₦airaland Forum

BIBLICAL PERCEPTION TOWARDS THE PHRASE: PRESSING ON.

In my previous article; PRESSING ON. I did an overview and a good justice to the topic.

For the sake of clarity,we shall be considering the lifestyle and the admonishment from the Apostle Paul and also from the Bible to further buttress and establish more facts on either to press on or to choose not to press on.

Is life really all about struggle?


Prov.29:18 “where there is no vision, the people perish”.
Someone once said and I rephrase “The size of our dream will determine the size of our life.

No matter how old we are or where we find ourselves, when memories exceed our dreams, life is over for
us. We need to have a picture of a finishing line, to provide us with the direction and impetus.

If knowing God is one of my goals,
then I may want to plan my time to read through the New Testaments and finish it in one year. If I want to nourish my spiritual life, then I may want to read a Christian book a year.
You see, I’m encouraged by Apostle Paul undying passion for the Lord.
He says in phil.3:12, “Not as though I had already attained,either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
Paul was never satisfied with where he was. He was still seeking to
grow and improve.
There is more to achieve. He wanted to do more for Christ.

He says in phil.3:14, I press toward the mark for the prize of
the high calling of God in Christ.
Paul had achieved a great deal, yet he claimed he hasn’t known Him.
Paul never permitted himself to be satisfied with his spiritual attainments.

Permit me to ask few rhetorical questions.

“Are you contended with where you are?
Very satisfied with what you have achieved for Christ?
What have you been doing for eternity sake”?
Develop dissatisfaction for spiritual things and be devoted to the
heavenly cause. Got confused with my choice of words? Don’t be This is actually what I meant ; focus more on your spiritual growth and try not to lose sight of your ultimate goal (which is, heaven). Don’t just be contented with the little gifts you have spiritually(gift of tongues,prophecy and the likes…). Aspire to get more. Don’t say you are contented with that single achievement you have spiritually. Let your passion be “more of God,and your goal should be to make heaven“.

You see,God wants us to think long term.
Paul was preoccupied with heaven. That was his motivation.
He was concerned to see his saviour. He was concerned to hear “well-done” from the Lord. He was concerned to be rewarded by His Saviour. He was concerned for eternal glory
and that was his preoccupation!

So,let me ask again.
“What are you preoccupied with today spiritually speaking?

You see, Paul knew little of earthly pleasures or comforts.
Rather, he was uncomfortable most of the time- (imprisoned,beaten, shipwrecked, stoned, persecuted), but he wasn’t concerned neither perturbed about that. Rather, he was committed to living a productive life and moving towards his goal, and that goal was all tied to making heaven.
Let’s do the same too.

This is an encouragement for you. Strive for the heavenly goal, for the heavenly reward God has prepared for you. I am encouraging you to learn from Apostle Paul.

In spiritual matters, never be contended.
Always strive to grow and do better.
Always remember God’s purpose for your life and be devoted to it.
Don’t be distracted by the many things in life.
Do more for God.He expects this from you!

©Grace Dammy.

UNDERSTANDING THE CONCEPT; PRESSING ON.
Pressing on implies more than simply going forward, forging
ahead, progressing, proceeding, advancing, pressing forward,
making headway. Though, they are synonymous in word and
as such we are implying that they really meant much more
than that.
It implies that there is actually something preventing your
advancement and which is of a paramount duty for you to
push towards so as to achieve it.
To fulfil purpose and destiny in life, there is the need for you
to press aside temptations, press through obstacles, press
the doubt and fear under your feet and embrace the divine
qualities of faith, hope and love.
For you to press on there is the need for you to forge ahead
with a steadfastness in God, having a perfect brightness of
hope, a love of God in your heart and that of all men in mind
too.
You see, pressing forward in steadfastness in God simply
means having faith in Him, making Him the central focus of your thoughts and actions.

Pressing on means pushing away the temptations and cares
of the world and keeping the commandments with all
exactness and sincerity.
Our steadfastness in God causes hope to shine smile
graciously before and on us and amidst it all, we find peace
even in the difficulties of life.
Discipleship allows us to see our true purpose on the earth.
Those purposes centre in helping our family, those we love
and those around us. They include building the kingdom of
God and as we do, we become what and who we ought to
become.
Pressing on entails feasting and feeding upon the words of
Christ, ever willing and ready to succumb and obey the
words.
As you righteously press forward, God Himself, who is the
light of the world will guide you through and cause you to
come to full realization of his supreme being even as you
strive and labour to press forward in your faith, the Holy spirit will lead you alright in Jesus name.(AMEN).

An excerpt extracted from the chapter one of my book “PRESSING ON”

© Grace Dammy.

Pursuing a postgraduate degree is a good idea and a good career investment. Many people desire to do this and when one has an opportunity to do so, they should take advantage of it.

In this part of the world, we were raised to study hard to become doctors, lawyers, engineers and accountants. While these are great careers, they probably limited our ability to explore the potentials of other fields.

From experience, I have discovered that many people, by default, choose to further a course they did at the undergraduate level. Is that a bad thing? No. Why? If you want to go into academia, that is, become a lecturer or a professor and lecture in future, then you should definitely continue a career path in the same field.

On the other hand, it is not a given or a general rule to go for a masters degree program in the same field of your undergraduate study. The world is evolving and careers are changing. People even change career paths with the help of a masters degree. I know someone who studied Economics at the undergraduate level and now works as an I.T. specialist. You have to weigh the pros and cons in other to make strategic career decisions.

