Dying to impress

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DYING TO

Dying to impress My shoes, rate my value.

The next BIG thing.

Dying to get it!.

Impressed.

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Just a few things to note.

I realize this might be basic for some of you, however still worth a mention.

This book carries Youtube links on selected pages. Please take time to view the videos, i selected them from some of my favorites and believe they will encourage you.

Note that the videos are not embedded in the book but open up Youtube. Please note there is cost related to this if you are using your phone connection. It should not add any additional costs for those on BIS. If like me you are not on BIS. take time to go to your favourite resturant and use free wifi or plan the cost on your 3G. If you brought the printed version you can punch in the URL to view videos or simply enjoy reading the content. It stands on it’s own and will impact your life. @DearworldMK

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MY THINGS

My shoes, rate my value How valuable is a human being? How important is a person? This is a question seldom asked or answered as we have forgotten or we just don’t know. Today we rate that value of a person by association. What do I mean? Generally, we value a person according to what they have and wear.

If they have and wear expensive things, we then think they are “valuable”. In the same way if a person knows or is close to someone famous, we then think they are valuable. If someone is introduced as Lira’s sister (musician) we give her the out-most honour. If we are told this is “Oprah’s mother” we then give them the out-most respect. Isn’t that the case? So if they are not famous, if they are still poor, aren’t they valuable?

In other circles value depends on the manufacturing process and ease of accessing a product. For instance fruits and vegetables tend to be lower in price. This is because they are readily available and can be produced by almost all of us. If they are fruits or vegetables grown in your area you can also grow them in your backyard. However with fruits and vegetables grown outside your province you will find that the price begins to increase. As for minerals found deep within the ground, they are very hard to get, so they tend to be extremely expensive. Because they are rare and cannot be faked or destroyed. The properties found in them are extremely unique. This makes them very valuable. There is very little chance that walking on the street you will pick up gold or anything of value. Everyone wants it. So what we understand now is how easily or hard you get something also defines it’s value.

The question remains what actually makes a person valuable? It’s very sad to see today that a human life has become meaningless. People are used as objects to be taken advantage of. Especially women and young girls. You find that a lot of movies and music videos portray them as sex objects. As if their most desirable position is in bed or beside a wealthy man. The fact that girls easily associate themselves with these so called “stars” has meant that they also live their lives according to false association. When they discover that they actually are not “Beyonce” or that their lives don’t look like “hers”, (because hers is not real) they feel valueless. When the boyfriend leaves, the clothing etc they feel valueless.

A person is important because of who made them, and like natural things because of the material they are made of. A person exists in three forms. The flesh, the soul and the spirit. In fact the real and true person is the spirit. That is the real you. Did you know that?

Genesis 2.7 (NKJV) And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.

It’s interesting to note that the person did not live till God breathed in him the “breath of life”. You see the body was there, just like it’s lying there after a person we love passes away, but the part that is composed of life is “the spirit of man” this is very important to note as we seek to understand the value of a person. A person is valuable because of the breath of God in them. A person is valuable because they are made from the image of God.

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Genesis 1:26-27(NKJV) 26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all[a] the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 So God created man in Hisown image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

You are valuable not because of what you have, but because of who you are. You are an extension/ type of God himself. When you look at a tree, the trunk of the tree is facing upward, but by the extension of branches and leaves the tree can cover all who stand under it. Whether they are on the north, south, east or west. In the same way God is able to touch everyone and every part of life by birthing us as agents (branches) to extend his goodness. A person, though today one can argue not protected like other creatures, is the most important being on earth. It’s only human beings who can be fully aware of God and be able to articulate his views, and therefore bring divinity and “healing sparkle” to ordinary things.

It’s wonderful to note that when God wanted to bring someone to earth to reverse the evil that existed. He did not bring an Angel of war, a being that can destroy everything in one night like it happened in Egypt (Exodus 11). Of earthly creatures he did not bring a dragon. Though mighty and majestic. He did not bring a Rhino, a Lion or any other creature. He brought a person who was born like me and you, subjected to the same fragility and danger we are. In fact when Jesus was born they tried to kill him. Some of you they tried to kill you via abortion and other methods of convenience, but God protected you.

God brought a person because a person is the most valuable creature on earth. It does not matter who you are, that is why Jesus was born in an unknown family. It does not matter who you know, that is why Jesus was born in a manger and was celebrated only by those who had true revelation.

It does not matter how poor or rich you are. You are valuable because you are made and belong to God. I hope this point is well made as it’s crucial. God does not call angels his children, He calls Jesus his child and us as well. To him, we are by position and I believe by affection as important as Jesus (read John 3.16). That was the point of Jesus dying on the cross. To remind us though we are many and find ourselves in a struggle to succeed. To God it’s as if you are alone. You have all his attention, you are valuable and your dream will end in greatness, not disappointment. Read Romans 9.33 The second point in value which we have already established is “material of manufacturing”. What material are we manufactured from as people? Genesis 2.7 showed us that our body or packaging is made from the ground. This shows us that our body is nothing to brag about. We cannot surely anchor our importance on something that is fallible as the ground. That would be a grave mistake.

