Glo, Author at 1Africa | Page 2 of 27

Step Out In Faith

Glo

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October 21, 2015

Often when we are in the midst of trials and tragedies in our lives, we struggle on our own power, rowing our boat frantically in the river of our fears. It may be smooth sailing for a while, and then suddenly a storm comes. The boss informs you that you no longer have a job, your spouse files for divorce, someone close to you dies, or the doctor says those dreaded words, “You have cancer.”

Jesus appeared to His disciples when they were at sea in a storm. Because He was walking on water, Peter said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to walk in the water with You.” He did, and Peter stepped out of the boat in faith. He was doing okay as long as he focused on Jesus. But suddenly, he thought about what he was doing and looked at the darkness of the sea. Amidst the howling winds, he was overcome with fear and began to sink. At the last moment, he cried out to Jesus to save him, and Jesus did.

Taking his eyes off Jesus and focusing on the dangers of the storm overwhelmed Peter. But God is bigger than any storm. Focus on Him in faith and He’ll give you the strength to get through the storms of life victoriously.

Source: rightfromtheheart.org

God Hears Your Prayer

Glo

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October 21, 2015

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Do you believe in prayer? I find that praying is something that comes naturally to humans. Regardless of who you pray to, there is something in us all that leads us to elevate our hearts, especially in times of difficulties, to someone we perceive to be “higher” than us and able to come through for us when we feel hopeless.

I have seen the art of prayer being exercised even in places where people are less likely to pray – like action movies! You would see a character who’s had it all figured out all along in the plot , bowing his/her head and murmuring a word or two, then doing the cross sign when danger is imminent. We all need prayer.

But who do you pray to? And how do you know your prayers are being heard?

We at 1Africa, believe in praying to a God who not only is real but also hears and answers prayers. We are confident of this because He gave us a promise through His word in the Bible:

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him – 1 John 5:14-15

What is it that you are praying for? Know this: God hears you. His heart is filled with love for you and He wants to give you what is best for you. There is, however, something you need to do – you need to trust Him. You need to know the God to whom you are praying. Read the Bible, get to know Him better, have faith in Him and exude confidence that you are praying to the Most High God who is alive.

The Bible tells us that the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective (James 5: 16). There is no situation that can remain unchanged when prayer is done in sincerity and faith. If you are sick, if you are in pain, trust God for healing. If you would like to see your life changed, couple your efforts with a continuous life of prayer and see God guide your steps to a stable and fulfilled life.

The good thing about prayer is that you don’t have to have experience for God to hear you. You can start today! Make a simple prayer in sincerity and let your life be transformed. If you’d like to know more, click on the banner below.

Oscar Pistorius Released From Prison

Glo

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October 20, 2015

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If you’re one to keep up with current affairs, you may remember the tragic event which made news headlines the world over in February 2013 – that of a renowned Olympian, Oscar Pistorius who shot and killed his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, in the early hours of Valentine’s day in 2013.

During the trial, Pistorius pleaded not guilty to charges of murder and expressed that it was all a terrible accident as he had mistaken Reeva for an intruder. On 21 October 2014, Pistorius was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to 5 years in prison. Fast-forward to this morning, we woke up to the news that Oscar Pistorius has been released from jail. Courtesy of news24, here’s the latest news surrounding his release:

Pretoria – Paralympian Oscar Pistorius was released from prison under correctional supervision on Monday night, the Department of Correctional Services said.

“The handling of the actual placement is an operational matter of the local management, and how they handle it is their prerogative,” spokesperson Manelisi Wolela said.

“They carry it out in the best interest of all parties concerned, the victims, the offender and the Department of Correctional Services.”

It had been expected that Pistorius would only leave the Kgosi Mampuru II prison in Pretoria on Tuesday.

Pistorius’s lawyer Brian Webber told The Citizen newspaper that his client was home just after 22:00 on Monday.

“Yes it is true… he is at home already,” Webber was quoted as saying.

This was after the correctional services department announced last week that he would be placed under correctional supervision on October 20..

On October 21 last year, Pistorius was sentenced to five years for shooting his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp dead on Valentine’s Day in 2013.

