Quote From C.H. Spurgeon

“An individual who has no geniality about him had better be an undertaker and bury the dead for he will never succeed in influencing the living.”

Looking into the soul

This is what I hear on radio some time ago; “Someone who has looked deep into your soul and found gold”. In my book it describes someone who loves another so deeply, so unconditionally that they are able to look way beyond the obvious and often superficial. Someone who looks not only at what everyone can see but discovers that all that is rough, sometimes dirty and grimy hides behind it a jewel, a diamond, a pearl; a precious piece of gold – for aren’t all precious stones hidden underneath rocks and mud and slime? Perhaps it is the fact that they are hidden that they have such great value. Just thinking!

Shalom, Peace.

STAY POSITIVE

I came across a book of poems by Max Erhman on my book shelves. One poem titled “Desiderata” has these words; “You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.” For me it means we are worth much more than those who reject us, abuse etc would ever think. We know also that God thinks much more of us and places great value in us. Keep the faith!

Shalom

CELEBRATE YOUR FAITH

Jesus enjoyed the company of friends. We know that he attended a wedding (John 2) and on several occasions the Gospels tell us that he spent with people in their homes, enjoying a meal. He is not the person we often hear portrayed ; a religious figure who has no joy in his life. Observing people go about their religion, it is sometimes quite difficult to understand why they keep on with it because there is so little joy they display. We ‘go about our religion’ instead of living out our faith with joy. Then we wonder why people don’t want to join us! Is it because we carry this shadow of gloom about us wherever we go? One writer says, such people are “suspicious of all joy and happiness. To them religion is a thing of black clothes, the lowered voice, the expulsion of social fellowship.”

Do yourself and all people a favour, smile, laugh, sing, put a spring in your step and celebrate your faith and life.

Shalom

The Future

What, when, where is the future? The future is now because you create it. The future is now because you live in the now, the present, today; and how you live now will determine how you live in the future. Create your future, live today as if it is tomorrow; then tomorrow will be in the past. If you live the future today, then you will not live in the past. Enjoy the journey!

Shalom

TO BE HUMAN

The abuse of another person, whether physical, mental or any other form is no different from torture. It is deliberate, prolonged and intended to inflict pain for as long as it is possible and as long as the victim or the abused can still feel the pain. It brings a devilish kind of pleasure, and a false sense of power to the abuser. It is a denial of the other person’s humanity, and cannot happen without such a denial of humanity; the right to dignity and even the right to life. It is inhuman. When one commits such an inhuman act, it is a denial, not only of the humanity of another, but one’s own humanity. To be human is to do acts of kindness, to love mercy and to act justly; to live in peace with others. Peace with others begins within.  How can a person live in peace with others when there is turmoil and war within oneself? Peace begins with me…within me.

Shalom

The Bad Times in our lives

The bad times in our lives are not the worst. If we live to tell the story of our troubles, our trials and tribulations, then we have not gone through the worst. It is when we can’t tell our story that we indeed have experienced the worst, soul destroying things in our lives. So tell your story, however painful, however bad and experience it has been for it is in telling it that others will learn; it is in telling it that someone will be inspired; it is in telling it that someone will say, “I thought my troubles were great until I heard his/her story”. Remember the man who complained that he had no shoes until he met another who had no feet. You may have been through bad times, but not the worst. This is why you are still alive!

Shalom