Consider them

Everyone is eternally interested in what is in it for them. Not that it is a problem. This is just how people are, you , me, everyone. So why don't we think of what is in it for them? Befits you, Befits me. We can make the world a better place. Because we are in the world, our actions impact the world at large. Even if it only helps one person, the domino effect will go on. Someone has to make the push. Servant hood is not making yourself a slave. You don't have to be a slave. I believe God wants us to serve, not slog. I may not be able to save the world in direct terms. But WE can make the world a better place by spreading the love and joy He gave us. How you do it is your choice. Pray God will show you how.

At times we feel for others and we think they could have been helped in a better way. It's not easy to accept that their way may be the best for them. Who knows what is best. It is beyond definition. I guess we can only consider our own circumstances and decide for ourselves. Can't decide for anyone else. We can try to place ourselves in their shoes, but all we can really do is try, because we are not them we cannot truly understand. Try with all our might, that is the only thing we can do really... i think.

the simple things

There are too many products in the market these days that promise to deliver what you don't need. Yet it is good cos it is something new, something innovative, something to make things a little bit easier, to give you more time on your hands, to enjoy the better things in life. Like, like what?

There is always some experience waiting to be discovered. Something more exciting, a different realm. We are curious, that's why danger appeals to us. For fear is being afraid of the unknown. We fear what we don't know, and what we don't know we cannot foresee the consequences, even for what we know, we still try to push the boundaries, refusing to let precedents stop us from the hope of a breakthrough.

We are the only species that nothing depends on for their survival. We are beings that consume. I cannot think of any species that consume as much as we do. We take and when we give back, we feel as if we are making a contribution. When we stand at the point of nature's perspective. We'll be glad those humans didn't take more than they needed out of greed. Nature has it's amazing way of renewal and regrowth. Give some time. Time will take care of everything. But what we are short of is time. And time- we want to control. We seem to want to control everything. Are we freaks or what?

Well i suppose it is a good thing some people do what they do and other people make up for what those people do. In this age and time, its all about one group of humans balancing out the effects of the over consumption of the other group of humans. Humans giving other humans a purpose in life, a passion to pursue.

God is truly working. For what. I really cannot comprehend. The more I try to comprehend the value of my existence, the more the mind wanders into the far end of the world, never to come back. What will be will be. To be basic and to be secure in the knowledge that basic is best. Just be the best you can be. what else can you do?

Inspiration is a beautiful thing

A series of letters put together has no life other then the meaning it is prescribed to it. Then it becomes a word. And this word becomes so powerful however you choose to look at it by placing it in the middle of a sentence. A construction so marvellous you can put yourself across and make people feel how you feel even without speaking. Better still, having a spectrum of ways to digest a particular sentence makes it all the more spectacular.

Life is worth living when you have meaning.
Search for it, find it, and keep it close to your heart.

May your everyday be filled with meaning, does'nt matter what it is, if the meaning you find in your life benefits the greater good or just keeps you from trouble, well i don't see why not purposefully causing harm is not a good enough meaning to get by.

Who can tell you what is best? Providence has to go with acceptance and acceptance is a personal decision. Between you and God, you can whisper in a crowd to Him, cry when you're alone to Him, you don't have to pray out loud, He knows your thoughts.

How wonderful, How beautiful. Nobody can take this away from us. Nobody can control how we think. But God can inspire us to think differently.

The freedom to be happy

Someone once said that happiness lies not in the destination, but the journey.
One has the freedom to choose to either forfeit their happiness or stay happy in the midst of all circumstance.

How do I make a problem cease to be a problem? It is not a problem unless I see it as so.

Perhaps we sometimes look around us and we are enveloped by fear. Because we ourselves judge others, therefore we fear the judgement of others, thus affecting what we do or not do.

But really, really, really,
should we allow that to happen?

Psychologists like to attribute a fear of something back to one's experience hence we blame that particular experience for causing us to act in such a way that is not beneficial to us.

I wonder, do we have a choice?

If God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of POWER, of LOVE and of a SOUND MIND, can we not act in a way that would be for our welfare?
He give and take away, my heart will choose to say, Blessed be His name.
He has made us to overcome.
In every circumstance, as we strive to please Him and Him alone, we can overcome as we cease to judge and understand that the judgement of mere people cannot overwrite the Good that God has in store for those who obey Him. Now the question that leaves to be answered is: How should we obey Him?

Advertising space

It seemed lucrative enough. Smart enough. Something we should all do cos, why not?
It seems a very plausible idea to generate some income on the side. Might as well!

Until one looks closely at the endorsement of something that you have no control over, and realizes: a mistake it was.

How does one support what you don't condone?
Condone: is to give tacit approval towards something. Even when it simply means just keeping quiet in its presence.

Many opportunists lurk and target those looking for monetary support for their personal causes.

