Hello Charles61,

Can you please avail your email address or send me mail ladelolu@yahoo.com....

Thanks bro !

Hello Legitbachelor,

Thanks for your help so far on this thread. Pls my spouse visa RFE was submitted after the deadline. We should have submitted August 10, 2019 but we submitted August 15, 2019. From what I read online, I was made to know late submission of RFE after deadline always result to denial.

Though our immigration lawyer attached a letter that the fault is from him, should we be expecting a favourable response.

Thanks again

Please assist a brother with a soft copy ladelolu@yahoo.com

Thanks

Alright guys I'm back !

Odunharry / Alwaystrue,

Will be offline for some days now ....kindly assist to update this thread .

26 MAY 2015

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

Building Trust and Intimacy in Communication (1)

‘…say the right thing at the right time!’

Proverbs 15:23

According to ground-breaking neurological research, you can ‘train’ yourself to speak and listen in a way that stimulates sympathy and trust in the brain of the person you’re talking to. Think how valuable that is in communication! Here are some proven principles to help you do it: 1) Breathe deeply and stretch before speaking. When you’re handling a stressful situation, remaining calm is essential. Stress generates uptightness, uptightness leads to anger, and anger shuts down your ability to get your point across. So take a few moments to breathe deeply, while counting slowly to five. It’s also been established that things like stretching your neck muscles and yawning change your brain in ways that measurably improve your communication skills. We are ‘wonderfully made’ (Psalms 139:14). 2) Think encouraging thoughts. ‘…As he thinks in his heart, so is he…’ (Proverbs 23:7 NKJV). Any negative thought you harbour can interfere with the parts of your brain used in language processing, listening, and speech, which can lead to defensiveness and distrust. Neurological studies found that thinking positive thoughts about the other person, or yourself, or the topic at hand, can help you to achieve success in your personal and business relationships. 3) Seal it with a smile. Your face reveals your feelings. ‘…Jacob noticed that Laban’s attitude toward him was not what it had been’ (Genesis 31:2 NIV). Research shows that pleasing memories and thoughts of people you love create facial expressions that convey kindness, compassion and interest, stimulating trust and openness in others.

1 Kings 16-18, Acts 7:1-22

How are you coping with fuel scarcity ? It is well !

Monday May 25, 2015.

THE REWARDS OF CONFRONTATION

‘…do not reject the Lord’s discipline…’ Proverbs 3:11 NCV

The Bible says, ‘Do not reject the Lord’s discipline, and don’t get angry when He corrects you. The Lord corrects those He loves, just as parents correct the child they delight in’ (vv. 11-12 NCV). Because God loves you, when He sees things in your life that could potentially damage you and other people, He deals with them. Paul writes, ‘Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God…’ (Romans 11:22 NKJV). God will deal with you gently, but if you don’t listen He may have to deal with you severely. That’s because He has too much invested in you to let you fail. Not only does God confront us, He expects us to confront one another when we’re in the wrong. Paul stood up to Peter, his fellow leader, in front of Jewish and Gentile believers because the issue was important to their mission’s success (Galatians 2:14). Healthy confrontation results in six things:
1) Clarification. You get a better understanding of the person and what happened.
2) Change. Hopefully improvement will come from it—and the improvement may be in you! 3) An improved relationship. Handled correctly, confrontation will deepen your relationship with the other person. 4) Purity. As word gets out, the organisation will be purified and sobered. 5) Respect. People will appreciate and respect your leadership even more. 6) Security. They’ll feel safe knowing that you’re strong enough to take a stand when it counts. People want a leader who says, ‘When there’s a problem I’ll deal with it directly, promptly, and respectfully. I’ll help correct the situation and get us back on track.’

Judge 16:1 - 19:15, Mark 11:12-26, Psalm 47, Proverb 13:11-12.

Sunday May 24, 2015.