The key is that the body is merely a “package” the true value is what’s inside, the spirit and by extension the mind. The Bible says in Genesis 1.26 we are made by the image of God. This means we are made from the substance that is God. This introduces to us our abilities and potential. It

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means whatever God does, so can we. What a discovery! Whatever God does, so can I. Your value therefore is immeasurable and can only be defined by God ( Jeremiah 29.11). Don’t limit yourself by depending on what others say about you, rather see your potential in what God does and how He does it. Your value is in the material you were created in, a material of divinity and eternity. A material that created the entire universe is today at your disposal to create and manufacture by faith.

Just as God does.

Genesis 1 (NKJV) The History of Creation 1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was[a] on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. 3 Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. 4 And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day.

As we wrap up this first point I hope you now see your value and worth. Not as looking dapper, but looking deeply at who you are. One last point we can learn is in how God brings things into being.

God creates by speaking, in changing your confession you will change your reality. Please Learn how to speak the word of God over your life, for every area of your life put a verse to memory to change your expectation and depend on your true potential.

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Here is an example based on Kutullo’s life: Kutullo’s health: psalm 103.2-5 Kutullo’s wealth: psalm 112.3 Kutullo’s friends: proverbs 27.5-6 Kutullo’s dreams and goals: Matthew 6.33 Kutullo’s protection: psalm 91 Don’t be afraid, or should I say “do it afraid”. You wont fail. The word created the sun, moon and seasons. Guess what, they are still in place. God’s word does not fail.

It does not matter how low you begin, or that you began real high and experienced a sudden decline. Note that your value is not attached to another person or things, but only God. Don’t die trying to fake a person you are not. Discover your true value in God and “TURN IT UP”.

Let this account of Joseph’s life lift you up: 9 “Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with him 10 and rescued him from all his troubles. He gave Joseph wisdom and enabled him to gain the goodwill of Pharaoh king of Egypt. So Pharaoh made him ruler over Egypt and all his palace.

YOUTUBE

VIDEO

Nick Vujicic/Evangelist http://www.lifewithoutlimbs.org/ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kD-fH5W_Ruk

The next BIG thing The next big thing! We hear about this description constantly, literally all the time. Who is the next big thing? What is the next big thing etc. This view of life reveals many things we do and especially why we do them? The choir members and leaders are hoping to be the best next thing, the young preacher is dying to be the next big thing, so is the intern in the office. Not to mention the sports men and women. This informs the dress code, the events attended and rhetoric repeated among friends. It all defines a tribe that believes in “Go big or go home”. It’s good to pursue success and great achievements, however not at any cost. Because the cost is already paid for.

In being willing to succeed, we should not “die to succeed” (1 Timothy 6.6-10). Life always has two views to any subject, appearance and reality. Though many people including your friends claim to succeed by wearing the right clothes and attending events as VIP’s. The reality is often very different.

In this chapter I hope to walk you through what it looks like to have a balanced and excited view of expectation in Christ Jesus.

I still recall the games that we often played as children in trying to manipulate or “urge” our parents to give us what we wanted. I personally would often try to avoid my parents sending me on errands.

Going to the shop, cleaning the house etc. When I came back from school I would eat as fast as possible if at all and then escape to the streets where I would play with my friends till curfew.

This only changed when our school announced a recreational trip. In trying to twist my mom and late father to pay for me, I would be the sweetest boy possible. I realize now that my parents saw through my pretence but still paid for me to go on the trips. Though they knew my motives were not perfect, they still allowed me to go.

It’s funny to me that we actually think that God is not capable of such grand display of mercy. It’s true that God looks on the heart and not exterior;

Proverbs 16:2-4 (NIV) 2 All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord.

3 Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.

4 The Lord works out everything to its proper en-even the wicked for a day of disaster.

However none of us at any point can claim to have perfect/pure motives in doing even good things.

The honest truth is that as we preach we hope to win followers who will like what we are teaching, as we sing we hope there is a scout who will appreciate our hard work and gives that “big break”.

Even as we give food to someone poor we hope to get recognized and someone to celebrate us. It’s natural for us as people to feel this way and desire things that appeal to the flesh.

The Lord is merciful and is willing to work with us in purifying our motives, you might start with natural motives but you can end with supernatural ideals if you allow the Lord to lead your path.

You need God to clean up your pursuits, you see “making it big” can be a very limited goal. As long as the motive is based on brushing your ego and making you a star (read Proverbs chapter 16), Do not find yourself committed to a work or project the Lord rejects.

How does the Lord help you in perfecting your motives? One of the ways the Lord achieves this is in

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asking us to help others, or in instructing us to serve Him by serving others. All the great men in the bible had to do this in order to qualify to take responsibility of their own goals. John the baptist had to serve Jesus by making a way for him, in the old testament Elisa had to be mentored by Elijah so that he can achieve twice what his mentor achieved. Joshua had to follow the instructions of Moses.

The disciples had to give up their careers and entire lives to follow Jesus. Look at this scripture;

Ephesians 6 (NIV) 6 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise- 3 “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”[a] 4 Fathers,[b] do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. 6 Obey them not only to win their favour when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. 7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, 8 because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free.

Though the scripture talks about slave and master, the emphasis is on authority above you. Until you are able to do this, you cannot qualify to run your own race. This shows us why it’s highly impossible for someone who does not respect their parents to achieve great things for God. I am not saying you don’t have a gift, what I am saying is until you abandon conflict, gossip, tempting others with evil, plotting perverse things, lying, impatience and lack of self control you will not be able to walk the walk.

