The 1 abt ...... missing the mark

Hi guys

Missing the mark? Who is perfect? Who can stand bold and say that I haven’t missed the mark? Who can stand and say I am 100% sinless? Well these are the question that has been in my head for number of years now. I am going to be honest with you, that I am not perfect and I am far from perfect. I am make mistakes, I do sin. .

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Romans 3:23

NIV

Admit it; we all miss the mark once in awhile. Guess what. It’s okay! Today I am not here to judge or condemn you.

So if I say that missing the mark is okay; you are probably asking yourself what I mean. After all, the bible does say God hates sin (Maybe add a scripture reference). I used to think and believe that before you get saved that you need to be perfect. Well it didn’t make sense to me when God wanted me when I was deep in sin, I didn’t understand that he needed me as I am so as to make me perfect.

So where is this going? I am here to show that Sin is not cast and stone, that our relationship With God? Is not dependant our sins? God didn’t create man because of the sins they can committed; he created us for his pleasure.

1) Jesus died for our sins

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance : that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures

1 Corinthians 15:3-4

NIV

We need to realise the fact that God died for our sins, he didn’t just die for the one you did before you got saved but also for the one we are doing and the one we are still going to do. God gave up his son so that we can be united with him. By the Blood of God we are justified. The thing is we often condemn ourselves because of what we have done. We even say that we are not worthy to be called Gods sons and daughters. As Jesus died for our sin this doesn’t give us the opportunity for us to sin because we are forgiven (Difficult to understand). Since Christ died for our sins, we need to live our lives to honour him for what He has done. We need to try by all means to Glorify God with our lives. We must try by all means not to take advantage of the Cross.

2) God and our weakness’s

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me

2 Corinthians 12:9

NIV

(Bible is not underlined)

If we had to be perfect, then there wouldn’t be a need for God to send His son to that Cross, then we can say that the death of Christ was in vain Read Galatians 2:21. We all have our weakness. We all have our shortfalls. We are not perfect. God wants us that way. His power works best in our weakness. We wouldn’t see His power if we weren’t weak. God can turn our sin around so that they can be a testimony for His Glory and His Glory alone. Sometimes God love our weakness because he wants to humble us just like the thorn in Pauls flesh in 2 Corinthians 12:5-19.

3) Resisting the devil

I will not lie, you will be tempted and some days are better than others. The Bible says:

Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

1 Peter 5:8

NIV

Being saved doesn’t exempt you from the devils plans. As a matter of fact, when you become saved, you enter the devils most wanted list. He will cause you to sin and he will cause you to fall.

You need to resist the devil and he will flee (James 4:7). Resisting the devil means that we need to stand our ground with our faith and it means actually fighting the temptations. My pastor always says that the best way to fight the devil is through scripture. When Jesus was tempted he fought him with scripture. When Christ left the earth he sent us the Holy Spirit and that he would help us. Lean not on your abilities to fight the devil but rather let the Holy Spirit fight for you. When temptation comes we need to resist it, we need to also be prepared that the devil will come with his tricks and the only way we can resist him is through confessing Gods word, we can only confess Gods word when we know it, we can only know His word through reading it and spending time with God.

4) Strive to live a sinless life

The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.

Galatians 6:8

NIV

As harsh as this scripture is we need to see the truth in it. I am usually aware and awake when I sin and this scripture is what keeps me in check. This scripture is what reminds me that I need to go on my knees and ask for forgiveness to God. If we continue to sow in sinful nature we are going to reap death and that is the truth, but if we sow in striving to live a sinless life. I am not saying we need to be perfect but we need to strive to be perfect. We need to strive to live life according God’s standards. Not our own standards. Not mans standards.

In conclusion I pray that we would strive to live a life that Glorifies God, I pray that we can strive to live our lives according to Gods standards not our standards or what is accepted in society. Let’s not look how many sin we have committed but rather let’s look how I can honour God by not sinning. I also pray to God that we may never take for granted the cross and how he sent His only son for me and for you. I am grateful to God for the renewal of my mind and I pray that he may renew your mind as well

Speaking Blessing to you all
Love you all
God bless

The 1 abt...... Love and Grace

Hi Guys

Let me start by saying Thank you for your support and your comments, they mean allot to us here. Today I am going to talk about something very personal and something that happened to me a couple of days back. I was watching a clip on you-tube, it’s on Steve Harvey. He mentions something so profound that made so much sense to me only a couple of days later.

