Heavenly Principles of Trading (Part 2)

Planning Proverbs 24:27: Prepare your outside work, make it fit for yourself in the field; and afterward build your house. Planning answers the question of ‘where do you want to go and how are you going to get there?’ Planning is like the mid-fielder on a soccer team. Planning involves being on the offensive and developing goals so that the business can win the game. It also involves being on the defensive and anticipating problems and solving them before they happen. Without this position on the team, the game will be lost because there is no game plan. As the saying goes, business people who fail to plan, plan to fail. Timing Ecclesiastes 3:1 To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven. Ecclesiastes 8: 5-6 (NIV) Whoever obeys his command will come to no harm, and the wise in heart will know the proper time and procedure. For there is a proper time and procedure for every matter, though a man’s misery weighs heavily upon him” Managing Matthew 25:20-21 So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ His lord said to him, ‘well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord. Managing answers the question of how you are going to operate your business and who is going to have control? Managing is like the coach of a soccer team. The coach has to make sure all the details are taken care of for the team to get to the game and be ready to play it. He oversees the play and makes sure the players are healthy and doing what they are all supposed to be doing. The coach has to be familiar with all the positions on the team and recommend what should be done to improve performance.

Heavenly Principles of Trading (Part 1)

HEAVENLY PRINCIPLES OF TRADING REFERENCE SCRIPTURE Luke 19:12-13 Therefore He said: “a nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return. So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Do business till I come.’” THE WORD ON BUSINESS AND CAREER Purpose Proverbs 24:3-4: Through wisdom (insight about self & the market) a house (business) is built; and by understanding (exposures & experience) it is established: By knowledge (information & learning) the rooms (the different arms of the business) are filled with all precious and pleasant riches. Compared this with how the first ever and oldest business institution was created: Proverbs 3:19-20 The LORD by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding He established the heavens; by His knowledge the depths were broken up, and clouds drop down the dew. Purpose answers the question “what business am I in and why am I in that business?” Purpose is like the centre forward of a football team. He sets the direction of the business. Possession of the ball begins with him. Business people must have a well-defined purpose for their business that includes not only the type of business and market but also the area of ministry that can be done through that business.

How to Be Positioned for Success in 2017 and Beyond

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” Winston Churchill

It is a primordial instinct for everyone to want to be successful. However, the difference between those who actually achieve it and does who don’t is their mindset, strategy and the amount of information they have acquired. Thus, if you desire to be positioned for success amidst the various challenges in the country, book your seat immediately at the February edition of ThriVe Academy, where we will be discussing: How to be positioned for Success in 2017 and Beyond

Date: Friday, February 24th, 2016

Venue: 1A, African Church Close, off Coker Road, Ilupeju, Lagos.

Time: 4:00pm

Attendance is free for now, but pre-registration is compulsory. To book your seat, please click www.bit.ly/ThrivewithBabs or call: +2348110832280, +2348188708026.

WHEN GOD SEEMS SO WICKED OR DOES NOT SEEM TO CARE (PART 3)

THE STORY OF THE FERN AND THE BAMBOO One day I decided to quit. I wanted to quit my job, my relationship, my spirituality…I wanted to quit my life. I went to the woods to have one last talk with God. "God", I said. "Can you give me one good reason not to quit?" His answer surprised me. "Look around", He said. "Do you see the fern and the bamboo?" "Yes", I replied. "When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good care of them. I gave them light. I gave them water. The fern quickly grew from the earth. Its brilliant green covered the floor. Yet nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo. “In the second year, the fern grew more vibrant and plentiful. And again, nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo. In year three, there was still nothing from the bamboo seed. But I would not quit. The same was the case in year four. Then in the fifth year, a tiny sprout emerged from the earth. Compared to the fern, it was seemingly small and insignificant. But, just six months later, the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall! It had spent the five years growing roots beneath. Those roots made it strong and gave it what it needed to survive.” “I will not give any of my creatures a challenge it can not handle. Do you know, my child, that all this time you have been struggling, you have actually been growing roots? I would not quit on the bamboo. I will never quit on you.” “Don't compare yourself to others." He said. "The bamboo had a different purpose apart from the fern. Yet they both make the forest beautiful. “Your time will come." God said to me, "And you will rise high" "How high would I rise?" I asked. "How high will the bamboo rise?" He asked me in return. "As high as it can?" I questioned "Yes." He said, "Give me glory by rising as high as you can." I left the forest, realizing that God will never give up on me. Never regret a day in your life. Good days give you happiness; Bad days give you experiences; Both are essential to life. If God brings you to it - He will bring you through it.

WHEN GOD SEEMS SO WICKED OR DOES NOT SEEM TO CARE (PART 2)

3. A test of faith – The example of Job in Job 1-42 And he who overcomes, and keeps My works to the end, to him will I give power over the nations: Revelation 2:26 - Job was subjected to multiple afflictions just to determine the limit of his faithfulness to God! - His servants (staff) were killed by raiders who stole his 500 yoke of oxen and 500 donkeys. 1:15 - Fire consumed all his 7,000 sheep as well as some of his servants. 1:16 - Another band of raiders made away with his 3,000 camels and also killed some of his servants. 1:17 - His 7 sons & 3 daughters were all killed in a collapsed building. 1:18-19 ALL OF THESE HAPPENED TO JOB IN ONE DAY! - He was afflicted with painful boils from head to foot. 2:7-8 - To make matters worse, his wife tongue-lashed him for his faithfulness to God in the midst of their woes. 2:9-10 - Even his closest friends castigated him and presumptuously blamed his misfortunes on his sins - But Job kept the faith in the midst of it all and forgave all who had unjustly criticised him. - And God restored all he had lost to him double-fold. 42:10-17 SOME ATTRIBUTES OF GOD God is Omniscient - Job 24:1, Hebrews 4:13 God is Immutable – He does not change - James 1:17 God is Just - Deuteronomy 32:4 (KJV) God is Merciful - Lamentation 3:22-23 God is Faithful - 2 Timothy 2:11-13, Lament 3:23 God is Good, and does good - Psalm 119:68 God is Caring - 1 Peter 5:7 HOW TO GET OUT OF THE “GOD DOES NOT CARE” TRAP Do a Soul-searching, then Repent from and Forsake Sinful Habits – Proverbs 28:13 Be Prayerful – Philippians 4:6, 1 Thessalonians 5:17 Have a Change of Perspective – know that it could have been worse Develop a Habit of Thanksgiving – 1 Thessalonians 5:18 Have a Change of Attitude – Count it ALL Joy! – James 1:2-4