Easter - the celebration of life over death

Today we celebrate the truth that Death is Dead. Jesus was dead, but now He is alive. He was on the cross and in the grave but now He is seated at the Father’s right hand and rules in power! This is not just an obscure historical moment we celebrate and commemorate today. It is a present-day reality! Each of us are able to experience the same power that raised Jesus from the dead being at work in our lives, today!

The power that raised Jesus from the dead can:
Resurrect your personal life;
Resurrect your partnership;
Resurrect your relationship with your children and/or your parents;
Resurrect your love for life;
Resurrect your joy;
Resurrect your vision;
Resurrect your hope;
Resurrect our nation, our community, our friendships - the world!

But for this power to be released in us we need to surrender to Him and allow Him to rule and reign in our lives. I pray that each of us will have the grace to do so today. So have a wonderful celebration today! Give your life to Jesus as Lord! And receive His resurrection power!!

HAPPY EASTER! Christ is risen, He is risen indeed! ~ much love, Stafford

Sobering, Interesting and True

Once upon a time there was a rich King who had four wives.

He loved the 4th wife the most and adorned her with rich robes and treated her to the finest of delicacies. He gave her nothing but the best.

He also loved the 3rd wife very much and was always showing her off to neighboring kingdoms. However, he feared that one day she would leave him for another.

He also loved his 2nd wife. She was his confidant and was always so kind, considerate and patient with him. Whenever the King faced a problem, he could confide in her, and she would help him get through the difficult times.

The King's 1st wife was a very loyal partner and had made great contributions in maintaining his wealth and kingdom. However, he did not love the first wife. Although she loved him deeply, he hardly took notice of her!

One day, the King fell ill and he knew his time was short. He thought of his luxurious life and wondered, "I now have four wives with me, but when I die, I'll be all alone."

Thus, he asked the 4th wife, "I have loved you the most, endowed you with the finest clothing and showered great care over you. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?" "No way!” replied the 4th wife and she walked away without another word. Her answer cut like a sharp knife right into his heart.

The sad King then asked the 3rd wife, "I have loved you all my life. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?" "No!” replied the 3rd wife. "Life is too good! When you die, I'm going to remarry!" His heart sank and turned cold.

He then asked the 2nd wife, "I have always turned to you for help and you've always been there for me. When I die, will you follow me and keep me company?" "I'm sorry, I can't help you out this time!” replied the 2nd wife. "At the very most, I can only walk with you to your grave." Her answer struck him like a bolt of lightning, and the King was devastated.

Then a voice called out: "I'll go with you. I'll follow you no matter where you go." The King looked up, and there was his first wife. She was very skinny as she suffered from malnutrition and neglect. Greatly grieved, the King said, "I should have taken much better care of you when I had the chance!"

In truth, we all have the 4 wives in our lives:
Our 4th wife is our body. No matter how much time and effort we lavish in making it look good, it will leave us when we die.
Our 3rd wife is our possessions, status and wealth. When we die, it will all go to others.
Our 2nd wife is our family and friends. No matter how much they have been there for us, the furthest they can stay by us is up to the grave.
And our 1st wife is our Soul; often neglected in pursuit of wealth, power and pleasures of the world. However, our Soul is the only thing that will follow us wherever we go.

Cultivate, strengthen and cherish it now, for it is the only part of us that will follow us to the throne of God and continue with us throughout Eternity.


Remember, when the world pushes you to your knees, you're in the perfect position to pray.

Christmas Child - One Solitary Life...

He was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman. He grew up in another obscure village, where He worked in a carpenter shop until He was thirty. Then for three years He was an itinerant preacher. He never had a family or owned a home. He never set foot inside a big city. He never traveled two hundred miles from the place He was born. He never wrote a book, or held an office. He did none of the things that usually accompany greatness...

While He was still a young man, the tide of popular opinion turned against Him. His friends deserted Him. He was turned over to His enemies, and went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed to a cross between two thieves.While He was dying, His executioners gambled for the only piece of property He had, His coat. When He was dead, He was taken down and laid in a borrowed grave...

Twenty centuries have come and gone, and today He is the central figure for much of the human race. All the armies that ever marched and all the navies that ever sailed and all the parliaments that ever sat and all the kings that ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life of man upon this earth as powerfully as this, One Solitary Life...