Yet more often than not, commendable causes have the ability to speak for themselves and garner the right sort of support even without the need to so much as to seek.

Rather than letting questionable companies benefit by milking it for all its worth in advertising potential, why not inspire those who truly support the cause to lend a helping hand purely for the sake of true, honest to goodness admiration for the stance?

I'm over drug companies dishing out freebies to healthcare professionals to help get their drugs off the market and into the throats of unsuspecting patients who only have praise for their specialists believing that they're in safe hands of a Doc who knows better than the others in introducing this "miracle" drug for their exclusive use. Later do they know they've been taken as specimens of the animal testing calibre...

On doing the neccessary

Polly put the kettle on,
Suky take it off again.

Polly should know by now that the fourth time Suky takes the kettle off again (without any hint of remorse)and deprive everyone of some much needed hot tea in the cold winter nights, Polly should really do something about it.

Or when is it ever going to end?

For every small slip of the tongue, bears a consequence that can be rather damaging when one starts blowing it into epic proportions that can enhance their position as a victim.

Cleverly, Suky knows that placing herself as a victim can easily attract pity and definitely pull votes of empathy in her desired direction.

But this only works when Polly keeps quiet. Because no one knows the situation better than Polly herself, and, of course, Suky too.

Polly must speak.
and put her claw down in the process...

So all can have tea.

Maybe Suky could put her kettle removing talents to good use somewhere where they can use her expertise... Sure sounds like it will work out better for them all!

Everything in moderation

Why thinking too much may not be good for you?

"May my will forever be, ever more your own."

These lyrics sound it out to me ever so clearly.
Indeed, maybe not being able to top the class (Ever!) does have its advantages (in life) after all...

I have never... !

How can a story be so concise, so simple, yet, so hard to digest?
It hurts my brain to even peer over to peek at the book cover.
Never ever has any book baffled me to this extent whilst prompting me to reach for it in failed attempts to read at least five consecutive pages in one sitting.
Even philosophical books don't pack so much depth in one sentence alone.
Utterly amazing. I must say.
There is a strong possibility that I have no knowledge of its particular core subject that runs as a theme throughout the book that makes it extremely boring.
Yet, the determination alone to find out its essence, befitting a nobel prize that keeps me going. Curiosity really works magic to motivate.

Can I have a Cuppa

Dry, and lifeless, they go in.
Pop the kettle on till it shouts.
Tipping in, pipping hot,
twirls and swirls they dance about.
Infusing its essence, they straighten out.
Settle some minutes, they blend the drops.
Sip a cuppa, tummy warms up.
Bin the tip and wash them out.

Here we go round, once more and about.

I need to do something fun or I'll seriously bore out. Bleh :P

Invisibility

Means no control over how someone may respond, but by not being able to be seen, one can do practically anything that may please oneself without embarrassment of any sort.

Does that mean one could be destructive?
Probably not.
With invisibility comes freedom. To be who you wanna be.
But it does not mean that your actions and it's impact will be diminished.
In fact, it has hardly any effect in that sense.
Rather, its charity or perseverance done (not "shown") without affirmation.

Would you do what you do,
What would you seek?
Would you want what you've got,
What you want if no one can see?

It's interesting peering into your innermost desires by examining the reasons behind your daily motivations and behaviours.

Does human praise matter that much to you?
Or do your purest form of passion for life take precedence?

Sometimes Love just aint enough

Sometimes enough is enough.
I believe in Jesus, but really, I am but human.
When I pray, He listens, He guides me, to overcome.
He gives me the strength, to do what is best for my circumstances.

I am not limitless. But yes, I know God is.
That's why I encourage you to depend on Him.
Because when you need someone, He is always there.

When there is no one else you can turn to.
He is there for you.

Love is not about senseless giving.
At least I think you cannot give what you have not.

It is the empowerment of the self through the immense power that God possess that you must unlock.

and that, my friend. IS enough.

Just what I needed most for now

Mary Poppins.
Undeniably a classic, a rerun on the player reminded me of something that I really had to put into my punny little not so bright brain of mine.

I have to say, it worked like magic. Helped heaps to make me realign relationships. The ones that we are blessed with but tend to horribly overlook.

Now tis what Bert replies to the children about their father.
I SO get it. After 24 years. NOW, I get it.

Let's sit down. You know, begging your pardon, but the one my heart goes out to is your father.
There he is in that cold, heartless bank day after day, hemmed in by mounds of cold, heartless
money. I don't like to see any living thing caged up.
They makes cages in all sizes and shapes, you know. Bank-shaped some of 'em, carpets and
all.
Look at it this way. You've got your mother to look after you. And
Mary Poppins, and Constable Jones and me. Who looks after your father? Tell me that. When
something terrible happens, what does he do? Fends for himself, he does. Who does he tell
about it? No one! Don't blab his troubles at home. He just pushes on at his job, uncomplaining
and alone and silent.
I only observe that a father can always do with a bit of help.

