
Though, Mary had not seen such before, where a virgin will conceive, yet he believed God can do what He says. She believed.
Did the Angel say, “Nothing is impossible with God?” Of course yes. Then, what is your problem? What makes you think your case is impossible? He said “nothing”. So, how serious is your problem? Except He is not the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the King of kings, the Maker of heaven and earth, and the Creator of all things. If He says to you nothing is impossible, then what is that problem? What makes your feel your case is beyond His word?
If God will not need any man for conception, don’t you think He doesn’t need you to link you to your husband or your wife? He doesn’t need human methodology. That is not to say that you should despise human institutions or regulations. No! But, what I am saying is that let your faith get strong in Christ. Don’t you ever think or dream of giving up on God. If He can cause conception, how much more to find a suitor, a physical man or woman. You think He cannot bring him or her your way.
For example, look at the story of Rahab, a prostitute. Do you know that her status change? She became the mother of kings. Indeed, with God all things are possible.
The question is this, how did a prostitute get married? Salmon, a prince in the order of our Lord Jesus Christ married her. Matthew 1:5.
Deut. 7:1-9. God had instructed the Israelites not to marry the foreigners in the Promised Land and that they should kill them and not spare anything or anyone. They slew the Moabites and all the people across River Jordan. But Rahab was spared and became highly placed in Israel.
Which right thinking man on earth with his senses will look and choose such a despicable woman, a known prostitute, and one will not say a curse is upon him.
But she got married. Not just that, she married one of the highest in Israel. Her son, Boaz also got married to a Moabite – Ruth.
How horrible is your case? Does the Holy Spirit inhabit you? Is God still alive? Do miracles still happen? Is the power of God upon you? Then, change your thought and confession and you will see your miracles happen. Just change your thought and words. How? Begin to say what Mary said and think what she thought. Say what God has said about you.
Someone may say this, what about sin? Sin is a major issue with most singles.
When God calls you, He has already prepared His rewards. The problem is when you start out with Him; you don’t see your blessings. Therefore, the devil will present counterfeit rewards to you in order to distract you from God. Distraction from God would not be your portion in Jesus’ name.
If you get distracted, you can make a 40days journey becomes 40years. The Israelites who were distracted ended up being destroyed in the wilderness and never got to the Promised Land. I pray that you will not miss it in Jesus’ name. May your 11days to receiving your blessings never become 11years. That is why this year is your year of COMPLETE TURN AROUNDin the name of Jesus.
How do we tie the issue of sin? Don’t play with sin. Don’t allow the devil into your life. He is a counterfeiter. God perfectly knows that you need pleasure, security, money…name it. He had prepared them all for you to enjoy life. 1Timothy 6:17c; 2Peter 1:3.
When you get out there, you will see a lot of deception and lies. Someone will tell you that, if you can date me, I will take good care of you, a married man not to imagine. Or someone will say to you that, if you can just join us in our cult group, we will ensure that you don’t suffer in life.
These are ways the devil threatens with lies and sweep people off balance. He shows you sex (or pornography), pool, money and all sorts in order to keep you off your steadfastness. Always know that God has provisions for you in a right way (as a good Shepherd) and He will legitimately get them to you at the right time.
The devil often gives people small things and cart away their destinies in return.
Consider Joseph for example; God told him He would favour him. Then, Portiphar’s wife came to him with pleasure. He could not trade God’s favour with the sexual pleasure she offered him. Had he consented to this, someone else would have replaced him.
God has made promises concerning you; don’t allow the devil to distract you away from Him. I pray His grace will be sufficient for you. You will never consent to evil deception and lies.
The devil cannot think about you more than God would do. Where was he when God made you? He fearfully and wonderfully created you in His own image.
Just know and believe that you are complete in Him, who is the Head of over all principalities and powers. Your future is secured in Him alone.
Should Joseph have succumbed to her pressure; he would not have risen beyond her to become the Prime Minister of Egypt. He was to rule over the entire Egypt like Pharaoh.
That is why the devil wanted to deceive him with sex through Portiphar’s wife. She would have put him under her thighs forever.
Don’t be deceived and never fall to the lies and deception of the enemy. Avoid premarital sex as a single waiting to get married.