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” -Isaiah 9:6

Inasmuch as you did it unto the least of these...

Pastor Jeremiah Steepek transformed himself into a homeless person and went to the 10,000 member church that he was to be introduced to as the head pastor at that morning. He walked around his soon to be church for 30 minutes while it was filling with people for service.... only 3 people out of the 7,000 to 10,000 people said hello to him. He asked people for change to buy food.... NO ONE in the church gave him change. He went into the sanctuary to sit down in the front of the church and was asked by the ushers if he would please sit in the back. He greeted people to be greeted back with stares and dirty looks, with people looking down on him and judging him.

As he sat in the back of the church, he listened to the church announcements and such. When all that was done, the elders went up and were excited to introduce the new pastor of the church to the congregation.... "We would like to introduce to you Pastor Jeremiah Steepek"... The congregation looked around clapping with joy and anticipation... The homeless man sitting in the back stood up... and started walking down the aisle... the clapping stopped with ALL eyes on him... he walked up the altar and took the microphone from the elders (who were in on this) and paused for a moment... then he recited:

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’"
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’"

After he recited this, he looked towards the congregation and told them all what he had experienced that morning... many began to cry and many heads were bowed in shame.... He then said: 'Today I see a gathering of people... not a Church of Jesus Christ. The world has enough people, but not enough disciples... when will YOU decide to become disciples?' He then dismissed service until the next week... Being a Believer is more than something you claim. It's something you live by and share with others...

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” -Hebrews 11:1

None so dumb...

Early this morning I clicked on my PC to watch the ending of a movie I had been viewing from the warm comfort of my bed last night, but had fallen asleep. I jumped back under the covers to enjoy the last 20 minutes of the tale... Last night, when all was quiet, the volume of the sound was set just right, even a bit loud; but this morning I struggled to hear with total distinction what was being said; and because of the crisp chill in the air, I was loathed to get out of bed again to adjust the volume a bit higher; and probably because I was not initially fully awake, I realised that I was not wearing my spectacles; and the thus the picture quality, in my eyes, lacked clarity and focal resolution as well... I popped on my reading glasses and voila! The picture was restored, I could SEE clearly; and amazingly the sound had improved too - I could now, in addition, HEAR everything better! - (I have no idea whether there exists some biological or scientific explanation to support my claim - but it works for me! Try it?) Yay, I didn't have to get out of bed, my world was good again...

It later occurred to me how similar this is to how we LISTEN to God and follow our FAITH in Him and His WORD. We can hear it, and even listen for it, but it becomes muffled. Our immediate circumstances cloud what we hear; the comings, goings and doings of our world prevent us from hearing very clearly, but we're sort of satisfied that, at least, some of it is getting through and we are encouraged by its constancy; yet still we are failing to hear it properly. I believe this is because we lose SIGHT of the big picture, the Master's Plan. We have adopted a distorted VISION and we have stopped SEEING (in our mind's eye too) and holding out for the FULL TRUTH. Evidence of the coming RAPTURE is already all around us - miracles abound - but we have come to prefer our rose-coloured glasses that cut out and sometimes even ignore what we should be hearing, seeing and sharing...

Let's all 'put on, and out, our best pair of glasses' today, and fully see and hear all the wondrous opportunities and revelations God has placed in our paths - I see it as RETURNING YOUR EYES UPON JESUS and PUTTING YOUR BEST FAITH FORWARD - Have an awesome day, y'all! (",)

Happy New Year 2013

Looking back on the past year and all that has run its course in your life, remember each experience for the good that has come of it and for the lessons and insights you have learned....

Remember the goals you have reached, the love you have shared, the happiness, joy and laughter you have brought, the hard work, the easy times, the efforts made, and the tears shed...

As you reflect and reminisce on the past year, recall what you have to do differently, better and with more dedication. After all, this is a time of new beginnings and rebirth of your journey in the celebration of life...

Here's to a splendid New Year and another chance for us to get it right...