Luke 16:10-12 (NIV) 10 “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. 11 So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? 12 And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?

Commit your life to scripture and the spirit of God. He will help you overcome all vices and break all types of strong holds. It’s a journey and not a sprint. Once you have learned to serve others you will realize that you are no longer dominated by desire for stardom, rather you are burning with passion to achieve a goal, what is even more useful is that you will realize that by helping others out of a pure heart you have learned the keys to opening your next door.

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If you help enough people get what they want, you will get what you want.

— ZIG ZIGLAR Best goals are those that help and touch others, selfish goals create idols, manipulate others for your success and end up even frustrating the founder. Your aim should be to serve and not to want people to serve you. It’s amazing that champions are people who are driven by goals and not the lime light, they desire to win rather than to cash in. Mohammed Ali wanted to be and stay as world boxing champion, money came as a by-product. Allow the Lord to take your motives from self serving to Christ serving. Any leader or follower that puts their selfish desire before God’s big idea becomes negative towards his vision.

“Do not think that love in order to be genuine has to be extraordinary. What we need is to love without getting tired. Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.”

— Mother Teresa The next big thing is not what you will get, or what will be done for you. The next big thing is what you plan to do for another. This might be buying a small gift for a parent or relative who never celebrates their birthday, this might be giving lunch to someone in need or even going wilder! Go for it, the next big thing is what you will do for another.

Romans 15. 1-2 The Message (MSG) Those of us who are strong and able in the faith need to step in and lend a hand to those who falter, and not just do what is most convenient for us. Strength is for service, not status. Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, “How can I help?”

I would like to end this chapter by entertaining a concept that was once shared by The Lord Jesus.

This parable focuses on turning the worst negative in your life into a positive. This is what I believe is your “Next Big Thing”

Matthew 5:41 New Living Translation (NLT) If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile,[a] carry it two miles.

Read the whole chapter of Matthew 5, it’s so far ahead it’s epic. Why would Jesus ask you to go an extra mile if you had to only walk one. Back in that time Israelites were occupied in their home country by Romans, they had become second rate citizens in their own country. Similar to how black people were treated in South Africa during apartheid. In Israel a soldier by their unjust laws could walk to any Israelite and force him to carry his bags for a distance of one mile (1,6 km).

Here comes Jesus saying instead of one mile you should walk two miles (3,2km). What was he thinking?

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The truth is that he was empowering the Israelite who was like a slave, he was saying to him during the first mile, the soldier will feel like he owns you and that he has power over you, he is telling you your worth. What to do and how to do it. However as the mile ends and he expects you to give up the bags and run like a puppy with it’s tail between it’s legs, tell him. “I will go for another mile” now that second mile belongs to you, in that mile the soldier will wonder if you are overzealous, crazy or stupid? And that presents an opportunity to present Christ to your enemy, to demonstrate and share him in a way that allows you to take your power back and make a lasting impression. In that moment rising from a slave to a commander. That is the NEXT BIG THING.

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YOUTUBE

VIDEO

Genetics/poet Miss Terious Janette…IKZ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igCj3jsbcqs

Dying to get it!

The process of God’s provision is unique and special. It is amazing how easily God gives. In fact God wants to give more than you and I are willing to receive. God literally wants to provide all your needs.

Psalm 37:4 New Living Translation (NLT) Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires.

Why are so many of us dying to receive and get things whilst God is willing to give? Let’s look at what it is that people want or need in today’s context and world. There used to be a time in history when a person said “I need something” meant that they need it to live and eat. So they would refer to food, water and a clean pair of clothes to wear.

However today when a young person like you and I refer to needs, it means something totally different. I remember saying to my lovely wife “Boo” I need an iPhone. In retrospect I don’t need an iphone as I can live and thrive without it. The correct description would be that “I wanted an iphone” this puts what I want in a different context/box. It means what I actually desire is for enjoyment, entertainment and maybe improves productivity. It does not improve life as it’s marketed and advertised.

The media today runs and drives the hierarchy of needs, desires and wants among the general public. I am not referring to Maslow hierarchy of needs. I think we can all agree that Maslow was accurate. Rather it’s TV shows that portray to us what we should have, how we should eat. Where we should sleep, what we should drive. For instance when looking at a character in a soapie like generations, most of them tend to be wealthy and don’t consider a budget when spending. They wear fancy clothes, live in pent houses and have no material care. Believe it or not. This builds a deep yearning, desires and sometimes resentment in the audience. They dream of being in those people’s shoes and are “dying” to be like them.

This is the same with most R&B and HipHop videos. They constantly portray characters having sexual and illicit affairs with different women. They build an association and desire in their audience that one has to be sexually active and be extremely good at it. This portrayal of course does not carry consequences and is not based on reality. Most people who seemingly know how to handle a man or woman on screen can’t maintain a relationship in real life. Very sad in deed. The other sad part of this story is that this media avenue projects all these desires in people’s hearts and give them no recommendations in what to do with them. If TV characters portray excessive wealth, surely TV should be committed to lifting people economically. If the screen is selling the image of thin women and intimacy, surely TV should commit to teaching people how to build real relationships.

My point is to remind you and ask you to do an inventory. Ask yourself “who and what” informs my

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desires. Sure you want to be the hottest person in the room, have you asked yourself why? Is that the essential thing at this time? What if you don’t get it right now? How will you live?