All because You believed

As I count my blessings, I count the people who willingly take time out to provide advice as one.
Itś amazing how no two people can ever have the same life experiences even though they may come from the same country or village. So there is always something different about how we come to form our current expectations in life shaped by the many events that lead up to our present.

Ever careful to respect where every person´s advice may have taken form, I still believe what I believe.

I choose to still hold on to what I believe.
Not what I think is right. But what I hold in my heart to believe in.

The tricky part on the receiving end of advice is that sometimes one cannot help but become very much muddled especially when the majority don´t seem to think much of your rationality influencing your would be decision.

Surely my Faith can sustain me.
Surely Godś ability is bigger than what I can imagine.
Surely He can work it out even when people think otherwise.
Surely if I call on His name, He will guide me and He will give me a future, Full of Hope, for my welfare, and not for woe.

Surely and steadily, I need not worry.

Because.
I BELIEVE.

Zombie state of life.

When I lead life as it is, on auto pilot, not consciously making an effort to think of my next step of action... I become a walking zombie.

I ask myself, is this what I want to become? With all that He has given me to achieve, is this what i really want to be? A carbohydrate draining walking machine without much use as to just take up space?

Itś like going to the doctorś.
Communication is key.
If they don know your symptoms, they won´t know whatś wrong with you.
If they have no idea what´s bothering you, they cannot treat you.
Sometimes, they give you a false assurance that everything will be fine. You really just need plenty of rest.

But you know your circumstances better than they do (or care to know).
So really, its all about knowing your options, and pushing for answers.
Nudge.
Nudge.
Too many times i´ve forgotten to ask and think that accepting their prognosis as it is is the best thing I can do.
No more.
I´ve learnt to nudge.

If its because I respect your capacity as a doctor, and I trust that you would know better to listen and provide me with whatever advice I need that I come so far to (even pay) to see you.

Forget that I even paid to see you.
Tell me why you became a doctor in the very first place.

God didńt say everything will be easy. Smooth, without glitch.
But itś the glitches that make one sit up and really think hard.
Why do I pursue the things that I pursue.
Do I really want this so much that I will use all that He has given me to overcome.
Barriers give way.
Mountains move.
Walls crumble.

Yet, if this doctor fails to meet the standards of competency, or never even tries hard enough.
At the very least, the patient can choose to go to another doctor.

So many times I´ve been fed up.
Now I´ve learnt to fully trust and let Him do the guiding.

Surely my God will want the only best for me.
Surely His best will be glad to do his best for Him.

Life is a battlefield.
Yet we have God´s full Armour for protection so we can fight.

Ephesians 6:10-13

I always thought I can glide though this life, unnoticed.
But by being unnoticed, is it really what He has set me out to be?
He has made me to be more than this. What am I hiding my God given abilities for?
Nothing good is ever easily achieved.
Its time I regained consciousness.
I CAN DO THIS.

dot dot dot

Does my personality make me, or do I make up my personality?
Which comes first?
If I'm not moving, am I lagging or just at rest so I can push it when I need to?
Sometimes life runs on autopilot.
The feeling of being at ease means one is lacking emotion.
Does it matter my emotions are neither sky high nor down in the trenches?
If life were a symbol, this is what it would look like for the week (.........)

Maybe emotion is overrated.
Mood: Content.

La lettre pour le muguet, moi parents, et moi destinée

If grace is mercy and undeserved favor, then it can never be demanded of.

I pray for the desire to come from within.
Beyond -the need to fulfill yet another duty.
Beyond -just so that good can be done.
Beyond -reason.

But.... just because.

Just because.... I want you to have it.
Just because.... I want you to be happy.
Just because.... I really, truly, care.
And I know you will do the same for me.
Cos you feel exactly the same as I.

If i ever find it by the Grace of God,
will you bless me.
Because your blessing means the world to me.

I thought I never bothered about what others may think.
But in the end, it really does matter.
It matters to me- every tiny bit.
Because you mean so much to me for me not to ignore what you think.

I am a girl of simple words.

Of a simple mind.

Of a simple longing:
To have, so I can offer.
Show me all that I can offer. If You will provide.

I Quit
I gave up before I gave it my all.

by Todd Casbon, as told to Christy Heitger-Casbon

As I peeled the sweaty, grass–stained clothes from my aching body, I thought about the last three exhausting weeks at football camp. By the grace of God I'd endured agonizing two–a–day practices loaded down in huge pads and melting in the hot August sun. When I ran, I felt like I'd pass out. When I stopped running, I was sure I'd throw up.

I wanted to feel the glory of a winning touchdown, but instead I went home every night bruised, battered, sore and stiff. I was sick of being hit, shoved, pushed down, beaten up. I'd had it. I decided to quit. Nervous about making my big announcement, I slowly made my way over to Coach Walker's* office door and knocked.

