The Sudanese businessman now wants to open his wallet, take out five million dollar chunks and award it to retiring democratically-elected African leaders. The Achievement in African Leadership Prize aims to give former leaders a life after office, the financial means to keep contributing to society and motivation to leave office with grace, not with fists clinging to power and with legacies of corruption.

“The idea is to give good leaders the strength to stick to their ideals.”

I love these kinds of stories. Stories of people who use the backside of fortune to repay back the society and the places where their wealth sprung. But what I love most about Ibrahim’s story is that he is answering one of my favorite fantasy questions, “If you had millions of dollars, what would you do with it?” Maybe he didn’t ask himself that question, but he’s answering it every time he signs a five million dollar cheque.

I’m so curious about what people would do if financial constraints didn’t exist, say, they had a million dollars, what would they do with it? If they had to give it away, where would it go? If you had the ability to write a five million dollar cheque, with the sole constraint being that it would have to build into something meaningful or fund a worthy movement, who would get it?

What cause or person would you put your money behind?

To read more, go to the Newsweek article online, http://www.newsweek.com/id/41725

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It was small, it was shiny, and it was at eye level. It was irresistible to my three-year-old son. With a flick of a switch, he shut down our store’s entire computer network, scrambling the code and sending our business into a tailspin. It took a team of programmer’s three weeks to get the computers up and running.

Fourteen years later, our computers are more sophisticated, having the ability to retain memory and recover lost files. We’ve come a long way. But I shouldn’t be so smug. Computers still crash; they’re not impenetrable. Neither are we.

We think we’ve got everything figured out and then bam, with a flick of a switch, circumstances change and our lives crash. Health crises, financial stress, death, and crumbling relationships - the possibilities are as endless as computer code.

Our self-reliant power switch has been disconnected. That’s a good thing. Disconnecting our autonomy allows the true source of power to flow – God’s power. Become unplugged by following the lead from II Chronicles 20:12:   

 “Oh Lord, we don’t know what to do but are eyes are upon You.”

Humble yourself before God; ask for His grace and direction. Obey the continual, steady voice of the Holy Spirit.  This willful act gives us the strength and the ability to do more than we could ever ask or imagine. No surprise, as we’re now energized by God’s uninterrupted supernatural power.

Thank you Lord, that nothing can sever Your power, change Your words of truth or erase Your plans for me. Nothing in this life, in the supernatural realm, or even in death, can separate me from the love of Christ. Thank you for that awesome truth. Amen

Go ahead and unplug yourself. Become grounded by the true source of power. Even a three year old can do it.

Questions: What areas of your life need to become disconnected from self-control?

About the Author: http://talk.thelife.com/experience/devotionalforwomen/authors/charlene-friesen/

Find out more about this author here. 

CommentRead…

Updated to modern English by Darren Hewer, 2008.

Also available as a podcast at: http://thelife.com/blogs/experience/kindle/2008/07/24/the-slippery-path-2/

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“To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy - to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.” Jude 1:24-25

In some sense the path to heaven is safe. But in other respects there is no road as dangerous; it is overrun with difficulties.

One false step (and how easy it is to step absently if grace is absent), and down we go. What a slippery path some of us tread! How many times have we cried along with the Psalmist, “My feet were almost gone, my steps had well nigh slipped.” If we were strong, sure-footed mountaineers, this would not matter so much; but relying on our own abilities, how weak we are! In the best roads we soon falter, in the smoothest paths we quickly stumble. A straw may throw us, and a pebble can wound us; we are mere children tremblingly taking our first steps in the walk of faith. Thankfully our heavenly Father holds us by the arms or we would soon fall all the way back down!

We have many foes who try to push us down. The road is rough and we are weak, but in addition to this, enemies lurk in ambush, who rush out when we least expect them, and try to trip us, or hurl us down the nearest cliff. Only an Almighty arm can preserve us from these unseen foes, who are seeking to destroy us. Such an arm is engaged for our defense.

If we are kept from falling, how much more should we bless the patient God which watches over us day by day! Think how prone we are to sin, how apt to choose danger, how often we end up bringing ourselves down, and these reflections will make us sing more sweetly than we have ever done, “Glory be to Him, who is able to keep us from falling.”

