Self worth Inflation

There I would sit in the fire place, listening to stories of great men who emerged from the small townships. The township had a way of entrapping people into the mindset of mediocrisy and poverty. It was from this bondage my dad acted as a moses and tried his best to exode me from. In his coarse and eloquent english he would stroke my ego, "You are a royal bloodline, you are from a legendary family, you are so great you have to achieve in all you do" His words fell on fertile soil, as in all I did I excelled. I was the first soccer player of the year at pinegrove primary, I was bright in my studies an athlete etc. All I partook in I made it a point I exceed the average bar. Second best was never in my ambition. Second to me was losing.

Many people are under peforming in life because they have given up the ambition to over peform. They have accepted the bronze medal. They have allowed themselves to strive for second best. I remember I used to throw away bronze and silver medals. I was not pompous I knew what I deserved. once we miss what we deserve we fall to the bar of the average. Have a selfworth inflation. You were created as one and no other. The prints on your finger match you alone, if they were a cure to a disease you would be the worlds hero. You were fearfully carved with unexplainable calibre of greatness and theres a potential of you being the best the world has ever had. You are heavens display of goods and talents, God's very own show-off experience. Yes he boasts about you, like an eye catching scene from a movie he awaits to see you flaunt your gifts. Think of yourself as capable and able. Remove yourself from the bond of lowly thinking, its possible and if any one can do it, it has to be you. Whatever you put your mind on, it will work in proportion to how much you view yourself.

The Take-off

My stomach had butterflies as the pilot announced the take off. I never boarded a plane prior to that day, and being afraid of heights my mind asked questions of my safety, my life was being placed in the hands of the pilot. Swiftly the plane moved from the ground, like all phobia stricken people I felt like screaming because the feeling I felt I had never felt before. It was like a joy ride I feared. To my amazement all my worries turned to excitement as my blood rushed through my body. With a sudden groove of enjoyment I fell in love with my deepest fear. Talk about overcoming? Im talking about the take off experience.

Life hands us ideas individually and collectively, we often fear to move. One writer once said the grave-site is filled with un-explored ideas. We all have a passion about something yet we fear the unknown; Like me in a plane yourmind draws you all the alternatives why you shouldn't be there. You imagine the crash before you enjoy the ride, Starting something is more feared than doing nothing. It is time we as young people, leaders of tommorrow to fear doing "nothing" more than starting something. The worlds longest journey began with a step, The worlds most famous painting began with a dot, the centuries best music began with a note. Taking off is a scary experience but it gets you off the ground. I met a very talented musician who in my humble opinion will go nowhere. The talent is there, like the desire to board the plane was in me, yet the fear to take off stopped me for years until I decided to give it A GO. You will never know until you try, dont kill the idea before the take off, and remember after you leave the ground you no longer see eye to eye with those on the ground. Do not allow the ground walkers to stop your vision, they see tall buildings but you on top of them, what is a high barrier to others will be a low one for you because you were more darring to take off, dont let the thief called fear to steal your faith to take off.

Audacious Desire

One afternoon i watched a movie of a drug addict who used to to live on a certain supply of pills. Everytime his blood got rid of the pills he would do anything to get them, his life revolved around them. Sad movie good moral for those of you who are waiting for me to say drugs are bad you right but thats not the moral i am teaching. Lifes primary step in the real world requires boldness and desire, If you aiming beyond the limit of the masses dont expect ordinary people to agree with you. The addicts system doesnt survive without the pill, let your desire burn like an addiction, be addicted to succeed, until you take the success pill dont rest! Someone said good things come to those who wait, I say good things come to those who fetch them. Desire is a passion that burns within you and drives you to meet the pleas of the craving. Until the addict gets that pill he will not rest, he will not stop seeking the possibilities of his craving being met. Success is a destination that changes everytime you arrive. The dream you see now will change when you get there. You will want to achieve more than what you have because your system will need the pill of pressing on, achieving, getting rewards, changing lives and creating new opportunities. for some success is a noun for me it is a verb, its a continuing force that is engined by a desire.

