I have come to believe that "Faith" is like a muscle. Why is this? Having muscles allows us as humans to walk, run, sit, laught, etc. In training for any physical competition and even a mental competition we have to excercise so that we can build the required muscles. We have to practise for the event and we have to do that often. Practicing every day leads to greater results. We can get bigger, stronger muscles faster with daily exercise.
Faith in God I think is very much like this. We have to practise believing in Him and his Love for us. The more trials that we encounter where we have to place ourselves in the loving care of God, through Jesus Christ, and have the faith to know that he is there and will look after us, regardless of the circumstances, the more our faith grows. It takes practice and just as we prepare for an event through training to build physical muscle, we can build our faith muscle to prepare us for any event.
The Christian bible says in Hebrews chapter 11 verse 6 "But without Faith it is impossible to please him; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarded of them that diligently seek him". The added benefit of faith in God is recorded in Phillipians chapter 4 verses 6-7 which says; " 6Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus".
There is a peace that is experience by having faith in God. I know about it. (All scriptures are taken from the King James version of the Bible).
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Thursday, September 18, 2008
A cheery "Good Morning" - How I felt
I make it a point to speak to everyone that I pass irrespective of the time of day. I do not care about the colour of their skin, their creed or position and why should I? I am a mere moral and the Christian Bible says in Ephesians 6:9 And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him. King James version.
I have found the there are those persons regardless of the number of times that you see have them in a day, a week or a month they are always "Surviving", " Trying", "Holding On", "Trying to Make it"and even "Struggling". It is so depressive to hear them talk. It makes me feel like shouting.
Then there is another group of persons that pretends not to see you. I am speaking here of people that you see on a regular basis, sometimes daily. Then there is the cheery group. Unfortunately this group usually include the smallest amount of persons. What a shame, I love this group of persons!
While exchanging greetings at the start of a morning meeting at work one of my colleagues shocked (and I mean shocked) me when to my response of "Good Morning and how are you today" he actually said he was very good and he said it in an upbeat cherry voice. I was taken aback momentarily but being determined not to lose this change to delve behind the scenes I asked him why he was so joyful this morning. Up until this point everyone who entered the meeting had an attitude of not wanting to be there but had no choice. He replied that he is always upbeat as there is no reason not to be.
Regardless of the reason he had, I can say that it lifted my spirits, it made me feel good and every thing felt better even if only for a moment. In this age of stress and more meetings it is good to have people smiling. It is not something that goes around too easy as we hurry about our day trying to meet deadlines, take care of the kids and still have to plan the next move in our lives.
So go ahead, smile at the next person that you meet, greet them with a cheery greeting and have your spirits lifted. You may even lift that persons spirits and who knows where that can lead. Even if the other person does not respond don't be put off track, try another person. We can all do with a lift.
I have found the there are those persons regardless of the number of times that you see have them in a day, a week or a month they are always "Surviving", " Trying", "Holding On", "Trying to Make it"and even "Struggling". It is so depressive to hear them talk. It makes me feel like shouting.
Then there is another group of persons that pretends not to see you. I am speaking here of people that you see on a regular basis, sometimes daily. Then there is the cheery group. Unfortunately this group usually include the smallest amount of persons. What a shame, I love this group of persons!
While exchanging greetings at the start of a morning meeting at work one of my colleagues shocked (and I mean shocked) me when to my response of "Good Morning and how are you today" he actually said he was very good and he said it in an upbeat cherry voice. I was taken aback momentarily but being determined not to lose this change to delve behind the scenes I asked him why he was so joyful this morning. Up until this point everyone who entered the meeting had an attitude of not wanting to be there but had no choice. He replied that he is always upbeat as there is no reason not to be.
Regardless of the reason he had, I can say that it lifted my spirits, it made me feel good and every thing felt better even if only for a moment. In this age of stress and more meetings it is good to have people smiling. It is not something that goes around too easy as we hurry about our day trying to meet deadlines, take care of the kids and still have to plan the next move in our lives.
So go ahead, smile at the next person that you meet, greet them with a cheery greeting and have your spirits lifted. You may even lift that persons spirits and who knows where that can lead. Even if the other person does not respond don't be put off track, try another person. We can all do with a lift.
How I saw the Love of God in an Umbrella
I was about to set off on my morning walk when I glanced up at the sky. I usually do this because the sky offers so many lovely pictures and that morning was no different. It was a beautiful cloudly day. The clouds looked like storm clouds. It was unusally dark with the street lights still on, as the clouds hid the light of the rising sun. I was determined to continue on my exercise routine so I grabbed an umbrella that I keep close to the door.
Well into my journey a few drops started to fall. At that moment I though of how confidently I ventured out into the morning without a second thought of rain and that was because I was armed with an umbrella. Then my thoughs turned to how this umbrella was like the Love of God. I can venture out into this life without a second thought because I know that God loves me and I am assured of his protection as I take comfort from his word.
Proverbs chapter 30 verse 5 says "Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him". (King James version of the Christian Bible) and
Psalm 5:12 says
"For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield." This verse gives me so much comfort.
The rain started to fall very heavily with 5 minutes left to go before I arrived home. Without losing stride, I adeptly manuver the umbrella to an open state. Athough my swinging hand got drops of rain on it I knew I was protected. This is just like my God. He shields and protects me even if life tries to splatter me with "drops" of distressing and devasting circumstances. I am assured that God will protect and I am not being hit with the full blow.