He spoke about how we as the church look down on people and how we speak about God so much but we do not do his command. To give an outline. How often do we comment on what people do and how they are living their lives. How quick are we to say to people “He needs Jesus” or better yet “he is beyond Jesus”? I was rebuked by God about how I openly judge guys my age who have children and how big their mistakes, and how big their sins are. As I was going to prayer on a certain afternoon, I sensed God saying to me that we are suppose to Love his children and not judge them according to their mistakes. We need to understand that one of Gods job is to judge people, it’s not our duty.  Mathew 7:1 says: “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.” NIV.

So after spending a couple of minutes praying and asking God for forgiveness. I arrived at the prayer, one of the prayer points was praying for salvation for our campus. In the midst of That God asked me how many people have left the church because they were judge because of their mistakes. I stood there for like two minutes with thoughts rushing in my head on how I have chased people away and I have judged people because of their mistakes. The most interesting part of this all is how we are going to account for those people who left the Kingdom because of how we treated them.

In the words of Steve Harvey he asked “Where is the grace of God?”, This question brought another question to mind , How far does Gods love and grace go? To help answer this question I will look at some points.

1) Gods love is unfailing

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

(John 3:16 NLT)

Gods love is unfailing, Jesus was his only son and he gave it up for our sin. If that’s not unfailing love I do not now. If God loved you and me so much, why can’t we share that same love? Do not get me wrong I am not saying give up your children for the sake of loving someone , please do it if you hear the clear audible voice of God. God loves you beyond your sin, he sent His son to die on the cross for our sins. Why can’t we look beyond other people’s mistakes and just love them.

“And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself”

Matthew 22:39

(NIV)

This scripture speaks about how we should love one another; it’s the second commandment that is considered to be the foundation of other commandments. I am called to love my neighbour what about you? Loving them whether they are saved or not, I am called to just love them.


2) Gods grace is sufficient

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.

2 Corinthians 12:9

NIV

(In the bible it is not underlines)

His grace is sufficient for everyone and its enough for everyone to even share it. His grace goes beyond our mistakes and failures and beyond our sins, beyond our iniquities, beyond anything we can ever do or even imaging we can do. I believe that if God can give me grace free of charge so much grace why can’t I give the same grace to the people around me. I believe that Gods grace is to be shared with everyone. I will even be bold and say it’s selfish not to share Gods love and Gods grace with the people around you.

3) We are doing it for God

By judging others, looking down on them, do you really know who you doing it too? Take look at this passage of scripture:

(37)Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? (38)When did we see you a stranger and invite you in or needing clothes and clothe you? (39)When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' (40)"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

Matthew 25:37-40

NIV

Reading at verse 40 alone which says; “The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me” by showing grace and love to the people around us we are doing it for God. I would even go as far as by showing love and grace to fellow brothers and sisters you are showing grace and love to God himself. What affect Gods children it affects God deeply. What we do to our brothers and sisters we are doing it to God.

We are Gods children and he loves us so much. Jesus died on the cross for everyone, not for the saved but for everyone.

I would like to take this opportunity and extend my apologies to anyone who I have judged and looked down on them. I pray to God that he may have mercy on me. I also pray that we would look at things a bit differently. I pray that we would show love to those around us despite who they are and what they have done.



I speak blessing over your life.
Love you all



The 1 abt ...... is OUTRAGEOUSLY DEVOTED TO GOD.

Hi guys


A month ago my life was changed. On the weekend of the 6Th to 9th of August, I went to Campus Harvest, just to brief you about it; Campus Harvest is when 15 universities from all of over the Southern African Region get together for a weekend just to Worship and encounter God. This was the first time attending this camp and I must say it rocked my world.


The camp theme was “DEVOUT-RAGEOUS”, which means Outrageously Devoted to GOD. Well my expectations for Campus Harvest were different, one of them was going to the camp wanting to encounter God, and I did, but in a way that I didn’t expect. Prior to the camp I could sense that there was something different about this camp, the theme even grabbed my attention.


This blog is about being outrageously devoted to God. Often we say we are devoted to God, we say it every day to people around us. I think there is more to being outrageously devoted to God than we think or even say. I would like to share with you there way God showed me what it means to be “DEVOUT-RAGEOUS


Let’s take a look at scripture that will guide us.

