My Inspiration | 6

My Inspiration

Can God Trust You?

By William King Email: kingwilliam189@gmail.com |

It’s interesting that the apostle Paul says that our present troubles are “preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison” (2Corinthians 4:17). We like the honour, favour and influence that come with “glory,” but we don’t always realize there’s a weight that comes with it.

If you’re not prepared for it, the favour won’t be a blessing, it will be a burden. We have to pass some tests before God will trust us with the weight of glory. The delays, disappointments and bad breaks are tests ordered by the Lord. Will you be good to people who are not being good to you?

These are all opportunities to prove to God that you can handle the weight of glory. When you understand that God uses difficulties to get us prepared, to stretch our faith, to change us, you don’t complain when things don’t go your way. You realize it’s serving a purpose. When you do the right thing when the wrong thing is happening you’re getting stronger. instantly. Sometimes we’re wondering why God isn’t giving us more influence, favour, opportunities. It may be because our branches can’t handle the weight right now. If God gives you ten lemons but your branches can only sustain three, it’s not a blessing, it’s a burden.

Instead of focusing on the fruit, focus on developing your branches. Focus on getting stronger, being a person of excellence and integrity, treating people with respect, giving God praise. When your character is getting stronger, your roots are going down deeper and you’ll be able to carry the weight of that fruit.

You have a calling on your life and there is an assignment for you to fulfill. You weren’t created to just get by like other people; you have greatness in you. You were created to stand out. What you do in the seemingly small areas, where nobody will know, will determine whether God can trust you with big things.

What you do in the seemingly small areas, where nobody will know, will determine whether God can trust you with big things.

Business

DT Dobie Signs Deal With Stanbic Bank For Vehicle Asset Financing

By Agency

DT Dobie and Stanbic Bank Kenya have today signed a partnership agreement to offer Vehicle Asset Financing for the purchase of Mercedes Benz, Volkswagen and Hyundai personal and commercial vehicles. Under the agreement, Stanbic bank will provide up to 100 per cent financing for personal vehicles and up to 90 per cent for commercial vehicles with a 60 month-loan repayment period.

The partnership will also offer DT Dobie customers a discounted loan-processing fee at 1.5 per cent at an interest rate of 13 per cent per annum. Furthermore, clients will also enjoy a 45-day holiday period.

Peter Wanjala, Finance Director at DT Dobie said, “The Volkswagen and Mercedes have proven popular with passenger vehicle buyers while Hyundai has been a favourite commercial light truck. Hyundai light trucks range from 3.5 to 9 tonnes. Key attributes of the vehicles are an extra-long chassis, superior fuel efficiency, powerful exhaust brake and hydraulic power steering among others. The trucks carry a three year, or 100,000-kilometre warranty which clearly illustrates the confidence of the Hyundai Motor Company.’’

Speaking during the event, Head of Engineering at Stanbic Bank Kenya, Catherine Muraga said, “Through this partnership with DT Dobie, we can offer unique solutions to our clientele to cater for their motor-vehicle needs. We have, this far, been able to solution hundreds of individual customers and companies to acquire quality vehicles in an easy and convenient manner by making the process of loan application as painless as possible.

Roy Kyalo (second right), DT Dobie General Manager Mercedes Benz and Volkswagen and Catherine Muraga (second left), Stanbic Bank Kenya Head of Engineering sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for Vehicle Asset Financing. Also present are Dale Slee (right), DT Dobie Business Development Director Mercedes Benz and Kimani Njagi (left), Stanbic Bank Head of Vehicle and Asset Finance.

Every Good

Gift Sells

Entrepreneur

Finding the strongest ideas for your leadership plan

By Scott Cochrane |www.biblicalleadership.com

If you want to see your strategic plan drive new growth, you need to weed out the ideas that just don’t belong. Even the great ideas. One of the great challenges facing all leaders is how to determine whether each new idea that comes along should find its way into your overall plan. This tool can be a great starting place.

Years ago a leadership mentor taught me a simple yet profoundly effective tool to keep an organization aligned with its plan. It’s a matrix that looks at each opportunity or idea and asks two basic questions:

Is this on plan?

Does this add value?

Take every proposed strategy or opportunity and see where it fits in this grid. Box 1: Not on plan and adds no value It’s amazing how many organizations entertain ideas that are neither on plan nor which add any relevant value. An example might be an opportunity for you to do a series of lectures for an outside organization. Opportunities like this can be tempting, but leaders need the discipline to give them a wide berth. Box 2: Not on plan but adds value

This is a seductive box.

This represents opportunities that seem to be a good thing for the organization, but you didn’t plan for them. Unrestrained pursuit of such opportunities can leave the organization feeling rudderless and unfocused.

Leaders need the discernment to know when to leap at such an opportunity and the discipline not to abandon the plan each time such an opportunity comes along. Box 3: On plan but adds no value

Sometimes you’ll find that even an opportunity that fits under the umbrella of your plan turns out to be of limited value. Have the discernment and courage to recognize elements of the plan that just aren’t pushing the ball down the field. Box 4: On plan and adds value

This is the sweet spot.