The man Mandela desired to live in a free country, that when he was offered freedom he turned it down for the freedom of many. Once you have a clearcut vision and the desire to obtain it you will not settle for something less, your bargain is something equivelant or something more. Your dream is going nowhere until you have desire as your fuel, that feeling will kick start you when all odds are knocking you down. Desire accumulates your tenacious characteristics to keep you going, that is why great men have a story which seems common, "why they never gave up?" something inside disallowed them, and that my friends is a ever-burning, succses driven and future orientated mind that is ready to take over and cause changes to our world!

Can you be described as those with an addiction for success expansion, take the desire pill and for once be an addict legally and with benefits, desire will in reality take you high.

Living-word: ...Cast down not defeated-the battle of life...

The bell echoes through the auditorium as the crowd cheers ecstatically with amazement , passion and a conclusive judgment on the outcome of the game. the eleventh round is about to begin, Joe turn the crowds favorite has delivered as expected, ''it was impossible for John to defeat him, his a disadvantaged black''....with no less than ten minutes left of the contest he needs more than a miracle to win this one. A slow motion preview plays in his mind as he moves across the ring throwing punches off target like a rugby player in a soccer field, he beats himself up , de-motivates himself, wishes he could have done better, all hope disappears as failure beeps like a 6 o'clock alarm, re-iterating the fact that he is going to lose, all odds are against him, he lost ten rounds and won one, why should he continue? What's the point of it all?... He slowly remembers pastor Elijah's words...they formulate in his mind and give him a sense of hope, a Living-word: Reason to carry on, like the slogan of his devotions, ''wealth of wisdom giving you a reason to succeed' '''facts are subject to change by the truth, it's a fact it's impossible but the truth is nothing is impossible with God''. Don't we all face slippery situations? were all odds are against us, al hope is lost, time unredeemable, someone said: ''if only I had more time'' life is a game between choice and chance, most of the people live by chance. they were never taught the value of choices, a man of chance does something and waits with uncertainty for the outcome of the matter, One night stands, sexual relations, to the chance takers this is part of life but for the choice makers they weigh the matter they see it's a fact, but what is the truth?....maybe you a victim of chance you wasted 11 rounds throwing empty punches like the elite upcoming champion, you have beat yourself up or worked yourself up into a tight spot. the only way for you is down the ladder, you know there's no other way, maybe u contracted a irreversible disease, like Hiv, someone said I can't ask for help from anyone...but u ought to realize u might not ask 4 help but your condition will talk for itself, don't hang down your gloves yet; throw not the towel, there's a big possibility to win, you cast down but not !!!!...defeated, u pressed down not forgotten, the odds are against you but God is for you, the odds can't be better than God, the odds are a prediction God is the creator even of the odds....

Heart's pumping, the bets fly across the house, the bell rings for the final round, his guard is down not because his not better but he quit already, the mindset of defeat has filled his mind, he's accepted fate and rejected faith, chances proved to overpower choices,....two knocks catch his head, as his sweat runs like a sprinkler watering the flowerless ring, he dives towards the floor, his heart beats faster than the rev of a BMW vehicle, he panics inside, even his fans have lost hope, al hope is gone....as the ten countdown reaches five, those ten seconds flashed back his entire life....his mind began to think like a champion, as his positive thoughts silhouetted his negative mind, ''I've come too far to lose, I can't go home, I can't let it go, my dream is in my hands, my future is in my choice, I don't know how but I will win, this is mine, I'm knocked down yet not defeated!''