“Then Jesus said to his disciples, If any one desires to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”

Matthew 16:24

(Darby Translation)

1) Deny himself


To be Outrageously Devoted to GOD, we have to deny ourselves. Just by following Christ we need to let go and leave our old ways of reasoning’s. Often people become Christians for “safeties sake” meaning we view Christianity as a way to get by and a ticket to heaven, I am not exempting myself I did it too. When we deny ourselves means that we fully rely on God, we no longer exist but Christ exists in us as it says in Galatians 2: 20 . “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me”


2) Taking up our Cross and Follow him daily

“Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me”

Luke 9:23 (NIV)

This has been a struggle for most us. I struggle everyday to take up my Cross and follow him. The main problem with taking up our cross daily is that we have made Christianity a culture rather than a life style. In order for the Cross not to be a “burden” we need to make it lifestyle. One of the things that also make it difficult for us to take up our cross is our feelings. Feelings should not govern when we should take up our cross and when we should not take up our cross. Our head Pastor said this once “You don’t have to wake up one morning and feel that you are your father’s son”, really we are Gods children and that has nothing to do with our feelings. To be truly devoted to God we need to take up our cross daily, we need to be devoted to it daily and not when we feel like it.


3) It’s not going to be convenient


I believe that the gospel is not convenient; God is not convenient. Being devoted to God means that you will have to do things that are not convenient for you to do. For example attending a prayer meeting at the same time you were going to watch a soccer match or your favourite soapie etc. We need to remember that it was not convenient for Christ to go tithe cross for our sins, he didn’t want to go to the cross (Luke22:44), but he did it to please God. Being devoted to God is not going to be convenient.


4) It not about you but for his Glory

“So then, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you may do, do all for the honour and glory of God.”

1 Corinthians 10:31

(Amplified Bible)

“LORD, we show our trust in you by obeying your laws;

our heart’s desire is to glorify your name.”

Isaiah 26:8

NLT

Being Outrageously Devoted to GOD, means that in everything we do, it must bring God all the glory. It means that we need to do things for His glory. This has become my fundamental pillar, which in everything that I do it must be for his Glory. I know when you honour God with everything for his Glory he will reward you. We need to do things not for recognition or any special thanks, but for his glory and his glory alone. Being devoted to God, it must not for our gain but for his Glory and his Glory alone.



Next time when we say that we devoted to God we need to remember what it means to be devoted to God. With these few words I pray that God will reveal to you more than he has reveals to my life about being devoted to Him.


Feel free to comment below and feel free to even send us an email at usp.onge14@gmail. Please look out for a new page, I have asked a couple of guys to write their Campus Harvest encounter with God and we will be dedicating that page alone to that. We would like to extend our gratitude to Every Nation for organising Campus Harvest and may He continue to bless those guys.


Love you all
God Bless
The1 abt Team

The 1 abt ……….acting the part

Hi Guys and Girls

How often do we pray and ask God for spiritual growth, deliverance, peace and much more. We have all read the scripture “My brothers and sisters, what good is it if people claim they have faith but don't act like it? Can that kind of faith save them?” [James 2:14]. How often do we tell people the same scripture? How often do we say “Faith without action is dead?”

In the past year I have been seeking God for certain things and one of them is spiritual growth. Well the things is, when we pray we hope that things will happen magically, the sad part I had to face is that things do not happen like that. I watched the movie Ivan Almighty, one of the powerful lines that struck me was when Morgan Freeman (“god”) says: “When someone prays for patience do you think God gives them patience? No but he places them in a position where they are required to be patient”. Powerful Quote (paraphrase)! This applies to each and every one of us. So there are a few things we need to do before we have that ideal spiritual growth, peace, more love, and patience it’s a learning process. These are not step by step of getting what ever it is that you want it but are what God pointed out to me and I would like to share them with you all and pray they’ll make a difference in each and every one of you. There are a few things we need look at and they:

1) Our attitude

The best thing in life that I have discovered is that our attitudes play an important role in doing anything. You can cook the same meal a hundred times but if your attitude is bad towards preparing that meal do not expect it to be the best meal you have ever cooked, unless we change our attitude towards preparing that meal, then you will see( or more or less taste) the difference

We need to change our attitude towards certain things, for instance if you hate standing in a line at a shop and praying for patience. How about stop hating, and learn to use the time you are standing in line more efficiently like go through your emails in your phone ,speak to the person in front of you or something . The aim is to change the attitude about it.