He promises that He will remain faithful, and He is able to keep us from falling, so that even with a deep sense of our utter weakness, we may cherish a firm belief in our perfect safety, and say, with joyful confidence,

“Against me earth and hell combine, But on my side is power divine; Jesus is all, and He is mine!”

Question: How do you try to constantly keep your eyes on Jesus?

About this Author: http://thelife.com/experience/devotionalformen/authors/charles-spurgeon/

The Hannah Montana star will soon hit magazine racks, not with another “controversial” Vanity Fair shoot, but as the PG-rated version of herself on TV Guide’s cover. Now, normally I would avoid mention of the teen. But as overexposed celebrities usually do, they wind up saying things that just irk me. Especially when the media goes digging for sexual tidbits and celebrities so readily appease them.

Having told Extra last year that she’s going to stay a virgin until she marries, TV Guide goes fishing in the same pool. When conversation maneuvers onto the virgin statement, Cyrus has this to say:

“I like to think of myself as the girl that no one can get, that no one can keep in their hand.”

Pause and think about that for a second. This is coming out of the mouth of a 15-year-old girl. Yes, she wears a purity ring and wants to be a strong role model for young girls. But the innuendo behind what she just said has nothing to do with those noble reasons. I don’t understand sitting in an interview and acting like an arrogant coquette while thumbing your purity ring.

You want to be the girl that no one can get (p.s. who is supposed to be “getting” you at 15 anyways!?). So what you’re saying is that either you want to be a lonesome tease or are vain enough to actually believe that your pedestal is just out of reach for anyone to win you?

What do you think of Miley Cyrus’s comment? How do you feel about celebrities proclaiming virginity in the media?

Find out more about this author here. 

CommentRead…

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Do you ever have a song circling around in your mind, and it won’t go away? Over and over the tune and words repeat. Sometimes I hear the same song for days. Usually it is an old hymn or a newer chorus.

Several years ago, I realized the songs I heard were often connected with what I was feeling or what was going on in my life. Sometimes there was someone God wanted me to forgive, other times I needed reassurance. Many were praise songs. The Holy Spirit was guiding me through song, either by showing me what God wanted me to do, or bringing words of comfort from God through the words of the songs. He even gave me the words to praise Him, both when I was happy and when life was grim and praise was difficult.

Many times our schedules are so full we don’t take time to listen to God. Other times our minds are so occupied with concerns and busyness we just can’t hear Him. However, if we are willing to listen, He is faithful. He will provide guidance. What better way than through songs written to glorify Him?

When you get up in the morning, ask the Lord for your song for the day. Then listen for the music to flow into your mind. You only have a bit of the music, no words? Hum it to somebody. Someone will be able to help you. My husband is great at remembering at least some of the words to songs. You can also ask the Lord to bring the words to mind. Later you may discover you are singing the words you couldn’t remember earlier in the day.

The next time a song gets stuck in your head, listen carefully to the words and message. Zephaniah 3:17 says, “He will rejoice over you with singing.” It could be God wants to spend time singing with you.

~Father God, Put a new song in my heart today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Question: What is God saying to you today through a song in your heart?

About the Author: http://thelife.com/experience/devotionalforwomen/authors/barbara-major-bryden/

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“You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord.” Ephesians 2:19b-21

Recently I helped a friend move. Anyone who’s done that can appreciate that it’s not the most enjoyable activity. My friend’s brother also helped her move, but I noticed that she didn’t need to ask him; his help was implied. However, she made it a point to ask for my help, even though we’ve been friends for many years and I was of course glad to do it.

I think the difference was that her brother is part of her family, whereas I am “only” a friend.

In today’s passage, we read that we are “members of God’s family”. We are therefore brothers and sisters in Christ. Perhaps Paul was remembering this teaching of Jesus:

While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.”

He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” Matthew 12:46-50

Today, we are Jesus’ disciples. Jesus points to you, and calls you a member of His family, dearly loved and accepted.

Can’t we do the same for our family in Christ? Can’t we be united in Christ, “perfectly united in mind and thought” with our fellow brothers and sisters? (1 Corinthians 1:10)

Or, to paraphrase Jesus’ question, who is your mother, who are your brothers?

