To See Ourselves

A well known Scottish poet of the 18th Century, Robert Burns once wrote:
"O wad some Power the giftie gie us
To see oursels as ithers see us!"
(O would that some power gave us the ability to see ourselves as others do)
Admittedly he was writing rather unkindly about an insect seen on a Lady's bonnet at church but the truism is stated very clearly. Very few of us actually have 20:20 vision when it comes to ourselves. In fact self deception and illusion often appears to be the order of the day.
A question often asked is how does one rate oneself. For many people there are a whole host of criteria that contribute to one's own assessment of oneself. These may include some or all of the following and more:
Looks
- Am I good looking / beautiful
- Am I slim / muscular / fat
Intellect
- Am I bright / dim
- Are my grades A or F
- Do I grasp concepts easily/ have difficulty
Sports
- Am I sporty / not sporty
- Can I run fast/ not fast
- How well do I do Swimming, Football, Hockey, Basket Ball etc.
Personality
- Am I interesting / Dull 
- Do I have many friends / Few friends
Am I
- Energetic
- Trustworthy
- Chatty
- Honest
And so on.
The simple fact is that most people will not confront all these facts about themselves. Either they cannot truly assess the situation, or they deceive themselves or do not really want don't want to know.
But now there is an opportunity for your friends and acquaintances to tell you truly what they really think of you. They will be asked to rate you on 6 scales so none is too personally threatening and yet gives a true picture of how others see us.
Most of the Social media sites could have the ability to deliver this information albeit not very clearly. The other thing is that most of the "friends" one has on Facebook, for example, cannot even be rated as acquaintances. The chances are good that 80% or more of these people one has either never met or are likely to meet, or haven't seen or actually spoken to in ages. So rating one's self esteem by the number of Facebook friends or Twitter followers or visitors to one's Myspace page is not a true assessment at all.
Here's a place you can go where there is no pressure, you can meet as many or as little people as you want.  a place where everyone is striving for the same goal, SUCCESS.   To find out more about this place take a look Here.http://bit.ly/My6pva 

Michael Stanley

The Agony Of Being Double-Minded With God

Double-mindedness is cause for agony in any arena:

• Who wants an employee who has never decided to kick it in 100% with the company?
• Or someone on the athletic team who is half-hearted?

Having our affections divided between God and the world is like a guy standing on two chunks of ice that are floating in opposite directions. Disaster is imminent!

Here's how Francois Fenelon addresses this business of double-mindedness:

"Woe unto those weak and timid souls who are divided between God and their love for the world!

"They want and they do not want.

"They are torn by passion and remorse at the same time.

"They fear the judgments of God and those of others.

"They have a horror of evil and a shame of good.

"They have the pains of virtue without tasting its sweet consolations.

"O how wretched they are! Ah, if they had a little courage to despise the empty talk, the cold mockings, and the rash criticism of others, what peace they would enjoy in the bosom of God."

"There is only one way to love God: to take not a single step without Him, and to follow with a brave heart wherever He leads."

James cautions us that a double-minded man "cannot hope to receive anything from the Lord, and the life of a man of divided loyalty will reveal instability at every turn." (James 1:7, 8; Phillips)

So, if you are struggling with a divided heart, you may want to pray this prayer:

"Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name." (Psalm 86:11)

Facts of the Matter: Daily Devotionals.

Be sure an visit The Corner Market-ing Blog.

Michael Stanley

Looking To God

"Looking unto Jesus." Hebrews 12:2

It is ever the Holy Spirit's work to turn our eyes away from self to Jesus; but Satan's work is just the opposite of this, for he is constantly trying to make us regard ourselves instead of Christ. He insinuates, "Your sins are too great for pardon; you have no faith; you do not repent enough; you will never be able to continue to the end; you have not the joy of His children; you have such a wavering hold of Jesus." All these are thoughts about self, and we shall never find comfort or assurance by looking within. But the Holy Spirit turns our eyes entirely away from self: He tells us that we are nothing, but that "Christ is all in all." Remember, therefore, it is not thy hold of Christ that saves thee—it is Christ; it is not thy joy in Christ that saves thee—it is Christ; it is not even faith in Christ, though that be the instrument—it is Christ's blood and merits; therefore, look not so much to thy hand with which thou art grasping Christ, as to Christ; look not to thy hope, but to Jesus, the source of thy hope; look not to thy faith, but to Jesus, the author and finisher of thy faith. We shall never find happiness by looking at our prayers, our doings, or our feelings; it is what Jesus is, not what we are, that gives rest to the soul. If we would at once overcome Satan and have peace with God, it must be by "looking unto Jesus." Keep thine eye simply on Him; let His death, His sufferings, His merits, His glories, His intercession, be fresh upon thy mind; when thou wakest in the morning look to Him; when thou liest down at night look to Him. Oh! let not thy hopes or fears come between thee and Jesus; follow hard after Him, and He will never fail thee.