If you are trusting for an academic breakthrough, how about you shift your mentality from failing but to achieving your goal. Remove the attitude you have with the subject at hand and you would be amazed at how you will see things differently. If you want to excel in your books, and the second best thing is to have a positive attitude towards your studies.

When we change our attitude towards anything (from bad to Good), we actually see the learning curve in it and how can actually excel in it.



2) Step out in faith

When we have fixed the attitude we need to deal with the reality of it all. One Pastor shared about the time after we say amen and the time God provides you with what you have prayed for , he mentions something worth sharing. He said we need to step out in faith. If you are praying for a house you need to look for furniture for that specific house. If you are trusting for a car, how about you start looking for insurance for that car. As ridiculous it may sound, this just means you are trusting God that he will pull through for you. In Hebrews 11:1, states that : “Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen: it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.”[NLT] We need to step out and believe that God has already granted what we have requested.



3) Start acting the part

I was praying for spiritual growth, but I just prayed, that is one of our problems we only just pray, sometimes we need to start acting the part. I think I am not clear , to start acting the part means , that when you pray for spiritual growth for example , you need needed to spend more time reading the word of God and pray and seek Gods guidance . if you want God to deliver you from any sinful desire, start to act the part, and stop the habit, you need to reach a point where you will hate the sin, If you want to stop lying you need to start acting the part by replacing lies with the truth, but if you still tell lies and pray to God that he deliver you from you lies and you still like them and still tell them, you are not acting the part.

If you want academic or career breakthrough you need to act the part, you need to show your desire for the breakthrough and you need to put in the hours in planning, studying, and executing plans, because you are acting the part.

We need to act the part ……………… Pray, change the attitude, step out in faith and start to act the part.

I pray to God that you have been blessed with this thought as much I have been blessed. You are welcomed to share how it impacts your life. Email me on usp.onge14@gmail.com

Keep well and God Bless

The 1 abt ......being in a position to be used by God

Hi guys


This blog, has been on my heart for some time, and I have been trusting God to help me start writing it. I pray that I will give it much justice. Let me remind you that all our blogs are not to condemn anyone but to help each other in this spiritual battle we face.

So how often do you disqualify yourself from being used by God? How often do we say to ourselves that I am too young to be used, or to pray for the sick to be healed, to speak in tongues, to have a prophetic word? These are questions asked by young people like me and you around the world.

With in Christian circles often you would find the guys or girls who have been looking at the elders in the church and say to themselves that “If the Pastor can’t pray in tongues, if he can’t speak prophetic on other peoples live who I am to have that gift. This should not be the case.

Speaking from experience, I have looked at my sins and said to my self that I can’t be used by God. We ask ourselves the above mentioned and questions and how we disqualify ourselves and the people around us in the process . The aim of this blog is to help people like me and people out there who feel that there are not worthy to be used by God.

Lets see examples of people who God used , and who He considered them QUALIFIED even if society didn’t believe so and how they played an instrument role in the History. One of the best examples would be Rehab , she was a prostitute , considered to be an outcast.. Irrespective of what she was she was God used her. She is the women who help the Joshua lead the Israelites to the promise land. Her role was so instrumental to a certain extent she helped shaped things today, you probably asking your self how? [Read Joshua 2]. Well Rehab was married to Solman, who was the father of Boaz, Boaz was a father of Obed, Obed was a father to Jesse, Jesse was a father to King David (famous Psalmist), the list Goes on, Read Matthew 1:1 -17, So imagine if Rehab didn’t help those two spies and how history would be different and we would see things differently. If God can use Rehad, what disqualifies you from being used by Him.

Another example, it would be Paul in the gospel. Paul before he had an encounter with God, his aim was to kill Christian, (Acts 9). Paul had an encounter with God, and if you read the Bible he wrote allot of the New Testament. If God can use Paul the killer, what disqualifies you from being used by God?

Do not disqualify yourself from being used by God, because God doesn’t care about what you have done and who you are. God wants to use you in his plans.

I would like to encourage you with the following scripture:

“Do not think less of you because you are young. Be example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live in, your love, your faith, and your purity. [1 Timothy 4:12 NLT]

In Jeremiah 1: 6-7 , prophet Jeremiah is rebuked by the Lord when he said that he was too young to be used. God sees no age when wants to use any one. Therefore do not disqualify yourself before he does.