"Yeah!" Coach yelled, his voice raspy from years of shouting.

I stepped inside.

"Whatcha need, Casbon?" he asked as he scanned the newspaper that was sprawled out across his desk.

I took a deep breath and cleared my throat. I didn't know how to ease into it, so I just blurted it out.

"I quit," I said.

Seemingly unfazed, Coach kept his eyes glued to the sports section.

"Why?" he asked in his familiar gruff tone.

"I'm not having any fun," I said lamely.

Coach closed the paper, adjusted his tattered baseball cap, and looked me straight in the eye.

"Cazzie, do you think anyone is having fun right now?" he asked.

I just shrugged.

"Son," he said, leaning in toward me. "These practices prepare you for the games. That's when the fun begins."

Yeah, right, I thought. Like I'll ever make it into a game. I never ran any play right. No matter how clearly the coach explained everything on paper, once I got on the field and the ball was snapped, the chaos of guys scattering every which way completely confused me.

Coach Walker placed his hand on my shoulder and said, "I'll make ya a deal. Stick it out this year and if you don't wanna come out again next fall, I won't hassle ya about it."

It sure didn't seem like a "deal" to me, but since no one ever won an argument with Coach Walker, I agreed.

When I got home from school, I hurled my book bag across the room and kicked my dirty Nikes high into the air.

"What's with you?!" my brother Scott asked as he jumped out of the way of a flying shoe.

"Why can't God let me shine in one stinkin' sport?!" I complained. "Is that too much to ask?"

I told Scott about the "deal" Coach had struck with me, and Scott smiled.

"I'm glad you're not giving up this time," he said, tossing me a Nerf football.

"When have I given up?" I snapped, purposefully nailing him in the thigh with the Nerf.

"Uhhh, baseball, basketball, piano." Scott said. "Want me to go on?"

"I just haven't found my thing yet."

"And at this rate, you never will," Scott said. "You can't do great at something the first time you try it."

"First time?! I've been at this for three weeks!"

"Some of the guys on your team have been practicing for years. Of course they're better than you."

"Thanks a lot!" I said, rolling my eyes.

"Listen, anything worth having takes effort," Scott said. "Like your good grades. That doesn't happen by accident."

"That's different," I said. "It's not painful to study."

"Wanna bet? I think it's way harder to study day after day than it is to take an elbow to the ribs. Hey, I don't blame you for hating the drills and stuff, but is there anything about football that you like?" Scott asked.

I thought for moment.

"Well, I have kinda gotten into weightlifting," I said. "I've been lifting with this guy Matt from the team, and even after just a couple of weeks we're getting stronger."

"So try focusing on the progress you're seeing," Scott suggested. "You won't reach your goals instantly, but every little bit gets you closer."

That night after dinner I went to my room to think. I wanted to figure out why excelling at a sport mattered so much to me. I think part of it was because my dad was a high school athletic director and I really wanted to make him proud. And then there was my ego. I knew that the jocks got tons of attention.

But even as I craved praise and popularity, it bugged me that I was so consumed by such superficial things. I thought about what Scott had said and realized that even though I wasn't a great football player, staying on the team had benefited me in several ways. I'd gotten into better shape, I'd discovered that I liked lifting weights, and I'd become really good friends with Matt.

I sat down on the bed and began praying.

Lord, sometimes I can't always see what's right in front of me because my thoughts, words and actions are driven by my own selfish needs and desires. Forgive me, God. I'm so grateful for the gifts you've given me. Please help me see your plan for me.

There were still plenty of times that season when my body ached to quit, but on those difficult days, I prayed for strength—not just the physical kind, but also inner, spiritual strength to carry on. Finally, toward the end of the season I made it into a couple of games. One, in particular, was really great. We were playing at the high school where my dad worked, and with five minutes left on the clock, Coach Walker put me in at running back. I just had one play, but it was awesome. I caught a 13–yard pass for a first down.

My heart raced with excitement when I heard my name called over the loudspeaker. I looked up into the bleachers and spotted Dad with a huge smile on his face. I'll never forget that amazing moment. If I'd quit when I felt like it, it never would have happened.

Sometimes when I'm overcommitted or totally stressed out with life, I still have to pull out of certain activities. But I no longer have the same knee–jerk response of wanting to quit simply because I'm uncomfortable. And though I never came to know the glory of a winning touchdown, I now know how great it feels to stick with something and see it all the way through to the end.

*Names have been changed

Copyright © 2006 by the author or Christianity Today International/Ignite Your Faith magazine.

The Greatest advantage

The fox in sheep clothing. Many know too well what this implies.
¨But I am not surprised! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is wonder that his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness.¨ 2 Cor 11:14-15

What is truth?
How do we know for sure?