No one ever said u won't go through troubles, your faith is tested through circumstances, strong faith is not sailing easy its being unshaken, they that trust in the lord are like mount Zion they never moved, you got to get your chin up and say to yourself, ''I'm not moved by what I see ,I'm only moved by Gods word'', u may look down but u at your greatest moment, when the devil knocked u off your feet he got u on your knees! If I had a pulpit I'd preach it for u, but you got to get up daughter, u got to get up son, all you require is a mindset of a champion, u don't need power you don't need so and so u need a change of mind and a change of method, u failed three times by one method u cast down, you not dumb you just using an archaic method there's a method I call the '' The Method of faith'' the attitude that has already won before the contest. He picks himself up at the count of 9, nearly defeated but he knows he is cast down not defeated, he knows he has to give it his all, he throws in a blow, guards up he moves, swifter than a eagle, he slides, he jumps, flies like a butterfly: jab, cut, haymaker, low drive moves left twice, back and forward, his rhythms matches that of a salsa dance as he waltz across the ring he gains the fans support. They cheer him like a champion, even though he has 30 seconds of shattered hope, he still puts up a show, if I will go down I will do it in style he says, guards of the opponent goes down. (Habakkuk 3:16-19) , "though the figs don't bear... wait, he quotes it for his situation, though the fight yields no fame and a name for me, though the fight goes not my way, I will Joy in the Lord my savior,...he already made up his mind to rejoice in God, ....15 seconds remain...miraculously he remembers David, running with five stones yet with one he defeats the giant goliath, this is my goliath! He penetrates his punches, Maneuver's a low jab catching his rib cage, like the woman with the issue of blood he seizes the moment! Uppercut, twice punch slices through his face, stone cold he embraces the ground like a blanket in winter, silence fills the crowd as the countdown reaches 10, yes he won, we all thought it not possible someone said, he really has won. He realizes that truth overcame facts! It was a fact he was cast down but the truth said not defeated! He won against the odds. If it was me and u we would have given up. Many gave up on aids, cancer ,tumor they thought it's a losing battle, but I have a word for you today, we don't lose! Who is he that overcomes the world? It is he that believe that Jesus is the son of God!

Building Stones.

My dad once told me of a legend. The story of the hare and the tortouise. He laid back in his bed and looked as if he had a moral in the myth to build my character. With an echoing voice he said: " The hare used to throw stones at the house of the tortouise and laughed at his slowness in building, but one day the tortouise used all those stones to build a huge house that was bigger than the hare's"

The walk to success is not for the fast and the swift only. Along the way to success we face hostile circumstances that might force us to throw in the towel or bow to the upcoming pressure. Many times we see people broken down by their friends, familly or colleagues. They ridicule the beggining of your success and await to see your fall. In every level you get you meet three people who will always throw stones at you, like the tortouise you can use those stones as stepping bridges to your next level or they can outweigh your tenacity and make you succumb to defeat. Rome was not built in one day, the hare's job was to inspire the tortouise to prove a point. every social critic in your life should not be the reason to quit, critics are always there and mostly proven wrong. Move with your goal and do not look at who says what. If you are built by the praises of men be sure to be brought down by their critisism. Someone SAID "Swallowing your pride choked no one" dont throw stones at yourself by refusing to get help from those who can help you. No one throws stones at a fruitless tree, people are sure to talk. When you do good, bad or nothing someone will offer an opinion, you are going nowhere if you are moved by peoples opinions because they are so many and different at the same time. Don't beat yourself up nor try to move quicker than someone, the secret is not in the speed but in taking all the time you need to bake a perfect cake. The microwave can warm your food but cant bake you a cake. You need patience in that department. many might grow impatient and leave, that should'nt discourage you to stop because your point to prove has increased. Now you have to show those who said you won't make it what you made off; and those who left why they shouldn't have. Someone said when they cast stones at you build a house, when they give you lemons make lemonade. I say when the hare throws stones begin to build, when your friends neglet you and your vision begin to build, in the end no house was ever built without a firm foundation! Remember the biggest building started with one stones. Ready? set? Begin :)

The Goal-Post mindset!

I was the first Pinegrove soccer player of the year,I later on became the top goalscorer in both club and school level. My passion for soccer had no equal. Experts predicted I was the next world's best.My athletic ability and dribbling techniques were a formidable force to the opponents. I would dribble the whole team and turn back from the goals without scoring. One day a friend of mine who played along side me, he was my best friend and we did everything together, showed me the light. I scored more goals than him but he was a better finisher. He shouted at me for being too playfull, he asked me a valid good question: "By dribbling everyone at the corner line what do you gain" From that day onwards I scored more goals because my focus changed from pleasing people to seeking the back of the net.