We can help God , when he wants to use us how ? Take note of the following

1) Prepare your heart

God loves a willing heart, one pastor even said that God is a gentlemen and he will never force himself on your if you do not want to be used by Him.

Russell Frager said this: “God favourite place should be our heart”, God will not use you properly if you do let him fully invade your heart and make it his favourite place, and the one thing that God will not stand is sharing your heart with the devil and his demon. Imagine this The Queen of England, sent you a letter to visit your house, I know for a fact that you would clean your house upside down and make sure its spotless clean, Same thing applies here When the King of Kings wants to come and visit your heart why not prepare it for him so He can say “Your heart is my favourite Place”

2) Align your desires with Gods desires

One of the driving forces in our lives is our desires. God has great desires for the you and your future (see Jeremiah 29:11) . We need to lay our desire down and take up Gods desires for our lives. When we align our desires with Gods desire we have a clear idea of our role in His perfect plan. Most of us desire the right thing at the wrong time, that’s why we God needs you to align your desires with His. He will remove others, restore others and even Bring in New desires. We need to submit to Him to do His desire in us.

3) Listen to the instructions

I think this is the most difficult part, when you have to listen to God. I asked a question recently which is “How do you know God is speaking and it’s not your imagination?” well the answer to that question is not simple; I hope that I will be able to explain it to you. When God wants to speak to you He will speak to you and there will be not doubt. God will not only speak verbally but He can place idea, can place a word in your Heart, what you need to do is listen , pray about it , maybe seek more clarity or confirmation about it then you will see hear God speak about His instructions. God will not give instruction that you can not follow, he will not tell go and donate R1 billion, which you do have, but rather he will lay it in her your heart to donate your R20 in you bank account, or he will even say that you must pray for a stranger. You must just listen to the instruction that is all He wants from you

I pray that you are in a position to be used by God and you have seen how QUALIFIED you to be used by God. I pray to God that he may continue to Bless you. If you like to share you thoughts on this thought send me an email on usp.onge14@gmail.com.

Many Thanks to You God Bless.
the1abt. Team

The 1 abt ………an empty tin makes a lot of noise (Part 2)

Hi Friends

I have started a series (it’s my first, and I am excited about it). Looking at the previous blog I spoke about the people speaking harsh words, even to a point I share my personal experience. This time I want to show you what happens when the foot is on the other shoe. For years I thought I was a victim, but now I realize that in more instance I was caused pain to others. Read Ephesians 4:29 as it has been the theme scripture.

When I got to high school, I was a victim, but I found my victim as well. For a good two years I was mean, bitter, rude and ugly to someone who didn’t deserve my stupid attitude. I made it a point that I would make his life a living hell. I think I reached a point where I had to prepare myself, I would tell myself “ if he says this I would say this” , I always had a comeback, I had to have the last laugh every time.

On Fridays I would go to youth and praise God as if I didn’t do anything. I went to church and damn did I pray. But come Monday morning, it was me and my victim. I would pay attention to what he was saying and I would look for a gap where I can tease or humiliate him. There was a day where I went too far, I said something to and people didn’t like it. I was heavily criticized for it, by my friends. I went home and for a second I thought my friends betrayed me , but when I looked a bit closer two years later I realized that I was wrong. I decided if the opportunity came I would apologized.

We often excuses for my obnoxious for our behavior. And as a person you reached a point where you ask yourself if it was worth it. I decided to leave things, be me and forget what has happen to and things will be fine.

When I reached varsity (2009) , I had told myself that this was a fresh start for me, but I was not soon enough where I met someone I didn’t like and we didn’t get along , this time we hated each other to a point that it would really affect my day. I realized that she was actually smarter than me, that made things a bit worst. She would ask the most odd questions in class and I would seriously get irritated about it. The thing about these questions, they would seem very stupid, but turns out she was helping herself, she was one of the “A” students. And I didn’t like her. My relationship with God during the year was very good to a point I would hear him speaking in certain areas of my life. One morning, I heard God telling me to go up to her and apologize to her. I was stunned and I couldn’t believe what God was asking me to do, I said nothing to her except through my thoughts, so now I am told to apologize to her. So I walked up to and I apologized to her. As times went by I realized that there was nothing wrong with her but the Lord taught me a valuable lesson which I want to share with you.