The fact is, we can never know for certain.
We only know the truth by the facts that are presented to us.
And through our very own experience.

There can be no guarantee that if a place is supposedly holy, then everyone in the premise is to be righteous and pure, without doubt.

¨But I fear that somehow your pure and undivided devotion to Christ will be corrupted, just as Eve was deceived by the cunning ways of the serpent. You happily put up with whatever anyone tellls you, even if they preach a different kind of Jesus than the one we preach, or a different kind of spirit than the one you recieved, or a different kind of gospel than the one you bellieved.¨ 2 Cor 11:3-4

For Paul was aware of how the cunning ways of man can shrewdly work their way into the minds of a believer and corrupt oneś thoughts and shake oneś faith.

Have unshakable FAITH. Have your roots so deeply rooted in the truth that nothing can stand a chance to fall you.

Yet first, one has to ESTABLISH the truth.

The truth in the scriptures say:
¨Ask, and it shall be given to you.
Seek, and you shall find.
Knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

For everyone that asks receives,
and he that seeks, finds,
and to him that knocks, it shall be opened.¨
Matthew 7:7-8

And how should we demonstrate this truth by the way we live?

¨So in everything, do to others what you would have then do to you, for this sums up the Law and the prophets.¨ Matthew 7:12

By placing GOD first and ceasing to think about you, yourself and I. Only then can He truly speak to you. Only when you be still and silent, can you hear His voice. Make the choice to find Him, to seek Him to Listen to His voice. And wherever He leads you, you have to make the conscious decision to follow.
For He will not force you. Though He can, He loves you too much to use force. Because Love cannot go hand in hand with coercion.

IF YOU TRULY WANT IT.
YOU WILL SEEK IT OUT.
No matter how the odds seem to be against you.
Persistence.
That is the power of the human will.

Show Him how much you really want Him by How much effort you are willing to put in to Seek Him out. Trust that He will reveal Himself to you when He wants to. Trust in His perfect timing.

TRUST is not control. It is to persist with all that you have. And let go.

Sing a song of six pence- draw money in your mind

Karaoke. Music and lyrics. The thing about a song, is that, the musical component is universal. Where as, the lyrics that convey the message are only limited (or accurate to the extent) by the understanding of the audience according to their mastery or command of the language it is presented in.

As I run through the songs that have been made popular by the catchy tunes off the radio, I come to realize the horrors behind the lyrics as they portray a very dangerous interpretation of life in general.

so what do you do when the tune is amazing, yet, the lyrics are more than meets the eye?
I´m a firm believer in the practice of aversion tactics when it comes to blatant in the face temptation.
I guess when you strive to do something without hipprocracy, you cannot do anything without truly believing in it.
When believing in something goes against your core values, then I feel, one should let the former go.
Well, at least as long as its not beyond the confines of personal space maybe? Lest anyone should stumble upon hearing my participation in songs of a morally corrupt nature.

So yeah, karaoke songs should be picked wisely, lest one would cause another believer to stumble.
even how tempting the tune could be, I guess one can play tunes without lyrics (instrumental alone) and that would be perfectly fine for all. :)

Levelling

Understanding. Means you (Go under) to find out where the person is making his/her stand?
I guess if the meaning of this word is to be translated as that, it would be very apt.

You know, a blog is personal, yet somewhat a very public display of personal opinion.
I guess people should be given the freedom to voice out whatś on their mind and in their hearts.....

Yet have the authority to choose who to allow access and how much a person can exercise the use of comments.

Blogs are cool like that, are´nt they... hey? :)

Be careful what you wish for or you just might get....

Itś interesting what happens whenever I get caught in episodes where I´m on an ¨ethereal¨ high, (you know, how you get so happy almost on the verge of hyperventilating). I just have to let it all out and pray aloud for God to take some away, for I cannot possibly live like that! It is good to eat. But feasting at every meal can lead to many health problems. So, the physician advised me: ¨Too much of a good thing can be bad for you.¨

Only in recent times, did I consciously make the choice to listen to His voice, that wherever He may lead, I will follow. Tuning in to the art of losing myself. In giving Him praise.

For I don´t know how everything will work out for the future, I couldńt possibly say that everything will be good. For what is good?

I get people who come up to me and ask, ¨So, what would you like to happen next?¨.
I could never give them a reply for certain on my specific goals or plans. They never come to mind. I only have preferences, never concrete life decisions. Instead, this verse resonates:

¨Now listen, you who say,¨Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.¨ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.Instead, you ought to say, ¨If it is the Lord´s will, we will live and do this or that.¨ As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil.¨ James 4:13-16

¨Why, even if you had the worst lot of patients to care for in the ward, that you don´t mind?¨
All I can say is, if it is His will that I be allocated this lot. I know I will emerge victorious. That if I accept my lot and set out to do what is required of me with the knowledge that He will surely guide me. I will be ok. Even if you thought you had a good lot, but what do we know about how the tables can turn in a minute from peace to chaos?