He fired four shots through the locked door of the toilet in his Pretoria home, apparently thinking an intruder was hiding behind it.

This tragedy in which a beautiful young woman lost her life continues to spark debates around the world. Has Oscar Pistorius been released too soon? Has Justice really been served in this matter? What about Reeva’s family in all this? So many questions remain unanswered. The saddest thing is that we will never truly know exactly what happened that morning when gunshots were fired. These are moments in which people wish they could take the law in their own hands. But the major lessons for us all in this should be:

To examine our thoughts and weigh our actions before we carry them out because there are things we cannot undo.
To constantly remind ourselves that the choices we make and actions we pose have consequences that affect many other people. It’s never just about us.
Thrive to become better people to ourselves, to others and in society.
Don’t live in solo mode. Have people you are accountable to and also keep others accountable for their actions. This will protect you from many things.

It doesn’t have to take a tragic situation for us to realise that left to ourselves, a human being can be a danger to himself or herself, and to others. We constantly need help, wisdom, support and the best of these three things mentioned come from God. If you’d like to know, click on the banner below.

You Are Not Ordinary

Culture

Glo

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October 19, 2015

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It is a natural and healthy thing to be our own critics. But there are those who take self – criticizing to another level, I’m one of them! On many occasions I’ve proven to be my own worst critic, I’ve had a pattern of judging myself harshly. Anybody like me out there? It’s sometimes been about the way I look, or a task I carried out which by my own judgement was not good enough, though results were positive. At times, I would beat myself up because someone didn’t approve of me and I would drown in my thoughts, wishing I had made this or that extra effort to be noticed.

Someone said: “The first step to being unhappy in life is to try to please everyone”, and they are right!
I believe we would deal with our failures better if we start by settling this in our minds:

No matter how we put our best self on, no matter our efforts, not everyone will find us attractive, or interesting; not everyone will see value in us. That’s fact! So living life trying to please every person we meet is a terrible waste of time.

Getting our own approval is something we cannot do without. If you want to succeed in life, start by believing in yourself, and believing that failure doesn’t define who you are.

A man cannot be comfortable without his own approval – Mark Twain

Issues of self-esteem and confidence are more pronounced in some than they are in others. As you read this article, you may be struggling to see value in your life, yet you desperately want to. Perhaps all you’ve thought of yourself is nothing more than an ordinary person, perhaps you’re one who endlessly judges your own appearance, your abilities to achieve something significant. Begin to see and think differently about yourself, because it all starts in the mind. The moment perspective changes, your actions will begin to change too.

If you’d like to see value in who you are, and adopt a more positive and confident mind-set about yourself, Click on the banner below.

How To Be More Positive

Glo

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October 16, 2015

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When life gets too much many of us are left feeling negative and wondering if we are naturally pessimistic. If you worry about not thinking positively you are certainly not alone. Identifying that you are prone to looking at your life negatively is the first step in letting go and finding a much happier and more positive version of yourself.

We live in a frantic modern world where negative thinking is extremely common yet can make you feel very alone. Whilst we’re trying to achieve more and more in a fast-paced and changing world, many of us are left feeling far from optimistic. It’s easy to imagine the worst case scenario or to feel that anything less than perfect is a failure. It’s common to feel an excessive need for approval or as if dwelling on pain will achieve something.

However, it is possible to notice your thought patterns and change your attitude. Repeated studies have found that optimists are more popular, have better relationships and even live longer. The more optimistic you are, the better your life will be.

Happiness expert Paul Dolan shares his top tips on how to feel more upbeat and transform yourself into a positive thinker

1. When the worst happens…

You can handle whatever happens better than you think. When we worry over worst-case scenarios and ‘what ifs’ we overlook a key aspect of human nature – our inbuilt survival instinct. You do have an innate ability to adapt to whatever life throws at you so don’t forget that and believe in yourself.

When we imagine the worst happening we think we’ll hit rock bottom and stay there forever. In fact we’ll feel terrible for a while, adapt and then find answers and ways to move forward. You are stronger than you know.