- We pray, Oh God of Second Chances, bless us abundantly with all that is worthy and good! P.S. - and Lord please grant us a bit of fun now and again, how marvelously that displays our faith in Your mercy as we strive to glorify Your name. Amen

Believers' Q&A

Why does God allow suffering?

Probably the most difficult aspect of suffering is that we rarely have a reasonable explanation for it. The Bible makes it clear that the world we live in is a fallen world, a world in rebellion against God and there­fore prone to calamities. There are floods and earthquakes, plagues such as AIDS, and man-made dis­asters such as war, drug abuse and op­pression. Clearly, no one is exempt from some form of hardship. Remember, we are being tested; God always has hidden pur­poses behind allowing people to suf­fer.

How can a just God tell us to forgive bad people?

First, because we know that at some stage we have all violated God's perfect stan­dard of goodness. None of us deserv­es forgiveness from God, yet He took the initiative to forgive human­kind when Jesus paid the penalty for our sins by dying on the cross. This is the crux of the Christian message. When we accept the for­giveness of God, God calls us to pass on that forgiveness to others.

The second reason is that we can fight hatred by forgiving. If we did not forgive, we would give in to bitterness, which is like a root that would eventually grow to harm us even further. Forgiveness helps us to cope with events that we can do nothing about. Sometimes the demand for revenge is like try­ing to move a fallen tree instead of stepping round it. By forgiving those who wrong us, we allow our­selves to move ahead in our lives.

Why doesn't God answer my prayers?

Why should He? Is God under obligation to us? We often act as though He is, and when things go wrong we expect Him to jump to our rescue. But when Jesus taught us to take our needs to God, he also taught us to pray, "Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven." Our duty is to surrender to God's will.

What happens after we die?

The Bible teaches that there are two possible destinies for you and me, depending on the way we respond to Jesus Christ in this life. Jesus described these two destinies as the narrow road to eternal life and the broad road to eternal destruc­tion. Those who love and obey Him in this world will not only get to enjoy eternity with Him, but will actually become like Him, sharing His wisdom, joy and complete fulfillment. Those who reject Jesus, however, will be separated from Him for all eternity. Scripture calls this separation everlasting death, an agony souls will suffer without end.

Over the years, this Biblical view of life after death - heaven or hell - has become a sort of medieval myth to many, including some who claim to be Christians. Yet Jesus clearly refers to heaven and hell as eternal destinations for humankind. He intended to drive home the ter­rible urgency of the choice we have to make - whether or not to fol­low Him - during our short lives on earth.

How can a loving God send people to hell?

It is true that God is love, but that is not all He is. He is also holy - in other words, perfect. Because God is perfect, in His eyes not one of us could really be called good. Each of us has made a selfish choice at least once in our lives. Maybe we lied, cheated on our income tax, failed to help someone in distress, paid less than a fair wage to a work­er. Can we expect a just and per­fect God to ignore wickedness, however small? God offers forgiveness through His Son, Jesus Christ. Only those who accept this salvation can shed their own wickedness and meet God's perfect standard.

Is God and His Church still relevant in the 21st century?

For over 100 years, modern thinkers have been saying that humankind has outgrown the need to worship God. They assume that technolo­gy, science and philosophy can give our lives meaning. But so far no discovery, invention or formula has been found that transforms the lives of people who are broken-hearted, sick or dying. Underneath the sink­ing sand of tears, grief and loss there is a solid rock. That rock is our faith in Christ; a faith that has helped millions through 2 000 years of turbulent history. It will contin­ue to do so until the end of time, for one simple reason: because God became one of us, yet without sin. Jesus was God in human form. In Christ, God shared our limitations – He understands…

He lived among the poor. He joined funeral processions and weddings. He held children in His arms. He wept for those He loved. He was betrayed by His friends and was brutally tortured to death. His life was, and is, the greatest story ever told, God's perfect plan for the restoration of His Creation. And it all began when a young maiden gave birth to a baby in Bethlehem.

Palm Sunday revisited

This was shared by a friend, about a year ago - I don't know if that friend still exists - but the message still rings so true...

Some donkeys were in the field nearby Jerusalem. One young donkey said: 'I just don't understand it, just yesterday everyone was throwing their clothes and palms on the road when I was carrying Jesus on my back, but now I am back to being a nothing. Those people don't even see it's me Jesus was riding.' Another donkey said: 'It works like that brother, without Jesus you are a nothing in this world!'