THE BENEFITS OF SELF-DISCIPLINE

‘God’s Spirit makes us…self-controlled…’ Galatians 5:22-23 CEV

IS SELF-DISCIPLINE difficult and demanding? Yes. However, instead of focusing on its demands, think about its benefits. When you begin to understand the power, liberty, joy and victory that self-discipline brings, you’ll want to have it. A disciplined mind makes the difference between a happy life and a miserable one; between a life of self-defeating habits and a life of freedom in God. Discipline is your friend, something to be embraced daily. It’s a tool given by God to help you reach your goals. One reason why disciplining your mind is so important is that the condition of your mind can change so quickly. One day you can be calm, peaceful, sure of yourself and confident in God. Yet the next day you can hardly recognise yourself; you’re anxious, angry, negative, and full of doubt. Why? Because your thinking affects your emotions. Here’s something else you need to know: just as the airwaves around you are filled with signals that can be picked up by any radio or TV, there are spiritual forces around you that seek to mould your mind and influence your thinking. So ask God to help you, and refuse to allow your mind to think about whatever it pleases. Begin to control your thoughts and keep your mind on the right things. Breaking old habits and forming new ones takes time, so keep practising. Developing self-discipline isn’t easy, but it’s worth it in the end. When you win the battle for your mind you’ll be much more decisive, confident and focused. You’ll also be a more effective and successful person.

Judge 12-15, Mark 11:1-11, Psalm 97, Proverb 13:9-10.

Saturday May 23, 2015.
STAY ON THE WHEEL
‘…He made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter…’
Jeremiah 18:4 NKJV

WHILE YOU are on the Potter’s wheel, consider these two things: 1) The Potter’s plan and pleasure are what matter. He has the right to make you into anything He chooses. What matters most is that His plan for your life be fulfilled and His pleasure in you be realised. Can you imagine a potter discussing with the clay what it would prefer to become? No. Only he has the wisdom to make that decision. So instead of struggling with the will of God, rejoice that ‘…God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him’ (Philippians 2:13 NLT). 2) The Potter will not stop until the job is done. God’s job would be simple if we were just inanimate lumps of clay. But we’re clay animated by self-will and ‘we want what we want, when we want it.’ However, rather than giving in to us, or giving up on us, the Potter keeps working and reworking the clay, day after day, until we gradually begin to take on a shape He can use for His glory. This sometimes calls for radical action on His part: ‘But the jar he was making did not turn out as he had hoped, so he crushed it into a lump of clay again and started over again’ (Jeremiah 18:4 NLT). God is so committed to His objective in your life that He won’t quit—even though it means allowing you to be crushed and starting the process over again. So be patient and stay on the wheel; what God has in mind for you is worth it.

Judge 9:34 - 11:40, Mark 10:35-52, Psalm 129, Proverb 20:25, Ecc 5:4-6.

Thursday 21 May 2015

How to Activate God's Word (2)

‘…if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.’

1 John 5:14

While you are waiting for God’s Word to be fulfilled in your life, do these three things: 1) Verbalise it. The most effective way to pray is to speak God’s Word. The patriarchs, prophets and psalmists regularly reminded God of His promises in prayer, confident He would keep them. The surest indicator of God’s will is His Word. ‘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…we know that we have what we asked of Him’ (vv. 14-15 NIV). God always responds to His Word, always! 2) Obey it. God’s plan for us is not just to speak His Word, vital as this is, but that we obey it (James 1:22). The hymn-writer said: ‘When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word, what a glory He sheds on our way; while we do His good will, He abides with us still, and with all who will trust and obey.’ Obedience—faith in action—aligns us with God and He responds by fulfilling His promise to us. 3) Share it. Parents and grandparents, ‘Take to heart these words that I give you today. Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you’re at home or away, when you lie down or get up’ (Deuteronomy 6:6-7 GWT). You needn’t be a qualified teacher, just a sincere teller. Sharing God’s Word will produce fruit in the lives of your family, friends, relatives, business associates and neighbours, and also increase your own grasp and understanding of it.