I would like to suggest to you that God wants to give you everything you desire. However with that said He cannot give you anything that is against his nature of Love. Anything that is against his purpose and his word. Neither can he give you something that you are not mature enough to administer.

John 14 (New Living Translation) 12 “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. 13You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. 14Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!

This scriptures and the prior show us that God provides for purpose. He does not provide for lust and sinful vices. He does not provide for things that we merely want because we saw that others have them. Let me put it this way, God might not give you the latest fashion item. In fact it’s not a priority because it does not add to purpose (Collosians 3.1). The world today has a false idea that their hero will come looking dapper. In Jesus’ time in ancient Israel they were waiting for a hero who will come in armor. Who will violently destroy the Romans who had occupied them. Today we have traded the expectation of armor to luxurious clothing and accessories. We expect that our hero will come, looking like “man or woman of the year”. You know the people they put in calenders and rate them as the sexiest...

Matthew 6 New Living Translation (NLT) 25 “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? 27 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? 28 “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, 29 yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are.

Wearing the best threads is admirable and has it’s place. However that has nothing to do with excellence, satisfaction even confidence. The truth is that most people who depend on external things for context and importance have low self esteem and are not steady in their hearts. It’s the habit of the Lord in scripture for him to strip you of your “self made” qualities in order for him to bring you to a place you could not have imagined. In the same stroke use you to have impact on others through that journey. Not a kingdom of comforts, but the kingdom of God.

YOUTUBE

VIDEO

francis chan/teacher http://crazylove.org/ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LA_uwWPE6lQ

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Note this about the central figure of the bible. The bible tells us very little about how Jesus looked.

What he wore, and preferred to sip while relaxing. In fact it says about him “Isaiah 53:2-3 There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance, nothing to attract us to him.”

If our Lord did not rely on his looks or razer sharp appearance to make a mark in the world why should we? If it’s at all essential he would have been born more handsome than me, Just joking. He would have been born more radiant than an angel. Stop relying on a factor that is ever in decline.

“Charm can mislead and beauty soon fades. The woman to be admired and praised is the woman who lives in the Fear-of-God. “Proverbs 31.30-31. Rely on the spirit of God. He ever

refreshes and renews. He makes everything He touches lovely. He will not fail in fulfilling his purpose.

In my early teenage years I expected many of such “wants” from the Lord. If I went to a social function I wanted to be remembered. Looks were crucial to me, maybe even more important than character, but the Lord as a dutiful father must have know I need the latter. I must confess today.

Not out of a sense of regret or remorse, but praise and Victory, I thank the Lord he never provided those things at the time I thought I needed them most. Thank God he never did, for I have learned now that it’s not the clothing I need, but the fire in my heart. The confidence from my abilities, the joy of the Lord that will open the way for me. Clothes don’t make a man, a man makes the clothes!

Stand up and shine, your glory exudes from within not from a store account.

One of the most tragic stories in my estimation in scripture is the story of Joseph in the old testament. You can read about this account from Genesis 37.18 …

We learn about a young man named Joseph. The bible states that he was his father’s favorite son out of all his brothers. He was bought a luxurious and flamboyant jacket of “many colours” that ultimately aroused so much jealousy that his brothers ended up trying to murder him. My point with this example as you will discover when you read is that Joseph was stripped of his natural inheritance, position and treasures of life. Only to discover that the striping was necessary for the journey the Lord had him on. Beyond that point extreme wealth was a consequence of the purpose and mission. Not the point or pursuits of Joseph.

In his journey Joseph was stripped again and again of what was important to him. However I must emphasize that The Lord was with him. God is not absent when your shoe heel is falling and people think of you as a failure. I am yet reminded of the voyage of the Israelites through the ugly and unforgiving desert yet, the Lord sustained them;

Deuteronomy 8. New Living Translation (NLT) 3 Yes, he humbled you by letting you go hungry and then feeding you with manna, a food previously unknown to you and your ancestors. He did it to teach you that people do not live by bread alone; rather, we live by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. 4 For all these forty years your clothes didn’t wear out, and your feet didn’t blister or swell. 5 Think about it: Just as a parent disciplines a child, the Lord your God disciplines you for your own good.

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I have not heard yet of a shoe from Nike, Addidas or other brands that does not wear out. Have you?

It does not exist except the Lord come upon it. With God on your side you can shine no matter what you have or don’t have.

Are you dying to get it? The good news is Jesus died for you to get it, and resurrected with it.

You don’t have to suffer for what has already been provided. The Lord never begins something and fails to finish it. Sometimes as you walk around your “hood” neighborhood i am sure you come across a building or house that has been incomplete for years. Some of those are churches by the way. That is not the plan of God, he always finishes what he begins. You can be sure of the same results for your hopes and dreams. God wants you to “Get It”

Philippians 1:6 Amplified Bible (AMP) 6 And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] andperfecting and bringing it to full completion in you.

God does not only want you to finish your mission, he has ensured that you will. Everyone close to him in scripture has always made a great impact in life. Even those who made terrible mistakes he ensured that they make a success of themselves and their families.

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1 Corinthians 15. New Living Translation (NLT) 20 But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died. 21So you see, just as death came into the world through a man, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man.22 Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life.