Relentlessly pursue opportunities that are in the center of your plan and which add tremendous value to what you’re trying to accomplish.

Bottom line; if an opportunity or idea is on plan and adds value, go for it. Otherwise, have the discipline to set it aside. Armed with this approach, your plan can become the growth driver you have always hoped it would be.

My Health

Source of article: medicalnewstoday. com | Medically reviewed by Natalie Olsen, R.D., L.D., ACSM EP-C — Written by Scott Harris

What happens if you fast for a day?

Fasting is a longstanding part of many religious traditions, including the Jewish and Muslim observances of Yom Kippur and Ramadan. A form of fasting known as intermittent fasting has also gained popularity as a weight-loss tool.

Many studies have examined the benefits and risks of giving up food for a day, including how it affects weight loss.

In this article, we look at what happens to the body during fasting, as well as what a person can do to make fasting safer.

Whether a person is fasting or not, the body still needs energy. Its primary energy source is a sugar called glucose, which usually comes from carbohydrates, including grains, dairy products, fruits, certain vegetables, beans, and even sweets.

The liver and muscles store the glucose and release it into the bloodstream whenever the body needs it.

However, during fasting, this process changes. After about 8 hours of fasting, the liver will use the last of its glucose reserves. At this point, the body enters into a state called gluconeogenesis, marking the body’s transition into fasting mode.

Studies have shown that gluconeogenesis increases the number of calories the body burns. With no carbohydrates coming in, the body creates its own glucose using mainly fat.

Eventually, the body runs out of these energy sources as well. Fasting mode then becomes the more serious starvation mode.

At this point, a person’s metabolism slows down, and their body begins burning muscle tissue for energy.

Although it is a well-known term in dieting culture, true starvation mode only occurs after several consecutive days or even weeks without food.

So, for those breaking their fast after 24 hours, it is generally safe to go without eating for a day unless other health conditions are present.

What happens during fasting?

My Health

Can fasting promote weight loss? Water intake

It does appear that fasting can help with weight loss. However, studies make it clear that this is not the case for everyone.

Popular diet plans include 12-hour or 16-hour fasting periods, as well as the 24-hour fast. Some diets require people to drink only water during the fast, while others allowed any zero-calorie beverage.

Fasting is not necessarily better than any other weight-loss method, including reducing daily calorie intake by a small amount.

In a recent study, people with obesity who fasted intermittently for 12 months lost slightly more weight than those who dieted in a more traditional way, but the results were not statistically significant.

The limits of fasting appear to have less to do with its physical effects than how it fits into a given lifestyle.

For example, the same study found that people who fasted were more likely to give up on weight-loss efforts than those who dieted in a more traditional way, such as counting calories. The researchers concluded that fasting might be harder to maintain over time.

Another possible concern is post-fast binging. Some fasting expertsagree that it is easy to derail weight-loss successes by overeating after the fasting period.

Fasting days can also offer a false sense of security, leading people to disregard positive eating habits on non-fasting days.

Other effects of fasting

As well as aiding weight loss, not eating for a day can have other health benefits.

Research suggests that occasional 24-hour fasting can improve cardiovascular health

Some evidence from research on animals shows that fasting can help fight certain kinds of cancer or even help preserve memory Drinking enough water is essential for maintaining everyday health, whether a person is eating or not.

Many health authorities recommend drinking eight 8-ounce glasses (about 2 liters) of water every day.

Unless a religious observance forbids it, a person can take advantage of the fast by drinking plenty of water to help curb hunger pangs.

When fasting for 24 hours, some people consume other beverages such as tea, black coffee, or zero-calorie sweetened drinks.

Risks

Although it is generally safe, going a day without eating can be risky for some people, including: people with diabetes, people with a history of eating disorders, people using medications that they must take with food, children and adolescents those who are pregnant or breastfeeding

What is the safest way to break a fast?

According to Chelsey Amer, a registered dietitian nutritionist, there are several ways a person can break their fast safely:

Drink water: This is especially important if circumstances prevented it during the fast. Eat a small meal: Eating a large meal immediately after a fast can strain the digestive system. Chew food thoroughly: Chew each bite at least 30 times. Eat cooked foods: Go for foods that are easier to digest, such as cooked vegetables instead of raw. Avoid experimenting: Trying new foods after a fast can make digestion harder and may make a person feel ill.