1 Kings 8-9, Acts 4:23-37

20 MAY 2015

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

How to Activate God's Word (1)

‘Let Christ’s word…live in you.’

Colossians 3:16

Making the right decisions and choosing the right actions are the crux of living successfully. If you are the source of your own wisdom, or you’re looking to others, your odds are not good. Paul writes, ‘Let Christ’s word with all its wisdom and richness live in you.’ If you do, you’ll have the winning strategy for your life. But you must: 1) Read it. You don’t have to understand it all; it’s not an intellectual exercise. Reading it prayerfully brings power and wisdom because ‘…the Word that God speaks is alive and active… [penetrating] to the place where soul and spirit meet’ (Hebrews 4:12 PHPS). 2) Meditate on it. That means ‘chew on’ it. Let your spiritual digestive juices process God’s Word until its nutrients become part of you: strengthening, energising and directing you. 3) Believe it. ‘My word…always produces…It will accomplish all I want it to’ (Isaiah 55:11 NLT). There’s only one thing that can short-circuit God’s Word—unbelief. ‘The message…did them no good, because they only heard and did not believe as well’ (Hebrews 4:2 PHPS). ‘Hearing’ opens the door; ‘believing’ walks through it and activates the promise. 4) Receive it. No matter how strongly you believe in God’s promises and His intention to give them to you, they’re not yours until you receive them by faith. ‘Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours’ (Mark 11:24 NIV). So believe your answer is on the way, and keep your faith strong until it arrives.

1 Kings 6-7, Acts 4:1-22

19 MAY 2015

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

The Word and the Spirit

‘…we have the mind of Christ.’

1 Corinthians

When your mind is not open to the Holy Spirit, you cannot understand God’s Word. So if you find reading the Bible unrewarding, try this: before you open your Bible, open your heart and pray, ‘Holy Spirit, show me what I don’t see and teach me what I don’t know.’ Paul writes: ‘…it was to us that God revealed these things by His Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets. No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us. When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom…we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths. But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths…It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means. Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things, but they themselves cannot be evaluated by others. For, ‘Who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to teach Him? But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ’ (vv. 10-16 NLT). The Bible isn’t like any other book. Its words are God breathed; therefore when you approach the Bible you must ask the Holy Spirit to open your eyes and give you understanding. He will! 

1 Kings 3-5, Acts 3

18 MAY 2015

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

The Secret of Lasting Happiness

‘…happy is the man who delights in doing His commands.’

Psalms 112:1

Lasting happiness isn’t found in money or career success. Does that mean these things are wrong? No. When you put God first He will actually give you these things! (Matthew 6:33). But you must never let anything God gives you rob Him of first place in your life. The Psalmist said: ‘Happy is the man who delights in doing His commands. His children shall be honoured everywhere, for good men’s sons have a special heritage. He himself shall be wealthy, and his good deeds will never be forgotten. When darkness overtakes him, light will come bursting in. He is kind and merciful—and all goes well for the generous man who conducts his business fairly. Such a man will not be overthrown by evil circumstances. God’s constant care of him will make a deep impression on all who see it. He does not fear bad news, nor live in dread of what may happen. For he is settled in his mind that Jehovah will take care of him. That is why he is not afraid, but can calmly face his foes. He gives generously to those in need. His deeds will never be forgotten. He shall have influence and honour” (Psalms 112:1-9 TLB). Somebody said that the best things in life aren’t things. Happiness isn’t determined by what you own; it lies in relationships, and the first relationship you need is with God because every blessing in life flows from Him. In a world of urgency and confusion, God will give you values and priorities to live by. ‘Happy is the man who delights in doing His commands.’

