Have you achieved your New Year resolutions?

This might sound too early to ask but we are in the middle of the year and everything seems to be moving faster than we thought. We had plans in the beginning of the year to achieve certain goals and chase our dream. But giving a second thought have we achieved those listed plans?

You probably have some big goals to pursue, but certain setbacks might have drawn you back.

Surveys reveal that less than one percent of New Year's resolutions are achieved. It is merely a ritual people have followed for decades.

A boy told his father, "Dad, if three frogs were sitting on a limb that hung over a pool, and one frog decided to jump off into the pool, how many frogs would be left on the limb?"

The dad replied, "Two."

"No," the son replied. "There's three frogs and one decides to jump, how many are left?"

The dad said, "Oh, I get it, if one decides to jump, the others would too. So there are none left."

The boy said, "No dad, the answer is three. The frog only DECIDED to jump."

Does that sound like last year's resolution?

Great inspiration and great resolutions, but often times we only decide, and months later we are still on the same limb of do-nothing.

There is still six months more remaining; we should never give up on our dreams, goals and objectives no matter the challenges. I don’t know your plans for the year, it could be new job, lose weight, improving your relationship with God, building a house or buying a car what ever it is- The Sky should be your limit. Chase your Dreams.

Aspire!

By: Samuel Mantey

Email: sammyoo3@yahoo.com

Twitter: SamuelMantey

SERVE GOD WITH ‘ZERO EXPECTATION’

Sometimes Life can be stressful- full of hard questions like, financial constraints, sickness, stress, death and disappointment. This makes us to question the existence of God in our Life. But We (Christians) should serve God expecting nothing in return.

When we enter into a relationship with God with a “friends with benefits” mentality, we may find ourselves sorely disappointed when we don’t get all the benefits that we thought were promised to us.

God never promise us earthly uncertainties (Luxury) –Houses, Cars, better Jobs, money etc but that he is preparing a special place in Heaven for His Children.

Please get it straight: God can provide all those earthly riches in fact, He owns everything. But Jesus (the savior) never promised us those things. So anytime we are faced with problems we should never give up on God because He is seriously preparing a better place for his children.

When you expect something for your service then it is business only. It should not be business. It should be true love. In true love, there is no expectation of any result just like as you do for your children without expecting anything.

 Sometimes your children scold you, insult you but still you serve them and that is still higher level of service. Not only expecting any result but even if you get a negative result and you still serve, it is the best form of service. God tests- Sometimes, He gives negative result to your service.

We must worship God because He is the only true God NOT because of what we expect Him to do for us. Indeed, so many people have been disappointed because they expected their lives to change for the better with their thanksgiving to God. God gives earthly riches to those He want to give not because of our expectation.

God might not give us earthly riches but Ultimately He will give us eternal place where there are no earthquakes, wars, murder, fornication, adultery and disappointments.

‘The earlier the better’

Some of the bombs dropped on England by the Germans during World War II are still killing people. Sometimes they are discovered and blow up at construction sites, in fishing nets, or on beaches more than fifty years after the war. Undetected bombs become more dangerous with time because corrosion can expose the detonator.

As Christians we must learn Now that serving God is an obligation! He has promised us to provide us our daily bread and that should be enough to satisfy our transition on earth.

The best service we can do is, do it without expecting. No need to ask God for anything, He will automatically give. There is no need to have expectations. God gives everything.

By: Samuel Mantey

Email: sammyoo3@yahoo.com

Twitter: Samuel Mantey

AFRICA NEEDS INVESTMENT IN REAL ESTATE NOT AID

African economies easily rank among the most resilient in the world. In the middle of the 2009 global economic recession, Africa was the only region apart from Asia that grew positively, at about 2%. The continent’s growth has been on an upward trajectory ever since then- 4.5% in 2010 and 5.0% in 2011.

And it will get even better in 2012. Africa is favorably positioned to become the 2^nd fastest growing region in the world, and according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), economic growth across the 54 countries of the continent will hover around 6% in 2012.

Africa is becoming an increasingly attractive hub for foreign investors in light of various economic, political and social reforms that are sweeping through the continent, resulting in a much improved business environment conducive for foreign direct investment. Apart from that, there is widespread development of critical social and physical infrastructure, and there is an increasing pool of well-educated, English-speaking, enterprising workers in most countries across the continent.

