Nevertheless, I tell you the truth; it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Counsellor will not come to you, but if I  go, I will send him to you. John 16:7

I do believe!

 The time from his ascension until He comes again, we have been left in the care of the  Holy Spirit, the divine counsellor, who will feed us with wisdom, clarity,direction and unfailing strength if we keep Him in our hearts. If our spirit and soul abide in Him , if we accept and acknowledge Him as the Holy Spirit of God, our Advocate. If we truly believe He will remain with us until the end of time, and even then, we will return to Him because He had chosen us and we are of his pasture and His  Kingdom.

This is a day of great significance. No matter how long ago it happened, His promise and His spirit lives on,  in us. 

I do not know if you believe,  but do spend some time connecting with  His Holy Spirit  - alone..away from the noise of the world  and you'll be surprised how  clarity and peace descend upon you!

Good examples in Jesus' name

Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers an example, in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. 1 Timothy 5:12

Good examples of those selected to serve God and fellow believers strengthen the bond of goodness, the foundation of Christ's church-manifesting the teachings of the Lord- love, being Christian and action do speak louder than words.

As a little girl, what drew me to the Church were the love, charitable actions and genuine goodness of  shepherds and stewards..their kind and calm demeanour, their smiles, their encouragement, motivation, charity and care. Those were cherish qualities which continued to strengthen me..as I looked back in gratitude. I remembered the times and I praise God, because  the kindness shown to me as a child remains the fortress which  preserved my faith,belief and kept me going,. ..There's love,  there's goodness , there's beauty in the Church of Christ..

Peace and quiet fills the heart and soul of one who knows his fight is over that it's  time to give up his worldly pursuits, and get ready  to go. 

In a similar way, the one  who toiled endlessly for achievement and attainment beyond his capability- Face up to reality and  move on. Other friendly pastures awaits, do not waste valuable time and energy chasing after  clouds.  

No  Room for self-promoters in God's kingdom, Pope says..Herald , May 5th 2013

I  agree 

Seek to glorify Christ and not self. This is Christ's church, the church which has a firm foundation in His holy blood of redemption. Today,  indeed the practice of glorifying each other exists like  what people find in the political arenas of secular world. Indeed "something of a commercial religion." 

The practice of pushing  the Lord into the background, and self promoting is so rampant now that the special peace and belonging we once used to have in church is fast fading away. 

Yes, it is time we go back to basics and stop thieving on the glory of God!! To God be the glory!!

Contain your anger

Be not quick to anger, for anger lodges in the bosom of fools-Ecclesiastes 6:9

It does not mean you cannot be angry, in the light of injustice or  when you want to teach and correct negativeness, or when you encounter  deceit and insincerity   but contain your anger and your words. Weigh them carefully and speak with forethought lest the purpose of your  anger becomes mangled  in the storm of rash words and actions and the teaching and learning is lost in the process.

Listen to good advice

Begin with Foresight & Homework

The toil of a fool wearies him. so that he does not know his way to the city. Ecclesiastes 10:12

I say to myself, where is the fruit of your toiling? Is it still in the wind? From sunrise to the setting sun, you had toiled oh, so hard but alas! the grounds you tilled were not right for the fruit trees you planted and it bore no yields!! And you are back to square one, poorer than ever before!! 

A wise man procure a piece of land, but before he plants his seedlings, he does his homework, He tests the ground, the soil ...he plans, he studies..he knows exactly what it takes and where he is going..checking every detail and only when he is sure, he put in his resources, efforts and start to toil and success   smiles upon him. Preparation is important to him. 

A fool plunge headless-ly  into his dream -he toils all spring and summer, using only heart and no head. Only when  harvest comes, he realises his mistakes. Homework was not on his committed  task list. He had gambled his resources and time away!!

That's the difference between a fool , a loser even before he begins his mission and the wise and  successful man, who has foresight , prudence and puts them to good use!!

Be your worthy self

I  want to get out of a very human habit - trying to please and  impress others all the time.Getting all  stressed up, yet leaving oneself unfulfilled.. For a change I want to please myself. Closed doors, I will skip, I will spend more time appreciating the ones that are open. I will move away from anything that smells  politics that downtrodden the less fortunate..Do I need to be part of their establishment? Do I need to hang behind them and take in their  fart, all the time?  

Do I need to mindlessly follow their every endeavour, be their tool to fulfil their agendas to the extend of  hurting myself? Didn't God give me, my own turf ,  didn't He give me intelligence and a sound mind to discern? 

You guys out there- you who continuously  tire yourselves out to please others and at the end of the day, pleases no one, no, not even yourselves. Are you not fatigued? 

Spare some time, spare some thoughts to please and love self, establish your own identity-then you have your own anchor to reach out to others-NOT to inhale fart but stand worthily on EVEN grounds with others -focused  and be able to do your own thing. 

The Lord is at my right hand.

Acts 2:25-David says:

I saw the Lord always before me, for He is at my right hand that I may not be shaken.

We  oft are shaken and lose our bearings. Dejected, discouraged when shelter leaks and umbrellas fail to fully protect us from the rain and the storm and we lose courage and hope. God, where are you? We cry, but it is ourselves we should admonish, for wasn't He always at our side, only we banished Him from our sight? Keep Him always at your right hand, that you may not be shaken!!

Work on Hope & Reality.

 The right dosage  of Hope is good. Too much and it leads you into a dreamers path, wishful but no concrete.

 It's like you hope to have a beautiful garden, only you  dream endlessly about it -forgetting  to put your hands, feet, heart  and energy into action. Get out of excessive wishful hoping. 

In life nothing comes free-sweat on it...work on those hopes, and you'll find Hope taking shape into reality!! Just do not hanker after false hopes, not all dreams and hopes are what they seem!