The key to making sure that you live a growing and prospering life is to ensure that you become a student of the word. Not only reading it but practising it in every part of your life ( James 1.22). when you become aware of his precepts and principles you are becoming aware of keys of authority, management and leadership. You become a good ground which will in consequence produce good fruits (Matthew 13.8). Believe me you don’t need more than that. Jesus did not teach his disciples how to make money, or how to get attention of rich people or how to manipulate others as so many think. He taught the meaning of the word of God and how to practice it. That made them a success, it will also produce the same results in you. The bible is not meant for pastors, that is a poor use of a good book. It’s meant for teens with baggy jeans, it’s meant for blue collar workers on the Mid-night shift, it’s meant for nurses, artists and doctors. For police men and those in media. It will make you a success.

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Timothy 2:15 Amplified Bible (AMP) Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly teaching] analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully the Word of Truth.

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A lot Secondly Act on what you Learn. I cannot over emphasise the importance of this point. the word Obeying it. on act to guts the have few a only tely unfortuna church, to go do of people everyone of God is challenging. It is like swimming against the current. It is not easy that when face of the in crumble often we validated be to need is looking right, you look left. Due to the it that admit don’t we though think We love. we those by rejected be to opposition, we don’t want way”. better a is there that everyone remind and up stand than sin in together die to “it’s better n (See Romans 12.1-2.) Bad things are often a reminder not of bad times, but bad applicatio willing are people few very and God from away moved (Romans 6.23). A reminder that we have on and to obey him. Don’t go with the current, go with scripture. God is above any persecuti n. obstructio

Isaiah 43:19 New Living Translation (NLT) not see 19 For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you the dry it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in wasteland.

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a plan, all you My point here is that you don’t have to obsses about a plan. God has already made fruitful. be will you and plan his with agree faith by is do to have doesn’t it?

What is faith? Faith is the ability to believe in what you don’t see. Sounds very odd are not you maybe do, you fact actual In see? don’t you that g somethin How can you believe in we speak. Here is as faith of level certain a practising already are all We . familiarity of because aware a stamp by an a question. Before you set on the chair or bed you are on right now did you require That is a level it? into sinked just you or set you before engineer? Did you first check that it’s stable Mr. air or seen you Have exists? air doubt you Do ure. manufact or chair the of faith you showed in wind, the of effects perhaps Mrs. air? How about their kids baby air? No. But you feel and see the you breath so you know that air exists. by design. In other God would like you to use this ability purposefully. Christians function Like God words we are meant to do things exactly like God, drawing from his abilities;

Hebrews 10:38 English Standard Version (ESV) 38 but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.”

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God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”

29 Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. 30 And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.” And it was so.

31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day. Genesis 1 28

Detailed above is the very dream of rappers, actors. Mine bosses and the richest people in the world. To influence the entire globe. Why do we act as if it’s new when someone says “they want to conquer the globe”. I have discovered that in most instances it’s their motives that make us apprehensive however the desire is God given. No one is doing it though. Even countries that tried to forcefully and violently rule and master nations across borders could only do so for a limited time. That is because the only way to full-fill this command of scripture is do it through God’s ability. To use his word, his principles and take steps of faith based on the unseen but the felt urges in our hearts.

It’s humanly impossible to Full-fill the blessing and commands God gave Adam. This can only be done by Faith and love. Good things often look and feel impossible when you begin. Use your faith.

That strong sense in your heart that you will make it is real as your eye sight. Continue speaking God and Good (in that order), your success is inevitable.

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Impressed Pronunciation: / m pr s 1Make (someone) feel admiration and respect: their performance impressed the judges[NO OBJECT]: he has to put on an act to impress

Performance seems to be the driving force behind our generation today. It’s either you perform at a maximum or you get discarded. This is true in friendships at schools. Marriage relationships often fall victim to this behavior and not forgetting the workplace were money is king. If you don’t reach your goals (SLA) it’s over.

With that said being performance driven is not necessarily negative, in-fact it’s a positive thing.

When a racing driver goes even faster than humanly imagined, we are all impressed because he is mastering his art and context. Often people who come up with revolutionary ideas and other discoveries are masters or at least the most hungry in their fields. They do so despite the fact that they have the same tools as us, but reach incredible results. Have you seen what an artist can do with a pencil? Anyone can buy the same pencil from a regular store but getting the same results is not so easy, isn’t it?

There are many people who impress me in how they debate and see things. What they have accomplished and the driving force behind their lives. They make an impression that lasts. But the question is “was the impression beneficial”? One also needs to consider where those people ended up? We will consider how God has worked in the past, and use these examples for the benefit of the future.

There can also be a dark side to impressing. Especially if the need to be liked is the driving force of your life. It becomes poisonous to everything a person does. The need to impress can render a person ineffective in relationships. One can’t even be themselves, the desire to impress makes them always wonder what the other person is thinking and try to reply in a way they will be pleased. On and on goes the cycle. We also have heard of people on top of their game deciding to take their own lives, why? This is because they have either slipped from the pedestal we had them on, or they are fatigued from keeping up the front. Religion is also guilty of creating people with a hunger to impress others, not only trying to impress people but God. As a result many men and women of clergy are desperate to publicly impress God or at-least make you believe they are God’s favorite.