There is also a significant boost in the spending power of Africans. According to the African Development Bank, Africa’s fast-emerging middle class is now comprised of over 300 million people, and analysts from the McKinsey Global Institute estimate that general consumer spending across the continent will hover past the $1 trillion mark next year.

If you’re a foreign investor who has yet to make a foray into Africa, now is the time to step in and capture a share of Africa’s $1 trillion opportunity in 2012.

As one of the world's fastest growing economic regions it desperately needs quality real estate.  And, by seeking to address Africa's challenges, investors and business men have to now channel their effort to one of the fastest growing area-Real Estate as a long term investment for development.

By 2040, Africa is projected to be home to one in five of the planet's young people and the world's largest working-age population, therefore government needs to stem into investing into the industry for future benefits.

Long-term investment – many people like the idea of an investment that can fund them in their retirement. Rental housing is one sector that rarely decreases in price, making it a good potential option for long-term investment.

Private real estate can provide significant and important benefits for a mixed-asset investment portfolio. Well-chosen portfolios have delivered attractive investment performance over long-term holding periods, providing high returns that have fallen between those of bonds and equities in the long term

The obvious benefit that comes from real estate investing comes from the money that can be made. Those who have managed to buy a home for a small amount, and sell it for a large amount see the largest profit. People will fix houses, and add to houses simply to get as much profit as possible out of the market. This benefit is generally unmatched by many other investments; you can make a lot of money by simply investing in a home. While it is hard work, it can reap large monetary benefits.

By: Samuel Mantey

Email: sammyoo3@yahoo.com

Twitter: SamuelMantey

Getting rich quick… Money, Power &Pleasure (Part 1)

Keep your life free from the love of money, and be content with what you have. - Hebrews 13:5

Some few months’ back I spoke to a young man who was awaiting his turn for an interview with a seasoned company.  I asked him ‘what would he prefer, money or peace of mind?’ He responded what good is peace of mind if you don’t have money. If you have money in this era you have everything, he emphasized.

This is one of the many deceptions that have diverted the attention of the youth from God to Money. Indeed, money itself is good because that is the means of exchange but the Bible warns us against the love of it.

Just recently a colleague told me he accompanied his friends to the conference center on a programme dubbed ‘how to get rich quick’. He said the speaker told them of many dubious means to get money so that they would be accepted in the society. Who told you getting rich will make you acceptable?

Ecclesiastes 5:10 says whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless.

People have adopted schemes like High Risk Work, Bank Robbery, the internet way (sakawa), marry rich, ritual money etc just to be accepted in a deceptive environment. There is nothing like short way to success in Life. There is no elevator to success you have to take the steps.

Luke 3:14“Do not take money from anyone by force, or accuse anyone falsely, and be content with your wages.”

The youth are anger to get rich just for power and pleasure. At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures thinking that we nee to fit into the society by these passions.
When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. - James 4:3

The Bible says there will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God- having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.

Galatians 5:19-21 says Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Unfortunately the world will tell you to get rich quick or die trying deceiving you that getting rich means been successful.  (Part 1)

By Samuel Mantey

Email: Sammyoo3@yahoo.com

Twitter: SamuelMantey

Developers optimistic in first ever On-Site Property/ Home Viewing & Conference

The Registration for the 2012 first ever On-site Property/ Home Viewing &Conference preceding the Ghana Property Awards 2012 has opened with developers expressing their optimism in the growth of the industry.

The developers stressed that that the event will help boost the local industry will necessary skills and technology to compete with their colleagues internationally.

The Ghana Real Estate Development Association and Property Express Limited organizers of the event are offering the general public and those from the Diaspora the opportunity to visit developers’ site in style to get a first hand view of their properties.

The event is to commemorate 5 years of the establishment of the awards by, the Ghana Real Estate Development Association [GREDA] and Property Express Limited. The milestone edition is aimed at increasing innovation and enhancing the influence of the awards on the real estate market in the country.

The event will feature a conference where individuals will be educated on Buy – To let, finance, how to get onto the property ladder and many more pertinent topics.

Some of the developers say they view this as a window for Diasporas and investors to take the opportunity to visit Ghana and invest in our booming economy through property acquisition in Commercial properties and private homes.

The registration for the on-site viewing is however limited to only 3,000 prospects. The on-site viewing and conferencing is slated in October later in the year.