In doing so, you should take some time out to think, do some soul searching and some research in other to make these informed decisions.

Ask yourself what you really want to do with your life. What are your goals? What do you enjoy doing? Where do you see yourself in a couple of years? What is your ideal job? What are your hobbies? What other skills do you possess? These questions if answered honestly will help you decide on what side of the divide you want to be and what you really want to be known for. This will affect your postgraduate degree choice to a large extent.
Job market. Is there a place for you out there? Is furthering that course going to get you a good job, a good portfolio or a thriving bank account in this highly competitive world market? Will the degree be useful and applicable in a practical economy or society? Another aspect to this is whether that same career path is more rewarding in another part of the world.
Evolution. The world is rapidly evolving. Your undergraduate degree may no longer be useful in the next ten years. Are you aware? Do the research. If true, will it still be wise to further it now? Ask yourself – How can I strategically position myself in this new world?
Global projection. Since at least, the beginning of the last decade, we have seen a dramatic rise in the use of technology and technological inventions. What does this say? Information technology may be the new oil and gas in the near future. No? If you have a background in I.T., it may be wise to pursue a postgraduate degree in I.T. to prepare for your bright future. If you don’t and are passionate about I.T., it may be a great idea to bag this degree.
If the postgraduate course does not pass the tests above, you may want to re-think going for it. Think strategically and act accordingly.
Best wishes!

In this article,we shall be discussing the overview,symptoms,when to see a doctor,causes,complications,risk factors,and how to prevent getting infected by the Virus.

OVERVIEW

Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that can cause illnesses such as the common cold, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). In 2019, a new coronavirus was identified as the cause of a disease outbreak that originated in China.
The virus is now known as the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The disease it causes is called coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic.
Public health groups, including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and
WHO, are monitoring the pandemic and posting updates on their websites. These groups have also issued recommendations for preventing and treating the illness.

SYMPTOMS

The symptoms of COVID-19 may appear two to 14 days after exposure and can include:
√ Fever
√ Cough
√ Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Other symptoms can include:
• Tiredness
• Aches
• Runny nose
•Sore throat
•Some people have experienced the loss of smell or taste.

The severity of COVID-19 symptoms can range from very mild to severe. Some people may have no symptoms at all. People who are older or who have existing chronic medical conditions, such as heart disease, lung disease or diabetes, or who have compromised immune systems may be at higher risk of serious illness. This is similar to what is seen with other respiratory illnesses, such as influenza.
COVID-19 Self-Assessment Tool
Assess your symptoms and find out if you’re a candidate for a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) test.

WHEN TO SEE A DOCTOR

If you have COVID-19 symptoms or you’ve been in contact with someone diagnosed with
COVID-19, contact your doctor or clinic right away for medical advice. Tell your health care team about your symptoms and possible exposure before you go to your appointment.
If you have emergency COVID-19 signs and symptoms, such as trouble breathing, chest pain or pressure, confusion, or blue lips or face, seek care immediately.
If you have respiratory symptoms but you are not and have not been in an area with ongoing community spread, contact your doctor or clinic for guidance. Let your doctor know if you have other chronic medical conditions, such as heart disease or lung disease. As the pandemic progresses, it’s important to make sure health care is available for those in greatest need.

CAUSES

Infection with the new coronavirus (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, or SARS-CoV-2) causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
It’s unclear exactly how contagious the new coronavirus is. Data has shown that it spreads from person to person among those in close contact (within about 6 feet, or 2 meters). The virus spreads by respiratory droplets released when someone with the virus coughs, sneezes or talks.
It can also spread if a person touches a surface with the virus on it and then touches his or her mouth, nose or eyes.

RISK FACTORS

Riskfactors for COVID-19 appear to include:
Recent travel from or residence in an area with ongoing community spread of
COVID-19 as determined by CDC or WHO
Close contact with someone who has
COVID-19 — such as when a family member or health care worker takes care of an infected person.

COMPLICATIONS

Although most people with COVID-19 have mild to moderate symptoms, the disease can cause severe medical complications and lead to death in some people. Older adults or people with existing chronic medical conditions are at greater risk of becoming seriously ill with COVID-19.
Complications can include:
Pneumonia in both lungs
Organ failure in several organs.

PREVENTION

Although there is no vaccine available to prevent infection with the new coronavirus, you can take steps to reduce your risk of infection. WHO and CDC recommend following these precautions for avoiding COVID-19:

√ Avoid large events and mass gatherings.

√ Avoid close contact (within about 6 feet, or 2 meters) with anyone who is sick or has symptoms.

√ Keep distance between yourself and others if COVID-19 is spreading in your community, especially if you have a higher risk of serious illness.

√ Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

√ Cover your mouth and nose with your elbow or a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw away the used tissue.

✓ Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.

√ Avoid sharing dishes, glasses, bedding and other household items if you’re sick.

√ Clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces daily.

√ Stay home from work, school and public areas if you’re sick, unless you’re going to get medical care. Avoid taking public transportation if you’re sick.

The CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public places, such as the grocery store, where it’s difficult to avoid close contact with others. It’s especially suggested in areas with ongoing community spread. This updated advice is based on data showing that people with COVID-19 can transmit the virus before they realize they have it. Using masks in public may help reduce the spread from people who don’t have symptoms. Non-medical cloth masks are recommended for the public. Surgical masks and N-95 respirators are in short supply and should be reserved for health care providers.

If you have a chronic medical condition and may have a higher risk of serious illness, check with your doctor about other ways to protect yours.

Let’s stay updated for us to #STAYSAFE.