The power of the tongue. How often do we say thing to people and they are not the kindest words available? I did that to two people in the space of 4 years. The reason I did, I can’t seem to explain it.

In Proverbs 18 : 21 reads : “Words kill, words give life; they're either poison or fruit—you choose.” [The Message]

Ones words could be doing two things namely:

1) Planting a seed

With our words we could be planting a seed in someone’s life. The seed can be a seed of lack of self esteem, or a lack of self image. Whichever the case. We will be held accountable for the seeds we plant in people’s life. We do not know what they get up to when they are alone, words sink deeper than we think and it hurts a lot. There is a huge possible that they will meet with other people and who will water the seed we have planted, by saying other harsh word, even worse than what we said. That will cause even more pain to that person. Ultimately it comes back to what I said.

2) Watering a seed.

Well my word can also be watering something that was already there. They are a lot of people out there who make it a point that they make other peoples live a living hell, and I was one of them. And they plant seeds. I planted a seed and I feel really bad about it , to a point that I regret because someone will come and add someone words to what I had said (watering a plant). When I say mean things I could be adding to what someone has already said before me.

So my advice to you is to be careful of the word you speak to someone because you do not know how it will affect their life in the long run. We need to establish the facts that people are influenced by the things we say and both in the negative and the positive way. I choose to speak life than death for someone, in that way you have made a positive impact.



Kind Blessing and God Bless!

The 1 abt ………an empty tin makes a lot of noise (Part 1)

This is one of the most personal topics from them all. Well how often do we hear people talk about us, how often do we hear rumors about ourselves. Well I had to deal with people talking about me for a while. I heard them all , “ Gay” , “think you better” , “teachers pet”, “spy” , and a lot of them. I am sure a lot of you went through the same thing but if you don’t, you were lucky, apparently its ever in the work place, so haven’t quite escaped it yet.

When I was in grade 8, it’s where it all started, new school, and new challenges. I was my own character and I wouldn’t change anything, that what I told myself. But the insults kept on coming, the more I tried to fight them, there they got intense. For two years it went on. Got involve in the church and that was the start of something that would ease the worst feeling any one can experience. I never spoke about it until one camp, spoke to someone, prayed with me. I began to keep my cool because one thing was for sure was that it wouldn’t last forever. The best quote that kept me from losing it was “sticks and stones may break my bones but words can’t harm me” (something of that nature). I think I told myself this every day. I started to develop an “I DON’T CARE” (IDC) attitude.

I got to high school, and guess what the same thing happened, at this point I had started to channel all the negativity to motivate me, which it helped for some time. I couldn’t take it anymore. It pushed me to the edge every time someone would say something. The thing about high school, they would tell you in your face, they don’t even hide it! That’s when things started to crumble. I knew that I was going to crash, and there was no way out. Someone said something profound, she said when people speak about you they are looking for a reaction or a response, just do not give them. Decided to try it. As much as they spoke, it still hurts, but I said nothing. My IDC attitude grew bigger and bigger each day. For some time it stopped. The sad part was that I had IDC attitude as a results of it all. This did affect my relationship with a lot of people especially my girl friend. I thank God for helping out on that one out.

People’s words hurt more that a knife on the skin. The thing about words they go deeper than a knife, words play over and over, words stay longer. During 2007 I was suicidal, more than anyone could know, because it was where I couldn’t take it anymore. Their words drove me to a point where I could have taken my life.

People will always have something to say about you, especially if you are different. People want to push to a point where you feel like you are no one, push you to a point you want to take your own life, I almost did. To ignore what people are saying is one of the most difficult things to do, merely because words are stronger than we think. I want to tell something, people will continue to speak until the day you die, and there is nothing we can do about it. What we can do is not to give the satisfaction that they want. You can either believe what they are saying or you can say my Heavenly father has plans for my life and he thinks highly of me and that what counts. I once heard that a dog will never bark at a car that is not in motion (moving), same thing if you are not progressing, people will not speak about you. When people start talking about you do this

1) Check if you are still in check with God and there is nothing wrong with what you are doing

2) Pray to God to deliver you from people. We need to understand that we can’t do it on our own; we need to let God be God. Remember some people will be dealt with God, let it be, and they will answer to God.