1 Kings 1-2, Acts 2:22-47

17 MAY 2015

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

If You're a Wife

‘Wives, submit to your own husbands…’

Ephesians 5:22

Some people use this Scripture to treat women like a doormat, and rob them of their voice and right to any leadership role. Read the Bible! Deborah led the nation of Israel. Huldah the prophetess spoke the Word of God to kings. Let’s read the Scripture again: ‘Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.’  As a wife you are called to submit to ‘your own husband’, not to all men. In God’s eyes men and women are equal (Galatians 3:28). Paul is not speaking about your ‘person’; he’s speaking about your ‘role’ in the home. As a human being, a general is not more important than a sergeant. But for an army to function successfully there must be a respected chain of command where one leads and the other follows. God doesn’t want you to squirm under your husband’s leadership, but snuggle up into the security that it should afford you. You can excel in your career yet still allow yourself to enjoy being nurtured, loved, and protected by your husband. Properly understood, your husband’s love and leadership do not rob you of your strength, they simply keep you in balance by allowing you to reconnect with your softness and femininity. But a word of caution: if you’re looking for a man to be ‘your everything’, forget it! God’s the only one who can be everything. By expecting perfection from your husband, you’re asking more from someone else than you can provide yourself. Here’s God’s plan: ‘…she is your equal partner in God’s gift of new life. Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered’ (1 Peter 3:7 NLT). 

Luke 9:18-36, Psalm 51-53

16 MAY 2015

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

If You're a Husband

‘Husbands, love your wives…’

Ephesians 5:25

‘Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her.’ Many men wrestle with the fear of intimacy. Masculine emotions have become the twenty-first century version of ‘Pandora’s box’. We don’t know all that’s in it, but we have a feeling that we’d better not open it. But if we hide our true selves from our wives, they will only love what we do—not what we are! As a husband, you don’t have to be a ‘10’. You just have to be a man of God. He wants strong men who lead, instead of weak men who follow. No woman wants to be in submission to a man who isn’t in submission to God and led by His Spirit. ‘…the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control…’ (Galatians 5:22-23 NKJV). A woman feels secure with a man who has these qualities, and will gladly say to him, ‘Lead the way.’ Men are masters at giving ‘things’. Where they have big problems is when they are asked to give themselves! Jesus Christ, the greatest lover the world has ever known, gives Himself openly and unashamedly. His love is exemplified in His coming, but consummated in His dying. The truth is, your wife doesn’t need more things—she just needs you to give your love to her completely. Jesus is described in the book of Revelation as a Lion and a Lamb (Revelation 5:5-6). That’s a picture of strength and tenderness, and that’s what your wife needs from you. You say, ‘How long will it take me to accomplish this?’ A lifetime, so get started!

2 Sam 23-24, Acts 2:1-21

Friday May 15, 2015.

"ASK GOD FOR A MOUNTAIN (3)"

‘…Joshua blessed him, and gave [the mountain in] Hebron to Caleb…’
Joshua 14:13 NKJV

WHEN RICH Stearns became engaged, his fiancée wanted to order some china. But he said to her, ‘As long as there are children starving in the world, we will not own china, crystal, or silver.’ Rich had remarkable gifts of leadership. He loved strategic thinking, team building, and mission achievement. Twenty years later he became the CEO of Lenox, the top producer of fine china in the country. One day he received a phone call from World Vision, asking if he would consider getting involved with them. So Rich went to Rakia, Uganda, the area considered ground zero for the AIDS pandemic. In that village he sat in a thatched hut with a thirteen-year-old boy called Richard. A pile of stones outside the door marked the place where they had buried the boy’s father, who had died of AIDS. Another pile marked the place where they had buried his mother, who had also died of AIDS. Rich talked for a while with the boy—now the head of the household, trying to raise two younger brothers - and asked him at one point, ‘Do you have a Bible?’ The boy said, ‘Yes,’ went into another room and brought back the one book in their house. ‘Are you able to read it?’ Rich asked, and at that the boy’s face lit up. ‘I love to read the gospel of John because it says Jesus loves children,’ the boy said. Deeply moved, Rich Stearns left his job, his house and his title and asked God for one more mountain. If you haven’t done it yet, ask God for one.