My Kitchen

Baked raspberry doughnuts with yoghurt glaze

You will need two 6-hole doughnut baking pans, from kitchenware shops.

https://www.delicious. com.au/

INGREDIENTS

1 1/2 cups (225g) plain flour, sifted 90g caster sugar 1 1/2 tsp baking powder, sifted 1/4 tsp bicarb soda, sifted 1/2 cup (140g) Greek-style yoghurt 1/2 cup (125ml) milk 2 tsp vanilla extract 1 egg 30g unsalted butter, melted, cooled slightly 125g fresh raspberries YOGHURT GLAZE 1/2 cup (140g) Greek-style yoghurt 1/4 cup (30g) pure icing sugar, sifted Crushed freeze-dried raspberries, to serve METHOD 1.Preheat oven to 180oC. Lightly grease 6-hole (1/3 cup capacity) doughnut pans. 2.In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder and bicarb. In a separate bowl, whisk together yoghurt, milk, vanilla, egg and butter. Add the yoghurt mixture to the dry ingredients and whisk until just combined. Gently stir through the raspberries, being careful to not crush them too much. 3.Divide mixture between prepared pans and bake for 15-18 minutes until cooked when tested with a skewer. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. 4.For the glaze, whisk yoghurt and sugar together in a bowl. Dip the top of each doughnut in the glaze and allow any excess to drip off. Sprinkle with crushed freeze-dried raspberries to serve.

My Sports

Osaka on song in stroll past Osorio

By Gillian Tan |www.ausopen.com | Image credit: sports.ndtv.com

Naomi Osaka began her title defence and quest for a third Australian Open with a resounding 6-3 6-3 victory over Colombian Camila Osorio on Rod Laver Arena.

The build-up “I feel really excited to be here,” the 13th seed said in a pre-tournament interview on Saturday. “Playing in the Australian Open means a lot to me,” continued the 25 year-old, acknowledging nervousness from the added pressure associated with being a defending champion.

Osaka said she’s approaching the major in a newfound way. “I brought a journal with me so I’ve been writing how I feel every day.” While the Japanese star avoids looking ahead in the draw, she said she unintentionally learned about a potential blockbuster clash with top seed Ash Barty but remained laser focused on her first round match: a first-time meeting with Osorio. “It’s really exciting to be in times like this,” she said, embracing the unknown. You play new players, you see new faces…it’s kind of refreshing. Hopefully I won’t be in for a shock,” said the right-hander. Osorio, making her main draw debut in Melbourne, had a breakthrough 2021 season during which she reached the third round of Wimbledon as a qualifier and reached the Tenerife Ladies Open, defeating top seed Elina Svitolina en route.

How the match unfolded Beginning in overcast conditions, Osaka needed just 100 seconds to hold serve as she raced to a 3-0 lead. The 20-year-old Osorio was unable to convert a pair of game points in the fourth game as Osaka, the more experienced of the duo, dictated play off both wings. It took until the fifth game for Osorio to land her first winner of the opening set, a backhand lob, as a commanding Osaka stretched her lead to 5-0. But a slew of six unforced errors in the ensuing two games off the racket of Japan’s top player – including a flubbed overhead that Osaka laughed off – enabled Osorio to claw back some of the deficit.

Seizing the momentum, the diminutive righthander held to love and generated two break points, but Osaka, wielding her powerful forehand, fended off both to clinch the set 6-3.

As clouds parted to make way for the afternoon sun, Osorio created two break-point

chances in Osaka’s opening service game, but was unable to capture either.

The composed Osaka then broke Osorio and consolidated for a 3-1 lead. Games proceeded on serve until the ninth game, when Osorio pummelled a backhand into the net to hand Osaka the win.

“I thought I played pretty well given the circumstances, I didn’t have a lot of information about my opponent,” said Osaka in her oncourt interview, crediting Osorio’s fighting spirit as a “great quality”. “I hope that we gave you a really good performance. It always feels very special for me to come back here,” she added, citing her penchant for hot conditions.

“I have a lot of really good memories here.” The key stat Osaka struck 19 winners to Osorio’s five, and her dominating groundstrokes helped alleviate pressure created by her low first-serve percentage which, at 51 per cent, she’ll seek to improve in the next round.

What it means for Osorio The Colombian, who won through qualifying at last year’s Roland Garros, can take away lessons from her battle with the world No. 14, in which she was able to stretch more than Ons Jabeur, to whom she lost 6-0 6-1 loss at the US Open. What’s next for Osaka? In the second round, Osaka faces Madison Brengle, who advanced after Dayana Yastremska retired trailing 1-6, 6-0, 0-5. Brengle and Osaka have met only once before in 2013, with the American triumphing 6-2, 6-2. After working on her backhand slice during the off-season, Osaka said she finally felt comfortable enough to add it to her toolkit during her first round encounter. The four-time Grand Slam champion said she is prioritising enjoying herself on court and avoiding negative emotions that can come with the weight of the pursuit of

perfection. “I can’t expect myself to win every match, but I do expect myself to have fun and challenge myself,” said Osaka. “I’m here because I want to be here and because I find that it’s fun for me.

“I accept the fact that I’ll have dips, and I need to figure out a way to overcome it.” Osaka also revealed she has a superstition that might sound familiar to tennis fans who have watched 2009 Australian Open champion Rafael Nadal in action.

“I need my water bottles to be completely straight, I’m not sure why that is,” said Osaka, who consciously avoids stepping on the court’s white lines as well as the painted Melbourne logo.