The honest truth is none of us can be impressive all the time. That is not humanly possible and I am not convinced we were made to be like that.

Matthew 11:28-30 New International Version (NIV) 28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

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Peter was one of Jesus’ disciples. The bible describes him as very outspoken and impulsive. The interesting thing to note about him and other biblical characters (David, Moses and Elijah) is that they were high impact people who experienced God’s power in a dramatic and powerful way. Peter had the privilege to be with Jesus on a daily, and of even more importance he became aware of Who Jesus was and was to ultimately lay down his life for the kingdom of God. For illustration purposes I have provided a few statement or verses underneath. Please read them carefully.

15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. Matthew 16 23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” Matthew 16 17 Then the servant girl who kept the door said to Peter, “You are not also one of this Man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.”Matthew 14 25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

29 “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Matthew 14

It’s very hard to believe that the above scriptures all refer to the same person. How can God approve and yet disapprove the same person so many times? Is he not sure? Of course He is. He is God. However God has not successfully lead anyone using external stimulation. What I mean is, it does not matter how many miracles you see. If you have not opened your heart for Jesus to come in, it will not help you. The old testament is full of people who saw great miracles, but still lost the plot permanently. Please don’t be one of them.

When Jesus would rebuke Peter it was not an attack on him, but many times it was an attack on his weaknesses/sins. Jesus loved Peter and gave him a special work in developing and leading early Christians. 18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Matthew 16

Jesus intensely and affectionately loves the sinner, but he hates sin. A person’s feelings and behaviour are not consistent. The truth of the matter is that none of us can afford to rely on our feelings in determining our love for God, or his love for us. There is no-one who is on an uninterrupted incline to God. We all need to correct our direction now and then. This is called repentance. This is a healthy thing in a believer’s life. You will constantly have to correct your thinking, you will have to correct your words, you will have to correct your actions. You will have to review and correct, what you read and what you watch. Do not be surprised when you have bad thoughts. These thoughts by the way don’t keep office ours. They can even come in church or other holy places. Just correct them and keep growing in your love for God.

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We find that Peter had a revelation of Jesus, then we find the same person denying Him. He walks on water and then fails in the middle of the most epic thing ever. Same person. Impressive actions, then not so impressive actions. What remains despite those extremes is the Love of God and the calling of God on your life. He will keep calling greatness out of you. It’s Jesus who said to Peter “upon this rock, I will build my church”. Jesus does not use you because you are strong, He uses you because he is strong (2 Corinthians 12.9). He does not love you because you obey perfectly, he loves you despite your weaknesses because you are His. He made you unique and knows exactly what you need. He is not the one you run from, but the one you run to. I cannot impress him. I am thoroughly impressed by him and the more you admire him, the more you obey him. As you follow him you will find yourself doing high impact things by Just following his steps.

John 14:12-14. New International Version (NIV) 12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

The way the bible defines righteousness is very different from what people think.

You are not only righteousness when you do perfect things. You are righteous all the time because you believe in Jesus.

Galatians 2:16 Amplified Bible (AMP) 16 Yet we know that a man is justified or reckoned righteous and in right standing with God not by works of the Law, but [only] through faith and [absolute] reliance on and adherence to and trust in Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). [Therefore] even we [ourselves] have believed on Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the Law [for we cannot be justified by any observance of the ritual of the Law given by Moses], because by keeping legal rituals and by works no human being can ever be justified (declared righteous and put in right standing with God).

The point here is that. God has made a way for you to be pleasing to him through his son.

In order for you to fully appreciate this treasure box, you need to grow in the knowledge of his Son Jesus. There is no righteousness or freedom without Jesus. Morality and rules are good, however they are not the point. Knowing Jesus should be the aim for he has totally impressed God and has put us in the same standing. He is fully satisfied with the punishment Jesus received on the cross on our behalf.

The most important relationship is the relationship between you and Jesus. Your identity has already being defined in him. Don’t find a false identity that will erode your spirit and leave you empty, living without hope. If you don’t know who you are in him, you don’t know who you are at all.

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The point here is not behaviour change or to act. Rather the point is “to become”. The interest of God is not appearance, in-fact he hastes pretence (Matthew 23:27). What he requires is harder than that. He requires a heart change. When you change your heart, you change the centre of your being, you change what you rotate round. He wants to become your new gravity.

Let’s make this practical before we loose some of you. God wants you to think about his word constantly ( Joshua 1.8-9). God’s word is not the truth about religious things, it’s the truth about everything. Mediate on his word, read his word. Find people who have the same pursuit. Be constant in prayer. As you do so and do so passionately, behaviour change will be a by-product of your fellowship and not the main thing. Focusing on yourself is quite a distraction. Even at 60 years of age you will not be acting exactly how you want. Shoot at the cross, Look at Jesus not yourself.

Abandon yourself to him and all earthly pleasures will grow dim.

People ask me, how did you remain a virgin as a teen. It’s a mystery were I got such strength. What I know is the principles of the word preserved me. When people say didn’t you want to drink, go to parties etc. Are you kidding? Of-course sometimes I did. But Growth in Christ awakens you to the reality of things and your choices are not held ransom by culture. You look at things using the bright light of the word and you see the devil waiting to trap people even in the so called “innocent”.