More often than not, plans always change for the better, without me having to manipulate the situation, yet, I take heed to remember --never to brag.
For it is by His grace that I am relieved of the supposed hardship that I would have to face. That I have no control of, and that I have no authority to claim ownership of luck.

He dispenses whatever He wishes. I can only propose to do such and such by presenting my requests to the Lord.

Ultimately, He takes control and He holds the reins.

And again I say ¨Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.¨ Philippians 4:4-7


Amen.

The Corinthian awakening

On the same topic there is more room for discussion and I just had to dive into it after coming across this passage and having already been conversing with a few friends, or rather just listening to all they had to say of a common occurrence that they have no idea how to prevent a relapse of.

Of the greatest gift that is mentioned in 1 Corinthians 13:2, ¨And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but I have not love, I am nothing.¨

Indeed, without faith, we cannot love, but Without Love, we cannot practice faith.

And why do we wonder and ponder to the extent of focusing our energies on the purpose of life even after we have the knowledge that God is the overseer of all things. Like how the chef is to cook as the waiter is to serve. And it is no business of the waiter to go about in the kitchen telling the chef how to do what he does best- To cook!

Yet the waiter takes the orders and reports to the Chef regarding the needs of the restaurantś guests. So even though the waiterś responsibility involves the start and the finish of the chefś work, he is not to meddle in the kitchen for the chef would be rather perturbed (I think!) should he be disturbed whilst doing his best whipping up that which is necessary.

If your focus is on Him, then work towards that focus.
As Paul puts it in His letter to the church at Corinth, even as the gift of tongues that is evidently more exclusive, if not unless it goes into the ¨edification of the church through interpretation¨ then he would rather wish that more people prophesied. (reference to 1 Cor 14:5) I trust that Paul is speaking on the terms of practicality, and whoever says that the bible is not?!

If what we say does not stand to benefit the person our words are directed towards, then why say it even? Why draw a gun when there is peace in letting be? Of course unless there is a brawl cooking up, then intervention would probably be imperative. Yet, pointing a gun in the direction of angry brawlers is hardly a solution to effective peacekeeping.

¨But he who prophesies speaks in edification and exhortation and comfort to men. He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.¨ ~ 1 Cor 14:3-4

In youth, there is always a lack of life experience that makes acts of folly pardonable, yet when one has grown to be of a full man, there are certain expectations that he should deliver on his part.As Paul puts it: ¨When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.¨~1 Cor 13:11

No man is an island. that is why we have friends. Perhaps not every advice is to be applied, but every word is worth considering before you choose to adopt or forget.

Guard your speech

¨Hear and understand: Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles man.¨ Matthew 15:10-11

Seek, and you shall find.

Think about this:

If you want to know how to operate a complex machine, where do you turn to?
You ask the person who made the machine.

Who better to ask than the maker himself?

Well then, the maker can´t come packaged in every box that the machine is shipped to (the world over) assuming it is a very popular machine the whole world round.
So, how does the manufacturer inform you of the intricacies of the machine as he had made it to function?

Why, by the instruction manual, of course!


Indeed. The bible reveals all you need to know about the psychology of mankind.

Minus the evil word called manipulation.
Beats any of the theories i´ve learnt about in school.

Just show them Love.
Yeah! Serious! It works!

Tap into immensity

For it is God who gives us the strength to overcome.
You can try doing it all on your own, give it all you´ve got, all you can.
there's nothing stopping you.
But can you fulfill your greatest potential when you are limited by your own might?

Give Him a chance to show you what you can do for Him.
You won´t want to go back where you came from.


He put a smile on my face :)

Say it as it is, let them know you know

People can only do so much with little encouragement.
The power of a remark is so that it can terribly crush or build a person up to all that one is able to offer.

Sometimes offering praise is an expression of how willing you are to put down your defenses and plainly admit that: hey, you can do better than me! so much so that, even with all the knowledge I have acquired, there is always something you can offer to add on to my value!

It is indeed a very humbling attribute you acquire when one puts acknowledgment of another´s efforts into words spoken in gladness and appreciation of another´s wisdom.

To think apart from me and me alone.
When we extend this to our community at large, it can work wonders.

Even when we praise God, we are truly recognizing and proclaiming His glory.
It puts our egos into perspective, so we are reminded of our little significance in the big scale of things. Pardon, when i say little significance, I refer to a contribution on our part, but truly, an individual´s contribution is only part of what makes everything work.

Our gifts are small, yet, very very necessary.
Its all about offering whatever we have, without thought of its measure in comparison to what other people can afford to give on their accord.

The point of me and you

one spare part is nothing if not put together to form a instrument.
An instrument is useless if it does not create a sound.
A sound is not pleasing to the ear unless it is stringed into a tune.
A tune is at its best when incorporated into a symphony.