The mind of a striker is to score  goals. The different players work together for one determinable purpose, to see the ball behind the goal post. Many people live life like the driibler, they can impress you with five top-ten badges and distinctions but with all that, they have no sense of determinable outcome. They live as headless-chickens. Its important to have a goal-post mind! It enables you put in all your energy and measure at the end of the day whether it was worth it or not. Like me the crowds where impressed, the opponents were impressed but my team was suffering, instead of meeting the goal I was more concerned with the praises. I just read a post from a friend that says the country is in trouble because we have so many Job seekers, our Universities train us to get Jobs, as a result entrepreneurs who create Jobs are not there, so whats the point of producing so many dribblers who will be benched at the end of the day? I advise everyone to start setting goals for yourself and do something that will draw you nearer to the goal rather than waiting for something to sporadically happen. Make long term goals you want to achieve, my team wanted to win the league but it began with small term goals every week. Do the same, where do you want to be 5 years time? please dont say working for FNB because you can be the best ever at what you do but they determine whether they take you or not. I will give you a goal planner and you make goals which are in your control, starting a business is not easy but it will teach you how, you will get to own the ladder others are climbing.

Elijah's goal planner. (We look at the beginning from the end)

1. What do you want to achieve in 5 years time?
2.  What do you want to achieve in 1 years time that will draw you closer to your 5 year goal?
3. What will you do in 6 months time to get you your 1 year goal, that will give you, your 5 year goal?
4. What will you do this week to get you closer to your months goal.
5. What will youdo everyday to achieve your weeks goals.
6. Write them down, buy a goal book!
7. measure yourself every sunday, how many daily goals did you achieve? and did you achieve your weeks goal? if yes you began well, if no, try again!

"Failure is another term people use when they want to stop trying"- Elijah Nhlapo

Choice creates Chores

Its a monday and you woke up very late. With only an hour left to make it to work or school, you hurridly pace for the shower, the time to be indecisive is not there. Your slip up might get you a written warning or detention, you have to decide what to skip and what to do. Breakfast? Choosing clothes? or looking good for Steve. Many of us don't understand that life is a game of choice, you are where you are because of the choices you have made cognisant or not. 

Many of us think that if we stand neutral we remove the burden of choice. Whether you act or not you are making a choice. Success is defined as: " A habit of chores that were created by choice". Chores are errands or daily doings. The choices you make either draw you nearer to success or further from it. What ever you want to succeed in is possible, God would never put an empty fire inside of you. Ask Moses the fire burns without burning the bush, you desire to succeed is an unquenchable fire. The way to obtain it is to make a choice, are you going to choose the way that leads to the crowd? or will you stand aside and choose a path that will lead you to your success. Theres a sermon I have called "Choices over Chances" . When you live by chance you surrender your life to fate. Fate doesn't decide anything. Fate is created by your choices, if you choose to sleep and play its not fate that keeps you poor but your choice. Some people believe they can't be rich because of faith. No you can't because you settled for a life below your dream. You have a good job and a wife and house and you were indoctrinated to be mediocre. Im not saying don't be content but strive above your limit, who said the star is the limit? I got news for you someone has reached the moon, your limit is our benchmark! Make a choice today, seek people who sharpen you rather than those who make you blunt. Leaders are people who don't shift the burden of choice but take the challenge.

Choices are either a benefit or a pitfall for us. You will never be rich in anything until you choose to be . Many people are poor in love while rich in money because they hungered for money more than relationships. Money is not riches I repeat, riches are found within you. Knowledge to me is more valuable than money. Knowledge creates money and money creates riches. Make a choice to seek knowledge, get to know hows and whats of money. I am a voice that is saying choose what you personally want and stop looking at what so and so says. Remember when you are rich that the best thing you can do is give someone knowledge rather than  a thousand rand notes which will land him in the same state you found him in. Dont give me fish but teach me how to fish should be the motto you have. And remember you always making choices so wake up and take the responsibility of the choices you make.

Some people complain about how bad their relationships are, stop complaining you chose to be there, the choice you made created the situation you in. I choose to be fruitfull in all areas. rich in finance, relationships and above all Spirituall which I already am. I refuse to be poor! If you have a problm with this statemen, dust your bible and read Psalm 30:6. he's talking my language thats my choice.