GottaluvHim! - God bless ~ Stafford

"The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good.” -Psalm 14:1

It begins...

Food for thought - adversity...

A daughter complained to her father about her life, and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it, and wanted to give up. She was tired of all the fighting and struggling. It seemed as though in solving one problem, two more would arise.

Her father (a chef) took her to the kitchen. He filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to the boil. In one he placed carrots, in the second he placed eggs, and in the last he placed ground coffee beans. He let them sit and boil without saying a word. The daughter impatiently waited, wondering what he was doing. In about twenty minutes he turned off the burners. He fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. He pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then he ladled the coffee out and poured it in a cup. Turning to her he asked, “Darling, what do you see?” “Carrots, eggs and coffee”, she replied.

He brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. He then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg. Finally, he asked her to sip the coffee. She smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. She humbly asked, “What does it mean, Father?”

He explained that each of them had faced the same adversity, boiling water, but each reacted differently. The carrots went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. But after being subjected to the boiling water, they softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior. But after sitting through the boiling water, the insides became hardened. However, the ground coffee beans were unique. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.

‘Which are you”, he asked his daughter. “When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?”

How about you? Are you the carrot that seems hard, but with pain and adversity do you wilt and become soft and lose your strength?

Are you the egg, which starts off with a changeable heart? Were you a fluid spirit, but after difficult times, have you become hardened and stiff. Your shell looks the same, but are you tough with a stiff spirit and heart?

Or are you like the coffee bean? The bean changes the hot water, the thing that is bringing the pain. When the water reaches its peak temperature, it just tastes better.
If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and make things better around you.

When people talk about you, do your praises to the Lord increase? When the hour is darkest and trials are their greatest, does your worship elevate to another level?
How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

I do so love my coffee ~ Stafford

Day 3 - What drives your life?

We need purpose and focus...

What drives me?


Guilt, Anger and Resentment, Fear, Materialism, Need for approval...

Nothing matters more than knowing God's purposes for your life, nothing can compensate for not knowing them.

BENEFITS 

gives meaning to life 

simplifies your life 

focuses your life 

motivates your life 

prepares you for Eternity 

It's the path to peace...

What is my driving force currently? ~ The desire to love and be loved in return - Stafford

This is the true joy of life: the being used up for a purpose recognised by yourself as a mighty one; being a force of nature instead of a feverish, selfish little clot of ailments and grievances, complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy - GBS

“Let those who love the LORD hate evil, for he guards the lives of his faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked.” -Psalm 97:10

NAILS IN THE FENCE...

“Being hurt by someone you truly care about leaves a hole in your heart that only love can fill.”

There once was a little boy who had a bad temper. His Father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, he must hammer a nail into the back of the fence. The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence. Over the next few weeks, as he learned to control his anger, the number of nails hammered daily gradually dwindled down. He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence. Finally the day came when the boy didn't lose his temper at all.

He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper.

The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone. The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence. He said, 'You have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one. You can put a knife in a man and draw it out. But It won't matter how many times you say I'm sorry, the wound will still be there.

A verbal wound is as bad as a physical one. Remember that friends are very rare jewels indeed. They make you smile and encourage you to succeed; They lend an ear, they share words of praise and they always want to open their hearts to us... Please forgive me if I have ever left a 'hole' in your fence!

The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” -Deuteronomy 6:4-5

Gaining courage to Trust again...

An atmosphere of trust is as necessary as air or water to human life. We cannot be ourselves unless we can trust the people around us; how imprisoned we are behind our masks when we dare not disclose ourselves to others! And being on guard all the time paralyses our psychic energy. Moreover, it takes trust to love and be loved. “Love is an act of faith, and whoever is of little faith is also of little love.” - Erich Fromm

On the other hand, in the presence of those who believe in us, we feel safe and free. A noted psychologist put it this way: “We are not only our brother’s keeper; in countless large and small ways we are our brother’s maker.” By our trust or distrust we shape him. Trust is the willingness to gamble on the basic fact of good intentions.