You have a part to be in.

No matter which part you are. You hold it all together.

God holds the toolbox of life and the many wonders of life springs forth from it.

when one part wears off. He will provide.
What the orchestra needs, only He can create.

Find your place, and be the best of what He has made you to be.
Henceforth, whatever you may do, you do with joy, with the fullness of knowing, He has made you for this purpose at this given time.

A to Z.
A story cannot be written without any.
Yet there are repetitions throughout the book forming new words, new ideas, a storyline.

Life is complex.
its a relief to know that He is in control of that... Phew!

Halt the shout, just talk.

Making it a point to talk instead of trying to put my point across.
Just stating my opinions and how i feel, not to make the other party feel inferior.
Be calm, not anxious.
Be open to listen and validate.

Pray I can be empowered to do this and more.

I´m a wall.
I echo.

Addiction of the senses

The smell of roses linger on my bedspread, on the pillow sheets.

It keeps my mind free to stray in wonderland while in my dreams.
An escape into a part of reality out of the state of awareness.
Retained inside part of my brain, it stays put until it awakens once again as i breathe in the scent on my pillow sham.
lets the book i read come alive.
lets me star in the movie i pick.
Perks my day in the most imaginative way possible.
A secret I keep.
Until again, i fall asleep.

I want to know what Love is

In the world of tennis, a nil score, is represented by ¨Love¨.
When one starts to keep a score, competition begins, calculations exist. Love, then, will cease.

It is not so much i can only give you what you deserve.
But how can you give something you never had?
A gifter must have the means to give.

No one deserves anything.
How are we to measure how one would be eligible for something enough for one to receive?

We are but humans, we are not omnipotent.
The only deliverer is God Himself.

What we have, all is His. He has the power and authority to choose what and to which He shall gift.

For I have received, I humbly give.
If I give with grudge, God knows my heart, then He would rather I not give.

Love has to be willing. When it does, it has an endless capacity of flow.
But when you try to snatch it out of someone, the giving stops, because you can never force someone to love you. Love is unconditional and is only justified by the extent as to which one is willing to offer.

I can never give you what you demand if what you want is what I have not.

I cannot, BUT GOD CAN.

Till there is no tomorrow

Ever did read a book and felt empty and somewhat sad just when you flipped though the very last page?
I did.
Perhaps that is what´s keeping me from finishing reading books.
The fear of having to end something.

Is it impossible to ever get to ever after?

Let me rephrase it:

With God,
Nothing is impossible.

Too great a measure to fathom

I used to be an under estimator.
Plainly put,I used to get tired of things pretty easily, being the ignorant and unmotivated girl i was.... nothing seemed to interest me any further after the initial spark of an encounter failed to ignite, which left me hanging out for another to pass my way.

Everyday was a search to find something even more exciting, even more tantalizing than the next.

Every enjoyment became a temporary high and I was like a girl on drugs, ever craving for more, but never getting enough.

Then one day, nothing seemed to matter anymore.
Enjoyment became an excess.
Laughter became too tiring for the facial muscles.
Goods became trash to be taken out.

Her life was cluttered by too much excesses.
So she made a decision to detach.

Detaching herself from worldly comforts, she immersed herself in the simplicities of life.
And much to her surprise, it actually made her joy fuller, and made her life so much easier.

Everything in balance.
Why the need to hog when one is truly all you need?

Looking up into the skies, she fixed her eyes on the one and only.
White noise drained away.
Nothing on earth seemed to matter too much anymore when she realized the comfort He gave.

He gave her adventure, with each life challenge.
He gave her courage to love and to protect.
He gave her Love which promises to last for eternity.
He showed her mercy when for every mistake she makes.
He gave her wisdom when she choose to seek.
He gave her clarity beyond her wildest imagination.
And gave her hope to face the unknown with anticipation.
He gave her courage to do all that she has been prepared to undertake.

most importantly,
He gave her EVERYTHING she needed.

He meted discipline in gentleness as long as she did´nt go too far.
She knows that He knows her inside out and any attempt in dishonesty will be futile, so she does´nt even go there.

She hopes to one day have the capacity to teach her children all that they need to know that will see them from strength to strength.

To know the master, and to appreciate His loveliness.
To seek and to serve.
For one alone can only do so little.
But together, we can give Him so much more!

Live the adventure He has set out for each of us in Joy and Love. Amen :)

The Great I am

It's not about me. It's all about Him. Never about me.
But it's ok.
For the first time in my life, the spotlight is something I'm at peace with staying out off.
This is a dramatic switch for someone like me. But i kinda like this change.
I want to spur people on to push them into the light.
For once I am content to be the supporting actress in the movies of those people around me.
For once, i can say FAITH is MINE, YOU CANT TAKE IT.
Even though you cannot comprehend it.
I am Content.
I am truly content.
When my purpose is far greater than my own self, When He is greater than I am.