Psalm 119:105, (King James Version (KJV) 105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Your relationship with Jesus is far more beneficial than you can imagine. Not only because of going to our eternal heavenly home. Beneficial for now. The things that God made can’t hardly be maintained without him. There is great frustration in each and everything you will ever be a part of. You therefore need to understand God’s purpose for you to appreciate the value of a thing.

Many kids don’t value their parents. They do this because they are blind to purpose. There are many married people today, who don’t value their vows and have relations outside marriage. The reason once more is because they don’t understand God’s purpose. Without this purpose driven life you become destructive and later find it hard to put your life back together. Use your time wisely.

Develop a relationship with Jesus and maximise your potential. I once met a guy at a school camp, he was not a believer but I was drawn towards him so I began to speak to him. He was very bubbly and confident. He saw how respectable I was to girls and complained “what’s wrong with you” I told him how important everyone is to God and should not be taken advantage of. It was like I was speaking Greek. Needless to say he thought I was crazy. This is were you laugh. That is how it is when you are a believer. People will hardly be impressed by the principles you practice. Young person don’t allow peer pressure to rule you. Keep at it. Planting season is not “sexy” to watch.

However the same people will surround you when they see the fruits. They will want to reap with you. Continue in your faith without fear, embarrassment or attacks don’t matter. The results are coming (Galatians 6.9).

God is pleased by our growth. That’s what he wants to see. It’s very similar in the natural. Parents love and care for their kids. They don’t expect their kids to pay school fees, cook for them or do any of those adult jobs. After all their infants. You are happy to provide for them (Luke 11.11-13).

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However as they grow for the purpose of inheritance and legacy you get them involved in the family business or pursuits. This is only wise and I must say fair. That is what growing in the spirit allows you to do. To get his inheritance and continue his work.

God wants us to keep moving forward. Not to stagnate rather to continue to flow like a fresh spring.

You have a lot do. You have much to accomplish. No matter how small or great is your task, keep being faithful with the little in front of you. Your life as it is today is not a result of a “mess up” rather it’s a “set-up” that God would like to use you to show off his Glory. Many bad things were said by the accusers of Jesus. Including that he is from a wrong tribe. They did not believe he was the son of God. You might find that people say similar things about you. It does not matter, that is only the tweeting of the birds it must mean very little to you.

God is with you and will use your situation to bring good, keep trusting him. Keep growing.

Nothing touches His heart like people who act on faith. He wants to see us live by faith. Relying on the resources he makes available through the holy spirit (Habakkuk 2:4).

Don’t give in, give out!

When what you have is not enough for you, it’s always enough to help someone else. Instead of allowing the enemy to make you look at your weaknesses and cry. Turn to the Lord in his word, you will learn of the small things you can start doing for others. It will refresh your faith and help you start walking in accidental opportunities. Don’t be afraid of planting small seeds. I remember that after graduating from university I began to work in a small company in Hydepark in Johannesburg.

My salary was very little, I could not afford the things I was planning to get. However I realized that It was enough for me to help others reach their goals. In doing so I was refreshed and my purpose invigorated. Needless to say I also got an increase. “When you give, you receive” (luke6.38) This is the value of giving. It helps you to see yourself as a provider and leader. There is so much more value in giving than in receiving.

This is one of the biggest problems in our wonderful Africa. For years we have been receiving aid from companies from the west. However we have not learned to give to each other. As a result we remain limited in our growth and hoard instead of lift others. Let’s break this curse in Jesus name.

Be a worshipper, don’t be worshipped The need to impress can leave you hungry yet addicted to worship. Not worship in the sense of thanking God, rather a desire for people to worship you. You are not infallible, you don’t deserve worship. Yes, you deserve gratitude and thanks. The one above is the one who deserves absolute worship. This means we must always remember to thank God who gives us strength. When you fail to acknowledge him, you easily forget who and how you got here. Remember that your testimony is the key and confidence you need to open the next door. Keep it in mind, recite and don’t forget what God has done for you (write it). Just as one cannot handle infinite suffering without rest, on the other side absolute power is something we find very hard to deal with. Remember that King David only fell when he was a king and had established his kingdom and army. It’s in times of comfort that we unconsciously forget that we did not make it by our own strengths but by the power of God.

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As people we have to learn to take correction without getting angry. Like I said we are not perfect and we will constantly need to change and improve ourselves. Humbleness is required for us to rise to our God ordained position. You will need someone to speak into your life and have the liberty to give you key input when required. To challenge you to go beyond your limit’s. Those hard and difficult talks will help change your life for the better (Don’t praise yourself. Let someone else do it. Let the praise come from a stranger and not from your own mouth. Proverbs 27.2).

Let me not talk about far fetched leaders somewhere but about us. Power can easily go to our heads.

So much so that we forget that our position in life is sustained by the willingness of others to help.

These people temporarily give up their power so one can lead. When a wife submits to a husband or a colleague to a boss. It’s because they suspend their desires in order to reach a goal that benefits everyone. If people around you stopped supporting you. You will be shocked how little you are able to accomplish. Very little indeed. Learn to find joy in your position and complement others when they do good. Give what you want to receive (Luke6.31).

Confession makes you stronger.

One of the worst things you can ask someone who is impressed with themselves is to confess or acknowledge weakness. We imagine that confession is for those who have erred aggressively or should be recited by baby Christians. That is why we are so burdened by the need to impress. It’s because we fail to confess to one another. This is true even more for religious people. We have a deep desire to hide iniquities and only display the excellence in public.