2. Money doesn’t bring happiness…

Many of us are pessimistic because of a gloomy financial outlook but if happiness is your goal you need less money than you think. Think of it like eating cake – the first slice makes you feel great. The second is an added bonus. An infinite amount of slices will not carry the hit.

Try to pay more attention to the simple things that tend to make us happier – social contact, spending time with people you like and love and paying attention to the moment.

3. We’re so connected…

A huge source of negative thinking is feelings of loneliness but thanks to modern technology its never been easier to stay in touch. If you are feeling isolated or alone, you don’t need to let it defeat you.

Take the next step to connect, whether that means becoming more adept with the technology you have or getting a smartphone. You can find like-minded people, access support or share your ideas, interests and photographs. Using technology as a facilitator of personal contact, not a substitute, will help you think more positively.

4. Healthy body, healthy mind…

You may want to reach for the chocolate to comfort yourself in moments of negativity. When friends juiced kale for breakfast, you opted for coffee and buttered toast. But whatever your age, it isn’t too late to start a healthier lifestyle.

Whether it’s adding some more veg into your diet or taking up a new exercise routine, healthy eating and any increase in physical activity will offset mental decline and protect against heart disease and cancers whilst making you feel much happier.

5. Learn from your setbacks…

Each setback is a learning opportunity and if you can embrace this and conquer your fear of failure then you’ll have every reason for optimism.

It’s natural in life for things not to work out as planned but if you can turn, ‘it’s my fault, I’m giving up’ into ‘it wasn’t my fault, I’ll learn from it and try again’ then you will be a much happier person. Seeing failure as a step in the right direction puts everyone on the path to success.

6. Understand your emotions…

We instinctively feel negative if we experience certain related emotions such as guilt, anger or anxiety, when we in fact should recognize these as important human feelings that can be a force for good. Guilt can notify us when we harm others – it’s there to tell us we could and should do better. Anger can fuel your motivation to address a situation. Anxiety is normal – and essential. It’s an early warning signal alerting us to situations with risks to consider.

credits : womanandhome.com

Counterfeit Marriage

Glo

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October 16, 2015

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One of the saddest statements I’ve heard time and again when a person loses their spouse is, “I feel like I’ve lost a part of me.” And they truly have.

Because what God has designed for marriage is one-flesh bonding – emotionally; one- flesh bonding – relationally; one-flesh bonding – spiritually, and one-flesh bonding – physically. And for those of you who are wondering, there is no doubt that sexual intercourse is the ultimate symbol of the one-flesh relationship that God has in mind for the husband and wife in marriage.

Sex is a wonderful gift. This false idea that sex originated after the fall of man is nonsense! God gave sex as a gift to man and woman to be enjoyed in the context of committed love, but only in marriage. Adam and Eve enjoyed the mutual pleasure of “the one flesh” relationship long before they fell into sin, and God was very pleased. After all, sex is His idea.

Sadly, that one-flesh relationship has been counterfeited over and over by mankind. How is it counterfeited? Let’s take a look at a few ways:

It is counterfeited by pre-marital sex. Not only is it wrong, there’s no lifetime commitment that gives meaning to the one-flesh relationship.

It is counterfeited by adultery. Adultery puts a dagger into the heart of a marriage. It so destroys trust that it’s often very hard for a spouse to get over it.

It is counterfeited by homosexuality and same-sex marriage. Sadly, the Christian community hasn’t done much to help the situation. Looking at people in the church, the gay rights advocates see either pro-gay clergy saying the practice of homosexuality is not a sin, but good; or they see the self-righteous hypocrisy found in the Christian church and are thinking, “Are you kidding me? With all the divorce and adultery in your churches? Are you kidding me?” Obviously these sins are not what God had in mind for marriage.

It is counterfeited by pornography. The damage that pornography in its many forms has brought to marriages and relationships between men and women is difficult to number. We would be saddened if we had real numbers on how many men and women are addicted to pornography, or are dabbling in it regularly, inside and outside the church.