The over-analyzation of the already analysed

Do we sometimes read too much into something and lose it's true meaning along the way? Things can be broken down, but it comes a time when it can be broken down no further and we just have to accept it as it is, at face value. I guess we consider different perspectives to get a clearer overview on covert transgressions towards oneself and others so we can measure up and weigh the stakes involved more proportionately.

Get too near, and the focus misaligns, affecting the field of vision as the eyes lose sight of clarity and confuses your mind.

When can we stop disecting things anymore than we should?


Where and how do we add quality in our lives to maximise it's intensity regardless of the length of it's intended existence?

It is much of a shame and a let down to oneself to hold back from enriching one's life by refusing to let go of one's past that is preventing one from moving on from a state of lifelessness out of grief to empowered liberation.

I believe it is possible to take calculated risks without compromising your values and get something out of it that adds on to your life value.

This is what makes life exciting. To Figure out how to make do with what you have to create something out of what others see as nothing. It can be very interesting indeed.

Night duty screws your thinking like it is ever so apparent. I need music. Cos it's so dan quiet in here, it bores me.

Which part of your life do you want erased?

Thank God for pain.
For it is through these periods of suffering that my humanity is amplified.
Through these I would gain empathy, towards the people I have met and those whom I have yet to meet.
That when I say :"I understand, and I can help you through this pain"
It resonates. It is not empty.
That I have been empowered by reality to lend a hand when and where it is most needed.

As I rerun the hurts through the passing of time.
I am reminded of my fragility, my powerlessness, my need of reliance, The power of Him.

Because of Him in me. I can do so much.

To each his/her own. We all have areas in life where we find particular difficulty coming to terms with. Yet that is precisely the uniqueness of every individual, called to fulfill His intended purpose. Peas in a pod, but peas of distinctively separate entities.

Don't look back with regret over the things you have experienced which were beyond your control. Instead, look back with thanksgiving for the rare opportunity to explore the intricacies of life, and the ability He has given you to pull through those challenging times. Be proud to have survived and take joy that you are alive and well to tell your side of the story for His glory to be magnified in you.

I don't wanna rub off my past.
I want to embrace it and look ahead.

For I know all that did not work for me.
I'll make it work this time round as He wills me to.

Perplexity of the self

When it comes to certain affairs in life, frivolousness will not do for me.
Knowing myself as I am, I get mistaken very often, for implying the things that I have no intention of putting across. But I guess nervousness from one polar opposite can and does subconsciously push you further away and pulls you from the other direction without you needing to exert much freewill on your part. Instead of knowing one better on a personal level, one becomes repellent of the other, when really all one wants is to extend a hand, yet is afraid to do so in fear of the impending reaction one may get. Perplexed at shyness when one thought this would be one thing that one would be fearless about. Silly me. I can't believe I know not what to do. Ugh.

Anti fustration

I dislike thinking about the other side of others. Even though I well and truly understand that with every side a person presents his/herself with, there is always a darker side that lurks beneath. I often get hit in the face by some unsuspecting evil and then gape in awe as I stand dumbfounded thinking to myself, What the.... Then what do I do? What can I do?

I choose to rub my face, and get back on with life.

What can I do?
Maybe the question should be rephrased from not "what can I do", but rather, "should I do so?".

By far the best way to handle such events, I discovered early in life, is to just bring it down to two words, "Forget it".

Throw a blade in my direction, when I eventually get scrapped by it, I bleed, but hey, Thank GOD! I'm still alive! The wounds will heal, and at least now I know how and when to dodge when I sense another sharp metal coming my way. So, thanks for being my teacher, in that sense.

When you see the world with these eyes and let go of grudge, you come across as stupid. But truly, who cares? Call me stupid, and you think you could incur wrath in my heart?

Only the truly stupid will let you get your way. So guess what I would do?
Two words, Forget it.
This guy knows not what he does.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. . .And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. - excerpts from 1 Corinthians 13:4-13

One cannot Love when one is not accepting. Accepting is to embrace and encourage.
If pride stands in the way, Love cannot protect. Until one is ready to think of others before oneself, can one be ready to accept and commit.

keepers

I could'nt agree with Nikki Gemmell more when she wrote:
An ideal husband:

Never flattens her spirit, Is a heart lifter.
Never tries to reduce or wear her down.
Does not get intimidated by her achievements.
Tells her she's beautiful, reminds her to love her body.
Cherishes his mother but does'nt expect his wife to be like her.
picks up wet towels and puts his dirty clothes in the laundry basket.

Is a haven, a harbour, a rest from all the toss of the world.
Make's his wife laugh, (especially when she's down).
Is never afraid to say I love you.

Fairy tale?
Or reality.....??