Before you say something, think about what if you where the person on the receiving ends. When they speak about someone, you can either choose not to take part or you can be part of the cause. If you choose to be part of the cause remember that you will account for what you are doing. I am not perfect, but one thing for sure I will never hurt someone there way I was hurt. I wouldn’t wish that on anyone, because there scares are there and they will take a lot of years to heal, one word can make the wound worse.

When I read this scripture, it was so perfect for this blog.

Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words are an encouragement to those hears them. Ephesians 4: 29

NLT



My fellow brother and sisters let us not be empty tins that make noise, rather lets fill ourselves with Joy and happiness for the people around us!



God Bless

The 1 abt …….. “We all have problems”

The blog is about to challenge a lot of people including myself. Let me re-assure you that these blogs are not about anyone but for everyone. One would argue and say that I am being judgmental, which is not the case. If you notice that I include myself, I am sharing my personal experience with the world in effort to help me or someone out there.

Back to the blog, I often find myself looking at people and I hear myself say to myself “look at him, he is happy and by the looks of things he has no problems.” Or I even say “some people have it easy, they have nothing to worry about.” To my foolishness I believed that for a long time, until the previous December holiday. It hit me that we all have problems. The thing about problems is that they are not the same.

We are quick to speak about our problems and how big they are, we never stop to think about other people and what problems they have or we spend too much time in other peoples business we to a point where we ignore our own big problems. During the holiday I listen and took part in a discussion of how one of our family members has problems, for days the discussion went on. It was only yesterday when my problem could not be ignored anymore, the thing about ignored problem they are not solved and they grow a bit bigger everyday. When I could not ignore anymore it like it was a pile of cards crashing. After they surfaced I attempted to fix cards not the cause of the crash. Our biggest mistake to fixing problem and not fixing the cause.

Whether you are rich or poor, black or white, South African or American, we have problems.

It time to end the lie we telling saying that people do not have a problem; it’s a BIG FAT LIE (BFL).

Now that we have established that part, it time we dealt with them now. Let’s look at how we can try to fix them:



1. Identify the cause: we need to find our cause. There is no point fixing the problem if we do not fix the leak. Before we put the blame on people we need to do introspection and find out where I went wrong. See what role you played in creating the cause. We are quick to blame our people for our own problem and we never want to take the blame for anything. After indentifying your part you need to identify all the other key players.

2. Be in the attitude of resolving the problem: it is very difficult to fix a problem that you do not want to be fixed. Remember when you are in the right attitude you can do anything, it’s the same with problem if you are not in the right attitude you will not be able to fix the problem. So get into the attitude, do not use this as an excuse not t fix problems. An attitude certainly will not take you 365 days to come right. The way you want to fix this problem will be determined by you attitude and you willingness to fix the problem.

3. Speak to the right people: who are you speaking to about your problem? If you are not speaking to the right people then you are wasting your time. It is good to seek personal advice from people, do not get me wrong but we do that too much. We tell everyone our problem except the people who are the cause. I think we do that so that we will feel better or we think that by telling everyone it will go away. If the problem involves your mother, speak to you mother about it. If you are scared, then you can use the proper channel.

4. Too many cooks spoiled the broth: we have heard that say a lot of time before. Always try by all means to limit the number of people involved. In that way you are able to account for little. Some problems are made worst by the number of people involved, some people are rather offended by the people involved which the escalate the problem. Try to involve few people. We black people have a tendency of involving the whole family( I mean the whole family from Uncle to Aunts in far away land)

5. Speak with your mind and heart but do not be too emotional: When given the opportunity to speak, speak your mind and heart but keep your emotions. Speak everything, problem re-occur simple because there were certain information that was not discussed or spoken as a result the problem keeps coming back, so when given the platform, speak everything. Our emotions often prevent us from speaking a lot of things, so try not to speak when you’re angry, because you will end up saying something you do not mean, and end up escalating the problem.

6. Forgive and forget: easy said than done right? This is one of the things I struggle with the most and I pray to God that he may help me to forgive and forget. If you have really solved the problem it shows when you have forgiven and forgotten. This means that, you should not bring up the past in future conversations or arguments that will cause a major set back and cause an even bigger problem.

With this said I think it’s also best to start taking your problems to God first and seek his advice. In Matthew 11:28: Then Jesus said, “Come to me all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest……….” NLT. Jesus wants to carry our problems in his arms, let him do that! If you not let him, you are taking away one of his duties of being Lord of ALL. Remember that there is no problem bigger than God and nothing comes to him by surprise even your problem even mine. I hope I Have tried to help you as much as I have helped myself. All kind Blessing to you!