"My hope is built on nothing less

Than Jesus' blood and righteousness:

I dare not trust the sweetest frame,

But wholly lean on Jesus' name."

Morning and Evening.
"Enjoy Your Coffee"

Michael Stanley, The Corner Market-ing Blog

Tips To Create a Strong Online Presence

Just as technology is advancing, our means of communications are also making way with others & the public. The television and radio have been the two technological mediums that were used by the companies to market their products and services to their targeted audience. But, since the Internet has been brought to selves, the way of information sharing has dramatically changed and is reaching every nook & corner of this world. It has helped businesses to advertise their products and services directly to their targeted audience. Today, the web world is resplendent with lots of online platforms like social media platforms & websites that have been helping many companies increase their ROI and business.
According to some recently conducted research, it is divulged that over half of all U.S. residents and more that 3/4 of all U.S. adults love being online and cater to their different needs. A recent study claims to have found that 92 percent of online adults utilize search engines with a view to finding information on the Internet, including 59 percent doing so on a typical day. Out of these every day searches, 46 percent relates to products, or services information searches. 89 percent Internet users in the U.S. do research online ahead of making any purchase, whether they buy it from a local business. With an astonishing number of potential customers and people online, it's crucial for companies to possess a profound web presence so that they cannot fail to benefit from business and opportunities available on Internet today. Below are given top five ways to create strong online presence.

1. Website - It helps companies to post essential information with regards to their products and services. Through this, users can learn what a company offers.


2. Blogging - Blogging today has become one of the best platforms. Around 65 percent of daily users of Internet are the blog readers. The constant and frequent update of a blog means growing traffic and business.


3. Facebook - Facebook allows companies to easily offer updates to followers and get interacted with users through comments.


4. Twitter - Twitter accounts let companies share fast industry or company news, as well as blog posts to followers.


5. LinkedIn - A company's LinkedIn profiles allow businesses to get connected and linked with other professionals and set themselves up in a professional way. They also offer status updates on company or industry blog & news and Twitter updates to its followers.

Setting your company up on the Internet let your business develop its online existence and get to potential customers. Websites provide users with information that helps them make an informed decision with regards to purchasing products and availing of services.  That's all for now, "Enjoy Your Coffee"

Be sure and visit The Corner Market-ing Blog 

Michael Stanley

Jesus Found Him

"Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?"                                       John 9:35

 

JOHN 9:35

It is one thing to seek God; it is quite another thing to have God seek you. Jesus sought this man out when others had forsaken him. The acceptance of Jesus is worth more than everything this world has to offer This is what enables the believer to endure and even leap for joy amidst persecution.

When our sufferings in Christ abound, then the consolation of Christ abounds much more. Notice that this man's parents, who knew the truth, but refused to share it for fear of persecution, did not have Jesus seeking them out (Jn. 9:22). They chose the company of the hypocritical scribes and Pharisees, which is exactly what they got.

Even though the believer is redeemed and delivered from many afflictions that were a result of sin and its power, we are still called to partake in what the scriptures call the "sufferings or afflictions of Christ" (2 Cor. 1:5; Col. 1:24). However, these afflictions are not sickness and poverty as some religious teachings suggest. These afflictions are described as the "fellowship of sufferings" that the believer will encounter for doing the will of God, or the sufferings brought on by one's allegiance to Christ.