About the Author: http://thelife.com/experience/devotionalformen/authors/darren-hewer/

Real, lasting relationships are built on trust. Trust is foundational because it creates a safe environment for intimacy to grow. If your relationship is going to work you need to be able to trust your partner with your past, your present and your future. Trust takes time and effort, is easily broken and hard to restore but if you’re willing to work at it, the reward is the relationship you’ve always dreamed of.

Revealing your true self

Trust allows you to reveal who you really are. In spite of all the tricks we use to try and impress someone during the early stages of dating, intimacy is founded on knowing and being known. Your partner has to get to know the real you – what you’re like when you’re tired, angry, frustrated, elated or talking to your Mom on the phone. He has to love you as you are, not as he hopes you might be. Anything less won’t last.

Have you seen or read Bridget Jones’s Diary? There’s one scene where Mark Darcy tells Bridget “I like you, just as you are.” She is floored. Why such a strong reaction to a simple comment? Because Mark is telling her that he really sees her and he likes what he sees. He didn’t say he’d like her ten pounds lighter, or a little more sophisticated, or prettier, or better read. He likes her as she is, unconditionally. She doesn’t have to try and impress him, he’s already impressed. Knowing that you are loved for who you are lets you relax and let your guard down. It lets you be honest without fear of rejection, and frankly, it feels great.

Honest communication

Trust opens the door to honest communication. You can’t communicate honestly if you’re always second-guessing how your partner will react and rephrasing your thoughts to fit in with his agenda. Communication takes concentration. In her article, “Why Can’t We Communicate?” Geri Forsberg , Ph.D., outlines the five steps to effective communication:

1. Ask questions. Don’t assume you understand what a person means. Once you ask a few questions, it doesn’t take long to really find out what he really means.
2. Listen. To become a better communicator, you must be willing to listen so you can understand the other person’s perspective.
3. Observe and be willing to verify the information you receive.
4. Let people know what you are thinking by sharing it. By disclosing information about yourself, it aids the other person in understanding who you are and how you are understanding them.
5. Remember that love covers a multitude of sins. If your motives are wanting to understand people and accept them for who they are, then communication will be easier. But if you set out to convince them that your way is the right way, then that’s not communication. And that’s not love.

Fair fights

Once you’ve cleared up your communication, trusting your partner will help you to fight fair when disagreements occur. Face it, if you’re involved with a living, breathing human being you are going to fight. Whether the fights tear you apart or actually resolve conflicts and bring you closer together depends on whether or not you fight fair.

What is a fair fight? Most experts agree that fair fighting does the following:

1. Stays on topic. Now is not the time to bring out a list of past wrongs. Deal with the issue at hand.
2. Refuses to resort to name calling and insults. Remember that the point of the argument is solve something, not tear the other person to bits or badger them so they’ll quit and you’ll win. If you don’t respect your partner, or if they feel attacked, they’ll stop listening.
3. Avoids generalizations and sticks to the facts. “You always” or ” you never” statements do not reflect reality and will only put your partner on the defensive. Stick to what actually happened and how it made you feel.

Building trust

Trust doesn’t just naturally happen between two people, even if they love each other. It takes work and if you’ve been hurt in the past, it can be especially difficult. Building trust takes time, you need to show your partner that you are trustworthy and that you trust them in return. If your partner has trouble trusting, you can do a lot to create an environment where trust can grow. Listen to your partner, respect him and his opinions, and accept him as he is. Reveal parts of your own history, show him that you trust him and you will help him to do the same. If you are vulnerable it helps your partner to feel that he is safe to be vulnerable as well.

Don’t rush it. If you truly love your partner and want what’s best for him, you’ll wait. If you’re in a relationship with someone you feel you can’t trust, don’t ignore it. If you have trouble trusting anyone, you might want to seek counseling before you run away from what could be a great relationship. Your past does affect your ability to trust. However, if trust hasn’t been a problem for you in the past and your gut is telling you to protect yourself from this guy, take it as a warning. Take a close look at who he is, how he treats others and how he treats you. Your gut may be giving you good information.