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

James 5.16

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Shortly after getting married. My wife and I were blossoming in many areas of our relationship.

But there were constant problems in others. For sometime I prayed and kept some issues to my self, however it was talking to a close friend that I actually discovered that we were not the only couple experiencing those challenges. In fact some of them were common. This helped to encourage us and potentially diverted us from divorce or extreme discomfort. As a believer you need to have a close group of believers that you can trust. Not those who will condone your sin and lead you astray, rather those who will not judge you, but pray with you and walk with you.

Failing to confess results in a believer who is chaste on the pulpit or when among other believers.

Quoting scriptures and looking the part, to only discover that behind doors you are addicted to pornography or experiencing failure in relationship with parents, siblings etc. Jumping and shouting in church does not result in all the nagging challenges disappearing. You can be a leader at church but find yourself in fornicating relationships. Stealing because of financial pressure and the like.

Don’t let desire to impress keep you arrested in a life of public success, yet experiencing personal failures. Many of these challenges are common to many other people and believers. Confession and devotion in the faith can give you the resources to tackle and overcome these challenges. Don’t fight a long lonely battle if there are others around you who can help lift you up. Don’t let the need to impress keep you caged. Success more often than not is a result of collaboration rather than “Self made man”. A friend or group of people with same goals can go a long way in doing you some good.

YOUTUBE

VIDEO

Suli Breaks (spoken word) http://sulibreaks.com/ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2vahAn17JU

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1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV) 13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

None of us can think that we can choose what’s right for ourselves all the time. Even with multiple options before us we still sometimes choose a path that is bad for us (Proverbs 14.12). That is why the bible advocates among others for marriage. It’s one of those relationships that keep us strictly accountable and ensures we have constant encouragement and perspective from our partners (Ephesians 5.21). Even outside marriage one should pray for friends who can come by their side and they serve each other (Psalm 1).

Conclusion Thinking that you can “impress” God is like a child trying to impress a parent with what actually was bought by the parent. How can we impress God with what belongs to him? The abilities we have are from him. He even out-imagines us when it comes to excelling (Ephesians 3.20). Even the desire we have to serve him comes from Him. God already loves us. Someone once said, you cannot do anything to make him love you more, or do something so wrong that he can love you less. God loves you perfectly. The challenge is in you discovering that truth. That truth must become real to your spirit. I sometimes watch my young son who is a year and 4 months. Let me tell you he can’t say anything at all as he can’t talk. For many years to come he will not be able to tell me anything that I don’t know. For a long time he will not be able to do anything I can’t do ten times better. I must warn you though, even with that said I love him more than anything. His growth and and joy occupies me more than anything.

I tend to believe focusing on what you can do to impress Him is starting to go amiss. Trying to impress Him by keeping rules and doing better than others is like a baby trying to impress a father by quoting 26 letters of the alphabets. It will leave you tired and potentially hating the faith. The true and beneficial thing is to “be a son”. God wants you to become, not to do. He wants you to grow in relationship with Him to draw your strength from Jesus and not the law. You are everything God wants in a son. He made you for a great destiny. You only malfunction because You’re far from God. Come close to him and all of a sudden your weaknesses wont dominate you. When you experience His love you will not remain the same. His love leads to repentance. Your transformation will be an incredible metamorphosis.

YOUTUBE

VIDEO

) trip lee/rapper (preacher .com brag iltto http://bu http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9CXwOe9m5o

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Corinthians 5:17 The Message (MSG) 16-20 Because of this decision we don’t evaluate people by what they have or how they look. We looked at the Messiah that way once and got it all wrong, as you know. We certainly don’t look at him that way any more. Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons! Look at it! All this comes from the God who settled the relationship between us and him, and then called us to settle our relationships with each other. God put the world square with himself through the Messiah, giving the world a fresh start by offering forgiveness of sins. God has given us the task of telling everyone what he is doing. We’re Christ’s representatives. God uses us to persuade men and women to drop their differences and enter into God’s work of making things right between them.

We’re speaking for Christ himself now: Become friends with God; he’s already a friend with you.

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Jesus was impressed by; Now when Jesus heard this, He marvelled at him, and He turned and said to the crowd that followed Him, I tell you, not even in [all] Israel have I found such great faith [as this]. Luke 7.1-9 9

And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately. 48 And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace. Luke8.43-48

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A woman came up to Him with an alabaster flask of very precious perfume, and she poured it on His head as He reclined at table.

8 And when the disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, For what purpose is all this waste? 9 For this perfume might have been sold for a large sum and the money given to the poor. 10 But Jesus, fully aware of this, said to them, Why do you bother the woman? She has done a noble (praiseworthy and beautiful) thing to Me. 11 For you always have the poor among you, but you will not always have Me. 12 In pouring this perfume on My body she has done something to prepare Me for My burial. 13 Truly I tell you, wherever this good news (the Gospel) is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will be told also, in memory of her. Matthew 26.7-13 7

. this dissertation and sharing in these thoughts Thank you for taking time to read e. min to inues cont sform your life as He I pray the Lord Jesus bless and tran MATOME AND

MABUSHA

KGATLE @Dearworld MK

Dearworld Kgatle

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ME My Wife

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