There are more ways to counterfeit marriage, of course, but just looking at these few, the mindset that embraces them is self-gratification, and that was never part of God’s plan. The one-flesh relationship between one man and one woman in marriage…THAT was God’s plan.

There is more we would like to share with you regarding relationships and one pure love that will lead you to a fulfilled life. If you’d like to know more, click on the banner below.

source : rightfromtheheart.org

How The Pink Ribbon Became the Symbol for Breast Cancer Awareness

Glo

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October 15, 2015

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How The Pink Ribbon Became the Symbol for Breast Cancer Awareness

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and for as long as we can remember, the Pink Ribbon has been the official global symbol for Breast Cancer awareness, but the story of how the two came to be comes with its fair share of controversy.

The first time a pink ribbon was used in relation to Breast Cancer awareness was in 1991 at the Suzan G Breast Cancer Race for a Cure in New York City. The New York Times had just declared 1991 the year of ribbons because of its popularity with charity organisations. Bright pink ribbons were handed out to all participants in the race. However, this wasn’t the catalyst for the pink ribbon’s global symbolism of Breast Cancer Awareness.

In 1992, American lifestyle magazine Self, in partnership with Cosmetics giant Estee Lauder- whose Senior Vice President is a breast cancer survivor-made the decision to use a peach ribbon for its October Breast Cancer Awareness issue. Estee Lauder would get the peach ribbon in the hands of as many women as possible via their cosmetics counters all across the country.

However, there was one problem: A 68 year old woman called Charlotte Haley, who had watched multiple family members suffer from Breast Cancer, was already using a peach colored ribbon to raise awareness about the disease. Her ribbons were handmade and every set of five ribbons came with a card stating,

‘The National Cancer Institute annual budget is $1.8b, only 5% goes to cancer prevention. Help us wake up our legislators and America by wearing this ribbon.’

Her grassroots initiative was not only gaining momentum, but receiving national coverage in the US.

When Self found out about Charlotte Haley, they contacted her for a partnership but she turned them down because she believed their interest was too commercial.

A consultation with lawyers saw Self and Estee Lauder change their ribbon colour from peach to pink.

In 1992, 1.5 million ribbons were handed out at Estee Lauder makeup counters. Each ribbon came with a card containing a proper description of a Breast Cancer exam, as well as 200,000 pink ribbon petitions calling upon the Whitehouse to fight for increased funding for cancer research and prevention.

The pink ribbon was well on it’s way to global symbol status for breast cancer awareness, and by the following of year, it’s popularity had grown even bigger while Charlotte Haley’s peach ribbon disappeared altogether.

But not everyone is a fan of the pink ribbon.

Breast cancer is the most common kind of cancer among women and with almost 1.7 million new cases diagnosed world wide in 2012, many from the anti-Pink Ribbon section believe that it is not an effective tool for raising awareness about the deadly disease,

‘There is value to awareness but awareness of what and to what end? We need changes in the direction the research is going, we need access to care –beyond mammograms- we need to know what’s causing the disease and we need a cure. The pink ribbon is not indicative of any of that,’ said Barbra Brenner, ED of Breast Cancer Action in San Francisco.

Companies have also been accused of exploiting the pink ribbon for profit gains.

While complaints against the Pink Ribbon are valid, there is no denying that its contributions have been significant: Avon, for example, has collected 25 million dollars just from breast cancer and pink ribbon related merchandise and is the number one funder of community based non- profit breast cancer initiatives, not to mention countless other companies and organisations that donate money to cancer organisations and research every year.

It is for this reason that more women have become aware of the disease and the necessary steps that need to be taken to minimize the risk of getting it for themselves.

Source: africanwomanmagazine.net

God Can Do Something Powerful In Your Life!

Glo

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October 15, 2015

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God Can Do Something Powerful In Your Life!

Do you feel as though everyone else seems to have it all together except you? Are you struggling with a life-crisis caused by a personal character flaw, indiscretion, or misstep? Let me assure you that you’re not alone.