Deut 32:29 - 34:12, Mk 9:1-13, Ps 62, Prov 12:18-19.

14 MAY 2015

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

Ask God for a Mountain (2)

‘…I am as strong this day as on the day that Moses sent me…’

Joshua 14:11

God has a mountain with your name on it. Do you know why? Because you only flourish as you face challenges! Joshua and Caleb both brought back a good report, yet only Joshua was promoted to leadership when Moses departed. Caleb could have withdrawn and sulked, but instead he invested himself in the lives of the people around him. As an older man whose generation was dying off, he had to develop a whole new circle of friends and he did it. He became a mentor, guide, and cheerleader for an entirely new generation. He did it with such gusto that they all wanted the eighty-five-year-old Caleb to lead them when they went up to the hill country. Challenges undertaken for the greater good bind us to people, whereas the pursuit of comfort leads to isolation, and isolation is terminal. You say, ‘I’m too old to make a difference.’ God doesn’t think so. ‘Even to your old age…I will carry you; I will sustain you…’ (Isaiah 46:4 NIV). So start making plans. Dare to dream! Life isn’t about comfort, it’s about saying, ‘God, give me another mountain.’ Somebody said that when everything’s coming your way—you’re on the wrong side of the road. Living the adventure God planned for you isn’t just another pursuit; it’s the reason you were born! How will you recognise your mountain? There’s no precise formula and like every other area of growth in your life, your mountain won’t look exactly like anyone else’s. But you’ll recognise it, because it lies at the intersection of your greatest strengths and your greatest passions. 

2 Sam 19-20, John 21

Wednesday May 13, 2015.

"ASK GOD FOR A MOUNTAIN (1)"

‘…give me this mountain…’ Joshua 14:12 NJKV

WHY WOULD someone ask God for a mountain? Because when you tackle something bigger than yourself: 1) you grow; 2) you learn to depend on God; 3) you get to celebrate big victories. Caleb said: ‘…here I am today, eighty-five years old! I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I’m just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then. Now give me this hill country that the Lord promised me that day. You yourself heard then that the Anakites were there and their cities were large and fortified, but, with the Lord helping me, I will drive them out just as He said’ (vv. 10-12 NIV). Anybody can occupy the flat ground, but it takes faith in God to tackle a mountain. What’s more, that’s where the Anakites—the giants—lived. These guys were so big they caused ten of Moses’ spies to say, ‘…Next to them we felt like grasshoppers ...’ (Numbers 13:33 NLT). You’d think at eighty-five Caleb would have asked for a nice cottage in Shalom Acres! But no, he wanted another battle and another victory before he checked out. Stop asking God for a problem-free life, otherwise you might die of boredom. It’s in working to solve problems and overcome challenges that you become the person God wants you to be. So ask Him for a task that will keep you learning, growing, uncomfortable, and hungry for significance. When you pray, ‘God, use me,’ be prepared to encounter four things: adventure, danger, risk, and reward. How about it—are you up for a little excitement?

Deut 28-29, Mk 8:14-26, Ps 44:17-26, Prov 12:12-14.

Odunharry ,

My phone got spoilt but I've repaired it nowww,I'll start updating the thread !

How's NYSC and try and join NCCF ,it's a wonderful family of God !

Thanks for the updates Alwaystrue and Odunharry !

TUESDAY APRIL 21, 2015.