Persecution for righteousness' sake is not something that we can rebuke (2 Tim. 3:12). We must remember that as we live godly lives, suffering will follow. The Apostle Peter reminds us that these trials of our faith will result in praise, honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ (1 Pet. 1:7). Jesus' comfort, strength, help, and love are ready to "overflow" into every "trial" that we face if we will only look to Him (Heb. 12:2).
"Enjoy Your Coffee"     by Andrew Wommack 

Be sure and visit The Corner Market-ing Blog 

Michael Stanley

He Shall Build The Temple Of The Lord

"He shall build the temple of the Lord; and He shall bear the glory." Zechariah 6:13

Christ Himself is the builder of His spiritual temple, and He has built it on the mountains of His unchangeable affection, His omnipotent grace, and His infallible truthfulness. But as it was in Solomon's temple, so in this; the materials need making ready. There are the "Cedars of Lebanon," but they are not framed for the building; they are not cut down, and shaped, and made into those planks of cedar, whose odoriferous beauty shall make glad the courts of the Lord's house in Paradise. There are also the rough stones still in the quarry, they must be hewn thence, and squared. All this is Christ's own work. Each individual believer is being prepared, and polished, and made ready for his place in the temple; but Christ's own hand performs the preparation-work. Afflictions cannot sanctify, excepting as they are used by Him to this end. Our prayers and efforts cannot make us ready for heaven, apart from the hand of Jesus, who fashioneth our hearts aright.
As in the building of Solomon's temple, "there was neither hammer, nor axe, nor any tool of iron, heard in the house," because all was brought perfectly ready for the exact spot it was to occupy—so is it with the temple which Jesus builds; the making ready is all done on earth. When we reach heaven, there will be no sanctifying us there, no squaring us with affliction, no planing us with suffering. No, we must be made meet here—all that Christ will do beforehand; and when He has done it, we shall be ferried by a loving hand across the stream of death, and brought to the heavenly Jerusalem, to abide as eternal pillars in the temple of our Lord.

"Beneath His eye and care,

The edifice shall rise,

Majestic, strong, and fair,

And shine above the skies."

Morning and Evening.

Be sure and visit The Corner Market-ing Blog  

Michael Stanley

Building An Email List With Free Keyword Sources

When seeking the answers for how to build an email list one of the first tasks that requires to be addressed is the need to attract targeted traffic to your website and blog. You can then offer a free inducement in return for the prospect to sign up to your email list. So it is very important to find the most suitable keywords that will attract a targeted group of online searchers.
Remember, an email list is at the heart of a successful niche online business and it is where the value is found. Build a responsive list and you will have a well to tap into when you want to boost your online income. So what keyword tools are freely available to help you help find the best targeted keywords to build your email list?
Google should be your first place to look and it offers several different means to search and locate the keywords that will best work for the niche that you are targeting. The Keyword Tool is simple to use where you can find the exact search terms people are using to find information, how many are using these per month, how competitive the term is with advertisers and also the ability to get exact or broad matches of the keyword. You don't need a Google account to use this facility and this should be used on a regular basis to check that you are only using keywords and phrases that are regularly used by the niche itself.
The next free service offered by Google to find keywords to help build your email list is called Google Trends. Once you have some keywords you can check out their search history. This facility provides data for the last five years giving you an idea if the search term is consistent and whether it is seasonal and in which countries it is most used. This is a valuable tool to check the potential fluctuations in demand for information and products and to ensure that the interest is not slowly dying but showing consistent search statistics.
Whilst you are using these two facilities, don't forget to sign up to Google Alerts. This is a very convenient method to stay in touch with what is hot in your niche market. All you have to do is enter the most popular keywords and phrases and Google will send you links via email to new content, stories etc. You can select the different formats such as news, web, blogs, video and groups. From this you can keep abreast of what is happening and which niche keywords and phrases are presently being used to undertake searches for information.
As you can hopefully see, with a little effort yet no expense, you can source an incredible amount of free research information about your niche and really target your audience with the exact keywords and phrases that are most popular, and also the ones that have a reasonable amount of traffic but are not being targeted so much by other information marketers. This then offers an opportunity to create unique content based around keywords and phrases that match the exact searches terms being used. By regularly creating such content, you will be able to enjoy a constant stream of targeted traffic to your website and blog, and thus steadily building an email list.  "Enjoy Your Coffee"

Be sure and visit The Corner Market-ing Blog  

Michael Stanley