All fine human relationships depend on trust. The teacher’s battle is almost won the day she is able to persuade the delinquent child to believe that she intends him no harm. Why do human beings find it so difficult to trust each other? The main reason is that we are afraid. Watch two reserved people sitting side by side on a plane or a train, each fearing to speak. We are afraid, of being disparaged, rejected, and unmasked.

Memories also often make us defensive. A businessman I know, for example, has few friends. His mother died when he was seven, and the well-meaning aunt who took him home with her told him that his mother had “gone away on a visit.” He waited vainly for weeks for his mother to return. As a result of this well-intentioned betrayal, he grew up unable to trust anyone again.

To increase our capacity to trust one another, we firstly need faith in ourselves. “There’s nothing I’m afraid of like scared people,” wrote Robert Frost. And, in fact, he who feels inferior and inadequate cannot trust others. But to believe in our own worth does not mean that we should see nothing wrong with ourselves. What we must trust about ourselves is simply what we must trust about others - which we, too, are seriously trying to do what is right, however faultily!

Secondly, trust requires realism. “It’s risky to trust people,” an acquaintance of mine said bitterly. “You can be horribly deceived.” He was right, if to trust people means betting that they will never do anything wrong. Trust cannot be founded on illusion. For the insensitive will not overnight become sensitive; the gossip will not necessarily keep your secret. The world is not an innocent playground on which everyone wishes us well, and we must face this fact. No, real trust is an unwavering acceptance of the other person as he is, and a sensitive reaching out for the best in him.

Thirdly, trust requires a gamble - a gamble of love, time, money, sometimes even our lives, on someone else. Trust will not always win. The man who trusts other men will make fewer mistakes than the one who distrusts them.

No great human achievement has ever been accomplished without trust. Nor has man been able to achieve greatness without trust.




“Trust men and they will be true to you, treat them greatly and they will show themselves great.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” -Ephesians 4:2

Between a Bullet and a Target

Citizen Cope - between a Bullet and a Target - YouTube

What are the implications of deliberately putting oneself in danger's way? Is it possible to ask for divine intervention in these cases? I guess if it is for a good cause, the hand of God should protect one from the real physical harm that may befall you. But should we rely or expect His protection?

We have been given freewill. We have also been blessed with common sense and surely life experience plays a part when committing body and limb to excesses. 'Better love has no man, than to lay down his life for another (friend)' - does it go without saying that such a man is promised a place in Heaven. Many radicals believe this; but can the true Believer gain comfort from this perceived promise?

You see therein lies the conflict to action. 'Love yourself..', means keeping yourself safe and not open to harm. Physical and otherwise. This journey of life has so many lessons and trials. It's difficult; and all the more reason to find the answers as soon as you can. Time is limited and we all get only so much of it - use your time wisely; it is truly the only resource that only exists on earth. Eternity is timeless...




So be careful about setting yourself up for a fall when you deliberately place yourself 'between a bullet and a target' - it could decide your destiny ~ SB

Mr.Dali Lamas

Another sister's shootin' heroin tomorrow

Amputees in Freetown

Sierra Leone's

The church wasnt honest

The state put the youth in a harness

Creatin' hostility among us

Teacher said no college

Still the kid's gotta get a check with a couple commas

People wanna bomb us

More people gotta scatter and run rom us

You can blame it on Zeus and Apollo and Adonis

But what you've done here

Is put yourself between a bullet and a target

And it won't be long before

You're pulling yourself away

But what you've done here

Is put yourself between a bullet and a target

And it won't be long before

You're pulling yourself away

I've been knowing her for years

I've been seeing her for years she got dark, dark wavy hair

With a voice like she just don't care

She got a skirt with a halter top

She's got a dad who nevr gave enough

She drink a beer with a proper shot

She got knocked up in a pickup truck

But she got engaged when she was nineteen

To this dude who was acting insane

Has a .45 that he always cleaned

Said one day one day one too many days

Now she ducked and she ran away

Never to be heard from, never to be seen

I check the cover of a magazine

I'm just wondering how, just wondering how

But what you've done here

Is put yourself between a bullet and a target

And it won't be long before

You're pulling yourself away

“Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”” -Mark 9:35 

Upfront and personal...