There is a powerful story in the Bible, of a man called Moses (you can find his story in Exodus 2 and 3). Consider the mess Moses got himself into. At age 39, Moses was at the apex of society, of status, of wealth, of educational pedigree, as the adopted son of the most prominent man in the world – Pharaoh. He was at the pinnacle of all society. And then he murdered an Egyptian he saw beating a slave. He buried the body and thought he had gotten away with it. But Moses was exposed the next day and had to flee for his life in the wilderness. Moses went from high society to desert nomad in just one day. And you’re talking about a drastic change in everything about his life.

Moses probably felt like his life was over and thought there was no chance for him ever again doing anything of significance. But, even though what Moses did was evil and wrong, God did not abandon him. God took Moses’ evil and turned it into a means for good by preparing him for the challenge of his life – calling on Pharaoh to release all the Hebrew slaves.

Perhaps you can relate to what Moses went through. No matter how bad your fall or how serious your character flaw or how much difficulty you face in life – don’t give up. Turn to the Lord with trust and let God do something powerful in your life. Let God develop all the Godly attributes that He wants you to have in your life. Just like He did for Moses, God still has great plans for your life!

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise. – Psalm 51:17

If you’d like to embrace this truth and begin to live with the hope that things can and will get better for you, click on the banner below.

Content credits: rightfromtheheart.org

5 Habits People with Clear Skin Have

Glo

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October 14, 2015

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0By now, we know that crossing the nineteen age mark does not automatically a clear skin make. Studies have shown that 20% of adults have acne so this particular battle is being fought by quiet a number of people. However, adopting these habits have been proven to improve the skin:

Water

Drinking water or eating it-whatever rocks your boat-is non-negotiable for good and hydrated skin. A poor water drinking habit leads to a dry, tight and flaky skin, has less resistance and is prone to wrinkles. The recommended amount is at least eight glasses per day.

Exercises

Regular exercise, in the form of walking , stretching, swimming and yoga, are a great way to get good skin. Exercise improves circulation, boosts oxygenation and stimulates the lymphatic flow.

Right Diet

Eschew processed foods, chemical colours and flavours and sugars. Excess oil from these foods lead to inflammation of sebaceous glands, blockage of pores and breakouts.

Massage

Regular massages lead to refreshment of the skin and body, and improve skin tone and texture, minimise cellulite and relieve allergies.

Washing the Face

This should be done at least twice everyday. The face wash before bed is especially important because it removes dirt and pollutants that have gathered on the skin the whole day.

Source: africanwomanmagazine.net

Finding Perspective In Difficult Times

Glo

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October 14, 2015

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One of the challenges often faced when life throws curve balls at us is the feeling of inadequacy.

Feeling I’m not good enough , I made wrong choices or perhaps I’m … a failure, are feelings I have had to fight hard to shake off when days are blue, and simply remind myself that it is a part of life to hurt, and no one is immune to that.

How do you deal with feelings of inadequacy?

First of all, remind yourself that there is no amount of preparation, hard work , good behavior that can exempt you from days where things get out of your control and you feel helpless.

If it was possible to succeed at life without encountering any bumps and setbacks, life would be a fairy tale. But whenever I read a book, an article or hear the story of a successful person, there has always been a season of pain, uncertainty or failure that they had to overcome. Even in movies, every good filmmaker knows that no story is great without a plot where there is adversity to overcome.

So the place to begin, if you are going through turmoil with your health, in your finances, at work or in your relationships is to get your thoughts in perspective. This is highly important because your thoughts will determine your attitude and your actions.

One phenomenal French speaker , Yvan Castanou once said, no thought that we allow in our head goes to waste. Every thought plays an active role in who we turn out to be.
Though things are not the way you expected them be right now, never entertain thoughts that say you are a failure, because you are not ! Thinking this way will have a negative toll on your attitude, energy and productivity.

Guard your mind with jealousy, let nothing come between you and your dream to sit in parliament, to build the next global media center or whatever your dream is.
Be brave enough to admit you have made a mistake when you make one, and learn from it. But when it comes to the picture you have of yourself, keep it clean, strong and let no difficulty of life taint it.

If you’d like to regain perspective in life and see yourself as a unique being with a unique set of abilities to rise above average and impact society, click on the banner below.

Glo

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