In Psalms chapter 37 and verse 25 the psalmist David said " I have been young and now am old: yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread". What more can I want. God Loves me so much that he took the time to record his promises to me so that I can be comforted daily.
By the time I arrived back home the street lamps were still shinning. At that time they would have usually gone to sleep for the day resting until they go to work at night. I was glad to be in from the rain and I was estatic that I had keep up my excercise but what made me even more happy was that God always is there with me even in the rain.
Well into my journey a few drops started to fall. At that moment I though of how confidently I ventured out into the morning without a second thought of rain and that was because I was armed with an umbrella. Then my thoughs turned to how this umbrella was like the Love of God. I can venture out into this life without a second thought because I know that God loves me and I am assured of his protection as I take comfort from his word.
Proverbs chapter 30 verse 5 says "Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him". (King James version of the Christian Bible) and
Psalm 5:12 says
"For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield." This verse gives me so much comfort.
The rain started to fall very heavily with 5 minutes left to go before I arrived home. Without losing stride, I adeptly manuver the umbrella to an open state. Athough my swinging hand got drops of rain on it I knew I was protected. This is just like my God. He shields and protects me even if life tries to splatter me with "drops" of distressing and devasting circumstances. I am assured that God will protect and I am not being hit with the full blow.
In Psalms chapter 37 and verse 25 the psalmist David said " I have been young and now am old: yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread". What more can I want. God Loves me so much that he took the time to record his promises to me so that I can be comforted daily.
By the time I arrived back home the street lamps were still shinning. At that time they would have usually gone to sleep for the day resting until they go to work at night. I was glad to be in from the rain and I was estatic that I had keep up my excercise but what made me even more happy was that God always is there with me even in the rain.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
The principle of a "Little" Part 1
I have divided this blog into three parts in order to keep it to a readable length. Enjoy.
One of the many things that I have learnt in this life is the Principle of a "Little". This comes from the old adage that "a little goes a long way". Unfortunately we only use this principle for a small number of things in our life. Here is a list of some of things that I have found aptly applies: -
1. Investments
If you want to secure your future financially you HAVE to put aside a little of each set of money that you received. When this pile grows big enough you HAVE to invest it in an avenue that generates money such as mutual funds, shares or a rental property. Never think that you need a lot of money to invest. That is so wrong. When I left school I started an insurance policy called an endowment. At the time it was a small amount, which I did not increased or decreased. Before I knew it the years had passed, which they will, and I had amassed thousands of dollars. Even if you have not put aside money the years will still pass. A little every month grew.
2. Dieting
I do not believe in a person starving him/herself. Dieting to me is a way of life. It is the way that you eat every day. It is making small but continuous changes in the foods that you eat to adjust for aging and a change of life style. If you want to lose weight, increase your protein intake for building muscle, reduce your cholesterol etc. you have to eat what is required. In order not to become to devastated or to have the feeling of hopelessness, it is a good idea to change a little of your current diet one item at a time. For example drink more water and less drinks with sugar.
Part 2 of this article will be published next week.
One of the many things that I have learnt in this life is the Principle of a "Little". This comes from the old adage that "a little goes a long way". Unfortunately we only use this principle for a small number of things in our life. Here is a list of some of things that I have found aptly applies: -
1. Investments
If you want to secure your future financially you HAVE to put aside a little of each set of money that you received. When this pile grows big enough you HAVE to invest it in an avenue that generates money such as mutual funds, shares or a rental property. Never think that you need a lot of money to invest. That is so wrong. When I left school I started an insurance policy called an endowment. At the time it was a small amount, which I did not increased or decreased. Before I knew it the years had passed, which they will, and I had amassed thousands of dollars. Even if you have not put aside money the years will still pass. A little every month grew.
2. Dieting
I do not believe in a person starving him/herself. Dieting to me is a way of life. It is the way that you eat every day. It is making small but continuous changes in the foods that you eat to adjust for aging and a change of life style. If you want to lose weight, increase your protein intake for building muscle, reduce your cholesterol etc. you have to eat what is required. In order not to become to devastated or to have the feeling of hopelessness, it is a good idea to change a little of your current diet one item at a time. For example drink more water and less drinks with sugar.
Part 2 of this article will be published next week.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Sunrise in Barbados
I was out on my morning walk on Tuesday in the month of September, 2008 when I was confronted with these beautiful images of the sky in Barbados at Sunrise. It was around 5:45 am.
I have found that the best sunsets and sunrises seem to occur during the hurricane season. On this particular day there were two reported hurricanes, one storm forming and one depression both of them just off the African coast.
I only had my cellular phone but I was able to capture these beautiful images. The pictures were taken of both the eastern and western sky on that morning. Look carefully for the small rainbow in one of the pictures.
ENJOY.
I have found that the best sunsets and sunrises seem to occur during the hurricane season. On this particular day there were two reported hurricanes, one storm forming and one depression both of them just off the African coast.
I only had my cellular phone but I was able to capture these beautiful images. The pictures were taken of both the eastern and western sky on that morning. Look carefully for the small rainbow in one of the pictures.
ENJOY.
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