‎"...for if that which you seek, you find not within yourself, you will never find it without." - Unknown

It is important that when pursing our own self-interest we should be “wise selfish” and not “foolish selfish”. Being foolish selfish means pursuing our own interests in a narrow, shortsighted way. Being wise selfish means taking a broader view and recognizing that our own long-term individual interest lies in the welfare of everyone. Being wise selfish means being compassionate. - DL

How do I see myself? From a side askance view or facing it all? - check the pic have a good look..., I did and avoiding yourself is the last thing you want to do ~ SB

Happiness keeps you sweet. Trials keep you strong. Sorrows keep you human. Failures keep you humble. And God, keeps you going.

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” -Philippians 4:8

the Way...

 As we grow up, we learn that even the one person that wasn't supposed to ever let us down, probably will. You'll have your heart broken and you'll break others' hearts. You'll fight with your best friend or maybe even fall in love with them, and you'll cry because time is flying by. So take too many pictures, laugh too much, forgive freely, and love like you've never been hurt. Life comes with no guarantees, no time outs, no second chances. you just have to live life to the fullest, tell someone what they mean to you and tell someone off, speak out, dance in the pouring rain, hold someone's hand, comfort a friend, fall asleep watching the sun come up, stay up late, be a flirt, and smile until your face hurts. Don't be afraid to take chances or fall in love and most of all, live in the moment because every second you spend angry or upset is a second of happiness you can never get back.

''God sleeps in the minerals, awakens in plants, walks in animals, and thinks in man.'' - Arthur Young

Dear Lord, I come to you as humble as I know how. I confess my sins, those known and unknown. Lord you know I am not perfect and I fall short every day of my life, but I want to take time out to say thank you for your mercy. Thank you for my family, friends, roof over my head, food on my table, everything I have and trials that make me stronger. Amen



Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that 
person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.” -Galatians 6:1

God will make a way

God will make a way where there seems to be no way- Don Moen - YouTube

God will make a way

Where there seems to be no way

He works in ways we cannot see

He will make a way for me

He will be my guide

Hold me closely to His side

With love and strength for each new day

He will make a way, He will make a way

Oh, God will make a way

Where there seems to be no way

He works in ways we cannot see

He will make a way for me

He will be my guide

Hold me closely to His side

With love and strength for each new day

He will make a way, He will make a way

By a roadway in the wilderness, He'll lead me

And rivers in the desert will I see

Heaven and Earth will fade but His Word will still remain

And He will do something new today

Oh, God will make a way

Where there seems to be no way

He works in ways we cannot see

He will make a way for me

He will be my guide

Hold me closely to His side

With love and strength for each new day

He will make a way, He will make a way

By a roadway in the wilderness, He'll lead me

And rivers in the desert will I see

Heaven and Earth will fade but His Word will still remain

And He will do something new today

Oh, God will make a way

Where there seems to be no way

He works in ways we cannot see

He will make a way for me

He will be my guide

Hold me closely to His side

With love and strength for each new day

He will make a way, He will make a way

With love and strength for each new day

He will make a way, He will make a way...

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, 

and it will be given to you.” -James 1:5

With this ring… and other jewels of the soul

The finger ring; the symbol of continuous unity. The conventional and ‘modern’ symbol exchanged between two people, to express commitment to each other. In the mainstream these symbols are usually fashioned out of precious metals, and the majority of them are inlayed with precious stones – both materials laboriously hewn out of the earth, having come into existence over millenniums of geological turmoil and favour.

I think that may be the reason why the ring of commitment is made out of expensive precious materials, so that besides its geometric shape, its geological make up further enhances and conveys the worth placed upon its symbolism. But does that symbolism, as initially I’m sure it was intended, still convey the real heartfelt love that should exist between the two people?

One may argue that because of the cost, it shows how much is being sacrificed; but money can’t buy love. It may also be challenged that it houses some wealth for the love to be sustained, when the bad times crop up; but we all know that in these times the path is to rather split the commitment. I can go on, about many points championing its worth; but none that truly promote the love that a ring may benefit a relationship.

