EXAMPLES OF PEOPLE WHO MADE POSITIVE CHOICES IN THE BIBLE AND THE CONSEQUENCES

Noah chose to listen to God’s instruction and went on to build the ark in spite of general ridicule. CONSEQUENCE: He was able to save his life and members of his household when the flood came. (Genesis 6 & 7) Abraham chose to let go and decided to sacrifice his son Isaac to God. CONSEQUENCE: God blessed him greatly. (Genesis 22) Lot decided to host the (Angels) visitors and bear the wrath of the people of Sodom and Gomorrah by not releasing them (the visitors) to them to be defiled. CONSEQUENCE: He and his family were spared from the divine judgment that befell the cities. (Genesis 19) Joseph chose not to shortcut his destiny by giving in to the momentary pleasures of sleeping with Potiphar’s wife CONSEQUENCE: He rose to the number two person in Egypt, the most powerful country in the world then. (Genesis 39 & 41) Two spies, Joshua and Caleb, brought good reports about the Promised Land. CONSEQUENCE: They ended up getting there, while others were destroyed in the wilderness. (Numbers 13 & 14) Rahab risked her life by hiding the two spies that were sent to spy the land of Jericho CONSEQUENCE: She had her life and that of her whole family saved when the Israelites conquered the city. (Joshua 2 & 6) Ruth chose to follow Naomi and submitted to her mentoring CONSEQUENCE: She ended up marrying Boaz, a very wealthy man, and also became the grandmother of David as well as the ancestress of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Ruth 1-4) David chose not be intimidated by size, but launched out to fight Goliath. CONSEQUENCE: He won the battle and earned national honour as a result. (1 Samuel 17) Solomon asked God for wisdom rather than riches and honour CONSEQUENCE: God gave him more than he asked for. (1 Kings 3) Elisha chose to ignore the ‘sons of the prophets’ and followed Elijah all through till he was taken to heaven. CONSEQUENCE: He got a double portion of the anointing of Elijah. (2 Kings 2) The Shunamite woman took it upon herself to always host Elisha whenever he was in town. CONSEQUENCE: God gave her a son after many years in marriage. (2 Kings 4:8-17) Namaan, the Syrian general, listened to the advice of his servants and went to bathe in river Jordan as Elisha had instructed. CONSEQUENCE: He came out cleansed of his leprosy. (2 kings 5:1-19) King Hezekiah chose to cry out to God, rather than mourn, when he was told he would die from his sickness. CONSEQUENCE: God healed him and added 15 years to his life. (2 Kings 20:1-11) Esther chose to risk her life for the salvation of her people by going in to the king’s chamber uninvited, after praying and fasting for three days! CONSEQUENCE: God gave her favour and the Jews were spared. (Esther 4, 5 & 8) Job chose to remain faithful to God in spite of his many great afflictions. CONSEQUENCE: God restored him and gave him twice everything he lost. (Job 1 & 42) Daniel chose not to compromise the rules of God while in the king’s palace CONSEQUENCE: He was outstanding among his peers. (Daniel 1) He also chose to defy the king’s command and pray to God CONSEQUENCE: God spared his life and eliminated all his enemies. (Daniel 6) Meshach, Shedrach, and Abednego chose not to displease God by bowing to the idols of Nebuchadnezzar CONSEQUENCE: God spared their lives in the fiery furnace. (Daniel 3) The prodigal son chose to repent and go home to his father after squandering all his wealth. CONSEQUENCE: He was warmly received and celebrated by his father. (Luke 15:11-24) Peter chose to repent after denying Jesus 3 different times. CONSEQUENCE: He was restored and later became the head of the apostles.

Thrive with Babs Academy Presents: How to Become a Valuable Person

The truth is, you are either adding value to people and things or draining virtue from them.

When you are seen as a genuine provider of value, people seek you and the world of works or marketplace respond favourably to you. But if you are perceived as a drainer of virtue, achieving desired results become laborious.

There are certain principles that build up value which, when known and mastered, make you a hotcake sought after by people and the market. Value is not a prerogative of some people, a race or certain colour. Anyone can become a person of value; anyone can create something valuable.

The questions now are — how do you become a valuable person? How do you create value? How do you sustain your value?

Answering these questions and other fundamentals will form our discourse at Thrive Academy this April.

You cannot afford to miss this session!

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

Date: Friday, April 28, 2017

Time: 4:00pm

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

CHOICES

REFERENCE SCRIPTURE Joshua 24:15: And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. CHOOSING RIGHTLY 1. CHOOSING GOD (LIFE) Deuteronomy 30:19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live 2. CHOOSING THE KINGDOM Matthew 6:33: But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Colossians 3:1-3 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 3. CHOOSING THE NEEDFUL & THE GOOD PART Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Luke 10:38-42 Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? Bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

ADDING VALUE

TIPS FOR MAKING YOUR LIFE COUNTS

- Babatunde Oladele

You are adding value to people when your encounters with them make their eyes shine brightly, make them smile, make them say “thank you,” make them eager to talk to you or desire to be in your company.

On the other hand, you are depleting from people if every day your encounters with them make them frown, make them look or groan, “Oh no, not again!” make them say “I’m sorry” quite often, or they avoid you as much as they can.

WHAT IS THE CHARACTER OF SUCCESS?

Success is fulfilling an identified personal life purpose with:

• The fear of God
• Integrity
• Sound Ethical Values
• A Sense of Mission
• Compassion
• Character

Success is nothing more than a few simple disciplines, practiced every day; while failure is simply a few errors in judgment, repeated every day. It is the accumulative weight of our disciplines and our judgments that leads us to either fortune or failure. - Jim Rohn

If you develop the habits of success, you will make success a habit. - Michael E. Angier

The common denominator of success lies in forming the habit of doing things that failure don’t like to do. - Albert Gray