KNOW YOUR CULTURE

Heritage Day is one of the newly created South African public holidays. It is a day in which we are all encouraged to celebrate their cultural traditions in the wider context of the great diversity of cultures, beliefs, and traditions that make up the nation of South Africa. In is very important for an individual to know their roots, where they were born and at least have their traditional attire.

Knowing your culture does not necessarily mean you have to be on your tradition attire everyday and behave  differently. You can still embrace it by not forgetting where you come from, being able to speak your home language and  know where your people come from. These days i have noticed that people no longer practice  or respect their culture. We are now westernized and follow what other western countries and forgetting that we are South Africans.

I was born in the Setswana tribe but i can tell you that i do not know most of what we practice. At some point i asked my parents why they did not take me to township schools to learn my home language. There was a point i blamed them that during school holidays they should have taken us home(in North West) so to learn about our culture.But at the end of the day i should have pushed them to teach me what i need to know while its still early.

 They say that the Tswana tribe who migrated from the East Africa to Southern Africa during the 14th century. The origin of the name "Tswana" is mystery but applied to a number of groups who all speak the same language, have similar customs but separate names. This makes me wander who are the 1st generation of our culture.

I personally encourage people to to know their culture so they will not be lost. For me i feel kind of lost  because i use my fathers Step-dad surname and i was told that he was from an international country. Question is am i international or from the Setswana tribe? At the end of the day i console myself by saying God is the who really knows who i am.

"South Africa is Diverse and proud of the different cultures we have".

HOW DO YOU DEFINE YOURSELF...

How do you define yourself as a person? Do you see yourself as a loser, coward and stupid.  Find yourself time and think about this. How and who do you describe yourself as, when someone askes you this question. I have come across people who accept what people call them whether is a negative or postive thing. Then they even laugh it off acting like that person meant it as a joke. My pastor taught me the power of the tongue and be careful of what people say about you.

I was one of people that was called all sorts of names and I would laugh and believe what they said. It did not bother me at first but once people call you bad names frequently it starts to sink in and you than develop what is called Low Self-esteem. It is so easy for a person to see that your not confident , your shy and not courageous. I can say this feeling is one of the most heartbreaking process one can go through. The worst part is that you can not change it over night.

Then at church they give us a confession list which we should confess every morning when we wake up. Oh i tell you that the tongue is powerful. Since i started doing the saying the confession every morning my life is much much better, i no longer worry about what others say and who says what behind. They is a saying that says people who talk behind you are , people who are behind in life, they just have nothing to do in life but just to talk about you.

I remember a song by Kirk Franklin "my life ,my love,my all". It reminds me that no one can  judge you but the almighty who is your life, who let his only and only son to die for us on the cross so we can have life/eternal life. He is God of love who loves us unconditionally, amazingly without no doubt. He is God of all , everything that is on earth is created by him and he give man the gift to be able to produce human-made things like cars, house and others. That is why when you achieve something you need to thank God who blessed you.  

I will conclude by saying that never let people define for you , who you are!!! Open your mouth and speak positive things about yourself (I am Great, I am Strong, Im A Genius, Im Smart)etc. You might take this light but it really works.

APPRECIATE WHAT YOU HAVE>3

First thing you should appreciate is God decided that you should live in this world because maybe you were supposed to  be a dog but than God said you should be a human being. The second you should appreciate is that your body is functioning well and that you do not need machines to help you. Third thing is that your mother decided not to abort you because God put some sense into her brain.Finally God knew you before you were formed in your mothers womb.

People this days care about how successful they are (financially,in their marriage and career) and the house they live in and the amount of money they are making. Never have they take the time just to thank God for blessing them with what they have. That is why some Christians  are successful because the fruits  they reap/harvested/receive they take ten percent of it to church. The ten percent is just to thank God for blessing them and providing them with the things they need.

Then I ask myself what is it that you appreciate today, is it that the mercy and grace of God that has been with you through your life, studies, job and family. It does not even take you an hour or years just to say "Modimo kae leboga" Meaning "God Thank You". That is all you need to do.Instead people today worship the material things that they have achieved. Have you ever thought about what if God takes them away from you.

BEAUTIFUL WOMEN...

When God created Adam (Male) , he figured out that Adam will be a lonely man living alone. He than decided to create Eve (Female) who will live with Adam. My point is have you ever asked yourself why God  Created women and why the word Female has a male in it? That is because women are special and God knew that without females , male species were not going to survive.

 As a women I believe that we are not given the amount of rest we deserve. We are underestimated , we viewed as  slaves and also perceived as weak. As you read the bible you find that the sins which women committed was adultery. When I analysis it i realize that woman today are actually seen as sex salves. For example some woman get what they want through sex they get (cars, clothes , jobs) and others. Yes it is true that some were forced to do such but the question is will it ever stop!.