Oh, I’m not cynical about it. I know of many who become quite frantic when they have misplaced or have lost their relationship ring-band/s. But what is the real reason for their angst? Is it the money involved, the loss of face, and the dread of expected admonishment; how many actually think of that situation as a piece of their love for the other lost? – In truth, some even see it as a sign that the union has come to its end!

That is why I say: real love for each other is not something we store up in material gains strived for together, true love for one another has limited place in the support for one another to really succeed in the workplace, etc – that is common love. That is love that benefits both (read between the lines, and explore your raw, unclouded thoughts). Pure unconditional love only serves one party; it compels one to sacrifice your own happiness for that of another. It has a passion to comfort another, take care of someone, and be there at all times. Real love generously gives your time to another. Your heart and soul… everything dear to you; the cost of this love is priceless and ceaseless; certainly many realms beyond the mere price of a symbolic ring

That’s how it is with God’s love, once you’ve experienced it. It is unfettered by jewellery and symbolism. It dwells within. It inspires and extends its power to all around. It makes you feel like the greatest person on earth! Your status, your reputation, your self-worth is secondary (they may form an integral part of you, but are mere perks) – your real meaning and purpose naturally flows from this love.

When two people embrace this type of love, employ and practice it on each other – (to quip a phrase) the world is not enough. You are then true God-ordained masters of the universe – and remember that then, He holds a primary place within the union. Awesome and breathtaking!

So, the next time you have to buy that gift for someone special, think twice about the diamond-earrings, gold cuff-links and sterling silver neck-chains. Give from the heart, give in practicality that enhances that pure love – give a divine hug and a kiss. Speaking for myself I unashamedly admit being partial to lingerie – a good book – a personalized love song tape (CD or DVD) – don’t forget the greeting card and flowers!

My most precious piece of ‘jewellery’ is a little red wooden key-ring heart gifted to me by a special friend - it conveys the most profound message ever - “I TOOK SOME TIME AND THOUGHT OF YOU”.

I’m ready to take a chance again, ready to put my heart on the line… God bless and keep us safe, till we meet again ~SB

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” -Matthew 7:7-8

REAP WHAT YOU SOW -

One can sow in many ways... capital, time, love, wisdom etc. The reason why some are a public success and a private failure is because some sow more into one specific area of their life than they do into others. Everyone of us has a divine mandate to execute, you are only successful when you step into divine compliance with your divine purpose in life... everything else is just an activity, a perceived fleeting reputation and status - so much dirty rags in God's eyes. Your journey to fullfilling your mandate will determine the degree to which the heavens will open over you...

“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.” -Galatians 6:7-8

Freely given decades ago ~ SB

Generosity is the most natural outward expression of an inner attitude of compassion and loving-kindness. When one desires to alleviate the suffering of others and to promote their well-being, then generosity - in action, word, and thought - is this desire put into practice. It is important to recognize the "generosity" here refers not just to giving in a material sense, but to generosity of the heart.

There is a saying in Tibetan that “at the door of the miserable rich man sleeps the contented beggar.” The point of this saying is not that poverty is a virtue, but that happiness does not come from wealth, but from setting limits to one’s desires, and living within those limits with satisfaction. _ DL

"When you give another the freedom

to follow their path, you’ll discover

what your true path has always been."

I surrender... Lord I give it all to You

What if you found out that all you knew in life was not as it seemed? That there was so much magic on this earth that you had not tapped into yet? That you are living a limited potential when you are indeed potentially limitless. Go seek, find and discover...






God has promised to restore us from all pains of the past, broken relationships, struggles from defeat and frustrations of life. All the times we felt broken beyond repair, God has promised to restore.









God is in the business of restoring His children into beautiful works of His holiness. If you, or someone in your life has wandered from the faith and felt the abandonment of friends and family, go to that person today and encourage him/her/yourself in the love of Jesus. God wants to restore us in order to be ready for the Blessings set out for us...

The good is interred with their bones....

“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” -1 Corinthians 10:13




And when we regret giving into the temptations, and want to show remorse, we start attacking those who make us take a long, hard look at ourselves. But God is watching, and no matter how we justify it in our own minds, He will see to it that we make proper correction; but still allows freedom of choice; so that we fail and come to nothing by our own hand... I pray for you ~ SB

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” -2 Corinthians 5:17