God Bless

The 1 abt……“friends”

Well this is one of the most controversial topic ever, it has been discussed over and over again to a point we (teens) do not listen anymore! We have has heard them all, from “Friends are bad for you” to “those are bad friends”. Honestly enough our parents have been through a lot, that is explainable, but sometimes okay most of the times they miss the mark. The trick about friends that you have to learn about picking them so that if you pick the wrong one, you learn from it. That is my primary objective about choosing the one!



I consider myself one of the luckiest people, because I can make friends easy with some people. I will be honest making friends with females is easy than making friends with other males ( That’s me) , I’ve grown up around girls , I am the only male my age, others are too old others are too young. But never the less I try to make friends. December 2008, I prayed to God to help with friends I told him that I have a problem with making friends. When I got to P.E (Read the previous blog), God placed a lot of guys around me. It was then an opportunity for me to making friends and yes they were males. The thing about God he placed both the Good people and the Bad; this was an opportunity for me to see what is Good for me and what is not.

The people who you call friend, are they your friends? Often we say we have friends, but we will also that we are lonely, how is that possible if we have friends? We have been talking about a friend let define friend. I will define what a friend to me is and you can email me your definition of friend (usp.onge14@gmail.com). A friend is some one you get to now on a personal basis, someone who you can count on. He or she will let you down, but it rarely happens and if it happens its beyond his or her control (not every time). A FRIEND is that person who will tell you where to get off when needed, he or she will tell when I mess up and will encourage me when I need to. A friend is some who will pray who will put my interest first than his or hers. A friend is there to let me make the mistake, has warned me before and is there to suffer with me when I have burnt myself. A friend will make me laugh when I do not want to even if it hurts. They will listen to me when I am not making sense. They will understand my craziness in the midst of it all. Well that my definition. This will not apply to everyone, because we are not the same. We all have our definition of friends, but our (or my mistake) we are quick to look for people who will be our friends. How often do you hear people say they want to be friends to some? We need to be friends before people can be our friend.



Like it or not friends will always influence us, whether it big as peer pressure or as small as Character. If you do not believe me, ask yourself this: how often do I do things because my friends are doing it ( can be good or bad) or better yet how often do you say something your friend has said? If your friends are not influencing you, then you should ask yourself if they are doing their job.

You must be confused; well I do not blame you. I confuse myself more often than you think! Here are some points you can take with you:

1) Be a friend before you have your friend: People want to know that they can be comfortable with you. They also want to now that they can trust you. By being you and being the friend you want them to be it becomes very easy for them to be the friend they need.

2) Choose your own friends: Often enough we are told that some people are bad for us or something. God will place a lot of people around you. It is then up to you to choose them. The are bad people out there, and some are good. Remember Bad Company spoils good character (scripture).

3) Be ready to be influenced: Friends are they to help you out and you are there to help them out. Do not deprive yourself from learning from other people. You learn every day and by spending time with friends you learn a lot from other people and their character. People also learn from you. Do not compromise yourself in the process. A friend wills not what is good for you but you know better. You know what’s best for you! You will be responsible for what you choose, always keep that in mind.

There is not art to choose friends. Its like taking an apple from a tree, it may look pretty from the outside but it taste really terrible, or even look so terrible and taste so sweet. There are a lot of people who need a chance, they have been judge so much so many time. I am guilty of judging people. I admit I have selected certain individual to be my friend, because of who they are like I choose not to be friends with people that are not save at one point in my life. I can make such decision on friends. As from now on I choose friends because I have the opportunity to make an impact in someone’s life. What important to me is this:

• To be a friend to some one whom I can get to now personally.

• Someone who you can count on me.

• Someone I will try not to let him or her down

• I want to be a FRIEND that will be able tell you where to get off when needed,

• Some who I can honestly when she or he has messed up with out judging

• Some I can encourage when they need to be.

• Some I can pray with

• Some I can put his or her interest first then mine...

• Some one I can let make his or her mistakes, even if I gave my advice and I will be there pick up the pieces together.

• I want to be a friend that will make you laugh when you need to or even if it hurts.

• I want to listen to you even if it does not make sense.

• I will understand your craziness in the midst of it all.



This is my c.v for being a friend will you let me ? I promise not to fail you.