When i walk on the streets i see young girls being mothers and not chasing their dreams. I see them involved in crime, helpless and not motivated. These days women are being raped and the country is doing nothing about it.Oh how i wish to blame their parents for not raising them well, but yet again i think about the fact that they make their own decisions. Who can really help these women of God , who else can rescue them besides God? The answer is they all need God in their lives.

When i grow up i was taught that is a women must have dignity if you do not have it men will use you and crawl over you. I was also taught how to take care of myself, how to be in depended, how to control myself and not follow the entertainment of the world because it does not change.Finally i was taught to never give up, fight for what i believe in and do not be intimidated by somebody because i also have potential.

Today i advise all women to be Beautiful inside and out. I want to see young woman  being the leaders of tomorrow , being the well known business ladies, being able to say no.When will i wake up and hear on the news that women are hard workers, they are confident and should be valued. Shout out to the sisters who have jobs, who are mothers, who are single parents , who are working hard, who are wife's and they are still Driven.

WHERE are you Ladies? God  did not call us to sit, watch television, think about fashion and go to malls. God has a purpose for us all , lets work on it. God loves you Beautiful Women.

MY TESTIMONY

In life we all have a story to tell, in order to reach a level which you desire we need to go through the pain,the trials. You might think that your problems are worse but wait till you hear about other people 's  problem. But I tell you that I'm a living testimony that God is alive and watching over you. When i think about how God has been there for me and how i almost throw the towel, indeed i believe that "he will not leave me nor forsake me" .They say do worry about the things you can not change rather worry about those you can change. 

Theres a song by Marvin Sapp "My Testimony" he thanks God ,that he is glad that he made it ,he made through the storms, rain,headache and pain. He is still alive to carry, he did not lose the battle.Although he experienced lost and a major cost but he never lost the faith in God. So if you see him cry it is a sign that he made it, he still alive with the scars. Inspite of all the trial God still has a plan for him and it is working for his good.It is building his Testimony.

I personally love his song, when i fist heard it I cried and they wear not ties of pain but of the fact that i thought that i was alone but God is with me. People outside may laugh at you , call you name and degrade you. But always remember that God has  the final say , his plan for you he has said it before you were born in your mothers womb. Nobody  even the devil can not change it. Shout loud and say you will make It through because your problem is just temporary.

  

YOUR A LIVING TESTIMONY ,Invite God into your life.

THE KEY TO SUCCESS

NOT EVERYONE IS DRIVEN:

The key to success is firstly to Surround yourself with positive people. Is it true that people who make it in life are surrounded by postive people, they have a mentor who always encourages them to do better. One of my mentors is my Pastor, since I started attending his church which is Word Praise Christian Center International. My life has changed drastically and they are choices which I made before which  I am not proud, of but through God I have to do things the right way.

It is important to surround yourself with people who Dream bigger than you do or you will not be inspired to achieve other things.Meaning that you should choose your friends wisely at all times and choose those who have the same mindset as you. They are people who come to your life only to destory you and make you feel like your worthless and there is nothing you can achieve in life. There are also people who you do wish to see you climb the leader they always feel comfortable as long as your below them. When I was in high school I made as decision to separate with my childhood friends because I knew that they did not have the same vision as mine. it was hard at first because we knew eachother well but i do not regert the decision i made.

They say that "successful people are always looking for the opportunites to help others". This clearly means that when you have achieved something in life is not because of your knowlegde but the will of God. So when God blesses you it is good to share that blessing with other. That is why people who succeed more in life are the once that help other to get where the need to be.

Theres also a saying which says "Unsuccessful people are always asking, 'What's in it for me". these kind of people will never succeed because they always want something in return when helping others.  They \do help willingly in order to make someones life better and worthy but they only care about their interest and their benefit. What i have learned about life is necer underestimate someone because one day you will need help from them.

DREAM BIG!!!!!!!
      

HAVING TRUE FRIENDS IS A BLESSING

Any one can tell you how hard it is to find a true friend and also maintaining friendships. How I love my friends because I know I can trust them and they are always there for me when I need them. God has truly blessed me with such beautiful,loving kind and unique friends.Sometimes friends can be your worst enemy, that is why you need to be careful when you choose friends, because you do not want to be friends with a monster.

When you are in primary you always choose friends according to those who are kind to you and accept you. It does not matter what they do , because at that time your mindset tells you all about the playing and not thinking about future. I have realised that true friends are always honest to you and they never try to stab you from the back. There is a frienship qoute which says a "stranger stabs you in the front; a friend stabs you in the back; a boyfriend stabs you in the heart, but best friends only poke each other with straws". This could mean friends always find a way to correct you with the mistakes you have done.

Mina and Katlego

ME AND PHELADI