The Biggest Mistake Nigerians Will Make. (Speak Out)

So, our much anticipated election is happening tomorrow.

Fighting Negative Addictions

In addition to what we learned at our youth forum on Tuesday (24th march 2015), I have something important to share. From time to time, everyone struggles to overcome bad habits and addictions. So I want to review some principles which i stumbled upon and i believe will really help us fight negative addictions. I hope we remember these things.

It's Your Choice
God has given us a free will. We choose whether to subject ourselves to bad habits and addictions (Rom. 6:16-18).
Therefore, we have the power to control ourselves and avoid sinful behaviors, and thus break bad habits and addictions.
Difference Between Habit And Addiction
Simply stated, an "addiction is a loss of control and freedom, while a habit is something that is donned or assumed, perhaps often, but that can nevertheless be removed if desired" (Britannica.com).
Anything that has control over us is an addiction. For example: If you must have coffee to function, it is an addiction; but if you freely choose to drink coffee every day, it is a habit.

All Addiction is Sinful
Sinful behaviors are sinful, whether or not they're an addiction. For example: Illegal drug use and pornography are sinful, whether they're addictions or not.
Lawful behaviors, on the other hand, can become sinful in certain circumstances. One of those circumstances is addiction. If a lawful behavior becomes an addiction, then it is a sin.
Paul says, "All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything" (1 Cor. 6:12).
Stay Away From Sinful Behaviors
If we have a godly attitude, we will stay away from sin. Thus, we'll never involve ourselves in sinful behaviors that are highly addictive.
Paul sets forth this idea in these Scriptures:
1 Th. 5:21-22 "But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil."
Rom. 12:9 "Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good."
1 Cor. 15:33 "Do not be deceived: Bad company corrupts good morals."
If we abstain from everything remotely connected with sin, abhorring even the thought of it, we'll never become addicted to sinful behaviors.
For example: If you never take a drink of alcohol, you'll never become an alcoholic. If you never look at pornography, you'll never become addicted to pornography.
Exercise Self-Control
To avoid and overcome bad habits and addictions, we must exercise self-control.
Jesus teaches us to deny ourselves, and take up our cross and follow Him (Matt. 16:24). To do this, we must control our mind, by which we control our bodies. He says, "For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornication, thefts, false witness, slanders" (Matt. 15:19).
Paul expresses these thoughts with an athletic metaphor, saying, "Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable" (1 Cor. 9:24-25).
Like an athlete, we must exercise self-control in all things. If we do, we'll control our minds, which controls our bodies, and overcome bad habits and addictions.

Walk By The Spirit
If we walk by the Spirit, we'll avoid and overcome bad habits and addictions. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal. 5:22). Since we walk by the Spirit, we exercise control over sin, bad habits, and addictions.
We walk by the Spirit because we belong to Christ, having crucified the flesh with its passions and desires (Gal. 5:24). We don't engage in bad habits and addictions because Christ doesn't engage in sin.
We've been crucified with Christ, who lives in us; and the life which we now live in the flesh we live by faith in the Son of God, who loved us and gave Himself up for us (Gal. 2:20).
The Power of God in Our Lives
Walking by the Spirit, God's empowers us to avoid and overcome bad habits and addictions.
We're empowered by God's word and prayer.
Rom. 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. . . ."
1 Th. 2:13 ". . . the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe."
1 Pet. 3:12 "For the eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous, and His ears attend to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."

Encouragement
Hosea 14:4 says " I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him." God acknowledges that we are humans and we tend to fall hence, Romans 5:8 says ...while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. We have to focus on the cross for our salvation comes from there. We must desire to submit to the will of Jesus Christ, by doing so we will tap into the healing already provided for us more than 2000 years ago.

Summary
As Christians, we have the ability to control our bodies with our minds, empowered by God's word and blessed with answered prayers.
Avoiding and overcoming bad habits and addictions isn't a question of ability, it's a question of desire

HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW YOUR YOUTH GROUP?

This article is a must-read for every member of the Christian Youth Crusaders. It explains everything this great youth group stands for and it encourages members to believe that being a member of CYC is part of Gods plan their lives.

A Letter From The President Of The Christian Youth Crusaders.

Greetings fellow Crusaders!
Thank you for showing up at our last meeting that held on the 8th of March, 2015. That was the first official meeting for the year and it was a blessing. GOD bless you.

There was something I kept repeating at the meeting and I’m saying it here. I NEED ALL OF YOU whose heart has the interest of CYC. God is doing amazing things this year for the youths and we want to be part of the plan. I am excited and can’t wait for us to manifest in the capacity God has given us. My heart is glad and knowing we are together will take us places unimaginable. TEAM – Together Everybody Achieves More is the rule for us this year. God will surely get the glory in everything we do as a TEAM. Glory!!!

I quite understand that after spending much time after service most of us couldn’t stay till the end. And it is understandable. We try to squeeze so much information to us in a very short time thus prolonging the meeting. God help us. We will do better, that’s why I need you. Yes you reading this letter.

The overall plan this year is to engage the youths for Christ sake and it would be awesome. So much love will be made manifest all around us. I’m excited and confident that God is with us. God does his thing irrespective of how we feel because He knows us better than we do, so that’s why we should trust Him.

Here are the things to expect this year

-          Leadership Programmes

-          Community development programmes – The Roundabout Beautification Project. We are planning on developing and making the roundabout close to the church beautiful and a site to behold, isn’t that great? That would bring us together. We would fix a time and it would be communicated accordingly. Of course we would need funds but we are confident that God will provide it through us and everyone that God lays in his/her heart to be a part of the project. And we already have partnership for the project. That would be communicated too.

-          May 29th Programme and October 1st programmes. Theme, venue and time will be communicated too.

-          This year, the volunteering idea would be key for everyone. Meaning that EVERYBODY is a part of EVERYTHING we would do this year.

-          Youth discussions that happen every month asides the Bible study that takes place on the Saturday that precedes the 2nd Sunday of that month.

-          Sanitation projects (Bob-a-job) which will involve cleaning houses of members on chosen Saturday dates. We might have a team of people responsible for that.

-          Ideas from YOU are welcome. Not just suggesting ideas for the executives but making yourself available to drive the idea to see that it comes to pass. Because what’s the point of suggesting if you do not see it happen.

-          Collaboration with other youth groups and organizations.

This and many more would happen this year.

Now to the theme of the year, we believe that if we’re Christians and Youths, then Christ must be glorified through everything we do. Hence our theme for the year is ABIDING IN CHRIST which God led us to choose from the book of John chapter 15. You can read it through but summarizing it here, God’s presence is inside of you, that’s why you can read this. God lives in All of US and it should be evident. God has sworn to bless, strengthen and never leave us. God is too awesome and that’s not even enough to quantify how much HE cares for us.

YOU all are amazing people and have something to offer, Can we work together to see that JESUS be glorified in all that we do?

Answer this question and that would determine your support level to the group. You might be in school, or not having enough time but we sure need you everywhere you are.

Thank You.

Okenwa Igbokwe

Twitter: @okenwaigbokwe

Instagram: @okenwaigbokwe

BBM: 7F0A7A6A

Number: 08069258807

THE POWER OF MAKE UP (HAPPY INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY)

Good Morning & Welcome to a New Week.

As we celebrate women internationally, I cannot but share a lesson that I have learnt from the art of Make-Up.