PRACTISE BEING UNSELFISH (4)

‘…no man cared for my soul.’ Psalms 142:4 (KJV)

THE PEOPLE you seek to influence in life always ask themselves: Do you care about me? Think about the best experiences you’ve had with people in your own life. What do they all have in common? They genuinely cared about you, right? And what’s wonderful is, you can broaden your ability to care about others outside your social circle. Regardless of your profession, when you help people, you make your life and theirs better. Let’s listen to some observations by successful people from various backgrounds. Business: ‘You can’t make the other fellow feel important in your presence if you secretly feel that he’s a nobody’ (Les Giblin, former national salesman of the year and popular speaker). Politics: ‘If you would win a man to your cause, you must first convince him that you are his sincere friend’ (President Abraham Lincoln). Entertainment: ‘Some singers want the audience to love them. I love the audience’ (Luciano Pavarotti, legendary Italian opera tenor). Ministry: ‘The more you lose yourself in something bigger than yourself, the more energy you will have’ (Norman Vincent Peale, pastor and author). The Psalmist wrote, ‘No man cared for my soul.’ And deep down some of the people you deal with every day feel that way, too. Whether you’re trying to share your faith, do business with them, make friends, or help them in a particular area, you must prove to them that you truly care. It takes time, effort, and even sacrifice, but if you’re serious about connecting with others, you’ll do it. The chances are somebody did it for you, and it helped determine the person you are today. So do it for others!

Galatians 5:22, 2 Peter 3:3-15, Matthew 5:39, 1 Samuel 25:1-42.

Have a stress-free week ahead !

Monday APRIL 20, 2015.

PRACTISE BEING UNSELFISH (3)

‘…take an interest in others, too.’ Philippians 2:4 NLT

John Craig says, ‘No matter how much work a man can do, no matter how engaging his personality may be, he will not advance far if he cannot work through others.’ That requires you to see value in other people. This truth is understood worldwide by successful people from every walk of life. At an international meeting of company executives, an American business person asked an executive from Japan what he regarded as the most important language for world trade. The American thought the answer would be English. But the Japanese executive, who had a more holistic understanding of business, replied, ‘My customers’ language.’ Having a good product or service isn’t enough. Becoming an expert isn’t enough. Knowing your product but not your customers just means you’ll have something to sell and no one to buy. Furthermore, the value you place on people must be genuine. Leadership coach Bridget Haymond writes, ‘You can talk until you’re blue in the face, but people know in their gut if you really care about them.’ If you want to connect with others you have to get over yourself, change your focus from inward to outward, away from yourself and onto them. And the great thing is, you can do it. Anyone can. All it takes is the will to change, the determination to follow through and a handful of skills anybody can learn. The motivation to learn can be found in these words from the apostle, Paul: ‘Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.’ When you look for opportunities to invest in others, you’ll find them.

Acts 10-11, Mark 4:1-9, Ps 103: 1-12, Proverb 10:27-29

SUNDAY APRIL 19, 2015.

PRACTISE BEING UNSELFISH (2)

‘Let no one seek his own, but each one the other’s well-being.’1 Corinthians 10:24 NKJV

GREAT LEADERS often have great egos, and therein lies great danger. In ‘The Empowered Communicator’, Calvin Miller uses the form of a letter to describe this problem and the negative impact it has: ‘Dear speaker, your ego has become a wall between yourself and me. You’re not really concerned about me, are you? You’re mostly concerned about whether or not this speech is really working…about whether or not you’re doing a good job. You’re really afraid that I will not applaud, aren’t you? You’re afraid that I won’t laugh at your jokes or cry over your emotional anecdotes. You’re so caught up in the issue of how I’m going to receive your speech, you haven’t thought much about me at all. I might have loved you, but you’re so caught up in self-love that mine is really unnecessary. If I don’t give you my attention it’s because I feel so unnecessary here. When I see you at the microphone, I see Narcissus at his mirror…Is your tie straight? Is your hair straight? Is your deportment impeccable? Is your phraseology perfect? You seem in control of everything, but your audience. You see everything so well, but us. But this blindness to us, I’m afraid, has made us deaf to you. We must go now. Sorry. Call us sometime later. We’ll come back to you when you’re real enough to see us…after your dreams have been shattered…after your heart has been broken…after your arrogance has been wrecked with despair. Then there will be room for all of us in your world. Then you won’t care if we applaud your brilliance. You’ll be one of us.’

Acts 8-9, Mark 3:28-35, Psalm 130, Proverbs 10:24-26.